El Elohim hayyim, the living Lord
The riots are waning. The protests continue in many places. The demand for change remains strong. After a week of peaceful protest marred by acts of violence and destruction, the question is “now what?” How do we as a society move toward racial reconciliation and away from systemic racism without any form of accountability?
The short answer: I don’t know. As I see it, there is no reconciliation without the Eternal, Immutable, Holy, Righteous, and Living God. I don’t think society in general can agree on a path forward, especially in this age of division, ad hominem attacks, and refusal to hear all sides of any issue. Certainly government cannot fix the system it created. Corruption is rampant at all levels of elected “public servants.” No, human nature on its own is drawn to disorder – humanity’s reflection of the second law of thermodynamics. The only hope is in the mercy of the God who never changes. The Church must step up and lead.
Is there corruption in the church? If it is made up of people, yes. But there is a Savior whose Spirit brings accountability. In Jesus, believers who walk out their convictions can lead the way to reconciliation. Love, respect, honor, dialogue, and hospitality are where to begin in how we treat each other. We cannot save ourselves, but the Lord will work in and through us, upholding those who trust Him with His hand.
We do not need to be dismayed at the state of society; God will give us strength. We can, and we must, rely on the power of the living Lord to be the forces for change in culture. Oceans may rise and empires may fall, but God, El Elohim, is immutable, never changing,
His divine power has given us everything required for life and godliness through the knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. By these he has given us very great and precious promises, so that through them you may share in the divine nature, escaping the corruption that is in the world because of evil desire. For this very reason, make every effort to supplement your faith with goodness, goodness with knowledge, knowledge with self-control, self-control with endurance, endurance with godliness, godliness with brotherly affection, and brotherly affection with love.
2 Peter 1:3-7 (CSB)
Defaulting to Grace 