As I’ve scrolled through social media the past few days and witnessed the heartbreak and pain that is canvassing our country – I’ve felt a range of emotions.
Heartbroken. Confused. Angry. Upset.
Right now there are multiple families waking up to a new day without their father, without their son, without their brother. There are men and women and children who are waking up today who are afraid – simply because of the color of their skin. There are men and women in the police force who are waking up today who are afraid simply because of the uniform they wear.
I’m not going to pretend that I fully understand the problems facing our nation. I don’t know the solutions. I don’t have the answers.
The only thing I do know is that there are a great number of people who are hurting and grieving right now. And I do know that as a follower of Christ I have a responsibility to enter into that. It doesn’t matter if I can relate to the pain. It doesn’t matter if I’ve never experienced the burden. It doesn’t matter if I’m not directly affected by it. It doesn’t change my responsibility.
We are called to carry one another’s burdens, not tell people they don’t have one. You don’t have to share someone’s pain to pray for them. You don’t have to agree with someone to love them. You don’t have to fully understand something to listen.
Don’t turn off the news. Don’t ignore the pain. Don’t close your eyes.
Division is striking our nation, and as Christians, we are called to act. You have hope to offer. You have peace to offer. You have compassion to offer.
And acting can be simple. It can look like listening, instead of arguing. Encouraging, instead of demonizing. Giving, instead of taking. Leaning in, instead of ignoring.
We must never forget who the real enemy is behind injustice, hatred, and murder. It isn’t a skin color, a police officer, a Presidential candidate or a political party.
Our fight isn’t against flesh and blood. It’s against the powers of darkness that seek to disrupt, dismantle, and destroy God’s creation. We are all image bearers of God and I’m convinced that the gap that is separating us can only be bridged by the love of Christ.
Choose today to fight against apathy and fight for understanding. If you don’t know where to start, just start by listening. Our nation cannot afford anything less.
“Keep your eyes open, hold tight to your convictions, give it all you’ve got, be resolute, and love without stopping.”
1 Corinthians 16:13-14
Great lesson for allow us.
There’s no simple solution. American society goes in a completely different direction to lived Christianity. Put away the guns. Address the racism and the severe poverty that underpins it all.