Christians Express Hurt, Shock, Words of Hope and Faith Amid Protests Over #MikeBrown Killing in #Ferguson

Matt Chandler, Trip Lee, Kevin DeYoung, Ann Voskamp, Jefferson Bethke Among Those Commenting on Twitter

By Nicola Menzie, Christian Post Reporter

Police officers watch as demonstrators protest the death of black teenager Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri August 12, 2014. | (Photo Reuters/Mario Anzuoni)

A makeshift memorial is pictured where black teenager Michael Brown was shot to death by police last weekend in Ferguson, Missouri August 13, 2014. | (Photo: Reuters/Mario Anzuoni)

Michael Brown, fatally shot by a police officer on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2014, appears in this undated Facebook photo that has appeared widely online. | (Photo: Facebook)

Michael Brown, 18, was fatally shot by a police officer in Ferguson, Missouri, on Saturday, Aug. 9, 2014. Residents on the scene shared photos of the teen's dead body on Twitter. The Christian Post has censored this photo. | (Photo: The Christian Post via Twitter/Shay_Cream)

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Michael Brown, an unarmed 18-year-old from Ferguson, Missouri, was fatally shot by a police officer after what local authorities have described as a physical confrontation. Witnesses at the apartment complex where Ferguson was killed claim the man was shot several times while holding his hands in the air.

Since Brown's Saturday, Aug. 9 killing, Ferguson has been rocked by protests and at least one night of looting, with police officers turning out in force with assault rifles, dogs, and tear gas and dressed in riot gear. Christians have been expressing shock, hurt and words of prayer and encouragement amid the days and nights of tumult that have been unfolding in startling images and videos before the nation.

Here are some examples of what Christians have been expressing on Twitter:

"I hurt for the family & friends of Mike Brown. I hurt for our system, I hurt for America. I hurt." - Sho Baraka

"From Israel to Iraq to Ferguson, Missouri, our God neither slumbers nor sleeps." - Kevin DeYoung

"And history comes back 'round for all who ask, 'why are we still talking about race?' #Ferguson is putting answer on display." - Austin C. Brown

"We can't let incidents like the death of Michael Brown lead us to profile all police officers. There must be a liberating and reconciling..." - Efrem Smith

Read more comments from Christians tweeting about #MikeBrown and #Ferguson below:

Read about the case here: Michael Brown Killed by Cop After Physical Confrontation, Says Police Chief; Witnesses Claim Unarmed Teen Had Hands Up When Shot Several Times