If we are concerned about personal and sexual sin but do not protest against brutal injustice and cruel racism, are we really representing God's moral character as Christians?
Woe to those who plan iniquity, to those who plot evil on their beds! At morning’s light they carry it out because it is in their power to do it.
They covet fields and seize them, and houses, and take them. They defraud people of their homes, they rob them of their inheritance. Mic 2:1–2 NIV
These two bible verses clearly describe the way colonists from Britain and Europe invaded and dispossessed indigenous people in North and South America, Australia and parts of Africa and Asia.
In our lifetime, so many black people have been murdered by the police in the USA.
Until 1969 Australian aboriginal children were abducted from their families and institutionalised.
Countless poor women from the Third World are still being forced into prostitution by lies and deceit in rich countries.
Should we be in favour of revenge and rioting? No.
But when police shoot black people and are not convicted of crime, it is systematic injustice of the worst kind.
No, O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God. Mic 6:8 NLT
Many conservative white people want to whitewash, justify or deny these crimes, but God is not impressed.
The blood of Abel still cries out. Are we the keepers of our black brothers? Yes, we are.
Sunday, December 8, 2024
The Terrible Sin of Racism
Friday, October 25, 2024
Justice, Forgiveness and Reconciliation
Reconciliation is God's plan. Discord is not part of his nature. He does not bear grudges.
God is love and he loves all people.
God sent his only eternal Son to suffer and die for you and me.
Why did Jesus have to die to forgive us?
We need forgiveness and God always wanted and wants to forgive, but God is also just.
Jesus was humble and always sought reconciliation, but he never stopped demanding justice.
God's way of thinking is radically different.
A young woman in America was raised Christian, but she fell in love with a man who led her astray.
Her Christian mother never stopped praying for her, but one day she was confronted with a nightmare. Her daughter was murdered by her boyfriend.
The man had to stay in prison for years.
The mother of the deceased young woman was heartbroken, but then she received an unthinkable instruction from the Holy Spirit.
She was not only to forgive the murderer, but to visit him in prison. She was to help him and learn to love him as her own son.
Little by little, the evil man felt God's love and grace more and more until he finally repented and converted.
He was released from prison, and the mother of the murdered woman helped him to rebuild his life. Now they are travelling around and giving their testimony.
The murderer had to suffer in prison for years. That was justice.
But the mother of the deceased young woman adopted him and loved him until he repented and received God's grace. That is reconciliation.
For if while we were enemies, we were reconciled to God through the death of his Son, much more surely, having been reconciled, will we be saved by his life. Rom 5:10 NRSV
Why did Jesus have to die? Because God demands justice. Sin must be punished.
Jesus died to take our punishment upon himself, so that if we repent, we will not suffer God's punishment in hell.
For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. Jn 3:16 NIV
God loves all people, but you are not just a specimen of humanity. God loves you personally.
Do you want to repent now and ask for God's forgiveness?
Paul was very religious but not a nice person until he had a visitation from Jesus Himself.
Years later he wrote.
We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God. 2 Cor 5:20 NIV
Monday, June 1, 2020
Cry for Justice is Biblical
Read Micah Ch 2
1 Woe to those who plan iniquity, to those who plot evil on their beds!
At morning’s light they carry it out because it is in their power to do it.
2 They covet fields and seize them, and houses, and take them.
They defraud people of their homes, they rob them of their inheritance. Micah 2:1-2
Even in our lifetime, so many black people in the USA have been murdered by the police.
In our lifetimes, so many black people in Australia have been legally kidnapped.
Do I condone violent black revenge? No.
But to call police murder “sad” but black revenge “terrorism” is not fair.
“For I, the LORD, love justice;
I hate robbery and wrongdoing. In my faithfulness I will reward my people and make an everlasting covenant with them. Isa 61:8
Mankind, He has told you what is good and what it is the LORD requires of you: to act justly, to love faithfulness, and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8 (HCSB)
No, he has told you what he wants, and this is all it is: to be fair, just, merciful, and to walk humbly with your God. Micah 6:8 (TLB)
The blood of Abel still cries out. Are we our black brothers' keepers? Yes, we are.