Antidote to Racism

In the middle of one of the worst pandemics in my life time, we have the image of a police officer, coolly, methodically, and stubbornly snuff the life out of a helpless man. He did it while three of his fellow so called peace officers watched and stood guard over this execution in broad daylight. Suddenly Coronavirus takes a back seat on cable news, while violence and rage takes center stage. There is another virus unleashed in cities across the United States. I speak of a virus of racial prejudice that lies just under the surface of the veneer of kindness in the human heart. This not a United States problem or a Black versus White issue. It is a phenomena we see the world over, where people of power; subjugate, abuse, take advantage and even kill in their lust for supremacy.

Simply because they can. I can think of no better image of “total depravity’ than the indifferent face of Mr. Chauvin looking on, as the creative life of God ebbed out of George Floyd. This was done in broad daylight. I ask, just what are humans capable of, if there were no restraints? It makes me shudder. It also speaks to the overwhelming need for our society to embrace our only redemption, the Saviour Jesus Christ. Oh, I am not taking about a pious acceptance of the need for church and a religion. No, I am talking about Salvation. A life changing experience with the Living God where His spirit comes to live in me, changes me and creates a brand new person inside of me. As it says, “If anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!” (2 Corinthians 5:17)

Every once in a while we see the mask taken off and the ugliness of racism, prejudice, xenophobia displayed among us. Like the dreaded Coronavirus, a vaccine is needed. But for this; one will not find it in a laboratory, but in the person of Jesus Christ. When Christ, the author of love, is in us and we are in Him, hate, murder, and the abuse of others will have no place in our hearts or on our streets.

This is salvation at ground zero. This is the offer God holds out to us. This Sunday I will be talking about “what Salvation can do” in a human heart.

Sunday Celebration

We will be meeting together again for the first time since the lockdown has been imposed on us all. We will be gathering for Sunday celebration at 10:30 am, but also be on Facebook Live, for those not feeling comfortable attending a public gathering. We will use best practices and accepted protocols to ensure a safe environment for all worshippers gathering with us. Our service will be short and there will be no coffee or food offered during the month of June.

Jim Reimer, Pastor

June 4, 2020