Lent Day 29: On Hatred, Racism and Equality

The 46th anniversary of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination was four days ago. From what I hear today is the day that the average woman made as much money from January 2013 to now as the average man made from January 2013 to December 2013. [if you extrapolate it out it gets even worse because in theory it would take from tomorrow through August of 2015 in order for a woman to make what a man will make this year alone] It seems that our government has been arguing about what to do about illegal immigration for just about forever. In addition there are several bills floating around the house/senates of several states attempting to discriminate against Homosexuals under the guise of religious freedom. And it makes me wonder...

I was lucky enough to grow up in a family that never delineated between the color of our skin and the color of anyone else's. I also grew up in a family where both parents worked, and my mother's job was not seen as less than. Because of my religious/political beliefs I look around me and I see human beings, all created in the image of a loving creator, and all desired by said creator. I don't mind that we are different, because I tend to think that our individual pictures make up a beautiful mosaic. But not everyone thinks that way...

There are people who still judge others by the color of their skin, or by their reproductive organs, or where they were born, or what religion they believe in, or who they choose to love. Maybe you are one of these people. If you are I would ask you to lay aside your preconceived notions and leave your stereotypes at the door, and go out and find someone you consider less than yourself and say hello. I know that will be extremely difficult for you, it always is for everyone, but it just may be extremely worthwhile as well.

Might this just be my liberal leanings coming out to chat? Perhaps so, I do not deny that I am liberal, but I wasn't always a liberal, I used to have major issues with certain people that were different than me. I have never thought that a black man was less than me or that a woman should be paid less, but I did once hold the belief that all illegal immigrants should be kicked out of the country, and I once thought that 'don't ask, don't tell' was a good policy, not just for the military but in everyday life. When the towers fell I wanted us to take out whoever was responsible, and when it turned out to be Muslim extremists I was not surprised. But I changed, thank God I changed.

It happened slowly at first, I started to rethink my views on Jesus, then I started to rethink my views on war. In truth, once the first domino fell the rest, mostly, followed quickly after. There were a few that took quite a bit longer, those I held on to tooth and nail, but I believe that, in the end, Jesus gets the changes that he wants. There are not a few people who don't understand how I can be both a Christian, let alone a pastor, and label myself a liberal, but there are more of us than you might think. 

I have seen hatred, on picket signs and on billboards. Splattered across the evening news and celebrated in movies. Spoken from microphones, and lecterns, and pulpits. I have read of the sins of the many and the few, of the church and the secular, of the powerful and the the weak. 

But I have also heard whispers of love attempting to break through the ether. I have seen blacks forgive whites, Muslims forgive Christians, victims forgive murderers, the wronged forgive those who have wronged them. I have seen prisoners set free and run the country that imprisoned them. I have seen people tear down the wall of division. I have seen the poor smile and the rich weep. I have seen Jesus everywhere, and that gives me hope.

Peace and Love,

Pastor K