Again.

I never planned to make this a blog about current events. But the events that are current seem to worm their way in too often.

Guns.

Sometimes we say we’ll pray for someone because we don’t think we are capable of doing anything else.  Sometimes we say we’ll pray for someone because we don’t feel like doing anything else.

But still, underneath any legislation lies a deeper human problem.  What will it take for us to see the humanity of all those around us? What will it take for us to treat all those we encounter with dignity?

“Dignity is as essential to human life as water, food, and oxygen.  The stubborn retention of it, even in the midst of extreme physical hardship, can hold a man’s soul in his body long past the point at which the body should have surrendered it.  The loss of it can carry a man off as surely as thirst, hunger, exposure, and asphyxiation, and with greater cruelty.”

-Laura Hillenbrand,  Unbroken

Dignity.  We all have it, and none of us have the right to try and strip it from another.

This is where the church needs to step in and step up. There are plenty of other people cashing in on fear.  That can’t be us.  There are plenty of people who are belittling and demonizing others in order to help themselves feel more powerful.  That can’t be us.

We need to lead the way in recognizing the dignity, the humanity of all people, even the ones we don’t like.

⁴³ “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ ⁴⁴ But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, ⁴⁵ that you may be children of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. ⁴⁶ If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? ⁴⁷ And if you greet only your own people, what are you doing more than others?

-Matthew 5:43-47a

Our religion started as a counter-cultural movement.  We cannot now collapse into the culture of fear. We must retain our own dignity and be the people we are called to be.