Last week we had the annual meeting of SACRA (Staunton-Augusta Church Relief Association). Over 50 churches and organizations contribute to the work of SACRA in meeting the needs of neighbors in our area. Over the last year, $239,884 in assistance was distributed to meet utility, rent, fuel, food, and medical needs for folks in our community. Through the generosity of St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church and many volunteers, overhead expenses were just over 2% which means that most of the monies contributed went to assist neighbors in crisis. Churches across the theological spectrum and individuals with widely divergent political views join in helping struggling neighbors. On the eve of election day (or perhaps in its aftermath if you are reading this later in the week) when the fractures in our nation and politics are on full display, SACRA reminds us that we should be able to do better. As Christians we are called to love all our neighbors, regardless of their political affiliation, immigration status, race, gender, nationality, or life circumstance. We love them because God loves them, and like us, they are all created in God’s image. That is something that we should be able to do – and through SACRA, we are doing it! There are areas in our lives in which we will disagree with Christian siblings, including politics, but we should do without being disagreeable! As Christians who happen to be Americans, we have a responsibility to participate in our democratic process – to make our voices heard and vote – and we know that we will not all agree on who deserves our votes. But we should agree on the values that underlie our choices. We should support those candidates and policies that reflect our values as disciples of Jesus, and our values should reflect those that Jesus proclaims: love of neighbor, servanthood, welcome of strangers, concern for the poor and marginalized, pursuit of peace, good stewardship of the earth, humility, and self-sacrifice. We should ask what policies of the candidates best put those values into action in our public life. We should be willing to stand for justice and to oppose injustice in whatever form it takes. Faith should inform our politics, but never seek to dominate it or oppress others in faith’s name. The claims of Christian Nationalists in this regard are unfaithful both to our Christian faith and to our democracy. As I have said many times, what binds us together is greater than what divides us. I still believe that is true despite the rancor in our current political spheres. Our task going forward after this election is to work together where we can, disagree respectfully when we disagree, and in all things seek to be faithful to Christ’s call to us as disciples. For before we are Americans or Virginians, we are Christians, followers of the risen Christ with good news to share with the world. In that good work, may God bless us – every one!!
— John Peterson
