Finding my voice.


If your response is, “The parents should never have brought their children here illegally,” know this: I pray to God that you never have to flee violence or poverty or persecution with your children. And if the day comes that you must, and your babies are forcibly removed from your arms, 
I will fight for you, too. --Brené Brown

Finding my voice. (You have one, too.)

It can be so, so easy to just go along with the tide. Listen to the news, shake our heads in disbelief—and change the channel. Or change the narrative. Those aren’t our children. No more.

What is happening at the southern border of the United States, and in Australia, and in Europe and elsewhere, is humanity at its most inhumane. As a pastor who professes to follow the way of the Christ, I cannot stand by in silence any longer. (I may have already waited too long.) This isn't about politics; this is about justice. This is about speaking up for those who have no voice.

Taking children from their families, wrenching crying babies from their mothers’ arms, is wrong.

Denying children basic needs—water, food, diapers, beds, blankets—is wrong.

Claiming all these activities are Christian—is so deeply wrong, it makes my heart hurt. Jesus did not push the children away; he invited them closer, protecting them even from his own disciples, who were trying to keep them from Jesus.

This, friends, is the way of the Christ: to welcome, to love, to nourish. And if you are the kind of “disciple” that cannot delight in the innocent love of a child—any child—then please do not call yourselves Christian.

Because that—is wrong.

(Different format this week. Read. Listen. Pray.)

Monday People brought little children to Jesus for him to place his hands on them and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked them. Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.” Matthew 19:13-14
TuesdayWhen the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate the people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will put the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Matthew 25:31-33
Wednesday Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. Matthew 25:34
Thursday For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’ Matthew 25:35-36
Friday Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’ Matthew 25:37-39
Saturday The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’ Matthew 25:40
Sunday ‘And whatever you did not do for one of the least of these, you did not do for me.’ Matthew 25:45

If I am not for myself, who will be for me? But if I am only for myself, what am I? 
If not now, when? --Hillel the Elder

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