It is time to let go of the 1800’s. The stench of prejudice and systemic racism was not completely eradicated by the Civil War. When asked why some people can’t seem to move on, I have heard, “Y’all won.” Yet the war continues, not on the battle ground lines dividing north and south, but battle lines drawn in the hearts of men and women in every city and state in the United States of America.
How ironic it is to hear some groups of people who claim to be religious, or who say they believe in God, only to continue to feed off fear and hate mimicking those who do not believe in God.
How does a person who wants to leave such a limited belief system transform their heart, mind, voice and actions into someone with a deeper comprehension of what it means to be fully human? One would think that by this time in human history we would be further along the process of healing divisions of race, color, creed, gender, age, and any other distinction we human beings come up with to separate ourselves from one another. Still, here we are in the thick of it.
It starts with each individual and the realization that all human beings are made in the image and likeness of God. We all, regardless of our gender, age, belief system, race, height, eye color, or skin color, belong to the human race.
It means letting go of false notions of being better than other people. Pride has an ugly stench and can hold a person back from moving forward in maturing. Growing in character development takes a lifetime. No one is ever at the end of learning something new about themselves. This is also not a group think-tank process. It takes courage and conviction to stand up for yourself and against principles that are less than human, even if these principles you once adhered to held by the group no longer fit your paradigm.
How free it is to get out from under the burden we either place upon ourselves, or accept from others. We are not limited by the restrictions of the group we find ourselves in, the religions of the past, poisoned politics, manipulated markets, gender judgments, nor racism propaganda. These are the dog whistles of past prejudices of the antebellum ghosts of winds whipping through the willows.
Recognize your past programming. We all have it. We are indoctrinated with it one way or the other in our upbringing and life situations. Also recognize that you are unlimited. You are a free person, free to think independent thoughts not railroaded by any group or leader. Never allow any person or group to usurp your free will. Charismatic groups have a contagious quality, but look outside of the self, rather than inside the self, for the Christ Jesus talked about in Luke 17:20-21, where he clearly states the “Kingdom of God is WITHIN you.”
Wake up to your Christ self, God dwelling WITHIN you. When we accept this truth, we will see that all things are ours, like 1 Corinthians 3:21-23 says, “Therefore let no man glory in men. For all things are yours; whether Paul, or Apollos, or Cephas, or the world, or life, or death, or things present, or things to come; all are yours; And you are Christ’s; and Christ is God’s.”
Christ is in each and every one of us when we wake up tp this fact, and act on good conscience with our free will. Freedom is necessary for all human beings everywhere, without exception.
“Don’t you realize that all of you together are the temple of God and that the Spirit of God lives in you?” 1 Corinthians 3:16
Allow yourself to leave any group that espouses hate and fear. The fear mongers stir the pot to boiling, fueling dysfunctional flames of sabotage. Instead, replace fear with love, empathy, and understanding. Education, history, and social awareness also helps to crack open the door of ignorance, greed, and arcane thinking.
God did not call you to be manipulated. God called you to free will and freedom, peacefully. No one has the right to threaten you. Stand in your personal awareness of who and what you are, a child of God, your Christ self. This means connected to Christ, not independent from Christ.
Namaste