Most Christian ‘believers’ tend to echo the cultural prejudices and worldviews of the dominant group in their country, with only a minority revealing any real transformation of attitudes or consciousness. It has been true of slavery and racism, classism and consumerism and issues of immigration and health care for the poor. Richard Rohr
Meditation: How do we respond to culturally blinded Christians who in the name of religion oppress and exclude minorities? How do we get these citizens to wake up from abusing their privileges and make them aware of their ignorance and prejudice? What terrible abuse, first of all of religion and then also of many minority persons who Christ came to heal and call “blessed”. Right now, I am ashamed to call myself a Christian. What sad times!
Prayer: God of justice and mercy, we are deeply troubled that churches and people who call themselves Christians are supporting the current political wave of oppression. And so we stand with and pray for all transgender soldiers who are losing their careers and livelihood based on arbitrary prejudice and political abuse of power. We stand with and pray for the children of immigrants who trusted the government and who are being sacrificed on the altar of political power games. We stand with undocumented immigrants who lost everything in the storm Harvey, but who are too scared to come out openly and ask for help. God, we are deeply troubled, angry and ashamed. God, have mercy!
Thus says the Lord of hosts, “Render true judgments, show kindness and mercy to one another, do not oppress the widow, the fatherless, the sojourner, or the poor, and let none of you devise evil against another in your heart.” Zechariah 7: 9-10
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