This is something I’ve been thinking about and struggling with for a while now. I want to share some of my thoughts and questions here because maybe you’ve been feeling the same way I have.
I have considered myself a Christian since college, when I first truly learned about Jesus. I learned about His amazing teachings and healing and the way Jesus loved those on the outside of society. He loved those that most people (and the religious leaders of the time) shunned and disregarded. I remember being in awe of Jesus and falling in love with the life He lived and wanted to follow Him in how I lived my life.
After college, I was part of a 2-year inner city internship program to learn more about living this life today. I moved to South LA (near USC) for the first time, lived intentionally with others who had been accepted into the program, studied the Bible, and tried to become part of the neighborhood. We would reach out to neighbors and try to share Jesus’ story with them and live life that showed our beliefs in action. It was a challenging and amazing time in my life. It also showed me some of the hurtful parts about Christianity and it was through that lense that my faith began to unravel.
I left the church and ultimately left the life I was beginning in South LA because it no longer felt right. There was so much hurt and pain and it didn’t feel safe or welcoming to me. Fast forward to now and I’ve slowly been working my way back to a church community that accepts all people and is actively trying to follow the Jesus that I learned about in college. It’s refreshing and, sadly, rare to find a community like the one I’m joining.
All of this brings me to what I wanted to write about here. Seeing the way our political system is operating today and how the Republican party has used the name of Jesus for their own political gain is harmful, disgraceful, and just plain wrong. Do they not see that they, and so many of our “faith” leaders have become the pharisees and scribes of today? They are using the name of Jesus to hold onto the power they believe is their own. They have given up all sense of integrity in exchange for power. I’m disgusted and feel my heart grow weary and hateful towards them. I often find myself wanting to know how Jesus would react to them and wonder if it would be anything like the passages from the Bible read in His interactions with pharisees and scribes?
Jesus went into the temple of God and cast out all those who were buying and selling in the temple; and He overthrew the tables of the money exchangers, and the seats of those who were selling doves. 13 Then He said to them, "It is written, 'My house shall be called a house of prayer'; but you have made it a den of thieves -Matthew 21: 12-13
I don’t like how my heart has reacted to their false witness and egregious misuse of power. It has darkened my soul and I know that’s not what Jesus wants for my life. I’m working on how to heal even in the midst of their hateful actions…but that doesn’t feel like enough.
I want to get involved in something bigger than myself, something that is actively working for justice and change. I’m getting more involved in my church but everything has to be Covid safe and that puts a lot of limits on what I can do. I’d love to hear any suggestions in the comments below!
Lord, help us heal and help us reflect more of you and less of our own greed and illusions of our own power.
Everyday Erika 