When Jesus was crucified, many of his best friends abandoned him.
Jesus was surrounded by persecutors, even people crying "crucify him!"
But where were his friends?
In the western suburbs of Chicago, our church had an office in a residential building on some acreage of farmland. We worshiped in school cafeterias and gymnasiums.
We finally found a place to rent where we had a dedicated worship space and offices. This left the land available for sale through our denomination, the United Church of Christ.
Unfortunately, the religious institution that is purchasing the land is the target of ignorance and anger. It is an Islamic Center, and the signs that have popped up read "no to mosque" and "no to ragheads".
I'm embarrassed to live in the midst of such ignorance and misplaced anger.
A religious community had the space. A religious community is moving into the space. Both communities are Abrahamic traditions. But prejudice and misconceptions are leading people to angrily oppose the latter group.
I don't know whether the people putting up these signs are Christians. I would hope not. It would be even more sad to learn that the signs were from people who claim to follow the Jesus whose love was so great he even forgave those who persecuted him.
The community moving in isn't persecuting anyone; they're being persecuted.
So on which side of the cross are you?
Standing with the persecuted?
Or standing with the persecutors?
Our pastor's letter is at http://storage.cloversites.com/hopeunitedchurchofchrist/documents/248%20Signs.pdf
Jesus was surrounded by persecutors, even people crying "crucify him!"
But where were his friends?
In the western suburbs of Chicago, our church had an office in a residential building on some acreage of farmland. We worshiped in school cafeterias and gymnasiums.
We finally found a place to rent where we had a dedicated worship space and offices. This left the land available for sale through our denomination, the United Church of Christ.
Unfortunately, the religious institution that is purchasing the land is the target of ignorance and anger. It is an Islamic Center, and the signs that have popped up read "no to mosque" and "no to ragheads".
I'm embarrassed to live in the midst of such ignorance and misplaced anger.
A religious community had the space. A religious community is moving into the space. Both communities are Abrahamic traditions. But prejudice and misconceptions are leading people to angrily oppose the latter group.
I don't know whether the people putting up these signs are Christians. I would hope not. It would be even more sad to learn that the signs were from people who claim to follow the Jesus whose love was so great he even forgave those who persecuted him.
The community moving in isn't persecuting anyone; they're being persecuted.
So on which side of the cross are you?
Standing with the persecuted?
Or standing with the persecutors?
Our pastor's letter is at http://storage.cloversites.com/hopeunitedchurchofchrist/documents/248%20Signs.pdf
Leave a comment