Racism Mindsets Part 1
We are the products of our environments; what has been handed down through our generations in history, society and family reflects in our world.
Many families have no idea where their ideology comes from. And in particular, this nation is deeply divided by racism.
However, before we can speak to a nation, we must speak to ourselves and rightly judge our own heart and repent of sin.
However, it doesn’t end there; we must realize that God wants to address the racism that is in the Church.
We must learn from our history and lineage the lessons so that bloodline curses won’t repeat themselves in us, our families, or in the generations that follow.
The generational curses of racism are evident in our nation and fighting these issues that divide us is an ongoing battle and it may seem hopeless!
We live in a fallen world where Satan’s seat is. The enemy has dominion, because of the fall of Adam but God, through the shed blood of his only begotten Son Jesus Christ has given His Church Dominion and all Authority to rule and reign in this life!
If we have repented of sin and received Jesus Christ in our hearts his desire remains the same! He wants us to take dominion in our families, our towns, our regions, states, and beyond!
However, it begins in us!
Do you want lasting change? Begin to search within your own heart. In this world, you shall have trouble and lasting change only goes so far.
“These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world,” John 16:33 KJV.
I understand that racism brings frustration, rage, anger, hopelessness, fear, and other negative effects.
However, nationally The LORD has made it plain that this issue can only go so far in resolving change. What is our answer? What is the solution?
The Church is supposed to be the living representation of Christ in our “world” and nation. But it begins with us.
What comes out of our mouth? What do we represent in our family? What is the foundation of our witness? We testify our beliefs by how we speak and how we live!
“Do we begin again to commend ourselves? Or need we, as some others, epistles of commendation to you, or letters of commendation from you? Ye are our epistle written in our hearts, known and read of all men,” 2 Corinthians 3:1-2 KJV.
The LORD has said that lasting national change must begin within the church. Beloved of God, we are like the salt that seasons; however, when you use a lot of salt it also preserves! God wants to season our lives and our messages to join in with the body of Christ to do a preserving work of grace in a sin-sick world.
When the salt has lost its savor, it is worthless. In contrast, the ‘Dead Sea’ may seem worthless. However, it has the most nutrient-dense level of minerals and the saltiest body of water in the world.
Though it is called ‘dead’, it brings life, health, and healing to those who have various ailments like skin and joints issues, and it improves circulation, reduces inflammation, helps arthritis and joint pain.
It also aids in recovery from surgery. Even those with certain heart conditions find relief and reprieve.
So, in this illustration dead things heal. As we die daily putting to death the deeds of our flesh we truly live! When we die to our way of thinking, die to our desires, and put on Christ’s desires, we do a preserving and healing work uniting the body of Christ by having the mind of Christ.
This happens first in us, our family, and then influence’s our world!
As this must begin in us and we are parts of the body of Christ; we come to the realization that The LORD’s body is made up of all races, creed, tribes, and tongues.
And The LORD is empowering his people to preach the everlasting gospel to those who dwell on the earth. We are to go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature, we go into all the world, person by person.
Before a nation or culture can change it must happen within the blood-bought Church of the Living God. The Church is to be that salt, to bring a preserving work in our lives
Peace can only be achieved through our relationship with The LORD Jesus! Jesus is our Prince of peace and the government is upon his shoulders.
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government Shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and peace there shall be no end, upon the throne of David, and upon his kingdom, to order it, and to establish it with judgment and with justice from henceforth even forever. The zeal of The LORD of hosts will perform this,” Isaiah 9:6-7 KJV.
I felt compelled to share portions of my life or testimony so that you can understand my message better.
I was born on August 29, 1960, at Tachikawa Air Force Base in Tokyo Japan. Both my parents are veterans and served their country honorably.
I am the oldest of three siblings and we moved a lot and I learned how to adapt very quickly. Actually, my parents and all my siblings all served their country including me.
We moved a lot and experienced many things. You may think moving as much as I did would have hindered me in many ways but I found that there are a lot of advantages being raised globally.
I got to meet and mix with various races, cultures and it was a life that had many advantages, and besides, I really enjoyed it. My years in my parent’s care, taught me discipline, integrity, honesty, loyalty, and love for my country.
Some people never leave their home town, but not me, I had to see what was going on in the world and I couldn’t possibly imagine myself stuck in one place forever.
My dad was raised as a Baptist and my mother was raised Lutheran. Through the years in the military mom always kept me in church no matter where we went and I got to cross over into many Christian denominations to see what they were about and their traditions, I even got to experience a few Jewish services.
As we moved and I witnessed varied cultures, I was able to see the diversity in the kingdom of God as a child.
Mom had a relationship with God that made an impact on my life and was pivotal to my salvation experience. My dad and mom retired not too far from where the Cane Ridge Revival took place in Kentucky in 1801.
I received The LORD when I was in the Baptist church. I was seven years old and baptized soon after. While we were in the military we moved so often that I was in thirteen schools in eleven years.
There were things I learned as a child that forever changed me. For instance, when we moved I met wonderful people, however as a child when I was the new kid on the block I wasn’t readily accepted by the clubs and cliques children have.
But the children who always accepted me were the black kids, and all my friends were black and that continued into my adult years. The black kids were kind to me and always accepted me.
To this day I have a deep love for the black community and even my ordination and licensing was through a wonderful half black half Jewish Woman of God whom I love dearly.
Throughout all the years of experiencing diverse cultures, I had gained the ability to cross-denominational and cultural lines.
Truly, as God has led me all these years, I can truly worship God in any Christian ministry that loves The LORD. That advantage has awarded me over and over again having relationships with black women as we traveled and ministered in the 1980s, into the 1990s, and beyond.
The LORD currently has me in one location for a number of years and has had me writing since 1998.
Racism is NOT something I did or had; it was never in my DNA.
I loved all of God’s people and especially the black community and I always felt like I was home. God has raised me up this way and often I find it frustrating as I identify so often with the black or African American Culture and what they went through and what they go through; I take it personally.
More to come………….
In HIS Grace and Mercy,
~ Sherry Edwards Mackey
New Beginning Christian Ministries International 