“There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” – Galatians 3:28 (ESV)
My heart aches for the people of Springfield, Ohio, and in all the other places, where people have been and are still being judged unfairly because of the color of their skin, and the country they came from. What happened to “you should love your neighbor as yourself?” Proverbs 6:16-19 (NIV) says, “There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.
This is not just a black-and-white issue or a Springfield Ohio issue. A person’s skin color should not invoke racial comments or prejudice. It seems our country is filled with problems that provoke hate and violence such as immigration. And yet our ancestors came from other places and invaded the land that the Native Americans roamed.
I have heard friends, relatives, and many others spew hateful words against different races. I know people from the Middle East, Haiti, Africa, Mexico, and other countries. I have worked with some, and others I have met at church, and in the community. Every single one of them are very loving and caring people. They want a new start, to live in a place without daily violence, to send their children to school, and to make friends and immerse themselves into the local community. The race, the color of a person’s skin, and the country they originate from should not cause such widespread hate. We must remember that many of our ancestors came to this country, to have a chance at a new life.
Think about the difference we would see in our world if people acted, by Biblical principles and with the understanding that we are all equal before God. Colossians 3:25 (NIV) reminds us, “Anyone who does wrong will be repaid for their wrongs, and there is no favoritism.” We should be ashamed of ourselves for participating in rhetoric and conflict, spreading lies and gossip, and participating in illegal and ungodly activities. “Do not mistreat or oppress a foreigner, for you were foreigners in Egypt.” – Exodus 22:21 (NIV).
This is the time to dust off our Bibles and immerse ourselves in God’s Word. Let’s love one another and stop the hate and violence now.
Prayer
Heavenly Father, we come to You today in shame and in need of spiritual healing. Touch our hearts with love so that we can love others. Bring us healing, so that we may be filled with peace and love so that we can live as brothers and sisters in Christ. Take the hate from our hearts and turn it into love. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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