Charleston Christians Send Loud Message.
Have they drunk the Kool-Aid, been caught up in a cult, or what is going on with these Christians from Emanuel AME Church in Charleston, South Carolina? Less than a week after someone came and sat in their Wednesday night Bible study for an hour, proceeded to get up and make racist remarks, and then kill nine of them, the people are not rioting, they are not boarding up the windows or locking the doors of the church; they are not spewing vitriolic hatred or bitterness—in fact, their behavior is just the opposite—they are singing and praising God together. They can’t seem to say the name ‘Jesus’ enough. How-is-this-possible? I even heard them sing my mama’s favorite hymn ‘Blessed Assurance’--all of the verses--which include, Blessed assurance Jesus is mine, O what a foretaste of glory divine! Heir of salvation, purchase of God, born of his Spirit, washed in his blood. This is my story, this is my song, praising my Savior all the day long.1 Praising God after cold-blooded murder in the hallowed walls of their historic church?! Are they daft, Man?
No, the Charleston Christians are not crazy. It seems like they have been preparing for something like this for a long time. As disciples of Jesus Christ, they have been seeking to follow his ways and his words. The devoted members of the mostly African American church, have studied God’s Word, been faithful in prayer, met at God’s house for teaching and fellowship, and enjoyed great times of loving community. So when something like this, something so devastatingly painful happened--particularly the gunning down of their beloved pastor—they began operating as if on autopilot. They could not stay away from church worship on Sunday morning, they would not refrain from singing together, hearing a biblical message, and gathering together to love and support one another, because that is who they are, and that is what they do. And what a testimony of the power of God’s love, and the power of love for one another to a watching world!
The behavior of the Charleston Christians is the living out
of what they have professed to believe about God.
heir strong faith shows the difference
between those who walk with Jesus Christ
and those who do not—
hence the name of the old hymn, Blessed Assurance.
Think for a moment of some great loss you could sustain, or perhaps you already have, from whence comes your strength?
The strength these Southern Christians possess does not come through going to church, even their beautiful old church; it is not about religion, it is about an active, daily relationship with Jesus Christ. It is a way of life for them daily.
When Paul knew his time on earth was drawing to a close, he wrote about such strength to young Timothy, “God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.” He went on to say, “For this reason I also suffer these things [prison, beatings]; nevertheless I am not ashamed, for I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day.
Hold fast the pattern of sound words which you have heard from me, in faith and love which are in Christ Jesus. That good thing which was committed to you, keep by the Holy Spirit who dwells in us.2
Is it just the prevalent media access or is our world becoming more and more violent? I’m not sure, but I do know that in this case, God is turning something meant entirely for evil into some good3--God is getting some favorable press because his people are conducting themselves with godly strength and faith, and it is amazing to behold. Strength comes from God and his grace to us, and if we choose, we can grow in it daily.
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