Though it may seem as if the evil of the world is being unveiled, welcomed, and celebrated,

commands for the Christian remain ever the same.

I think of Christian history throughout the ages and remember…

…where prisoners were kept without basic necessities for years before trial and judgment,

              Christians were commanded to visit and care for them (Matt 25:36; Heb 13:3)

…where social systems caused poverty and preyed on the marginalized for greed,

              Christians were commanded to eschew greedy practices and refuse to hoard wealth (Matt 6:19-20; Lk 12:15; Jas 5:1-3), to give generously to feed and clothe the poor (Matt 25:40; Jas 2:15-16), and treat slaves as brothers and sisters (Philemon 1:15-16; Gal 3:28; Col 3:11; 1 Cor 12:13).

…where refugees fled or were exiled,

Christians were commanded to welcome them (Matt 25:35), show hospitality to them (Heb 13:1-2), and treat them as neighbors (Matt 5:47; Luke 10:34-37).

…where women were thought to be deformed men, innately less valued, easily cast aside,

              Christians taught each human was made in the image of God (Gen 1:27; Gal 3:28), remembered the female disciples of Christ (Luke 8:1-3), full of God’s Spirit (Joel 2:28-32; Acts 2:17-18; 38-39), demanded fidelity in marriage (Matt 5:27-32; Heb 13:4; 1 Cor 6:18), and honored for their ministry positions (Rom 16; Col 4:15).

…when proclaiming Christ became a threat to the empire,

              Christians stood firm and endured tortures and death in their refusal to deny him (Acts 7:59-60; 12:1-2; 14:19; Rev 2:13; 6:9).

Christians are made strong in the midst of evil, refined and molded into the image of Christ who suffered at the hands of evil and was resurrected into victory over evil. We are called into his sufferings just as we are called into his resurrection.

When our empire makes (and has historically made) wrongful imprisonment policy,

              Christians are still called to care for the prisoners.

Where any human life from womb to death is abandoned for greed and gain,

              Christians are still called to care for them.

Where legalized social systems prey on the marginalized,

              Christians are still commanded to joyfully and generously share their God-given resources.

Where refugees flee and seek refuge,

Christians are still commanded to welcome them and show them hospitality as neighbors.

Where women are devalued and subjugated,

              Christians are still reminded that all humans are made in the image of God, full of innate dignity, worthy of fidelity in marriage, education, and empowered by the Spirit to fulfill God-given callings to ministry.

When the truth of Christ threatens our empire,

              Christians are still called to stand firm and endure whatever cost the empire deems worthy for their refusal to accept lies for truth.

The call of the Christian does not waver, whether living in times of justice or injustice. We are to love all humans generously, give of our resources with abandon, and live in the Spirit and Truth of Christ at all earthly costs. Our eternity is secure with Him. Let us also live on this earth as Him.