With Whom and For What will YOU Stand?

It takes effort.
It's ok to have feelings around things, events, conditions, injustices or tragedies, but of what good is that if a person does nothing through which to make a positive effect?
It takes effort.


But if we are going to make effort to affect positive change, we must be clear regarding our identification with and commitment for those involved.


So, with whom and for what will you stand?


With regard to economic injustice and the disparities in income and opportunity it represents, with whom will you stand?  Will you stand for those who have the most and work to hold onto much more than they need and obtain even more, or with those who are left with little or nothing, and certainly not enough in order to live well or pursue their hopes and dreams?


With regard to racial injustice and the inequities suffered by our sisters and brothers of other than majority of power ethnicities, with whom will you stand?  Will you stand for everyone living free of acts of hatred, discrimination and systemic prejudice or will you stand for those who have and want to have the freedom to act on their bigotries?


With regard to injustices to women in the world and the holding down, back and out, even the violence against and legislative oppression of women regarding their ability to make choices for themselves and get equal employment and pay for equal work, with whom will you stand?  Will you stand with those who believe misogyny is normative and therefore perfectly fine, or with those who recognize that injustice against them affects all of us?


With regard to the intolerance of those who practice non-Christian faiths or no faith, with whom will you stand?  Will you stand for those who believe all should be coerced into practicing one faith or recognizing only one faith as the only legitimate faith, even legislating that in our land, or with those whose spiritual unity in difference is not only not intolerant but is rather celebratory of different faith and non-faith expressions?


With regard to the right of a person to love who they love and have equal rights as loving adults in our society, with whom will you stand?  Will you stand with those who are "straight and narrow" regarding loving norms and practices or with those who understand and accept that though they do not understand another's orientation, yet still that orientation is normal and valid for them?


I KNOW you have an opinion on these issues and the people they represent.
I KNOW you do!


I would suggest that your words and actions reflect with whom you stand in the world.  I would  further suggest that your silence reflects that as well.


Standing is acting on behalf of people who reflect a perspective and commitment.
Speaking, writing, demonstrating is action on behalf of other people and oneself, whether for a whole ideology or one issue.


Sitting has a message of its own.  Silence speaks volumes about the person sitting within it.


Not standing or speaking and not addressing actively the issues or those affected by them is an action
reflecting one's commitment or lack of commitment to others around her/him/them.


The Jesus of the Gospels took sides.  Jesus, according to the Gospel writers, stood with those most vulnerable, the downtrodden and powerless.  Jesus stood up to the elite, the powerful, the ruthlessly wealthy and intolerant of empire.  Jesus applied Agape Love to the world - active commitment on behalf of the well-being of the other, even stranger or enemy and especially the most vulnerable.


Do you stand with Jesus and for those who Jesus loves?  Do you stand for their well-being?
If not with Jesus and for Agape Love, with whom DO you stand and for what?


Pastor Jamie