Edward and Lisa Rhymes

Our Conviction – Our Commitment

When asked what the greatest commandment in the law was, Jesus answered, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.  This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, you shall love your neighbor as yourself.  On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.” (Matthew 22: 36-40)   Jesus stated in Matthew 5:17, “Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.” 

John 13: 34-35 “ A new commandment I give unto you, that you love one another, as I have loved you, that you also love one another.  By this shall all know that you are my disciples, if you love one another.” As  1 Corinthians 13 makes very clear, that even though we may speak eloquently the utterances of God;  understand with all wisdom; have faith to move mountains; give all we have to help others, even our very lives; but have not love, it is all as nothing.  In Matthew 7: 21-23 Jesus says, “Not every one that says unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that does the will of my Father which is in heaven.  Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in your name? And in your name have cast out devils? And in your name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you; depart from me, you who work iniquity.” Here, “iniquity” in the Greek refers to lawlessness, transgressor, wicked. It is possible to have great faith, do great things, all even “in the name of Jesus”, but to be known by Him, and to be called His, we must do the will of God: we must live His law and commands of love.

“Beloved, let us love one another, for love is (springs) from God: and he who loves [his fellowmen] is begotten (born) of God and is coming [progressively] to know and understand God {to perceive and recognize and get a better and clearer knowledge of Him}.  He who does not love has not become acquainted with God [does not and never did know Him], for God is love.” (1 John 4:7-8 Amplified)  “We love Him because He first loved us.  If a person says, I love God, and hates their brother or sister, that person is a liar; for they that love not their brother or sister whom they have seen, how can they love God whom they have not seen?  And this commandment have we from Him, that they who love God love their brother and sister also.”  (1 John 4:19-21)

It is upon these scriptures and words of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ that we endeavor to address the loveless, lawless transgression of racism so deeply seated within the entirety of the constructs of our society.  Endemic to the very nature of who we are as a nation, it ought not be, particularly so, for those of us who call ourselves Christian.  As Peter declares in Acts, God is no respecter of persons; as God’s children we ought not be either.  As we deal with the heinous sin of racism, it is important that we approach it by speaking the truth in love, and that we continue a circumspect introspection, allowing God to keep us in love and truth, with a forgiving heart; for love covers a multitude of sins and the truth makes free.

It is our prayer that as we as God’s children deal with racism; that we allow Him to cleanse and deliver us, personally and corporately from racist practices or ideologies which we have knowingly or unknowingly perpetuated or allowed. And from all of racism's poisonous effects upon each of us as well.  As the body of Christ, addressing these issues in love and truth, we encourage freedom in Christ. As one, who truly live in the commands of our Lord, we give opportunity for others to truly see and know Him for who He is.