[Editor’s Note: Bishop William (Bill) Clark is a respected and influential servant of the Kingdom – locally, nationally and internationally. He has served as the Senior Pastor of New Bethel Community Church in Buffalo, New York since 1997. With his wife Antonia, he founded and still serves as a Director for Kingdom Reign International Ministries, “a global network of Ministry Leaders dedicated to church planting and leadership development across the world.” His missionary work has taken him through much of the African continent as well as Cuba, Bangladesh, India and Israel. I asked Pastor Bill to write something from his unique perspective, on the seething racial tensions that have been percolating these last several months. This article is meant to serve as a companion piece to Issue #614 – which can be found on the website: atpministry.com]
WHAT MATTERS MOST
“What has been is what will be, and what has been done is what will be done, and there is nothing new under the sun.” (Ecclesiastes 1:9) This might seem to be a very strange quote for an article such as this. However, if you would allow me to coin another phrase, ‘the more things change, the more they stay the same.’
Here’s what I mean by that. The culture is doing exactly what it has always done. Move further and further away from God. No change there! Issues of race, ethnicity and any other lines of demarcation are still proving to be impenetrable barriers. Watching the nightly news is like reliving the Sixties over again.
Yes, Black lives matter. But white lives, and brown lives, and the lives of those who serve in Law Enforcement matter as well! Since I mentioned Law Enforcement let me say this. Unfortunately, not every Officer of the Law is on the job to “Protect and Serve.” However the overwhelming majority are there to do the job as fairly and honestly as they can. With that being said, it is incumbent upon the rest of us no matter the skin color to act as though OUR lives matter! Typically, my actions, whatever they are, draw a similar response from those I encounter. My life matters, so I act like it!
There has never been a time on the geopolitical landscape of American history that the playing field has been this level. It is not completely level, far from it, but it has never been this level before! My personal observation is this, ‘Lives that Matter’ are the ones seizing the moment. Taking and making full advantage of the opportunities that we have as members of this great Union. Yes, protest can bring about transformation. I believe the protest should change the protester first! If it doesn’t: Might it simply be another mob? The injustices run deep. Let’s not be victimized by mob mentality as well.
Lastly, know what you believe. And beyond that know in whom you have believed! My trust and hope is in the Lord. He is not shaken by past or recent events, so we shall not fear! Remember, “we have received a Kingdom that cannot be shaken.” (Hebrews 12:28)
Tina says
Great message from Bishop William Clark!