Reflection from Bishop Amy Current regarding political division - January 2025

A question was posed to me this week by a member of our synod in light of the Presidential Inauguration, subsequent prayer service, and executive orders and in light of the fact that our ELCA is not of one mind politically but represents a diversity of opinions and convictions. “How can we encourage our communities to discern the Gospel’s call amidst such divisive and often harmful political allegiances?”

Here is my response:

Thank you for your question and for inviting my consideration.  

I first come with confession as daily I sin and fall short on the daily and lose sight of the Gospel. Only by the power of the Holy Spirit, am I aware of both my sin and God’s gift of forgiveness. 

And from there, I invite us all to the foot of the cross, to the empty tomb, and to the days after the resurrection-to Pentecost. 

I invite us to engage the Holy Scripture- to really read and reflect, and wrestle with what is there - rather than what we might think or have heard. 

I invite us to prayer for our President and all who serve in our federal, state, and local governments. And for all in need, for the vulnerable, for those are are fearful, angry, confused, hurting, and for the church, the world, creation, and all those in need… 

One of the ways that I remind myself about God’s love is remembering that each person is one for whom Christ died and rose again. Every one! Including the most vulnerable one and Donald Trump. For all US voters no matter for whom they voted and for all humanity throughout the world. 

As a Lutheran Christian, I am called to share this good news of God through Jesus Christ by the power of the Holy Spirit. The good news that God is love. God loves us freely and without our merit or our earning it. The Good news that God meets us in the messiness of the world and loves us to life in the midst of death. The Good news that God promises the gift of faith, the promise of peace, the assurance of comfort and calls us to love God and love neighbor. The Good news that God sent Jesus into the world to save the world not to condemn it. The Good News that God is love and life and is making all things new- even in the midst of our human chaos. 

I believe that good is stronger than evil. I believe that love is stronger than hate. I believe that God is love! I believe that God is life and continues to make all things new. I believe that God loves us and by the Spirit turns our hearts- opens our hearts to love one another- especially for the most vulnerable in the world. 

I believe that we are called to live in the world. Our spiritual lives are not separate from the world.  God calls and gifts us to live in the world and to use our voices, our hearts, our hands, and our feet to live in love.  This may mean using our voices to advocate for the vulnerable or to engage in dialogue with those with whom we disagree. God sent Jesus into the world to save the world and we are the Body of Christ in the world to sow love.

For instance: Feeding the hungry. Clothing the naked. Welcoming the stranger. Caring for the orphan and widow. Caring for the imprisoned. 

I hope, by the power of the Holy Spirit, we might all live in love- not self righteously-  but humbly and only by the grace of God. 

 

Peace in Christ,

 

 

 

Amy Current, child of God

Serving as Bishop is the Southeastern Iowa Synod, ELCA

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