Counter-Cultural Mission

I am sitting at Chili’s. I look up at the news and I see a little white girl holding a sign that says “#privileged, #blacklivesmatter” and I just sink in my seat. How did this get on the news? Why is this what we are pushing on the media? 

My previous blog was an awareness to the world and to create an understanding that we do not belong to a worldly race, but rather a Kingdom race. As a believer I am choosing to follow Jesus and be a part of his kingdom. Why is this not what we are teaching these upcoming generations? Why are we teaching them more nonsense? 

So now what we have added to the education agenda, aside from teaching to the test, is that white children are growing up to believe that the color of their skin will get them through life and they should feel guilty about it. That the color of their skin and being born white is wrong and they should feel such a weight of guilt. And to the black children that they should not trust police officers and that white people are always going to oppress them and never want them to succeed. 

Guys, this should not be! We continue to stand in division when we do these things. Why are we not teaching the truth of the Bible that says we do not have to walk around with guilt? Or that there is freedom in Christ and to love each other as Christ loves us? How come this isn’t being strung through every social media thread? Because people want the rush of an argument, to be right, to give an opinion, and to constantly create division. 

I have never wanted to express that just because the life of another black individual was harder than mine due to blatant racism is not important. Of course it is. Their story should be heard. And that is one of many, but it’s not the whole race. And it’s also not new. These blatant racism tactics date back to the Bible!!! Way back with the Israelites and the Egyptians. Pharaoh was killing baby boy Israelites so that specific race did not continue. Like killing baby boys, it’s ridiculous! The continued racial dominion has been a perpetual sin cycle. I know it is still here, however I am grateful for the strides and people who have fought to improve the system. It’s not a perfect system and never will be. But I don’t think that means you stop fighting for what is right. 

Don’t just educate yourself on American history. Read the Bible. Expose yourself to the truth of the gospel that Jesus came and died for your sins. He took on the weight of this world so we didn’t have to. He exposed himself, was bruised and beaten for the sins he knew the world would unfortunately continue in. 

So how do we respond counter culturally to what the world says? By preaching the Gospel. Bottom line. What does the Bible say? 

We are made in his image (Genesis 1:27)

He created human beings to only have authority over creatures of the earth, not man (Genesis 1:26)

Racial injustice is not new, it’s been a constant sin cycle (Exodus 1:8-18; 22;)

Promise of a coming savior (Isaiah 53)

Jesus died for our sins (Matthew 27:27-37)

Proclaim the Gospel to all Nations (Luke 24:47-48; Acts 1:8).

Waiting for his return (Acts 1:10-11)

Until we accept that our lives matter because we have a heavenly Father who sent his only son to die for us, can we understand the lives of those around us. Stop focusing on what divides us and focus on what needs to bring us together. No this isn’t an easy task and it means being a bold and gracious Christian who is rooted and unmoving in the truth of the Bible. 

I listened to a sermon by Matt Chandler on Acts and the ministry Jesus did. And as he got to the end of the sermon he talks about how Jesus just shut down anything thrown at him. It does help that he is the king of Kings, but the boldness and graciousness of Jesus is astounding to just answer so boldly and shut down any doubt. He then goes on to say that 

“If you want to talk about marriage, I’ll tell you how God worked in the challenging and wonderful times. You want to talk about cancer? I’ll tell you about the faithfulness of Jesus.” And in my head I thought, people want to talk about racism and division, well let’s counter that and talk about Jesus. 

The world is hurting and it’s because we need a Savior. We need our hearts tuned in to what He has to say. We need our ears pressed in to listen to what he is telling us. We need our eyes fixed on the only one who can bring true healing and restoration to a broken world. I do not deny that people are hurting or people are angry but what are we doing to help? Continuing to divide or counter culturally speaking up about a Kingdom way of life?

Stop teaching children to carry this unnecessary burden. Instead teach them about Jesus and how to grow in a 1 Corinthians 13 kind of love. Stop carrying around your own burden and cast them on the Lord. Treat people as people and teach children to respect each other. Love an individual for who they are. Stop grouping each individual into a racial category and get to know the heart of someone. Break these generational curses of lies and deceit. Stand in unity in the Father and not disunity in Satan. God came to unite and conquer. Satan came to divide and conquer. Who do you follow? 

Cast your cares on Him, because he cares for you. 

(1 Peter 5:6-11)

Please hear me when I say that by no means do I turn a blind eye to the wickedness of this world. I hear and see the stories that past races went through, all races have had injustice thrown at them. Does that vary? Yes, unfortunately. Europeans came to America to get away from what they thought was unfair, but instead of changing it they did what they knew and continued the sin cycle (which again started in Biblical times). We have continued this cycle because we can’t admit to the need that we need a Savior. 

The people in the crowds wanted Barabbas instead of Jesus. They wanted a criminal instead of a healer. Think about us. Some of us want division, hate, racism, and walking around with a chip on our shoulder, instead of a healer and restorer. That truly woke my eyes up to see that I don’t want to live in division but unity and that’s the basis of my life. When I look at the world I believe God would have me see pride, brokenness, sin, and wickedness. That he would have me pray for the world and that we would repent of our sins, our sins being that like the Israelites in Judges we forget the redeeming power of Jesus and focus on what tears us apart. 

In my plea to speak out, I just have to keep emphasizing that my goal is to point you to Christ. My goal is to get you to realize that some of us believe the media, or walk around 100% confident in the opinions we’ve created, or what seems to idolize the news (including articles, videos, etc) and hold it to high regard. I also want to emphasize that yes learn history, see how far we have come but pay attention to where we lack. Fight for the justice that is wrong against people. No I do not at all think what is going on in our world is ok. But the moment we turn to “whites are doing this” and “blacks are doing this” do we fall into Satan’s trap and turn away from the only one who can restore. 

If you are a believer then I urge you to be Counter-Cultural in a time where people want us to be divided. Follow the ways of Christ and proclaim His truth to the nations. Walk in the ways of Jesus. Be bold and gracious. Stay grounded and rooted. 

“Now, Lord, consider their threats and enable your servants to speak your word with great boldness. Stretch out your hand to heal and perform signs and wonders through the name of your holy servant Jesus.” After they prayed, the place where they were meeting was shaken. And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke the word of God boldly.

Acts 4:29-31