I am someone who avoids controversial topics like the plague because friction makes me uncomfortable and I want everyone to get along and be friends. However, the Lord has called us to engage conflict in order to grow, as well as do uncomfortable things in order to kill our flesh and glorify his name from our obedience. These acts of obedience advance His kingdom, so I’m just going to dive right in.
We all have seen it on our Facebook timelines, our twitter feeds, the news, and maybe in the city you reside in. Most recently, it’s been right here in Milwaukee. The Black Lives Matter movement and the All Lives Matter movement. Now before I continue, I want to say that both of these movements have some valid points and I don’t want to dismiss the entire ideologies that either serve.
I’m sure that there are a million other blogs out there with people talking about these issues, but I have an interesting perspective on all of it. My father is Black and my mother is White. Growing up as a mixed raced American has been a difficult thing- but one of the best blessings the Lord could have ever given me. I feel obligated to always step back and see both sides of the issues- when they are racially driven because I realize that all arguments have two perspectives.
I’ve been hesitant to voice my opinion on this because I feel like it matters. People always ask me, “Well, what do you think about this?” and they really listen. Having that sort of influence is terrifying, but I choose to believe the Lord has made me exactly how he wants me to be and given me the platforms I have so that I can reach/impact more people in order to glorify his kingdom.
I do, however, want to share what God has asked me to share.
#TheLifeOfChristMatters
The Lord explained to me that we as Christians are living in the world, but are not of the world, and need to keep that in mind when we are faced with times of division, polarization, anger, shootings, and hatred like we are seeing today. We need to remember that no matter our demographic, race, political stance, income or citizenship, we need to be Christ followers first. Our identity needs to be found in our Savior, not in any label or category the world applies us to… and we need to choose the side of love.
When you accepted Jesus into your heart, a space was made in your soul for the Holy Spirit to reside. Your baptism represented a new life in Christ, a life where you stop living life for selfish reasons and picked up your cross to live His life. The life that God has called us to live includes living differently and sometimes staying out of the pull to follow the crowd, especially the crowds we may identify with, but to choose His ways in those struggles no matter how difficult they may be
Luke 9: 23-25
“Whoever wants to be my disciple must deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save their life will lose it, but whoever loses their life for me will save it. What good is it for someone to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit their very self?”
Another very crucial part of the life of Christ is his loving attitude and incredibly forgiving heart. Now, I’m not talking about a postmodern Jesus who tells you to “love” everyone and respect that each person has their own truths. That is not Jesus. That is our culture watering down what Christ came to do in order to make it easier to swallow. I’m talking about the real Jesus, who came to show us the way, the truth, and the life. To show us what things are sins, and then lovingly help us work through them so that we can walk in His freedom.
Our current racial struggles are very real for many of us and our answer is to understand the only way out of all of it is Jesus Christ- so for this multiracial woman, my identity is not in my race or gender, but in the Lord God Almighty. I’m choosing a side- I choose love. His love. With my voice and with my life I say: the life of Christ matters.
*All photos are mine. The main photo is of my dad worshipping at church. Then there’s a photo of me, and a photo of my family from Thanksgiving.
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