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I was stunned last night when Will Smith punched Chris Rock on a live broadcast of the Academy Awards. Regardless of the circumstances and intentions of anyone involved, a violent, aggressive act happened before the world’s eyes. Awkwardly, the show proceeded as if nothing happened. This was compounded by the reality that just minutes later Will Smith was awarded an Oscar for his performance in King Richard. He accepted the award speaking about love and how love makes people do crazy things. He justified his violent act with love as the reason for it. He justified his actions out of protection for his loved one (wife). The world went into a frenzy on social media in response to this event. I was shocked!
Just nine days before last night’s incident, Vladimir Putin held a pro-war rally in Moscow where he celebrated and justified the Russian invasion of the Ukraine. In his speech, Putin cited Scripture by quoting John 15:13 as justification for the deaths of Russian soldiers in this invasion. I was even more deeply appalled and shocked by this scriptural justification for this senseless invasion!
These are just two recent events that have not directly impacted my life, but also should not be ignored. While I am not directly impacted by the incident in Hollywood or the misappropriation of Scripture to celebrate atrocities in the Ukraine, I should not brush them aside. Neither should any of us! As Christians, we should condemn violence, as well as hurtful speech and behavior. We should care and act to combat wrong and support those who have been victimized. We should not only be the recipients of selfless and sacrificial love, but the bearers of it into a broken world!
Many other events are stirring that we should not ignore or allow to consume our attention as we go about life and approach Easter as a people of faith. Some of those events involve our denominational expression as United Methodist Christians. These events will no doubt garner increasing media attention and cause debate among Christians both inside and outside the United Methodist family. The General Conference of the United Methodist Church, the body of authority for enacting church law and practice, has been delayed once again due to complications of meeting as a global delegation due to COVID and travel issues related to it. This means that some of the continuing issues that are creating division within our denominational ranks remain unresolved for many. This delay has led some segments within the UMC to propose different structural alternatives. Some of these alternatives could result in significant structural changes and/or separation steps for people presently part of one denominational identity.
Regardless of what happens ahead on that front, I hope that we as a church family can remain focused on our missional call to be a beacon of hope for all. I hope that we can continue to focus on changing lives in the name of Jesus Christ and reaching anyone who seeks to know Jesus Christ and be transformed by God’s grace. I pray that we will maintain our focus on what we are called to be and do at Longview FUMC. I also promise that we will remain attentive to the denominational happenings that may affect our church and communicate in a timely and transparent way how they might impact FUMC.
Meanwhile, let us continue to draw closer to God and one another. I pray that God will guide us to draw closer to his intended purposes for our lives and our communal witness. I hope that we will choose a path of faithfulness as we approach Easter and the call of Easter people beyond Easter Sunday. There are many worship opportunities, spiritual growth events, and service activities to assist us in that quest. Let us remain focused on where and how God is calling us now and moving forward.
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Jay
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