Alveda King: Where Do Mercy and Justice Connect in This Election?
While Christian leaders are still taking sides in the current elections, there is yet a nonpartisan place in the Spirit where we can speak justice and mercy to all, including to all candidates.
I don’t endorse candidates. Several years ago I felt the Lord tell me: “Don’t endorse. Pray.”
I view this election from a prophetic and civil rights vantage point. Let me explain and maybe it will help you. While I haven’t endorsed Donald Trump specifically, I believe we must protect the unborn and he is the only pro-life candidate!
Speaking prophetically, consider Vashti and Esther in the Old Testament. Here were two women, living in a system of female oppression in a harem. When married to the king, they responded to a crisis from two vantage points. We learn from Vashti that indignation without prayer ends in short-circuited justice. Vashti responded with emotions. Esther prayed and sought divine solutions, and won justice for herself and her people.
Consider Sarah and Hagar:
A wife and concubine in competition started the longest family feud in history. While both of their sons by Abraham received God’s blessing, the battle over being the bloodline for the earthly entry of the Messiah has caused a rift that needs the healing power of agape.
Now let’s look through a civil rights lens, consider Michelle and Hillary:
As the daughter of former slaves and a daughter of former slave owners, they embrace the pro-abortion agenda. It’s no coincidence that they are married to two of America’s most powerful icons.
My famous uncle Martin Luther King Jr. has been quoted many times as saying: “I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, the sons of former slaves and the sons of former slave owners will be able to sit together at the table of brotherhood” (sons and daughters/humanhood, One Blood/Acts 17:26).
Yet how can the dream survive if we murder the children? As we connect the dots, racism, reproductive genocide, poverty and sexual perversion are common enemies that must be defeated. Thankfully other African-American leaders are raising some of the same concerns in an open letter you can read here.
In this election cycle we are coming full circle, facing a deep wound in the wombs of the women of America. The barren and post-abortive woman, and Vashti and Hagar must be healed; and Queen Esther and Sarah must fast and pray as America returns to God.
“Sing, O barren one, who did not bear; break forth into singing and cry aloud, you who have not been in labor! For the children of the desolate one will be more than the children of her who is married,” says the Lord.
“Do not fear, for you shall not be ashamed nor be humiliated; for you shall not be put to shame, for you shall forget the shame of your youth and shall not remember the reproach of your widowhood anymore. For your Maker is your husband, the Lord of Hosts is His name; and your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel; He shall be called the God of the whole earth” (Is. 54:4-5).
The struggle now is to rise above the emotional fray and pray, according to this excerpt from Charisma magazine (October 2016):
[We as] “Christians are not given the option of letting [our] disagreement with [our] political leaders prevent [us] from praying for those leaders. The apostle Peter wrote that believers are to ‘submit yourselves to every human authority for the Lord’s sake, whether it be to the king, as supreme, or to governors, as sent by him for the punishment of evildoers and to praise those who do right. … Honor all people. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honor the king’ (1 Pet. 2:13-14, 17).”
Similarly, Paul wrote to Timothy, “Therefore I exhort first of all that you make supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings for everyone, for kings and for all who are in authority, that we may lead a quiet and peaceful life in all godliness and honesty, for this is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior” (1 Tim. 2:1-3).
“For if you remain silent at this time, protection and deliverance for the Jews will be ordained from some other place, but you and your father’s house shall be destroyed. And who knows if you may have attained royal position for such a time as this?” (Esth. 4:14).
Where are the prophetic voices that rise above politics? The generations now and ahead are hanging in the balance:
“All your sons shall be taught of the Lord, and great shall be the peace of your sons. In righteousness you shall be established; you shall be far from oppression, for you shall not fear, and from terror, for it shall not come near you. Indeed they shall surely assail you fiercely, but not from Me. Whoever assails you shall fall for your sake” (Is. 54:13-15).
The struggle continues. With repentance; forgiveness one to another and for ourselves; faith, hope and agape love, we shall overcome. Pray for America.
