Dear Current America, 

God has not forgotten about you. He sees your need for righteousness. He sees your reluctance to respect and love all types of people. And lastly, He sees your unwillingness to serve racial justice. God sees these things and is calling America to change for the better. 

God knows we as a nation need righteousness through salvation from faith in Jesus Christ. Righteousness means you are right with God or on good terms with Him. I believe if/when you open your heart and put your faith in Jesus Christ to save you from sin and lead your life, He will save you, lead you, make you righteous and give you eternal life. America obtaining righteousness through salvation from faith in Jesus Christ is the most important step toward becoming a better country. America’s righteousness from faith in Jesus Christ would put us as a nation at peace with God, according to the scripture Romans 5:1, and that is what is most important. 

In the current hour of this country, God wants all Americans to become Christians and learn how to live a certain way among each other. With that being the case, the Bible scripture in I Peter 2:17 would be important and useful to Christians right now. This verse is sharing God’s desire for all Christians to respect all people. Another verse in the Bible also commands us to love our neighbor as we love ourselves in James 2:8. And I believe this is what God wants, all fellow Christian Americans respecting and loving all people, eventually causing a social climate of respect and love for all citizens. It’s also imperative to note the Bible verse does not state that everyone should necessarily agree with each other. Nor should they always be preaching, proselytizing or persuading each other, but simply respecting and loving one another. 

I believe God wants all Americans to respect and love today’s updated America. Presently, America’s racial/cultural composition and national neighborhood is diverse. There are racial/cultural, social, political and other groups to consider. The people are different. Their ideas and voices are different. Societal sense would say we have new people, therefore we have a new America. God wants America to acknowledge this reality. We as Americans should not care about a person’s race, sex, sexual orientation, class, religion, criminal history or disability. Regardless of an individual’s background, beliefs and/or lifestyle choices, all people should treat each other with respect and love. Respect and love should be given and not earned. That’s how we can coexist in this current America. 

Additionally, God is known in the Bible as someone who, “loves justice.” He wants to see wrongs made right. The Bible notes this in Isaiah 61:8. Domestically, He has seen racial injustice in this country and is displeased. One example of racial injustice is the plight that Blacks/Africans experienced. Unjustly, Blacks/Africans were involuntarily moved to this land to work as slaves. From the inception of this country in 1776 until 1865, Blacks/Africans were enslaved, exploited, and degraded for political and economic gain because of their race.

Moreover, in 1787, during the making of the U.S. Constitution, politicians had a chance to ban slavery … and they didn’t. Instead the framers of the Constitution wrote into law a continuation of the slave trade in Article I, Section 9, banned freedom for runaway slaves in Article IV, Section 2, and decided blacks were valued as ⅗ a person in Article I, Section 2. These actions contributed to the continuation of slavery until 1865. Neither the Black/African slaves, nor their descendants have ever been formally apologized to — with reparations — for the injustice of the federally and constitutionally backed system of slavery. They too have never collectively received just resources as an offering of remorse and regret from this country. 

Furthermore, Native Americans (also known as Indians) have experienced racial injustice. For example, in 1830 Congress passed a law called the Indian Removal Act. This law resulted in Native Americans being unjustly displaced for their land by the federal government because of their race. And again in 1887, Congress passed the Indian Severalty Act, which allowed the federal government to take away land from Native Americans without their consent. 

Unfortunately, this injustice of Native Americans losing their land to the federal government has happened several times throughout American history. Neither the Native Americans at the time nor have their descendants ever been formally apologized to — with reparations — for these atrocities. They too have never collectively received just resources as an offering of remorse and regret from this country. God is also displeased with this awful occurrence. 

As a lover of justice, God has seen these wrong acts and wants America to apologize to and pay these two groups reparations. Reparations can be achieved through the federal government using an executive order, act from Congress or a decision from the court system. These apologies and reparations would be the right thing to do to have a more just country. 

These are simply two groups of people who could confront today’s America. This country has made historically unchecked and imbalanced choices. God has not forgotten this history and wants America to change for the better. 

Finally, let us not forget that the Bible verse Proverbs 14:34 states, “Righteousness exalts (or improves) a nation.” Moreover, as a nation, we must not wish for improvement, but practice righteousness, respecting and loving each other, and racial justice — through reparations — to improve. So altogether, I believe that through righteousness, respect/love and racial justice, America will be changed for the better. 

This is an open-ended letter for open-ended actions. This means each person who reads this letter must come to their own conclusion on how to act on this message. I will be sharing this message and praying that these issues will start conversations that lead to transformation and legislation. I believe if/when you sincerely seek God about these issues, He will give you individually and collectively a nonviolent plan to help accomplish a changed and better America. 

Sincerely, 

Jerell Erves 

#DearCurrentAmerica 

Email: dearcurrentamerica@gmail.com 

Twitter: @jerell_erves