From The Crucible (by Pastor Linda Pugsley)

Being brought up in the North, the atrocities committed during the Civil Rights movement of the 60s were viewed with such horror and disbelief. I was just a teenager then, so I guess I wasn't too much into the news. I was shocked when I heard of the burnings, hangings, water hosing, lunch counter refusal to serve meals, riding in the back of the bus, etc. I was shocked as these pictures were splashed across the old black and white TV screens. What was going on? I never even heard of separate bathrooms before. Up North, I had Black classmates and friends; Blacks, Whites, Asians, Spanish all rode on the same buses and trains, sitting wherever we wanted. So what was the problem in the South?

I didn't even know Blacks couldn't vote, eat where they wanted, go to the school of their choice or ride in the front of the bus! Then I realized even Christians were involved in this! Southern Baptists had segregated churches; Bob Jones University, the bastion of Christian conservatism, didn't allow Blacks until the early 70s. What's up with that? There were KKK members in the Democratic Party, serving in Congress in the Southern states. How could deception of such magnitude sweep the country and portions of it remain through today?

Well, obviously some conditions have to be in place for deception to reign. If we know what these conditions are, we can fight against them when the world, the flesh, and the devil bring it our way in any area of our lives.

In the midst of all this, many of us in the North were unaware this was even going on until it turned violent. In the South, right in the midst of all the blatant segregation and racism, the people were complacent. The Blacks, who were suffering so much, just lived with the reality of the day and had often become reluctant to push for change because they were convinced nothing would change. And overall, when change was even suggested, it was met with fierce resistance.

So how then can we prevent being lulled into these horrible deceptions? When you are unaware, then get into the Scriptures for God's wisdom concerning what to look for; instead of complacency, be alive in Christ and His truth; instead of being reluctant, be an effective doer not just a hearer; and to beat off being resistant, then submit then to God.

Whether it's regarding political, racial, social, physical, or spiritual issues, having God live and reign in you will stop the tendency of the flesh from leading you toward deception and the ungodliness of racism or any other “ism”, based in hatred and malice. In Jesus Christ, it will never be on your radar again. Endure the fire...it's producing pure gold!

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