No to Violence
January 6, 2021
They have treated the wound of my people carelessly,
saying, ‘Peace, peace’,
when there is no peace. (Jeremiah 6:14)
What has happened today in our country is a tragedy. What has happened in our country today is unacceptable. I am not talking about politics, but it is difficult to comment on this without sounding political, and I know there are many good, loving, and kind Trump supporters, but the violence and aggression in our nation’s capital today is an shameful mark on the conscience and reputation of the United States of America. It came from those who were unhappy with the election and the will of the American people. But no matter the motivation or the intention, there is nothing defensible about the behavior today in Washington DC.
Now is the time for Christians to set aside political allegiance to be Christians first and foremost. Followers of Jesus Christ are people of peace and justice. Followers of Jesus Christ are healers and reconcilers. Followers of Jesus Christ offer hope and kindness. We are not a people of hate or division or violence.
Jesus said, “Blessed are the peace makers, for they are the children of God” (Matthew 5:9). As children of God, we MUST be peace makers. We must be peace builders. We must be peacekeepers. As some in our country lose and violate the understanding of what the United States is, our Christian witness must oppose in every way violence and aggression that threatens to destroy what is good and just. We are called to stand as light in the darkness.
Now is a time for prayer. Now is a time for witness. Now is a time for advocacy and service. Together we must say no to violence, no to brutality, no to terrorism. Together we must stand against evil, but more importantly we must stand for good. Do no harm is the first General Rule, but do all the good we can is the second General Rule. As Christian witnesses we should work together to make sure nothing like what happened today can ever happen again in our country. Violence is never the answer. Attack and destruction and threat of physical harm is never the answer. Love is the answer (and God is love). Pray for peace, but also commit to work for peace. Be a peace maker, a peace builder, a peacekeeper. Pray for our country, pray for our leaders, pray for our people. Pray that we never again see anything like the travesty we witnessed today.
January 6, 2021
They have treated the wound of my people carelessly,
saying, ‘Peace, peace’,
when there is no peace. (Jeremiah 6:14)
What has happened today in our country is a tragedy. What has happened in our country today is unacceptable. I am not talking about politics, but it is difficult to comment on this without sounding political, and I know there are many good, loving, and kind Trump supporters, but the violence and aggression in our nation’s capital today is an shameful mark on the conscience and reputation of the United States of America. It came from those who were unhappy with the election and the will of the American people. But no matter the motivation or the intention, there is nothing defensible about the behavior today in Washington DC.
Now is the time for Christians to set aside political allegiance to be Christians first and foremost. Followers of Jesus Christ are people of peace and justice. Followers of Jesus Christ are healers and reconcilers. Followers of Jesus Christ offer hope and kindness. We are not a people of hate or division or violence.
Jesus said, “Blessed are the peace makers, for they are the children of God” (Matthew 5:9). As children of God, we MUST be peace makers. We must be peace builders. We must be peacekeepers. As some in our country lose and violate the understanding of what the United States is, our Christian witness must oppose in every way violence and aggression that threatens to destroy what is good and just. We are called to stand as light in the darkness.
Now is a time for prayer. Now is a time for witness. Now is a time for advocacy and service. Together we must say no to violence, no to brutality, no to terrorism. Together we must stand against evil, but more importantly we must stand for good. Do no harm is the first General Rule, but do all the good we can is the second General Rule. As Christian witnesses we should work together to make sure nothing like what happened today can ever happen again in our country. Violence is never the answer. Attack and destruction and threat of physical harm is never the answer. Love is the answer (and God is love). Pray for peace, but also commit to work for peace. Be a peace maker, a peace builder, a peacekeeper. Pray for our country, pray for our leaders, pray for our people. Pray that we never again see anything like the travesty we witnessed today.