Have you ever woke up and wondered if it would be safe for you to go to your own church? No?
Then you aren't Black.
Have you ever contemplated whether or not having sons would be a good idea because your skin is Black and theirs would be too? No?
Then you aren't Black.
Have you ever been told you have to be twice as good to get where you want to career-wise?
Then you aren't Black.
Has your parent ever told you not to do things your friends do because the only person the police will remember is the Black child? No?
Then you aren't Black.
Being Black isn't just our culture or being cool. Being Black is an honor but it comes with rights, responsibilities, and privileges. I wouldn't trade anything for being Black but I definitely am not permitting people into this space who don't share my experience.
If we Black people didn't actually believe the Bible and I mean BELIEVE IT we would destroy this country for the way White people have treated us. We would bust it wide open but the thing is, Black people don't do that. Black people aren't nearly as violent as the media wants us to believe, because if we were we would have wrecked this country yesterday. You attack us at the foundation of who we are? Really? Its nothing but Jesus keeping Black folks from turning the country upside down. Y'all better stop before the grace we've extended runs out! You see for me this is personal. It was personal before but y'all know me. Y'all know this blog. Y'all know my personal relationship with Jesus is the bedrock of who I am and how I walk around in the world. For someone to attack my people at our church, where we are most vulnerable before an all knowing and all wise God? Nope....you've officially cross the line.
II Corinthians 2: 2
For if I cause you pain [with merited rebuke], who is there to provide me enjoyment but the [very] one whom I have grieved and made sad?
My friends say I'm sometimes hard to be friends with. And its not because I'm a bad friend. I'm actually a phenomenal friend. I'm a friend's friend. My friends say I'm a hard friend because I don't generally take any foolishness. If you and I both know its wrong and you've told me you know its wrong out of your mouth, I'm not just going to sit idly by while you do something that's wrong. As my mentor would say "You're highly principled." I really live my life according to my values and I just don't see how you can do something you know is wrong or isn't good for you over and over again. I don't get it. If you say A and you do -A....that doesn't add up in my head.
However, and that's a big however, I don't ever want to cause pain to those I question. I question you because I want you to see that the thing you said you wanted you aren't going to get by doing something that's counterproductive to that goal. I love you. I want you to do better. I want to best for you and His best for you.
II Corinthians 2:4
For I wrote you out of great sorrow and deep distress [with mental torture and anxiety] of heart, [yes, and] with many tears, not to cause you pain but in order to make you realize the overflowing love that I continue increasingly to have for you.
THIS! This is my heart towards my friends and family. This is why I'm sometimes hard on you! I love y'all I really do. I know everyone isn't called to live like me but for someone reason God has you and I in relationship so let's work it out. I love y'all.
II Corinthians 2:10
If you forgive anyone anything, I too forgive that one; and what I have forgiven, if I have forgiven anything, has been for your sakes in the presence [and with the approval] of Christ (the Messiah)
Forgiveness is hard. It requires you to give something of yourself. It requires you to do better and be better. Forgiveness though....doesn't have to come from you, just through you. I haven't and generally am not a very forgiving person. Its based in the reality that I am a deeply sensitive person. I'm often wounded by the people I love BUT the thing me and Jesus are doing helps me tremendously. I can go to Him and get the healing I need. I've also learned that I can choose to treat people not out of what they deserve but out of who God created them to be. I'm not always that awesome of a person though. I usually just hide in the relationship with God until I'm better.
Another thing I've learned is I don't have to actually forgive you but know that you are forgiven by grace. I can point the forgiveness God shines into my life towards you and let it be His forgiveness through me until I can authentically forgive.
I also think its important not to forget. I may forgive you and continue to be in relationship with you, but I remember. I probably won't ever let you be that close to me again because I know what you're capable of.
I forgive.
I also remember.
(SN: All these silent White people on Facebook who don't apparently know that the most practice faith of our nation was attacked/Americans were attacked/Terrorism occurred in our country....I'll remember that too!)
II Corinthians 2:14
But thanks be to God, Who in Christ always leads us in triumph [as trophies of Christ’s victory] and through us spreads and makes evident the fragrance of the knowledge of God everywhere,
My life is a living testimony to the idea that Christ always leads us to win. I can look at my life and say
He did it.
He made a way.
He changed the game.
He shifted it.
He spoke and it was.
When I think about the struggle currently taking place where I use to study for people to get out of graduate school I know it was nothing but God that got me out in a timely and efficient manner. It still took 6 years but no longer. That's favor.
When I think about the apartment I live in, the job I got, the amazing friendship I'm growing in with my boss, the church I'm a member of and get to serve in, the spaces and places and times I live and love in....Favor.
Even the difficult things that drive me to my knees every night to ask for patience and benevolence, peace and love I know that's favor too. Because I could be angry...I could be depressed....I could be where I was last spring but I'm not. This relationship thing me and Jesus are doing matters.
It is my most cherished possession, this relationship.
II Corinthians 2:17
For we are not, like so many, [like hucksters making a trade of] peddling God’s Word [shortchanging and adulterating the divine message]; but like [men] of sincerity and the purest motive, as [commissioned and sent] by God, we speak [His message] in Christ (the Messiah), in the [very] sight and presence of God.
Lord, let this be always true in my life and my ministry. In all the places you call me to, let me have pure motives and be careful to listen to the Spirit within. Remind me that you're watching. God I want to make you smile and I want to be faithful to the things you've called me to. Enable me, equip me to walk our your purpose in my life for your glory. Amen
No comments:
Post a Comment