By Ptr. Rhoda Klein Miller
I didn’t expect the assassination of a spokesperson for American Christian Nationalism to have such far reaching impacts on my West Coast Canadian congregation. However it has stirred up strong feelings and deep divisions among those I care for and I would like to offer up some counsel that reflects a compassionate and Jesus-centred faith. Here’s my prayerful attempt at a principled and practical response.
Firstly there is no justification for political violence or murder. Condolences, sympathy and prayers should be offered to grieving and traumatized family, friends and witnesses. There is absolutely nothing to celebrate in this incident. There is no victory nor villain defeated for an ideology is never the product of one person. Whether you feel Christian faith and freedom of speech is under attack or you disagree with the individual and feel personally harmed by their influence and positions, Jesus teaches “love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” (Matt 5:43-45) – a difficult but central ethic.
The US government response to this death does raise questions for me about why this tragic loss of life warranted an official response compared to countless other murders – including lynchings of its citizens in the days prior and after. I can think of several other individuals who worked for the betterment of their community and country also targeted by violence and lives cut short without national call to mourn. All injustice should drive us to lament.
Particularly this death seems to have hit closer to members of the Seventh-day Adventist church because the victim was a professed Sabbath keeper. However Sabbath observance does not equate to alignment with Jesus’ principles and values. Jesus often clashed with the Sabbath enforcers of His time because legalism was clouding the understanding of the blessings to be shared on this sacred day.
Jesus said nothing that supports the Christian Nationalist agenda. He broke down national and ethnic barriers as he engaged in mission and preached about a kingdom without borders. As Adventists we strongly affirm separation of church and state.
Jesus said it was the peacemakers who were blessed (Matt 5:43-45). And peacemakers are certainly needed in these polarized times. Peacemakers will not amplify outrage, dismiss others’ experiences or use coercive tactics. Peacemakers don’t have to compromise their held beliefs to engage in respectful listening, seeking common ground and even tolerating what is not harmful. Jesus exemplified humility and grace. Christians ought to do the same and look for where their own declarations, attitudes, or actions might contribute to division.
We should also be praying for the Spirit’s gift of discernment. In the wake of this incident there has been a surge of misinformation and disinformation, twisting facts, spreading conspiracy that incites more division.
Learn to recognize this is often packaged with hyperbole, slanders those who don’t reinforce an echo chamber of commentary and frames issues with an “us vs them” perspective.
Jesus indicated the sign this world was in its final moments was the “love of many growing cold” (Matthew 24:12). Let’s be the remnant ambassadors displaying the power of love in a world fighting over a love of power.