Applications from Luke 6 to Help us Endure the Election Year 2020 Chaos

The Bible passage for today (Luke 6:1-26) from the reading plan our church drafted over 18 months ago seems to apply to what we are facing as a nation today, which will surely escalate in severity and intensity as Election Day approaches and as we navigate whatever is planned for the "October Surprise".

The legalistic Pharisees had been watching and waiting for an opportune time to accuse and overthrow Jesus. While scheming to do evil on the Sabbath, these virtue signaling hypocrites attacked Christ for doing good (healing) on the Sabbath while failing to acknowledge Christ as Lord over the Sabbath. They were offended by his teaching, so they, being the thought police of their time, were filled with fury and outrage, so they conspired against him, which ultimately led to the crucifixion of our sinless Savior.

Then Jesus "went out to the mountain to pray, and all night He continued in prayer to God." (Luke 6:12) When He returned, he called 12 disciples to follow Him, to learn from Him, and to become leaders/apostles for the early Christian church.

Jesus went away alone to pray fervently before any big event. That's where we need to be right now.....on our knees in prayer. We need to confess, repent, worship, express gratitude, pray for His mercy, guidance and strength, and ask Him to appoint for us leaders who love and obey Him, according to His will.

Then Jesus ministered to the multitudes (with teaching and healing) and delivered the Beatitudes and the Woes (Luke 6: 20-26). Those promises should encourage and strengthen us as we face the trials ahead.

20 And he lifted up his eyes on his disciples, and said:“Blessed are you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.21 “Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied.“Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.22 “Blessed are you when people hate you and when they exclude you and revile you and spurn your name as evil, on account of the Son of Man! 23 Rejoice in that day, and leap for joy, for behold, your reward is great in heaven; for so their fathers did to the prophets. (Luke 6:20-23)

What Black Lives Matter Really Represents

After spending the last week listening to people from various ethnic backgrounds (blacks, whites, Latinos, etc.) including police officers, after studying our nation's history, Antifa, and statistics on police brutality by demographic, after mourning over all the violence, destruction, and lives lost (back, white, & blue) during these destructive, violent and even deadly riots, after studying God's word and praying for our country, after trying to make sense of it all and then being reminded through Ecclesiastes that our God is far too mighty, omnipotent, omniscient, and sovereign for our finite minds to comprehend, and we can't possibly know all the ways He will work all of these things out for good, I have come to a simple conclusion.

This battle isn't between black and white or black and blue. It's a battle between good and evil. If we want to support what is good and resist evil, we must have enough truth to discern between the two and enough of God's love and light to drive out the hatred and the darkness.

The media claims that white privilege and police officers are the enemy.

However, statistics and a growing number of black people disagree.

• Will Witt: https://www.facebook.com/thewillwitt/videos/208742493631870/
• Morgan Freeman, Lil  Wayne, and other Famous African Americans: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=292609615461210
• Terrence Williams:  https://www.facebook.com/terrencekwilliams/videos/3280114432020747/
• The Hodge Twins: https://www.facebook.com/thehodgetwins/videos/292000931822483/
• Candace Owens: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCL0u5uz7KZ9q-pe-VC8TY-w?

I don't know of anyone, except maybe abortion workers in reference to the unborn they want to slaughter, who would argue that black lives don't matter. Of course, black lives matter. They were all created in the image of God. (Genesis 1:27) Our Lord and Savior was oppressed, afflicted, tortured and killed, paying the ultimate price for all mankind, blacks included. (Isaiah 53:7)

When anyone is oppressed, God's people must stand up for them. The Lord is a stronghold for the oppressed (Psalm 9:9). The Lord works righteousness and justice for all who are oppressed. (Psalm 103:6)

God does not show favoritism. (Romans 2:11) As His children, neither should we. (James 2:9)

Instead of focusing on our perceived "privilege" over someone else, we must remember that no one is greater than anyone else, regardless of race, state, income, or position. (John 13:16) Believers are ALL vital members of the Body of Christ. (1 Corinthians 12:12)

Our words and actions must be motivated out of sincere love and humility, not out of a desire to make ourselves feel better or more virtuous. "Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility, consider others better than yourself." (Philippians 2:3)

Let us show black people that their lives matter to us through authentically loving interactions with them. Let us be hospitable, compassionate, kind, and generous. But before we virtue signal with the BLM hashtag, let us first consider all that the movement represents. Much of it sounds good and just on the surface, but do you agree with all of their beliefs and with their ultimate agenda? Are you okay with the way it is being used as a political tool by the left, with Marxist themes, for the purpose of creating chaos and division, especially given that chaos leads to tyranny?

Are you okay with their new demand for defunding the police? 93% of black homicides are committed by black men with police presence. How many more will die without their intervention? Do you support the idea of law abiding citizens who can't afford private security protection having no one to call on when their lives or property are threatened? Are you okay with allowing looting, vandalism, rape, murder, drug dealing, and gang activity to run rampant because BLM requested that police funding be diverted to housing programs instead?

Do you support BLM's goal to "disrupt the Western-prescribed (aka traditional) nuclear family structure"? Do you support their attack on men which causes even more fatherless homes? Do you believe that coordinated action groups are needed to "dismantle cisgender privilege"?

Do you support anti-nationalism while advocating for globalism?

If so, then by all means, support BLM.

If some of this bothers you, can we find other, more peaceful ways to love, support, and bring justice & equality to black Americans?

(Reference: The Black Lives Matter website)