October 13, 2023
Love and Hate
I don’t remember the first time I ever heard the term “hate crime.” I know I didn’t hear it as child. My children, however, have grown up with the term. Certainly, what we call hate crimes existed when I was younger, we just didn’t call them that. But I was also somewhat blind to them. As I grew up, I became more aware of how much bias, prejudice, and hate there was in the world. These attitudes often vilify and dehumanize other people, sometimes blaming them for their problems. It was my volunteering in a Black church in the housing projects of Pittsburgh that I felt called to ministry. It was there that I saw a sharp contrast between the lives our sisters and brothers in Christ in their everyday lives and their lives within the church. In a world that told them they were “worth less” than others, limiting their human potential, the church gave them hope and love. I felt called to be an agent of God’s love and hope in the world.
That was over four decades ago. Today American Christian churches are not always seen as places of hope and love to those on the outside. Some churches’ language is often indistinct from the rancorous political discourse that is so common these days. In fact, sometimes they contribute to the political diatribe. Because those outside often cannot tell one church from another, I am careful to try to distinguish our church from churches whose rhetoric can be divisive, if not demeaning.
So when I began to learn the details of the atrocious violence perpetrated against the Israelis after worship on Sunday, I feared an escalation of anti-Semitism in our country. It inspired me for the second time this year to offer an email of support to our neighboring synagogue and its head rabbi.
Dear Rabbi Weiner,
Grace and peace to you in the name of our one God.
I am unfortunately compelled to offer another word of encouragement and support from myself and the entire community of First Covenant Church in Seattle to you and the congregation of Temple de Hirsch Sinai. We are deeply saddened by the violence perpetrated on Israel by Hamas. Our scriptures are clear that violence runs deep in both human history and human nature. They are equally clear that God is a God of justice, mercy, and compassion, with a holy penchant favoring the innocent, vulnerable, and marginalized.
Though these atrocities occurred far from our Capitol Hill neighborhood, we know that neither Hamas nor any form of anti-Semitism respects geographical boundaries. Be assured that we stand in solidarity with you all in the days ahead, praying that no such violence will be echoed anywhere in the world, but in particular in our community. I have encouraged members of our congregation to attend your vigil, even if only online, as a sign of our support. You have been—and will remain—in our prayers. May God’s peace and justice have the last word in this moment in history, near and far.
Please let us know if there are ways we can make our prayers and support more concrete.
May God’s blessing be upon you, your staff, and your congregation in this tragic moment.
As mentioned in the email, a note went out inviting you to attend the Vigil at the synagogue Tuesday night, even if only virtually. A recording of that service is available in case you are interested.
Wednesday night our Church Council passed a resolution condemning this heinous hate crime; not as a defense of Israel, but as an indictment of all hate crimes. It is sad to say, but we must distinguish our church as a church that is intolerant of bigotry and hate. It is God’s love that has drawn us together, it is God’s love that we offer to the world. We unapologetically resist forces of evil and hate, confident in the victory of God’s love on the Cross given for all, which conquers all.
Let us pray that we might be a light on a hill, in these very dark days, shining a path to the loving God people so desperately need.
With confidence in Christ,
~ Pastor Todd