Shutting Down
What can we do to stop the violence we see against people of faith?
Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it. - John 14:12-14
On Easter Sunday, 290 people were killed in coordinated suicide bombings in Sri Lanka, a small country in South Asia that has not seen violence on this level in decades.
In response, the government as blocked many social media platforms, for fear of the proliferation of hate. The same platforms that spread the Good News of Christ, are used to spread hatred and death.
What should we do? Should we shut down all speech or should we speak up louder?
In today's Gospel reading, Jesus tells his disciples that he is leaving them with the knowledge that they can speak for him. They can pray for God's help through Christ and move mountains.
Are we not praying hard enough for God's help?
I think our tendency when we hear of acts like this one is to shut down, to close up and seek protection from the reality we fear. Yes, we pray for the souls, but do we ask God for help and guidance to put an end to the violence?
Those who organize such activity know these events will result in chaos and fear. It is their goal, to keep people away from gathering places, to create anarchy.
If Jesus will do whatever we ask in his name, then why not ask him to stop this violence?
If we say it is not that simple, isn't that the same as saying Jesus will not help us?
He commanded us to love one another, and these acts of violence are not based in love. We can pray for love to win out over hatred, but we should also pray for everyone to be more aware of the hatred among us, and to do all in our power to stop it, not by shutting down, but by rising up.
The first thing we can do is not give in to the fear. Then we can pray for guidance so we can counter fear with action.
Anything is possible with Christ.
And we need to believe that now.
More to come...