Thankfully, our country is moving out of an era where an occasion to blaspheme Christ has been given to the American public, onlookers from other countries, and skeptics of faith in Christ alike. This occasion was given by not only authority in the form of the President, but pastors and ministers who claimed to be called to promote the gospel message. Instead, the message of the gospel has been lost and replaced with an over-emphasis of support for a candidate who confuses the idea of what a Christian is―thus making it easy for others to blaspheme Christ.

To blaspheme means to speak irreverently about God or sacred things. When people in authority or in the church loudly proclaim sacred things without the love of God associated with those things; an occasion to blaspheme the God “misrepresented” is provided.
The Bible says it like this:

If I speak in the tongues of men or angels but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. – 1 Corinthians 13:1

A resounding gong and a clanging cymbal is a nuisance. As soon as you try to whine down in quietness and peace a loud resounding gong disturbs you. That is what it has been like in the last four years. One loud, annoying thing after the other. The loud annoying things are what’s focused on instead of the more important focus of walking in the character of love.

The Bible makes it clear that we can do several spectacular things, but without love, the spectacular things do not mean much. If a person isn’t willing to walk in love; it would be better for them to keep their faith or religion a secret. We don’t need to know a person is a Christian if that person isn’t willing to walk in love.

A genuine Christian should be known as a Christian before they open their mouth based on how they treat others—how they love others.
By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you love one another.” – John 13:35

The Bible warns the Jews in Romans 2 that non-believers will begin to blaspheme God based on the actions of the Jews instead of the true knowledge of God. This is a dangerous thing to be responsible for misrepresenting God in such a fashion:

​You who boast in the law, do you dishonor God by breaking the law? As it is written: “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” – Romans 2:23-24

The Bible is warning in the above scripture against pushing the law without obeying it. It puts God’s name in a place of irreverence among those who aren’t learned in the way of the Lord. In a time where many Millennials are turning against God, faith, and the gospel; it’s more important than ever that genuine Christians walk in genuine love and truth. The Bible has historically been associated with hate and racism in this country and Trump’s administration bought back horrible memories for many while associating itself with the Bible while promoting hate. Some of us have seen former believers allow their hearts to become hard as they struggled to hold on to faith in a God that they see as promoting hate.

Not that God promotes hate because he doesn’t. Some people simply do not have the discernment nor the knowledge to tell the difference between what is God and what is a person who claims to follow God but acts in opposition to what God stands for. This is why it is so important as leaders to be careful about how we represent a relationship with God to others. The Bible, Christ, and Christianity should be approached with fear and reference, not loud boisterous carelessness. People are important to God as he died for all men. We cannot treat people any kind of way and think it’s okay.

Thankfully, we have an opportunity for something different with Biden in office. My hope is that believers would pray for him just as much as they prayed for Trump. It is my prayer that believers would not disrespect him by saying he isn’t their president when the Bible tells us to pray for and submit to our leaders’ period.

It seems that some of our Christian leaders traded the gospel and mantle to obey Christ for Balaam—fame, money, and notoriety. Our relationship with God should not be used to manipulate who is elected into office or not. I firmly believe that God exalts a person and sits down another and whoever he wills to be in office will be in office. We have to continue trusting God for our future no matter who is in office. It’s my prayer that we would be willing to do the work of healing and humbling ourselves as believers within this nation to begin loving one another as Christ prayed for before he ascended into heaven.

“My prayer is not for them alone. I pray also for those who will believe in me through their message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you. May they also be in us so that the world may believe that you have sent me. – John 17:20-21

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These last two weeks have been heavy. The climate of our country has been sensitive due to the overwhelming impact of several Black people being slain by Police officers or White aggressors in such a short time.

We watched the nation go into chaos as the last straw was drawn when George Floyd lost his life to Derek Chauvin. People were tired. Blacks were tired and for the first time, some of us have seen support from all over the entire world against police brutality against Blacks. Not only that but many of us seen White clergy and other Whites, who had never admitted that racism existed admit that racism is real.

I watched White commentators on several national television news shows admit to systemic racism in this country. There was something different about this time when we took the hit of losing yet another of our own. Other people began to take the loss with us, and that provided some type of relief, but this isn’t over. There is much to be done.

The Bible isn’t silent on such an issue of what we have been experiencing in America. God’s word says chaos is to be expected under leadership that does not prioritize justice. It also says that when the wrong leaders are in position the people will mourn. Finally, God’s word talks about how we can easily lose heart becoming discouraged when fathers, metaphorical for leaders, aggravate their children, metaphorical for constituents, provoking them to discouragement and disheartenment. These are all things we are currently seeing in our country. Humility among leaders who genuinely care for people will be the answer to this sensitive situation.

Proverbs 29:4 – By justice, a king gives a country stability, but those who are greedy for bribes tear it down.
Proverbs 29:2 – When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice: but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn.
Fathers, do not aggravate your children, or they will become discouraged. Another version says to lose heart.- Col 3:21

James Baldwin shares a quote that communicates the sentiment of the tired and disheartened:

“The Most dangerous man of any society is the man who has nothing to lose.”

The above quote, speaks to the a result of marginalization and the grief of seeing our people killed again and again and how grief can cause us to experience a myriad of emotions at one time, which can lead to losing rationale and possibly self-destructive behavior. We want to avoid self-destructive behavior that lacks rationale at all costs and re-direct our anger into producing positive change.

The answer to this crisis of police brutality that lacks justice is to have the proper leaders in place who will prioritize justice in our country, which will reduce the chaos and create stability. Some of our great leaders, who are still living are encouraging us in this effort such as President Barack Obama, and T.D. Jakes. They challenge us to become more aware of our local officials that we vote into office to hold them accountable because they affect the policies that determine whether we will get justice as it relates to police brutality or not. Thank God for godly leaders who genuinely care about the people and practice wisdom galvanizing others for change and providing stability. Leaders like Barack and T.D. Jakes are so very important to us right now.

In the video, I also share my thoughts on people’s response to Black Lives Matters. For more practical things you can do in addition to prayer, feel free to peruse the list below:

• Create a safe space for ourselves and others where we are willing to listen to others and we’re willing to be aware of when we are personally being overwhelmed.
• Guard our hearts by not focusing too much on the negative images out there. Also, protect our emotional and mental health by avoiding unproductive arguments with those who oppose justice and make this moment about them.
• Build ourselves up praying, listening to edifying information, and abiding in a healthy community with those who seek justice as justice is a part of the heartbeat of God.
• By all means, do not tell others racism doesn’t exist. Read a book if you are familiar with systemic racism. Some book suggestions are Michelle Alexander’s, “The New Jim Crow” and “The Color of Law” by Richard Rothstein.
• Give financial donations to organizations on the frontline
• March to help create urgency of these issues
• Subscribe to newsletters of organizations who are on the frontline fighting for justice for opportunities to get involved.

Organizations that we can get involved with:

• Woke Vote
• NAACP Legal Defense Fund
• My Brother’s Keeper
• Color of Change
• Black Futures Lab
• Campaign Zero
• Center for Policing Equity
• National Black Justice Coalition
• Movement for Black Lives
• New York City Anti-Violence Project

Finally, remember we do not have to turn our hearts against Christ to remain committed to justice. It is not God’s will for Blacks or any people to endure injustice. God is with us and for us and he is for Justice.

In 2014, the country was upset over a young man who laid in the streets for hours like road-kill while many African Americans suffered in grief at another young man’s life disregarded and shamed as to have little value. The country re-lived this pain again and again with others like Alton Sterling and Philando Castile and many more.

Restless with yet hope in God, many went to their church houses looking to hear a word from the Lord and were shocked to find out that those who were once counted as brethren were suddenly divided. Many could not gain any support to walk through this grief from their church homes because the church homes were either in silence or agreement with the negative narratives that were being promoted on the news to devalue the lives of our Black men and women.

Thus, many had to put back on their transient shoes and look for another church to call home. Since then, there have been many discussions and corrections publicly to the Body of Christ to promote the message of unity in the face of racism. Examples of this include Kirk Franklin, who protested TBN last year, and Lecrae who challenged evangelicals on views of racism.

Thankfully, I can say that this time around there is more support from some of our White evangelical leaders. I’m thankful for my new pastor who came out and made a statement and others. Below are statements from Pastors Sam and Taylor Hamstra, Christine Caine, John Bevere, Jentzen Franklin, who pastors in Georgia, and Zauntee, to name a few:

The below messages are from my pastors Sam & Taylor Hamstra of Anthem Church in Hammond, IN.

How awesome it is for injustice to be seen as injustice and life to be seen as valuable no matter the color. This is what so many of us have looked for and longed for in our Christian circles. This is the type of behavior that brings healing and eases the pain. While racism in the body of Christ has not been totally eradicated, it’s hopeful to see that some are willing to stand in unity—mourning with those who mourn no matter the color.

Rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn. – Romans 12:15

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! – Psalms 133:1

This is the real gospel. That is what Jesus Christ died for. The gospel is not always comfortable. Sometimes it means addressing some hard truths. As long as we address these things together in love; that’s what makes the difference. I continue to pray for Mr. Arbery’s family as they’ve lost a precious life and they feel the most pain.