I’m sure most of us are aware of the horrific events that occurred in Charolettesville VA. It is important for us as people of the cross to understand and acknowledge that racism is evil. It is important for us as people of the cross to understand and acknowledge that white supremacy can have no place in the mind, heart, or life of a follower of Jesus Christ. Jesus did not come and die to elevate one race, one culture, or one nationality over another. Look at what Jesus came to do.
For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death. Ephesians 2:14-16 (NLT)
The separation we experience in our day isn’t so much between Jew and Gentile, but the principle stands. Rather than elevating one race, one nationality, one culture, over all the other, Jesus’ death is meant to end the hostility that these differences cause. Not only does Jesus’ death end the hostility, it is meant to bring us all together as one body, The Church of Jesus Christ. We are to be a people
where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. Colossians 3:11 (NKJV)
As people of the cross let us take this seriously. Let us never justify racism in any of its forms. Let us recognize it and repent of it when it rears its wicked head in our lives. Let us be a quick to call out, and condemn the sin of white supremacy as we are to call out and condemn the various forms of sexual immorality seen in our culture. Let us be the Children of God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God. Matthew 5:9 (NKJV)
Let this be our prayer
Lord Jesus, your Kingdom is good news for a world caught in racial hostility. We ask that you would give us grace for the deep challenges facing our country. Lord, we honestly confess that our country has a long history of racial oppression, that racism has been a strategy of evil powers and principalities. Lord, we confess that the gospel is good news for the oppressed and the oppressor. Both are raised up. Both are liberated, but in different ways. The oppressed are raised up from the harsh burden of inferiority. The oppressor from the destructive illusion of superiority. Lord, we confess that the gospel is your power to form a new people not identified by dominance and superiority, but by unity in the Spirit.
Lord, we ask that you would help us name our part in this country’s story of racial oppression and hostility. Whether we have sinned against others by seeing them as inferior, or whether we have been silent in the face of evil. Forgive us of our sin. Lord, we ask that you would form us to be us peacemakers. May we be people who speak the truth in love as we work for a reconciled world. Lord we commit our lives to you, believing that you are working in the world in spite of destructive powers and principalities. Bring healing to those who are hurt, peace to those who are anxious, and love to those who are fearful. We wait for you, O Lord. Make haste to help us.
This post was written by Rev Ross. You can find this post at: stacyjross.wordpress.com/2017/08/13/praying-for-our-nation/
For Christ himself has brought peace to us. He united Jews and Gentiles into one people when, in his own body on the cross, he broke down the wall of hostility that separated us. He did this by ending the system of law with its commandments and regulations. He made peace between Jews and Gentiles by creating in himself one new people from the two groups. Together as one body, Christ reconciled both groups to God by means of his death on the cross, and our hostility toward each other was put to death. Ephesians 2:14-16 (NLT)
The separation we experience in our day isn’t so much between Jew and Gentile, but the principle stands. Rather than elevating one race, one nationality, one culture, over all the other, Jesus’ death is meant to end the hostility that these differences cause. Not only does Jesus’ death end the hostility, it is meant to bring us all together as one body, The Church of Jesus Christ. We are to be a people
where there is neither Greek nor Jew, circumcised nor uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave nor free, but Christ is all and in all. Colossians 3:11 (NKJV)
As people of the cross let us take this seriously. Let us never justify racism in any of its forms. Let us recognize it and repent of it when it rears its wicked head in our lives. Let us be a quick to call out, and condemn the sin of white supremacy as we are to call out and condemn the various forms of sexual immorality seen in our culture. Let us be the Children of God.
Blessed are the peacemakers, For they shall be called sons of God. Matthew 5:9 (NKJV)
Let this be our prayer
Lord Jesus, your Kingdom is good news for a world caught in racial hostility. We ask that you would give us grace for the deep challenges facing our country. Lord, we honestly confess that our country has a long history of racial oppression, that racism has been a strategy of evil powers and principalities. Lord, we confess that the gospel is good news for the oppressed and the oppressor. Both are raised up. Both are liberated, but in different ways. The oppressed are raised up from the harsh burden of inferiority. The oppressor from the destructive illusion of superiority. Lord, we confess that the gospel is your power to form a new people not identified by dominance and superiority, but by unity in the Spirit.
Lord, we ask that you would help us name our part in this country’s story of racial oppression and hostility. Whether we have sinned against others by seeing them as inferior, or whether we have been silent in the face of evil. Forgive us of our sin. Lord, we ask that you would form us to be us peacemakers. May we be people who speak the truth in love as we work for a reconciled world. Lord we commit our lives to you, believing that you are working in the world in spite of destructive powers and principalities. Bring healing to those who are hurt, peace to those who are anxious, and love to those who are fearful. We wait for you, O Lord. Make haste to help us.
This post was written by Rev Ross. You can find this post at: stacyjross.wordpress.com/2017/08/13/praying-for-our-nation/
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