…by our love…

I have been struggling to find words to comment on the AI image shared by the president depicting himself as Jesus. It is disturbing in too many ways to mention, but I wanted to share a thought.

Followers of Jesus have made horrendous mistakes and done unspeakable damage throughout our history. People have used the name of Christ to justify hideous behavior and immoral actions. The Church has promoted the destruction of native peoples and cultures, slavery, colonization, women's subjugation, Anti-Semitism, discrimination against our black, Latinx, Asian, LGBTQIA+ neighbors and our neighbors from different cultural and faith traditions. This is true.

But.... God is a God of love, compassion, understanding and mercy and - for followers of Christ - Jesus, as our teacher and guide, shows us the way to live: to welcome the stranger, to support and defend those who are vulnerable, to love neighbors and enemies alike, to create community in which everyone is valued for who they are. Movements that emphasize hatred, prejudice, violence, coercion, and the use of power to harm others... those movements are antithetical to the teachings and the person of Jesus.

I am reminded of one of my favorite hymns that speaks to the present time. The second verses says,

"We will work with each other, we will work side by side
We will work with each other, we will work side by side
And we'll guard each one's dignity and save each one's pride
And they'll know we are Christians by our love, by our love
They will know we are Christians by our love."