Today's Devotional

October 5, 2005

Subject:  Colored People 

Proverbs 6:16 - 19 "These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren."

Speaking of race, which I was in yesterday's devotional, why do some people feel it necessary to sensationalize some issues along racial lines.  What am I talking about?  The New Orleans/Katrina story.  Of course everyone knows that New Orleans has a heavy African American/Black/Negro population and I don't know who said it first after the citizens of New Orleans began to evacuate, but someone speaking of their plight referred to them as refugees.  While some looked at the message of help and aid to the people who were evacuating, some others decided that they would look at something else.  They were concerned that the people were referred to as "refugees."  As one speaker put it, "we are not refugees.  We were born here and are American citizens."  Soon I heard some talk show pundits and even some of my high school students picking up on it and after awhile, I heard Louis Farakhan on the radio putting forth his theory about how the levees in New Orleans were blown up to kill the black people.  Wow!  Absolutely amazing.  

A simple lookup in the dictionary would easily have put this crazy notion to rest.  "refugee: One who flees in search of refuge, as in times of war, political oppression, or religious persecution."  However it's not the technical issues of the definition that should be questioned here, but instead the motives of those who appear more content to argue about labels on cans than on opening those cans to feed someone.  These people want to sow discord.  This is something that God absolutely detests.  It's called one of the seven things that are an abomination to Him.  I believe that some simply find joy in keeping us separated as a people and they will use whatever means they can to do it.  

In the end, I realize that it's not a "skin" problem, but a "sin" problem, but for "us" the believers, lets counter the seeds of discord with the fruit of harmony and togetherness.  After all, we're all "colored people and we live in a tainted place."

Carlen