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"If
it were possible to cure evils by lamentation and to raise the dead
with tears, then gold would be a less valuable thing than weeping." -Sophocles
LAMENT is a passionate expression of grief or sorrow; of regret or disappointment; a complaint. The
Book of Lamentations in the Old Testament, was written by Jeremiah, who
is described as the weeping prophet. Throughout his writings, he grieved over the wickedness of the people,
their rebellion, and the judgment they had brought upon themselves.
Lamentations can be songs, poems, or a piece of music used to express these same deep feelings. I've had several friends reach out to see how
I'm doing after the murders of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud
Arberry, and the subsequent unrest and response with even more deaths and injury. The words have sometimes escaped me.
My greatest disappointment is with the Church, which should be a light for the Kingdom of God, its statutes and values, in this darkness. The Apostle John said, "This is the
judgment, that the Light has come into the world, and men loved the
darkness rather than the Light, for their deeds were evil." (John 3:19) Jesus warned us to 'take heed, or "make certain that the light that is in you is not darkness." (Luke 11:35) Paul warned that "false apostles, and deceitful workers would masquerade as apostles of Christ, And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light. It is not surprising then, if his servants masquerade as servants of righteousness. Their end will correspond to their actions." (2
Cor. 11:13-15) My posture has been to pray, ask God for forgiveness and
repentance, to try to love everyone-even my enemies, and to speak
Kingdom Truth into chaos.
Still, this whole scenario is sad. I am
grieved by: the continued history of injustice, murder, and racism that
has plagued this generation and so many before it; the economic and
militaristic oligarchy (rule by a small group) that is rising; the
misuse of Christianity for political and personal gain; and the
segregation, conflict and division in what is supposed to be One Body in
Christ. Growing up, we used to sing a stirring song based on the
lamentation below:
It is of the LORD's mercies
that we are not consumed, because His compassions fail not. They are new every morning; great is thy faithfulness. The LORD is my
portion, saith my soul; therefore I will hope in Him. The LORD is good
unto them that wait for Him, to the soul that seeketh Him. It is good
that a man should both hope and quietly wait for the salvation of the
LORD. (Lamentations 3:22-26)
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