This week marks an interesting time for me as an American Episcopalian. The term of our Presiding Bishop, the Most Reverend Michael Curry, came to a close on All Hallows’ Eve after nine years of faithful service. He is widely beloved by Episcopalians and we were especially proud when he brought his message of Jesus’s love to a global audience in his electrifying sermon at the 2018 Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle. Throughout his tenure, Bishop Curry’s emphasis has been on love of neighbour as the core of what he calls, ‘the Jesus Movement.’
A week after the Royal Wedding, I attended the Reclaiming Jesus service and vigil in Washington. During the vigil portion, we marched in a candlelit procession to the White House where the leaders of the Reclaiming Jesus movement read from a declaration, which included the following words: ‘We reject “America first” as a theological heresy for followers of Christ. … We reject xenophobic or ethnic nationalism that places one nation over others as a political goal.’ Earlier that evening, in a sermon at National City Christian Church, Bishop Curry exhorted the congregants to ‘Love the neighbour you like and love the neighbour you don’t like. Love the neighbour you agree with and the neighbour you don’t agree with. Love your Democrat neighbour, your Republican neighbour. … Love your neighbour. That’s why we’re here.’
As a bitterly divided US prepares to vote on Tuesday, these two messages bear remembering. Love of neighbour demands that we speak out against theologies that harm our neighbours by weaponising Christianity for nationalist or xenophobic purposes. At the same time, love of neighbour demands that we extend love and grace to those who vote differently from us. This can be easier said than done. It can be difficult to love your neighbour if your neighbour is voting for candidates or policies that harm you or take away your rights. One might even view such neighbours as adversaries or even enemies. Yet in Luke 6: 27-31, Jesus makes clear that the Golden Rule extends to all, even to those we view as enemies. This is certainly something I struggle to do but, as Christians, we must give it our best effort.
Eddie Grove
