Giving birth to a new era of justice first envisioned by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. is one goal of an international racial equality and justice movement that begins this weekend in 200 cities across the United States and 11 nations.
For two hours on Saturday, Martin Luther King boulevards, streets and monuments around the world will become altars of prayer, repentance, praise, worship, outreach and proclamation hosted by believers from across denominational and ethnic backgrounds.
Called “Pray on MLK,” the historic event will unite believers in a global, socially distanced, human prayer chain against racism and injustice from 6:01 to 8:01 p.m. It is a project of Civil Righteousness, a Ferguson, Missouri-based nonprofit dedicated to racial reconciliation and restorative justice through spiritual, cultural and economic renewal.
The organization’s president, Jonathan Tremaine Thomas, says Dr. King’s dream 50-plus years ago is a rallying cry for the church to move out to troubled streets with the hope that’s rooted in the Bible.
“I believe that we are in one of the most important and critical moments in the modern era due to—not only the global pandemic—but also because of the disease that’s been epidemic since the beginning of time: the sinfulness of man, which causes humanity to be inhumane to and violate one another,” says Thomas.
An African American living in a city that’s experienced its share of justified anger and division over poor race relations, Thomas says the Lord is bringing correction first to the church because judgment begins there.
From the church, the Lord wants to use His people to demonstrate to the culture a love of justice and righteousness.
When Jesus taught his disciples to pray, “Thy kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven” (see Matt. 6:10, Luke 11:2), He provided contrasts between the two.
“We know that in heaven, there is no injustice,” Thomas says. “In heaven there is the beauty of God that is made known and expressed through every person. So the issues of race and justice are central to the understanding of who God is, and why [Jesus] came to earth to redeem people from every tribe, tongue and nation.
“He came to create a house of faith—really a family—according to 2 Peter,” says Thomas, who points out the words “holy nation” in the Bible mean ethnos, or “one new man,” which includes women.
Thomas says that, while women are chosen by God to give birth in the natural realm, God uses men, too. In natural and spiritual birth, there are similarities. “There’s a Scripture in Isaiah that states, ‘As soon as Zion travails, it gives birth,'” which include a breaking or tearing of a veil.
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SOURCE: Charisma News
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