STAND...for all people
STAND by Joseph Mize
Satan is on the move in this world
Taking control of our people
Assaulting the innocent
Negating the good
Dividing our nation
;
Stand for all people; freedom and justice for all
Teach others to fish; fish for those who can't
Ask questions; don't assume
Negate the evil; be the light
Devine intervention; power against division
#jesusisthesemicolon #bethelight #stand4all
Disclaimer: There's no mistaking that I'm a white, christian male from the south and it would be easy to assume where I might stand on certain topics. Permit me to present an opposing view to the assumptions of the race and religious classification of which I am a part. You may well be offended. Please read this blog post in its entirety. I pray your mind is open to the spirit of what's being said.
“Until you’re ready to stand for ALL who are or have been oppressed, belittled, mistreated, robbed, raped, abused, or murdered, DO NOT cast stones...”
In light of the response surrounding players kneeling during the national anthem, I can't help but see similarities between Jesus and the American flag. Or rather, the misrepresentations and misunderstandings of both.
According to Merriam-Webster, Politics can be defined as:
the art or science of government
the art or science concerned with guiding or influencing governmental policy
the art or science concerned with winning and holding control over a government
Winning and holding control is an art? Really?
I have no desire for politics. In fact, I loathe politics in every form. I believe the spirit behind the definition for politics is ruled by selfish preservation to obtain control. Deceit is often the tool by which control is obtained. Politics among Christians infuriates me more than any other thing on this planet. Those who should speak truth and act in love, more often than not, are influenced by selfish preservation and deceit. They give over their minds to these evil spirits and if not careful, their hearts as well. When this happens, Jesus is not only misrepresented, but is learned incorrectly. When we miss Jesus, we miss life. Every single time we play the game of politics, it's self serving at the core and is bound to Satan himself as the puppet master. In the case of NFL protests, our flag is misrepresented and has been learned incorrectly.
The themes of selfish preservation, deceit, division, and control are tightly woven throughout the fabric of our existence as individuals and as a nation. We see the fruit of this evil as our nation tears itself apart. Is our nation dying a slow self inflicted death? In response to the death of a loved one earlier this year, I wrote a blog post about suicide and the tragedy of trying to control our own story, Jesus Is The Semicolon. Last week after the massacre in Las Vegas, I wrote about our battle not being with each other, but against the evil powers at play in this world, Our Fight Is Not With Each Other. Our home is under attack from the inside. We must open our eyes to the TRUE enemy, or we will be devoured.
Today, in response to our Vice President walking out of an NFL game, I see the attempts at control by our leaders through political maneuvering and influence of big money. Mob mentality is occurring through manipulation by the media, social media, pulpits, and institutions of learning on all sides of the aisle. Our nation is ravaged by deceit and individuality. Just as individuals are overcome by selfishness and control, so too is our nation. Jesus is the Semicolon was intended for an individual audience. The below image from that blog applies to our nation as well:
The wounds of our nation will not be healed over time.
Hang on now...
But doesn't our flag represent the men and women who have fought and died for our country? You bet it does! It also stands for the the principles for which they've fought.
Do the folks angered by the kneeling protests feel like those who do not stand for our national anthem have committed adultery against our great nation? Maybe...
Here's an example of Jesus's response to one who committed "adultery" from the Gospel of John:
“Jesus went across to Mount Olives, but he was soon back in the Temple again. Swarms of people came to him. He sat down and taught them. The religion scholars and Pharisees led in a woman who had been caught in an act of adultery. They stood her in plain sight of everyone and said, “Teacher, this woman was caught red-handed in the act of adultery. Moses, in the Law, gives orders to stone such persons. What do you say?” They were trying to trap him into saying something incriminating so they could bring charges against him. Jesus bent down and wrote with his finger in the dirt. They kept at him, badgering him. He straightened up and said, “The sinless one among you, go first: Throw the stone.” Bending down again, he wrote some more in the dirt. Hearing that, they walked away, one after another, beginning with the oldest. The woman was left alone. Jesus stood up and spoke to her. “Woman, where are they? Does no one condemn you?” “No one, Master.” “Neither do I,” said Jesus. “Go on your way. From now on, don’t sin.” ”
White American Christians: Until you're ready to stand for ALL who are or have been oppressed, belittled, mistreated, robbed, raped, abused, or murdered, DO NOT cast stones at those who take a knee. Both our flag and national anthem exist in the spirit that gives a person the very right and freedom to take a knee. We have no right to tell anyone they can't speak out peacefully. This includes those taking a knee at sporting events, those standing for clean water, or those who march wearing pink knitted hats. The flag, in fact, still stands for freedom. Disagree with the avenue chosen or words spoken, sure, but in disagreeing don't diminish what's being said. Actively listen! When you immediately cast shame on someone else and their experiences and perspective, you fail to see the larger story of our nation and in reality misrepresent our Savior.
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
The story of our nation is one of great triumph and great tragedy. Why? Because, selfish preservation and deceit were woven into our DNA. The document at the core of our identity, the Declaration of Independence, contains the very words that give our nation Life and Purpose. Within the ink on the page and in the spirit of man, unalienable rights were declared for all, having been granted by our Creator. At the very stroke of the pen, our forefathers declared this great truth while simultaneously holding in their own grasp the rights of a people to Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness, as well as omitting the female gender entirely. The spirits of selfish preservation and deceit were present at our founding and remain alive and well within our nation today.
Until you're ready to be fully transformed by the Spirit of the Law, do not begin to oppress, shame, or belittle anyone; Jesus himself places a period here. The very scripture that Jesus declared of himself in his first sermon was from Isaiah 61:1.
“The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me, Because the Lord has anointed me To bring good news to the afflicted; He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, To proclaim liberty to captives And freedom to prisoners;”
Did you know this? Have you read it, or the following verses?
“...to proclaim the favorable year of the Lord And the day of vengeance of our God; To comfort all who mourn, To grant those who mourn in Zion, Giving them a garland instead of ashes, The oil of gladness instead of mourning, The mantle of praise instead of a spirit of fainting. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, The planting of the Lord, that He may be glorified. Then they will rebuild the ancient ruins, They will raise up the former devastations; And they will repair the ruined cities, The desolations of many generations.”
The desolation of many generations is still at hand. This could mean that we, the children of God, might not be receiving what Jesus really has to offer. To bring good news to the afflicted; to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to captives and freedom to prisoners.
One can only offer what one has received. What good news are you offering? What freedom are you offering to the oppressed? What liberty are you proclaiming for those held captive?
There is a larger story. If we remain short-sighted in our small stories and are unable to see things from another persons perspective, or if we condemn others as adulterers, what are we saying about Jesus? Our small stories contain us like moles in little boxes. Satan's favorite game is whack-a-mole. You were created in the image of the living God; don't be a mole. Jesus had a word for those folks too, white washed tombs.
Honoring and respecting the men and women who have fought and died for the spirit our flag represents is something in which I will forever participate. I will stand. Their sacrifice gives me the freedom to speak from my heart and write these words. We must not forget, however, that great evils have prevailed under this flag as well. Slavery existed under this flag. So did the massacre and desolation of Native Americans. All for the fulfillment of Life, Liberty, and pursuit of Happiness of those who had the control...those practicing the art of politics. Sadly, this continues today as well.
Still these are the words Peter gives as encouragement to those who believe and were scattered throughout the earth.
“Submit yourselves for the Lord’s sake to every human institution, whether to a king as the one in authority, or to governors as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and the praise of those who do right. For such is the will of God that by doing right you may silence the ignorance of foolish men. Act as free men, and do not use your freedom as a covering for evil, but use it as bondslaves of God. Honor all people, love the brotherhood, fear God, honor the king.”
Too many today are not silencing the ignorance of foolish men, but continue adding fuel to the fire of misrepresentation and misunderstanding. This is negating the good and dividing our nation and is partnering with the enemy. Satan.
Our armed forces haven't served and sacrificed for the flag of the United States of America. They have fought, bled, and died for what the flag represents.
In arguing the reverence of the flag above the value of the lives under that flag, we dishonor the truth and dignity of their sacrifice.
Jesus is the giver of freedom; our flag still stands for freedom! I will stand and defend her still today! I will also stand and defend the truth she represents, as well as for those who must kneel in order to be heard.
There's a reason Paul spoke about the body being a representation of the church. One body; many members. If our nation is a body, the different parts must stop assaulting each other...physically and mentally. We must stop definitively and emphatically ending our short-sided, self-serving thought processes with periods and exclamation points as though we're in control or have it all figured out. By this I mean stop throwing virtual stones via social media or slandering others during tailgate talk. We're cutting off our nose to spite our face and we're not reflecting the love and light of Jesus. Only Jesus can heal our nation's wounded past. He can do this with you and with me.
Let's stop focusing on the colors; be the light.
Please share this post and the message of Love, Light, and the exposure of our true enemy. Together, let's spread the Good News, be the light, and stand for all people.
The two songs below speak to the heart of what I'm attempting to get across here. Focus on the Light before focusing on the flag. Let that Light shine through the flag. I pray these songs move you today as they have moved me.
How Great Thou Art (w/lyrics) - as sung by Carrie Underwood
Lee Greenwood - God Bless The USA (Lyrics)