Do good and trust God with the consequences. Do mercy and trust God with the consequences. Pursue social justice and trust God with the consequences. Tell the truth and trust God with the consequences.
Let the labels come. Let the lambasting come. Let those who reach back to their party-political ideological language house and let them baptize it in their Christian “one-nation-under-God” nationalism mistaken as patriotism, and let them throw it on you so they can feel better about their idolotry. As for you, trust God with the consequences. Out of the mouth the abundance of the heart speaks, beloved. By their fruits you’ll know, beloved. Hold on to that.
They may say you’re too political, but it may be because they don’t want to wrestle with their own politics. They may say you’re too conservative, but it may be because they don’t want to wrestle with their own relativism. They may say you’re too liberal, but it may be because they don’t want to wrestle with their own discomfort. They may say you’re unAmerican, but it may be because they can’t see their idolatrous syncretism. As for you, follow all the teachings of Jesus, from his summons to self-emptying love of neighbor to the non-violent way of loving enemies, and trust God with the consequences. You’ve pledged allegiance to King Jesus in your baptism. You have no allegiances left to share. Trust God with the consequences.
Be free, beloved. Love your neighbors. All of them. Love your enemies. All of them. It’s hard for sure. But you can trust God with the consequences.
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About Fred
Fred came to serve greater Williamsburg and WCC as lead pastor in October of 2010 and is grateful to be a part of the family. He is a husband, father, certified trauma professional, S.T.A.R. (strategies for trauma awareness & resilience) practitioner, community organizer, TEDx alum, founder of 3e Restoration, Inc. and co-owner of Philoxenia Culture LLC. He received his B.S. in Ministry/Bible at Amridge University and his Master’s of Religious Education in Missional Leadership from Rochester University. Currently he is a candidate for a Doctorate of Ministry in Contextual Theology in at Northern Seminary in Chicago. Fred has also served as an adjunct professor for Rochester University and Regent University where taught courses in philosophy, ethics, leadership, pastoral care, intro to Christianity, and ethnography. He has also served as a guest lecturer on the subjects of racialized cultural systems, poverty, and missiology at various universities, such as William & Mary and Oklahoma Christian University. Fred has authored on book (Racialized Cultural Systems, Social Displacement and Christian Hospitality) and several curriculum offerings, including The FloorPlan: Living Toward Restoration & Resilience.
Fred enjoys hanging out with his family anytime, anywhere. He is deeply grateful for how God graciously works through the Church in all her various forms, despite our brokenness. He is passionate about seeing the last, least, and lonely of every neighborhood, city and nation experience God’s in-breaking kingdom, and come to know Jesus as King. Oh, and his favorite season is Advent and Christmas.
Fred is a founding member of the board of directors for Virginia Racial Healing Institute, a member of the leadership team for Williamsburg's local chapter of Coming to the Table, and a member of Greater Williamsburg Trauma-Informed Community Network's Racial Trauma Committee and Training Committee.
Long Way Here 