True Love is Not Easy

I went on YouTube and saw there was a live stream of protests going on in the San Francisco bay area tonight. I lived in the East Bay during most of 2019 and so this particularly peaked my interest. What I'm watching unfold is as compelling as any drama or thriller I’ve ever seen.

As you likely know, George Floyd was tragically and maliciously killed by a police officer in Minneapolis, Minnesota. I admit I have not watched the infamous video nor do I intend to as there is not one person from any range of the political spectrum that I have seen try to justify this murder. This is not out of ignorance, but I have a sensitive mind and do not wish to watch violence, death, or evil take place before my eyes, if I can help it. Please and thank you for respecting my choice to not watch that.

People are upset and rightfully so. Protests are going on in cities around the United States including Minneapolis, Atlanta, Detroit, Los Angeles, Richmond, Oakland, San Jose, even Des Moines among many others. As I scroll through my Facebook feed, I see anger…lots and lots of anger. You have a right to be angry. You should be angry.

 

I know, I know, I talk a lot about Jesus and the Bible, but hear me out… Jesus got angry too.

You know who Jesus got angry with the most? Those who were in charge and in high positions of power and leadership in the church. It wasn’t because they were in positions of power but because they abused their power and did evil acts while claiming to do them in the name of God.

Do you see people doing evil, claiming to do it for the sake of George Floyd? I do

Do you see people doing evil, claiming to do it for the sake of law enforcement? I do

Do you see people doing evil, claiming to do it for the sake of justice? I do

 

 

I don’t know what to say. I don’t know what to do. I’m not sure I can help this situation at all, but I am not without hope. 

Now more than ever, we need to love one another. This means loving those you disagree with and even those who hate you. It's easy to love those who love you. 

  

“But I say to you who hear, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. To one who strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also, and from one who takes away your cloak do not withhold your tunic either. Give to everyone who begs from you, and from one who takes away your goods do not demand them back. And as you wish that others would do to you, do so to them.

 If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. And if you do good to those who do good to you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners do the same."

-Luke 6:27-33

God, please have mercy on our nation and this world.

 

Grace and Peace

-Normative Nomad

What is Essential

There was some encouraging news for many of us church-going folk last Friday. The president announced that all places of worship including churches, mosques, and synagogues were to be declared “essential.” 


I’m not writing this as a comment on politics or giving my opinion on this action, but Trump said something in his brief remarks last week that really struck me: “Some governors have deemed liquor stores and abortion clinics as essential but not churches.” What does it say about our society when we deem liquor and abortion as essential? 


This really got me thinking, what is essential?


I often try to approach issues and questions like this from two points of view: A practical/worldly view and the other a spiritual/biblical view. Practically speaking, the primary essentials that come to mind are water, food, and shelter. Spiritually, the essentials that come to mind are prayer, reading/learning Scripture, and community. 


Christ Jesus was given a question that I believe is similar to this issue, and His response is a perfect teaching of what is essential.


But when the Pharisees heard that he had silenced the Sadducees, they gathered together. And one of them, a lawyer, asked him a question to test him. “Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” And he said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. On these two commandments depend all the Law and the Prophets.”

-Matthew 22:34-40



I don’t think I need to comment too much on Jesus’ response to the question for He says what He means quite clearly. I believe it should be noted though that His response does not include things you need, but things you need to DO. 


What is essential? To love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. Secondly, to love your neighbor as yourself.



Grace and Peace

-Normative Nomad

Looking Forward

I don’t know about you but I spend way too much time thinking about the past. Many hours spent daydreaming about the “good ole days,” possibly even more hours wallowing in regret. It is especially during the times we’re living in that there’s a lot of us (myself included) longing for things to be as they once were.

Is it possible for us to be grateful for things happening in the present? Can we be hopeful for what’s to come without just waiting for it to “go back to normal?” More importantly, is our faith still in the sovereignty of God? 

Here’s a passage from the book of Isaiah that I hope gives you encouragement:

“Remember not the former things,

    nor consider the things of old.

Behold, I am doing a new thing;

    now it springs forth, do you not perceive it?

I will make a way in the wilderness

    and rivers in the desert.”

-Isaiah 43:18-19

I don’t know about you but I’m looking forward to what God is doing new.

Grace and Peace

-Normative Nomad