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In Isaiah 52, we see a passage about the proclamation of truth and God's affirmation of it; it says:
6 Therefore My people shall know My name; Therefore they shall know in that day That I am He who speaks: 'Behold, it is I.' "
7 How beautiful upon the mountains Are the feet of him who brings good news, Who proclaims peace, Who brings glad tidings of good things, Who proclaims salvation, Who says to Zion, "Your God reigns!"
8 Your watchmen shall lift up their voices, With their voices they shall sing together; For they shall see eye to eye When the Lord brings back Zion.

We are called to be proclaimers of God's truth - we are His ambassadors, and we are called and empowered to speak God's principles, to live and proclaim God's Word.  When Biblical truth is spoken into a difficult situation, there is the potential for solutions to occur.  When prayer is directed at breaking down barriers, the power of God is released in order to bring God's desired outcome.  We are the bringers of hope, and our desire should be to minister that hope, wherever the Lord sends us.

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After being tempted in the wilderness, Jesus began His teaching ministry.  He went to Nazareth to
teach in the synagogue, and we find this narrative in Luke chapter 4:
18 "The Spirit of the Lord is upon Me, Because He has anointed Me To preach the gospel to the poor; He has sent Me to heal the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to the captives And recovery of sight to the blind, To set at liberty those who are oppressed;
19 To proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord."
20 Then He closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant and sat down. And the eyes of all who were in the synagogue were fixed on Him.
21 And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."

COVID-19 has certainly forced the Church to adapt in so many ways.  And, where there have been barriers to in-person worship; services have taken a variety of forms, including online services and other special programs, drive-in services, and in-person worship with social distancing.  Churches have been finding ways to be involved in serving the needy in their communities and ministering to the needs of their parishoners.  And, as we are working our way through it, we are continuing to realize that Christ is the head of the Church and He is showing Himself to be faithful.

A church leader in Kenya named Paul Macharia, from All Saints' Cathedral in Kiambu County has been intent on sharing Christ's truth, according to a story on the Voice of America website. He has a ministry that has been called, "B2B," which stands for "balcony to balcony.”

The article relates:

Each Sunday he hits the road delivering his sermons to scores of people in apartment buildings.

Macharia relishes the reception he has received, telling the Associated Press it would not be possible if people didn’t invite his mobile church into their communities.

Macharia said, "It has been beautiful seeing children coming together for worship services..."
The report states, "The service appears to have taken on an aura of hope..."

Think about that - we each, as believers in Christ, have that potential to bring an "aura of hope." Even in the midst of pandemic or protest, we can have a distinct position - to be purveyors of hope in Christ. 

That's why our presence is so key in the current social upheaval - hope is described in Hebrews 6 as an "anchor for the soul," and our culture needs to be anchored in Biblical principles regarding social relationships, with a foundation of love and service.  It's more than just reforming social structures, although that can be helpful where there is true injustice - we need the transformation of hearts in order to see true reform take place.

I believe the Scriptures provide the prescription to address the problem that we are seeing, especially in our cities - but social programs that have been tried for decades are not producing results.  One could say we need a new approach.  What if ministers who are devoted to following Biblical truth met with governmental leaders, business leaders, and other influential people in our communities to craft workable solutions?

Paul Macharia realized Christ is the cure, but he wasn't content to stay in his home during the COVID-19 crisis in Kenya.  He went to the streets - balcony to balcony - and called out to people, proclaiming, "Christ is the answer."  We're here for a reason, and we can reflect the call of Christ and issue the call of Christ.

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.

Hope For the Future

The challenges we face in human relationship can not result in lasting change without the power of the Holy Spirit and the principles of God's Word.  We can try in human wisdom and so-called "strength," but those tools are inferior to what God offers.  Romans 5 states:
3 And not only that, but we also glory in tribulations, knowing that tribulation produces perseverance;
4 and perseverance, character; and character, hope.
5 Now hope does not disappoint, because the love of God has been poured out in our hearts by the Holy Spirit who was given to us.
6 For when we were still without strength, in due time Christ died for the ungodly.

Human wisdom cannot produce godly results, and so the wisdom of man might offer a temporary fix; yet, the Scriptures can produce a change in the heart. In our humanity, we are frail and weak, but through humbling ourselves before the Lord, we can avail ourselves of His strength. He gives us powerful resources in order that we might address our brokenness and experience His restoration. In that knowledge, we can have hope.

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In the 15th chapter of Romans, we can read about the hope that we have in Christ.  Beginning in
verse 4, we can read:
4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.
5 May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had,
6 so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7 Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God.

Our past can certainly impact our present, and how we respond to the echoes of the past can determine the course of our future.  And, we know that, in Christ, we can have hope for the future.  We can change the trajectory of history.

And, the consequences of the past can sometimes play out in the present, as Duck Dynasty's Phil Robertson recently found out.  But, his response has apparently yielded a great outcome.

As the The Christian Post reports, a lady named Phyllis had discovered, through a DNA test three years ago that she and her siblings did not share the same father.  The article says:

She explained that her genealogy results weren’t “matching up” with what she was previously told about her heritage. Her results revealed that she and her two siblings were actually “half-siblings.”

After taking a deeper look into her family tree, it led her to believe Phil was her dad.

She reached out to two of Phil's sons, Jase and Al, who arranged for a paternity test to take place, confirming that Phil Robertson was Phyllis' father.  So, how can this be?  Well, as the Post states:

Phil has always talked honestly about his wild past of using drugs and cheating on his wife, Miss Kay, whom he married when he was 17. Phyllis was a result of his past life, which he just discovered.

Phyllis joined Jase and Al and her newfound father on a recent episode of Unashamed with Phil Robertson on BlazeTV. The article relates:

When the father and daughter were finally brought together to meet and speak face to face for the first time, Phil told his family he wanted to speak with Phyllis privately.

“Everybody had warned me that he’s not very nurturing and be prepared,” Phyllis said her brother warned her. “I found you to be very nurturing. He grabbed me by the hands.”

“I put my hands on her face,” Phil recollected, and looked “in her eyes,” taking in the fact that he now had a daughter. They spoke for 45 minutes before joining her new family.

She has readily been accepted by the Robertson family, including Miss Kay, Phil's wife, who said she was "thrilled beyond belief."  Phil and Miss Kay's children are all men, so Phyllis has in essence become the daughter they never had - together.

The Post story also notes that Phil said, "You came out of a sinful situation but now that you're here, you say, 'I've been following Jesus for 45 years..." She responded by saying: "God's hand has been on my life all my life, and that grace that God was extending to you, saving you and changing you and your family, I believe that extended to me. I don't understand that exactly but God is mysterious and big and great and I just believe that that's what happened.”

This was certainly a redemptive moment, with Phil saying that Phyllis was "the best thing that ever came out my past."  There were certainly consequences of Phil's past sinful behavior, and this could have been a destructive moment for the Robertson family, but because of the presence of the Lord, He has taken the past, redeemed it, and now there is hope for the future in this new father-daughter relationship.

We are certainly, as a nation, have gone through and are continuing to go through a difficult stage, but Phil's granddaughter, Sadie Robertson Huff, reminded viewers on Fox Nation recently, that we can trust God with our future.  CBN quotes her as saying:

"But the beauty in this, if there is beauty in this, is that we are all going through it together," Robertson continued. "There's something really beautiful about knowing that even though we don't have control - that we have a God who is a good father, who is in control of everything."

"It says in Psalms 46, he's an ever-present help in times of trouble," she said on the Fox Nation show. "So we got to fix our eyes on him. It says in Hebrews that even Jesus when he was enduring the agony of the cross, he fixed his eyes on heaven for the hope that has."

So, we have a choice regarding our past: are we going to allow it to hold us back, keep us down, restrain us from experiencing what God has in store for us?  Or are we going to walk forward toward Jesus, allowing Him to redeem our past, deal with the consequences, and trust Him with our future?  Phil had an unknown visitor from his past, and he could have caused the situation to cause bitterness and anger.  But, he gracefully accepted his daughter and his family did, too - it's a wonderful picture of God's redeeming grace.

We have to confront our brokenness and allow the Lord to heal us. I think we are facing that moment in our nation - the past is calling, and we have to recognize its power to adversely affect the present and move forward into the future with love and understanding; not in a sense of posturing, but in a sense of recognizing the position that we have in Christ to be ministers of reconciliation.

Divided

In the body of Christ, we have much in common.  We are created by the same God, we have the same Savior, we are all, as 2nd Peter 1 says, "partakers of the divine nature," and we are brought together
by the same Spirit. There is more than unites us that divides us. Colossians 1 states:
18 And He is the head of the body, the church, who is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead, that in all things He may have the preeminence.
19 For it pleased the Father that in Him all the fullness should dwell,
20 and by Him to reconcile all things to Himself, by Him, whether things on earth or things in heaven, having made peace through the blood of His cross.

We are in Christ, and this is our common history - and our common nature.  He wants us to walk together as one.  There is great power in that unity, which is why Satan would want to keep us apart, provoking us to turn against each other rather than turn to Christ to solve the issues that would keep us divided.  We can find common ground, not through blaming and attempting to verbally bludgeon someone into submission; instead, we can demonstrate the love of Christ toward each other and work toward understanding, allowing the love of Christ and the Spirit of God to guide us.

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We can have the realization that human relationships can be improved as we acknowledge our
common origins, rather than dwell on our differences. Paul proclaimed in Acts 17:
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;
28 for in Him we live and move and have our being...

The events of the past few days have exposed divides among Americans on a variety of issues related to race relations. A Gallup poll taken earlier this year shows that about a-third of Americans were either very or somewhat satisfied with the state of race relations in the country, with two-thirds dissatisfied - with 25% very dissatisfied. In that same poll, it seems as if Americans were evenly split on "the position of blacks and other racial minorities in the nation."  But, the level of satisfaction about race relations had actually increased since 2016, when only 27% expressed satisfaction, down from 55% in 2014.

More recent polling data shows a negative perception of race relations: A Yahoo! News/YouGov poll indicates that 27% of those surveyed felt race relations were generally good and 57% said they were generally bad.  75% of blacks feel those relations are "generally bad." In that same survey, two-thirds indicated they did not feel that blacks and whites received equal treatment from the police.  63% of whites and 91% of blacks felt that way.  And, just over 6-in-10 Americans feel that deaths of African-Americans in police encounters are "signs of a broader problem."

Regarding protests and the nature of them, Americans have overall strong views. The article reporting on the Yahoo! News/YouGov poll relates:

...a slim majority of Americans describe the unrest that has erupted in Minneapolis as “mostly violent riots” (51 percent) as opposed to “mostly peaceful protests” (10 percent). A quarter (25 percent) see the demonstrations as a mixture of both, “about equally.”

Asked to characterize the motives of the demonstrators, Americans were torn, with 43 percent attributing the unrest to “a genuine desire to hold police officers accountable” and 40 percent chalking it up to “a long-standing bias against the police.”

This poll was taken in late May, so it does not appear to reflect that national wave of protests.  But, a more recent Emerson poll does.  The survey summary says:

Regarding the protests, 46% approve and 38% disapprove of the protests, with 16% being neutral. When it comes to looting and other acts of destroying property as a means of protest, 17% approve, 76% disapprove, and 8% are neutral.

But this poll indicates some seeds of optimism.  The summary states:

Whether or not the protesting will lead to change and a reduction of police brutality is also split, with a plurality (36%) of voters being unsure that police brutality instances will decrease. Thirty-five percent (35%) have faith that police brutality will be reduced, and 29% believe it will not.

A plurality (45%) believe that race relations today are better than they were during the Civil Rights era of the 1960s, but 25% think that race relations today are worse, and 30% believe things have stayed the same.

Thinking towards the future, a majority (54%) believe that race relations will improve, 25% think things will worsen, and 26% believe things will stay the same.

This data can remind us once again of the nature of the polarized country that we have.  And, there are certainly stark differences between blacks and whites on the state of race relations in America.  That's dealing with things now - but, how will that impact the future?  There is optimism, according to one poll. So how do you capitalize and grow those seeds?

One thing is to recognize the problem.  Now, there are many reasons that we are divided. And, trust is not built overnight. We cannot sweep these deeply held beliefs under the rug and deny that they exist.  We can lament the problem but labor toward solutions.

And, that's where the Church can be so powerful - as we recognize the issues that divide us, through careful and clear communication and interaction, we can work toward a better understanding and gain a sense first of all, in the body of Christ that we are one body; the Bible even says that we are one race.  But, we can't just see there is a problem, complain about it, and be satisfied with the way things are; rather, we can be willing to be people of action and affirmation, working toward the common goal of helping people live together in harmony.

The gospel shows us how to do that, and we also recognize there is an element of the condition of the heart - the love of Christ bringing a person into a saving knowledge of our Savior.  The presence of Christ can wipe away the vestiges of hostility that have riddled humanity for centuries.

Endgame

The Bible is a book of justice, of solid principles that contribute to orderly relationships between human beings, predicated on the love of God. Amos 5 states:
22 Though you offer Me burnt offerings and your grain offerings, I will not accept them, Nor will I regard your fattened peace offerings.
23 Take away from Me the noise of your songs, For I will not hear the melody of your stringed instruments.
24 But let justice run down like water, And righteousness like a mighty stream.

Thank God that with regard to our sinfulness, God also showed mercy.  We deserved eternal punishment because of sin, but in His great mercy, He sent His Son to die in our place, to be the substitute for our sins and to bring us forgiveness.  So, Biblical justice is intended to be restorative, making a person who breaks the laws of a country or a community culpable for those transgressions, but offering a compassionate way forward, with justice meted out fairly and equitably.

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From the turbulence that we have witnessed in our society, not only in the months of dealing with the Coronavirus, which has not gone away, but now in seeing the protests in the streets of cities from coast to coast, we know that God wants to bring forth a sense of His presence and His justice.

Biblical justice is tied up, I believe, in the role of government that we see in 1st Peter chapter 3:
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.

But there is a higher law to which believers in Christ subscribe.  When there are unjust laws that are implemented by human beings, we can echo the words of Peter in Acts 5, which says:
27 And when they had brought them, they set them before the council. And the high priest asked them,
28 saying, "Did we not strictly command you not to teach in this name? And look, you have filled Jerusalem with your doctrine, and intend to bring this Man's blood on us!"
29 But Peter and the other apostles answered and said: "We ought to obey God rather than men.

So, people of faith can seek to change unjust laws - but, we have to make sure that we are acting in tandem with the Holy Spirit and not just according to what we think is right.

In our land today, we have seen a recent outbreak of lawlessness.  It began with the lawless act of a group of men who were charged to enforce or uphold the law, and resulted in the death of someone who did not deserve a death sentence, even if he had committed a crime.  It continued with the lawless acts, not of protestors who are seeking justice in the aftermath of that brutal incident, but of people who are committed to anarchy, provoking American cities and putting lives and property at stake.  As the New York City police chief said on CNN last night, 800,000 police officers across America were put at risk by the acts of one rogue cop.  

And, we have to ask ourselves, what is the endgame here?  There are those who are committed to denigrating, weakening, and even overthrowing the Constitution of the United States, a document that has played a huge role in preserving order in our land.  I would dare say that the majority of those taking to the streets have differing views of what it takes to bring justice in our land, just as Christians in the body of Christ have different perspectives on matters of race and justice.  But can we find a way forward that doesn't require 100% agreement?

I think so. So does Johnnie Moore, who was once on the faculty of Liberty University and is a communications specialist, being a mouthpiece for a number of ministry leaders, including Greg Laurie.  Pastor Greg retweeted one of Johnnie's tweets the other day, and I believe it's instructive:

Dear Media: Please don’t miss (or bypass) what unites 99% of US

1. HORROR over the murder of George Floyd

2. DEMAND for justice

3. SUPPORT for peaceful protests

4. RECOGNITION of our need to perfect this union...

He also included an "EXPECTATION" for "Mayors/Governors stop anarchists exploiting injustice."

Can't we agree on that?  Now, perception of what justice looks like, even among people of faith, can be different, as witnessed by some of the the things that have been written and spoken in the last few days.  But, in communities all across our land, this is an opportunity for civic leaders to evaluate their justice system to make sure that it is fair to all, and that those who do evil are punished in a consistent and equitable manner - this can and should involve community members, and include the presence of the Church and Church leaders.

Tony Evans expressed this need for action and a significant role for the church in a recent tweet:

We must righteously voice our dissent but we must simultaneously follow it up with a strategy for a long-term solution. We need more than words. We need more than a protest. We need a plan. The primary source for this potential solution comes through the church. #icantbreathe

Jim Daly of Focus on the Family writes that there should be a way to address racial issues, but notes that:

Answering evil with more evil creates a downward spiral.

“Do not be overcome by evil,” wrote the apostle Paul, “but overcome evil with good” (Romans 12:21).

Only in Jesus Christ are solutions to our current problems found. In this current crisis, Christ is the answer.

He continues by saying:

Christ helps us bear one another’s burdens, directing us to seek justice and address one of the leading causes of the anarchy and evil – the overwhelming impact of family breakdown and the absence of role models.

We have a number of issues in our culture - the Church rightly should have a place at the table to bring Biblical solutions, based on the concepts of loving God and loving our neighbor.  Protests without practicality end up being just a group of people walking and shouting.  But, there needs to be an endgame in all that we participate - a holy and righteous purpose.  Communication involves talking and listening - finding common ground without violating matters of conscience and Biblical principles.

Making Sense Out of Senseless Murder

In Mark 12, Jesus powerfully drew the line from a love of God our Heavenly Father to those around us who are created in the image of God.  We can consider how we can put on Christ and truly love
the people with whom He has placed us on this earth. Here is what Jesus says:
29 Jesus answered him, "The first of all the commandments is: 'Hear, O Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is one.
30 And you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.' This is the first commandment.
31 And the second, like it, is this: 'You shall love your neighbor as yourself.' There is no other commandment greater than these."

Proper love for other people follows from a right understanding and practice of the love of God.  He desires that we take His Word seriously and seek to build right relationships with people, relationships based on His love and truth. A love for others means telling the truth and living out the Scriptures, the source of teaching that can guide us as we navigate the difficulties that we may face.  We are called to love and can be confident that He can show us how to do that.

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In Leviticus 19, we see the heart of God regarding life and love, recognizing that He is pleased as we
value one another. We can read:
16 You shall not go about as a talebearer among your people; nor shall you take a stand against the life of your neighbor: I am the Lord.
17 'You shall not hate your brother in your heart. You shall surely rebuke your neighbor, and not bear sin because of him.
18 You shall not take vengeance, nor bear any grudge against the children of your people, but you shall love your neighbor as yourself: I am the Lord.

Coverage of George Floyd protests were put on pause by another event on Saturday afternoon, the launch of the SpaceX rocket, sending two astronauts into space to dock with the International Space Station. That time period of about one or two hours comprised a welcome respite to the discouraging news coverage of the response to the death of George Floyd in Minneapolis.  And, those who attended the launch were looking to the skies for encouragement and inspiration, hearkening back to the days of the Apollo missions to the moon, in which humanity, in a real sense, was looking for something greater, especially after the turbulent decade of the 60's.

Over the weekend, people were looking up - for a moment; and I think that's important.

But, people were also looking around - senseless violence, fueled by anger over the death of someone who did not deserve to die.  Those watching at home were looking at the protests, certainly, but also at the damage to property.  But, people digesting the news saw, unfortunately, what the news media wanted them to see - that is something that we can keep in mind.

But, we can look beyond and look around - there was more to the story.

Saturday was a cleanup day in Minneapolis, where days of rioting had resulted in the destruction of area businesses.  The local newspaper, the Star Tribune, reported that "Twin Cities nonprofits, community organizations and churches are gathering donations and coordinating cleanup efforts in areas damaged by the rioting that has followed the death of George Floyd in police custody on Memorial Day."  That article featured a listing of area organizations stepping in to help.

There was also prayer that occurred in the Twin Cities.  I mentioned several instances of that in yesterday's news segment on The Meeting House.  Baptist Press reported on the actions of a local pastor, W. Seth Martin, a pastor who founded The Brook Community Church in Minneapolis.  He and church members had been participating in the protests; the pastor said: "We've been down at the protests, and we were protesting peacefully, praying, engaging in conversations with one another and with some other pastors who joined us," adding, "It was especially meaningful for us to get together and talk through some of these issues, together." Martin also teamed up with Chris Reinertson, director of missions for the Twin Cities Baptist Association in Bloomington, to organize a prayer event in a local park. The article states:

"We're praying that God answers our prayers, God brings us peace, God brings His love, God brings His justice," said Reinertson, adding they would pray that "God brings His Kingdom, God rescues people from their selfishness and sin, God brings people to the reality of who they are in their situation," that God would bring "massive healing to that Floyd family," and for "racial healing."

Martin noted that around 90 percent of the protestors are peaceful.  Unfortunately, the violent protestors, reported to be from outside the Twin Cities, have hijacked the protests and deflected from the meaning of them.  Media willingly have covered the deflection.

But, there are instances of protestors who have actually put their lives on the line to protect police officers; and we can recognize that the majority of those called to protect and to serve were and are doing just that.

So, we can look around to see acts of charity and clarity in the midst of these turbulent situations in American cities.  Burning neighborhoods and destroying businesses undercut the message, but Biblical responses of compassion and unity will produce long-lasting change and healing in our communities.  And, the SpaceX launch juxtaposed with images of the weekend protests can remind us to look up - not to God's creation but to the Creator Himself, to find answers in the midst of the confusion.

There are a number of things we can agree on, and the first thing is that George Floyd's death was brutal and unnecessary.  I think you would be hard-pressed to find anyone who would disagree. And, this has presented an unprecedented chance for unity. Unfortunately, in the midst of unity the enemy will try to bring division.  I have been disappointed with some so-called Christian "leaders" who have taken to social media, not attempting to bring unity and peace, but to foment division.  Finger-pointing, blaming, and virtue signaling have no part in society and certainly not in the Church.  The Church has to lead the way, but we can't do that if we are allowing Satan to drive a wedge between us.

There is division and chaos that is being promoted, which overrides the deeper messages that can be taken from this event.  Outside "agitators" are likely whipping the crowds into a frenzy - so, we can ask the question, are you an agitator or a peacemaker?  George Floyd was a "man of peace" in his Houston neighborhood.  Are you known as a man or woman of peace?

We can consider what each of us can do to promote racial harmony.  We can pursue Biblical justice, not by embracing the ways of the world, such as Critical Race Theory, which perpetuates division.  We find that blacks blame whites and whites misunderstand blacks, and we can be called to greater understanding of one another.

The image of a white police officer, a representation of authority, with his foot on the neck of a black man, activated a sense of real anger, fueled by the unjust treatment of African-Americans throughout the years.  Now, through prayer and positive interaction, we can do better.  It was encouraging to see the footage of Mayor Reed's press conference on Monday night, where there was a call for the community to come together for the sake of the city.

So what can you do?  I would encourage you to ask, "What do you have?"  I have a voice; I have a microphone.  What has God given you?  You have a heart to serve Him and to be His representative - we can each pray how we can contribute to living out the commandment to love our God and to love our neighbor.   Remember, in the midst of the turmoil, we can look up, then look around to see what God would have you to do.

MUST Clear Hurdles

When we encounter obstacles in our individual lives and in the corporate work of the Church, we can
remember the sustaining power of God. Hebrews 10 states:
35 Therefore do not cast away your confidence, which has great reward.
36 For you have need of endurance, so that after you have done the will of God, you may receive the promise:
37 "For yet a little while, And He who is coming will come and will not tarry.
38 Now the just shall live by faith; But if anyone draws back, My soul has no pleasure in him.

It can be easy to be discouraged these days for Christian believers - our lives have been turned upside down by the threat of a worldwide virus, and our communities have once again been rocked by unrest.  It is now when the Church can rise up and reflect the love of Christ.  Even when we face obstacles, we can find fresh strength in order to sustain and direct us.  Maybe we can find new ways to do ministry and be more effective in living out the Word of God.

+++++

We can depend on the Lord to bring us new insight and fresh power - that power of the Holy Spirit was expressed on the Day of Pentecost about which we read in the book of Acts, a day which was
celebrated worldwide yesterday. Isaiah 43 says:
18 "Do not remember the former things, Nor consider the things of old.
19 Behold, I will do a new thing, Now it shall spring forth; Shall you not know it? I will even make a road in the wilderness And rivers in the desert.

I was recently reading a policy-heavy article from the Washington Examiner that dealt with how government officials had relaxed burdensome regulations during the Coronavirus crisis.  The piece illustrates something that I have said, that perhaps practices implemented during the crisis can be retooled and incorporated after COVID-19 is a thing of the past - that certainly applies to the Church.

So, I was reading along and found a reference to a ministry in Georgia called MUST Ministries, which has been involved in helping the homeless and feeding school children. I actually know this ministry - my parents had been involved in it.  And, its annual Thanksgiving Day run goes right through the neighborhood that I grew up in and where my mother still lives.

Seems that MUST had dealt with its own struggles with government overregulation and its feeding program for needy children had been on the verge of being shut down.  An op-ed piece on the Marietta Daily Journal website stated:

According to WSBTV, “(MUST Ministries has) been handing out up to 7,000 free sack lunches a day for kids and families every summer” for almost 25 years. Last summer alone, MUST provided nearly 260,000 sandwiches to the needy.

But the Cobb and Douglas Public Health Department recently told MUST that it cannot do so any longer, at least not under its current system. This news came shortly before MUST was set to begin its summer sandwich program. For those depending on the aid, the timing is devastating.

Apparently, volunteers making sandwiches for children violates health standards.  The article notes that:

This is a serious overreaction. MUST has operated this program for nearly a quarter century, and according to MUST Ministries President and CEO Ike Reighard, there has “never been a problem;” nobody has ever even gotten sick from their food. Beyond this, unless there’s an obscure sandwich law that we don’t know about, in most cases any private citizen can make a sandwich in their home, walk outside and give it away. But for some reason, MUST cannot do the same.

The Atlanta Journal Consitution reported that indeed, MUST was mandated to restructure its programs, and last year announced a campaign to accept donations in order to arrange for the hundreds of thousands of sandwiches to be made.

This was last spring; in the fall, another hurdle was encountered by this major ministry operation. It was looking to expand to accommodate more homeless people, to increase from its 72-bed capacity.  11 Alive Television reported that MUST needed an 80-foot variance and the local zoning authority approved it, but a citizens board rejected it.  Finally, the ministry went before the Marietta mayor and city council, who gave their stamp of approval.  Another hurdle cleared!

During the Coronavirus crisis, MUST Ministries has been on the front lines.  The ministry created a Rapid Response initiative to get food to needy families across two metro area counties, according to the AJC website.  The program, according to the site, "provides family food boxes that individuals and families in need can pick up once a month."

I realize that we live in discouraging times, but we can recognize that God has raised up the Church - local churches, as well as community ministries and national ministries, to take up the mantle of spreading God's love and truth.  There will be some who do not want to accommodate the work of the Church, but it is vital in these times.  Every Christian believer should keep persevering.  There may be obstacles, but I believe that the Lord would have us to continue to draw strength from His Spirit.

We can also be reminded to keep adapting.  We live in challenging times, and the former ways of doing ministry may not work - the message doesn't change, mind you, but perhaps COVID-19 has taught us ways to meet new challenges.  Moving forward, I believe that we will have to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit to lead us forward in the area of race relations, and the Church should lead the way in demonstrating Biblical and compassionate ways to heal the rift between people of different races and cultures.

All in all, we can look for God's open doors.  The presence of Christ grows and manifests itself in crisis.  He wants us to take up His mantle, empowered by the Spirit and to be hands and feet - and the voice - of Jesus in our culture.