I do not like the news and how it is represented, and at risk of getting slammed, I am going to say that I do not like the #blacklivesmatter hashtag. For the simple reason that it is exclusionary. #livesmatter – period. (And I know that someone will comment that the meaning of the tag is that black lives also matter, and although probably true, that is not what it says, and it causes division on another level) I am 100% against what happened, but trust the world to come up with a slogan to rally behind that is absolutely true but instead of solving a problem it rather adds to the friction & fuels the fires.
The devil is a sneaky bugger. Lies that are so close to the truth that they seem true, is his speciality.
My wife mentioned another part of this… the riots and demonstrations made the news, the looting made the news, and the protests caused a lot of people to turn their instagrams black, in solidarity. But what happens next week? After the emotions has run in course?
Contrast that with other Organizations and movements like #daretolove that have quietly been feeding thousands upon thousands of families during the corona lockdown because #livesmatter. No riots, no demonstrations, just pick up and go because #livesmatter. No race, no colour, just people acting for the good of people.
That is a movement worth of a #livesmatter hashtag!
But why isn’t it?
I found my answer this morning in John 15:19:
“…If you give your allegiance to the world, they would love and welcome you as one of their own. But because you won’t align yourself with the values of this world, they hate you…”
Contemplating this word, I was trying to relate it to a day to day world. Removing the emotions of the last few weeks and stresses of the last few months, I was thinking about how I am often the outsider, invited, but not always welcomed… often sought out in times of trouble, though…
So this got me thinking… What ‘bad’ thing did Jesus do to anybody? I can’t think of one thing (except maybe not living up to their expectations) Yet, He evoked rage and even hate from a large group of people.
God answers the question himself in verse 22 of John 15:
“…If I had not come and revealed myself to the unbelieving world, they would not feel the guilt of their sin, but now their sin is left uncovered…”
Without intent or any condemnation, we bring a light to the conversation, a torch shining on the motives of the gathering. We make people uncomfortable because they see us as not part of them, we are not part of the world, and our presence reminds them of their own sins dragging on them and making them heavy. No matter how good or nice they are, they will always have this little twitch in their brain. That little reminder, and unlike us, there is no recourse… there is no Savior, so they will always work to ‘erase’ their sin… without success. And as deep as they suppress and bury those feelings and reminders, our presence lifts it out.
But Jesus also knew how much of a toll this will take on us. We must be in the world, we must help, we must be an example of ‘the way’, so he gave us the Spirit of Truth, the Divine Comforter…
“… And I will send you the Divine Encourager from the very presence of my Father. He will come to you, the Spirit of Truth, emanating from the Father…”
(John 15:26)
After all, this great love is demonstrated when a person sacrifices his life for his friends…
