(I’ve started writing so many times and then stopped. I’ve wrestled with this – with posting on any platform. I follow Jesus. And I just feel like if there’s a time for His children to speak, it’s now.)
I grew up believing I was so blessed to be born in the greatest country. The land of the free and the home of the brave. Reading our history, it’s so easy to see the hand of God. How many times He has rescued this country. How this country has become so important, even though it’s so young. I was blessed to go on road trip with my papa after I graduated college. From state to state, seeing the national parks. God is so creative – each one is so different. So unique. It’s truly beautiful.
Yet while many choose to focus on American pride, others lash out and despise it because of the history that isn’t popular. The cruelty.
Politics and politicians become idols and no one can agree to disagree. The economy becomes an idol. We lead the world in producing entertainment, which, along with inspiring lust, greed and gluttony – becomes an idol. We fight for women’s equality but somewhere along the way, equality translates to murdering life in the womb. We say all are created equal, yet there are now videos to prove that the evil reality of racism still runs deep. We say we’re “One nation under God” yet so many churches are filled with being politically correct and preaching the prosperity gospel instead of the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
I don’t know a lot of things. I do know Jesus.
He is the Father of all mercies and the source of all comfort (1 Cor 1:3). He is just. In Matthew 23:23, He warns about neglecting the “Weightier matters of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness.” If you ask Him, He transforms your heart to be like His. If you ask Him to help you see things His way and ask Him to help you love others as He does; He will. When He walked our steps, He took all of our punishment, all of our sorrows, upon Himself. When the Just Judge saw injustice, He called the wrongdoers out. He rebuked demons. He healed the hurting. He defended the condemned and condemned the self-righteous. He does not want His children to be silent when injustice is done.
I never thought I’d see the nightmare of Ahmaud Arbery, being murdered because of the color of his skin. I never imagined I would one day watch a video where George Floyd, would be calling for his mama because he couldn’t breathe – because evil, dressed as a police officer, had a knee on Floyd’s neck.
Racism = Evil.
It’s not a black vs. white or a democrat vs. republican issue – it’s a good vs. evil issue. The time for God’s children to speak up is now. The time for His light to shine is right now. Christ is essential in this broken world.
We place our votes with politicians hoping they’ll perfect our country. Yet this world will never be in perfect peace until the government rests upon God’s shoulders (Isaiah 9:6). He Himself is justice and mercy. He alone is good.
I see comments like, “I’m not racist, so why should I feel bad?” Or, “I’m not the one who committed the crimes, so why do I need to feel sorrow and repent?!” Or, “How can you say black lives matter? All lives matter.”
Blue lives matter. All lives do matter. Yet someone’s post going around social media holds the key: It was about the parable of the lost sheep (Luke 15:3-7). The shepherd left his 99 sheep to go find the one. The 99 mattered to the shepherd, but the one that was lost, feeling alone, out in the field, threatened by wolves – that one was the one in need of extra care. That one was the one who needed to be taken care of in that particular moment. So the shepherd left the remainder of his flock to bring the one home – because he mattered. He was beloved. Because the flock would never be the same if the one was missing. The 99 would never be whole without the one. Until everything was right with the one. Until the one was protected from the wolves and all the rest of its enemies – nothing would be right. Black lives matter.
If you want a glimpse of this in modern day, look at the peaceful protestors protecting the lone officer. They knew he was there to keep the peace and protect them. Yet he was separated from his group, so to protect him from those who might intend ill-will, they made a wall around him. It was mercy in action.
How many times throughout scripture did Jesus go after the one that was hurting? All His children matter to Him in ways we can never comprehend – but He made it a point to pursue specific people with specific needs because they needed it in that moment.
God does not make mistakes. He came because He so loved the world (John 3:16), not just part of it. Not just one specific pigmentation. Psalm 139 says that God knits us together in the womb. We are “fearfully and wonderfully made” (v.14). He so carefully and artistically crafts us into being. We are made in the very image of God – Imago Dei (Genesis 1:27)! The Creator who sets the stars in the Heavens is incapable of making a mistake. He has a purpose for everyone. Yet He is so kind, that He gives us free will. This world is sinful and broken – but if we know Jesus, we have hope that far exceeds the wretched turmoil of this world. He deliberately created diversity. And diversity means rejoicing with those who are rejoicing and mourning with those who are mourning. Calling out injustice. It means that, while you might not quite understand one side – you listen to them. They listen to you. You have Jesus in the midst.
I know that God wants us to do our part. He wants us to turn from our wicked ways, seek His face, so He will heal our land (2 Chron 7:14). While we would have to leave this world in order to escape from all evil – we can still take a stand, repent, and pray for healing. Our nation is sick. We need the Physician.
Christians – we can always live in joy because we have Jesus. We know eternity is secure and He is our hope in the midst of the storm. Yet living in a way where we don’t let the grief of many – many of our brothers and sisters – affect us…living in a way where our hearts aren’t totally broken when we see men murdered for the color of their skin; and it doesn’t make us want to scream out and demand justice? We can’t be numb. There’s a lyric in a song by Casting Crowns, “Jesus friend of sinners, break our hearts for what breaks Yours.”
Jesus, break our hearts for what breaks Yours. Help us to listen. Help us to weep with those who weep.
Be so dedicated to pursuing the justice, mercy and faithfulness of the will of God that you’ll never have to worry about defending yourself to the hypocritical judgements of this world.
“Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God, for your sins have brought you down. Bring your confessions, and return to the Lord. Say to Him, ‘Forgive all our sins and graciously receive us, so that we may offer you our praises…In You alone do the orphans find mercy. The Lord says, ‘Then I will heal you of your faithlessness; My love will know no bounds, for My anger will be gone forever…O Israel, stay away from idols! I Am the One who answers your prayers and cares for you.” – Hosea 14:1-4; 8
“That is why the Lord says, ‘Turn to Me now, while there is still time. Give Me your hearts. Come to me with fasting, weeping and mourning. Don’t tear your clothing in your grief, but tear your hearts instead. Return to the Lord your God, for He is merciful and compassionate, slow to get angry and filled with unfailing love. He is eager to relent and not punish.” – Joel 2:12-13
“Then Peter began to speak: ‘I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism but accepts from every nation the one who fears Him and does what is right.” – Acts 10:34-35
“Do we not all have one Father? Did not one God create us? Why do we profane the covenant of our ancestors by being unfaithful to one another?” – Malachi 2:10
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