Prejudice - June 23,2020

         The unrest in the United States, the tearing down of the statues of Christopher Columbus, and other men in our history books; white men who owned black men, and wrote down the laws of this nation hundreds of years ago, won't solve the problems of prejudice.
  

    Prejudice comes from the heart. Wanting to protest and burn down businesses, churches, breaking windows, killing and injuring people makes you become like the people whom you say aren't worthy to have a statute.  It will not stop people from loving their great heroes from the past. "I Can't Breathe" slogans won't stop the prejudice.  

    I listened to a man, Dr. Victor Clay, a pastor/ missionary who went to speak at my niece's church at Central Baptist Church, in Syracuse, NY, on  the Multicultural Church, and the Christian Mindset in a Turbulent World.  He talks about the organized Christian church today, along with their mindset.  Yes, our churches are organized, along with our hearts.  Dr. Clay opened his Bible and read verses on how and how not to be a Christian.  I always say if you want to see a true church, read the book of Acts.  Dr. Clay said , read the second chapter of the Book of Acts.  You know why?  Because when Peter spoke to the Jews and devout men out of every nation under heaven on that Pentecost Day, Acts:2:5, the Bible never divided the nations into colors, nor classes, like rich, poor, or slave.  God did say nations were in Jerusalem, like Mesopotamia, Egypt, Libya, Rome. He called some Edomites, Arabians, Cretes, strangers, proselytes. The Church was never to be about color or class.  It is about Jesus' death, burial, and  resurrection, I Corinthians 15:1-4. Then Peter who was filled with the Holy Spirit spoke.  He opened his mouth and preached the Gospel, and every man heard him in their native language.  He spoke to them about Jesus, who had just been crucified fifty days before, not far from where they were in Jerusalem.  Most of those people were there when Jesus said, "It Is Finished", when the whole earth had turned dark, and the veil was torn from the top to the bottom of the temple, and the earthquake, and graves were opened, Matthew 27:51-52. Peter quoted Joel 2:28-32, the last days, and whosoever (anyone) who called on the name of the LORD shall be saved, Acts 2:21.  This is not Romans 10:13.  Paul wasn't saved yet, but he may have been standing in that crowd. Peter quoted David's words in Psalms 16:8-11, and I Kings 2:10, Psalms 110;1. Peter spoke what many of the prophets like Isaiah 13:10, Ezekiel 32:7, of the Old Testament preached.  He was filled with the same Holy Spirit that Paul talked about in Ephesians 3:13-21.
  

    So why are churches protesting, fighting for change in the world, especially with a radical  group like Antifa. If the Black Lives Matter groups aren't radical, only protesting "peacefully", well it doesn't matter to God if it's a peaceful demonstration or breaking out windows and burning down businesses, when God's people are to be doing His work; not trying to get governments to come together to make "better laws" against the problems of man's heart, which is sin.  Dr. Clay says it plainly using God's word, "love thy enemy".  Actually, he read Matthew 5:43-44.  Jesus said, "You have heard that it has been said, Thou shalt love your neighbor, and hate thine enemy.  44 But I say unto you, love your enemies, bless them who  use you, and persecute you."  They did the same to Jesus, His own people, yet He loved them, and before we were saved He loved us too.  So instead of hating police officers, including the one who suffocated George Floyd, Jesus said, "forgive them for they know not what they do."  Even Stephen was stoned to death, yet, he asked God not to lay this sin upon those people.  Acts 7;59-60.  Christians gathered up Stephen's body and buried him. They did not protest. 

    In Acts chapter 2, the Holy Spirit is saying All Lives Matter.  He doesn't want to see anybody die and go to hell.  It's not about one color of people, but all people; the Jew and the Gentiles, the good and the evil, whether you like it or not.  

Ephesians 6:12-13 says," We wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against powers, against rulers of the darkness of this world, against  spiritual wickedness in high places.13 Wherefore, take unto you the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day."