Imagine a generous society that proudly supports a tax system that funds an ample safety net. Imagine a church in that society that blesses its members to do their duty as citizens and to go beyond mere civic duty to the practice of radical personal charity. Imagine a society influenced more powerfully by the ideals of Jesus than the ideas of Ayn Rand or Islam or Marx. It may be easier today to imagine retribution and to nurse ambitions toward power (which we are sure we would use righteously). But when we allow evil-doers to occupy the center of our vision, inevitably our own characters are deformed. Yes, there is an essential place for forceful push back against evildoers. We need police and military in this world. But do not allow evil people to seize the heart of your religious, civic or personal vision. A primary function of Christian worship is to keep generosity, honesty, peace, integrity, compassion and hope at the center of our thinking and imagining. Our God is threatened neither by cartoons nor by the killers of cartoonists. God remains committed to His mission of love. We are invited to be part of that mission which will be the last and triumphant word.
Posted on: Thu, 08 Jan 2015 23:21:14 +0000