Lives are being lost, and battle lines are blurred. Minority communities are feeling and aggressively expressing their grief, frustration, and fears. Law enforcement is defensive and self-protective. The anglo evangelical church is conflicted... and largely quiet. In the next two paragraphs, I'd like to introduce two thoughts to the conversation.

    I'll begin by saying actions are more important than words. Jesus demonstrated his love for us (Romans 5:8). First, Christians must seize this opportunity to demonstrate the barrier-shattering love of God by our actions individually* and corporately.** These activities will likely happen off-camera and will not catch the attention of the frothy-mouthed mediamongers, but they are a critical piece of who we are and what God has asked us to do. And second, in addition to showing love across cultural and ethnic lines, Christians need be engaged in active listening and life learning. There is a context for all this angst, and there are bad players on every side of the argument, but the injustices and inequities of the past just won't seem to expire, and full reparations have not been made, nor can they be. Though this does not justify bad behavior, it reminds us of our society's need for key elements of the gospel: a Savior, grace, repentance, redemption, forgiveness, and reconciliation. These are factors that the world will never experience or duplicate without Jesus.

    I'll end by saying words are still important. While we act and listen, God also expects us to speak truth, light, and life into issues of our day. You'll find opportunities to speak up around a dinner table, at the water cooler, at the salon, on Facebook (respond now, if you like), and maybe even at an All Lives Matter demonstration!  

Let's get busy reconciling all people to God and one another through the cross of Jesus Christ,

David Yetter

Executive Minister