24 God, who made the world and everything in it, since He is Lord of heaven and earth, does not dwell in temples made with hands.
25 Nor is He worshiped with men's hands, as though He needed anything, since He gives to all life, breath, and all things.
26 And He has made from one blood every nation of men to dwell on all the face of the earth, and has determined their preappointed times and the boundaries of their dwellings,
27 so that they should seek the Lord, in the hope that they might grope for Him and find Him, though He is not far from each one of us...
Ultimately, we can trace our heritage to the same father and mother - we came from Adam and Eve; and even though we may look different and have different cultural backgrounds, the fact remains that all of us are part of the human family; and we all have the potential for redemption through Jesus Christ, who calls everyone to seek His face, so that he or she might be saved. In these times, when we see areas of racial strife played out on television and computer screens, in the streets of cities large and small, we have to rediscover what it truly means to love as He loved.
In Galatians 3, Paul points out how we are to see one another in Christ Jesus; we are to view others through the lens of love:
27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
News continues to emerge out of Charlottesville, Virginia, site of a white supremacist rally that turned violent when the group squared off against counterprotestors. In the midst of the melee, according to a summary of events at WORLD Magazine's website, "One person died after a car plowed into counter-protesters marching peacefully through downtown. Police have identified the driver as James Alex Fields Jr., a 20-year-old from Ohio. Contacted by reporters after the arrest, Fields' mother said she knew her son was going to the event but didn't know it was a white supremacist rally." Also, two Virginia state troopers died in a helicopter crash; they were assisting in the law enforcement effort, working with officers on the ground.
WORLD notes that, "The Department of Justice has launched a civil rights investigation into the incident. Fields has been charged with one count of second-degree murder, three counts of malicious wounding, and one count related to leaving the scene." And, according to Fox News, National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster told ABC News This Week that the act "meets the definition of terrorism." He called it "a criminal act against fellow Americans. A criminal act that may have been motivated — and we'll see what's turned up in this investigation — by this hatred and bigotry, which I mentioned we have to extinguish in our nation."
Many have called on the President to condemn the violence in Charlottesville in stronger terms. He had said Saturday, according to Fox, that he condemns "in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides, on many sides." The news network reported on a White House statement issued yesterday which said: "The president said very strongly in his statement yesterday that he condemns all forms of violence, bigotry and hatred and of course that includes white Supremacists, KKK, neo-Nazi and all extremist groups." But there are many in both parties who believe he should do more.
Today, the President issued this statement, according to USA Today:
Dr. Tony Evans took to social media Saturday, according to the Black Christian News website, stating: “Join with me in praying for the citizens of Charlottesville. Let’s bring back the humanity in being human. Hate only leads to harm. Let’s fix the systems that fuels these flames.” Sunday morning, he said, “Racism has reared its ugly, evil head yesterday in #Charlottesville. Only unified kingdom-minded churches can truly change the direction of our nation.”
Ed Stetzer, co-host of Breakpoint This Week, issued a call for church leaders to do three things on Saturday night and Sunday: 1) Seek the face of God individually, and collectively. 2) Condemn bigotry, hate, and discrimination from the pulpit and through each ministry in the Church. 3) Reach out to those who are experiencing anxiety or fear as a result of the rhetoric of those who seek to instigate hate. Stetzer called on evangelical advisors to the President to "advise" him to be more forthright in calling out white supremacists.
A Newsweek article quoted from evangelical leaders, such as Samuel Rodriguez of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, who was quoted on CNN: "I condemn the forces of white nationalism, white supremacy and anti-Semitism that divide our country today and I also condemn those who seek to politicize it all for their political gain."
Former Southern Baptist President Ronnie Floyd stated: "...white nationalism and white supremacism are anathema to the teachings of Christ, who called us to love and to serve our neighbor — regardless of skin color, gender or religion — to give up our life for our friends and to even love our enemies."
In a Facebook post, Franklin Graham was less critical of the President, calling out others who may have been directly responsible. He said, "this boils down to evil in people’s hearts. Satan is behind it all. He wants division, he wants unrest, he wants violence and hatred. He’s the enemy of peace and unity. I denounce bigotry and racism of every form, be it black, white or any other. My prayer is that our nation will come together. We are stronger together, and our answers lie in turning to God. It was good to hear that several Virginia and Charlottesville leaders attended church today at Mt. Zion.CNN said, 'The racial divides that fueled Saturday’s violence were replaced by unity Sunday…' Continue to pray for peace and for all those impacted by Saturday’s tragedies."
African-American pastor H.B. Charles, President of the Southern Baptist Convention Pastors' Conference, stated on Twitter, "Call racism by its name. Decry its evil. Stand firm in truth and love. Trust the power of the cross to change hearts." Bryan Loritts, Pastor of Abundant Life Church in Silicon Valley, who is heard on Sunday mornings on Faith Radio, stated: "Many of these young white nationalist protestors will go onto shape and influence our systems. We must see racism as systemic injustice."
African-American leaders E.W. Jackson and Star Parker indicated that there are those on the extremes who would want to further, as Parker calls it, a "race war" in America. Jackson said on Twitter: "These white racists want confrontation and violence. Unfortunately the left shows up & gives them exactly what they want. Not smart!" In another tweet, he condemned: "violence, terrorism, white supremacy & black radicalism."
Some practical takeaways for us:
I would contend that we need to do more than speak negatively about it - as white people, we need to search our own hearts and make sure that we are not harboring ill will or superior feelings against people who are not like we are. All believers should make sure that the enemy is not attempting to motivate our hearts toward hatred, or that hatred and resentment has already become a stronghold.
Constitutionally, the marchers in Charlottesville had a right to be there. They had applied for a permit, and even the ACLU had gone to bat for them when the city tried to block their gathering, according to the Washington Times. But, there's a Biblical principle: just because you have the freedom to do something or say something doesn't mean you should. This was an ill-advised march that inflamed tensions in the community and drew counterprotestors who were there to make a point. Violence erupted when these two extreme factions were allowed to congregate in close proximity to each other, then the motorist who drove into the crowd took things to a whole new level.
If we're not careful, we will allow the extremists to define the rules of the game - for instance, the white supremacists, the so-called, "alt-right" - they do not represent America. The unacceptable nature of their driving philosophies and hateful actions are what the Southern Baptists, with a sense of urgency, wanted to communicate against at their most recent convention.
We, as the Church, have to make sure that we are working to prevent what you could consider to be uncivil conflict based on race. We must model what it means to love. We can be firm in our convictions but clothed in compassion. But, we are certainly not called to look down on others because of their cultural or racial background. We can strive to be a solid, reasoned voice to our culture.
+++++
In Galatians 3, Paul points out how we are to see one another in Christ Jesus; we are to view others through the lens of love:
27 For as many of you as were baptized into Christ have put on Christ.
28 There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
29 And if you are Christ's, then you are Abraham's seed, and heirs according to the promise.
News continues to emerge out of Charlottesville, Virginia, site of a white supremacist rally that turned violent when the group squared off against counterprotestors. In the midst of the melee, according to a summary of events at WORLD Magazine's website, "One person died after a car plowed into counter-protesters marching peacefully through downtown. Police have identified the driver as James Alex Fields Jr., a 20-year-old from Ohio. Contacted by reporters after the arrest, Fields' mother said she knew her son was going to the event but didn't know it was a white supremacist rally." Also, two Virginia state troopers died in a helicopter crash; they were assisting in the law enforcement effort, working with officers on the ground.
WORLD notes that, "The Department of Justice has launched a civil rights investigation into the incident. Fields has been charged with one count of second-degree murder, three counts of malicious wounding, and one count related to leaving the scene." And, according to Fox News, National Security Advisor H.R. McMaster told ABC News This Week that the act "meets the definition of terrorism." He called it "a criminal act against fellow Americans. A criminal act that may have been motivated — and we'll see what's turned up in this investigation — by this hatred and bigotry, which I mentioned we have to extinguish in our nation."
Many have called on the President to condemn the violence in Charlottesville in stronger terms. He had said Saturday, according to Fox, that he condemns "in the strongest possible terms this egregious display of hatred, bigotry and violence on many sides, on many sides." The news network reported on a White House statement issued yesterday which said: "The president said very strongly in his statement yesterday that he condemns all forms of violence, bigotry and hatred and of course that includes white Supremacists, KKK, neo-Nazi and all extremist groups." But there are many in both parties who believe he should do more.
Today, the President issued this statement, according to USA Today:
Racism is evil. And those who cause violence in its name are criminals and thugs, including the KKK, neo Nazis, white supremacists and other hate groups that are repugnant to everything we hold dear as Americans. We are a nation founded on the truth that all of us are created equal. We are equal in the eyes of our Creator. We are equal under the law. And we are equal under our Constitution. Those who spread violence in the name of bigotry strike at the very core of America.We, as members of the body of Christ, denounce racism. White supremacy and white nationalism are symptomatic of a misunderstanding or perversion of God's intention for human beings.
Dr. Tony Evans took to social media Saturday, according to the Black Christian News website, stating: “Join with me in praying for the citizens of Charlottesville. Let’s bring back the humanity in being human. Hate only leads to harm. Let’s fix the systems that fuels these flames.” Sunday morning, he said, “Racism has reared its ugly, evil head yesterday in #Charlottesville. Only unified kingdom-minded churches can truly change the direction of our nation.”
Ed Stetzer, co-host of Breakpoint This Week, issued a call for church leaders to do three things on Saturday night and Sunday: 1) Seek the face of God individually, and collectively. 2) Condemn bigotry, hate, and discrimination from the pulpit and through each ministry in the Church. 3) Reach out to those who are experiencing anxiety or fear as a result of the rhetoric of those who seek to instigate hate. Stetzer called on evangelical advisors to the President to "advise" him to be more forthright in calling out white supremacists.
A Newsweek article quoted from evangelical leaders, such as Samuel Rodriguez of the National Hispanic Christian Leadership Conference, who was quoted on CNN: "I condemn the forces of white nationalism, white supremacy and anti-Semitism that divide our country today and I also condemn those who seek to politicize it all for their political gain."
Former Southern Baptist President Ronnie Floyd stated: "...white nationalism and white supremacism are anathema to the teachings of Christ, who called us to love and to serve our neighbor — regardless of skin color, gender or religion — to give up our life for our friends and to even love our enemies."
In a Facebook post, Franklin Graham was less critical of the President, calling out others who may have been directly responsible. He said, "this boils down to evil in people’s hearts. Satan is behind it all. He wants division, he wants unrest, he wants violence and hatred. He’s the enemy of peace and unity. I denounce bigotry and racism of every form, be it black, white or any other. My prayer is that our nation will come together. We are stronger together, and our answers lie in turning to God. It was good to hear that several Virginia and Charlottesville leaders attended church today at Mt. Zion.CNN said, 'The racial divides that fueled Saturday’s violence were replaced by unity Sunday…' Continue to pray for peace and for all those impacted by Saturday’s tragedies."
African-American pastor H.B. Charles, President of the Southern Baptist Convention Pastors' Conference, stated on Twitter, "Call racism by its name. Decry its evil. Stand firm in truth and love. Trust the power of the cross to change hearts." Bryan Loritts, Pastor of Abundant Life Church in Silicon Valley, who is heard on Sunday mornings on Faith Radio, stated: "Many of these young white nationalist protestors will go onto shape and influence our systems. We must see racism as systemic injustice."
African-American leaders E.W. Jackson and Star Parker indicated that there are those on the extremes who would want to further, as Parker calls it, a "race war" in America. Jackson said on Twitter: "These white racists want confrontation and violence. Unfortunately the left shows up & gives them exactly what they want. Not smart!" In another tweet, he condemned: "violence, terrorism, white supremacy & black radicalism."
Some practical takeaways for us:
I would contend that we need to do more than speak negatively about it - as white people, we need to search our own hearts and make sure that we are not harboring ill will or superior feelings against people who are not like we are. All believers should make sure that the enemy is not attempting to motivate our hearts toward hatred, or that hatred and resentment has already become a stronghold.
Constitutionally, the marchers in Charlottesville had a right to be there. They had applied for a permit, and even the ACLU had gone to bat for them when the city tried to block their gathering, according to the Washington Times. But, there's a Biblical principle: just because you have the freedom to do something or say something doesn't mean you should. This was an ill-advised march that inflamed tensions in the community and drew counterprotestors who were there to make a point. Violence erupted when these two extreme factions were allowed to congregate in close proximity to each other, then the motorist who drove into the crowd took things to a whole new level.
If we're not careful, we will allow the extremists to define the rules of the game - for instance, the white supremacists, the so-called, "alt-right" - they do not represent America. The unacceptable nature of their driving philosophies and hateful actions are what the Southern Baptists, with a sense of urgency, wanted to communicate against at their most recent convention.
We, as the Church, have to make sure that we are working to prevent what you could consider to be uncivil conflict based on race. We must model what it means to love. We can be firm in our convictions but clothed in compassion. But, we are certainly not called to look down on others because of their cultural or racial background. We can strive to be a solid, reasoned voice to our culture.
No comments:
Post a Comment