Knowing their thoughts, He told them, “Every kingdom divided against itself is headed for destruction, and a house divided against itself falls.
(Luke 11:17 CSB)
No matter where I turn, there’s the noise clamoring for my attention. Driving me away from the hope of glory and into the presence of chaos, destruction, division, and hate. As if life hasn’t been and continues to be hard enough coping through the invisible enemy, CoVid-19. Now it a visible foe, hate. Seen everywhere, far and wide! Birthed in the mind and worn on the colors of our skin. The heart in unison with my Pastor, who today shared the sentiments of many others.
That which is divided cannot survive!
I’ve seen protest and riots throughout my life but never as it has been seen today. It’s been such an emotional experience for so many that it outweighed any previous mitigation of social distancing during this pandemic. Increasing the number of potentially new cases. News broadcasting stations have been immersed in this story and that story. The injustices being done against the marginalized. From our political leaders to our neighbors. Each expressing their views. Some believing that unfair practices against those of color is actually something to consider as normal even when captured on cameras.
Hateful deeds supporting what dwells in their hearts. The helpless crying out for someone to aid in their survival. For so long it’s fallen on deafening ears. I think about these occurrences and I’m grieved because that could have been my daughter and/or my grandchildren who are also of African American descent. These are people I love! What about my nieces who also are of African American blood! My nieces’ boyfriend who is African American. What about my dark skin Latino relatives?! What about the man I love?! They’re all subject to being stopped. Abused. Killed. Ask questions later!
The enemy comes to steal, kill, and destroy!
Look at the nation and observe-be utterly astounded! For I am doing something in your days that you will not believe when you hear about it.
(Habakkuk 1:5 CSB)
As days continue to pass, I’m astounded of the continual behavior of so many. All the protest doesn’t seem to have made a difference in their hearts. The abuse goes on. I know God has allowed this and through it we’ve been able to see our vulnerability. Our humanity compromised in the face of adversity. Our leaders, Republicans and Democrats alike, aren’t Kingdom minded. Yet, that’s exactly where we’re called to be! Kingdom Minded!
These are by far the most unprecedented times any of us have lived in. The world has suffered the losses of so many people. Love ones never to be seen or heard of again. Fires, looting, fights, and destruction in all nations! All hell has broken loose! People cannot idly stand by any longer when injustice reminds them that they could be next! For centuries, this has been their narrative. Does this justify the idea of how to express their fears, pain, and anger, no it doesn’t! But I can understand where it comes from. For so long, their voice has been muddled beneath the sounds of their oppressors.
No one should never experience such discrimination!
For so many generations, not just individuals but families are afflicted by the indifference delivered by those different from them. Why? Where does it state that’s the norm? Let us factor into that, who actually were the indigenous people living here? It wasn’t white nor black people. It’s our Native Americans, and they too have been oppressed by this injustice that still exist today. Why?
Learn to do what is good. Pursue justice. Correct the oppressor. Defend the rights of the fatherless. Plead the widow’s cause.
(Isaiah 1:17 CSB)
They look around and see those they love suffering. They’re crying out, NO MORE! People aren’t born haters. This is something they’re taught. I remember being twelve years old and my mom moved us to Beaufort, South Carolina. One day I stepped out to play and as I walked on the dirt road, in the distance I saw two people on horses. Both wearing white hoods and robes. I panicked! Stories read from my seventh-grade textbooks jumped off the page and came to life. Stories from hundreds of years ago yet still felt that day in February 1973! I was terrified! They wouldn’t like me. I was different. I’m Puerto Rican. White in color, yes, but different, nonetheless.
We were all created as a human race with rich ethnic differences!
That year, I witnessed the hate toward my African American classmates by other students who are White. I couldn’t understand it. Having moved from Coney Island, I never encountered such segregation. I moved from a street where I played with Africans Americans, Irish, Jews, Italians, and other Latinos. Never once did I encounter any resentment or made to feel different from anyone! We all played Hot Piece and Butter, Johnny and the Pony, Skelly, and other contact sports without any hinderances. Our parents sat and watched as they talked whatever parents spoke about. Encouraging us!
Yes! I’m in agreement with the protestors! However, I disagree with destructive protesting! It should be civil. It should be in love. It should plead for the marginalized. Blood should never be spilled. That’s not what we were created for. God created us different for a reason! We have so much to offer one another. Our differences are meant to be shared among one another. We’re so rich in our ethnic diversity!
So that there would no division in the body, but that the members would have the same concern for each other. So if one member suffers, all the members suffer with it; if one member is honored, all the members rejoice with it.
(1 Corinthians 12:25-26 CSB)
I love my toes dearly! But in August of last year, due to an infection sustained from surgery, I faced the possibility of losing my toe! Mortified to say the least! My whole body hurt just thinking of it. It’s no different when one of us is suffering. Many will feel the pain too! As a human race we ache for those who face injustice.
We are one in the Spirit; we are one in the Lord!
As the body of Christ, our fellow believers, we ache when our sisters and brothers have faced and continue to deal with a stigma society has chosen to inflict on them. There is no stigma for being a person of color. For being African American. For being Latino. For being Asian. For being any other color than White! There’s no stigma and no one should be made to feel there is. No one should be made to feel that because they wear a color that their proud of, they should be punished for it!
There isn’t one life that has more worth, that has more value than another life! PERIOD! We all matter! Our politicians, our leaders, ALL have things that aren’t of Jesus. They say they do, but they don’t. Fact check: You can ALWAYS tell who someone is by their fruit (Galatians 5:22-23)! We cannot hide our inner being. The essence of who we truly are. Somehow, someway our true nature will reveal our identity. It’s inevitable. There are many false prophets who are like wolves dressed in sheep’s clothing (Matthew 7:15). However, unless we have eyes to see, ears to hear, and a heart to discern what is of God, straight from Scripture, our humanity will be devoured by their hunger to eradicate what God has created. We’re deceived by the cunning tongue that speaks falsehood.
I have given them the glory You have given Me, so that they may be one as We are One. I am in them as You are in Me, so that they may be made completely one, that the world may know You have sent Me and have loved them as You have loved Me.
(John 17:22-23 CSB)
In our differences, we’re called to be one with Christ. To exemplify the unity, we have been created to live into. Our narrative should not reflect one that is destined to tear one another down. To destroy our fellow person. Our narrative should be God’s narrative. A love story. God and ours. One that was and is meant for all of us and for all time.
By default, we go against the leaders of this land. But what we’re called to do is to bring this to the Throne! The Kingdom of God is at hand. It’s available to us for all things. We as followers of Christ have been given the responsibility of being the priests of this land. Not our politicians! Us! All who dwell in the shadow of the Almighty! We are His agents of love! We are His ambassadors of love!
God does not make mistakes!
Let us be intentional about rising as one in Christ! May we not be like Elijah who believed he was alone in his plight and God had to remind him that there were thousands of others ready to stand with him (1 Kings 19:18). When we all rise peacefully but fervently in reverence to the Lord, there wouldn’t be thousands. There will be millions standing in agreement of who God is and who we are in God. Our iDentity lies in Jesus Christ alone. Not in anyone else! Not in anything else! We are His sons and daughters! We are His co-heirs! We are loved by Him who form us before we were placed in our mother’s womb! We are known by Him Who knows how many hairs are counted on our heads! We are His!
With whom have you entrusted your iDentity?
Dear Lord Jesus, how we humbly come before Your Throne of grace and mercy. Forgive us Father for we do not know what we do. This isn’t how You created us to be Lord, full of hate and merciless acts. Neither from those who commit violence because of our skin color nor those who long to be heard because of the injustice against them. This isn’t why you created us. We are meant to be in relationships with all humanity! Forgive our impetuous mindsets. Renew us Lord. We desperately need You to reveal Yourself to us. May we not be like those who chose to never know You. Jesus, our hearts are aching across the nations. You understand us because this isn’t new to You for You encountered every one of these brutal acts. May we come as one body Lord, unified in Christ Jesus, crying out to only You! Lord we need justice for the oppressed who have suffered by those full of pride and indifference. I rebuke it Lord. I rebuke division. I rebuke hate. I rebuke unrighteousness. I rebuke all injustices. We need healing. We need to rise above this in love. In unity. In reconciliation Lord. Help us boldly stand together Father knowing, trusting, and believing that You are the only One able to do this and so much more!
It is in Your Son’s Name Jesus Christ we pray. Songs: We Are One In The Spirit
Amen.
God bless you and yours.
I love you.
In His Grip,