So, help me understand...

 It's been a week. It has been hard on most of us. Those who identify with Charlie Kirk on issues and politics, it has been heartbreaking. My students are wrestling with the reality of lethal hatred. They are motivated and united to continue on and make a difference.  I have been listening. What has been astonishing to me is the glee expressed at this violent death. I am unsettled that even though many disagreed with his politics he is not simply mourned as a person of profound and vocal faith within the faithful community.  We can't seem to unite on that either. So, help me understand why this is so very hard to do?

I have always wrestled with how we conflate faith and politics. We use the same language and contempt for the other side of the aisle; conservative, liberal, progressive, left, right etc.  We divide, make assumptions, limit conversation, do the eye rolls, label, cancel and minimize those uneducated conservatives and those unchristian liberals. So, help me understand how we have come to this?

I preached today on the intro to the book of Galatian's. The words of Paul still echo. 

So, who has bewitched you? I am shocked that you are turning away so soon from God who called you to himself through the loving mercy of Christ. You are following a different way that pretends to be good news. You are being fooled by those who deliberately twist the truth. 

Oh you poor, silly, thoughtless, unreflective, senseless Galatians ie: American Church.  We have lost the plot of what it means to be crucified with Christ. 

We have been twisted into thinking that who we identify with politically has more to say then our identity in Christ.  In the same manner, we don't even need to be curious anymore because we already know how wrong 'they' are.  

I wonder if we began our conversations again with a help me understand rather then I can't believe ! What if we worked intentionally to understand their politics but affirm our identity in Christ?  What if we allowed ourselves to just think differently about politics? What if we were genuinely curious rather then judgmental?

 Paul addresses that as well in Galatians. 

Therefore, whenever possible we should do good to everyone, especially to those in the family of faith. 

 If we start here, maybe Christ in us can finally be seen out there.