On May 1st, 2015, six Baltimore police officers were charged in the death of Freddie Gray, a 25-year-old man who died last month after suffering a severe spinal injury in police custody. Prior to the arrests, in a blog post titled "What Baltimore Needs," Russell Moore noted that Baltimore needs "investigation and justice in the untimely death of Freddie Gray.

There's no question that Baltimore suffers from poverty, racial injustice, family breakdown, illegal drugs, gang activity, and a thousand other ailments. Government, civil society, law enforcement, and community organizations must confront all of these."

But, Moore continues, "I would argue that the primary need Baltimore has is for the church." The church is supposed to show a different path "not because the church is made up of people more intelligent and more morally put-together than other organizations. It is instead because the church is the place where Jesus now reigns (Eph. 1:22-23). The church is the outpost of the future, the colony of the kingdom, in the midst of this fallen, violent, devil-haunted universe … Baltimore is hurting. Let's pray for the wisdom of the governor, the mayor, the Justice Department, the police. But let's pray also for Baltimore to see a preview of the future—of peace and righteousness and unity—in the only place we can see it in the now: the church."

Source:

Russell Moore blog, “What Baltimore Needs,” RussellMore.com (4-27-15)