I am grieved because I am unable to properly articulate the necessary empathy for those in our country that are being mislabeled, mistreated and abused because of their skin color. I am grieved because our enemy, the Devil, has successfully planted seeds of hatred and ignorance in so many hearts that has produced the bad fruit of violence and injustice. This is what he has done from the beginning.

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy.”

John 10:10a

I am also enraged at the thought that certain people in power, working behind the scenes, would intentionally stoke the fires of injustice to create further division and drive this world into chaos. These people infiltrate the masses by stealth and provoke further violence in order to distract and derail those protesting from their clear message.

“Know this, my beloved brothers: let every person be quick to hear, slow to speak, slow to anger; for the anger of man does not produce the righteousness of God. Therefore put away all filthiness and rampant wickedness and receive with meekness the implanted word, which is able to save your souls.”

James 1:19-21

I grow weary thinking of the countless examples of this and yet we are no wiser or better in how we relate to one another. Our enemy knows this because a people divided are more easy to manipulate than a people united.

“And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand.”

Mark 3:25

Finally, I am saddened because we have once again allowed our differences to be more important than our similarities. We have allowed our fear of others and the unknown to dictate our aggressive responses in stressful situations. There are too many red (or perhaps false) flags surrounding the current plight of our society for us to blindly accept what we are seeing at face value.

Yes, there is a virus, but I believe that the fear of it, propagated by our global health organizations and our media, will have a more devastating effect on our society than the virus itself, while the ongoing racism and brutality we are seeing will continue to erode the fabric of our nation long after the virus has run its course.

There is more going on here than we are ready to admit. So, we choose to allow our own personal experience to cloud the truth of what is happening at large. Instead, we shout down those who do not “fall in line” and stop our ears when we are confronted with something that makes us uncomfortable.

“Thus says the LORD of hosts:

‘Execute true justice,
Show mercy and compassion
Everyone to his brother.
Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless,
The alien or the poor.
Let none of you plan evil in his heart
Against his brother.’

But they refused to heed, shrugged their shoulders, and stopped their ears so that they could not hear. Yes, they made their hearts like flint, refusing to hear the law and the words which the LORD of hosts had sent by His Spirit through the former prophets. Thus great wrath came from the LORD of hosts.”

Zechariah 7:9-12

“He has shown you, O man, what is good;
And what does the LORD require of you
But to do justly,
To love mercy,
And to walk humbly with your God?”

Micah 6:8

I am praying for those who have experienced injustice. I am also praying for those whose voice is being drowned out by people who are deciding to use violence for their own gains.

I am also praying for my many friends and family members in law enforcement who have dedicated their lives to serve their community only to have their good deeds and sacrificial service undermined by the horrible actions of some of their colleagues.

This is not an either/or proposition. Violence is wrong. PERIOD. It is wrong when a black man is killed by overaggressive and vengeful cops, it is wrong when a black man kills an innocent cop who is trying to protect his community. It is wrong when a Republican assaults a woman and it is wrong when a Democrat assaults a woman. I will speak against ALL INJUSTICE. Not just the one that is currently in our news cycle. 

We must treat all individuals with respect and hold all individuals accountable for their wrong actions. In every instance. No matter who is involved. Even if it is unpopular among our peers. This is the way.

Brothers and Sisters, I implore you, do not put your faith in a government that wishes to rule and subdue you. Do not believe a media that wishes to manipulate and misinform. Do not trust in a movement or a self-seeking agenda that will only tear us down and tear us apart. We have no hope but Jesus, no King but Christ. And only to His Kingdom should we pledge our undying allegiance.

“Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help,
And rely on horses,
Who trust in chariots because they are many,
And in horsemen because they are very strong,
But who do not look to the Holy One of Israel,
Nor seek the LORD!”

Isaiah 31:1

“Some trust in chariots, and some in horses;
But we will remember the name of the LORD our God.
They have bowed down and fallen;
But we have risen and stand upright.”

Psalm 20:7-8

“Then the seventh angel sounded: And there were loud voices in heaven, saying, “The kingdoms of this world have become the kingdoms of our Lord and of His Christ, and He shall reign forever and ever!”

Revelation 11:15