MLK day....Repost

Not every white person is a racist. Not every black person is a criminal. Not every cop is bad.

In lue of all the situations going on from Missouri to New York and everything in between I thought I would share my thoughts a bit. I read this past week on Facebook by someone I know made a comment about “white privilege”. At first I got a little offended when I saw this, but in all honesty, its true. I am still looked at by my skin and judged. As a white male I am not normally looked as a criminal. Now I do have tattoo’s in view and I’m looked at differently sometimes but they were my choice. I wasn’t born this way, and I willing put them on my body.

This said, I recall my teenage years and getting into trouble. I should have done 2-5 years in prison for choices I made. As I got off with probation, I recall my lawyer telling me that I was passed over because I was a white kid. My color was taken into account for my pardon. Now granted Cleveland where I grew up is not the best city, but my past record should have been enough to say to the judge that I was going to be a repeat offender. This was all around 1998 with the Tupac and Biggie situation. I hate to say it, but my skin color kept me out of prison.

Now across the board we need to stop giving perception of the statement I made above. I’m not looking to speak directly into the choices made by the people involved in the situations in MS or NY, but I do what to say that we need to see people as they are. They are people, human beings created in God’s image and likeness and loved by God equally as they are. My faith as a Christian must be found in the simplicity that all people are created equal, but in America you’re better when born of certain decent and skin color.

In the end it starts with education. We need to educate the younger generation about equality and being mindful of the greater good. With equality as central to my faith and to the constitution we must continue to move forward. No matter, we have progressed in this, but now we need to take the next steps towards seeing everyone as bleeding red when cut. To move forward we need to educate people, specifically the kiddos about equality and not just say its written somewhere, but truly believe and live it. Its only been around 50 years since black’s haven’t had to use a segregated restroom or sit in the back of the bus and I’m excited since we have progressed, but still need to always understand that we have a long way to go in this for the greater good. 

Lets keep moving forward, as country, as a people, as a nation, as a world!

One Another........

Imagine a place where the Church lived out the one another in the context of love. Jesus said that the church will be known by love for each other. There are numerous scriptures that talk about dealing with one another. I'm going to do something different then normal and just list the passages that talk about how we deal with each other and let them stand in the context of themselves for us to meditate on. Just take one or two of these to prayer about how we live as community and Jesus words....
"A new command I give you, that you love one another; just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (John 13: 34-35). Our love and dealing with one another proves we are disciples of Jesus (John 15:8). Notice the "one another" that are in all these passages.

"Be devoted to one another in love. Honor one another above yourselves." (Romans 12:10)

"Therefore let us stop passing judgment on one another. Instead, make up your mind not to put any stumbling block or obstacle in the way of a brother or sister." (Romans 14:13)

"Accept one another, then, just as Christ accepted you, in order to bring praise to God." (Romans 15:7)

"Greet one another with a holy kiss. All the churches of Christ send greetings." (Romans 16:16)

"I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another in what you say and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be perfectly united in mind and thought." (1 Cor. 1:10)

"All the brothers and sisters here send you greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss." (1 Cor. 16:20)

"Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you." (2 Cor. 13:11)

"You, my brothers and sisters, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the flesh; rather, serve one another humbly in love." (Galatians 5:13)

"Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love." (Eph. 4:2)

"Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you." (Eph. 4:32)

"speaking to one another with psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit. Sing and make music from your heart to the Lord," (Eph. 5:19)

"Submit to one another out of reverence for Christ." (Eph. 5:21)

"Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you." (Colossians 3:13)

"Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts." (Colossians 3:16)

"But encourage one another daily, as long as it is called “Today,” so that none of you may be hardened by sin’s deceitfulness." (Heb. 3:13)

"And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching." (Heb. 10:24-25)

"Keep on loving one another as brothers and sisters." (Heb. 13:1)

"Brothers and sisters, do not slander one another. Anyone who speaks against a brother or sister or judges them speaks against the law and judges it. When you judge the law, you are not keeping it, but sitting in judgment on it." (James 4:11)

"Don’t grumble against one another, brothers and sisters, or you will be judged. The Judge is standing at the door!" (James 5:9)

"Finally, all of you, be like-minded, be sympathetic, love one another, be compassionate and humble." (1 Peter 3:8)

"Offer hospitality to one another without grumbling." (1 Peter 4:9)

"But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus, his Son, purifies us from all sin." (1 John 1:7)

"And this is his command: to believe in the name of his Son, Jesus Christ, and to love one another as he commanded us." (1 John 3:23)

"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God." (1 John 4:7)

"No one has ever seen God; but if we love one another, God lives in us and his love is made complete in us." (1 John 4:12)

Blessings to you all!!!