“But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream” (Amos 5.23-24, NRSV).

 
January 11, 2021
 
Dear Friends,
 
     Our nation’s history is fraught with uprisings and violence based on the idea that many White people believe their “race” is the only human race.  Therefore, by right they should control the levers of government and have the power to do as they wish to people of color.
     Racist, wrong-headed, abusive, and brutal ideologies are centuries old.  Their footholds are depressions that must be repaired, leveled out, and healed over so that they can never be created again.  Violence will not win, for either side, because violence cannot eradicate the idea of a “more perfect union” toward which people aspire.  Nor can violence eradicate the ideas on which ideologies of hate are based.  For actions to change, ideas must change first.
     Overwhelming evidence proves that Joe Biden and Kamala Harris legitimately won the election. The “Big Lie,” is that the election was stolen from President Trump.  Promulgation of the “Big Lie” was and is so widespread that some of the people who started it and helped to spread it were and are saying, “People are concerned that election was stolen.  Therefore, we need to hear them out.”
     Having set up that echo chamber, circular reasoning became an inevitable result.  Unfortunately, the leaders of the “Big Lie” knew and know it is untrue.  The “Big Lie” cites as proof of its “truthfulness” its own false and erroneous conclusion, for which there is no evidence.
     Information about last week’s mob scene in Washington, D. C. continues to come to light.  However, silence is not a worthy nor neutral option during these early days of investigations and reporting on the vile, racist, and antidemocratic treachery that took place almost a week ago.  Words attributed to Martin Niemöller express this concern:

        “First they came for the Communists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Communist.  Then they came for the Trade Unionists, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Trade Unionist.  Then they came for the Jews, and I did not speak out—because I was not a Jew.  Then they came for me—and there was no one left to speak for me.”1

     Encouraged by years-long repetitions of false and misleading narratives incessantly promoted on the dark web, by several media personalities, by the president and some of his supporters, a vast number of the president’s supporters came to believe the 2020 presidential election results were tampered with and then stolen from them.
     As a consequence, and in the guise of patriotism and liberty, several protesters in Washington, D. C., who were there to “stop the steal,” became rioters, insurrectionists, and domestic terrorists when they violently invaded our nation’s Capital.  At the time, in the Capitol members of the Congress of the United States were engaged in expected and legal though unwarranted elections-related debate in their respective chambers.  Insurrection, sedition, brutality, racism, and White fragility were on full display before and while the mob attacked.
     The news of Vice President Pence’s refusal to act unconstitutionally to overturn the election results appears to have signaled the mob to rush the building.  Which they did with the clear intent to inflict bodily harm.  People were looking for Vice President Mike Pence so they could hang him.
     The violence led to terror and death.  Members of Congress went into lock-down concerned for their safety, and determined to do their duty regardless of the seditious acts occurring around them.  The Capitol was breached for the first time since 1814, during the War of 1812.  Rioters entered the Senate chamber.  Capitol police were outnumbered.  The stench of our nation’s original sin, the enslavement of Black human beings, emanated from a confederate flag carried along a Capitol hallway.
     Strident political argumentation is commonplace.  President Ronald Reagan and Tip O’Neill were known for their strong disagreements and their friendship.  Peaceful protests in defense, support, and advancement of civil rights, human rights, and the equal treatment and welfare of all people are part of American political tradition.
     Tragically, armed political violence is not new.  Greed, subterfuge, withholding truth, and promoting lies in service of a “big lie” give life to misguided patriotism and marauding hatred.  World history shows that people greedy for power and control over others will use violence and mayhem to achieve it and quell dissent.
     As Christians, how could, and should, we respond?  How can we be proactive so as to still the turbulent waters of fear, especially the waters of baseless fear?

1. Fearlessly love all people: equally, kindly, affectionately, to and beyond the point you will be thought of as weird J.
2. Question authority.  This is a long-standing Baptist tradition derived from our Baptist Principles.
3. Seek and speak truth.
4. Check assumptions.  They can be wrong as well as correct.
5. Beware climbing the ladder of inference.
6. Dive into Scripture.  This is a big one.  Scripture does not always give a direct answer.  It can, however, sensitize us to the atmosphere in which we should formulate our thinking and out of which should act.  Meditate on the content of the Bible, current events, and their trajectories.
7. Choose that which makes for peace.
8. Remember the Sermon on the Mount.
9. Remember Jesus’ distillation of “the law and the prophets”; “In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets” (Matthew 7.12).
10. Remember Jesus’ overarching commandments: “’He said to him, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.”  This is the greatest and first commandment.  And a second is like it: “You shall love your neighbor as yourself.” On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets”’” (Matthew 22.37-40).

 
     From the past comes the lesson of “a still more excellent way” (1 Corinthians 12.31b), the way of love.  Peaceful protest, resistance, and action, exemplified by the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and civil rights and social justice movements then and now, offer truthful counter-narratives, countermeasures, and alternative actions to “big lies.”  The way out of racism, hatred, and fear passes through the bold actions of repentance, redemption, transformation, forgiveness, education, and reconciliation.  It begins with love.
     We have no choice except venturing through the current crises.  Always, and most assuredly now, be encouraged by the spirit of Love.  Seek the heart of Christ.  Treasure the faith.  Hold close to one another.  Be in peace.  Have compassion.
      “But let justice roll down like waters, and righteousness like an ever-flowing stream” (Amos 5.23-24, NRSV).
 
                                                          Blessings Always,
 
                                                                             Jim
 
1As found in the Introduction to Then They Came for Me, by Matthew D. Hockenos.  Published by Basic Books, New York, and copy-written in 2018 by the author, the quote is found on page 8 of the EBook.

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