Local churches urge Americans to choose unity, virtue over political divide

Image credit: Jeremy P. Kelley

After the violent riots in the U.S. Capitol, several local church leaders called for unity and urged people to choose the advantages of religious beliefs rather than our political and cultural differences.

The Kinghamsburg Church in Tip City prays for those injured or killed in the Capitol, that government leaders will be led by God’s wisdom, and that all of us will be guided by light and truth, instead of blaming and hating those who are regarded by us. People who are "other people". "

Rachel Billups, the pastor of Kinghamsburg, said: "We humans tend to create categories for us and themselves." "But these are not our identities. Red and blue are not where we find peace. Political parties and candidates are not where we find unity."

Billups, like many other ministers, asked the members of her church to turn to faith.

Pastor Peter Matthews of Grace United Methodist Church in Dayton played a tape of philosopher and political activist Cornell West, asking people about the lack of "psychic", courage, integrity and decency How to maintain the hope for democracy.

West talked about love, the spark of truth and justice has never been extinguished, but the "sleepwalker" needs to wake up, improve his ego, and then pursue something bigger than himself.

Matthews said: "The world believes that the United States is at an inflection point." "Are you ready to answer the call of God that has always been there in your life? No more evasive, saying, okay, I'm just human. Get rid of the excuse of justice."

Some congregations issued public statements earlier this week. Temple Beth or Twp in Washington. Condemned the violence and called for "unity in the huge divide that threatens our country."

The monastery official wrote: “Like the beautiful words in prayer, we may remember,'The left and right wings are attached to the same bird, and both wings need to take off.”

At St. Helen’s Catholic Church in Riverside, Pastor Jim Fitz said that although Jesus Christ is seen as “the light,” Americans have experienced a lot of darkness in recent months-from the COVID-19 pandemic, racism To the current political environment of "our darkness". "He called on everyone to do their part to break the darkness.

Fitz said: "May we know that we (everyone) are God's beloved sons." "Let us get rid of this belief. This will have an impact on the way we look at others, the way we treat others, and our lifestyle. Incredible changes. In this dark age, this will bring incredible changes."

Pastor Joshua Ward told his Omega Baptist Church that he was shocked twice by political activities that week. First, when Raphael Warnock's 82-year-old mother voted for her own black son to run for the U.S. Senate because she was unable to pick cotton, Ward said: "I don't know this Georgia. "

But a few hours later, Ward saw that President Donald Trump angered the mob and attacked the U.S. Capitol, while members of Congress were hiding under benches. Ward said: "I don't know this America."

On Sunday, when many Christian churches were paying attention to the story of Jesus' baptism, Ward talked about "going out into the wild" like John the Baptist. He said that people should not only seek forgiveness, but not follow John's "life-changing message."

Billups said in Ginghamsburg that the bad news is that our country is divided. "Humanity wants to give another hell." She said the good news is that long ago, when all hope seemed Nothing exists. People are sinners. When in each other’s throats, "Jesus Christ came to bring healing."

She said that even in difficult times, Americans can take action today to build a bridge to each other instead of becoming an obstacle. She cited an example, calling on people to ask anything, listen well, and freely disagree and love.

"You say I am a dreamer?" Billups asked. "You bet I am."

She said: "I have a vision for this faith community, that is, we can create honest and fragile spaces and have tough conversations without using our words to destroy each other." "Imagine... we can experience this. This kind of recovery and integrity. We can agree or disagree... Let everyone be a bridge."

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