The folks I've encountered who say, "We've been here before," say it to dismiss the threat rather than encourage others to resist it. They usually follow with, "we'll make it." to which I would counter that many of us won't make it. The reason I have joined this community is that your concern level matches my own. I'm ready to resist and can't do it alone. As to Bible verses: We must build one another up in the faith. Be aware of the devil's schemes (he loves it when I talk or think about DJT more than Jesus btw). And most importantly, remember that this is a spiritual battle in which many Christians have been deceived, so only use the armor that God allows, truth, righteouness, etc. Overcome evil with good. (Sorry for leaving out the citations!)
In this critical time, platitudes are lazy. What you have shared is 100% on point.
I've shared this with people in my networks:
My advice is keep paying attention to what is what, and who is who. Fight for the things that are consistent with righteousness and love for our neighbors. Make your voice heard. Silence is complicity.
The best thing we can do is hold people accountable within our spheres of influence. Some things have to be done by people who have influence, but have not yet used it for righteousness sake.
This is the most encouraging advice I have seen. You acknowledge that repeating what we are used to doing isn’t effective. But that doesn’t mean we are without hope. God has created us to be creative and communal.
Philippians 1:20 I expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.
21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.- Not that I am eager to die but it’s been coming to me that now I truly can be a small bit like Jesus in his suffering. And what a privilege that is for me. I can in a small way be like those with the spirit of justice you wrote about so beautifully!
I am in training to become a bi- vocational priest in the Episcopal church and got to preach in my home church yesterday. I was trying to channel Bishop Budde!
Thank you Dr Tisby for reminding me that I am built for this!
In a recent Bible study at church, we were in the books of Daniel and Esther. We discussed how God, not humans, had the dominion over the related circumstances. Even though God was not mentioned in Esther, they were Jewish, and she (with Mordecai) and Daniel, et. al., remained faithful to God. This led us to what happened to all of the Apostles: martyrdom.
As we read these and other Biblical accounts of faith in the Father over their very lives, we witness the dominion of God. The Jews remain today. The Church remains today. Some then and since did not live to see God’s glory on earth however God maintains his dominion here.
If there is one verse that I think of in this past week it’s Daniel 6:26b (NIV) “For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end.” Daniel 6:26 NIV.
If you can imagine how very helpful this is, then you can also imagine my immense gratitude for your writing and your intent. I see hope everywhere around me, and in me to face our current moment.
Yass Sis yass! The Holy Spirit spoke to my heart and said that if we His people would press through the 'noise' to go beyond the veil, there awaits an inexhaustible and continuous supply of hope, direction, instruction, peace, and power that is reserved for us. Oouu-we!
Thank you Dr. Tisby, thank you for bringing clarity to this “we’ve been here before “ with a better perspective that “we’re built for this.”
Eph 1:11 tells us we were predestined, and that He works all things according to the counsel of His will “ (for those predestined)
Also I am reminded that we have no cause to fear or be afraid. Isaiah 41:10 tells us,”fear not for I Am with you, do not be afraid for I Am your God” and in this is the promise to help, to strengthen, to hold us up.
The sports analogy is brilliant, cuts through the muddled thinking. I've relied on "the end of an era" or "undermining our cherished democracy," but the weightiness of the differences this time around doesn't seem to penetrate. I'm about to leave my previous "go-to" podcast b/c of this very thing. I'm intensely irked by: "We know Who wins in the end." Thank you for enumerating some of the hard-won gains achieved by a price none of us want to have to pay again, the sacrifices we learn about in The Spirit of Justice (we certainly don't learn of them in our standard school curriculum).(Movies have helped educate us white folks too.) "Then to side with truth is noble when we share her wretched crust, 'ere her cause brings fame and profit and 'tis prosperous to be just. Then it is the brave man chooses while the coward stands aside, doubting in his abject spirit while his Lord is crucified, and the multitude make virtue of the faith they once denied."
Thanks for this great column. I have been saying for a while that this new social justice civil rights battle is different in many ways from anything we have ever experienced before. I feel that we as blacks and especially those of us in the black church must have our social justice and spiritual antennas up and be ready for the unexpected "shock and awe"within this MAGA administartion. We must continue to educate ourselves about our past history and be ready to fight from the pultpit to the pews to the streets and be able to recognize the social injustices that are now systematic. We must also trust in God that our situations is in his hands and keep praying for righteous change. After all, we are all the body of Christ which requires more action that just sitting in the pews???
It isn’t a Bible verse, but the hymn “Ain’t Nobody Gonna Turn Me Round” is what gives me strength to resist. And gives me the courage to preach a word of truth from the pulpit.
While we’re at it, let’s dump “it will be fine” and “all shall be well.” Thanks, Jemar.
Here, here! Out with the platitudes and in with the truth!
The folks I've encountered who say, "We've been here before," say it to dismiss the threat rather than encourage others to resist it. They usually follow with, "we'll make it." to which I would counter that many of us won't make it. The reason I have joined this community is that your concern level matches my own. I'm ready to resist and can't do it alone. As to Bible verses: We must build one another up in the faith. Be aware of the devil's schemes (he loves it when I talk or think about DJT more than Jesus btw). And most importantly, remember that this is a spiritual battle in which many Christians have been deceived, so only use the armor that God allows, truth, righteouness, etc. Overcome evil with good. (Sorry for leaving out the citations!)
Be strong in the Lord, friends.
This is so good. What helpful reminder to let Jesus take up space in our lives more than the president or his schemes.
This!!!!
In this critical time, platitudes are lazy. What you have shared is 100% on point.
I've shared this with people in my networks:
My advice is keep paying attention to what is what, and who is who. Fight for the things that are consistent with righteousness and love for our neighbors. Make your voice heard. Silence is complicity.
The best thing we can do is hold people accountable within our spheres of influence. Some things have to be done by people who have influence, but have not yet used it for righteousness sake.
As Dr. Tisby says, [true] "Justice take sides."
This is the most encouraging advice I have seen. You acknowledge that repeating what we are used to doing isn’t effective. But that doesn’t mean we are without hope. God has created us to be creative and communal.
You got it precisely and much more concisely! 😄
Thank you, Jemar. The passage that has been in my head is 1 Corinthians 13, especially “love … endures all things.”
Very needed reminder. Thank you for sharing!
Philippians 1:20 I expect and hope that I will in no way be ashamed, but will have sufficient courage so that now as always Christ will be exalted in my body, whether by life or by death.
21 For to me, to live is Christ and to die is gain.- Not that I am eager to die but it’s been coming to me that now I truly can be a small bit like Jesus in his suffering. And what a privilege that is for me. I can in a small way be like those with the spirit of justice you wrote about so beautifully!
I am in training to become a bi- vocational priest in the Episcopal church and got to preach in my home church yesterday. I was trying to channel Bishop Budde!
Thank you Dr Tisby for reminding me that I am built for this!
Congratulations on your journey in vocational ministry. Glad you got to preach the word!
Guilty as charged! I like and resonate with “We’re Built for This”. Thanks!
Appreciate your adaptability! Thanks for reading!
In a recent Bible study at church, we were in the books of Daniel and Esther. We discussed how God, not humans, had the dominion over the related circumstances. Even though God was not mentioned in Esther, they were Jewish, and she (with Mordecai) and Daniel, et. al., remained faithful to God. This led us to what happened to all of the Apostles: martyrdom.
As we read these and other Biblical accounts of faith in the Father over their very lives, we witness the dominion of God. The Jews remain today. The Church remains today. Some then and since did not live to see God’s glory on earth however God maintains his dominion here.
If there is one verse that I think of in this past week it’s Daniel 6:26b (NIV) “For he is the living God and he endures forever; his kingdom will not be destroyed, his dominion will never end.” Daniel 6:26 NIV.
And this from the gentile King Darius.
Thank you for this encouragement from the book of Daniel. It sounds like there is some wisdom in your Bible Study!
If you can imagine how very helpful this is, then you can also imagine my immense gratitude for your writing and your intent. I see hope everywhere around me, and in me to face our current moment.
Yass Sis yass! The Holy Spirit spoke to my heart and said that if we His people would press through the 'noise' to go beyond the veil, there awaits an inexhaustible and continuous supply of hope, direction, instruction, peace, and power that is reserved for us. Oouu-we!
Thank you Dr. Tisby, thank you for bringing clarity to this “we’ve been here before “ with a better perspective that “we’re built for this.”
Eph 1:11 tells us we were predestined, and that He works all things according to the counsel of His will “ (for those predestined)
Also I am reminded that we have no cause to fear or be afraid. Isaiah 41:10 tells us,”fear not for I Am with you, do not be afraid for I Am your God” and in this is the promise to help, to strengthen, to hold us up.
We’re built for this!
The sports analogy is brilliant, cuts through the muddled thinking. I've relied on "the end of an era" or "undermining our cherished democracy," but the weightiness of the differences this time around doesn't seem to penetrate. I'm about to leave my previous "go-to" podcast b/c of this very thing. I'm intensely irked by: "We know Who wins in the end." Thank you for enumerating some of the hard-won gains achieved by a price none of us want to have to pay again, the sacrifices we learn about in The Spirit of Justice (we certainly don't learn of them in our standard school curriculum).(Movies have helped educate us white folks too.) "Then to side with truth is noble when we share her wretched crust, 'ere her cause brings fame and profit and 'tis prosperous to be just. Then it is the brave man chooses while the coward stands aside, doubting in his abject spirit while his Lord is crucified, and the multitude make virtue of the faith they once denied."
Thanks for this great column. I have been saying for a while that this new social justice civil rights battle is different in many ways from anything we have ever experienced before. I feel that we as blacks and especially those of us in the black church must have our social justice and spiritual antennas up and be ready for the unexpected "shock and awe"within this MAGA administartion. We must continue to educate ourselves about our past history and be ready to fight from the pultpit to the pews to the streets and be able to recognize the social injustices that are now systematic. We must also trust in God that our situations is in his hands and keep praying for righteous change. After all, we are all the body of Christ which requires more action that just sitting in the pews???
The refrain from a hymn: Grant us wisdom, grant us courage for the facing of this hour, for the facing of this hour”
Psalm 23 - The Lord is my shepherd...I will fear no evil, for you are with me.
♥️♥️♥️♥️
"We are built for this"...maybe more so in the black church. Some of us white folks are going to need lessons in non-violent resistance...
It isn’t a Bible verse, but the hymn “Ain’t Nobody Gonna Turn Me Round” is what gives me strength to resist. And gives me the courage to preach a word of truth from the pulpit.