Archive for the 'America' Category
America, Don’t Forget Words Have Power
The attempted assassination of Congress members in the middle of a ball park should serve as a stark indicator of the state of a country. In fact, the shooting on Wednesday, June 14,—which left House Majority Whip Steve Scalise, congressional aids and Capitol law enforcement officers wounded—might offer us more clues than we dare admit about what can happen when violence against elected officials is relativized, satirized and even celebrated.
Just think about the kind of message public figures, comedians and entertainers have sent since Donald Trump won the presidency.
In March, Snoop Dog released a music video in which he shoots a clown dressed as Donald Trump. Shortly after, comedian Kathy Griffin posed in her now infamous photoshoot where she holds a bloodied mask of the president’s face. And, most recently, an inflammatory New York modern production of Shakespeare in the Park depicts Trump as Caesar, stabbed to death on stage. This isn’t even counting the derogatory remarks hurled at the first family.
Just a few days ago, a behavioral economist from a leading university in the Northeast mocked Trump’s youngest son, Barron, for simply wearing a t-shirt. “Barron Trump is wearing a shirt that reads ‘The Expert’ and I just threw up in my mouth a little,” she wrote.
In my life, I have never seen a more volatile political environment. Hyperbolized speech, wild accusations and blatant character assassinations have taken stage front and center. We’ve become more interested in making statements—no matter how scandalous or provocative—and getting likes and retweets than in actually finding a path that brings us together and takes us forward.
Though the exact motives behind this week’s shooting aren’t fully known, it’s undeniably clear the gunman, James Hodgkinson, was targeting GOP Congress members. According to Rep. Ron DeSantis, Hodgkinson approached him to inquire whether the morning’s baseball practice was Republican or Democratic.
Moreover, Hodgkinson had recently signed an online petition to impeach President Trump and his administration “for Misprision of Treason.”
“Trump is a Traitor. Trump Has Destroyed Our Democracy. It’s Time to Destroy Trump & Co.,” wrote Hodgkinson on his Facebook page in March when sharing the petition.
We obviously cannot blame a summer play or even a comedian’s stunt for the actions of a lone gunman. But as a society we must be able to recognize that celebrating an ideology that says violence, especially against our elected officials, affects the way we think. Words have power. As the ancient biblical proverb says, “The tongue has the power of life and death.”
As Rep. Scalise and those wounded in this grim attack recover, I pray America might also experience a deeper spiritual healing that reconciles hearts back to each other. May Christ’s forgiveness and love rise above the noise, cut through the anger and hate and unite us in purpose for a better and stronger America.
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the Senior Pastor of Cross Church and the Immediate Past President of the Southern Baptist Convention. Follow him on Twitter @ronniefloyd. Subscribe to Ronnie Floyd on Life and Leadership Today here.
This post was originally published by ChristianPost.com on June 19, 2017
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.
The #1 Obstacle to the Next Great Move of God in the Church and in America
Unforgiveness is the #1 obstacle to the next great move of God in your life, your church and our nation. Almost every person has been affected by unforgiveness in some way or another. Either we have held a grudge or known a relationship hindered by someone who refused to forgive. Churches, friendships, and fellowship have been ruptured by wounds, unforgiveness, and bitterness.
For many years, I have pastored local churches, and am convinced that the #1 obstacle to the next great move of God in the church and in the nation is the sin of unforgiveness. Nothing has built a taller, deeper, and thicker wall in the hearts of people and in the churches of our land.
God Does Forgives Us
Human relationships fractured by unforgiveness are damaging, to be sure. What about our need for God’s forgiveness? Is God forgiving? Can anything be done if we have offended Him?
Thankfully, God has not left us in the dark. Yes, we have offended God, and yes, He will forgive.
The Bible is clear in both the Old and New Testaments that we have sinned against God. Jeremiah laments on behalf of his kinsmen in Israel, “Let us lie down in our shame; let our disgrace cover us. We have sinned against the LORD our God, both we and our fathers, from the time of our youth even to this day. We have not obeyed the voice of the LORD our God.”1 The Psalmist wrote even more broadly, “The LORD looks down from heaven on the human race to see if there is one who is wise, who seeks after God. All have turned away; all alike have become corrupt. There is no one who does good, not even one.”2
Yet, God forgives us. We are grateful!
How Can God Ever forgive?
We are not let off the hook in the New Testament. “Therefore, just as sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin, in this way death spread to all men, because all sinned.”3 Humanity has a problem, and that problem is the sin that separates us from God.
How can God ever forgive? Only through the sacrificial death and resurrection of His Son, Jesus Christ. As Peter and John told the religious leaders of their day, “There is salvation in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to people, and we must be saved by it.”4
What about those who have already accepted Christ? Is there forgiveness for the many sins we commit between the time we are saved and the time we leave this earth? Does God forgive the forgiven? Thank God, the answer is yes.
The Bible says, “If we confess our sins, He is faithful and righteous to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness.” 5 Those of us who have believed in Christ are forgiven at salvation and forgiven as we are made more and more like Christ. This is one reason we are encouraged to forgive others. We need to experience the ongoing forgiveness of God that restores our fellowship with Him.
Therefore, Forgive Others
Since God so freely and sacrificially forgives us, we should forgive others. Friends, never let anyone outside of your circle of love. Forgiveness is imperative in the life of a Christ follower. Therefore, walk in forgiveness toward others.
Refuse to Let Unforgiveness in the Church
I realize calling upon us to refuse to let unforgiveness in the church is a big request. But if we let unforgiveness abide in the church, we are telling God we do not want Him to intervene in His church. We need to call people to account to one another, even pastors to their people, and the people to the pastor, if any unforgiveness is prevailing.
Call Upon Our Nation to Forgive Each Other
It is very concerning to think how much unforgiveness is prevailing in America presently. It is just wrong. Anger is raging and criticism is never ceasing. We need our nation to live with forgiveness toward one another.
Now is the Time to Lead,
Ronnie W. Floyd
1 Jeremiah 3:25
2 Psalm 14:2-3
3 Romans 5:12
4 Acts 4:12
5 1 John 1:9
Dr. Ronnie Floyd is the President & CEO of the Southern Baptist Convention Executive Committee.