Dear Ones,

There is nothing Christian about nationalism; there was nothing Christlike about storming a government building. God’s realm does not prefer one race over another, and for the Christian there is no enlightenment in self-interest.

The very fact that these words needed saying makes me sad. The fact that some who call themselves Christian may find these words provocative is disturbing. Then again, who cares what I think?

That’s my fundamental concern. Somehow, again, political language has become the wedge separating the sheep from the goats, the faithful from the apostate, the wheat from the chaff. And yet, they will know we are Christians by our love? (John 13.35)

In Luke 13.1-5, Jesus is told of some Galileans "whose blood Pilate had mixed with their sacrifices.” While there is little historical information about this particular violence, we can backfill some context based on what we know about both Galileans and Pilate. Galileans were known for their persistent resistance to the Roman government; Pilate was infamous for his treacherous violence in quelling insurrection. Verse 4 refers to a construction accident where eighteen died while building an aqueduct in Siloam. Jesus’ response was a call to repentance for all: “Do you think [they] were worse sinners? No, unless you repent, you will all likewise perish.” (verses 3 & 5)

Jesus’ agenda in responding to disaster was not to divide those on the right and wrong side of history, but to remind his listeners of humanity’s common need for repentance. Pick a side if you want but consider the Gospel; Christ died for those whom you denounce. All humanity is on the same side of history—the side that needs to repent.

Please do not drag me into some argument over false equivalency. (If you can’t discern the difference between storming the Capitol during a legislative session and looting a Target store, we need to have conversations about something else.) Jesus did not instruct his followers to rush and point out that the other side did bad things too. Jesus used crisis to remind all of us of the persuasiveness of human sin and our universal need for divine grace. Grace isn’t cheap; it cost Jesus everything. And grace requires us to own the full weight of our sinful condition and to see that kinship in the eyes of our “enemies”.

Peace and reconciliation will not arise from speech or essays or petitions. As my mom used to say, “When it’s all said and done, there’s a lot more said than done.” Peace and reconciliation require the humanization of our opponents even when we are deeply concerned about the consequence of their errors.

I conclude on this day with two quotes from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.” And “Let no man pull you so low as to hate him.”

Seeking common ground for the common good, I remain,

With Love,
Jonathan Krogh
Your Pastor