I know, I am a little late to this party. This issue was so last week, right? Well, I apologize for my tardiness, but I believe now is the time for me to speak out. I wanted to take a moment to make sure I was level headed, and to have a wise and Godly approach to this issue. I am not a reporter, so I don’t feel the need to rush some facts to keep readers up to date. I wanted to develop a clear understanding so I can effectively communicate with all of you. Is that all right with you? Cool. Now to the real story.

So, as many of us already know, there were some unfortunate and traumatizing events that occurred in Dallas last week during a Black Lives Matter protest. Five police officers were shot, and will never again go home to see their families. This is just one instance, and there have been several more issues to add to the fire. In this article, I want to speak to these events and movements as a whole. My aim is to provide help and point all people towards healing.

Now, I have seen a whole lot of each side blaming the other for this event, along with several other events from the past. This gets everyone nowhere fast. It is a complete waste of time. President George W. Bush had a great point when speaking in Dallas, “Too often we judge other groups by their worst examples while judging ourselves by our best intentions.” My first piece of advice is to stop all of that. We all need to realize that there are some amazing and good things coming from both sides, and also each group has their downturns. I have read that the Black Lives Matter did not endorse the shooting or any other action like this. Unfortunately, this group still has to claim their bad apples. This same idea goes for the police officers. They are always claiming that violence is not their aim. There are some great cops out there, but they still get to claim their failures and bad apples. That’s just how it is, and we don’t get to pick and choose. If we can all first come to this conclusion, then we can begin to work on coming together and find healing. These bruises only get worse unless we come together.

This brings me to my next point. Violence will never bring about peace. Violence only promises more violence. Instead of a nation closer to peace, we are now seeing more and more security issues, people standing up and becoming more hateful, and even others acting out and injuring their neighbors. I have seen it all over social media with people posting that this shooting was justified, and it was a good thing. This is false and only makes things worse, just like people from the other side trying to retaliate and do more damage. Not only do we have black people covered in scars from their years of suffering, we also have cops that are beaten down. Not just that, we have a nation that it broken and hurting. Again, we are left with more and more bruises.

I have just a few suggestions, which are things that I have learned as a Christian in my life journey with Jesus. Please, just take a moment and stick with me! I want my nation healed, and I firmly believe this will be the answer. To anyone facing discrimination or hatred of any kind, here is what Jesus had to say - turn the other cheek, love your enemy and pray for those that persecute you. Allow God, the one who gives true justice, do the fighting and deliver the judgments. It sounds wimpy and unproductive, I know. I promise that this will get you closer to your hopes and goals than you have ever been before.

All of those who are on the other side, doing the hating, get over yourself. I do not remember God ever coming down and placing you above anyone else, so quit acting like it. We are all created equally, and deeply loved by a Heavenly Father. Acting in hatred does not show bad on the one being persecuted, but only shows the immaturity and lack of love in the one doing the persecution. Humble yourselves, ask for forgiveness and move forward. Be a problem solver, not a creator.

To those that claim to follow Jesus Christ. Now is the time to stand. We are in a world with hurting people, who need love, who need rescue, and need somewhere to run. We have an answer, we know where true rest and real peace comes from. What sense does it make for us to be silent? We are called to be that one to stand in the gap like Ezekiel 22:30 is talking about. No more sitting back and remaining silent. Are you confident in the Lord or not? Prove it. Walk by faith. Show your faith by your deeds. Are we not called to love God, and love people? We can’t do it by sitting at home. Don’t watch the crowd walk by, go get in the middle and make a difference!

There it is. The answer to all the problems we have been facing. I kept my words simple because that is the nature of the solution. It is all very simple. It’s nowhere near easy, but it is always simple. What is even more simple, and all the more satisfying is turning to the love of Jesus. He came and gave up His life for people just like those suffering, held down, and cast out. He poured out absolutely everything so that we can be renewed, and know grace. He came so that we may have peace, and so that we may know our Heavenly Father. If that would be something you want to know more about, let me know. I would love to talk with you about it!