Saturday night a shocking event occurred.  I wish I could say it was unprecedented or that violence has no place in American politics.  The truth is violence has often been a part of our politics from the Revolution forward.  Sometimes, it is small or isolated to particular groups, so we don’t notice it as much.  Over the last few years, it has increased in frequency and visibility, so we are more aware of it.

Violence should have no place in American politics.  The story we tell ourselves about democracy means that all people are valued, that differences don’t have to be divisions, that we are rational enough to peacefully transfer leadership between competing factions. In America, our myth is one of peace and prosperity for all people. 

However, there are always competing narratives.  They are often based on fear and control.  You learned them in history class—slaves are worth 3/5 of a person, the only good Indian is a dead Indian, if we’re not careful we’ll be overrun with foreigners, the threat of nuclear weapons will end all war, separate and equal is better for everyone.  We learn them as relics of the past, but they are no different than the stories we tell today—they are trying to steal elections, illegals are driving up crime, and they are a threat to democracy. 

When such voices become loud it is imperative that we remember they are not our story.  Even the American dream is not our greatest story.  Friends as disciples of Jesus Christ we are bound up in God’s story of grace and redemption and it should render all other voices mute. 

We are who we are because of Jesus Christ.  Because of Jesus Christ we are not violent extremists, we are peacemakers.  Because of Jesus Christ we are not afraid of the other, we love our neighbors.  Because of Jesus Christ we are not divided by differences of opinion, but united in one body of Christ. 

We have a faith that transcends nationality and all other allegiance.  In a moment of national tragedy, we must not cast it aside.  Rather we should be a witness to our nation in how peace is possible—peace within our hearts and peace between neighbors. 

An assassination attempt on a political candidate should not happen.  We live in a broken and violent world and for too long we have let those voices rule our political discourse.  It is time to be a witness not just at the ballot box, but in every action and casual conversation.  Christians have a story of peace that needs to be told in this moment.  We can no longer afford to shy away, and pretend politics aren’t our problem or that they are too contentious to be discussed.   



Where politicians would invoke our story of faith for their purposes, we must hold them accountable to its whole message.  Where pundits would twist the gospel to their ends, we must set the record straight.  Where we disagree with our friends, family, and neighbors we must show what it means to do so in love.  We must call for peace and justice not by the violence of the world, but by mercy and to those who need it most. 

As the old hymn goes: We've a story to tell to the nations, /that shall turn their hearts to the right, /a story of truth and mercy, /a story of peace and light, 

In these dark days, proclaim loudly our story and let the light grow.