One Nation Under God

message from S.

The Lord has been revealing some very interesting insights on the state of race relations in America. I am a young white female who grew up in a middle income family. My childhood was blessed financially, spiritually and emotionally. I was raised to value people of other races and until recently I felt that I understood the differences between blacks and whites in America. (I was also raised to be very proud of my country, to love it, appreciate it, and bless it in any way I could.) Last Thursday morning as I was praying, the Lord led me to pray specifically for my state, Illinois. As I began to intercede, I had the impression that the upcoming presidential election was significant for many reasons. First, I was reminded that President Abraham Lincoln was from Illinois and that Barak Obama is from our state. The Lord showed me that President Lincoln had planted the spiritual seed to pave the way for African-Americans to have equality in the United States up to and including the Presidency, and Senator Obama is the fruit of that seed. As with any case of seed-time and harvest…the good seeds come forth as well as the bad. At the minimum we are reaping a harvest of crime and apathy.

In the last few years of my life I have befriended many African-Americans. I was not seeking out people of other races, God added them to my life. And I am blessed to have them as not only acquaintances, but to know them as friends, fellow Christians and fellow intercessors. I have been shocked to discover how vastly different our upbringing and cultures are; we are all Americans, we are all Christians; yet violence, crime and drugs seem to have a firm hold on black families and communities. (I do not mean to imply that white Americans do not have the same issues, but there is a level of pervasiveness that I believe warrants it to be deemed a cultural issue, and I know that is an aspect of the intercession I have been involved in). These are not people I can ignore, they are not from the inner city, they are not militant, they are average black Americans…educated, respectable, good people and friends that I am proud to have in my life. We live in the same town, go to the same Wal-Mart, and yet they deal with issues that have never affected my life. These issues are cultural. My impression is that African-Americans continue to have a vast mistrust of white people and we are all left with a legacy of pain that has not been healed. Both cultures are hurting because one part of it is hurting. Young African Americans are the fruit and manifestation of generations of anger and bitterness, and unhealed hurt and pain.

Though the secular world and government have done their part to close the racial divide, there is still a huge gap found within Christianity. Our churches are culturally and racially divided. We are worshiping the same God. We love Jesus, and yet I think many of us would feel very uncomfortable in a church of a different racial make-up. Keeping the differences God has given us as cultures is good, but I believe it grieves the Holy Spirit when we are unable to put aside our fears and mistrust, and not accept people as Christian brothers and sisters first. When we look at another Christian our view should be through the eyes of one member of the body to another. We truly are one body in Christ and at this point the body is divided. As long as our races continue to negate God and look at color, we will continue to be separated at the place where God wants His children to come together.

Barak Obama is a man who represents the affluent, intelligent, charismatic leader that white Americans are ready to embrace; yet, if his pastor speaks for what he would not dare say aloud, he also represents the mistrust and rage that has thus far gone unhealed because unacknowledged. Just as with all planted seed, harvest is coming forth. The good…a black man running for President of the United States, being embraced by white Americans. And the bad…the revelation that African-Americans continue to mistrust and believe that white Americans are their enemies. Neither race has done enough to heal the wounds that have been caused and we, as Christians, have neglected to recognize, and utterly failed to address, the fact that our churches are divided down racial lines and see the consequences that will have on our future. We need to come to our Father as one nation under God - not two cultures.

We need to pray for healing. If this gap isn’t bridged when judgment comes to America it will be evident for all to see and know.

2 Chr: 7:14 “If My people, who are called by My Name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and forgive their sin and will heal their land.”