God’s Power Partnering with Our Consent and Action

“The message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God….But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God." — 1 Corinthians 1:18-31

It continues to be heart-rending as we bear witness to the ongoing chaos and violence in Minneapolis and other parts of our world. The tragic and unnecessary death of Alex Pretti has called into question many truths we hold dear. The use of force by agents of the federal government, whether it is ICE or Border Patrol, raises deep moral questions about their authority to act in these urban settings, the methods in which they are enforcing their authority, and whether they’ve received appropriate training in how to enforce that authority. The fear, anxiety, and escalating tension are not alleviating concern in these situations but rather raising it in ways that are deeply problematic.

The quickness of using reductionist labels as ways of identifying the people involved is not only inhumane, but not in accordance with the rule of law as we understand it in this country. We have laws in place which were written to protect the human rights of every individual regardless of their moral character. We believe all legal issues are meant to be worked out in the justice system, rather than the street.

By all accounts of those who knew him, Alex Pretti was a good person. When he was brutally murdered, he was exercising a right protected by our constitution. Our laws, by the nature in which they were written, are meant to be impartial. There is no room to assess who deserves to be treated well or who deserves punishment in the heat of the moment.

As people of faith, we have an even harder standard. We are asked not only to treat people with impartiality, but to actually love them. In this case, love is not an emotion, but a Christian practice of care extended even to those we consider enemies. This can seem foolish or naive—until we remember how God chose to come into the world in the person of Jesus Christ. To see that upending of the world’s power forces us to reconsider God’s perspective. God’s power in the gospels is about privileging the powerless, seeking inclusion for those living on the margins, and asking us to bear witness to those values in the world.

We are free as people of faith and encouraged to disagree about policies, the role of government, and how to be good citizens. We cannot faithfully sanction or justify abuse of power by those who treat others inhumanely or those who proclaim a person’s worthiness of God’s love. This is deeply challenging and feels fraught in these polarizing times.

When we seek God’s wisdom, we must hold fast to the promises of our baptismal covenant. We can only carry those promises out with the help of God. Beyond our testimony in worship, God is also relying on our participation in the world. We say we will seek and serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbor as ourselves. We say we will strive for justice and peace among all people, respecting the dignity of every human being. That covenant requires God’s initiation along with our consent and action. I pray we can all discern ways of participating in this sacred calling in our communities as we bear hope in such times as these.

Peace, Beth +