As a congregation, please join us in praying together for racial reconciliation. Below are some scripture guides to use as we repent, lament and seek God’s gracious hand in renewing our hearts across racial divides:
Psalm 10:1-18
v. 1 - Why, O LORD, do you stand far away? Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?
Prayerfully consider sinful actions and oppressive systems in our world, particularly those that create racial injustice. Lament the brokenness of our world and the wickedness that we witness around us, even within the church.
v. 12-15 - Arise, O LORD; God, lift up your hand, forget not the afflicted. Why does the wicked renounce God and say in his heart, “You will not call to account”? But you do see, for you note mischief and vexation, that you may take it into your hands; to you the helpless commits himself; you have been the helper of the fatherless. Break the arm of the wicked and evildoer; call his wickedness to account till you find none.
Cry to the Lord for help. Ask God to do justice and to give you a heart like his - one that seeks to correct oppression and care for the vulnerable.
v. 16-18 - The LORD is king forever and ever; the nations perish from his land. O LORD, you hear the desire of the afflicted; you will strengthen their heart; you will incline your ear to do justice to the fatherless and the oppressed, so that man who is of the earth may strike terror no more.
Remember God’s character. He is our refuge. He welcomes and hears our prayers.
Further scripture to consider: Psalm 55:16-19, Psalm 18:1-3, Isaiah 58:10-11
(Borrowed from The Gospel Coalition’s Prayer Guide for “A Night of Lament for Racial Justice")
The Session at IPC has engaged in discussing racial reconciliation and adopting and implementing PCA statements about racial reconciliation. The following documents are approved by the Session, and we encourage all IPC members to read and become familiar with them.
As a church, consistent with biblical teaching and our reformed world and life view, we believe in common grace insights. Therefore, while we find the resources below very helpful in understanding the depth and breadth of racial reconciliation, we do not endorse every idea of every author.
Our heart for active engagement comes from our relationship with God and His creation. As sinners, our relationships with God, our neighbors, and His creation are distorted. However, the Good News promises that as we obey God’s calling to seek restoration of all these relationships we get a glimpse of God’s coming kingdom.
"Doing justice, then, requires constant, sustained reflection and circumspection. If you are a Christian, and you refrain from committing adultery or using profanity or missing church, but you don't do the hard work of thinking through how to do justice in every area of life—you are failing to live justly and righteously." — Tim Keller, Generous Justice
As we actively engage in our city, IPC encourages every member to join us as we seek to be attentive to following the Holy Spirit into our community to exalt Jesus and to work for justice and mercy in Memphis. Jesus' ministry, which was full of grace and truth, included both word and deed. Our Lord is concerned for his people to know His mercy and show His mercy. Please click on each ministry to learn more: