BLACK OR BLUE: We are all GOD’S children

Photo courtesy of AG News

By Taralisha M Sanders
Special to the Outlook

Events over the past few years, has caused some Americans to cry out “Black Lives Matter” and in response to events over the past few weeks, the cry of others has been “Blue Lives Matter.”

 
But from a biblical perspective, Black and Blue lives matter. The lives of all people are precious to God for we are all created in His image (Genesis 1:26).

 
Black and Blue lives matter because the Bible teaches us that we are part of a body and the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you” (I Corinthians 12:21). Black and Blue lives matter because God pays close attention to those that cry out under the burden of injustice and oppression. Black and Blue lives matter because just like all Black people are not criminals, all members of law enforcement are not corrupt. Black and Blue lives matter because although society has devalued the value of life, God values all of His people even as society continues to pick and choose who is worthy.

 
As Christians, we must stay true to the mission and ministry of Jesus; a mission and ministry of humility and love. As a result, love should always be the motivation of all Christians. In Luke 4: 18-19, Jesus says, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor; He hath sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised. To preach the acceptable year of the Lord.” He was in a way giving us, the believers, the original social justice mandate to follow.
In addition to this “social justice” mandate, Micah 6:8 lays out another mandate that Christians should follow when it speaks of “God showing us what is right and what He requires of His people” which is “to do justly, love mercy and walk humbly with Him.”

 
What does all this mean? It means that as born again, baptized believers we are required to heal society’s wrongs by having compassion one for another and never forgetting God’s magnificent power on our daily journey through life. This is how all people, no matter the differences, should treat and interact with each other.

 
This means that we must remember who the real enemy is…the Devil. The Bible declares in I Peter 5:8-9 that we should “be alert and of a sober mind for our enemy the devil prowls like a roaring lion looking for one to devour. Resist him, stand firm in your faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.”

 
The Bible also declares in James 1:19 that we “must be quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger, for anger does not accomplish the righteousness of God.” We as believers have to understand that the devil loves confusion. Peace and reconciliation is the last thing on his mind.

 
Jesus laid out for us eight principles that provide peace in the midst of our trials and tribulations known as the “Beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-10).”

3 “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4 Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5 Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6 Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7 Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8 Blessed are the pure in heart,for they will see God.
9 Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
10 Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

 
God then called us to be the salt of the earth and the light of the world (Matthew 5:13-14), but how can we, the believers, effect change if our salt has lost its flavor or our light no longer shines?

 
We must always remember that one person’s life is no greater than the next in the eyesight of God. We are all, Black and Blue included, His people for “we are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, an holy nation, God’s special possession, that we may declare the praises of Him who called us out of darkness into His wonderful light (I Peter 2:9).”

 
Therefore, walk and talk in peace my brothers and sisters in Christ for whether Black or Blue: We are ALL God’s children!