2020, What a crazy year. We are still dealing with the lies of the Coronavirus. We are reeling with racial tensions. Our commonly held ideals in the United States are getting torn down. We emote on a developing story before we know what happened. We see each other by our identities rather than our individuality. This is not united. The United States is missing. Where is our church?
Emotion of anger is a drug. It gives you a quick release of adrenaline and noradrenaline. That feeling becomes you truth. Truth doesn’t matter because it doesn’t give you that high. Headlines without context gives you this emotional high. So much that you don’t feel any need to click on an article. People advertise based on quick emotional reactions. The mainstream media does the same thing. They don’t care about the truth. They care about your reaction. It doesn’t matter the sourcing, the full article, conflicting article, or anything for that matter. Your affirmation comes from your feeling alone. This is not good for a society.
The police shooting in the news I believe is a catalyst. Some of the hoaxes of bad police shootings that went viral for the past 6 years was waiting for this latest one. Our country has been torn apart my politics and identity politics. Politicians have kept this alive while never caring about a solution. The emotional outrage overtakes truth in many cases. It puts motives on people when no motives are clearly defined. If you don’t believe the premise of racial bigotry, accusations of hate and racism become the norm. This further separates out country and leads healing unattainable. Emotion and your truth becomes you god. All I see is hate without direction. Fear without wisdom.
The response of the church generally has been the most disappointing aspect of this all. Many of these people are thinking that a story is a truth instead of just a story. Our church hasn’t been bold enough to coarse correct people to the to the truth and away from their emotions. Instead we have branded each others emotions as truth. A single story shouldn’t be always granted the systemic label if their is no evidence to support it. We are seeking to affirm others instead of inspire others to the truth. This has been very disheartening. The only identity of worth we should be concerned about is our identity in Christ.
Galatians 3: 27-29 (NASB): "For all of you who were baptized into Christ have clothed yourselves with Christ. There is neither Hew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free man, there is neither male nor female; for you are all one in Christ Jesus. And if you belong to Christ, then you are Abraham's descendants, heirs according to promise."
While the racial divisions are heating up the Coronavirus is still an issue that was never fully examined in the church. After doing much research on the virus it is quite clear this pandemic affects the very old and those with comprised immune systems. It took a long time for even small groups to open up. Small groups could of even meet up outdoors with little to no risk. Forsaking for 3 months not joining together when the data shows it is just as bad as the flu. If it is God’s will for you to meet together while the government imposes restrictions than the church should of been fighting back. Depression, job loss, and people that were lacking a sense of purpose during this time didn’t have adequate help from the church. We missed our purpose.
The rest of 2020 will not be easy. The worst may not be behind us. Our society and our church needs a revival and a new sense of purpose. We need to continually be pointing out lies regardless of the backlash we may have; even if that backlash is from the people closest to us. Our true home is not from this world. We will suffer on Earth but our reward will be great in Heaven. Make sure you do not get overcome by emotionalism. More importantly, don’t be overcome by the Accuser and act like him to others; lying about their sin and telling them they have inherent sin just based on what they look like.
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