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WEEK TWENTY—NINE: Friday, June 9—Thursday, June 16, 2006
I. REPENTANCE FOR SIN IN THE CHURCH: RACISM AND SEGREGATION
On the other side of the coin, we need to forgive and let God heal us for what previous generations have done. We need to learn from our past but not live in it. Our eyes need to be focused on Jesus Christ. Only He can heal your hurts and pains; time only covers them up.
Now we have reverse discrimination going on. We need to pray and repent for it to stop. When hiring for a job position, we should only go by a person’s education and qualifications, not by the color of their skin or their gender.
“Love one another with brotherly affection [as members of one family], giving precedence and showing honor to one another.” (Romans 12:9-10)
Father God, we do offer up a prayer of repentance today and ask You to forgive us for the sin of “reverse discrimination.” Help us to open our eyes to the way we have offended You, and others, in this matter, and to bring correction and/or restitution, where it is needed. We ask this in the Name of our Savior, Jesus Christ, amen.
(Source: Riding with the King in Unity, by Giles F. Mack, P.O. Box 1761, Branson, MO 65615, pp. 22,23)
II. REPENTANCE FOR THE SINS OF THE NATION: RACISM (Part One)
Introduction:
Although slavery has now been abolished in our nation, the fruit of this mindset still lingers among us almost two hundred years later. That bitter bruit is called RACISM.
Please find below two articles that demonstrate the pernicious nature of this mindset in our nation today—in our schools and in the media. A third article will follow next week.
“Failing Grade”
Jonathan Kozol, an author, educator and activist, is one of public education's most vocal critics. In his book, “The Shame of the Nation,”sKozol compares the current state of the American school system to South African apartheid. "We are now operating a school system in America that's more segregated than at any time since the death of Martin Luther King," he says. "Racial segregation has come back to public education with a vengeance." According to Kozol, the average African-American and Latino 12th grader currently reads at the same level as the average white seventh grader. "I think it's the number one moral shame that this nation faces today," he says. "I believe we need a national amendment which will guarantee every child in America the promise of not just an equal education but a high-quality equal education.”s
“The Media's Influence on Racial Perceptions”
Dr. Alvin Poussiant, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School and Director of the Media Center of the Judge Baker Children's Center, believes that the media helps define a racial hierarchy in our society. Parents have to be on alert and ready to talk to their kids about inappropriate stereotypes.
Children pick up on the media's portrayal of negative or stereotypical images and generalizations about black people and many other minority groups. When surveyed, young children of all races said their impression from watching television is that whites and Asians are on 'the top' and that African Americans and Latinos are on 'the bottom' of society's hierarchy. There is an abundance of images of black athletes and entertainers from hip hop to rap, but there are not many images of black lawyers, doctors and other professionals that black children, white children and children of all ethnicities see on television. There is no balance.
Father God, we ask You to forgive us for promulgating racism in our schools and in our media. We ask for the cleansing Fire of the Holy Spirit of the most High God to move through these two institutions today—schools and media—and to sweep them clean of every vestige of this sin, in Jesus’ Name. Amen.
“Come now, let us reason together; though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be white as snow.” (Isaiah 1:18)
III. THE BLESSING OF ISRAEL: Restoration of the Land of Israel
"Therefore thus says the Lord God: 'I have raised My hand in an oath that surely the nations that are around you shall bear their own shame. But you, O mountains of Israel, you shall shoot forth your branches and yield your fruit to My people Israel, for they are about to come. For indeed I am for you, and you shall be tilled and sown." (Ezekiel 36:7-9)
"The wilderness and the wasteland shall be glad for them, and the desert shall rejoice and blossom as the rose; It shall blossom abundantly and rejoice, even with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it. The excellence of Carmel and Sharon. They shall see the glory of the Lord, the excellency of our God. Strengthen the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees. Say to those who are fearful hearted, 'Be strong and do not fear! Behold your God will come with vengeance, with the recompense of God; He will come and save you." (Isaiah 35:1-4)
- We thanked the Lord for restoring the land of Israel and prayed that He would bring shame on the nations around Israel as the land prospers and flourishes. We prayed that Israel would be strengthened and that the recompense of God would come to save them as they witness and experience the restoration of the land.
(Source: Intercessors for Israel)
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