What's wrong with this world & how to fix it

Power and authority should not be confused with each other (The corollary to these ideas are submission and obedience).  Power, the ability or resource for action, and authority, having the right to enforce or exercise the power.  Our understanding, or better yet our misunderstanding of these ideas are at the root of much of what's wrong with this world.  This leaves us in perpetual tension.  Why?  Everyone wants to be the one in charge wielding their power while no one seems to appreciate the need to obey or be submissive.  

Families all across the land are divided and they are being ripped apart over arguing about who is to blame for our Nation’s problems and how do we as a people unite and move forward.  We don’t just segregate our communities by skin color, we separate by political affiliations, social status, occupations and economic diversities.  

With a culture that is obsessed with competition, from tee ball to professional Sports, campaigners trying to beat their Political opponents, to your kid’s dance or debate team -- is it any wonder we have such a division at every level in our country?  This isn’t new.  All the way back to Cain & Able we’ve had rivalries.  

The process of College entrance is competitive, applying for a job is competitive, getting your parent’s attention is competitive, keeping your attention here on this page or when you sit in a pew competes with technology and social media/the entertainment industry.  You know who doesn't compete?  God.

It’s clear to nearly everyone we need change.  Whatever it is we’ve been doing, it isn’t working.  Change is incredibly difficult, and we can see this playing out in our culture right now.  Think of how many churches fizzle out by fighting over change.  How can we call people to action?

Maybe we just need a “better pitch” to energize people?  Clever slogans like Nancy Reagan’s “just say no” campaign (drug abuse has risen exponentially since her plea) or the “WWJD” bracelets we wore in the 1990’s seem ineffective to spark real change.  Slogans rarely mobilize people, instead they seemingly initiate fads that fade from memory quickly.  

Perhaps we need stricter criminal & civil laws, ones regulating speech, gatherings, and actions that make people fairer.  If the laws don’t work, let’s break those laws or similar ones and make sure our voices are heard.  Well.  It’s hard to legislate morality.  And fairness & equality are moral issues -- matters of the heart.  

Laws will not change the heart or the attitude of divisive people.  Neither protests nor riots will change the hearts or culture that they infiltrate either.  

We’re now seeing a different competition for the direction or the focus of our national conversation.  As long as we compete and see this as an “Us versus them” issue, we will lose ground.  We need to mutually support each other as much as possible.  Support has to be authentic and genuine.  Not everyone will feel the same as you or share your approach to bridging the gaps that exist in our nation, and instead of resisting or resenting, we need to learn to cooperate.  

How do we cooperate towards a common good?  We must see others as allies instead of demonizing them as enemies and we must obediently submit to the right authority, yes, we need to yield to God’s will -- especially in how we treat each other.

Consider what Paul wrote in Romans 13:8-10, “8 Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law. 9 For the commandments, “You shall not commit adultery, You shall not murder, You shall not steal, You shall not covet,” and any other commandment, are summed up in this word: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” 10 Love does no wrong to a neighbor; therefore love is the fulfilling of the law.”  And ultimately, it’s time for us to take the words of Jesus seriously, especially what He says in Matthew 7:12, “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.”

 

Facts matter when history is inconvenient

(Hopefully we can...)

Upset over racism, riots, police brutality, and the current crisis America is facing?
Here are some facts that seemingly are being overlooked:

Before we became the United States, we were part of the British Colonies.  We inherited the evil practice of slavery from the Brits.  Yes slavery is in our horrible heritage, just like the way we decimated the American Indians.  We are also the same nation that ended our practice of slavery and then one day, we rebuilt Europe after defeating Hitler, so yes we are a mixed-bag of imperfections and amazing potential.

What no one is asking is, what perpetuated slavery and what are the implications for us today.  Before I get to that, lets rewind the tape even further. 

Can we hold the Mongolians responsible for Genghis Khan's savagery?  He had the largest empire territory-wise of anyone, and he amassed his land-mass by brutally murdering civilians in ever tribe and village he came across.  Of course we can't expect the Mongolians to repay anyone for this. 

Should we call for the destruction of the Egyptian Pyramids?  Boycott tourism there too?  The great pyramids were built on the backs of slaves, slaves that were treated as property, and discarded after they were worn out.  Doubtful anyone cares anywhere on the planet about the enslavement that allowed building the pyramids. 

You say -- Ancient history, probably no longer applies.  When will American slavery no longer apply?  I have no idea, but I do have an idea why slavery survived so long in America.  Greed, and greed is about more than money, it's about power. 

BTW: You can't go back in time, we can only, hopefully, move forward.  We can't erase our history by removing monuments, and if we ignore our history, we remain ignorant to its lessons. 

Do you know who has the highest rates of drug addiction, is the weakest, most illiterate, impoverished, oppressed group of people in America?  Appalachia is.   White, redneck, hillbilly folk are.  Where are their riots?  Do yourself a huge favor and research how bleak, desperate & depressing this region is and then go read Night comes to the Cumberlands

What we are facing currently isn't merely racism, oppression, or police brutality.  Most of us are asking the wrong questions and we are looking in the wrong places.   Ask yourself, who is leveraging this crisis for political gain, for monetary gain, and for a stronger hold over others.  And ask, why would anyone call for abolishing the police in America?  Talk about ushering in anarchy and inviting the biggest thugs to rule... 

The issue of racism is a smokescreen, distracting most people who think this is about racism.   Black looters have destroyed black business in these riots, does this mean they are racists?  If you haven't read or seen the story of the angry elderly black woman in NY, watch this!

Where were the riots for the white woman recently (2017) killed by police in Minnesota?  click here for the story most people have no clue about  "Say her name" never became a hashtag, you have to ask why not?  Or don't ask. 

Our problems aren't as black & white as they seem.  There are people who are stirring up division for their own gain and to ensure their own interests, and sadly the people being hurt the most are being re-victimized all over again. 

Ask better questions, look deeper into this, and don't simply settle for the answers that enrage you or agree with your political leanings.   Go beyond the emotions.  Our nation is possibly on the brink, and I can tell you, the people most dependent on technology, who've given up their guns, freedoms and most of their rights to the government already, they will have a harder time in any upcoming revolution, whatever form it takes. 

This all might pass over, or might get even uglier.  If we unite we stand, if whoever is behind this can continue to divide us, we fall.  All of us, we are all better than this.  See the good in everyone and be the Good Samaritans you are called to be, and reject any pointless strife that will not bring healing.