I have had many “Christians” come after me the last few weeks using this Sunday’s Gospel as a bully club against me. They seem to forget that holding someone accountable for their bad actions is also scriptural and not a violation of loving your enemy and doing good to those who persecute you.
Jesus routinely held the religious leaders of his day accountable. John the Baptist lost his head for holding Herod accountable for his adultery. Many prophets, martyrs, and patriarchs in the Bible stood up against the evil that was pervasive in their nations because they were called by God to do so.
We can love our enemies and do good to them while holding them accountable for their bad actions. Calling out those individuals who are celebrating the abuse and marginalization that is occurring in our nation is what we as people of faith are called to do. Paul even gives us a road map for how to hold those people accountable.
I refuse to be silent while my family is put at risk. I refuse to allow people to violate the sacredness of our sanctuary to abuse, disenfranchise, and even kill immigrants all because the color of their skin is darker. I refuse to allow their votes in favor of killing, imprisoning, and abusing LGBTQIA+ individuals to go unchallenged. I refuse to allow them to celebrate taking food away from children and medical care away from the elderly.
If you are one of those individuals supporting these policies, hear me well, YOU ARE NOT A FOLLOWER OF JESUS. You can call yourself a “Christian”, but you are not a follower of Jesus. Just like the “white-washed tombs” called religious leaders in Jesus’ day, you have sold your soul to the evil one in exchange of material wealth, momentary joy, and temporal power.
I will do good to you. I will continue to pray for your salvation. But I will not hesitate to hold you accountable.
I pray that you will turn from your evil ways and join us on the path to righteousness. Our door is always open and the sacraments, especially confession, is available to all people.
Pax et Bonum,
Bishop Greer