Wow. That’s all I have to say in response to these past few months. It’s been crazy and now we have the death of George Floyd that has sent the nation into a state of madness. Now everyone is giving their thoughts on the situation and I have debated whether or not to add mine, but I feel the need to speak the truth that is on my heart.
I don’t want to get into an argument with you or anyone else but want to evaluate the feelings that are going on inside of me in regard to this situation through a biblical lens.
Why is this George Floyd situation upsetting me so much?
Well for starters I grieve that a life was taken. It upsets me that we treat each other like this. But I am reminded that life is taken every day, so where’s the anger over that? Where’s the outcry for the other injustices that happen in the world on a daily basis? Where’s the outcry against sin and evil and more specifically the sin in our own individual lives not just our neighbors?
I believe that one of the reasons I am so upset right now is that it seems to me that Christians across the nation are being influenced more by culture than the Bible.
I blame the guys over at the Just Thinking Podcast for causing this unrest in my soul. (I greatly appreciate and respect them for the work they are doing.)
I recently listened to their podcast episode titled: Racial Reconciliation? and, “Wow!” is all I can say. My eyes have been opened to the truth. The truth these guys present could change the world. Actually, I know it would change the world for the better. Click here to listen to this episode.
We keep fighting the same fight over and over so why not look at what we are doing and make a change. I mean, has any lasting change come from the way we have acted in the past in response to these types of situations?
Christians this is directed at you because this message means nothing to the lost world.
Christians, where does change come from?
Where does reconciliation come from?
Jesus Christ alone!
It does not come through posting on social media or protesting or rioting or yelling at people. It does not even come from contacting your local political representative. Yes, this can change laws and fix broken systems, but it does not change the heart.
Why are Christians acting like the rest of the world and thinking there is no hope or wondering what to do?
Preach the message of reconciliation!
Not racial reconciliation but true reconciliation which I believe is found in following passage of scripture:
*Side note: If I just upset you with that last sentence seriously go listen to the podcast but also keep reading because the answer to the problem of racism is found right here.
14-15 Our firm decision is to work from this focused center: One man died for everyone. That puts everyone in the same boat. He included everyone in his death so that everyone could also be included in his life, a resurrection life, a far better life than people ever lived on their own.
2 Corinthians 5:14-21 (The MSG)
16-20 Because of this decision we don’t evaluate people by what they have or how they look. We looked at the Messiah that way once and got it all wrong, as you know. We certainly don’t look at him that way anymore. Now we look inside, and what we see is that anyone united with the Messiah gets a fresh start, is created new. The old life is gone; a new life burgeons! Look at it! All this comes from the God who settled the relationship between us and him, and then called us to settle our relationships with each other. God put the world square with himself through the Messiah, giving the world a fresh start by offering forgiveness of sins. God has given us the task of telling everyone what he is doing. We’re Christ’s representatives. God uses us to persuade men and women to drop their differences and enter into God’s work of making things right between them. We’re speaking for Christ himself now: Become friends with God; he’s already a friend with you.
21 How? you ask. In Christ. God put the wrong on him who never did anything wrong, so we could be put right with God.
Now go read the passage again and let the weight of that truth sink in.
This is true reconciliation! When we are reconciled with God, we become ambassadors of reconciliation to the world. The message we should proclaim everyday should be the same as that of Paul’s:
“We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.” -2 Corinthians 5:20b (ESV)
Christians, we must live as ambassadors of reconciliation for this message will lead to true and lasting change.
Man cannot change the hearts of man only God can.
Our job is to implore (beg someone earnestly or desperately to do something) the world to be reconciled to Christ! That’s the message we need to be sharing with the world not just in crises like this but every day!
In order for the world to change, you as an individual first have to be radically changed by the message of reconciliation!
So what in your life needs to be reconciled to God so that you can reconcile with your neighbor?