But Jesus said, Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do!" (Luke 23:34)My dear friends. dear women of God,
it is early evening and for hours I have been contemplating how to put into words the inner turmoil in my heart.
Since I've been writing this blog, I've been watching my follower numbers and also who is following me like this. And there are always fluctuations to notice- whenever I contradict one or the other "front" of the Christian scene. Once the charismatics follow me in large numbers, tomorrow the sound doctrine folx follow me. Depending on what the content of the articles is- and depending on the agreement with individual convictions.
The point is: I am always the same.
Liked today, rejected tomorrow, it seems no longer possible in our society to endure tensions and unclear questions. It seems no longer possible to hold moderate positions, and it seems no longer possible to believe in the AND: Jesus as God AND man on earth, rather than Jesus as God OR man on earth. In the fallenness of one's nature, one's heart AND in the new covenant, the new heart in Christ.
The positions are hardened: either sinner OR saint.
The congregation splits into camps, throwing half-sentences around each other's ears, deleting the context, the consequence, the AND from the doctrine.
The Bible - it has some unclear passages.
What does Jesus mean by "sin unto death", and for whom should one then not pray, because otherwise one sins oneself? What is chastening by God? Today I read an article on these questions, and froze inside. Why?
Because life-threatening illnesses were equated with the "chastening of God." If someone dies from the disease, it is "a sin unto death." It reminds me of the overzealous disciples who asked Jesus, because of what sin was the blind man blind?! He replied, "Because of none, but that God might be glorified in him." Honestly, it fills me more and more with horror when I read what kind of pressure and what kind of circular conclusions are believed thoughtlessly and superficially in the churches. More than that- I am shocked by the harshness that is spreading like wildfire. The hatred. The cries for death sentences. The blind fanaticism that is spreading. And it's getting more and more.
Yesterday, people were shot in Colorado Springs. Far away we say- we don't know anyone there. Well, we do. I have been writing with someone from Colorado Springs for a long time and have grown fond of her. It's just about the size of Duisburg. Who is affected, I wonder? Whose classmate was shot, whose kindergarten friend, neighbor? Was it the saleswoman in the pharmacy, in the supermarket, of whose inclination one knew nothing - but who was always extra friendly? Gone, dead, executed.
It is not yet clear whether the rampage in Colorado Springs in a gay/lesbian club was religiously motivated. What is striking , however, is that shortly before, a sermon went viral calling for the execution of lesbians, gays, and transgender people because of Mosaic law-it was made out to be a sacred duty. Shortly after, 5 people lost their lives and 25 others were injured, some of them critically. Five families are in mourning. Countless friends never see their friends again. Mothers weep for their children, partners for their love. In the name of the Lord? Cold-blooded murder? Where do we stand as a community? Where do we stand as Christians?
Where does all this hatred come from, all this blind fanaticism, where does this vigilante justice and presumption come from?
What shocks me the most is that many will say with satisfaction, "A judgment of God." Do we still realize that this is euthanasia? Do we still realize that in the 1930s many also said that about the Jewish pogroms?
That it would be right for them, the murderers of Christ, who are actually the people of the Root of David? The people of Jesus Christ?
Our attitudes become actions.
Our elitist thinking becomes violence. Violence becomes murder. And because this time it has hit the homosexuals, many a rallying will follow: Because "those" are "not worthy of God's mercy, abominable as they are".
May we kneel.
Kneel because of our own "heinous sin". Because of our pride. Because of our spiritual pride. Because of our inability to endure tension. Because of our unforgiveness, our hatred, our own projected sin. May we ask Jesus to take the dominion out of our hands. Lest, in the name of the Lord, people we classify as "unworthy" die again. And people who die of cancer not think it is the deserved punishment of God, who loves them less and has less mercy for them than for others.
O Jesus, give us wisdom. Give us mercy for one another. And Father, Abba, please put this extreme hatred under Jesus' feet. Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, brothers and sisters. Not against the brother who is charismatic, not against the sister who lives fraternally. Not against the homosexual who struggles with his inclination, not against the woman who has had an abortion in her despair.
Nothing, nothing at all justifies such hatred, such elevation above others, such hypocrisy.
From anger and rage, from hurtful words, from spiritual delusion can become murder. May God save us from this. Otherwise, Christ has indeed died in vain. For the grace you accept for yourself, it is equally due to the one you condemn.
May Jesus comfort those who now mourn. And may we be careful in which direction we run.
Deeply saddened and in prayer for all those who now grieve and live in fear.
Be blessed.
Sibylle/Daughter of Zion.