I feel that huge strides have been made by him becoming the presidential nominee of a major political party. This a huge boost of self worth and to a sense of human equality to those in the African American community. Having spent years of my life in close relationships with black friends... this is a huge deal for people who just 45 years ago were being lynched, beaten, relegated to the backs of buses, made to drink from separate water fountains. This is the kind of societal progress that the Harriet Tubmans and Rosa Parks of this country stood (or sat) for!
While Jesus' main focus was to come to earth to die (and be raised) for the forgiveness of our sins... he spent a lot of time on earth restoring people's sense of self worth and value as human beings. Lepers who were not accepted as part of the community of Israel (and had so stay outside the villages with a bell around their necks yelling "Unclean, unclean" were restored to acceptance into the community through Jesus' healing touch (when it was forbidden by law to touch a leper). Women who were seen as second class citizens (especially those who were Gentiles like the woman in John 4) or even "dogs" were valued by Jesus as much as any Israelite man.While I think that some people see Obama as a sort of savior of our country (which is a wrong and unhealthy view to have of any person), I think God can use Obama's life to inspire self worth in those who still struggle so much with that simply because of the color of their skin. While I don't think any follower of Jesus should have unrealistic expectations that an Obama or a McCain presidency will bring the lasting change in people's lives that only God can bring... I think it is a day to celebrate huge progress for what has been an oppressed people.
I have to think of the incredible sense of self-respect and personal worth that black people felt (especially those in the older generation who lived through the civil rights movement of the 60's) as Barack, Michelle and their two girls stood on that stage last night as a healthy, solid family unit.... in a country - that in their lifetime did not provide black people full rights to even vote (until Jim Crow laws were overturned in 1965).
This has to help move our society closer to living out the truth of the Scripture that "there is no distinction between Greek and Jew, circumcised and uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave and freeman" (Colossians 3:11).
*Photo: EPA/Tannen Maury
Posts
