by their fruits you will know them

I heard on the radio about Georgia's new attempts to gerrymander voting districts to benefit the politically right candidates in the next election.  It is more than that.  The piece said that the re-districting separates black and brown voters in such a way that it is a return to how things were done here before 1961.  It is about those who have power and wealth not only keeping what they have, but getting more, while keeping others down and holding them away from power and wealth.  It "just so happens" that it affects mostly those who are not white.

These are specific, intentional and strategized acts designed to benefit some specific people and hurt other, specific people.  It is NOT "just business."  It is NOT "just politics."  It is the embracing of what I call The Unholy Trinity - Mars (the god of power and war), Bacchus (the god of self-indulgence and exploitation of others for self) and Mammon (the god of opulent wealth and greed).  It comes out of the belief that power is not just meant for the enhancement of the individual's life or an expression of self-control, but rather leverage over other people and the ability to exploit, manipulate and abuse them.  It comes out of the worst kinds of nationalism, ethnocentrism, xenophobia and false sense of superiority.  It is not of God.

Jesus called for us to love our neighbor, and defined neighbor as stranger ("illegal" immigrant) and enemy (defined by each individual or group).  Jesus said that while others in the world lorded their power over others, it was not to be so among His followers.  Jesus made our salvation, at least in part, contingent upon how we feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the sick and imprisoned and welcome the stranger ("illegal" immigrant) - "the least of these", who He calls his brothers and sisters.  Recent legislation, rhetoric, direction and projected visions are anti-Christ, by their nature.  I must say that Jesus is not pleased.

"Where your treasure is, there will your heart be also."  It is very clear what is being treasured here and now, because "by their fruits you will know them."

Be informed.  Write.  Speak.  Demonstrate.  VOTE!!!!!!   They haven't taken that away (yet), but clearly they may be working on it!  And When you vote,  vote not only for your own interests, but for the interests of "the least of these", and for candidates who will most closely follow what Jesus taught and exemplified.

(In order to do that, you might want to READ the Gospels and pay attention to what Jesus taught and did in the world.)  Oh yes, and pay attention to what is going on politically and economically in your own country!  Complacency implies compliance in cooperation!  When we don't pay attention, things are done to us and others without our knowledge.  Then it is too late to complain!  To whom would we complain?  If you are not alarmed, you are either not paying attention or you are among those benefitting from others who are being neglected, exploited and abused right now!

Pastor Jamie