The news this weekend has been dominated by the events in Paris on Friday night. 129 people lost their lives because???? It seems because they were a different faith than those who chose to murder them. Or they were just there. Either one causes us to stop and think about our won lives. As for me, my thoughts turn to global response and how we protect those who are innocent. I do not have answers. I am conflicted. I know God would have me love my enemies but right now I feel only anger and hate. Christianity was built on peaceful non-violence. The early Church died rather than take up arms to survive and look how that turned out: Christianity spread throughout the whole world. In our past, the Church itself has become the violent one, killing innocents who did not agree with the Church. Martin Luther was under the threat of death from the Christian Church of his day. I have no answers for you here. I have questions and concerns and confusion and pain. I stand with the people of Paris and Syria and Sudan and the Americas who are oppressed and tortured and killed for their simple presence on earth. What I can do now is to pray and seek the guidance of God who loves all these people, oppressors and murderers and victims. Along with me, wrestle with the questions and seek the answers from God. May God have mercy on us all and help us to find the ways to live together in peace. Read John 14:25-31 and Matthew 10:34-39 and remember: God loves YOU unconditionally.
Pastor Ed