My Dear Sisters and Brothers at Christ Church,
This afternoon I hung a banner in front of our church which says, "Hate cannot drive out hate. Only love can do that." The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King's prophetic words remain relevant in our polarized nation. On politics, public health, race, policing, voting rights, human rights and so many other things, we Americans are divided. Naturally, we resent or dislike people whose views oppose ours on these important issues. Sometimes we are even tempted to hate them, especially if our adversaries employ hatred themselves. But hatred, as Martin Luther King pointed out, is a poor tactic for social change. While it may feel satisfying, it tends to drive opponents further apart, while tightening tribal
King also pointed out that hatred corrodes one's own soul. It turns a person into a reflection of the thing they hate. Some Buddhists put it this way: "Holding onto anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else; you are the one who gets burned."
Jesus said, "Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you." Love like this is hard work. It counters our evolutionary development and is totally embarrassing on social media. But hatred isn't working out very well for our country. This week as we recall the example which the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King set for us, let's remember that being a disciple of Jesus is really hard work. But that kind of love may save our souls and preserve our nation.
Hang in there, everybody.