______________________________________________________________
Last year I wrote about 9/11 and how we came together as a
people. I closed last year’s letter stating:
The days described… may be infamous
days, but that does not mean that we, as a people, need to continue living
infamously. We have seen what ignorance and hate can do to nations (i.e.,
Germany, and others), we must not allow our faith to be clouded by hate or
ignorance, we must be vigilant to ugly expressions of hate that pop-op all over
the world and around us. We must learn from Jesus, and learn to respond how
Jesus responded to hate and ignorance: with love and sacrifice. We are one
human race, one human family, the way God intended it from the beginning. Let
us glance in our neighbors the image of the living God.
The Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) issues a report
every year on the incidence of hate crime rates in the USA; for the past 10
years the Bureau has reported that hate crimes have been on the rise. Hate
crimes against people of different faiths (non-Christians), immigrants, race,
and sexual orientation has been a problem for us as a people. This is very
disconcerting because we have heard of many countries where people are
suffering of persecution and hate for similar reasons.
This problem is accentuated by the political partisanship
and by the ideological dived that continues to drive a wedge between people, because
of our inability to have meaningful and civilized dialogue based on the
acceptance and tolerance of different believes and ideas. I do not mean to imply
that we accept evil and call it good, there are some issues that are a matter
of principle (and, of course we all have our own scale for our principles).
In the last 10 years we have seen this polarization of
American society increased to the point that it does not seem to be possible
for people to come to a meeting of the minds; the issue is summarized as: “it
is my way or the highway.” In this time
of partisan politics, in this year of elections, I would like to suggest a
better way, the way of the Kingdom.
For us as people of faith, Paul offers us some good ideas:
In your relationship with one
another, have the same mindset as in Christ Jesus… not looking to your own
interest but each of you to the interests of the others.” (Phil. 2:5,4).
Can you imagine how our world would be if we were to do
this, if we were to look for the interest of others before our own; just as
Jesus did!
Indeed, we who are followers of Jesus have received this
call to be like Christ, to imitate Christ (Rom. 8:29; 1Co. 15:49), for to
imitate Jesus is to be imitators of God (Mat. 5:48; Col.3:10). Undeniably, we have
a higher calling to fulfill; as citizens of the Kingdom of God we are
ambassadors of the Kingdom, as such we are to be hospitable, loving, patient,
kind, faithful, gentle, self-controlled, and more (Gal. 5:22-23). For Paul
reminds us: “Those who belong to Christ have crucified the flesh with its
passions and desires. …let us keep in step with the Spirit. Let us not become
conceited,…” (5:24-25).
And, As John Wesley would remind us:
[G]ospel
holiness is no less than the image of God stamped upon the heart. It is no
other than the whole mind which was in Christ Jesus. It consists of all
heavenly affections and tempers mingled together in one. It implies such a
continual, thankful love to him who hath not withheld from us his Son, his only
Son, as makes it natural, and in a manner necessary to us, to love every child of man;
as fills us with ‘bowels of mercies, kindness, gentleness, long suffering. (The New Birth, Sermon 45-1760, Section III, ¶1
(p.340-41).
As we address the surge of hate crimes in our country, as we
approach the coming elections with its political ramifications and its
ideological pundits, let us not forget who’s we are, let us not forget that our
loyalties must lie with the Kingdom of God where we have also our citizenship.
I am not saying that we should not be concerned with the political process in
our land, on the contrary, but what I am saying is that before anything else in
this world our commitment must be with the proclamation and realization of the
Kingdom’s message. A Kingdom where the meek will inherit the earth, where those
who are thirsty for justice will be filled, where the merciful will receive
mercy, where the peace makers will be called children of God, and where the
pure in heart will see God (Matt. 5). Indeed, as Luke reminds us: “Love your
enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for
those who mistreat you. … Do unto others as you would have them do to you”
(6:27-28 & 31).
Yes, my brothers and sisters, we are called to be the
presence of Christ in the world, and to be the ambassadors of God’s Kingdom,
and as such we are called to present to our country the possibilities of the
Kingdom of God. We are not simply people traveling through this planet waiting
for our time to get “to heaven.” Our life on this planet is not an
inconvenience while we wait for something better to come. We are the ones who
following Jesus’ example are the bearers of the Kingdom of God. Therefore,
during these troubling times let us be inspired by the words of John: “Dear
friends do not imitate what is evil but what is good. Anyone
who does what is good is from God. Anyone who does what is evil has not seen
God” (3John 1:11). (Important to highlight here that John speaks of doing good
or evil in relation to the way we treat each other, it is not about “spiritual”
good or evil, but rather, it is about how we treat each other).
So, as God’s children, let us reject the ways of the world;
let us reject hate, let us reject bigotry, let us reject racism, sexism, and
every “ism.” Let us reject that which does not seeks to sustain life and human
realization. Let us build bridges, let us make a difference in the world not
only because we can but because we must. Can I get an Amen?
No comments:
Post a Comment