As a person of faith deeply engaged in our community, I feel compelled to offer a more nuanced perspective on the intersection of faith/religion, politics, and civic engagement. God may have called one to float and one to fly.
Following yesterday’s incident with the former president, quite a few voices have emerged, each presenting their perspective on the who, what, when, where, and why – blasé skippy.
Our diverse Christian community is a kaleidoscope of individual gifts, talents, and callings. It’s important to remember that God’s gifts are not distributed to each person the same; what one person is called to do may differ greatly from another’s. The assumption that one’s personal convictions should be universal is a dangerous oversimplification of faith and civic duty. While we are one in the body of Christ, our delivery methods will vary.
In my view, the belief that one political party holds a monopoly on righteousness is fundamentally flawed. Our society is complex and faces various challenges that rarely have simple, one-sided solutions. As people of faith, we should be wary of partisan entrenchment and instead strive for a more nuanced understanding of the issues at hand.
Rather than silencing voices that don’t align with our personal views, we should create spaces for respectful dialogue. It’s through these conversations that we can hope to bridge divides and find common ground on the issues that affect our communities most deeply.
Engaging with current events and politics can profoundly express faith when approached with integrity and compassion.
However, we must do so with humility, recognizing the limitations of our own understanding and remaining open to growth and new perspectives.To those who would seek to silence voices of faith in the public square, I say this: What you’re not going to do is stifle the diverse group of believers who know they are called to engage in civic discourse. Our faith compels us to be active participants in shaping our society for the better. I don’t need a doctorate in theology to know that or elicit approval.
Just because God didn’t give it to you, doesn’t mean he didn’t give it to another. Each of us have different gifts, talents, and levels of capacity. Your opinion believing one political party is better than the other is your first mistake.
All things should be done decently and in order, with pure intent. Don’t allow emotions to move you in the wrong direction. Emotions often shape opinions, but decisions should be based on facts. Use emotions as motivation, but let reason guide your actions. Balance feeling with thinking for better outcomes.
Regardless, as Christians, we may know and opine about the facts, but our behavior should reflect purity in all things. No one knows why yesterday happened, but I pray for all parties involved and pray deeply for an end to the nonsense discourse that encourage these unnecessary tragedies.
As we move forward, let’s focus on building a community values diverse perspectives, encourages thoughtful engagement, and remains grounded in our shared faith values. The challenges we face are bigger than any one of us – it’s time we start acting like it
Monica is the founder and publisher of Black El Paso Voice. She is an advocate fighting against racism and embracing positive community involvement. She is a lover of God, Puerto Rican cuisine, and the greatest defender of her family. She also enjoy House Music and swears it’s the best music on the planet!