This is Us

    Like many around the world, I watched in shock and disbelief as an angry mob
marched from the National Mall and stormed the U.S. Capital.  Sadly, over the last year, we have become accustomed to “shock and disbelief.”  Last spring, we watched a video of George Floyd being choked to death by a Minneapolis police officer.  His death resulted in protests across the nation, some of which resulted in rioting and looting.  In June, protesters took control of the Capital Hill neighborhood of Seattle and held it for the better part of a month.  The summer ended with the city of Kenosha, in flames after Blake Floyd was shot in the back seven times by another police officer.

    During this season of unrest leaders across the county have urged restraint and encouraged peaceful resolutions.  Yesterday was no exception.  Political leaders from across the nation weighed in.  Most notable to me were the comments from former President Jimmy Carter.   He condemned the violence saying, “This is a national tragedy and is not who we are as a nation.” 

    In 2002, Dallas Cowboys head coach, Bill Parcells said, “You are what your record says you are,” in response to a reporter who asked about the team’s 5-11 season.  He did not believe in trying to put a positive spin on a losing season.  An optimistic outlook would not change the fact that they had lost twice as many games as they had one.  

    Maybe this last is exactly who we are as a nation.  While we prefer to see ourselves as a righteous nation that stands for human rights and only the highest values, our actions seem to reveal something entirely different.  When we are “wronged” or perceive a threat to our individual “rights” we often respond with anger and aggression. Whether as individuals or in groups, violence is a part of the American identity.

    Accompanying this response is the tendency to blame others for our responses.  Whether its Democrat or Republican, Antifa or Qanon, BLM or Proud Boys, we habitually find a way to blame “them.”  It is always “their” fault; our actions are justified.  Maybe this is exactly who we are as a nation.

    What can not be denied is that all of this violence was committed by Americans, against Americans.  None of this has come as an attack from the outside.  This is not “them,” this is us.

    For Christians this should not be surprising.  The Bible teaches that this is exactly who we are.  “There is no one righteous, not even one,” (Rom. 3:10). “…all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Rom 3:10;23).  “The [human] heart is more deceitful than all else and is desperately sick.” (Jer. 17:9).  “I was guilty when I was born; I was sinful when my mother conceived me.” (Ps. 51:5).  These are not merely Sunday school lessons; they are concrete realities. While we all know these verses and readily affirm them, we often fail to remember that these truths apply to our national identity as well.

    The simple, unavoidable truth is that, despite our self-identification as a Christian country, we are still a nation of sinners in need of salvation.  The redemption we need will never be found in a national identity, it will never be found in a political party, and it will never be found in a government leader.  No matter how hard we try, we will be ruled by our unrighteousness.  What we need is a Savior, what we need is Jesus.

    This is a moment for disciples of Christ to answer the call.  It is not a time for pseudo-religion or positive thinking, it is a time for followers of Christ to bring His love to a nation that genuinely needs to hear the truth.  This country needs to be reminded of the God who loves them.  They need to know of the Savior who died for their sins.

    Now is not a time for more protests, it is a time for more prayer.  Our salvation will not be found in the government, it is only in the Gospel.

In His Service,