The Manifesto of the Beloved
The Manifesto of the Beloved
Eniola Abioye
Special Feature with Christianity Today
for Black History Month
I belong to a company of disruptors
we war against the lethargy of apathy,
pushing back the onslaught of comfort,
we tremble when God speaks we
we tremble where God speaks
we quake with prayers
asking our King
to make Himself known through us
through our suffering, questions
our joy, our tension
our dreams, our grief
whether by storm or by still
it didn’t matter,
just do it, God, in us
I belong to a company of the dangerous
we cannot be bought
no worthless dream, cheap fame
or famed name can impress us
hungry for the Holy, thirsty for the Truth
I belong to the company of the beloved
we are claimed,
cleansed, and loved
we are the welcomed
we are the wanted
we are the won
we are the unshackled
we are the disruptive
we are the choir of the redeemed
I belong to the company of the interrupted
we glory in a holy chaos
that uproots fake freedom
that troubles fake peace
that exposes fake light
I belong to the company of the uncomfortable
we race into the wild to find the ones He loves
we befriend the outlaw, the outcast, the orphan
we hold the unclean, the unknown, the misunderstood
I belong to the company of the Living dead
we stand on the edges of destruction,
the heat of the flames, our slippery, sweaty
hands clench with faith and fury
to the ones we won’t give over to the dark fire
Our dreams are impossible
Only God can accomplish them
I belong to the company of the Justified
I belong to the company of the Sanctified
I belong to the company of the Saints
our feet, drenched in the beauty
of a peaceful gospel, bring a violent end
to the lullaby death trap
we are fiercely obsessed
with the face of Jesus
and before Him we are
young children again
singing our manifesto:
“By His blood, we have overcome.
It is for Him, we now live.
All that was mine, He took.
So all that is mine, I surrender!”
have you ever seen a happier people?
we are the company of the redeemed.
we are always singing.
Eniola Abioye
Writer & Musician
Photography by Rob Potter