CHRISTIAN PRINCIPLES do not diminish in the face of ATROCITIES - extremely cruel acts, typically involving physical violence or injury- in fact, they intensify.
The injustices and reprehensible behavior we have seen in the senseless
executions of unarmed African-American men, AND in retaliation against
innocent police have us all in shock, anger, disbelief and grief.
However, holding the truths we believe, even at potential loss of life is what Christ followers around the world have exemplified for centuries. They believe steadfastly that Jesus is enough, and are armed with these truths:
- This world is not our home, we are temporary residents and foreigners who represent a Heavenly Kingdom, and are held to a code of conduct. (1 Peter 2:11-12) We also have inside information.
Wars, rumors of wars, earthquakes, nations/ethnic groups rising against
each other, and darkness covering the earth, are all signs of the end times. (Matt. 24:7-14; Isa. 60:1-3) Our job is
to preach the Good News about Jesus to the world, (Mark 16:15) and to wear our identifying mark: love for each other.
(John 13:34-35) We have a credibility issue here, because we lack the
UNITY that Jesus prayed for (John 17:20-23), and Sunday at 11AM is the
most segregated hour in the US. Our light on the racism topic is sadly
not shining as brightly as it could (Mat 5:14-16)
- OUR STRUGGLE, the war we're really waging is NOT with PEOPLE, but with EVIL: the powers, principalities and rulers of the darkness of this world and spiritual wickedness in high places. (Eph. 6: 12-18) We're fighting ideologies, arguments, attitudes, philosophies, and spirits. One such is the spirit of fear, terror or timidity, which God did NOT give us. (2 Tim 1:7) Fear can only be cast out by mature, perfected love (1John 4:18), not by protests, retaliations or even social media posts. Christ followers use spiritual weaponry to combat what's going on in this time, appropriately called the 'evil day.' We stand, watch and pray to model Christ's way of living. If our enemies are hungry or thirsty, we are to help them and not to be overcome by evil, but to overcome evil with good. (Rom. 12:20-21) Those are statutes of the Kingdom of God.
- Jesus is our example. He loved us in our sinful condition. (Rom 5:8) We hated Him, rejected and disavowed His worth and value. (Isa 53:3) He
responded not only by forgiving and accepting us, but by healing our
diseases, delivering us from the power of darkness, loving our children
and meeting our needs, and He taught us what to do in times like these:
"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that
you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to
rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the
unrighteous. (Matt. 5:43-45) Jesus gives us a counter-cultural, no vengeance, yet winning strategy.
“If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even sinners love those who love them.
And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to
you? Even sinners do that. And if you lend to those from whom you
expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to
sinners, expecting to be repaid in full. But love your enemies, do good
to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then
your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High,
because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. (Luke 6:32-36) I can hear the push back on this as I'm writing...but I didn't say it...
I am an African-American woman with a husband, a son and two grandsons whose lives DEFINITELY matter to me!
I also have friends whom I love in law enforcement, government and the military. I pray for their protection, and my emotions have swung the pendulum. Historically, I've marched and
protested injustice more than the average person. I've also had more
racial reconciliation discussions than most. When I devoted my life to
Christ and was baptized, I began a NEW LIFE and immersed myself in Kingdom Culture. My first allegiance and priority (even over ethnicity, class or gender) is following Christ. (Gal.
3:28) In pressure-filled times like these, I might not like what the LORD directs me to do in His Word.
Sometimes I rebel, or I'm hesitant to obey, but God's ways are ALWAYS
right. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness. (James 3:18)
Such a good, thought provoking, life changing and anointed Word for this season we face. Our God is bigger, stronger, higher and we follow Him.
ReplyDeleteThank you, so much Juree! I am believing that the Church will rise with the light and love of Christ during this critical season!
DeleteThis is a beautiful reminder of where our focus must be. It is so easy to slip into fleshly anger and forget the devil is the ultimate culprit in these tragedies. Thank you so much for refreshing my hope.
ReplyDelete