Rights and Righteousness

Each of us has the responsibility to appropriate what God has given to us in Christ, to absorb His Word and walk in His Spirit, so that we may grow in the Lord. Isaiah 33 states:
15 He who walks righteously and speaks uprightly, He who despises the gain of oppressions, Who gestures with his hands, refusing bribes, Who stops his ears from hearing of bloodshed, And shuts his eyes from seeing evil:
16 He will dwell on high; His place of defense will be the fortress of rocks; Bread will be given him, His water will be sure.
17 Your eyes will see the King in His beauty; They will see the land that is very far off.

Our King, the Lord Jesus, is calling us to really see and know Him, so that the world may see the presence of Jesus reflected in His people.  In times of tension and conflict, we have the incredible opportunity, even a mantle, to radiate the love of Christ and to reflect the power of the Spirit. God calls us to walk in righteousness, in right relationship with Him, turning from sin and turning to Him in order to show His glory.

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The Church is being called, I believe, to be instruments of righteousness, and to call people to right living, in accordance with the Scriptures. In Hosea 10, we can read:
12 Sow for yourselves righteousness; Reap in mercy; Break up your fallow ground, For it is time to seek the Lord, Till He comes and rains righteousness on you.
13 You have plowed wickedness; You have reaped iniquity. You have eaten the fruit of lies, Because you trusted in your own way, In the multitude of your mighty men.
14 Therefore tumult shall arise among your people, And all your fortresses shall be plundered...

We recognize that the answers to the disunity that we see in our nation and in the body of Christ come from a reliance on God's Word and are brought through the devoted prayers of the people.  One of the encouraging trends that we see is a boldness on the part of God's people to step out in their cities - in cities all across America - and dare to call upon the Lord.

That happened over the weekend in what is known as the most dangerous city in America.  It's the headquarters for a new Christian movement called Civil Righteousness.  A Facebook post on Saturday by the organization said:

Our headquarters is based in St.Louis, Missouri. Check out the closing ceremony of #prayforthelou This is what it looks like when the Church unites across the barriers and boldly steps toward the dreams of God for city transformation. Over 70 churches from the St.Louis region have been praying Psalm 24 all week and hitting the streets in prayer this morning. What is currently known as the most dangerous city in America, will be known for the beauty of redemption!

We serve many cities and though this gathering is locally focused, may it be an inspiration for what God is doing everywhere!

The website for the effort said that there were "3 Areas to the Vision:"

1. Every believer praying beyond their faith
2. Every household of faith praying beyond their family
3. Every church family praying beyond their walls

There were regional prayer rallies and a number of prayer walks in area neighborhoods.

Civil Righteousness is an organization that was involved in St. Louis over the weekend - its website proclaims: "Inequity demands a Civil Rights movement, Iniquity requires a Civil Righteousness movement."  That is a principle that has been embraced by a man from Ferguson, MO, which is in the St. Louis area.  After the death of George Floyd, The Stream posted an article about this gentleman.  It said:

“It’s always a fringe element that has violent ideology,” said Jonathan Tremaine Thomas, a pastor and owner of a local coffee shop. “About sixty people who arrived downtown weren’t activists, they were anarchists.”

“This group was done with the language of peacemaking. They said, ‘Bro, this is the revolution.’”

Thomas, after dissuading a looter at a store near his coffee shop, was called by a chaplain with the police department to gather clergy together and keep the peace.  Thomas gathered a group of seven to stand downtown and hopefully cause rioters and protestors to stand down. Josh Shepherd of The Stream reported in a June 1 article:

Thomas founded grassroots national network Civil Righteousness in 2018 as a catalyst for reconciliation and restorative justice.

They believe their message is suited for the current crisis. “I feel like the window of time is running out,” said Thomas. “If these agendas persist, there will be massive casualties. People died last night and early this morning, but the coming bloodshed will be far more grievous.”

On May 30, hundreds linked to Civil Righteousness began a 21-day Isaiah 58 Fast. The nonprofit group developed a free Field Action Guide to equip Christians for peacemaking.

Currently, their teams in more than 45 cities nationwide are bringing prayer to protests.

The article includes this quote from Thomas: “Peace is the setting right of wrong things. It’s the tamping down of demonic chaos. It’s the most powerful weapon in heaven and on earth.” 

Just two months ago, Shepherd gave an update on the activities of Civil Righteousness, writing: "This past summer, they showed what public prayer advocacy looks like. On August 8, nonprofit ministry Civil Righteousness mobilized prayer gatherings in over 300 cities across all 50 states."  That effort was called Pray on MLK, and on this year's Martin Luther King birthday observance, there was more.  Shepherd wrote at The Stream:

With Monday marking Martin Luther King, Jr. Day nationwide, they’ve planned another Pray On MLK event. “Two days before the inauguration, right on the heels of what’s happened, we are coming together in prayer,” said Thomas. “It’s not about our ideas or agendas. God calls us to go low and get silent.”

The group partnered with Missio Nexus, described as "the largest association of Great Commission churches and organizations in North America." The Stream says:

Denver-based Louis Gallucci serves as national director for Missio Benefits. “We all ought to lament the fact that we are not one and that God calls us to be,” he said.

Gallucci added: “The culture has taken hold of words like ‘racial reconciliation...Unity is God’s idea, not some ‘liberal communist’ agenda. Yet many in the church have let a perverse culture dictate how they see reconciliation.” The article continues:

In light of ongoing national upheaval, Thomas has an urgency about their mission.

“Without something miraculous, we are headed toward another repeat of history and a possible civil war,” he said. “We don’t need a humanistic interpretation of the times and events we see. So the heart behind Pray on MLK is to go to a superior reality.”

Earlier in the article, Jonathan Tremaine Thomas had spoken of a "superior wisdom," in response to what occurred in DC on January 6, saying: “The superior wisdom is corporate humility. We pray: ‘Lord, we do not know what to do. We do not even know fully what is true. But You are truth, and our eyes are on You.’”

So, this weekend, Civil Righteousness joined with fellow believers throughout St. Louis in a massive, organized, unified prayer effort for their city.  It's an expression of these principles I have outlined, of meeting tension and unrest with peace and prayer.  In a city that has become known for its violence, the people of God have decided to walk in victory over the enemy's schemes.  

What is astounding and reassuring to me is that you don't have to look too far in major cities to find a Christian-led prayer effort designed to bring unity.  Montgomery has the OUR Montgomery Prayer Walk and the Awaken movement.  Awaken has joined with similar movements in Mobile and Charleston.  I spoke with someone recently at the CPE Show in Charlotte who was sharing with me about how Anthony Thompson, who lost his wife in the shooting at Emanuel AME Church a few years back, is involved in leading an effort to bring understanding and reconciliation. He is now part of the Advisory Board for Mission: CHS, which includes the OneCharleston effort.  We are seeing God bring people from different racial and cultural backgrounds together for His purposes in His love, and the Church can lead the way in bringing peace to our land.