In terms of what happened in Charlottesville and the rise of hate and fascism in America, we can't be afraid to evaluate what has been happening and to use discernment in deciding what we are called to do about it to act against hatred and evil. At the same time, we are cautioned not to judge and condemn people, but rather to love them and pray for them.
Loving someone when you are afraid of them is very difficult. Praying for those who persecute you and spitefully use you like bullies and oppressors is also very hard. But when we have trouble doing something that the Lord has asked us to do, we just need to turn to Him as ask for help.
In some of Jesus' final words to His disciples before and after his resurrection, He made it clear to them that following Him was not going to be easy. Everything about the Kingdom of Heaven and trying to walk the narrow way of righteousness and peace with God is anathema to the way the powerful in the world encourage people to live.
When Jesus told His disciples that they needed to take up their crosses and follow Him, it must have terrified them. The Romans used crucifixion as punishment to put down the rebellions of oppressed people they ruled. It was used in ancient times all the way back to the Persian Empire, and especially to execute runaway slaves and traitors.
In our day, the idea that we, too, would need to do something dangerous that would lead to our deaths in order to follow Jesus does not really enter into it. Except maybe in cases like today's environment where unless we stand up to the hatred and evil that is increasing, we will find ourselves in danger.
The last week or so have been very upsetting and although the perpetrators of hate and evil have been easy to pray for while also praying for the people they have targeted, I have found myself most angry with the anti-president in the WH who has not had the moral fiber to denounce the evil-doers and instead, from the earliest days of his campaign -- and apparently all his life been on the side of bullies against people in the minority in the U.S.
I know that I have been very critical of him and that the most important thing is to pray for him and against the hatred and evil he and his followers have succumbed to in the sickness of their minds and hearts.
At the same time, I will continue doing everything I feel led to do to work against this hatred and evil in our times. Enough is enough.
We have out work cut out for us and need all the help we can get. Together we will be victorious because we have love and peace on our side and the light of the world. The darkness of hatred and evil cannot overcome it.
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