Yesterday we watched an attempted coup in the United States of America. We watched angry white men and women storm the Capital, push through barriers, break windows, trespass onto the floor of the House, occupy lawmakers' offices, and attack law enforcement officers. They did all this while believing their actions were patriotic. They believed they were fighting for their nation. In fact, they were seditious. It is hardly necessary to even point out how very different things would have played out if yesterday’s attack was made up of people with Black and Brown bodies, and yet it is important that we name it. Things would have been very different indeed.
The peaceful transition of leadership from one president to the next has long been the bedrock of our nation since its founding and what occurred yesterday must not be supported by any of us. We can be disappointed in the outcomes of elections, but we cannot support having that disappointment devolve into the likes of what we witnessed yesterday.
In the news coverage, there were images of people carrying Confederate flags, wearing Nazi t-shirts, and waving flags reading “Jesus 2020.” Whatever faith they hold, we know without question that they do not follow the Jesus of scriptures.
The founders of our country came up with a design of government where all would have a voice and government would be “by the people, for the people.” No democracy is perfect because democracies inherently reflect the imperfections of the people that make them up. Our country has been wrong (and continues to be wrong) on many issues regarding our minority populations: Native Americans, African Americans, women, the LGBTQ+ community, and more. Thankfully, democracies can also change their minds and change their behavior.
In MCC, democracy is also a tenet of our faith. The way we make decisions is through a representative democracy. In this structure, we do our best to listen for how the Holy Spirit is guiding us forward in ministry as we, to quote our vision statement, “strive to create a liberating movement within and beyond our church walls.” Where, “together, we commit to racial and social justice while embodying an optimistic hope for the future.” Like our country’s democracy, sometimes the church has gotten it right, and sometimes the church has gotten it wrong.
Yesterday, things went very wrong. Emboldened by our President and our own U.S. Senator Josh Hawley, our U.S. Capitol Building was attacked and those hallowed halls (and all they stand for) were defamed. We collectively stood back, amazed and shocked by what was unfolding before our eyes. And oddly, in many ways, the attack on the Capitol wasn’t a surprise. In fact, it might have been inevitable as we have witnessed endless lies, conspiracy theories, and the indoctrination of white supremacy find new footing in our society in recent years.
As we Christians wrestle with how to combat these dangerously toxic ideals while upholding Christ’s call for us to love our neighbor (and our enemy), let us remember Jesus’ parable of the Good Samaritan that taught us to be good neighbors to all those around us. Part of the lesson in that parable is that our neighbor is the person with whom we disagree (Samaritans and Jews had deeply entrenched disagreements). Viewed through the lens of the Good Samaritan the only way we got here is because we have a collective problem...it is not just “those people” at the Capitol yesterday. We all are a part of this country whose brokenness was revealed yesterday...a brokenness that only the love and grace of Christ can heal. Like Israel of old, all of us are called to repent and seek God’s healing and justice.
Today, we pray that we might all be reminded to repent of our arrogance and only use our voices to denounce the violence of our time and speak the truth with Christ’s love. If you are looking for an action step today, here are two options. You can write to Cori Bush to support her motion in the House to remove Josh Hawley from office because of his actions yesterday. You can also call his office directly to let him know how you feel about how he acted as one of our two Senators from Missouri.
We close today with the words of Abraham Lincoln and Jesus:
Lincoln:
“From whence shall we expect the approach of danger? Shall some trans-Atlantic military giant step the earth and crush us at a blow? Never. All the armies of Europe and Asia...could not by force take a drink from the Ohio River or make a track on the Blue Ridge in the trial of a thousand years. No, if destruction be our lot we must ourselves be its author and finisher. As a nation of free people we will live forever or die by suicide.”
Jesus (Luke 10:25-37):
On one occasion an expert in the law stood up to test Jesus. “Teacher,” he asked, “what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
“What is written in the Law?” Jesus replied. “How do you read it?”
He answered, “‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind;’ and, ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’”
“You have answered correctly,” Jesus replied. “Do this and you will live.”
But he wanted to justify himself, so he asked Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?”
In reply Jesus said: “A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, when he was attacked by robbers. They stripped him of his clothes, beat him and went away, leaving him half dead. A priest happened to be going down the same road, and when he saw the man, he passed by on the other side. So too, a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan, as he traveled, came where the man was; and when he saw him, he took pity on him. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, pouring on oil and wine. Then he put the man on his own donkey, brought him to an inn and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii and gave them to the innkeeper. ‘Look after him,’ he said, ‘and when I return, I will reimburse you for any extra expense you may have.’
“Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?”
The expert in the law replied, “The one who had mercy on him.”
Jesus told him, “Go and do likewise.”
