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A faithful presence of love in the absences of our city.

Made Alive in Christ

Made aliveinChrist

White Supremacy. To hear this term used in the current world was at first a shock, then upon further consideration, really was no surprise. I was born in the early 1990's. I learned about racial matters, genocide, white supremacy and things of the like in my history books in school when I was a child. History books, as in, the past. I got to sit in classes and have sleepovers with friends of every color, and it never occurred to me that it was ever any different. I have not much lived or experienced visible racism before in my life, or in the present day. I think that is why at first, it was both bizarre and jarring to see a large group of young white men carrying torches in the name of the alt-right. 

As Daniel Gettemy pointed out in Sunday's sermon, we live in a society here in the US in which we view ourselves and others through the scope of partisan commitments and ideologies. Leftist, conservative, liberal, right-wing, independent. Our life choices, our finances, and our time is devoted to the things we idealize. We plaster bumper stickers all over our vehicles that advertise our own unique "American dream". Love Trumps Hate, Better with Bernie, Johnson: End the Duopoly, Make America Great Again, and so many more.

Among friends and family, and even my closest friends of the same Christian faith, there are large variances in sociopolitical beliefs, actions, and opinion. It is a strain on my own heart at times to get past it when I feel strongly regarding something that a friend feels differently about, or when I feel lesser because of an opinion voiced by someone who I care about. 

Sin issues and desires of the flesh are real and rampant, and evil lurks and whispers in our ear. This is why upon further contemplation, I am not surprised by Charlottesville. These are issues of the heart we all deal with, amplified and acted upon. These are issues we are to face and expect on this side of eternity. Our hearts are stubborn, and we are focused on the things of the earth rather than the heavens. 

That a group of white men would profess Christ, and defame their brothers and sisters of color in such a horrific wayto make the world a more "ideal" place for them, breaks my heart and I long for heaven. This is not Jesus. Jesus came to crush death, to tear the veil in two, and to slay alienation. I am not Jew, and you are not Gentile. There is no differentiation. His temple is a temple for all, to be as one in fellowship. The gospel of reconciliation is for all.  

"Loyalty to petrified opinion never yet broke a chain or freed a human soul" -Mark Twain

Dear Lord Jesus, We are living and dying for ideologies that are not giving us life. They are literally killing us and our brothers and sisters. Instead of taking a torch of persecution and enmity, please help us take up your torch of love and light. We pray for the world full of your children, that you would be near and be known, and that we can all be reconciled to You and to one another by your powerful, Holy spirit. Have mercy, and pour out Your spirit upon every side of earthly conflict. Amen.

~ Carly Haynes

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