Silence in June 2020

“For if you keep silent at this time, relief and deliverance will rise for the Jews from another place, but you and your father’s house will perish. And who knows whether you have not come to the kingdom for such a time as this?” – Esther 4:14

Silence. Many if not all Christians are guilty of silence in the face of injustice. The reason I am writing this is not because of silence but the opposite. With the senseless murder of George Floyd, many of my Christian friends have been anything but silent. Though I am mournful of the tragedy, I am also glad that it’s not another tragedy ignored. One who sees the glass half empty may express concern that people on social media are only jumping on the bandwagon so they can prove to everyone that no they’re not racist. Me? Least racist person I know? But the optimist inside me thinks that maybe these people have also been humbled and God’s grace has truly softened their hearts. Maybe then money is donated to peaceful protesters unjustly arrested. Maybe enough petition signatures will get government officials to finally rethink policy. Maybe things will change. Or maybe it doesn’t. But if the good outcome did happen then I would like to think that softened hearts and the Holy Spirit moving in my brothers and sisters contributed somehow. I wholeheartedly disagree with the notion that we should be disappointed with each other for speaking out against this great injustice. Jesus is not disappointed in you.

I mentioned the protests happening in America at this current time. I understand that the June of 2020 is not the most appropriate time to gather in large numbers in light of the pandemic. I had previously shown contempt for Americans gathering in public so that they could get their hair cut. I still think it’s dangerous. But the protests right now aren’t for barbers to open up; They’re here so that the butchers in blue stop killing innocent people – of all races – but specifically black Americans who are more likely to be profiled and targeted by the police. It is dangerous for them to go outside even without the men in full armour armed with guns and tear gas prepped to take them on. They are facing the danger anyway because that’s how desperate we’ve become. As much as I disagree with lockdown breaching, I must not overlook the reason why they’re breaching them. And I will definitely not use it as an excuse to disregard the seriousness of the message the protest wants to send. Unfortunately, I have come to a disagreement with a dear Christian friend of mine about the protests. I left him with the message that we will pray for each other and that I hope we do not justify the wicked (Proverbs 17:15)

Christians, you may be wondering where Jesus is in all this. All I know is that He is the redeemer of our souls and He has rescued us from the Egypt that enslaved us with the chains of sin and death. The great redeeming work is done. You know this. We will enter the great reconciliation when the time comes but for now, we are in a desert surrounded by death. You are urged to spread the gospel that breathes life into the

dead (Mark 16:15). Christians I further urge you to protect those who are under the thumb of current day pharaohs who inflict the first death; Even if they are sinners; Even if they are gentiles like I am; Even if they don’t look like you; Even if they wear a badge. Yes, please pray for them also. Their souls are worth just as much as ours. While you quote your bibles, please don’t overlook what Jesus says about the Samaritan and the traveller in need (Luke 10). Have faith that God will deal with the wicked. Even if they are as powerful as Pharaoh; Pharaoh who has wealth; Pharaoh who has slave masters; Pharaoh who has a great glistening palace; Pharaoh who has bullets; Pharaoh who has tear gas; Pharaoh who has a stubborn and unrepentant heart, storing up wrath against himself for the day of God’s wrath, when His righteous judgement will be revealed. God will deal with Pharaoh.

I am not the most articulate, but I pray what I have written down comes from the Holy Spirit. I do not mean to patronise nor condemn. I write all this in love.

Originally written on June 3rd 2020 by Denzel Arevalo