Something pissed me off the other day. A friend of mine made a post on Facebook, adamant about people watching the documentary film, Hillary’s America. He did not mention anything about his own political stance, but simply insisted whether Democratic or Republican we should all see this educational film. As I scrolled through the comments, I read one that said:
“Wait a sec, are you for Hillary? Aren't you Christian? Don't you value human life?”
I’m not usually one to complain about Facebook, but this perfectly capsulized the way we so quickly oppose and stereotype one another. “Oh, so you’re obviously for Hillary because - you want me to watch a movie with her name in it. So, you must not be a Christian. You must not value human life.” It was SO ASININE. Why do we insist on jumping to conclusions and putting each other into these boxes?
Not too long ago I was invited to a church prayer conference. It was a night to focus on our country and all the recent violence and political shifts that are taking place. A lot of prayers were said and a lot of different topics were mentioned: gay marriage, abortion, the presidential election, racism, etc.
And while I listened to all these different prayers and oppositions, the only prayer that seemed universal and right was this:
God have mercy.
Have mercy on our country.
Have mercy on those who declare war on our country.
Have mercy on our faithful leaders, working for good.
Have mercy on the wealthy, powerful, & corrupt politicians generating fear.
Have mercy on those that take life out of a young mother’s womb, never able to understand the spiritual gravity of what’s been done.
Have mercy on those that would judge a heart of compassion that says, “a woman should choose for her own life and body, especially if she was assaulted and none of it was her fault.”
Have mercy on every homosexual couple, now able to marry freely in our country.
Have mercy on every anti-gay crusader declaring, “It’s a sin.”
Have mercy on the angry father acting out in deep-rooted pain.
Have mercy on the angry son that grows up hateful and bitter towards his abusive father.
Have mercy on the married couple signing for divorce.
Have mercy on those that remain in abusive, unhealthy marriages at the expense of themselves and their children.
Have mercy on the thieves who steal cars and rob homes.
Have mercy on the thieves who pocket the extra change given to them accidentally by the diverted cashier.
Have mercy on the atheist mocking religion.
Have mercy on the religious, distracted by routine.
Have mercy on the indecisive, too afraid to take a stand for what they believe.
Have mercy on the aggressors who push their viewpoint onto others unwelcomely.
Have mercy on those who are cruel to animals.
Have mercy on the animal lovers who care more about pets than humankind.
Have mercy on our soldiers training everyday to be effective killers.
Have mercy on those who protect nothing of their own due to cowardice and fear.
Have mercy on every act of violence & hatred caused in the name of “equality.”
Have mercy on every police officer that has acted out in violence due to discrimination and fear.
Have mercy on every woman & child who has ever been subjected to the horrors of human trafficking.
Have mercy on every pimp, every corporation, and every guilty exploiter.
Have mercy on every child raised by an addict: that they might have a chance at a stable, fulfilled life despite so many examples of failure.
Have mercy on every addict: that whatever has crippled them would no longer keep them from being the mother or father they dreamed of being.
Have mercy on the centuries of slavery held by Americans over minority groups.
Have mercy on every people group in our country still affected by the deep oppression their ancestors faced by American slave owners and the racism that echoed thereafter.
Have mercy on every child afraid of the dark.
Have mercy on the darkness that is woven throughout all of human history.
Have MERCY on us all.
- Angelique.
Luke 18: 11 - 14.