Good day TRC and Friends. Justin Owens, one our elders at TRC, wanted to make sure you all heard his thoughts after his sermon on Sunday. I’m glad he did. Justin is a sharp thinker and solid writer. Here are Justin’s thoughts:
“Greetings Three Rivers Church, and other who may read this. A lot has happened over the weekend. We have been recording our sermons on Saturday mornings, to be posted on Sunday. Our passage was Genesis 49:1-28. As we walked through the text, one of the things we learned about God and His relationship with mankind is that God is just. We also saw that there is a coming day of blessing, peace, and abundance when Jesus Christ returns and fully establishes His Kingdom. As followers of Jesus we are guided by the ethic of love. The two greatest commandments are to love God and to love our neighbor as ourselves. Out of that ethic of love, and in obedience to Jesus, we desire justice for our neighbor.
There are many in this country today crying out for justice to be done. Peaceful protests all across the world crying out to be heard. Crying out for justice, righteousness, and peace. Peaceful protests are good, and right, and powerful. We need to slow down and listen to the hurt, listen to the pain. This is generational pain crying out. As believers we pray for the Lord to hear the cries of humanity.
During this time, many of the peaceful protests have been co-opted by those seeking violence. Riots, looting, destruction are not to be confused with those who have gathered in the right manner to make their voices heard. As believers, we must speak out for those who have no voice, those who are peacefully protesting and calling for change, and those who are victims of the destruction caused by riots. The ethic of love tells us that destroying someone’s property is not right or good. We can, and should, both affirm the protests, and denounce the riots.
The hope that we do have, is that one day all of our tears will be wiped away. All sin will be gone. The world will be right, just, perfect, peaceful, and full of abundance in the rule and reign of Jesus Christ. Nothing that has happened in our world has escaped His notice. He is faithful, and He hears the cries of His people.
Three Rivers, be people of hope, healing, and peace. Love your neighbor well. Be Kingdom people who seek truth, not spin. Seek right, seek good. You do this well, continue to do so. May the Lord bless you and keep you this week. May He give you wisdom to discern what is right as conflicting narratives are presented to you. And lastly, know that it’s ok to ask questions. If you don’t know, ask someone you trust.” – Justin Owens
Theology in the Dirt 