I just finished reading Bishop Coyner’s email about the deaths at Fort Hood, Texas. Our Bishop urged us as Christians not to “jump to conclusions” about the person who killed 13 soldiers and wounded so many others. We need to stand with our Bishop’s viewpoint. Feelings run very deep over this issue. From 9/11 on, many of us have heard sayings about individuals from the Middle East being called derisive names, such as “ragheads.” No one knows yet why Dr. Hasan did what he did. It has been said that he felt ridiculed for his faith as a Muslim, and no one really knows yet how he felt about being deployed. We do know that he acted not in keeping with his Muslim faith. And now, we, as Christians, are called to act in accordance with our Christian faith. When we saw the news reports about what took place at Fort Hood, undoubtedly there was anger and immense sadness in many Americans. Its understandable. But, for any of us to say “All Muslims are Islamic extremists,” would be like for others to say about us, “All Christians are extremists.”
It is so hard to walk in Jesus’ way. All of us are hurt by others many times in our lives. Sometimes the hurt is brutal. But, every week as we pray our Lord’s Prayer in worship, those words define who we are as a whole and as individuals. Jesus’ way is one of the most difficult lifestyles on earth. But, just because its difficult doesn’t mean that we quit walking in it, even in the face of brutality.
We need to do as Bishop Coyner has asked, “Pray.” We need to pray long and hard, and let time and God, and the courts sort this out, while we offer support to the families of the wounded and fallen.
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