I overheard a conversation that stated the Civil Rights Movement was violent but not as violent as incidents that are taking place in the Middle East. There may not be much benefit in comparing wounds from various battles. However, there is value in remembering the reasons we fight in battles. Theologian, Walter Rauschenbusch, concluded, “History is never antiquated, because humanity is always fundamentally the same.” Chicago Daily News reporter, Sydney J. Harris, wrote, “History repeats itself, but in such cunning disguise that we never detect the resemblance until the damage is done.”
People want dignity. People want to live in peace. People want equity, fairness, and the opportunity to exist. In the United States, we want the promises guaranteed in the founding documents of this nation—life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Those promises should be unencumbered by race, religion, gender, or creed.
Whenever what people want and deserve becomes threatened, hostilities develop. Often, we attempt to resolve those issues through war, protests, and acts of legislation. Fortunately, the United States saw key pieces of legislation signed into law. However, you cannot legislate the hearts of humanity. You can pass a law, but you cannot use a law to convert their hearts.
The words of Paul become an open invitation for what can be transformative in humanity. Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians 5.17, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” Living in new ways, hate gives way to love, violence has no intentional existence in a “beloved community.” Let us strive to help our communities become new in Christ. We can help eliminate acts of violence and replace them with acts of loving kindness. Amen.
