God ’s orders: “Go to the royal palace and deliver this Message. Say, ‘Listen to what God says, O King of Judah, you who sit on David’s throne—you and your officials and all the people who go in and out of these palace gates. This is God ’s Message: Attend to matters of justice. Set things right between people. Rescue victims from their exploiters. Don’t take advantage of the homeless, the orphans, the widows. Stop the murdering!'" Jeremiah 22:1-3 MSG
I recently heard a Pastor say that non-violent protest has never worked. I believe he said this for a few reasons.
1.) In the cases of non-violent protest he referenced, those who were non-violent were on the receiving end of violence. Therefore in essence, the presence of violence negated the non-violent agenda.
2.) He stated he is angry, and tired of seeing men of color still being killed at the hands of the police.
3.) He is tired of seeing the police be judge and executioner; protesting hasn't changed that.
4.) He is tired of seeing believers who are white be non-responsive when black and brown people are killed unjustly.
5.) He is frustrated with a system that shields and protects blue (police) from taking personal responsibility when unlawfully killing black and brown people.
I can understand his anger and frustration. I believe he has a legitimate position. I feel many of the same emotions. However, I have to see these events through a different lens. There are a few shifts in reality that I feel we must embrace as believers to try and regain a sense of perspective.
1.) The world is fallen and full of sin. We see the result of sin in the police killings. These are issues of the heart as well as of corrupt systems.
2.) Although we are born into ethnic groups, with Christ we are made into new creatures. That is the beauty of being in God's family. Our vision is changed to look at, and respond to, events as kingdom people first, and then through our ethnicity second.
3.)This means we experience the pain and suffering of this world as we recognize the lordship and authority of a sovereign God. Love ultimately wins when it lives in his people.
4.) We must mix our faith (and tears) with action. We cannot say we believe God without finding God's heart and reflecting it back to the world in practical ways.
It is tiresome to speak of peace when war is raging in our hearts. We have to settle the war. The psalmist poured out his complaint to the Lord. He was pressed on every side and needed rescue. Much like what we see today, systems are designed to disadvantage others, allowing justice to be distorted and perverted. But today, many are simply pouring out their complaint to others, looking for redemption from an unjust world.
As believers, we must pour out our complaint to God, in belief that he is and that he rewards those who diligently seek him. Pouring out our hearts to God is an act of faith. Listening to his answer and obeying is also an act of faith. No matter what it looks like, God sees and he hears. He is not slack in fulfilling his promises; Heb. 10:35-39 says, though the answer seems to tarry, wait for it. Do not give up on God's kingdom rest because of societal ills.
I believe He is calling us to be doers of the word and not hearers only. He is a God of mercy and justice. He will use us to speak his truth to unjust systems. Our political parties and justice system need to hear the collective voice of the kingdom declare, "Enough!" As believers we are to be mirrors reflecting the purity of God's word and standing for change for the wounded and oppressed.
Why? God does not stand for corrupt systems and abuse of power. Eventually all unjust systems will be judged. We must "go and deliver this message." In our circle of influence, we must speak, act and advocate for change.
We are in place to establish a New Normal of Discontentment. Choose not to revert back to being silent observers or ethnocentric respondents. We can be discontent enough to be Kingdom Advocates: advocating for God's agenda of righteousness, justice, peace and love. We must remain in the rest and faith of God. Let's be discontent and be the change to the glory of God!
Think About it
Amen to all of this, my brother and sister. And yes, we must remain in the rest and faith of God!
ReplyDeleteJ. Melson