Pastor's Weekly Word

There is no longer Jew or Greek, there is no longer slave or free, there is no longer male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus. (Galatians 3:28)

One of the things I know about community is that it can take a good long while for a new reality to set in. The process can take years. During this time of “communal learning”, a process of osmosis occurs. People will start saying things like, “Don’t you see what’s going on?” Early on, others will respond with statements like, “You’re overreacting. It’s not as bad as you think.” At some point though, reality begins to set in, and the people begin to realize that the problems aren’t going to go away. They finally start to say things like, “Oh, I see.”

I believe we are at that moment in our nation. Saturday’s events in Charlottesville are just another example of how the problem is not going away. With plans for further marches and rallies across the country by white supremacy groups, things are likely to get worse before they get better. The vile and sinister nature of it is, of course, antithetical to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. There is simply no room in the heart of a Christian for that kind of hatred and bigotry. Perhaps the most despicable piece for me is that the name of God is used by these groups to further the cause.

Well known pastor and theologian, Brian McLaren, was there. Among the things he said about what happened, one stood out for me. He said, "This tense season of our history needs to be, quite literally, a come-to-Jesus moment for Christianity in America." I think there is truth to what he is saying. As Christians, we are all called to examine and re-examine what we are doing and how it affects others, how we might be a barrier to oneness in Christ. In order to be part of a better world that seeks a more lasting peace, the hard work of repentance begins with us.