As It Is in HeavenSample

Day 7: Five Stones for Your Slingshot:

As we close out with day 7 of this plan, I want to give you 5 “stones for your slingshot” that you can utilize to make today’s church look more like heaven.

Just like the small stones David gathered up when he, armed only with a slingshot, went to confront Goliath the giant, you can come at the giant of racism with these action steps:

1. Say your prayers. Well, of course, you may be thinking. But, seriously, pray. Don’t just talk about it. Start by asking that God would show you any prejudice that may be lodged in a corner of your heart and uproot it. Having begun with personal change, then pray that God may change others’ hearts too.
2. Use your ears. Empathy is important. So, the first step in being empathetic is listening well, really trying to hear and see things from someone else’s point of view. Be a good listener. Be willing to hear from those who know more about the issue than you do or who maybe experience it differently than you do.
3. Exercise your platform. You may not have a gazillion followers on social media. You may not even have a social media profile at all. But you do have a presence in other people’s lives that can be a place of influence—as a parent, relative, neighbor, work colleague, or friend. It may require you to speak up when someone says something racist, even though doing so will be awkward or uncomfortable. You don’t need to lecture, but you can share with them your heart for racial reconciliation and ask them for their thoughts and experiences.
4. Make your contribution. Real involvement costs something. It could be your time, your money—even your reputation if some people don’t agree with you. Sign meaningful petitions, contact your legislators to urge them to action, and participate in some sort of public expression of anti-racism. Vote for the leaders you believe can help bring about positive change.
5. Drop your rocks. What? you may be thinking. First, you tell me to pick up stones, and now you are telling me to put them down? The point is, remember that we don’t throw things at people. Like David, we take aim at the root of the problem, the enemy of God. It’s very easy—appropriate, even—to get fired up about terrible injustice like racism. You can allow yourself to get angry. God certainly does! Proverbs 6:16-19 says:

“There are six things the Lord hates, seven that are detestable to him: haughty eyes, a lying tongue, hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked schemes, feet that are quick to rush into evil, a false witness who pours out lies and a person who stirs up conflict in the community.”

There are things He is seriously not okay with. However, through Paul, He also tells us, “In your anger do not sin: Do not let the sun go down while you are still angry” (Ephesians 4:26). Like the mob that wanted to stone the woman who was caught in adultery and brought to Jesus (John 8:1-11), we need to drop our stones and walk away. Forgiveness and repentance are essential. We don’t solve hatred with hate. Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers” (Matthew 5:9).

I pray this plan has opened your eyes and made you aware that you can make an impact on today’s church and make it look more like heaven.

If you’re hungry for more and want to make an even greater impact, please check out my book, As It Is in Heaven. In it, I dive into strategies the church can use, give personal anecdotes from my church and family life, and give you even more practical ways to make a meaningful difference. You can find the book anywhere where books are sold or on my website at https://www.kenclaytor.com/as-it-is-in-heaven.