Dearest Church Family near and far-
We are living in a really interesting time…a time that some are calling the next major reformation of the Christian church…I’ve even heard that major reforms come every 500 years and we are truly in that time now. There has been so much that has changed in just the past 6 years, that I almost cannot keep up…the church has truly changed and will continue changing. That is truly a good thing, not something to be afraid of. The big piece is about what it means to be the people of God who are willing to evolve and develop and through that, deepen their understanding of their spiritual journey. Because each of us will evolve and manifest in different ways. It’s honestly really an exciting time to be part of a faith community!
Throughout history, the church of Jesus Christ has been used in ways to promote justice and to promote injustice…honestly, if we all think back to the history we learned about our world and our country, we can see the justice the church has stood up for and the injustice the church has stood up for…and truly everything in between. I have been hearing from more people who are wondering how faith and politics align and what it means as Christians to be involved in politics, especially in our current political climate. For many of people, their faith in Jesus is the foundation for the direction of their political understanding of the world in which they live. Their faith leads them on their journey forward and is the lens in which they view the world through. Personally, as a pastor, this is how I live out my life. I find great comfort in the teachings of Jesus for guidance in all aspects of my life. For others, faith and politics are separated, and don’t necessarily inform the other. There are many folks that keep things in boxes and don’t allow them to be mixed up. And many people want politics to not be in church, while others want politics to be in church. My guess is everyone is somewhere along that spectrum and continuing discerning what it looks like. Yet most of us know politics are involved in every aspect of life…even in the church. For some, the teachings of Jesus have become so watered down and normalized that many have forgotten how radical the teachings of Jesus were and how Jesus’ life, teachings, and actions were against an oppressive political regime, being a movement towards equity, justice, and love for more and more people to be included.
Responding to injustice is a spiritual act, a spiritual practice, and is part of our call as Christians. Now, I recognize that not everyone feels called to live out their faith in the same way. And that is truly respected and everyone is loved for how they chose to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. With that, I believe the words of Jesus are constantly challenging us through the parables about how we are to live out our faith. One such challenge is rooted in the passage from Matthew 25:31-46, where Jesus shares a parable about justice for those who are in need…
“Then those who are righteous will reply to him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you a drink? 38 When did we see you as a stranger and welcome you, or naked and give you clothes to wear? 39 When did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
40 “Then the king will reply to them, ‘I assure you that when you have done it for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you have done it for me.’”
Many different folks will gather tomorrow on June 14th to protest what is happening in our country. People are protesting for the hungry, the thirsty, the stranger, the naked, the sick, and the imprisoned. For those who choose to join the protest on June 14th, there are over 1,000 protests sites across the country and world that folks are invited to join. Check out this website for protests in your area. https://www.mobilize.us/nokings/map/
In addition, I have included a link to a study paper from the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church (USA) about how participating in acts of justice are a spiritual and faith practice. The link is below with a list of other resources.Again, we wanted to provide information for you as you prayerfully discern and make sense of the protests you are hearing about, the acts of injustice you are curious about, the wonderings you have about how your faith and politics align, and what it means for you to embody the passage from Matthew that is above and these words from Luke 6:31, “Treat people in the same way that you want them to treat you.”
Here are a few thoughts from the paper from the General Assembly: “Practices and disciplines that appear consistently throughout the Reformed tradition and that are particularly significant for Christians today would include.
(12) criticizing and resisting all those powers and patterns (both within the church and in the world as a whole) that destroy human beings, corrode human community, and injure God’s creation;
(13) working together to maintain and create social structures and institutions which will sustain life in the world in ways that accord with God’s will.
These are the kinds of practices that the church’s people engage in over and over again, because they are practices that constitute being the church, practices to which God calls us as Christians. They are, likewise, practices that place people in touch with God’s redemptive activity, that put us where life in Christ may be made known, recognized, experienced, and participated in. The church knows from its own history and experience that such practices enable the community and each of its people to continue their experience with God made present in Word, in sacrament, in prayer, and in the community’s life in obedience to its vocation in the world.”
Friends, spend some time in prayer and reflection on our call as Christians to love God and love our neighbors, to treat others as you want them to treat you. If you choose to attend a protest, here is the location of the one in Port Charlotte. If you are interested in choosing another way to share your thoughts, consider calling your Senators, writing letters, and/or advocating for the rights others through joining Bread for the World and their advocacy work for food security. Below are some resources for you to explore as you wonder how you are called to live out your faith for such a time as this.
Information on different approaches to fighting injustice:
Saturday, June 14th No Kings Protest:
● Port Charlotte Event will be at
● 9 am at the corner of
● Tamiami Trail & Murdock Circle, Port Charlotte, FL
Bread for the World
The Bible For Normal People
● If you have some questions about faith in general and want to dive deeper, The Bible For Normal People has wonderful podcasts. Click HERE to learn more. Illustrated Ministry
● I loved this write up about Palm Sunday and the act of protest. Perhaps a new perspective to a familiar story. Click HERE to read the article.And here are some of the issues that are important to be aware of if you chose to attend the protest (and maybe you can even create a poster)Immigration ● Medicaid ● Medicare ● Social Security ● Veteran Services ● Cancer Research ● Jobs ● Books ● Data ● Public Lands ● Courts ● NATO Free Speech ● Clean Air ● Clean Energy ● Freedoms ● LivesAnd if there is something that you would like to talk more about with me, please reach out to me directly. I would welcome the conversation.
In Christ’s Service,
Pastor Devon
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