It’s no surprise that our world is broken, it has
been for a very long time. Injustice, racism, hatred, and violence, are
nothing new. Humanity has done a great job of hurting itself for
centuries. But in these more recent days, the blatant
hatred and discord has made this reality even more obvious. I have
witnessed more and more people coming forward to speak out against the
wrongs, to share their experiences. And while each testimony of
experienced racism, hatred, and violence sickens and pains
me, I am thankful for those who are willing to raise their voices
against the wrong. Oh how this world needs an antidote to itself!
Church, now is not the time to be silent. Now is
not the time to let others do the work for us. Now is not the time to
appeal to the masses, to bow to popular culture and the whims of the
world. Now is the time for Christ to be proclaimed
in word and in deed to the watching world that is so desperate for the
undiluted Gospel. These are the days that we have been preparing for
every time we sat through a sermon, memorized a verse, or practiced our
Gospel methods. The time is now.
I implore you, if you claim to follow Jesus, if you
call yourself a Christian, do not remain silent. When you see
injustice, fight it. When you witness hate, confront it with Him who
calls Himself Love. When you hear lies, speak the Truth
with boldness. Dust off your Bible and read it with earnest. Get on
your knees and pray for your communities, this country, and the world.
There is only one Antidote for this world, and you know Him by name.
Church, do not turn on yourself, do not tear
yourself down. Do not look to condemn those among you who are “too
liberal” or “too conservative,” who voted “wrong.” The Church is the
bride of Christ and He loves it dearly. Do not think you
can spread hatred of the Church and not anger God. In all times and all
ways, the Church must pursue unity. It is a body, one that cannot
function without all parts working together in harmony. We must fight
for unity.
Church, you are the hands and feet of Jesus. You do
not exist to sit comfortably in your pew with your coffee and a side of
condescension. You do not exist to stay in a bubble with those whose
views align with yours. And above all, you
do not exist to live a safe and prosperous life. In this world, you
will have trials. But you are called to face the trials, to make disciples, to stand apart, and to do the will of the Father. I cannot wait to see what God does through willing and available hearts.
