“For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face. Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known. And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.”
-1 Corinthians 13:12-13
Dear Siblings in the Risen Christ,
Our nation is divided. No matter how we voted, no matter what political party we supported, no matter what causes we championed, the 2020 election cycle has caused great upheaval and division in our nation, in our neighborhoods, and in our lives.
While we do not know the outcome of the election, we do know that civility, decency, and justice must win the day. No matter the outcome, no matter who is ultimately elected, we as people of faith have work to do. We have hard and holy work to do. We have life giving and love building work to do. We have Christ-work to do.
Our calling as beloved siblings in the Body of Christ does not falter with the changes in political office. Regardless of who captures the White House, we pray for all our leaders, we seek God’s grace, we stand for the causes of justice and righteousness. No matter the administration, we strive to live lives filled with integrity, pursue peace, and spread of the Good News of Jesus Christ. We will not cease in our efforts to welcome the stranger, care for the weak, stand with the oppressed and outcast, and boldly speak the truth in love.
In the life of faith, there will always be challenges, there will always be difficulties, there will always be hardship and to follow Jesus is to follow the one who leads us to the cross and points us to resurrection. We know that God is still in the business of raising up the lowly, the poor, the marginalized and the forgotten. God is still in the business of bringing comfort to the broken-hearted, sight to the blind, and hope to despairing. God is still in the business of casting down the haughty and the proud. God is still in the business of raising up from the ash heap those who are downtrodden and degraded. God is in the business of being God and we should be about the business of being the beloved people of God.
We have work to do!
In the time that lies ahead, we must work to heal the divisions in our families, our communities, and in our nation. We must work to ensure that we stand on the side of justice, truth, and love. We must work to safeguard that no child, no person is disregarded, discarded, or disenfranchised. We must work to root out racism, sexism, misogyny, homophobia, and all other “isms” that separate and divide us one from another.
We may see through a mirror dimly at this time, but the dream, the vision, the business of redeeming the world in Christ Jesus is as clear as ever. So we will pray together, we will celebrate and mourn together; we will stand for justice together.
We have work to do!
May we who follow Jesus find the courage, the wisdom, the grace, and the hope to be of good courage; to hold fast that which is good; to render to no one evil for evil; to strengthen the fainthearted; to support the weak; to help the afflicted; to honor all people; to love and serve the Lord, rejoicing in the power of the Holy Spirit.
May God bless you, may God keep you, and may Christ’s healing shine through you.
Yours in Christ,
+Deon