WHO HAS THE COURAGE?

 

1.  "You have heard that it was said, 'YOU SHALL LOVE YOUR NEIGHBOR, and HATE your enemy.' But I say to you, love your enemies, and pray for those who persecute you in order that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and unrighteous." (Matt. 5:44-45)
2.      In our modern world this scripture passage seems so out of place. The daily news is filled with stories of acts of wanton violence perpetuated upon the innocent. We are pushed to the brink in a cacophany of fear-mongering against those unlike us. The news cycle constantly disturbs us with stories of a school shooting; a drive-by that killed a small child; ex-felons working in our schools; sex offenders living next door; convicted murderers walking the streets; and, serial killers that could be any one of us.                                                                                   In Wichita, Kansas a serial killer who taunted the police became known as the BTK killer. Many years later, the Wichita community was shocked to learn that the  killer who had terrorized the area for years, was the local dog-catcher in the northern suburb of Park City. He seemed a kindly man; a family man; a church-goer who sang in the choir and taught a Sunday school class.  
3.     September 11, 2001 taught us that we are not beyond the reach of those whose hate for America is so great that they will come into the country with the sole purpose of killing Americans in the name of God. Jesus warned us of this when the told his disciples (John 16:2) that the day was coming when "those who kill you will believe thay are performing a service to God." That's scary stuff.                                Hate-mongering peddled in the media and the growing political suspicion between Red States and Blue has divided friends and families. The COVID-19 pandemic with its lockdowns, mask mandates, vaccination requirements, and the influx of vast amounts of misinformation disguised as truth has further divided us to the point that some politicians are calling for a 'divorce' among the states, a position that clearly sounds like a call for secession. Is our nation on the brink of another Civil War? Have we not learned anything in the past one-hundred and fifty-plus years?
4.     As Christians commanded to walk in the footsteps of Christ by loving all and hating no one seems almost too much to ask when social platforms and podcasts encourage us to hate the "other.' We are surrounded by perpetual violence: shootings in our schools, churches, synagogues and the wanton slaughter on our streets seem to mock us for calling for love towards our enemies. Love your neighbor as much as you love yourself? But he or she is one of  THEM! And, that's the point, isn't it? It's always US versus THEM, a corruptive division that seems to be culturally, socially and religiously, embedded in the soul of America. And yet, such division is the antihesis of what it means to be a Christian, in a nation that calls itself, Christian. 
5.     Yes, we have our differences of opinion in all things social, cultural, religious and political, but taking such differences to the heights of despising, hating, assaulting one another verbally and physically; destroying someone's character through lies and distortions of truth; by demonizing one another to simply gain cheap political/social points that creates more division rather than working things out for the good of the whole seems to me more Evil than Good. Deceit is everywhere; and, itsn't that the hallmark of evil? As Christians we are called to combat deceit and to work for the Good; to rise above division to bring Unity and Peace to God's Creation?                                                                                                                          The Apostle Paul tells us (Gal. 3:28) that in Christ "there is neither Greek nor Jew, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus." In the eyes of God there is no distinction between one person and another; no black or white, no Red or Blue, no privilege for one side over another. God is impartial, and to prove it He sent his Son to show us that it is possible to live a human life to its fullest with impartiality and love towards all. Christ dined with prostitutes (today's sex offender) and the despised tax collector (the IRS). He offered an open table where broke bread with drunkards, ex-convicts, former slaves, and when asked by a Roman Centurian to heal his servant, he did (Matt. 8:5)! Jesus embraced the marginalized and the unwelcomed precisely to show that in God's eyes there is no partiality. Most surprisingly, especially for the self-righteous, Christ tells us (Matt. 21:31) that all those whom society condemns and pushes aside as so much waste will be the first to enter Heaven. Chew on that for a moment.                                         This tendency of humans to cast aside, disenfranchise, imprison and throw their fellow human beings to "the lions" simply because they have offended us or look different than we do, vote different than we do, this whole self-righteous attitude that this world is for US and not for YOU is the cause of great suffering throughout the land and it is the very thing that Christ came to end; and, he was crucified for it. As Christians, we are called to stand in His place; to advocate for social change that breaks down the walls that separate us, and to stand firm against the vitriol from those who want to maintain a status quo that promotes division and priviledge of one class over another even when they invoke the name of Christ to justify their actions. 
6.    As Christians, we are called to BE THE VESSEL through which God's impartiality becomes a reality. Who -- I'm asking a question, now -- WHO HAS THE COURAGE to answer that call? 
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