I know people like to say the Church shouldn’t be political and as a whole, many of the Body tries to shy away from topics such as racism.
BUT I AM NOT ONE OF THOSE PEOPLE.
TO THE BYSTANDER:
Body of Christ, we need to wake up and STAND UP! God has called us to be His hands and feet in this earth. We are called to be His mouthpiece. How can we be these things yet remain quiet on an issue that is dear to His heart? God hates racism. He hates oppression. So much so that He calls us to,
“Learn to do good;
Seek justice,
Rebuke the oppressor;
Defend the fatherless,
Plead for the widow.”
Isaiah 1:17
The Lord sees color. He created color and He was intentional about the color and shade of every person He formed with His hands. Why would we think He’d have us remain silent when one of His creations is oppressed by another of His creations because of the color of their skin? He would not.
“The Lord is a shelter for the oppressed, a refuge in times of trouble.”
Psalms 9:9
“May He defend the cause of the poor of the people, give deliverance to the children of the needy, and crush the oppressor!”
Psalms 72:4
During this time when God is exposing just how hateful and corrupt this country and it’s systems are, I’ve seen some believers remain silent and some believers go hard protesting, raising awareness and speaking out against oppression.
Then there are those using “just pray” as a means of silencing others and making themselves feel more comfortable with their lack of effort in speaking out against racism. I’m not here for it.
You can be quiet if you want to but don’t try to manipulate others into being silent.
Do not condemn others for doing as the Bible instructs - seeking justice and defending the oppressed.
Let’s stop painting Jesus as this passive person who just prayed everything away. Jesus was an activist. He literally left His throne to come down here and defend us.
Did He pray? Always!
But He also put in work.
He put His actions where His prayers were.
You can pray and still sign petitions
You can pray and still peacefully protest.
You can pray and still raise awareness.
You can pray and still boycott.
BOTH PRAYER AND ACTION ARE NEEDED.
They're both necessary!!
Faith without works is D E A D!
In 1 Samuel 30, David sought the Lord for instruction and then was told to take action.
“and David asked the Lord: “Should I pursue these raiders? Will I overtake them? ” The Lord replied to him, “Pursue them, for you will certainly overtake them and rescue the people.””
1 Samuel 30:8
Let’s put our prayers into action.
TO THE WEARY AND OVERWHELMED:
I know we are hurt. I know we are angry. I know we are frustrated. I just don’t want for us to lose hope. We will rise.
Keep using that anger to drive you to be constructive...to protest...to raise awareness...to sign petitions...to boycott...to vote...and don’t forget to pray in all things.
I understand that in times like this it’d be easy to want to just sit back and pray and/or blame God. However, let’s not forget that God gave us dominion of the earth. He called us to steward it. We are His hands and feet in this world.
A brother in Christ, Jermaine Coore, made a great point when he said that although God is in charge, we are His workers. Just as on a job there are supervisors who delegate work and we do it, God delegates what we should be doing as well. When a supervisor gives you an assignment, you don’t give it back to them to get it done. They are in charge of the operation but YOU were given a task to complete.
God is in control of it all. He is still sovereign. Nothing catches Him by surprise. BUT WE HAVE WORK TO DO. We can’t sit back and just pray this away. We have to put in action as God instructs (however that action may look for you. We won’t all be given the same assignment.) Hear from God for yourself, fast, pray and speak against principalities in high places and get busy in the physical. Be encouraged. This is far from over. We will overcome.
“Finally, be strengthened by the Lord and by His vast strength.”
Ephesians 6:10 HCSB
“Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil.”
Ephesians 6:11 NLT
“For our battle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the world powers of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavens.”
Ephesians 6:12 HCSB
TO US ALL:
THIS ISN’T JUST A WAR ON RACISM.
THIS IS A SPIRITUAL BATTLE.
In Daniel 10 the angel is speaking to Daniel about how he has been fighting the DEMONIC spirit which has been seeking to INFLUENCE the POLITICAL AFFAIRS within Persia. The purpose of this demonic spirit was to oppose God and His purposes. SOUND FAMILIAR??
RACISM IS DEMONIC. It is an evil spirit which SEEKS TO INFLUENCE the POLITICAL AFFAIRS of America. It opposes God’s purposes and seeks to oppress God’s people.
This angel in the text was sent to fight the principality, strengthen Daniel and inform him of the future the moment that he began to fast and pray BUT he was held up in spiritual warfare.
Just because we may not see what God is doing, just because we may not see the help the Lord has sent does not mean it hasn’t been sent and it doesn’t mean that God isn’t working. This angel was held up for 3 weeks fighting the principality over Persia. 3 WEEKS! Who knows how long angels have been fighting on our behalf but held up by principalities. Body of Christ, we need to do our part and keep praying, keep fasting, keep empowering the people, keep spreading hope to the hopeless and keep fighting. It is not over. We are overcomers. Don’t grow weary. Don’t be afraid. YOU ARE VERY PRECIOUS TO GOD! Don’t ever forget that!
“Then he said, “Don’t be afraid, Daniel. Since the FROM THE DAY YOU BEGAN TO PRAY for understanding and to HUMBLE YOURSELF BEFORE YOUR GOD, YOUR REQUEST HAS BEEN HEARD IN HEAVEN. I have come in answer to your prayer. But for twenty-one days the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia blocked my way. Then Michael, one of the archangels, came to help me, and I left him there with the spirit prince of the kingdom of Persia.
“Don’t be afraid,” he said, “for YOU ARE VERY PRECIOUS TO GOD. Peace! Be encouraged! Be strong!” As he spoke these words to me, I suddenly felt stronger and said to him, “Please speak to me, my lord, for you have strengthened me.””
Daniel 10:12-13, 19