Racism and Being a Christian

"Babies don't care if the people around them are overweight or thin, black or white, rich or poor, Christian or Buddhist. If they're treated with kindness, given comfort and have their needs taken care of, they develop strong bonds with those who care for them. So how do children go from loving infants to angry adults who fear or hate certain groups of people? As early as the preschool years, children are aware of stereotypes and may already have formed opinions about other groups of people. These judgments are based on what they've learned in their homes, in their neighborhoods and on TV. Because lasting impressions can be formed in early childhood, it's never too soon to teach your child to respect diversity."

Parenting Online Magazine, Optimum Health

Saw this article the other day and I got to thinking about Montgomery and how we really live each day. What is it we communicate to our children, our friends, our fellow citizens about racism? I thought it might be good to have the prayer focus again this week on this issue since it continues to be a concern for all of us who are believers in one way or the other.

PRAYER GUIDE THIS WEEK:

1. Pray that the Lord will continue to help us search our own hearts and see what prejudice we might still harbor.(Psalm 139:23-24)

2. Ask the Lord what we need to do this week to show God's Love to someone who is different than us.( Ephesians 4:32 )

3. Ask the Lord to show us how we can make a diffference in this city and break any barriers that we see. (Psalm 119:133)

4. Pray for the boldness to take a stand for right-ness when we see someone being unjustly treated because they are different. (Psalm 119: 77-78)

5. Ask the Lord to show us what we are teaching the children in our lives about truly loving others. ( Proverbs 22:6)

"Direct my footsteps according to your word; let no sin rule over me."

Psalm 119:133

I Was Hungry.............

"If you negect the cries of the poor, your own cries for help will not be heard."

Proverbs 21:13

1.In Montgomery, 17% of the population lives UNDER the national poverty level of $21,000.

2. 67% of the 30,000 children in Montgomery live below the poverty level. that means that it is hard for parents to feed their kids over the summer and holiday breaks those two meals they usually eat at school.

3. There are many reasons that people live in poverty: lack of education, generational poverty, unemployment, illness, divorce, lack of good judgement.

4.There is no one thing that contributes to poverty. It seems like an overwhelming issue.

How do we pray for the poor and disenfranchised in Montgomery?

Here are some suggestions:

1. Pray for our city and state governments to begin to create new ways of "assisting" people in need. Ways that will give a HAND UP instead of making people dependent on a system.

2. Pray for ministries/churches all over Montgomery to see the deeper needs that a person has as they come and ask for food or clothing. Pray that there will opportunity for that person to hear the gospel in a way that they understand.

3. Pray for all of our churches to be sensitive to the needs of the poor in their communities especially as they may visit our churches and not understand the way in which we "do" church.

4. Pray for healing , heart changes and open doors for jobs that will provide for that familiy of low wealth.

5. Pray for Christians to be even more generous than we have in the past and pray for us all to have opportunities to serve those who are hurting financially.

And finally, pray for each of us to have a deeper understanding of God and his generous spirit, so that we will be ready and willing to serve those of low wealth with the resources that we have been given.

"Because you have been treated generously, live generously"

Matthew 10:8

The Message