Should I Just Hunker Down, Pray, and Try to Avoid All the Turmoil Engulfing the USA?

Below are insightful reflections from my son, Josh, concerning the civil unrest we are experiencing. I feel he has helpful advice for us all.

We've reached a tipping point. Can you feel it? Every day more and more white people are waking up to the fact that we cannot be silent about the pain being experienced by the minority community any longer. The opposite of love is not hate, even though often that word is thrown around as if anyone not being sufficiently vocal of their love for a certain thing are "haters". But the truth may not be as far off as I used to think...Because the opposite of love is apathy. So to be silent at a time like this, might just as well be hate.

My family and I watched this Prophetic Dateline with Cindy Jacobs interviewing several African American leaders in the body of Christ. Wow. Highly recommended viewing, particularly for my white friends.

After seeing every one of my black friends heartbroken and outspoken on Facebook last week, it's all helping us to see that this issue has come to a head. Enough people like myself are seeing that we can't downplay how much this entire segment of our society is hurting and feeling powerless and marginalized. We have to stand with them, speak up and do something.

I love to see actual, concrete explanations of specific legal issues which must be addressed and corrected in order to make a difference and prevent horrors like this from continuing to occur. Here is a great post from Michael Farris, President and CEO of Alliance Defending Freedom: The Judicial Complicity in Police Violations of Civil Rights. This isn't the whole answer, by any means. But it's at least one piece to the legal component of the puzzle.

Another important aspect is that we cannot be blind or indifferent to the mistreatment of our fellow man. All you have to do is ask, and you'll discover the troubling circumstances so many find themselves facing day in and day out. This is illustrated quite well by this Facebook post about a simple conversation many people are unwilling to have with a person of a different race. Galatians 6:2 commands us to bear one another's burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. If we are honest with ourselves, haven't we often fallen short in this area?

Journaling exercise: Lord, what would You speak to me concerning:

• How to honor others whom I don’t agree with
• How to have empathy and truly see and feel where others are coming from
• The injustices being done, and the unrest which is sweeping America
• What should my role be in all of this?

Race in America Series

1. Understanding and Responding to Racial Tension
2. Should I Just Hunker Down, Pray, and Try to Avoid All the Turmoil Engulfing the USA?
3. "All Sheep Matter!"
4. T. D. Jakes Explains Racial Issues in a Way I've Never Heard Them
5. A Lieutenant Discusses Racial Discrimination Within the NYPD
6. Perception, Presumption & the Pain of Not Belonging
7. What Can I Do To Help Heal Racial Tension?
8. It's Time for Blacks and Whites to Talk About Race Issues