How to Pursue Racial Unity - Dr. Jeff Myers

We introduced the topic of Social Justice vs Biblical Justice on September 5, 2021.  You can hear that message HERE.   I recently listened to the following talk by Dr. Jeff Myers.   In the message he provides 9 considerations as we seek to work toward racial unity.   They are worthwhile thinking about.  

How to Pursue Racial Unity and Stand Against Wrong Worldviews at the Same Time (Dr. Jeff Myers) 

 

1. DOES MY WORLDVIEW RECOGNIZE THAT OUR WORTH AS HUMANS COMES FROM GOD, NOT FROM OUR ACTIVITIES? 
2. AM I A PERSON WHO SEEKS PEACE, RESOLVES ANGER, SPEAKS FORTHRIGHTLY, RESISTS RETALIATION FOR PERSONAL OFFENSES AND LOVES MY ENEMIES? 
3. HOW HAS SIN CAUSED STRUCTURAL EVIL? What structures of society are broken that can be fixed? What role can I play? 
4. AM I GENEROUS? 
5. ARE MY NEIGHBORS DOING BETTER BECAUSE I AM THERE? What concrete steps can I take to actively improve the lives of those around me? 
6. HAVE I OBSERVED WRONGDOING AND NOT ACTED? Commit to know what is right and wrong and determine to act the next time you see injustice occurring. 
7. AM I ASSESSING BLAME BASED ON GROUP IDENTITY?  —whether rich or poor, white or black, city or suburban, liberal or conservative 
8. AM I USING SHAME OR THREATS TO FORCE OTHERS TO SEE IT MY WAY?  Injustice cannot remedy injustice. It isn’t about punishment—it’s about restoration. 
9. DO I PURSUE UNITY BASED ON GOD’S NATURE AND CHARACTER AND HIS PLAN FOR HISTORY? 

 

 

Until These Tears Are Gone

Flood this heart with assurance of Your mercy
Fill this mind with knowledge of Your love
Hold me fast through the deep and steady current
How long, how long 'till these tears are gone?

Every hour, awake me to Your presence
Shine Your light, brighter than the dawn
Send Your joy, illuminate the darkness
How long, how long 'till these tears are gone?
How long, how long 'till these tears are gone?

I'll fix my eyes on eternity above
Where every lie, is uncovered by Your love
I'll fix my eyes on eternity above
Where every lie, every shadow is uncovered by Your love

Lord You hear, the pleading of the faithful
I search for You, hide not Your face
Here I tread, a shell among the ruins

How long, how long 'till these tears are gone?
How long, how long 'till these tears are gone?
How long, how long 'till these tears are gone?
How long, how long 'till these tears are gone?

Union With Christ

In this magisterial work by the Puritan, John Owen, he gives us great insight and encouragement regarding Union with Christ.

 

“Man being made in the image of God, was fit and able to glorify him as God. But whereas whatever perfection God had communicated unto our nature, he had not united it unto himself in a personal union, the fabric of it quickly fell unto the ground. Want of this foundation made it obnoxious unto ruin. God manifested herein, that no gracious relation between him and our nature could be stable and permanent, unless our nature was assumed into personal union and subsistence with himself. This is the only Rock and assured foundation of the relation of the church unto God, which now can never utterly fail. Our nature is eternally secured in that union, and we ourselves, as we shall see thereby.”[i]

 

In the first man, the image of God in sinless innocence was able to glorify God.  Of all the perfections God had bestowed upon the first Man, He had not united him to His Being.  So the integrity of innocence soon became undone.  What we learn from this is that no abiding, perfection could be sustained by Man unless he was brought into a personal union with Christ. As union with Christ is the foundational condition of the Church we know see that believing Mankind can ever finally fall.  “Our nature is eternally secure in Christ.

 

 

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[i]Owen, John, THE PERSON OF CHRIST, Declaring a Glorious Mystery – God and Man, Christian Focus Publications, 2015, p90