A Christian's response to the Zimmerman Verdict
A heavy heart…
Set your mind on things above, not on things on the earth. For you died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. Col 2:2-3
A letter to the professing church.
May I ask you to ask yourselves, are we peacemakers? Or are we divisive? Trust me, I am examining and praying about this in my own life. Is what I share of Him? Or at the very least, avoiding even the appearance of evil?
As I fell asleep last night, reflecting on the comments I’ve seen, starting with the Paula Deen story and continuing with the Zimmerman-Trayvon case, I started to pray. Psalm 139 came to mind as I asked the Lord to search my heart, and see if there be, a wicked way in me (the song started playing in my head)…
But I say to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the just and on the unjust. Matt 5:43-44
I haven’t watched the trial, nor the verdict. There is no intention to claim superiority for not watching, I don’t have cable, and haven’t since my husband went to be with the Lord. I am not being holier-than-thou regarding those who have chosen to partake. Or even those who have decided who was right or wrong in this story. I personally do not know, and even if someone has been watching the case since the beginning, I am not sure they know either.
One thing I do know, the stench of the enemy permeates the air.
Because of the nature of comments coming from all perspectives, (who I again note, were not there), I can only shake my head in sadness. Most especially with those believers who might actually be a minister of reconciliation at this turbulent time. Yet some instead seem to be reflecting the world, with their words and arguments.
I want to comment and point people back to Christ. Where they can find rest for their weary souls. I tried a couple times to remind brethren, that it is a spiritual battle, not one of flesh and blood. It did not go well.
Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy and My burden is light.” Matt 11:28-30
I have seen a lot of comments from all sides, but have refrained to speak any more until now. A cacophony of angry voices raise similarly to the way a tornado forms. And in like manner, travels across the land, wreaking death, sorrow and destruction… It’s almost as if I am mesmerized while watching the escalation of anger throughout my FB friends. Did I remember to pray when I saw this, I ask myself? Others might ask themselves if they are unknowingly stoking the fires the enemy has started…
I reflect on 2 Tim 2 beginning to end. Am I keeping the end result of people being recovered from the snare of the enemy? Is this a foolish argument? Am I only adding to the whirlwind? Are we thinking also of non-believers, keeping our speech seasoned with grace and salt (Col 4:5-6)? If you have chosen to take sides in this, knowing the reputation of our current news media, I can only ask you to ask yourself, are you sure this is righteously judging? (John 7:24) Please do not assume either what I am thinking based on my color, only the Lord knows my heart. I am only asking each one to examine themselves prayerfully.
I am sure some think their perspective is very important for others to hear. One says who is right, another is sure one is innocent, or yet another, who was wronged. Others could certainly now include me among those who feel the need to be heard on this matter. I have leave them to do what they feel they must and can pray they ask the Lord if what they are doing and saying, is edifying the body of Christ, helping the harvest or shining as lights in this world… Especially to the lost and dying world we live in, that needs to hear the good news that there is hope (Col 4:5-6).
Do all things without complaining and disputing, that you may become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast the word of life, so that I may rejoice in the day of Christ that I have not run in vain or labored in vain. Phil 2:14-16
My studies yesterday remind me of Jesus words to Peter, right after he professed that Jesus was the Son of God…how quickly we may forget to be mindful of things of Him….
“Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men.” Matthew 16:23
If then you were raised with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ is, sitting at the right hand of God. Col 3:1
How many times in my life have I been caught up with things of the world, and been distracted by the enemy. I am not here to accuse any person, just reflecting on my own choices, and the current sad state of affairs. The comments dripping with sarcasm, anger, bitterness, vitriol, threats, and hatred for one another…
For our citizenship is in heaven, from which we also eagerly wait for the Savior, the Lord Jesus Christ. Phil 3:20
I have actually seen people berate others for not watching the case. Or for siding with either side. Or for not speaking about it. The accusations abound. I ran across this passage tonight which reminds me, no believer should look on the outside. If we are beside ourselves, who should it be about…?
For if we are beside ourselves, it is for God; or if we are of sound mind, it is for you. For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again. Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 2 Cor 5:13-16
For there is no partiality with God. Rom 2:11
A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. John 13:34
I can only answer to God for myself about where I get involved, spend my time, my idle words, or even when I lose my gaze upon Him and start sinking in those dark stormy waters.
I pray for peace and compassion for one another, tender hearts, forgiveness. Especially within the professing church. For the world, I have nothing to judge, because that is not my job, but belongs to the Holy Spirit.
And when He has come, He will convict the world of sin, and of righteousness, and of judgment: of sin, because they do not believe in Me; of righteousness, because I go to My Father and you see Me no more; of judgment, because the ruler of this world is judged. John 16:8-11
For what have I to do with judging those also who are outside? Do you not judge those who are inside? But those who are outside God judges. Therefore “put away from yourselves the evil person.” I Cor 5:12-13
And so I run to Scripture again, to spend needed time with the Lord and His Word and pray that my brothers and sisters in Christ will remember we are not of this world…and that we cannot see into the hearts of men, nor can we rightly judge how this case should have ended.
I have given them Your word; and the world has hated them because they are not of the world, just as I am not of the world. John 17:14
We need that reviving from His Word more and more in the filth of this world, and the heaviness of our souls. As I watch back and forth volleys from the sidelines, I wonder if some of my friends remember how short life is, and who we belong to. The song sings about dust in the wind, the Bible says, we are but a vapor…
My soul clings to the dust; Revive me according to Your word. My soul melts from heaviness; Strengthen me according to Your word. Ps 119:25, 28
Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to such and such a city, spend a year there, buy and sell, and make a profit”; whereas you do not know what will happen tomorrow. For what is your life? It is even a vapor that appears for a little time and then vanishes away. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.” James 4:13-15
Man is like a breath;His days are like a passing shadow. Ps 144:4
Before you say I am judging you, or think this is personally aimed at someone, I will assure, it is not, and I am not judging here, just sharing. I am not suggesting you cannot speak, you are His servant, He is able to make you stand. I am only asking you to do the same, ask Him to search your heart, are you a peacemaker? Do you really have love for another regardless of their color? Lastly, are we instruments of righteousness to God?
And do not present your members as instruments of unrighteousness to sin, but present yourselves to God as being alive from the dead, and your members as instruments of righteousness to God. Rom 6:13
May we count all things we leave behind, but dung…
Yea doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord: for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ, and be found in him, not having mine own righteousness, which is of the law, but that which is through the faith of Christ, the righteousness which is of God by faith: that I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable unto his death; if by any means I might attain unto the resurrection of the dead. Not as though I had already attained, either were already perfect: but I follow after, if that I may apprehend that for which also I am apprehended of Christ Jesus. Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before, I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus. Phil 3:8-14
Looking for and loving His soon appearing.
And I heard a loud voice from heaven saying, “Behold, the tabernacle of God is with men, and He will dwell with them, and they shall be His people. God Himself will be with them and be their God. And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” Rev 21:3-4
Thank you, your post was very convicting, and defying. We must REMEMBER who the enemy is, it’s Satan and he is the father of lies, he comes only to kill and destroy.
Ariel, I so agree with you, we need to remember who is behind all of this and pray for our enemies. To remember that we are ministers of reconciliation. May we love and pray for those who treat us spitefully.
Thank you my Sister for giving us something to think about. It’s about who we are in Christ Jesus the one who we represent ! If we act like the World then how will they see Jesus! We are the Salt & Light all we have to do is be what we are! Holly you showed no partiality but reminded us of how the world will know we are Christians by our love for one another. John 13:34-35 A new commandment I give unto you, That ye love one another; as I have loved you, that ye also love one another. By this shall all men know that ye are my disciples, if ye have love one to another.
Yes I was hurt over the decision but I also cried for all our children & asked for God’s Grace & Mercy over this sinful world.
Holly I agree some of the comments made me sick to stomach!
The sad part is some were by those professing Christ!
I prayed not only for the Martin Family but the Zimmerman family as well. They both need Jesus whether for peace or Salvation. I prayed for those who are Saved to trust in the Jesus to bring them through this & for those who aren’t will somehow be comforted with the realization that they need a Savior & have a change of heart & be open to hear the Gospel message about the one who paid for their sin debt. We ought to put our emotions a side & remember who we really are fighting with. For it sure is not flesh & Blood as you so well mention Holly. Some want justice & holler it’s not fair! But if God gave us what we deserve & not His Mercy then what would we say then! Oh how we forget who has the final say when our emotions are involved. I’m so glad my Hope is in Christ & not in this sinful world or its system! I’m also glad this world is not my home , I’m just passing through.
( I’m just a nobody tying to tell somebody about Jesus! )
Love you my Sister
God Bless
Terry, so precious… I too, am one of those weak things, foolish things, things that were not… I am thankful He came for us too, and one day these awful things, hurtful words and attitudes, all the things that have caused us tears (including ourselves) will be wiped away. Love you too, and may the Lord bless you, and your family.