Psalm 69:20 Reproach hath broken my heart; and I am full of heaviness: and I looked for some to take pity, but there was none; and for comforters, but I found none.
I was watching a pre-civil war movie last week. In it was brutality and inhumanity. The hearts of most whites and even a few slaves were pitiless. As I watched the movie none of that struck me as hard as watching the process of selling a slave, with title and deed, with history of ownership from slave ship, to owner and birth records and every trade ever made. It was in seeing that process I saw a glimpse into the attitude of some who resent proof of voters rights.
Are those feeling just? The law was written to protect their rights, yet did nothing to address the emotions that have lingered in the hearts of men and women since the end of the civil war. Laws may address wrongs but they cannot heal wounds. We write laws to address injustice and create within their bounds a weapon of reminder, of pain, or injustice, that society needed to create a law which does nothing to fix the problem, but only highlights a deeper problem without addressing the problem itself.
The law may be perfect or imperfect. The abiding in the law may be perfect or imperfect. Neither can change the problem. The sin nature of man is the problem and nothing changes that except God.
Psalm 49:20 Man that is in honour, and understandeth not, is like the beasts that perish.
Psalm 119:130 The entrance of thy words giveth light; it giveth understanding unto the simple.
The Word gives light to the entrance, but they still have to enter in to be free.
What an in-depth and honest assessment!! Thank you for addressing the heart of the problem….our “sin nature”. Jesus (the WORD) longs to solve this problem ! “Come unto ME all you that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am meek and lowly in heart and you shall find rest unto your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28, 29& 30.
As you stated, Larry: “The sin nature of man is the problem and nothing changes that except God.” Unfortunately the humanistic approach to prejudice is to throw money at the problem instead of addressing the problems of the heart.
I am prejudiced. If anyone insults my Hispanic neighbor, I’ll deal with him. We’ve become close friends. Anneke and I have become Grandma and Grandpa to their children. We are included in their festive occasions, and they are equally welcome to celebrate family events with us.
I will admit, however, if I’m misjudged because I am white, I’ve little compassion for the prejudice that individual receives from those around him. Often times I’m tempted to ask, “You looking for a job? Pull up your pants.”
To Ern, so strange I used to call you Ernie. We cannot control the hearts of others, we can only protect our own. Society, secular or otherwise will always do what is in their best interest, and if they create a space for acceptance, you can bet there is a reason behind it. Christian do the same thing. I want to fill the body of Christ with all that are His. That and only than will bring about His second coming. So I too have an agenda.