North Anderson Baptist Church
America has been challenged to think about the issue of what happened in Charlottesville, Virginia just a couple of weeks ago and what we should do about it. If you have read the papers or any news on the internet or watched the news on TV or listened to the radio news, then you have heard of the riots or the encounter of two different groups of people who took the opportunity to use the excuse to protest the taking down of a Confederate statue but their real purpose was to display hatred and violent behavior. It was much more than taking down a statue. It really depends upon who you listen to on who is at fault here for the “riot” at Charlottesville that ended with many injuries and deaths, one young lady was killed when a car ran into the crowd she was in and then two Virginia Troops who were killed in a helicopter crash while keeping an eye out on the demonstrations. What tragic results of misguided, hateful and violent protesters.
If you read and listened to those who wrote and talked about this incident you will hear them say, there were groups of people who were protesting the taking down the statue of Robert E. Lee, the Confederate General of Virginia; part of the protesting groups were “white supremacists”, Neo-Nazis, Ku Klux Klan and evidently according to the reports I have heard there were others who were not affiliated with any of these groups but were there because they were just against taking down the Confederate statue. There was to be a gathering in the park where the statue was but it seems that they were pushed out by the police to go elsewhere, close to where the other set of protesters happened to be. These people are described as “antifa” or anti-fascist protesters, who vocally and physically agitated against the far right groups of KKK, white supremacists and the neo-nazis and the fact that they were in Charlottesville to openly display their hatred. This group of protesters, the antifa, were identified by several media outlets as people who were students and those who were from outside of Virginia, many were identified as “antifa,” or anti-fascist. There were many others who came to protest racism, as it is represented by the extreme racists groups of KKK and white supremacists and the neo-nazis. Within this group that protested against extreme racists, there were some people who were masked and using profane language, even as the others in the far right group were pushing and shoving against them and using the profane language as well.
This was a mess of people who were from both sides of the protesting groups yelling, cursing, pushing, shoving and so much more. I could not tell that only one side seemed to be doing and saying inappropriate things, many of those from both sides of protesters were saying and doing things that were causing the crowd to get more violent. It is reported that one of the protesters, who was from the “altright, white supremacist” got in his car and ran into the demonstrators killing and injuring many, that was finally too much for the police. The police finally came to close it all down and disperse the protesters from both sides.
There was such hatred and vile behaviors from both sides of the protesting groups. We can see that it started with protest of the racist KKK, and the other “altright” groups, who stand for and spew out hatred for everyone who is not like them. Never do two wrongs make a right. The police force didn’t help the situation when they allowed the two groups to get so close to one another. The evil hatred was seen from both groups and no one was going to win and particularly the University of Virginia and the town Charlottesville. The rest of America has not fared well either and the tempers flair even more each time this is mentioned. Even when our President denounced several times the deployable people who were protesting on both sides, he was condemned because he didn’t say it just the way the media wanted him to say it or quick enough. If you listened clearly he denounced all who were causing trouble both left and right, but indicated that there were some people on boths sides that were not bad or seeking to cause trouble. That did not bode well again with the media who believes that everyone that day but those who were protesting the altright were all evil, even though I heard with my own ears from a report that there were some who came to protest the taking down of the state only and had nothing to do with the KKK, neo-nazis, or white supremacist. So the media doesn’t always get it right. Regardless the violent protests either in Charlottesville or anywhere else in America where there is ugly, violent, hate spilling, cursing, protesters should be shut down or moved to a place by law enforcement so no one or no property can be harmed in the process of the protest. And by all means they should keep the two protesting groups away from one another.
One of our brothers here at church has written a wonderful article about Charlottesville and I would like to quote some from an article by Robert Reeves.
“If there was ever such a thing as a “teachable moment” for our country, this seems to be one. Charlottesville gives us the opportunity to look at ourselves to see both who we are as Americans and who we want to be. In all the horror and heartbreak, we have an opportunity to move forward and be stronger for the experience – and more united as a nation.
When the house is on fire is not the time to be talking about how a window got broken. Now is the time to mourn the loss of life and to be unequivocal in our condemnation of hatred, racism, and violence. It’s a time to examine ourselves and to seek ways to move our nation forward in the area of race relations. If we believe in the ideal expressed by the Declaration of Independence that “all men are created equal,” we need to act differently.
This doesn’t mean that hate speech should be condoned, excused, defended or called anything other than deplorable, especially by the President of the United States. It also doesn’t mean that we should relegate to presidents or other political leaders the responsibility of expressing our own condemnation of hate. We all need to speak out clearly to let those who would seek to intimidate and sow seeds of discord know that they have failed and to let those who would be victims know that we, as Americans, are just as united in fighting oppression inside our country as a previous generation was in fighting it on the beaches of Normandy.”
Thank you Robert for your insight and concern for our individual lives and for our great nation.
The message title today is “God’s Answer to Charlottesville.” With men and women, you hope that calm heads would prevail and that the fringe groups of society would not have such power but our nations has been rocked pretty hard as of late from many sides and for many reasons. We are a nation of laws and I pray that we will follow the laws set down for us in the Constitution that apply to everyone alike, and go forward seeking to make our nation great and peaceful for today and the future.
So, what is God’s answer to Charlottesville?
What does He desire that we do that we are not doing?
His answers are clearly laid out in the Word of God and Jesus has taught us how to live a life of kindness and love toward one another. So, that if we put His directives into everyday actions, then this nation would begin to heal and turn away from the wickedness and hatred it shows and expresses daily. We will look at this in four parts using the Scriptures chosen out of many that will help us to follow what God desires of our lives.
One more statement before we see what God would want us to do. Never forget that satan is an evil being who desires to “kill, steal and destroy.” He desires that this nation not survive because it was founded on the Christian principles found in the Bible. He loves to see people hate one another and racism between people of America. We must remember to continually watch out for him at work and crush it where it raises it’s ugly head.
Luke 10:27 NIV
1. Love God First
The God of the Bible, Jehovah God Almighty, tells us that there are no other “gods” and therefore He is to be loved with all that we are. If mankind would turn to the Creator of all of us, He would return to us not only the love and compassion that He desires to give us but He would lead us all to love each other and care for others as we care for ourselves. That is where the second commandment comes in. When we love God first then we can actually learn to love others too. His love in us is expressed to all who are around. The terrible and hateful words spoken to those whom we don’t like and hate will pass away because of God’s deep love in us and our love toward one another which breeds trust between two people and groups of people. God shows no favoritism when it comes to loving; He has given His Son Jesus for all mankind and those who believe, He gives them peace and righteousness that allows us to live with one another, as we live with God. When this greatest commandment is followed by all people and we are experiencing the second commandment daily, there will be nothing but loving families, communities, nations and a loving world.
Can this really be done? With God all things are possible!
John 13:34-35 NIV
2. Love One Another
Jesus wanting His disciples to be different than the world that they will lived in, gave them a command. Love One Another! Jesus gives this to His followers and they are to love one another to show that they are His and follow Him with all they are. Showing love for the brethren is so important to Christ so that unbelievers will see the great love of God in us and will realize that what Jesus has said is true. Acknowledging that Jesus’ love is true by seeing us love one another, hopefully the lost will desire to become a part of the family of God. Not showing love will keep people away from God and His church.
So, how important is it that those who call themselves Christians love with words and deeds? Let’s put it this way, don’t be a hypocrite and say you are a Christian and then use words of hatred and show racism. God is not honored and you prove to Him and all around that you are not a Christian!! How do people know you are apart of Christ, that you love on another!
Galatians 2:20 NIV
3. Die to Self, Identify With Christ
For believers Jesus challenges us to die for Him!!! I thought we were suppose to live for Him? Yes and yes. How can that be? For a moment listen to the Word. Paul reminds us that when we became believers that we died with Christ on the cross. Our sin was washed away and we died with Christ when we identified with Him as our Savior and Lord. So, if I died how can I live for me? I can’t but if I die to self, I can live for Christ. He lives in me when I die to myself and so the life I live now I live for Him and He lives in me. To live for Christ now, once I have been saved, I live by faith in Christ. It is by faith that I am alive. I am dead to my old self and now I live the new life by faith in Jesus Christ. If I am now dead to self I won’t live to hurt others or cause trouble for my community or country. I have a new purpose in life, that is, I live for Jesus and to love others in my life like Jesus loved others. That is pretty simple but that is faith in Christ, it is simply believing in Jesus and allow Him to live in and through you. You and I should strive to help others understand this principle so they too can live a life of peace and love toward others. Those who live like Jesus do not go around hurting people and breaking what others have worked hard to get. The life of peace is the life of a Christian.
2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV
4. Spiritual Awakening is needed for America
A revival is needed in America, a spiritual awakening of the people of God. When the church awakens the head of the Church, Jesus Christ will then move among His children and others will come to know Him as well. When you read about the Great Awakenings of the past you will read that there were people saved by the thousands in cities and towns and the crime went down and the communities did not even need the police force. Wouldn’t that change everything we have been going through in America. From the president down to the individual in the smallest town would be changed and Christ would be the One living in them. There would be no riots, or protests against anything but all would stand together to watch the power of God work in the lives of people, communities, nations and the whole world.
Will it happen? Could it happen? Why not! God told Solomon that if His people would humble themselves, pray and seek God’s face and then turn from their wicked ways that they had been living, that He would hear them and forgive them. And then God would “heal their land” if they did all of that. Can it happen here in America? It would have to happen in the churches of Jesus Christ and because they repented and turned to God He would heal the land they are a part of.
The end of the world will come one day but we don’t know when that will be and God could bring one last great revival before He ends this old world and this one last revival may hold back the hand of the wrath of God, for a time. Remember, even in the Millennium, those thousands years that Christ will reign here on earth, toward the end there will be a great revolt lead by satan, when he is loosed from the pit and millions will rebel against Christ Himself and follow satan and then the end will come!
May the Lord hear the prayers of His people and send a great revival in our souls. Will you pray with me and so many more who are praying for just that, that God will send a Great Awakening in this world at least one last time before the end comes.
Will any of these four things I have suggested from the Word of God change this nation full of hate and racism? Will God make this nation turn and change because He says they must? No, that will never be God’s way. Mankind must decide for themselves.
Listen to this great passage that Moses wrote that God declared to the Children of Israel. I think the same words and comments from God can apply to you and me and to all Americans.
Deuteronomy 30:11-20 NIV
Are you willing to go to God today and pray for this great nation and all her people to bow down to the holy God, the only true God?
Are you willing as a believer to tell others of the great salvation that is found in Jesus who died for our sins and was buried and then rose again from the dead to live forever and give to us eternal life, if we will by faith, believe in Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior?
Are you willing to live without hatred and racism in your life and allow Jesus to totally dominate who you are with His love?
If you are willing to do all of these, then come and pray with the church of Jesus Christ at the altar of God.