As we get the opportunity to enjoy the embrace of family and friends through our summer time travel, we must turn saddened hearts to those whose lives have been tragically altered. You've read the headlines. If you consume any news, or read social media, you have certainly been inundated with the hatred that seems to permeate our society. Christians, as we have so horribly seen this past week in South Carolina, are not immune to the terror and incredulous evil that can happen while living in this world.
But there is hope...
This
past week, the victims of the Charleston shootings displayed for the
whole world, the spirit of the living God and emulated the grace that is
available through Jesus. The grief and frustration, while evident, was
not at the forefront for what they had to say to the young man who
perpetuated the heinous crimes on them. They forgave. They begged God
for this young man's soul. Their words were so intense that one self
described "non-religious" television pundit was so astonished that he appeared to
soften his stance towards religion and those who practice it. He
admired the faith and courage of the congregants of Charleston's
Emmanuel AME church in the face of unimaginable pain. He went so far as
to question his belief system because of their example.
While
watching that brief analysis by the commentator, I was struck with a
question...why doesn't my life cause the non religious to question their
belief systems and explore Christianity? It's time for a change in
me. It's time for a change in our country. No, I'm not talking about
any kind of legislation. History is replete with examples of wars and
the killing of people that occurred before the time the first gun was
manufactured. What has to change is the mentality that our differences
as people have to keep us at odds with one another. Christians are not
immune to this. But, Christians should be and in some circumstances
are at the forefront of the change our country and world so desperately need. What the media, social and
traditional, fails to report are the countless examples of culturally
different folks who have answered the question... why don't we?
"Ebony And Ivory" spent
seven weeks at #1 in the spring of 1982 and would go on to become the
fourth most popular song of the year. It joins a list of songs peppered
throughout musical history that deal with cultural relations and is
reminiscent of the 1972 hit by Three Dog Night, "Black And White". (Tuesday's Musical Notes - "Black And White")
While these songs usually chart well and have a temporary impact on
the relationship of every day people, no long term effect ever seems to
take....or does it?
While
we see and hear about the stories of tragedy, it seems we rarely hear
about the success stories when it comes to cultures cohabiting. Unfortunately, getting along with our neigbours, regardless of their cultural background, is not deemed newsworthy. Every
day in America there are communities who are not perfect, but get
along. They have learned to live, they have learned to give each other what they need to survive... They don't have rioting in their streets. They don't have shootings motivated by a disdain for skin color in their churches. What they do have are schools, police
departments, fire departments, city governments, churches and industry
that feature folks from every color imaginable working together and
getting along. When a need arises, there is never a question about whether
all the folks in the community will do what they can to assist.
Neighbor helps neighbor, whether it is searching for a missing 2 year
old boy, or putting a community back together in the aftermath of
flooding or tornadoes. I've seen it with my own eyes...yep, here in the
south!
Yes,
there are differences in our cultures. However, those differences do
not have to be so defining and rigid that we lose our sense of being a
part of the human race. God calls all people to His saving grace. To a forgiveness that was echoed and exemplified this past week by those involved in South Carolina's shooting. The Bible
tells us about that forgiveness through the ultimate example of
interpersonal relations in the life of Jesus. Jesus came to serve and
forgive regardless of one's culture or color, religious or heretical
background, health or disease, wealth or poverty. As Jesus was going to the house of one of the most hated men of the area, Luke 19:10 announces Jesus intention and plan for His life while on the earth ..." For
the Son of Man has come to seek and to save the lost." The "lost" that
Jesus is speaking of is me...it is also you. He came for everyone. We
just have to decide if we will be the recipient of such a perfect
grace. A grace that says, "Father, forgive them for they don't know
what they are doing".
The
Bible details a time when evil will be banished. The enemy and those
who chose to follow him will be locked away to never more create havoc.
It will also be a time when those who have chosen to accept the grace
and mercy of Jesus and follow Him will be ushered into an eternity of
light and goodness, a place where Ebony and Ivory Jesus followers will
be living in perfect harmony...the place where God exists. At the end
of all time, one's destination for all of eternity will be the only
thing that will separate us...
"Diverse City" by Toby Mac from 2004's Welcome To Diverse City
"Diverse City" by Toby Mac from 2004's Welcome To Diverse City
'Til Tuesday,
Serving HIM by serving you,
Randy
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