John 8:12 Again Jesus spoke to them, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.”
An NFL star is boldly addressing the situation in Baltimore, saying that the problem is that people are not turning to the one who can truly bring healing: Christ.
Benjamin Watson, 11 year NFL veteran and current tight end for the New Orleans Saints, said that the problems in Baltimore are not unique to that city and will likely happen again somewhere else. However, the problems are not just in cities but the nation.
“We have major problems as a nation. Yesterday, Ferguson burned. Tonight #Baltimore burns. Tomorrow, it will be another city in our homeland,” Watson wrote. “Watching the coverage I’m hearing yet another version of a nauseatingly familiar narrative: violence by police reciprocated by violence by the community, reciprocated by violence by police reciprocated by.… It seems fruitless to continue to analyze, condemn, and respond to these dreadful episodes.”
“Our problems are wholistic [sic] and common to the human heart. Hatred, prejudice, exploitation, pride, self righteousness, secrecy, and rebellion, manifest itself in the explosions we’ve seen over the last year, the last century, and the last millennia,” Watson continued. “Tonight I see so much entrenched pain without remedy. Most are handling it without violence while a few are committing the unacceptable.”
The remedy he said was Jesus.
“Tonight I see ‘smoke,’ but we must address the fire. The response that we are watching is just ‘smoke’ from years of hopelessness,” Watson described. “After each situation the more I am convinced that the love of God for our fellow brothers and sisters who were created in His image is our only hope for reconciliation.”
He also said that churches need to get out and make a difference in their neighborhoods because “holding hands and singing” is not the answer.
“But the only way we can even see Him that way is if God illuminates our view and changes our thought process. I’m not talking about holding hands and singing. Love is an action that compels one to treat another with dignity and respect even if they don’t deserve it,” Watson opined. “It pushes for education and opportunities for those in poverty. It gives identity and self worth. It administers justice without abuse. It honors authority and promotes peace. It is not weak, but strong for what is right!”
I am so VERY blessed that the NFL player Watson stood up so strong for Jesus Christ with the ONLY answer to such ugliness…what a witness for Jesus….Father God, I thank You for my brother in Jesus..I stand in agreement with him for the solution and remind You our Father, that Your Word says where ‘two or three are gathered concerning anything they ask in Jesus name will be done’ – I believe that and thank You for THE answer in Jesus being accomplished, for with You NOTHING is impossible and we thank YOU the solution is accomplished. In Jesus name, Amen.
Even though it doesn’t quite make sense the Baltimore riots to some of us to escalate to such an extreme level, I am wondering if anyone else seeing a bigger picture of the connection to the Jewish population from Baltimore. I believe we are the second country that has the highest population of Jewish people approximately 5 to 6 million. And 238,000 Jewish people live in Baltimore. Prime Minister Netanyahu has been publicly speaking to the Jewish people to return to Israel for some time. I am wondering if these are the signs of times to wake up the Jewish people to return to Israel to fulfill prophecy. I am discerning that there will be more similar situations like Baltimore riots in other places where there is a large population of Jewish people. For one thing New York has approximately 2 million or more and California and Florida has over 1 million Jewish people. I believe God’s covenant promise that He will return his chosen people, Jewish people from the four corners of the Earth to Israel.