Created in the Image of God
With all that is happening in the world today it is often difficult to see anything good. The narrative is often controlled by the media and even social media. I work in both of the North American hotspots: policing and long term care. Not too many positive things being said about either and yet many people that I know personally, are doing a wonderful job showing what the normal is. Good people dealing with the worst situations and often without the support of others.
There are many Blacks who are justified in their anger but I will not accept the way some are expressing that anger. There are many family members who are angry about long term care and how their loved ones are being treated. The system is broken in some places but not in all and yet many of the staff are feeling the brunt of the accusations. Many are so tired they can barely stand and cops are putting their lives at risk and all they get is grief.
In later life I have learned to break things down to the lowest common denominator. I try to do so from what I believe is God's perspective. There are three basics in Christianity in how He sees the human race. First, we are ALL created in His image. Second, we are ALL sinners. Thirdly, the only way for ALL of us to be forgiven and make it to heaven, is through Jesus Christ.
To some those words are poison and their greatest fear is that others might believe it. Yet they are included in the "ALL". The Bible makes it very clear that God does not look at us based on our ethnicity. Man does that. Some of you younger folks might be surprised to learn that other people groups have been targeted with hate aside from Blacks. When I was young, I remember Italians being centred out and of course Jews have always had targets on their backs.
So let me tell you about my family story very briefly because I think it will help many of you understand what the Black community is going through right now. Before I begin let me say I stand behind our cops 100% and do not condone any racism within the ranks: just like 99% of our cops.
My parents and thousands of others escaped Communist Russians invading Estonia in September of 1944 by crossing the Baltic Sea in vessels of all shapes and sizes. They became refugees because the first time the Russians entered Estonia in 1940, my grandfather and three uncles were removed from their home and never seen again. Many vanished in the same manner. Many of you reading this never heard of this because Russia was supposedly an ally of the West and Germany was a common enemy. The problem is that Russia killed more innocent people than Germany but they have never apologized for their atrocities like the Germans have. That injustice remains to this day even after the fall of Communism.
I tell you this abbreviated story to point out how Blacks feel after another senseless murder by what appears to be a racist cop. I understand the anger because my anger toward the Russian leaders of today is just as real. So when nothing appears to being done about the injustices, people lash out and that is what we are seeing. Is it right the way it is happening in some US cities? Absolutely not! But after the Lord reminded me of my own anger, I could better understand the feeling among the Black community.
The parallels don't stop there. Russian leaders continue to lie to the world and to their own people after 75 years. In the US and other places, the news cycle will stay on this story until the next big event happens and all will be forgotten...again. So I take you back to the beginning of this blog.
Faith in God is not some religious exercise because even Jesus referred to that kind of faith as nothing but dead bones. It might look pretty on the outside but the inside is still corrupt. For real change to take place, hearts need to be changed. Christianity is about an inner work that manifests itself outwardly. It is about a relationship with Jesus Christ and not your religious affiliation. It is not based on your skin colour or your political views. So when people march on CNN headquarters, instead of demanding justice for George Floyd alone, demand that God be let back into the discussion on TV and the media...or we can just keep going around in circles.
In case anyone thinks I am naive enough to think this blog will make any dent into current events, don't worry. I am doing what I can to bring some light into a dark situation. Hopefully we can all do that. Blessings!
There are many Blacks who are justified in their anger but I will not accept the way some are expressing that anger. There are many family members who are angry about long term care and how their loved ones are being treated. The system is broken in some places but not in all and yet many of the staff are feeling the brunt of the accusations. Many are so tired they can barely stand and cops are putting their lives at risk and all they get is grief.
In later life I have learned to break things down to the lowest common denominator. I try to do so from what I believe is God's perspective. There are three basics in Christianity in how He sees the human race. First, we are ALL created in His image. Second, we are ALL sinners. Thirdly, the only way for ALL of us to be forgiven and make it to heaven, is through Jesus Christ.
To some those words are poison and their greatest fear is that others might believe it. Yet they are included in the "ALL". The Bible makes it very clear that God does not look at us based on our ethnicity. Man does that. Some of you younger folks might be surprised to learn that other people groups have been targeted with hate aside from Blacks. When I was young, I remember Italians being centred out and of course Jews have always had targets on their backs.
So let me tell you about my family story very briefly because I think it will help many of you understand what the Black community is going through right now. Before I begin let me say I stand behind our cops 100% and do not condone any racism within the ranks: just like 99% of our cops.
My parents and thousands of others escaped Communist Russians invading Estonia in September of 1944 by crossing the Baltic Sea in vessels of all shapes and sizes. They became refugees because the first time the Russians entered Estonia in 1940, my grandfather and three uncles were removed from their home and never seen again. Many vanished in the same manner. Many of you reading this never heard of this because Russia was supposedly an ally of the West and Germany was a common enemy. The problem is that Russia killed more innocent people than Germany but they have never apologized for their atrocities like the Germans have. That injustice remains to this day even after the fall of Communism.
I tell you this abbreviated story to point out how Blacks feel after another senseless murder by what appears to be a racist cop. I understand the anger because my anger toward the Russian leaders of today is just as real. So when nothing appears to being done about the injustices, people lash out and that is what we are seeing. Is it right the way it is happening in some US cities? Absolutely not! But after the Lord reminded me of my own anger, I could better understand the feeling among the Black community.
The parallels don't stop there. Russian leaders continue to lie to the world and to their own people after 75 years. In the US and other places, the news cycle will stay on this story until the next big event happens and all will be forgotten...again. So I take you back to the beginning of this blog.
Faith in God is not some religious exercise because even Jesus referred to that kind of faith as nothing but dead bones. It might look pretty on the outside but the inside is still corrupt. For real change to take place, hearts need to be changed. Christianity is about an inner work that manifests itself outwardly. It is about a relationship with Jesus Christ and not your religious affiliation. It is not based on your skin colour or your political views. So when people march on CNN headquarters, instead of demanding justice for George Floyd alone, demand that God be let back into the discussion on TV and the media...or we can just keep going around in circles.
In case anyone thinks I am naive enough to think this blog will make any dent into current events, don't worry. I am doing what I can to bring some light into a dark situation. Hopefully we can all do that. Blessings!
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