Oneness in the Face of Injustice
…that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. (John 17:21)
This past week I was able to study and teach on the last recorded prayer of Jesus before He went to the cross. His prayer, overwhelmingly, was that we would experience “oneness” with the Father and with one another.
With this passage serving as the backdrop to my own walk with Jesus this week, my heart was shattered to hear about and see the images of the horrific death of George Floyd, right on the heals of the murder and injustice toward Ahmuad Arbery. These two tragedies generated national attention to the very real sin of racism that has plagued our countries past and clearly still exists today.
The videos, pictures, articles, and testimonies have left me with a deep sadness in the pit of my stomach. I believe, that the Creator of those precious lives, is experiencing this at an unfathomable level!
You see, God created every single person with divine purpose and dignity. This is what is known as the Imageo Dei, or the ‘image of God’.
Genesis 1:27
So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.
Genesis 2:7
Then the Lord God formed a man w from the dust of the ground and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, and the man became a living being.
When a human life is degraded, slandered, oppressed, and killed it is a direct assault on God’s vision of humanity!
As followers of Jesus, we MUST NEVER become numb to this atrocity.
Jesus, himself, was stirred at a deep emotional level when encountering people being oppressed, belittled, and ostracized because of their differing ethnicity.
(John 4, Matt 21:12-13, Mark 11:15-18)
Pastor Albert Tate, of Fellowship Monrovia, in a recent statement, pointed out that the anger and outrage that has rightfully been displayed is a secondary emotion pointing toward the deep sadness that exists in our hearts that things should not be this way.
How do we respond? How do I respond? A few thoughts…
1. Listen. Listen to our Black Brothers and Sisters. Learn about the weight and pain of injustice and racism that has a deep-rooted history in our nation. I wrote this article the morning I found about George Floyd, but have spent the last few days sending these words to my friends in the black community to let this blog be shaped by their heart and not just mine. I have so much to learn.
2. Lament. A large majority of the worship songs of the Bible, known as the Psalms, are ‘cries' or ‘laments' to God for justice, for their prayers to be heard. It is important to remember that most of the Scriptures are written from the vantage point of an oppressed, minority people and how God comes to their aid bringing redemption and justice.
3. Pray. It is vital that we listen to God’s voice and let Him here ours. E.M. Bounds says that “prayer can do what God can do.” We must never discount the power of prayer to bring God’s Kingdom to earth as it is in Heaven. This is not the “easy” response this is the “essential” response for a followers of Christ.
4. Respond. Each of us should live a responsive life to the conviction of the Holy Spirit. I would encourage us to start with our own heart. Are there areas of prejudice, injustice and evil that are subtly lurking in our hearts? Repent. Do it often. If you have kids, talk about the Imageo Dei (Image of God) and how God has created EVERY individual with divine purpose and dignity. Talk about how racism is real we must stand against it. Find ways to to actively engage in justice issues through education, advocacy, giving, legislation and speaking up. If you post on social media or if you don’t, know that words are only a starting place. Our lives need to be lived in constant and active opposition to racism and injustice!
If you are looking for some resources one of my spiritual mentors, Keith Jenkins, who has been at the forefront of the conversation of race and the Church, highlights these books:
-The Third Option - Miles McPhereson
-Divided By Faith - Michael O. Emerson and Christian Smith
Would you take a moment and let your imagination come alive with this passage.
9 After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. 10 And they cried out in a loud voice: “Salvation belongs to our God, who sits on the throne, and to the Lamb.”
Revelation 7:9–10
I am confident that Jesus vividly had this “oneness” imagery in His mind and heart as He taught His disciples to pray…
“ ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, 10 your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.
Matthew 6:9–10
If our goal as apprentices of Jesus is to abide and to share in oneness with Christ, then we cannot separate that with our command to love others just as Jesus has loved us. These two concepts are inseparable!
Let us remember, we must not wait for this to “die down.” Enter in. Mourn with those who mourn. - Romans 12:15
I will leave you with this quote from Billy Graham who early on in his ministry took a strong stance against segregation and racism, being influenced strongly by Dr. King.
Of all people, Christians should be the most active in reaching out to those of other races, instead of accepting the status quo of division and animosity. The issues that face us are complex and enormous, and simply wishing they would go away will not solve them. I do not pretend to know the full answer. But let those of us who claim the name of Christ report of our past failures and relying on the Holy Spirit, demonstrate to a weary and frightened world that Christ indeed “has destroyed the barrier, the dividing wall of hostility … through the cross, by which he put to death their hostility” (Eph. 2:14-15).
-Billy Graham
Grace and peace