Keep Serving

Believers in Christ have a message to share that is in contrast to the world, and a far more effective one at that, predicated on the love of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit to transform
relationships. Colossians 3 states:
12 Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering;
13 bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do.
14 But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.

There are a number of messages that are out there regarding unity - and we have to be careful that we are communicating a Biblical perspective with clarity.  The world seems to have a view of love that is rooted in whether or not you agree with me, and if you don't, this "cancel culture" that is out there will dictate that a person dismiss or even defriend the one with whom he or she disagrees.  We can hold forth our convictions in Christ, yet exhibit His compassion to listen and to speak truth.

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A prescription for effective civil life and governance is found in 1st Peter 2, which was written during the time of the Roman Empire. Peter wrote:
13 Therefore submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake, whether to the king as supreme,
14 or to governors, as to those who are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and for the praise of those who do good.
15 For this is the will of God, that by doing good you may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men--
16 as free, yet not using liberty as a cloak for vice, but as bondservants of God.
17 Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king.

This moment of American history provides an opportunity for the Church to be very visible in proclaiming the message of Christ, and there is a distinction between the teachings of Christ regarding human relationships and what the world would embrace.  This has been seen in a number of instances.

One of the three news stories I'm featuring this week has to do with pastor Corey Brooks of New Beginnings Church on the south side of Chicago.  Brooks leads a ministry called Project H.O.O.D., which stands for "Helping Others Obtain Destiny," and he wrote a piece published on The American Conservative website.  He writes:

When I began New Beginnings Church on the south side of Chicago, the neighborhood held the sad distinction of having one of the nation’s highest homicide rates. Over the years, we have changed that statistic. We have built a thriving church with an average of 600 to 750 people at our services each Sunday. We have a community center with a free gym, a career center that offers advice and assistance with interviews, and a high-impact jobs training program that has helped people build successful careers in fields such as construction or landscaping.

He states, "Where despair once reigned, we have replaced it with hope and opportunity."  But, destructive behavior in the last few days has served to undo what great things had been accomplished.  He goes on to say:

George Floyd’s death at the hands of a police officer in Minneapolis sparked understandable outrage. How could another black man have died because of police brutality? The protests began as a natural outpouring of grief, as white and black Americans were united in their horror at this senseless act.

But these protests turned violent, and the victims of this widespread looting are often the black community leaders and business owners. How does it advance our cause of racial harmony to wreck the black communities?

Since drug stores and grocery stores were closed due to looting, church members were involved in helping community members get their prescriptions and groceries. 

And, he has a word for those who would want to "defund" or "reduce" funding for law enforcement:

Lost in the liberal messaging is the reality that the foundation of our society is the rule of law. The tragic killing of George Floyd reminds us that we need better training and screening for police officers. But the vast majority of the law enforcement agents in our nation advance racial equality, and help black Americans participate in the American dream.

No one, after all, wants to live in an un-policed and lawless neighborhood. Thriving neighborhoods are able to attract businesses and families precisely because of the rule of law and the police officers upholding it. Lawless neighborhoods, by contrast, are a turn-off for parents and business owners.

Pastor Brooks has a redemptive view of his community, and has been living it out; even in setbacks, his church members are coming together to help people in need.

I came across an article on Julie Roys' website, The Roys Report, written by a radio guy from Canada, Mike Thom from CHVN 95.1 FM in Winnipeg, Manitoba.  He referred to several public expressions of faith and service from across America.  He writes:

Police chiefs from across Miami Dade County gathered in Coral Gables, southwest of downtown Miami. There they met with protesters and talked with them. And at the end of their meeting, they knelt and prayed for the life of George Floyd, as well as for ways to move forward.

“As leaders of this profession, we must all do better at improving on our training and protocols so that our efforts towards building and maintaining community trust are not lost or overshadowed,” said Daniel J. Junior, the president of the Miami-Dade County Association of Chiefs of Police.

Thom also outlined positive interactions between police and protestors in Flint, Michigan and Camden, New Jersey.

Thom also mentioned Brian Gibson and the Peaceably Gather movement, which has been helping to equip and motivate churches all across America to open up after the COVID-19 crisis.  Not only is he committed to helping the church meet together inside, but sponsored a rally in Louisville recently.  WLKY Television reported:

Citizens, local pastors and some Louisville Metro Police offers gathered together and prayed for healing. 

As protesters chanted across the street, local pastor, Kedrick Tembo, said they prayed for the families of Breonna Taylor, David McAtee and police officers.

"We prayed for them. We laid hands on them. We told them we love them. We apologized and we forgive them for whatever mistakes," said Tembo. "We realize that people like the police have families to go back to."

Tembo said the goal is to heal those who are hurting.

"Yes, justice must prevail, but above all, healing must come," said Tembo. "That's why we come in as a church, to bring healing in community."

It's been pointed out that members of the body of Christ are hurting, and we can all work to bring unity together.  We are to be agents of healing, and our message is different from those that are using the death of George Floyd to push other agendas outside of true peace and an understanding of justice that is consistent with Biblical truth. Biblical justice is not trying to "get even" with another; but it is to be evenly dispensed. So, we have to understand the worth of the individual and the worthiness of the Scripture to deal with issues in human relationships.

The Bible also teaches us to respect the institutions that God has established; that includes government.  Now, government will get it wrong, and that is why we need to continue to speak truth.  And, we are commissioned in Scripture to pray for our leaders, so that the Church can lead a "quiet life," according to 1st Timothy chapter 2.