A Word About the Current Situation in America
June 14, 2020
With the radical changes that came about due to the Covid-19 virus and now the racial tensions at the death of George Floyd, our nation finds itself in the grips of fear and anger.
When looking at the racial tension from a secular perspective, I would say this:
· First, anyone who has such a disregard for human life, as in the case of the police officer in the George Floyd situation, should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
· Second, anyone American that desires to protest to voice their opinions should have the freedom to do so within the full extent of the law.
· Finally, anyone that riots, destroys public or private property, places other people in danger, should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.
But when looking at the racial tension in our country from a Christian worldview, we see the Bible teaches that all people are created in the image of God. Therefore, we, as Bible-believing Christians, should be the first to hold up the ideal that all human beings are people of worth. The image of God is the same core truth that rightly makes us oppose the killing of the unborn. So, if the unborn child is a creation of the image of God, then our response to all those living among us must be that we show them the respect of being created in the image of God.
For us, as Christians, there are only two divisions of humanity that will last into eternity; those in Christ and those outside of Christ. All other temporal delineations should carry no weight among the saints.
Finally, as we all watch and are concerned about the state of our nation, I would invite you to join me in the realization that God is shaking our country. The eternal issue is not race but rightness with God. Could it be that the pain and hurt in the physical and relationship realm that we are experiencing right now is God’s way to push our nation toward only one recourse, and that is, to turn back to the God of the Bible?
If this is what God is about, and I believe that it is, we the church, must be ready to accomplish two things. First, we must be prepared to live through the pain, fear, and hurt. Willing to allow God to force our nation to its knees. Then, we, the church, must be ready to clearly, kindly, and confidently proclaim the good news of Jesus Christ our Lord.
I ask you to join me in praying that our God will lovingly hurt our country enough to cause our nation to cry out to Him for forgiveness.
Just my thoughts,
Pastor Jim