Today in Portland, Oregon

Today, two extremes of the ideological/political spectrum will confront each other in demonstrations in the streets of Portland, Oregon. Hopefully, the event will be peaceful. Many hold no hope for that outcome. As these two groups gather and confront each other, in the clash you will see the failure of each spectrum, especially if it takes a violent turn as these events have done in the past. 

I have friends who will be gathering to pray and worship in the midst of, and in the face of these protests. Not only is this a brave and daring thing to do, but it will also become a visible demonstration of another spectrum – the Heaven to Earth spectrum. This is what Jesus introduced to His disciples when He taught them to pray on Earth as it is in Heaven. It is a calling to stand in the cultural seams of discontent and reveal the heart of God.

In the United States, we are free to express our opinion peacefully in the public square. If Heaven does not take precedence in our thinking, in times of social intransigence, we will be left with frustrating and futile options like those that will be on display today in the streets of Portland, Oregon. As followers of Jesus Christ, we have been called by God to bring from Heaven to Earth the solutions and options not seen on either side of our heated social debate. Before you engage socially, ask God to reveal His plans and directives. These are the ones that are not always seen on our TV and computer screens by a news media who live by the motto “If it bleeds, it leads.” 

Today, the path of two distinctly different bloodlines will be revealed. One bloodline will follow a trail of blood left behind by misdirected and angry people who have no ability to change the culture for the better. The other bloodline will reveal a path of blood left behind by the sacrifice of Jesus Christ as humankind's only hope. You will see that bloodline being demonstrated today in prayer and worship by those who get their marching orders from above, not from the spectrum of human opinion. What cannot be seen today by the natural eye are the angelic hosts that will descend upon the streets of Portland, Oregon in answer to those prayers and worship.