September 2025

Recently, I met a colleague while at the doctor's office. She and I talked of the line between gospel and political comment, and she recalled that the Church of Nazi Germany chose to avoid political comment to avoid upsetting congregants and political forces only to become complicit with the Nazi pogroms to their shame in following years. That brought to mind another's comment that Jesus and the Early Church were, in fact, political, challenging political systems that were in opposition to the demands of the gospel and the teaching of Jesus our Master as well as our Savior.

I also remember that Jesus told us to take up our own cross and follow - something we cannot do it we fail to be as concerned for the marginalized of our world as Jesus was, cannot do it we are afraid of the criticism of people while doing what Jesus calls us to do - and I remember that Jesus said if you are ashamed of me (read my mission and teaching rather than saying the name Jesus), I will be ashamed of you before the Creator. I don't want to spark controversy, but I am called to comfort the uncomfortable AND to discomfit the comfortable.

Our nation was built on the separation of church and state, but that does not mean the church does not remind the state of the times it has walked away from godly progress to create a better world, it does not mean a religious leader cannot comment on political hypocrisy. Indeed, our denomination arises, in part, from those who spoke out against slavery which was a political hot potato most wanted to ignore. Our forebears recognized that following God means sometimes, or frequently in troubled times like these, taking unpopular stands and dealing with the fall out for being faithful to the call of God on our lives.

My hope is that as we struggle to keep the promises of our country, the promises of Jesus the Savior that we will have the courage to take our stand, announce that "Here I stand, I can do no other," and trust in the grace and peace of Christ, the strength and courage of the Spirit and the salvation of the God of love as we stand firm in the gospel tradition of Jesus the Son of God! Peace, sisters and brothers, and courage in the struggle for justice and peace (God's peace)!

-Rev. Howard Hunt