57 years ago, Martin Luther King Jr. spoke from the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington, D.C. and declared his dream of racial unity. He was a godly man, a preacher, and had a level of favour on his life that allowed to him to draw practically the whole nation in to hear what he had to say, even in the midst of the civil unrest that wracked it in his time. His words made a mark in the memory of the nation that day, and have echoed through the years and the decades since, yet one race-related death after another has nonetheless taken place and race riots have continued to flare up, right to this very day.
As I was praying, my heart was stirred to intercede for the Church in America, and this is what I saw – a burning heart pumping extremely fast. Much too fast. It was struggling to meet the demand that was being placed upon it. It looked like it wasn’t going to be able to sustain it. So I asked the Lord what it meant. He said that this is the heart of America, desperate for relief. I then saw that the Lord’s desire is to release that relief through His Church, but that there is somehow a level of entrenched racism within some of the American churches and ministries that needs to be addressed so this can take place. At the same time, I felt the Lord’s assurance that the enemy will not win this battle, and that He will preserve the heart of the nation until a generation arises that can provide the relief. My prayer right now is that it will be this generation!!
There have been many prayer initiatives for America, and yet it seems that each time the cry goes out for the nation to turn back to God, more crises arise. Why is this happening? It is because God is highlighting the things that need to be addressed in order for the prayers to break through. After a time of praying and fasting and speaking into the identity of the nation, we are now able to see clearly that there is a problem that will not go away only by these actions. The grip of racism on the heart of parts of the Church in America also has to be addressed. Although there are many through whom the heart of God is beating powerfully and purely, there are others in whom this grip is somehow deeper and stronger than their prayer life and prophetic life, and they have not yet been able to unlearn their social prejudices.
This has manifested as a spirit of elitism, and as covert bullying by which the means of deliverance have been sabotaged and hindered. Even this year, many black voices have arisen with the potential to impact on race relations. However, some have been quietened, undermined, and tamed by those in this grip, through promises of alignment and support under the condition of doing things their way. Rather than genuinely partnering with these black ministries to bring about real change, they have in some cases identified the needs of those ministries and offered them gifts to soften their edge and quiet their tone. This is clearly bribery and bordering on spiritual abuse. In other cases, those under the subtle influence of racism have made it clear that if things are not done their way, then these black ministries can expect to be labelled negatively and have entire networks turned against them. As a result, many with the potential to do good and bring change have been made subservient and are simply toeing the line.
Similarly, pioneering white ministries that are genuine, who love the Lord and practice unity, are being hit left, right and centre and having their loyalties tested. They know how to bring about change but are entangled by the projections of others who subtly hold racist views and expect them not to step out too radically. Because of this there is a limit in how far they will go for change, and they are toeing the line too. This all amounts to idolatry of man or woman at the expense of the fear of God in the Church, and so the presence of God has left in some places, reducing pulpits to a place from which motivational talks are delivered instead of the word of God.
To avoid addressing their own racism, and to even justify it, yet others are using the current atmosphere as an opportunity to showcase the wounds and hurts of their own people group, based on whatever sporadic evidence they can find. Rather than bringing about reconciliation, this is empowering division and hatred.
And even among black groups, divisions exist – Black Americans and Black Africans, dark and light-skinned – and among these are those that will happily betray other groups to curry favour with a powerful ‘master’ or because of a ‘gang mentality’ that they can’t move on from. Many speak of overcoming but are persecuted or descend into conflict with their own, because they are breaking the mould in a way that others within the community do not understand.
So what is the answer? The race issue must be addressed. The racial tension in America is not simply a result of emotions being stirred up but a symptom of an underlying problem that must be faced. Addressing it is not about holding hands and singing ‘kumbaya’. That’s not unity, that’s singing. Winning the battle involves cultivating humility and building understanding, until righteousness exalts the nation.
There is a cry for change, and the Lord has already begun a process to deliver your nation, America, from “your father’s house”. Men and women that will change the course of American history are arising. Those that are yielding their hearts to Him will go through a season of consecration and His Presence will be upon them. They won’t become idols in megachurches but will do what needs to be done to disciple the nation and break the strongholds. You will begin to see a complete reshaping of the Church in America. I also see the Lord increasing the anointing on those like Sean Feucht, who have an unusual governmental anointing, and many like him being lifted up.
Continue to pray that He will send labourers into the harvest. Psalm 65:10 says “You drench its furrows and level its ridges; you soften it with showers and bless its crops.”
I pray for those who have ears to hear what the Spirit of the Lord is saying. He is stirring His people to fall in love with His Church again. If you indeed are looking for truth and are humble enough to read this and seek His face, you will find the answers. I agree with you for a tremendous, monumental shift in your nation. God bless you and God bless America.
Adored,
Rev Betty King
