Heal our land
We are richly blessed and live in a wonderful place here in southwest Michigan. Yet as I read the Sturgis Journal and other sources, I am troubled by a darker side in this area. Many who read the Journal already know that we have the highest rates per capita for teenage pregnancies and alcohol purchases. In looking online I found that in 2004, Sturgis had 5 times more rapes per capita than the United States as a whole and twice as many as Detroit (http://sturgis.areaconnect.com/crime1.htm). Putting all of these statistics together, it tells the story of a community that is deeply in need of healing.
Scripture speaks to the people of God as being instrumental in prompting healing for the community around them. In 2 Chronicles 7:14 it says, "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." We are called to be humble, to pray, to seek God's face, and turn away from our own sin. I believe that when a community shows evidence of such deep brokenness, it is a cause for deep grief in the hearts of all of God's people because we have somehow strayed from seeking God's face.
How will we join together and ask God to intervene in our brokenness? Too often the church is part of the cause instead of the solution. I don't have a lot of answers, but here are some ideas for us to think about.
Certainly the place to start is with the invitation from scripture. Are we humble people, are we ourselves turning away from the sin in our lives? Are we truly centering our lives around God or is Christianity a lifestyle choice that simply fits alongside many other loyalties?
How are we ourselves experiencing the Good News of Jesus Christ? We are given the promise of eternity in heaven, but do we also bring God's healing and hope to the people around us? Following God is not about doing a lot of things I don't enjoy to get a "get-out-of-hell card". Following God is about discovering his healing and hope for this life also, to experience wholeness that flows through our lives to the community around us. As I read Jesus' promises, it is those who follow him who will experience life that is full and blessed. Lives which use and abuse others to meet our own needs are not lives of freedom. They always will end up being lives of bondage and despair. Every part of following Jesus is built around unrestrained love for God and truly loving our neighbor as ourselves. Out of such a life comes true grace, joy and peace.
At a fundamental level, many of actions that result in a crime are simply a lack of respect for others. I believe that at the heart of the troubling statistics about rape and teenage pregnancy is a lack of respect for women and young girls. How do we talk about our spouse and our children to other people? Do we cultivate respect as a basic part of how we expect others to interact with us and how we treat others? As men, do we see women as fully human and partners with us on this earth?
Attitudes toward alcohol also greatly affect how we treat each other, especially among minors. I've met many young women who greatly regret their lack of discretion in drinking alcohol, and the role it played in becoming intimate with someone before they were ready.
These are mostly questions, not from someone who's got it figured out. Too many times in my own life I've been one whose actions contributed to great pain for others. Yet the good news is that no matter who we are or what we've done, God's grace is rich enough to heal us and give us newfound joy. I pray that as we seek God, we will see his hand move powerfully in our community.
If you are looking healing and hope in your life, find a faith community that will walk with you and help you discover what God is doing. I know that we at Locust Grove would love to see you, as would many other churches in the Sturgis area.
Scripture speaks to the people of God as being instrumental in prompting healing for the community around them. In 2 Chronicles 7:14 it says, "If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land." We are called to be humble, to pray, to seek God's face, and turn away from our own sin. I believe that when a community shows evidence of such deep brokenness, it is a cause for deep grief in the hearts of all of God's people because we have somehow strayed from seeking God's face.
How will we join together and ask God to intervene in our brokenness? Too often the church is part of the cause instead of the solution. I don't have a lot of answers, but here are some ideas for us to think about.
Certainly the place to start is with the invitation from scripture. Are we humble people, are we ourselves turning away from the sin in our lives? Are we truly centering our lives around God or is Christianity a lifestyle choice that simply fits alongside many other loyalties?
How are we ourselves experiencing the Good News of Jesus Christ? We are given the promise of eternity in heaven, but do we also bring God's healing and hope to the people around us? Following God is not about doing a lot of things I don't enjoy to get a "get-out-of-hell card". Following God is about discovering his healing and hope for this life also, to experience wholeness that flows through our lives to the community around us. As I read Jesus' promises, it is those who follow him who will experience life that is full and blessed. Lives which use and abuse others to meet our own needs are not lives of freedom. They always will end up being lives of bondage and despair. Every part of following Jesus is built around unrestrained love for God and truly loving our neighbor as ourselves. Out of such a life comes true grace, joy and peace.
At a fundamental level, many of actions that result in a crime are simply a lack of respect for others. I believe that at the heart of the troubling statistics about rape and teenage pregnancy is a lack of respect for women and young girls. How do we talk about our spouse and our children to other people? Do we cultivate respect as a basic part of how we expect others to interact with us and how we treat others? As men, do we see women as fully human and partners with us on this earth?
Attitudes toward alcohol also greatly affect how we treat each other, especially among minors. I've met many young women who greatly regret their lack of discretion in drinking alcohol, and the role it played in becoming intimate with someone before they were ready.
These are mostly questions, not from someone who's got it figured out. Too many times in my own life I've been one whose actions contributed to great pain for others. Yet the good news is that no matter who we are or what we've done, God's grace is rich enough to heal us and give us newfound joy. I pray that as we seek God, we will see his hand move powerfully in our community.
If you are looking healing and hope in your life, find a faith community that will walk with you and help you discover what God is doing. I know that we at Locust Grove would love to see you, as would many other churches in the Sturgis area.
posted by Sheila at 3:35 PM
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