We Are Family!

 “Racism isn’t a bad habit; it’s not a mistake; it’s a sin. 

The answer is not sociology; it’s theology.” Tony Evans

 What are some of the memorable movies that you remember from childhood? A few that I will never forget were The Wizard of Oz, Sound of Music, Old Yeller and Brian’s Song. 

  If you’ve never seen it, Brian’s Song is based on the true story of a wonderful and what was then a nearly unheard of deep friendship between Chicago Bears running backs, Gale Sayers, who was black, and his fellow running back, Brian Piccolo, who was white.

  These two men met at pre-season training camp. During practice, Piccolo struggles while Sayers shines. Eventually, the two are placed as roommates, a rarity during the racial strife of the era. Sayers encourages Piccolo who is scared he didn't make the team, “if you didn't make the team, we wouldn't be placed together as roommates.”  

  Their friendship flourishes, both in football and in life, quickly extending to their wives, Joy Piccolo and Linda Sayers. Sayers quickly becomes a standout player but injures his knee in a game against the San Francisco 49ers. To aid in Sayers’s recovery, Piccolo brings a weight machine to his house. In Sayers’ place, Piccolo rushes for 160 yards in a 17–16 win over the Los Angeles Rams and is given the game ball. Ultimately, Piccolo wins the starting fullback position, meaning both he and Sayers will now be on the field together. Both men continue to excel in their roles.

  But then Piccolo unexplainably begins to lose weight and his performance declines. He’s sent to a hospital to determine the cause. The diagnosis reveals that he has cancer and must have part of a lung removed. In an emotional speech to his teammates, Sayers states that they will win the game for Piccolo and give him the game ball. When the Bears’ players later visit the hospital, Piccolo teases them about losing the game, laughing that the line in the old movie wasn’t, “Let’s blow one for the Gipper.”

  Tragically, Brian Piccolo’s cancer continues to grow and he must have another surgery. After Gale Sayers is awarded the “George S. Halas Most Courageous Player Award,” he dedicates his award to Piccolo, telling the crowd that they had selected the wrong person for the prize and saying, “I love Brian Piccolo, and I'd like all of you to love him, too. And tonight, when you hit your knees, please ask God to love him.”

  Brian Piccolo succumbed to cancer at age 26. He’s remembered, not for how he died, but for how he lived. This friendship that crossed racial lines is a model for us all. Brian Piccolo and Gale Sayers, though from different races, were closer than brothers. Their bond was football.

  You and I as Christ-followers have a much greater bond than football. We’re blood brothers and sisters because of Christ’s cross. Christ-followers have more in common with other believers than any other human bond, even that of family if our relatives are not believers.

  Our bond begins in that we all have the same problem – sin, yet all have the same Savior. Because of the cross, we will be united for all eternity. As heaven’s choir sang of Jesus, “Worthy are You to take the scroll and to open its seals, for You were slain, and by Your blood You ransomed people for God from every tribe and language and people and nation” (Rev. 5:9). God wants unity and sacrifices His Son to heal human hatred and division.  

  Racism is a sin against God. The Bible tells us that we’re all Imago Dei, “made in the image of God” (Gen. 1:27). Pastor John Piper offers this definition of racism: “Racism is an explicit or implicit belief or practice that qualitatively distinguishes or values one race over other races.” Thus, racism is a sin whether it’s white toward black, or black toward white, Asian toward black, etc.

  Growing up in Atlanta I thought racism was a black-and-white problem. I was shocked when I worked in West Texas to learn that racism poisoned relationships between whites and Hispanics. While in Taiwan I learned that racism poisoned relationships between Taiwanese and immigrant Malaysians. Racism is a rampant cancer that permeates humanity.

  The only hope for conquering racism is the cross and the Church of Jesus Christ. Laws, education, government programs…the list is endless None of these can change sinful hearts to bring about repentance from racism or produce racial unity. Only redemption can bring about heart change so we obey God’s commands to love our neighbor as ourselves.  Jesus said that loving God is the greatest commandment, but then He said that the commandment to love your neighbor is like the first one.

  Jesus connected the command to love God and love your neighbor. One of the main ways that we demonstrate our love for God is by loving our neighbor as we love ourselves (Matt. 22:37-40). Jesus went on to illustrate this love with the parable of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10:25-37). We’re never to limit the idea of a neighbor only to people like us. We are to love all others without discrimination or prejudice. Everyone is my neighbor.

  Loving your neighbor whatever race they are from can begin with something as simple as a conversation, seeing life from their perspective, and truly seeing those around you. These conversations don’t have to be complicated. They can be as simple as inviting someone to lunch. Pursuing racial unity isn’t about diversity, it’s about loving others the way that Jesus loves them.

   Because Jesus died for all, racism is a sin against the gospel. The book of Romans tells us that we’re united not only by creation but also by the fact that we’re all sinners. But just as we’re all sinners, Jesus died for everyone. 1 John 2:2 says of Jesus: “He is the atoning sacrifice for our sins, and not only for ours but also for the sins of the whole world.” Racism is a sin against the gospel because Jesus died for all.  

  Racism is a sin against the gospel because Jesus died to make us one. Galatians 3:28, “There is neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus. Colossians 3:11, “Here there is not Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave, free; but Christ is all, and in all.” These two New Testament verses were absolutely staggering in that day. Greeks and Jews were divided by ethnicity, religion, and culture. The reference to barbarians and Scythians refers to how cultured Romans and Greeks viewed anyone whose speech, manners or habits were foreign and to them uncouth and unrefined. Slave and free is a reference to the deepest divisions of class. Wonderfully, by God’s grace, family and unity, are the terms that replace these divisions.

  Today we’re privileged to have in our pulpit my friend and brother in Christ, Pastor Brian Kenner. To paraphrase, Gale Sayers, “I love Brian Kenner and I’m so glad that God loves both of us and gave Jesus for us.” I’m confident that my brother, Brian, will be a blessing to you today!

Can we help you spiritually? Can we help you know Jesus better? Please check out more resources on our church's web page, Gracechurchwi.org. Or, call us at 262.763.3021. If you'd like to know more about how Jesus can change your life, I'd love to mail you a copy of how Jesus changed my life in "My Story." E-mail me at Carson@gracechurchwi.org to request a free copy. Please include your mailing address. 

 

#Boycott Mulan?

 

“Never forget that everything Hitler did in Germany was legal.”                                                    Martin Luther King, Jr.

Follow the money! Periodically, some stateside politician is called a “Hitler.” Such labeling only reveals the vast ignorance of the “labeler.” Fortunately, because even with our flaws, Western Civilization is a culture where rule of law still has precedence and there is a justice system.

Perhaps because we didn’t go to war with China or lose half a million American lives, we don’t realize the brutality of Communist China. One is hard-pressed to name a single movie made about China’s atrocities under Mao. But it’s not history. It’s the daily news because it’s still taking place.

Just in Mao’s 1958 Great Leap Forward, 46 million died between 1958 and 1962. During his reign of terror some 80 million died. In contrast, Hitler was responsible for 20 million civilian deaths. An obvious question is: “Who’s the real Hitler?” China’s current “president” (that’s a nice word for dictator), Xi Jinping openly admires Mao, who committed the biggest genocide of the 20th century. Such admiration is repugnant. Imagine any Western Civilization leader openly praising Hitler?  

Yet somehow all of that didn’t stop Disney from whitewashing this evil empire. Their newest live-action movie, “Mulan,” had substantial portions filmed in China’s Xinjiang province, with the blessing and cooperation of the Chinese Communist government. Xinjiang is the home province of some 12 million Muslim Uighurs. Over one million of them have been moved to concentration camps where “they are starved, abused, tortured, electrocuted, raped and even killed.” Uighur women have been forcibly sterilized, and there have been reports of forced abortions and infanticide.

Not only did Disney choose the Xinjiang province, but in the closing credits, they thanked China’s Communist government and propaganda departments for their assistance. Disney has chosen to cozy up to the Chinese government for years. In 1997, a Disney film that cast the Dalai Lama in a positive light so upset Beijing, they “restricted the studio’s ability to work in China.” Disney’s then-CEO Michael Eisner quickly issued an apology and promised not to insult Disney’s “friends” in the future.  Appeased, Beijing opened the doors for Shanghai Disneyland.

But it’s not just Disney. There are a long list of companies who fill their coffers with little regard for China’s suffering population. Walmart, Boeing, Caterpillar, General Motors, Starbucks and Ford…to name a few. Many of these same companies lecture Americans for racism, but close their eyes to oppression and “crimes against humanity” just to increase their profit margin.

For example, recently the NBA canceled games in protest of racism. What a bunch of hypocrites! Because no one in the NBA dares to whisper criticism of Communist China or they quickly find themselves sentenced to a virtual bamboo gulag. A reported half a billion annual profits for the NBA from China buys a lot of silence. And where are all of the Hollywood stars who clamor to speak out on anything political? Have any of them said a word about the latest Disney-China connections? Crickets.

God’s Word is clear. Racism is evil. It’s an evil that must be repented of. Yet, racism is a worldwide evil. It’s disingenuous to speak against racism in the States, yet for financial gain, close one’s eyes to genocide.

How horrible are China’s acts of oppression? Just this week more than 150 human rights groups urged the International Olympic Committee to rethink holding the 2022 Winter Games in Beijing. In a letter, the coalition said that since the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China has built—quote, “an Orwellian surveillance network” in Tibet and incarcerated more than a million Uighurs.” It listed a litany of other abuses from Hong Kong to the Inner Mongolia region, as well as the intimidation of Taiwan.

Fortunately, not all American corporations are heartless to these crimes against humanity. Apple, Microsoft, Amazon, Nike and Google are looking to move production away from China. As we learned with the repudiation of Apartheid, dinging a company’s bottom line gets their attention.

Yet, companies like Walmart have helped cover that a product is made in China with their blanket “distributed from Bentonville, Arkansas” labeling. What does that mean? Zilch! It’s a cover. Those concerned about oppressed people groups and dictatorial governments want to make an informed consumer’s decision even if it cost us a little bit more. Walmart and companies like it have stripped us of that option.

Recently, Wisconsin’s Senator Tammy Baldwin proposed a bill that requires labeling for a product’s country of origin. I wrote her to thank her for the bill. While some products have multiple manufacturers, many do not, and often a high percentage is made in one nation. It’s the right thing to do to put economic choices back in the hands of consumers.

What can we do? The truth is that boycotts for the most part don’t work. Corporations and manufacturing companies are too intertwined. For example, Disney Corporation also owns or has part ownership in ABC, ESPN, Marvel, Lucasfilm, The History Channel and Pixar.

Do I believe you should boycott Mulan? That’s truly up to you and a matter of personal conscience. Yet, with all of the negative publicity about Disney’s supporting China’s oppression, taking a financial hit on this one might make them and other corporations think twice about supporting totalitarian governments in the future.

Then, I’d encourage you to communicate with our national leaders like Senators Baldwin, Johnson and Congressman Steil to support bills that put economic choice back in the hands of consumers by clear product labeling. Their government websites and local offices make it simple to communicate with them. Encourage your friends to do the same. If we do nothing, one thing is certain – nothing will change. We need to be part of encouraging justice.

Most importantly, we need to remember that the Church is not American or our particular sect or ethnicity. Our Lord’s Church is worldwide with a 2,000-year history. Please pray for the persecuted Church. Stay updated with how our brothers and sisters are suffering from organizations like Voice of the Martyrs. The most important action we can take is to pray.

The Imago Dei, freedom from oppression, the injustice of racism, the evil of genocide, freedom of religion are biblical values. It’s part of our Christian responsibility to be salt and light in a dark world. Instead of cursing the darkness, it’s time to light some candles. 

 

Can we help you spiritually? Can we help you know Jesus better? Please check out more resources on our church's web page, Gracechurchwi.org. Or, call us at 262.763.3021. If you'd like to know more about how Jesus can change your life, I'd love to mail you a copy of how Jesus changed my life in "My Story." E-mail me at Carson@gracechurchwi.org to request a free copy. Please include your mailing address. 

Antifa Lives Matter

“Racism isn’t a bad habit; it’s not a mistake; it’s a sin.

The answer is not sociology; it’s theology.”  Tony Evans

I grew up in a racist culture. Looking back I’m ashamed to admit this but I was a racist and I didn’t have a clue that I was. Racism was the norm, even though I was in a “Christian” culture and part of an evangelical church. It was a sin and the result of both spiritual blindness and hardheartedness.

  It’s been so long ago that I can’t remember when God changed my heart. I do vividly remember many years ago listening to John Piper preach during Moody Founders’ Week and share his own journey out of racism. Like me, Piper was born and raised in the south. I sat there and wept quietly as I listened as he shared his own path to spiritual freedom from the sin of bigotry. His journey was very similar to my own.

  Please understand, I don’t struggle with “white guilt.” It’s worse. I struggle with “white church guilt.” As a child, the church I grew up in was very missions-minded. In the 1960’s they were giving hundreds of thousands of dollars annually to missions, but somehow in their understanding of the Great Commission and reaching the ends of the earth, they missed that it included “Samaria” – the world right next door.

  It was heartbreaking for me later to learn that an African-American pastor that I greatly admire, Dr. Tony Evans had sought to be a member of my church and was declined simply because of the color of his skin. At the time he was attending Carver Bible College, a Christian Bible college for African-Americans in Atlanta that my church, that same church, financially supported, as long as “those people” kept in their proper place. 
  Racism is evil! Yet, a lost world will not be able to solve it. New laws and new systems will at best bring about external conformity. Only Jesus Christ can change hearts and bring about transformation from the inside out.

  Please understand. We do need laws and programs to protect and help minorities and the disenfranchised. Racism though is first a heart problem, not a skin color issue.  

  When communities and neighborhoods changed and minorities moved in, it was a time of “white flight.” Churches often followed their members to the suburbs and I understand that. What was wrong and where I believe that the Church failed terribly, is that we didn’t leave anything behind. Because though the ethnic make-up of the people in those neighborhoods that were left had changed, there were still people who needed Jesus in those neighborhoods. It may not have been “safe,” but Christianity has never been about being “safe.”

  Study the book of Acts and you’ll discover a pattern of missions that lines up with Jesus’ command to begin with Jerusalem – cities were a priority. Yet, perhaps because of our obsession with quick growth and “bodies, bucks and buildings,” the American Church has focused on the suburbs.

  History shows that wherever the gospel has gone, poverty and crime have decreased and education, health and social harmony have increased. Instead of wringing our hands and shaking our heads at the dire straits of our urban areas, we need to repent of our lack of compassion and mission. God loves the city and His people are to love it, too!

  Our enemy, Satan, loves division among God’s people. The Church that is to be a united army for the Lord reaching the lost is dividing over the non-essential, yet missing the non-negotiable. It’s dividing over black lives matter, blue lives matter, all lives matter. The Bible is clear – God loves everyone and Jesus died for everyone. That means that Antifa lives, looters lives, even white supremacist lives matter. And while we’re bickering in the back seat, our cities are dying without Christ. Jesus died on the cross for the whole world – for Antifa and cops…and everything in between. The gospel doesn’t allow us to discriminate on who matters, who we’re to love, and who we’re to seek to reach with the gospel.

  Many believers need to read a short book in the New Testament, Philemon and see how God reached into a Roman prison cell to rescue a prisoner named Onesimus and revolutionize his life with the gospel. Our gracious God is still reaching what we too often file in the “unreachable” category.  

  What can we do? In Matthew 9:37-38, Jesus told us, “The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore pray earnestly to the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.”

  We need to pray and pray earnestly. This is a God-sized problem. Too often we come with a new program or funding or look for governmental intervention. Because racism is first a heart problem, the gospel is the only cure. It’s our problem because we’re commanded to be gospel-people and gospel-driven. We’re to bring Jesus’ light to the darkest places. It’s time to light a candle and stop cursing the darkness.  

  We need to volunteer. Jesus said there are already laborers, but they’re not out in the field. I’m so thankful for those who are, like our missionary, Tom Kubiak, who is planting his 2^nd Chicago church, this one on the south side. Dr. Tim Keller’s call for church planters to come to the cities is finding open hearts. Many are returning to our cities to make a difference.

  We need to financially support church planters. God is raising up a generation who are willing to go and plant churches in our cities. Let’s pray that the Lord will touch some in our own church who will go to one of our cities and invest their lives, making a difference in eternity. The fields of the world are crying for laborers and so are the fields of our inner cities.

  We must love the neighbor who is near. It’s easier to care for those you never interact with and make a stand for them. We’re commanded to love our neighbor – period. We are self-deceived when we say that we love our black “neighbors” that we don’t know, yet hate those near us. You can’t love someone unless you first know their name. Jesus doesn’t qualify that love with their ethnicity, political party, or behavioral choices. We’re commanded to love the ones for whom Jesus died – that’s everyone.

  In 1955 Jim Elliot, Peter Fleming, Ed McCully, Nate Saint, and Roger Youderian – five missionaries willingly gave their lives and were martyred by the spears of the Auca Indians. Their sacrifice became the catalyst of a new missionary movement. American Christians left the safety of home to go to the fields of the world. Please pray that as we have seen the tragic deaths and fires in our cities, that this will ignite a Holy Spirit fire in us, in our churches to reach our cities with the gospel. That’s how we will have true and lasting change. It’s time for the Church to be the Church! It’s time for us to take the Great Commission seriously!

Can we help you spiritually? Can we help you know Jesus better? Please check out more resources on our church's web page, Gracechurchwi.org. Or, call us at 262.763.3021. If you'd like to know more about how Jesus can change your life, I'd love to mail you a copy of how Jesus changed my life in "My Story." E-mail me at Carson@gracechurchwi.org to request a free copy. Please include your mailing address. 

Thanks Colin Kapernick!

“You don’t watch NFL so if you don’t like the kneeling just ignore it, like you do racism and police brutality.” Colin Kapernick

This is one time when I probably should attach a caution label: “Proceed at your own risk.” You may disagree with me. I only ask that you not discount my words because it violates your personal values. At least take the time to think it through and evaluate if there’s some (or perhaps a lot of validity) in this blog. Let’s put it right out there: I’m thankful for the NFL controversy of players kneeling. Here are some reasons I feel this way.

  Obsession with sports has supplanted other more worthy endeavors. The protests have caused many to consider whether they want professional sports to have such a big part of their lives. My main concern though is for Christians and the Church. Sports for many believers are an idol. Something becomes an idol when it gives us greater joy than Christ, when it becomes more of a focus in our lives than He is, when it’s what I think and talk about the most, when it’s what I most love spending time and money on…or, if the outcome of the game greatly alters my attitude.  

  To me, it’s a poor way to address racism. Racism is a problem and a sin. Personally, I think this is a foolish way to address it. It has little hope of making real change with more symbolism than substance. 75% of NFL fans are Caucasian. 25% make over $100K annually, so it tends to polarize rather than provoke change. Add to that, 40% are over 55 years of age, and tend to be the most patriotic Americans. That demographic is more concerned about the American flag being disrespected than any other.

  It also seems disingenuous when the average player’s salary is $1.9 million annually. It’s hard to believe someone at that economic level can empathize with the average black person experiencing racism. Then, there’s blatant hypocrisy on the part of the media who mocked Tim Tebow for kneeling because of his faith, yet kneeling during the National Anthem is defended and celebrated by these same elitists.

  The timing is poor for the sport of football. Football continues to lose popularity because of the fear of head injuries. The day may come when it is about as popular as dog fighting. It’s my hope that some of this shake-up will be a wake-up call for believers, causing them to re-evaluate their over the top loyalty. With that being said, there is another side of the biblical worldview as related to athletics and sports.

  The Bible isn’t, nor should the Church be anti-sports. Scripture repeatedly uses athletic terminology. While the Old Testament contains allusions to running, throwing, shooting and other physical activities, it doesn’t appear that organized sports were part of the culture. In the New Testament era, it’s very apparent that competitive sports were a major part of life. Both the Olympic Games and Isthmian Games took place in that era. The Apostle Paul frequently uses athletic examples to illustrate spiritual truth. Scripture never condemns sports. If Paul believed they were sinful, he wouldn’t have used them to illustrate the Christian life.

  Sports can teach us much about the Christian life. They can instill respect for those in authority. An athlete must have confidence that the coach’s decisions are right and trust, as well as obey the coach. In the same way, church leaders often can see the bigger picture. Their goal should be to develop each member’s gifts, so they serve to the best of their ability.

  As an athlete perseveres to win, Christians are to persevere in the faith. When we’re knocked down, we must get back up, set goals, and keep a positive attitude.

  Sports teach teamwork. Winning teams learn to play together to win. They realize each player, though at a different position, is vital for a positive outcome. The same is true in the church. There are no insignificant “players.” Athletics can teach us how to love and respect others, to win and lose with grace, and to encourage others in their “game,” too.  

  How do I know if sports have become an idol in my life? An idol is when “the thing or person is loved more than God, wanted more than God, desired more than God, treasured more than God, enjoyed more than God. It could be someone we’re dating or even approval from others. It could be success, or a hobby, musical group or a sport or team we follow. The first two of the Ten Commandments challenge us. God knows we’re easily distracted and fail to remember Who truly deserves our worship. We have a long history of misdirecting worship away from God and turning it toward the things of man, from the Creator to the created (Romans 1:21, 25).

  Sports can become a family idol. It’s easy to be swept along by sports fan parents. We run at an ever increasing speed, with little evangelism or discipleship taking place with our own children. Sports become the greater focus than that which makes an eternal difference. Often the results don’t reveal themselves until adulthood when there’s a disinterest in spiritual things because it wasn’t cultivated during those formative years.

  Sports have become an idol when ministry and worship is preempted. It can be a normal part of common grace to unwind watching sports. But if you’re dead tired for Sunday worship, something is out of sync. If there’s always time for the game, yet little time for serving, it’s become idolatry.

  Sports have become an idol when my emotions are contaminated. How do you feel if your team loses? Being a bit bummed is normal. Some though need a bigger perspective. It’s only a game! Caring about your kid’s scrimmage is no excuse for berating other grown men, let alone a child.

  Sports have become an idol when it’s difficult for a conversation to go deeper than sports. Sports are a great entry point for conversations. It’s more interesting than the weather and safer than politics. Believers though must learn to move past sports. Don’t be that “guy” with only one question: “Did you catch the game?” Press on to more important matters. A man or woman who cares only about sports doesn’t care about nearly enough. 

  So enjoy sports as one of God’s many good gifts! Keep their temporal importance in balance in light of eternity. Make sure your worship is on the only One who is truly worthy of our worship!

Can we help you spiritually? Can we help you know Jesus better? Please check out more resources on our church's web page, Gracechurchwi.org. Or, call us at 262.763.3021. If you'd like to know more about how Jesus can change your life, I'd love to mail you a copy of how Jesus changed my life in "My Story." E-mail me at Carson@gracechurchwi.org to request a free copy. Please include your mailing address. 

Racism: Let's be rational instead of reactionary

“Racism isn’t a bad habit; it’s not a mistake; it’s a sin. The answer is not sociology; it’s theology.”  Tony Evans

  As we were driving to Tennessee, the first reports of the police shooting of Philandro Castille in the Twin Cities began to seep out. As we were on vacation, we had not heard the report of the shooting of another black man by police officers, Alton Sterling, in Baton Rouge until after we heard about the tragic death of Philandro Castille. All of this was then followed by the assassinations of police officers in Dallas and Baton Rouge.

  Unfortunately, because we have access to news 24/7 and can instantly share our opinions, an ocean of emotional ignorance is frequently dumped on the public stage. Much of what’s shared are knee jerk reactions. Solutions are swiftly proposed with little thought or consideration.

  Let me state this unequivocally: No one on this planet has the solution to violent crime, racism or any other social injustice. Not POTUS, not any of the Presidential candidates, not any political party, group or individual. These are all sin issues our world has grappled with since Cain murdered Abel. We can hopefully limit these atrocities, but they’re unsolvable by fallen human beings, who themselves have sinful, violent hearts. 

  Recently, Jane and I watched Selma. Those events took place over fifty years ago and we are no closer to solving those terrible issues today than we were in 1965. Much of the time in our attempt to correct one social malady, we cause a host of new ones. So let me share some observations for you to consider and conclude with some action steps we as Christians can take in our sin-filled, racially fragmented culture to help us be peacemakers, and the salt and light we’re mandated to be by King Jesus.

  In our media engorged world we’ve forgotten a foundational premise – innocent until proven guilty. A few miles up the road from where Jane and I recently vacationed is a bump on the highway called “Hanging Limb.” Reportedly, it received its name because a black man was hung there.  

  Our justice system, while flawed, essentially works, yet, we’ve devolved into media lynchers without due process. None of us would want to face that if we were the accused, yet we’re often willing participants in the “lynching” of others…and we don’t have all the facts.

  The basis of justice is “innocent until proven guilty.” A short video can’t show all the facts. We must hear both sides, not just one. Proverbs 18:13, “He who gives an answer before he hears, It is folly and shame to him.” Too many jump to conclusions based on fragments of information.

  This is further complicated by serious flaws in our justice system. 1) The snail pace of our judicial system. It shouldn’t take a year or more for a case to be tried. Ecclesiastes 8:11, “Because the sentence against an evil deed is not executed speedily, the heart of the children of man is fully set to do evil.” 2) The guilty should not be acquitted because of frivolous technicalities. Our legal system has devolved into miniscule technicalities, rather than what’s morally right or wrong. Add to that, the problem of unequal representation in that those who can afford an expensive lawyer have a better chance of being acquitted. 3) The attitude of the average citizen toward jury duty. Serving on a jury should be an honor, not a curse. Wouldn’t each of us want to be tried before a jury of our peers, not poor saps who couldn’t find a way to wiggle out of their civic responsibility?

  Many crying out “black lives matter” are hypocrites. While it’s true all lives matter, there are serious issues in the black community, particularly in impoverished neighborhoods not found in suburbia. No one would protest “all diseases matter” at a fundraiser for a friend dying of a cancer.

  Yet, it’s repugnantly hypocritical to protest “black lives matter” if you’re pro-choice. Minority women constitute about 13% of the female population (age 15-44) in the U.S. but have approximately 36% of the abortions. Black women are more than 5 times as likely as white ones to have an abortion. Nearly 2000 black babies are aborted every day in America. Essentially, if Milwaukee were all black, the entire city would be executed annually.

  And what about other blacks murdered in their own neighborhoods? Where’s the outcry for these lost lives? Some 4,500 black men are killed by their “neighbors” annually. As black pastor, Thabiti Anyabwile, notes “People commit crimes in their own neighborhoods against their neighbors. The statistics don’t reveal a ‘race’ thing; it’s largely a zip code thing.” Why doesn’t this make headlines? Where are the protest marches?

  Add to that, the racial breakdown of those shot by police in 2015 went like this: the largest number, 494, were white; 258 were black; 172 were Hispanic with the remaining 66 were either “other” or unknown. The notion cops are gunning down innocent black people is one of today’s biggest and deadliest lies.

  There will always be bad cops. Power and authority corrupt. Like any profession (including ministers), there will always be those who take advantage of their power and authority. Most professions have the luxury to double-check a major decision. A police officer is asked to make a split second decision to use or not use deadly force. Sometimes he or she is going to be wrong. Most of us, faced with the same situation, would also make the wrong choice.

  We’ve become a nation of armchair quarterbacks of everyone in leadership and authority. Rather than assuming the worst, we’d be wiser to give those in leadership the benefit of the doubt, unless they’ve demonstrated they’re unworthy of our trust.

  The Cross is this world’s only hope. Throughout history only believers who have lived out their Christianity have calmed the storms of racism. Racism is a sin! Jesus died for all people groups. I love Revelation 7:9 “After this I looked, and behold, a great multitude that no one could number, from every nation, from all tribes and peoples and languages, standing before the throne and before the Lamb…” We must judge it first in our own hearts and must not tolerate it in the Church.

  We must pray. If we talked about social issues as much as we pray about them, most of us wouldn’t have much to say. Pray specifically we’ll soon be able to start a Hispanic ministry, the largest ethnic group in our area. 

  Then, whether it’s at work, your neighborhood or just shopping in an urban area, remember you represent King Jesus. We’re His ambassadors.

  It means I’m to be gracious, treating everyone with respect, reaching out to them with His love...no matter what ethnic background they come from. For me, it means I try to smile and greet others in public (it causes a few shocked looks). I try to be observant and find ways to say kind things to others. I work at initiating conversations. The Gospel is too critical for me to stay silent in my safe cocoon. So I want to be the customer who was the highlight of their day, the stranger with a smile who was friendly, the one who said something encouraging. 

  While I can’t change the world, I can make a difference in mine…and so can you!

Looking for quality used Christian books and other types of books at prices lower than even Amazon. Check out our family's online used bookstore at resurrectedreads.com or visit our store at the Waterford Unique Antique Market at 209 North Milwaukee Street in Waterford, WI --  262.534.3500. 

Danny Devito and the "Art" of the Label

“Observe which side resorts to the most vociferous name-calling and you are likely to have identified the side with the weakest argument, and they know it.”  Charles R. Anderson

My son, Ben, and I enjoy seeing superhero movies together. Of course, since we’re both    frugal, we look for the best deal. A few months back we decided to go see Ant-Man. It was finally at the Budget so we ran a couple of errands and headed to the show. As many theaters do, they were showing it in two different theaters – one for earlier shows, then they’d switch theaters for the later shows. Unfortunately, I wasn’t paying careful attention when the ticket salesperson directed us to our theater. We both saw the marquee said Ant-Man and headed into the darkened theater.  We quickly discovered Ant-Man wasn’t exactly what we were expecting. The movie opened with a drug house in a ghetto neighborhood. The air was glowing blue with obscenities…and it wasn’t improving. Ben was the first to figure out we were in the wrong movie. They’d switched theaters and instead of watching Ant-Man, we were watching Straight Outta Compton. Ben double-checked to make certain he was correct, we were able to rush over to Ant-Man without missing too much.

  Perhaps, Straight Outta Compton has some artistic merit…personally, I don’t think so. Five minutes of it were too much for me. It’s described as a movie about a “crime-ridden inner-city community in southern Los Angeles County that had developed a reputation for having the meanest streets anywhere in the United States. The birthplace of notorious gangs such as the Crips and the Bloods. Compton also became the cradle of gangsta rap, courtesy of five young men whose rocket-like rise to fame as the group N.W.A. just as quickly broke apart in the thin stratosphere of riches, notoriety and rage.” The bottom line (according to the reviews) is that it’s 147 minutes of some 600 profanities/obscenities, nudity and gratuitous violence. It may be a “slice of life,” but so is a dumpster. Yet, this garbage was still nominated for an Academy Award. 

  This year the Academy Awards are being boycotted by several notable African-American    movie stars because there are not enough nominations of African-Americans or their movies this year. Usually, I find the movies which are nominated aren’t ones that I actually want to see…with a few exceptions (i.e. The Revenant, Room). For me, if I were an actor or filmmaker not being nominated for an Oscar, might be a compliment.

  Yet, what grows exceedingly tedious with all of this brouhaha is the constant and pervasive charge of racism or other slanderous labeling. There have been some great African-American movies and there are some great African-American actors. There have been some terrible  African-American movies and there are some terrible African-American actors. It’s the same with Caucasian, Hispanic or Asian movies and actors…or any other group. It’s not a matter of bigotry, it’s merely common sense about taste and quality. Thinking and civil people truly don’t care what race you are.

  Personally, I find my intelligence is insulted when elitists such as Danny DeVito, adding his two cents to the current fray, makes outlandish, broad sweeping charges like, “It's unfortunate that the entire country is a racist country…” What an ignorant statement! What’s worse, it’s cultural manipulation. Rather than having an intelligent, well-thought out dialogue on areas of difference and disagreement, those who disagree grab the club of “label” to beat opponents into silence. Therein lies the very fallacy of their argument. It demonstrates the weakness of someone’s argument and lack of ability to express their position or do logical thinking in that they must succumb to labeling or name-calling rather than being able to coherently communicate or defend their position.

  For example, while I disagree with many of President Obama’s positions, it has nothing to do with his race. (It doesn’t bother me in the least the President is half Caucasian.) I also disagreed with President George W. Bush on many of his policies. Does that make me an anti-Texas bigot? So because I disagreed with President Clinton, am I then a “Bubba Bigot?”

  If you’re like me, as you’ve sought to defend yourself from the verbal terrorist attack of a “label,” you find you’re playing into the hands of your accuser. The issue is sidetracked by the “label.” It’s hard, if not impossible to return to the issue and any intelligent dialogue. The field of reason has now been contaminated by a “label” which rarely has anything to do with anything other than being utilized as some toxic verbal smokescreen to distort or    completely blind everyone from the real issue.

  Sadly, Christians throw out labels too, rather than doing honest thinking or debating. “Liberal” is a favorite verbal spear we hurl when we disagree with someone, yet haven’t thought through the issue. It’s just dishonest.

  Too often we’re played because we honestly believe we’ve been misunderstood. Yet, the fact is we’re just being played. Then, we too often are sucked into the foolishness of feeling we must vindicate ourselves, or worse, have the last word. There’s a wonderful proverb from the sagacious pen of wise King Solomon most of us need to heed more. “Answer not a fool according to his folly, lest you be like him yourself” (Proverbs 26:4). 

  Someone who uses labels or name calling to annihilate their opponent has tipped their hand. They are what Solomon insightfully concluded, a “fool.” When we react to labels or charges which are ludicrous, we’ve chosen to allow them to ensnare us with their foolishness. Instead of becoming emotional or worse, angry, we’d be wise to ignore the labelling and do the best we can to continue to respond to real issues and not be sidetracked by smokescreens. If need be, sometimes we must just walk away. It will require wisdom and self-control. Yet, it’s the wisest approach because when someone is slinging mud and you sling mud back, in the end, you only end up getting dirty.

Looking for quality used Christian books and other types of books at prices lower than even Amazon. Check out our family's online used bookstore at resurrectedreads.com or visit our store at the Waterford Unique Antique Market at 209 North Milwaukee Street in Waterford, WI -- 262.534.3500. 

The flag is not the problem!

"Racism isn't a bad habit; it's a sin. The answer is not sociology, it's theology." Tony Evans

 

  There’s a huge public outcry to remove the Confederate flag from the State House in South Carolina. Removing the flag isn’t going to cure the disease of racism. Our culture loves to focus on external and symbolic change, rather than the heart and true change. Eradicating all symbols of the Confederacy won’t end racism in our country any more than taking the label off a bottle of poison makes it non-toxic.

  Racism isn’t new. It goes back to Genesis and the Fall. It’s not an American problem, or even a white versus black problem. A basic study of history and contemporary culture reveals that this horrible sin crosses borders and time. All of us are familiar with the white Aryanism that Adolph Hitler and the Nazis were obsessed with. Pol Pot and the Khmer Rouge, though Asian, persecuted ethnic Chinese.

  There is only one race—the human race. Caucasians, Africans, Asians, Indians, Arabs and Jews aren’t different races. Rather, they’re different ethnicities of the human race. All human beings have the same physical characteristics (with minor variations, of course). More importantly, for a Bible believer, all human beings are equally created in the image and likeness of God (Genesis 1:26-27). God loved the world so much that He sent His Son, Jesus, to lay down His life for us (John 3:16). The “world” includes all people groups.

  God doesn’t show partiality or favoritism and neither must we. James 2:4 describes those who discriminate as “judges with evil thoughts.” The Bible instead commands us to love our neighbors as ourselves, making no distinction of ethnicity or people groups. Racism finds its roots in the diabolical sin of pride. All forms of racism, prejudice, and discrimination, whether ethnic, economic, educational, gender-based or intelligence-based are an affront to the sacrifice of Christ on the cross for all people.

  Anyone who is racist, prejudiced or discriminatory need to repent. It’s a sin. There’s no rationalization or justification for it. Jesus commands us to love one another as He loves us (John 13:34). If God is impartial and loves us with impartiality, we must love others with that same high standard. When we treat an individual or people-group with contempt, we’re mistreating image-bearers of God. Even if it’s only in our heart, we’re abusing someone whom God loves and for whom Jesus died.

  Racism, in varying forms and to various degrees, has been a plague on humanity since the beginning. As a racist needs to repent, the Bible commands those who are victims of racism, prejudice or discrimination to forgive. Ephesians 4:32 clearly commands us, “Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you.” Racists may not deserve forgiveness, yet each of us deserved God’s forgiveness far less.

  Since we’re all of one race, the human race or what Scripture calls Adam’s race, we all share Adam’s story. This includes the broken condition into which Adam and Eve fell when they rebelled against God. When our first parents rebelled, it was attributed to us – in a real sense, we rebelled along with them. Original sin means Adam’s sin brought on us both guilt and a fallen nature. Adam brought us guilt in that he represented us. When he sinned and died spiritually, we died in him. Because Adam is our ancient biological father, we inherit his sinful nature.

  The good news and our only hope is that God has addressed the issue of sin — including racism — in the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Jesus succeeded where Adam failed; Jesus succeeds where we fail. By faith, we place confidence in Jesus as our true and final representative and have peace with both God and our fellow human beings. Because of salvation we can overcome sin and death through Christ. Someday we will be free of both.

  Scripture teaches very clearly that the Gospel brings an end to interracial squabbling. Our common humanity supersedes our national and ethnic distinctions. Delusions of cultural superiority have absolutely no place in Christ’s kingdom. At salvation we become one Body, one Church, one entity in Jesus Christ. But because of our natural condition, which the Bible calls sinful, we still experience racial strife, even within the Church. This is an enslavement from which the Gospel sets us free but we must choose by God’s grace to live in the liberty that was purchased for us on the cross. One day the Church, which supersedes all ethnic lines and cultural barriers, will meet before God in eternity and worship Him together in one glorious voice forever. It’s already happening right this very minute.

  The problem with someone who is a racist is not fundamentally that they are racist. The core issue is that racists and racist comments only reveal the spiritual deadness of ungodly spiritual heart and the need for God through Christ and by His Spirit to resurrect and transform one’s spiritual heart from the dead. When someone is perceived to be guilty of racism, there’s usually an outcry for them to be banished from the public square. Somehow we foolishly believe that solves the evil problem of racism. It doesn’t and never will. Instead, racism only hides or goes covert.

  As Bible-believers, we must understand and share that there is only one hope, there is only one solution to racism – the Gospel! If a racist trusts in and follows Jesus Christ by faith, the One who died on the cross and was resurrected from the dead for all types of sins and for all types, races, and kinds of sinners, then and only then can he/she truly be liberated from racism. If a racist chooses to become a Christian, the Gospel promises that he/she will go to heaven, a place filled with many sinful Christ-followers—even liberated racist Christ-followers.

  Do you struggle with racism? Are you partial to your own group? If we’re honest, we have to admit that most of us are. Sadly, that’s because we’re foolish enough to rank people by standards the all-wise God of creation does not. Imagine for a second what it might look like to fully recognize that we stand before God utterly by grace, when wrath is in fact deserved. Would you and I still show preference to persons who share our skin color?

  Often Christians, depending on their political persuasion, simply read from the culture's favorite scripts. But shouldn't those who have been born-again sound different from those who are lost? Shouldn't we be reading from a different script, one based on a biblical worldview, rather than an unregenerate world one? Peter calls black, white, Asian, Hispanic Christians together a “chosen race” (1 Pet. 2:9). Shouldn’t this reality affect the look and feel of our church? Our attitude toward those who are “different”? Even how we feel about ourselves?  

  In the church alone we can simultaneously affirm two points: God created people as both different and good. Those differences hold absolutely no weight in our standing or rank relative to one another, since our worthiness depends on something outside of us—on the worthiness of Jesus Christ. So here’s a radical, real world idea – let’s “outdo one another in showing honor,” as Paul puts it (Rom. 12:10). Ask God for wisdom and grace on how you can personally, in very practical ways, outdo members of other ethnic groups in showing them honor and grace, as you have been shown honor and grace by our gracious God!
Looking for quality used Christian books and other types of books at prices lower than even Amazon. Check out our family's online used bookstore at resurrectedreads.com.