Judge Phil Ginn: ‘Until good people of all races stand up and are counted against the chaos, calm will never be achieved’
April 25, 2022
CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A recent Fox article highlights sobering new statistics about murder rates in America; since the “defund the police” movement began in 2020 after the murder of George Floyd, murders spiked by nearly 30% in 2020 compared to the year prior, marking the largest single-year increase in killings since the FBI began tracking the crimes. Among Black Americans, the number of deaths rose by more than 32% compared to 2019.
This correlation is not lost on Judge Phil Ginn, president of Southern Evangelical Seminary (SES, www.ses.edu). Ginn responded to this concerning rise in murder, claiming that this surge of crime is merely another indication for America to turn towards Christ.
Ginn stated, “The first real test of any government is how well it protects its citizens. The foremost right given to us by Almighty God as acknowledged in our Declaration of Independence is that of ‘Life.’ When people are not safe in their homes or in their communities, then all the other rights simply don’t matter. The truth is that we are increasingly no longer safe in America. If you feel secure in your community, its simply because the violence and the lack of respect for life has not reached you… yet!
“According to a Fox News report, the lack of safety is particularly acute in the African American population. Their findings indicate that in the wake of 2020, a spike in murders (30% overall) was the highest single year increase since the FBI began tracking such crimes. In the Black community, the percentages were even higher with a raw number increase of 2,457 precious souls which led to an even more startling 32% increase. Statistics make up raw numbers, but real people — in this case real deaths — make up the statistics. Some folks are quick to blame the pandemic, and while that is a convenient place to hang our hat, I just don’t believe it tells the whole story.”
Ginn explained, “Until good people of all races stand up and are counted against the chaos, calm will never be achieved. At Southern Evangelical Seminary, we believe that our God is a God of order and that His love demands that we stand up for the right to life in America and around the world, not only for those unborn, but also for those who simply want to go about their daily life in peace without the fear and dread of rampant crime. Maybe, just maybe, those in our country and world who are attacking our faith and our families should stop and think about where their actions and words are leading our country. Maybe it’s time for America to turn its heart toward the Christ who offers that ‘peace which passes all understanding.’”
Judge Phil Ginn was appointed president of SES in April 2021 after a distinguished career as both a lawyer and a judge. He holds a B.A. from Appalachian State University, a J.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and a Doctor of Ministry from Southern Evangelical Seminary. Prior to his appointment as SES president, Judge Ginn served as SES Chairman of the Board of Trustees.
The mission of SES is to train men and women, based on the inerrant and infallible written Word of God, for the evangelization of the world and the defense of the historic Christian faith. SES offers a range of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral degrees (along with several for-credit certificates) that uniquely integrate theology, philosophy, and apologetics to build a complete and systematic Christian worldview.
For more information on SES, visit its website at www.ses.edu or its Facebook page, follow the SES Twitter feed, @sesapologetics, or call (704) 847-5600.
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