Sometimes it’s hard to know what to do when situations overwhelm us. Such is the case with the recent tragedy in Pittsburgh last weekend at the Tree of Life Synagogue. We can only imagine what horror the worshippers felt as events unfolded. It must have seemed both unreal and yet very real at the same time. None of us can help but think about our own peaceful worship gatherings, and how inconceivable it would be that such an assault could happen against seemingly everything that’s sacred to us. Our hearts and prayers go out to this community.
But what to do? I felt at a loss last Saturday evening. Of course, I knew to pray. We know that God is the God of all comfort. We enter into the heart of God when we pray for all mankind, but we also know that we enter into a special place when we pray for the Jewish people. Isaiah wrote, “‘Comfort, O comfort My people,’ says your God” (Isaiah 40:1).
Next, I waited for Shabbat to end so I could contact a local leader in the Jewish community and let him know how grieved we were at Cornerstone Christian Center that something so tragic could happen in our country. America has been one of the few places in the world, besides Israel, where anti-semitism has not found a foothold. He appreciated us reaching out.
At a loss as to what to do next, I thought I would write a letter to the Aspen Daily News and to the Aspen Times. I knew that the editorial board would probably not see the letter as “local” enough, but I found writing it cathartic. Here’s what I wrote:
On behalf of Cornerstone Christian Center I would like to send our heartfelt prayers and grief for the Jewish community which has suffered the tragic loss of their fellow worshippers in Pittsburgh on Saturday, October 27th. Any attack on any synagogue we consider an attack on our very own church. With the increase of antisemitism in other parts of the world, we recognize that America has been a safe place for the Jewish people and for the Jewish faith. Having witnessed this weekend the most brutal assault on the Jewish people in the history of our nation, we must be sure to stand together, Christians and Jews, ensuring that such mindsets can never take root in this land of freedom. Unlike the silence of Christians and churches in the past during the Spanish Inquisition, the Pogroms, the Holocaust, and other tragedies, we wish to not remain silent during a time like this but rather stand in solidarity with the Jewish people. Together we share a love for the Scriptures, veneration for the prophets, allegiance to the Ten Commandments, and mutual respect for worshipping God. We have our differences, but none that should keep us from honoring, respecting, loving, and defending each other. Can I assure you today that we feel a sorrow as we would for a brother.
Finally, I think we should remind ourselves of the purpose of our Christian faith. The Scriptures teach us, “And let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we shall reap if we do not grow weary. So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all men, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith (Galatians 6:9-10 NAS). Notice that we have a strong responsibility to our Christian community, but this verse also reminds us that we are to do good to ALL men. Everything was politicized after events unfolded last weekend. Too much of the conversation turned toward trying to discover who all are to blame. But lets remember that trying to figure out who’s right and who’s wrong solves nothing. Let’s set aside wrangling and dissensions, and let’s determine that today we will do good to all men. We can’t turn back the hands of time to change a wrong, but today we have an opportunity to demonstrate the fruit of the Spirit of peace, patience, kindness and goodness. Let’s demonstrate those virtues inside and outside our Christian community. We can’t change Saturday, but we can change today.
God bless you all,
Jim