[My first facebook post following the storming of the Capitol Building in Washington]
I rarely post (usually about once a year) but this week I feel I must add my voice.
I am appalled by the damage done to American Democracy by this week's events, and the potential long-term impact to peace and security on this planet. Personally, for me, the most offensive thing of all has been the unquestioning commitment of some American evangelical Christians to Donald Trump - the linking of Christianity to this chaos; the willingness to turn a blind eye to all that we have witnessed over the last four years in a ‘trade off’ to have their ‘conservative’ agenda enhanced. Put simply, the blatant sexism, hate speech, racism and divisive rhetoric have all been a reasonable exchange to them, it would seem, in order to ensure the “right” judges have been appointed to push against the liberalisation of American laws. So….
MY PLEDGE:
As a wearer of the label “Christian”, therefore, I simply wish to say of the hatred, hurt and division in this world: “Not in My Name”
To me there is only one Law that matters - to Love our Neighbours as we would love ourselves.
And so, I will choose to call you my brother, my sister, my black Christian brother, my White Muslim sister, my atheist brother, my Humanist sister, my gay Jewish brother, my bisexual sister, my straight white brother, my transgender Christian sister. I will not try and change you, I will not fight you, I will honour you, work with you, struggle through life with you, I will never be against you, if you commit to work with me, united, towards the triumph of Love and Compassion.
There are enough real Wrongs in this world to keep us busy - the wars, the hatred, the slavery, the false imprisonments and the grinding, dehumanising poverty that afflicts so many. How about we agree to solve all those first?
And then when we are finished, perhaps then we can sit down in our gardens and debate our faiths and perspectives? How about we leave it until then? When we have fought together to drive out these real definitive sins that damage our world?
How about it?
Perhaps then when we have toiled together for the Triumph of Love we will decide that THAT is enough.
Jonathan Davies
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