As I reflect on the events that have taken place in our nation over the past few weeks, it is both troubling and disturbing. As a pastor and minister of the gospel, my prayer has been, “Lord, how must I respond?” I hear God speaking clearly — The church must be the voice!
During these times when our nation is faced with not only the COVID-19 pandemic, but also with this pandemic called racism, what should the church be saying?
First, the church must be the voice that speaks and acknowledges that our nation has a problem and the problem is called RACISM. The church should be the voice that cries out that it is time for repentance. The church should lead the way to reconciliation.
During the protests, many people have expressed their experiences of discrimination, hate and systemic racism. These shared experiences are reminders that there is a great need for repentance and reconciliation in our nation. When done orderly and peacefully, protests are good.
However, reconciliation can only take place when we begin to learn of each other’s experiences. The church must be the voice that says, “It is time for us to sit down at the table and share each other’s experiences. When we sit down at the table together healing will take place.”
Secondly, the church must be the voice that cries out that there is hope! During this time of civil unrest, many people have lost hope in our national and state leaders. The church must remind those that have lost hope and trust, that we must put our hope and our trust in God! God is the one who can and will turn all things around!
Throughout the Bible, God reminds his children that we must put our trust in Him. Hosea 2:15 reads, “God is the only one that can make the valley of trouble a door of hope.” The church must remind the nation that we are in a valley of trouble, but there is hope!
Finally, the church must not only be the voice, but the church must be the LIGHT! Yes, in these dark times that we are living in, the church must be the light that people are searching for. The church serves as the light, by praying together, witnessing together and serving together. In order to be the light, there can be no division between churches. Today there is much work to be done and in order to do the work, the Body of Christ must be one. What a difference it will be for people to see the church working together as one!
In Luke Chapter 10, we read the story of the Good Samaritan. It was the Good Samaritan that stopped to help the man that had been treated unjustly, beaten and left for today. Today, people have been treated unjustly, beaten and left for dead. The church is called to be the Good Samaritan that will stop by those that are hurting and be the voice to ask, “How may I help you?”
The church must be the voice!
The Rev. Lisa Balboa is the pastor of Freeman Chapel Christian Methodist Episcopal Church in Hopkinsville.
