In my last post I brought up Media and Politicians (See Politics and Religion part 1). We only get to see the caricature of any public figure based on the viewpoint of the network, anchor, reporter, or writer. If the politician or political party is favored by the media, they can seemingly do no wrong. If the politician goes against their corporate or personal agenda, they can do no right. Journalists once prided themselves on the idea they were looking for the facts. They were unbiased truth tellers. From my vantage point, its seems that somewhere around Watergate, things changed. Journalists had a hand in taking down a sitting president. Now, this seems to be the ultimate prize for journalists.
You may be asking, “Why is he writing so much about media in a Politics and Religion post?” I’m glad you asked. How do we even know what is happening with our politicians? How do we know what they said or what bill they introduced? The media tells us. It’s difficult to mention one without the other.
The bulk of my audience is with American Believers, so I feel compelled to bring up the Church and it’s role in the history of our country. First, let me say the Body of Christ has done so much good for people all over the world. More humanitarian work is done by the Body of Christ than any other organization in the world. I am proud to say I am part of the Body of Christ. I have spent my life teaching and encouraging others in the Church. I was in youth ministry in one form or another for 18 years. Now I enjoy sitting in service with my family in relative anonymity.
That being said, I am honest enough to tell you we are not perfect. People with agendas have been twisting the words of the Bible to match their agenda for generations. Egregious acts, from slavery to pedophilia have been condoned (or at least covered up) by taking God’s Holy Word completely out of context. I know this sounds harsh to talk about the dark history. I get that. I just want to be honest. Let’s stop side-stepping and covering up the issues. Let’s be honest.
I believe it brings tears to the eyes of our Savior when we misuse His Word to justify bringing harm to another human being He died for. Slavery, discrimination, abuse, manipulation, and the like are all despicable and are resting in the shadows of the American Church’s history. It’s time to shine The Light on this so we can heal. The Word teaches us that to deny a pain does not make it go away. We need true healing and that starts with honest, loving conversation.
“Religion” literally means to “return to bondage.” (I explain this in detail in my upcoming book, The Grace Life.) My desire is for us to be free from all bondage. I believe this is the Father’s will. Jesus said, “I have come that they might have life and that they might have it more abundantly.” (John 10:10b) The only way to live free is to lay aside the weights which are holding us back. Part of this is being honest about past transgressions and relying solely on the Grace of God.
We can no longer “justify” our past. We cannot say, “Well, I wasn’t part of that so I shouldn’t have to apologize.” Meanwhile, someone who was affected by the egregious act is looking at you as a representative of the Body of Christ and wonders why the Church doesn’t care about her pain.
I was born at the end of 1977. This is after the founding of our country, after the Civil War, after the 13th Amendment and after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. I was raise to see all people as people. I was raise to love all people, period. Yet, when someone of African descent looks at me (and they don’t know my character), they see a white guy. You don’t know what side of any issue I fall on. My responsibility is to show Grace, Love, and Compassion. My part is to empathize and listen, not interject what I “know.” As the Church, we must do a better job of showing Grace to those who have been hurt. Especially those who have been hurt by what we (historically and presently) have condoned.
Jesus said, “be wise as serpents and harmless as doves.” We need to be aware of what is going on around us. We need to be aware of the world systems and what is happening. We also need to be aware of the pain of others. I encourage you today, to show someone the Love of Christ. Share His Grace with a hurting soul. Love One Another.
DAN TURNER JR. 