Don’t mistake my stillness for silence.

There have been times where I’ve been quite outspoken regarding controversial topics. I’ve stood, sometimes alone, and fervently shared my stance on a lot of hot button issues. I’ve been ridiculed, made fun of, targeted, and mocked more than I’d like to say. My views aren’t always accepted, they aren’t always liked, and they aren’t always heard the way I’d like for them to be.

Which is why I’ve stayed quiet. I wanted to be sure that my words had merit, and they weren’t just flailing in the wind. Be quick to hear and slow to speak. Being sure to let my words be led of the Lord and not out of turn (James 1:19). So don’t mistake my stillness for silence.

I’ve seen both sides, playing the blame game, struggling to wage a war with words and violence, desperately and sometimes literally, fighting for personal views and beliefs and perspectives. And what are we left with? Angry, vulnerable, and bitter people who still struggle to understand and make change.

I do not stand for violence, I do not stand for terrorism. I do not stand for discrimination, I do not stand for segregation, I do not stand for racism. I do not stand for the Alt-Right, or the KKK, or Neo-Nazi’s or any other hate group. I do not believe in white supremacy. I do not believe in supporting hate sympathizers.

I believe in respect no matter what your political, religious, or moral conviction. I believe in showing love, even when there is discord. I believe in being compassionate to the lost and the broken and the lonely.I stand for Christ, His Word, His ways, and His truths. I believe in prayer, more than speech.

Matthew 11:28-29 Come unto me, all ye that labour 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 ye shall find rest unto your souls.

He didn’t say come white or brown or olive. He didn’t say come unto me African, American, or other. He didn’t say come Democrat, Republican, or Independent. He said come unto me ALL. Come unto me everyone who would, despite all of those worldly things, and I will give you what your soul needs.

If I am a Christian, a believer in Christ’s infallible word, then I must believe that He died for the sins of all mankind. I must believe that we are all created equal, despite our appearance, or our ethnicities, or our backgrounds.

Romans 2:11 For there is no respect of persons with God. For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law;

I’ve seen all the comments, most of them contradictory. Because it seems as though not matter how hard some people try, it won’t be enough. People will always find fault and you can’t make everyone happy. Even Jesus said so in Matthew 11:18-19. But you try, you try and you fail and you remain in limbo.

“Silence is consent” – so I must speak out? But then my words are turned and twisted, or something I said didn’t come out just right, or I should have said something different, or the color of my sin is a stumbling block for my words or even my thoughts.

“Your words aren’t enough, you must do” – so I must take action? But what should I do? Should I march, should I rally, should I speak out, should I entice violence? Because while I’m trying to protect others for the color of their skin, I’m constantly being judged for the color of mine.

Words are picked apart and analyzed, even if intentions are well. People are afraid to speak out for fear that they will be mentally crippled from the extremist of parties on both sides. Lines are drawn in the sand but they are faint and shallow and easily swept away by the tide.

Don’t mistake my stillness for silence. Because while I may not be speaking out to the world, I’m calling out in prayer. While I may not be marching, I am warring in prayer. While my stand for you may not be literal, my knees bowed in prayer for you is. My words may not be heard by earthly ears, but my cries unto God never fail to reach Him.

Broken prayers to the King of Kings are worth more than empty words to an angry world. A touch from Heaven is the only way that our communities, that our countries, will begin to unite. Christ is the only way that our nation can prevail. We have a much bigger issue than racism, and it’s a falling away from Christ.

Because sin is what has caused our nation to fall into the traps of the enemy. Sin has allowed hatred and violence and racism to prevail. Sin has created a separation between our nation and our God, and He is the one who can reconcile the demons of our past and our future.

Psalms 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance. Isaiah 60:12 For the nation and kingdom that will not serve thee shall perish; yea, those nations shall be utterly wasted.

2 Choronicles 7:14 If my people, which are called by my name, shall 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.

If you feel led to stand, do it, but start praying too. If you feel led to speak, do it, but let your words be of Christ and led by the Holy Ghost. Don’t stop being bold and courageous and vulnerable; but be this in and through Christ.

Let your words be wise and strong and heard, not hollow or vain. Be strong and unified as one with the Lord, for none can tear down what Christ has built up. He is the only one who can right the wrongs that sin has created. He is the only one who can take the fragmented pieces of this world and make it whole again.