It has been a crazy week. Monday started with Independence Day celebrations and America celebrated freedom, fireworks, and fun (and etymology!). On Tuesday, the tone switched to angry Americans crying out for justice against Hillary. Then on Thursday, the frustration shifted toward the police after some violence in Louisiana and Minnesota… then overnight the country became pro-police again after Dallas lost some of its public servants at an anti-cop rally.
In some ways, the atmosphere reminds me of the Maidan Revolution back in 2013. Corrupt politicians, police brutality, protests, killings, anger, a little bit of nationalism… different details for sure, but on a primitive level the frustrations are quite similar.
When Russia invaded Eastern Ukraine, many people lost their homes and had to flee westward. Lena and I had the opportunity to meet some Christians who were refugees to Kiev, and they said something significant. They said that we, the Christians of Ukraine, were the guilty party in all of this chaos. I agreed with them about Ukraine then, and as I look at America falling apart this week, I can’t help but think the same thing about America now.
The World will naturally develop a culture of sin. It should be no surprise that the World has bred interracial tensions. The real scandal is that the American Church has failed to show love across the racial barriers that the World has set up.
There is controversy about a man that was shot in Louisiana. One side will point out that he was clearly laying on his back and the other points out that he was obviously resisting arrest and had a gun in his pocket. My big question is, “Where was the local church?” Who were the Christians in Alton’s life who could have reached out to him with the Gospel while he was still alive? Who is reaching out to the police that were involved?
Maybe the real question should be, “Whom am I reaching out to in my life before it’s too late?”
Now, it’s easy to say, “Louisiana is too far away,” and that may be true. But, there are people near you who are struggling. Reach them. You may be the only person that can. Let’s be the light and salt to this world. Let’s seize every opportunity to share the Gospel and love with people around us.