I’ve started writing a blog post a few times but words are coming hard these days. I’ve felt anger and sadness but also hope and thankfulness. Thankfulness in the fact that George Floyd was a believer in Christ and despite the events surrounding his death, is now at peace with his Savior. Thankfulness also for the police officers who have spoken out against hate; who have walked with those hurting and have said “we are mad too; what can we do”...starting a conversation. Hope, that conversations are happening; people are coming together and speaking out against such sin.
As I’ve thought over these events I’m reminded of these words from John 10:10 “The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life and have it abundantly.” The hatred we see is from the devil!
While Jesus was here on earth he exemplified the breaking down of prejudices; He showed that ignorance is not bliss. Ignorance leads to fear and so much of the hate we have comes from fear of things we do not understand; Jesus has not given us a spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7). When we place labels on people and don’t talk to them, the seeds of fear and hate have fertile ground to grow.
When Jesus was on earth...
He defied prejudices by speaking to the Samaritan woman ~ John 4:1-26
He defied prejudices by defending the woman accused of adultery ~ John 8:1-11
He defied prejudices by having Mary learn at his feet along with the men ~ Luke 10:38-42
He defied prejudices by touching those considered unclean ~ Mark 5:25-34
...and in so many other ways His life spoke out against prejudices and hatred.
Jesus did not dismiss or minimize their experiences; He met the hurting with understanding and love. He spoke Truth and Hope to their brokenness.
So what do we do? We pray for hearts that mourn over sin, that desire to follow hard after Jesus. We read...first and foremost the Bible; our source of Hope and Truth...looking to Jesus and the examples and instructions he set for us. Then we listen to those with different experiences and backgrounds; we meet them where they are and we listen.
God made us different because our differences teach us things we could not know if we were all the same, our differences give a beauty, richness and fullness to our lives here on earth. It is the devil’s way to try and destroy all that God has made for our good. We should be celebrating each other not trying to kill and destroy! We should instead be hating the sin that tries to destroy hope. There is a place for righteous anger Ephesians 4:26 says “Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger,” but James 1:20 reminds us that “for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God.” Our anger needs to be rooted not in our own thoughts or towards others but in the things that God hates...sin!
Romans 12:15 says “Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep.” Let us sit with those weeping and as we weep with them and meet them in the hopelessness and chaos let’s remember to point them to Hope and Peace Himself...Jesus! “I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” ~ John 16:33
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