Oh, friends… there is a heaviness so many of us share. What’s happened in Minnesota has been awful.
People have been killed.
Trust in law enforcement has eroded.
Churches are being targeted.
Fear is rampant.
Anger is rampant.
Temperatures are rising even in the cold.
This is not good and right and true.
Let me be clear. I believe in secure national borders and prudent local law enforcement. I believe in both addressing crime and applying compassion. I believe that policies enacted by administrations past and present have contributed significantly, negatively to the current situation. The Biden administration did not effectively filter out criminals from immigration; the Trump administration is not effectively applying compassion to those who are not illegal. Much has led us here.
Thankfully, it seems as if federal and state authorities have realized the need to work together. Such is necessary, as our political debates and rhetorical temperatures are impeding solution.
So in the meantime, what can the rest of us do?
Allow me to share some wise words from a longtime colleague and friend, Rev. Dr. Alvin Sanders. Alvin speaks to those who follow Jesus, meaning primarily they desire to love God and love those He created. Many fit in that category of followers. Alvin then encourages us to let scripture and proximity be the number one directors of our current response [note: all emphasis mine}…
“… We are called to love God fully and others selflessly. Our faith shows in our care for one another, our compassion for those in poverty, and our pursuit of justice for the oppressed. Rooted in the Bible, strengthened by the Spirit, and sustained in prayer, we follow Christ by sharing and demonstrating the gospel with our words and lives.
We believe the church’s response to immigration must be shaped by Scripture and meaningful relationships, not by political rhetoric or media narratives…
Many of those we serve are immigrants whose lives and churches are deeply affected by current federal policies. Our response must be rooted in a biblical, compassionate understanding of immigration. Only by returning to foundational Christian principles can we offer a credible public witness and address this crisis faithfully.
It starts with moral clarity. When Scripture and proximity, not political talking points, shape our response, we’re less divided by partisanship. People find relief knowing their convictions stem from faith and experience, not media outrage. That clarity eases anxiety and internal conflict.
We also need freedom from fear-based narratives. Political discourse on immigration often stirs fear. Scripture and proximity foster courage and trust. We gain emotional freedom, leading to less reactivity, greater discernment, and steadier responses to complex issues.
Proximity to the vulnerable spiritually shapes our souls. It is impossible to be close and not be spiritually formed in one way or another. Those who are closest often grow in humility, compassion, and dependence on God, not just as ideals, but as practiced virtues…”
My desire is to grow in humility, compassion and dependence on God — not just as something I intangibly believe in, but in something I practically, personally, abundantly apply.
May we each strive to love all people well… challenging as that may sometimes be.
Soberly…
AR