by Rev. Benjamin Chung (鍾立恆牧師)
It is interesting how the news and one’s political views can alter friendships. I heard even last year, during the Hong Kong Protests, how friend who knew one another since middle school now won’t even talk to each other because of how they view the protests and police. The protests in the US today also have some similarities, and some similar outcomes, but there are also differences. Anger against police and use of force, trust/distrust in the political leaders, and even a question about identity. The difference is, it appears that most Hong Kongers don’t want to be under Communist Chinese authority while those of darker skin tone are seeking to be seen as equal and to not be judged on the basis of the color of their skin. The death of a Black Man at the hands of a White Officer caused the racial tensions to erupt in the US and all over the world.
Satan loves division. Yes, there are peaceful protests, but there are also riots and looting and even more people being killed including, Ex-police captain David Dorn and federal officer Patrick Underwood. There are calls for police departments to be “defunded”, where the definition of defund depends on who you talk to. Identity politics are being played by the media and politicians. Sports teams are even saying, “if you’re not with us, you’re against us.” This turmoil has caused Christians to argue with one another, even on public platforms such as Facebook, which is an awful Christian witness. They are forgetting to, “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person” (Colossians 4:6 ESV).
Some of us might wonder, in the midst of all the turmoil, how can I help make change? Start by thinking small. Start with yourself. Are you “living rightly”? We should consider our own actions and heart. Do we love our neighbor—the people around us? Jesus did. He may not have agreed with everyone, but he loved and helped them. He didn’t agree with the Roman Occupation, but he healed the Centurion’s daughter. He didn’t take the Zealot’s side, but made one a follower. He didn’t take the Pharisee’s side, but he spoke to them and prayed for their city. Live rightly as Jesus did and love others, even if you don’t fully agree with them in all things. “But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven,” (Matthew 5:44-45). Remember: They, you and I are still made in God’s image. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, there is neither slave nor free, there is no male and female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus,” (Galatians 3:28). Therefore, refrain from creating division but look to love others as much as you can.
Translation:
很有意思地看到一些人因新聞和政治觀點而改變朋友間的友誼。我甚至聽聞去年在香港的示威浪潮中，有些自中學以來已彼此認識的朋友會因對抗議和對警方持不同看法而至互不交談。今
天在美國的抗議活動中，也有類似之地方和相似的結果，但也有不同之處。對警察和使用武力的憤怒，對政治領導人的信任或不信任，甚至是關於身份角色的問題。所不同的是，大多數香港人似乎不希望受到中國共產黨的統治，而膚色較深的人則希望被視為平等的，而不是根據其膚色而被判斷。有一個黑人在白人警官的手中死亡，導緻美國和世界各地的種族緊張局勢爆發。
撒但愛分裂。是的，有和平的抗議活動，但也有騷亂和搶劫，甚至還有更多人被殺，包括前警察隊長戴維·多恩和聯邦官員帕特里克·安德伍德。有人呼籲警察部門“退款”，其中退款的定義取決於與您交談的人。媒體和政治人物正在玩弄[身份政治] 。一些體育競技隊甚至說：“如果您不與我們在一起，那您就是在反對我們。” 這場動盪已導致基督徒彼此爭辯，例如在像Facebook(臉書)這樣的公共平台上，這其實是可怕的基督徒見證。他們忘記了：”你們的言語要常常帶着和氣， 好像用鹽調和，就可知道該怎樣回答各人。” (歌羅西書 4:6)
我們當中有些人可能會想，在所有動蕩之中，我該如何幫助做出改變？從小處著手。從你自己開始。您是否在“正確地生活”？我們應該考慮自己的行動和內心。我們是否愛我們的鄰居-我們周圍的人？耶穌做到了。他可能未與所有人達成一致，但他愛並幫助了他們。他不同意羅馬的佔領，但他治癒了百夫長的女兒。他沒有支持奮鋭黨的政見，但讓一個黨員成為了追隨者。他
沒有站在法利賽人身邊，但他對他們說話並為他們的城市祈禱。即使您在所有事情上都不完全同意他們的生活，卻可以像耶穌一樣正確生活並愛著他人。“只是我告訴你們，要愛你們的仇敵，為那逼迫你們的禱告，這樣 就可以作你們天父的兒子。” (馬太福音 5:44-55) 請記住：他們，你和我仍然是按照上帝的形象造的。“並不分猶太人、 希臘人，自主的、為奴的，或男或女，因為你們在基督耶穌裏都成為一了。” (加拉太書 3:28) 因此，不要製造分裂，而要盡可能地愛別人。