Just watched a movie / documentary about the end of the slave trade with African Americans and John Newton.
Looking back at this point in time I think that if I was alive during this time, I would have lost it in rage and killed those who were abusing and torturing people for their own benefit.
I imagined fighting back and saving the slaves. But then I had a sobering thought: before Jesus arrested me on a cliff, I was willing to do anything to anyone for a small amount of gain.
I would lie to people. I would rip people off. I would steal from people. I would tell people I loved them. I would stay with people to get them to lie in court for me. I would befriend people to be able to get their items.
Totally deceived and drunk on power / possessions, there was hardly a limit to what I would or would not do. I was convinced in myself that my actions were justifiable.
WHY WOULD I THINK THAT I WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ANY DIFFERENT WITH SLAVES?
Being brutally honest, I would not have been some friend let alone a ‘saviour’ to them. The world had decided that African Americans were a lower race. Their place was as unpaid workers or maids – they were the property of their rich ‘owners’.
It was normal – you didn’t look at them as people. They didn’t sit on the same bus or use the same toilets. Seeing them getting beaten or whipped or even killed was common place. If they stepped out of line, they should be killed.
What was it, when the rest of society was unanimous, that caused a select few to sacrifice their own chance at wealth, put up with hardship, step out of favour / status of the community and risk jail and death to help these poor souls?
Simple. It was the Bible. A book most will attack even though they haven’t read it, describes all people as being created by and loved by God. Without this book, the plight of the African American people was sealed.
Thankfully people like John Newton and William Wilberforce had access to something that went against the grain. It held the truth, despite the popular consensus that had lost all credibility and decency. 1 Read more here https://wildeden.com.au/news/soul-food/2013/the-slavery-of-sugar/
Unfortunately, this is the normal downward spiral that humankind has followed repeatedly. Blinded by their own desire for pleasure and power, they were willing to do the unthinkable to other humans, lying to themselves and others to condone their actions. Federal law was on their side and it is now. But that doesn’t make it right.
What makes it right, is whether it is actually right. Now, today, in 2022, we are in the same state as the abusive power mongers of the day. We have lost truth – we are in an echo chamber of absurdity.
We need to get back to absolute truth. Now, as then, we need to heed what the Bible says and get back to living the way God wants us to. We need to line up with what He says is right and wrong, irrespective of what our own minds and culture condone as ok. History shows that is rarely correct.
What is it that you think is normal right now that is actually wrong, oppressive and evil? There is only One source of Truth that doesn’t change – and only One Way of accessing it. His name is Jesus. His book is the Bible.
Read it & follow – it’s the only Way to know you are on the right side of history.
All Scripture is inspired by God and is useful to teach us what is true and to make us realize what is wrong in our lives. It corrects us when we are wrong and teaches us to do what is right. 17 God uses it to prepare and equip his people to do every good work.
2 Timothy 3:16-17 (NLT)
Lord. Help us to see truth – Your Truth – despite the influence and conditioning we have received. Help us to live lives that honour You, not what we have been influenced to follow. Please have Your way in our lives and our nations so that You are glorified and we can survive.
Footnotes:
- 1Read more here https://wildeden.com.au/news/soul-food/2013/the-slavery-of-sugar/