Move Ahead of Feelings and Faulty Theology
You may be among those who feel challenged by the literal firestorm that is our existence right now. I know I am. Wars on two fronts, and more conflicts brewing. Deadly fires —“devil winds” as one fire chief put it — ravage the environment. And amid all this, black people, specifically, continue to feel the singe of re-emergent and re-packaged racial resentment.
The previous Trump administration blamed racial resentments on our community, while itself stoking the flames. As a result, we witnessed an increase of individual hate crimes by 200%. At the start of this second go-round, however, rather than individual actors expressing resentments, corporate entities and institutions of higher education exhibit conviction fatigue. Walmart, McDonald’s, Boeing and Ford, among others, are all rolling back diversity initiatives, according to Forbes.
Incoming cabinet appointees also personify destructive potential for communities of color and “minority religions.” Consider the selection of Stephen Miller who will drive policy for immigration. He is the one who shaped the notorious Muslim ban and allowed for family separation of arriving immigrants at the border (Axios). Robert F. Kennedy, tapped to be the Secretary of Health and Human Services, espoused the theory that COVID targeted black people, and COVID vaccines were designed to harm black people. The very mention of these ideas could have been enough to dissuade some from getting lifesaving treatments. And, unfortunately, his theories give legitimacy to an unsubstantiated notion regarding racial biological differences, long the cause of medical mismanagement.
And speaking of biological differences, Pete Hegseth, an officer in the Army National Guard and known for his work as a Fox News host, is set to replace the nation’s first ever black Secretary of Defense, the highly decorated General Lloyd Austin. Hegseth has asserted that black military leadership advances “simply because of their race,” yet he will advance not because of his qualifications, but because of his loyalty to the incoming administration and willingness to utter what people of conscience can recognize as racial bias.
God of all, however, offers His people the guidance and vision to navigate this smoke-filled landscape. The Bible’s book of Isaiah recounts an era when the nations of Israel and Judah — brothers and God’s chosen people — were at each other’s necks, all while defending their birthright property from other surrounding nations. All’s fair in love and war, they say, and Israel and Judah found it expedient to lock arms with unbelieving nations known for their cruelty. Now each side is squared off, and the tensions are high, waiting for that shoe to drop. Isaiah’s job was to relay the workings of God amidst the despair and chaos. We see that though God’s deliverance may not happen on our timetable, we have the assurance of the “Immanuel sign.” That is — God is with us, embedded in our midst, intimately interested in our struggle. He will deliver His people. Isaiah 8 (NLT) offers a prophetic word:
Use spiritual insight. “The Lord has given me a strong warning not to think like everyone else does . . .” (Isaiah 8:11).
God is leaning on us to check our perspective. Just as then, now is not the time for mindless group think — whether expressed through group fears or group values. Our movements must be measured in the light of God’s word and mission.
Evaluate rather than prognosticate. “Don’t call everything a conspiracy like they do . . .” (Isaiah 8:12, first part). The cause and impact of certain movements require thoughtful consideration and discernment. Some developments come as the result of simple cause and effect, sowing and reaping. Some “fruits” are manifesting now (Matthew 7:20). Some things are God’s orchestration to bring about a certain result. Prayerful examination of self, and our surroundings, may yield personal conviction that must be addressed.
Don’t live in dread of what frightens them. “He is the one you should fear. He is the one who should make you tremble. He will keep you safe” (Isaiah 8:13, 14). I’m no Hebrew scholar, but whether God was inspiring Isaiah to evoke fear, or awe, or respect, He was calling on His people to live in a different reality. This reality operates with God-inspired motivation. It invites us to live in the shelter of His power, secure in our spiritual destiny, (Matthew 10:28).
Examine alliances and allegiances. “Call your councils of war, but they will be worthless. Develop your strategies, but they will not succeed. For God is with us!” (Isaiah 8:10). This passage comes with a lightbulb moment. Its prescience and evergreen application hits home right now. Political expediency has caused so many to align with causes and leaders whose actions have been antithetical to the Word.
Live it. “Preserve the teaching of God,” (Isaiah 8:16, 18). Some will draw a straight line from this text to things like the classroom monuments of the Ten Commandments, or the prayers in public schools and places, for which so many advocate. Find a better way (Psalm 119:9-16), a way that doesn’t propose to ramrod the word of God into the hearts of others. Let it bloom, like a sweet fragrance, or permeate like light in darkness.
Seek His counsel. “Look to God’s instructions and teachings! People who contradict His word are completely in the dark” (Isaiah 8:20). If you ask me, there’s a whole lot of “artificial intelligence” at work, right now, and not all of it is powered by AI. It will get worse as the powerful and influential desperately seek clearance and direction for their own purposes.
May we walk and live in clear air, in the prophetic life. God’s word provides the clarity for our next steps.
This article is part of our 2025 January/February Issue
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