Buddhist Catholic Contemplative Evangelical General Christian Hindu Jewish Latter-day Saint Muslim New Visions Progressive Christian

Beliefs

Topics

Columnists

Resource Library

Research Tools

Video

Podcasts

Thought Readers

Faith In Media Tracker

Newsletters

Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In Subscription Support

Follow Patheos

Faithful Democrats

Home
Politics and Religion
No more tears for the Confederate Flag

No more tears for the Confederate Flag

Last updated on: July 11, 2015 at 6:16 am by Jessica Church

No more tears for the Confederate Flag 2015-07-11T06:16:43-06:00 Jessica Church

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

I got a call late on Wednesday, June 17. The ring jolted me out of sleep into a confused, nearly panicked state. When I answered, the voice on the other end told me there had been a shooting in Charleston, that it had happened at a black church, historic Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church (Mother Emanuel), and that a state senator was believed to be a victim.

Could that really be?

What are the right words in that moment? Even now, I’m not sure there are any. I hung up and knelt down beside my bed. I prayed. I wept.

—

An old boss of mine used to tell a story:

Growing up Southern Baptist in the deep south, he attended more than his fair share of pancake breakfasts. Every year, a gentleman in his town sold and redeemed the tickets, always trying to sell as many as he could to raise money for the congregation. But, if children could recite a memory verse, they were admitted free of charge.

John 3:16 was popular, as was Philippians 4:13. But there were always kids who, for one reason or another, had failed to commit something of substantial length to memory. So, one by one, they walked up to the ticket counter, recited “Jesus wept,” and were admitted.

Jesus wept.

John 11:35 is the shortest verse in the bible, but don’t let that fool you. These two words tell us a few notable things about the Christian faith.

Our God grieves. Jesus, God incarnate, cried at the sight of a lifeless Lazarus. He felt heartache, as we all do. He was overcome with emotion, as we all sometimes are. I am reminded of the Nicene Creed. “[Jesus] came down from heaven, and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and became man.” Fully God and fully human, tears flowed down his face.

What we do matters matters to God. So maybe this isn’t a huge surprise. Of course God cares, right? Yes. But too often, our omnipotent God gets caricatured as a stern, commanding white man in the sky. Imagine instead a God affected by our behavior. Good or bad, it causes God to weep or celebrate. S/he does not love us any less (that’s the grandest miracle of all), but surely a loving God cares what we do and don’t do.

We can redeem and be redeemed. Jesus did not weep forever. Instead of remaining in a sorrowful state, Jesus reacted in a way that was, quite literally, life giving. Raising Lazarus from the dead was one of his last miracles before his own crucifixion and resurrection. As his followers, we too are called to turn darkness into light.

—

Yesterday, on Friday June 10, 2015, my spirit is renewed. In secular America we call it a silver lining or making lemonade out of lemons. But as Christians, we have different language. It is redemption through God. It is (striving for) beloved community. It is the creation of the Kingdom, in small moments, here on earth.

This morning, I stood outside the South Carolina statehouse grounds and watched the Confederate flag come down, once and for all. I am no longer weeping. Along with my friends and thousands of others, I cheered and clapped and shivered with goosebumps despite the sweltering heat. Love at last triumphed over hate.

Jessica Church is a faithful Democrat living in South Carolina. You can reach Jessica on twitter at @j_r_church or by email at church.jessicarae@gmail.com.

historic Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church

Jesus Wept

Mother Emanuel

South Carolina

Previous Post

July 9, 2015

Calling thinkers, opinion makers and artists: FaithfulDemocrats Needs You!

Next Post

July 16, 2015 Why Walker Won't Win

Browse Our Archives

Select a Category About Us About Us Action Center Advertise Ask a Theologian Ask a Theologian Blogs Books Campaign Blog Candidate Spotlights Commentary Donate Facebook Featured Writers Fellows Fellows From the Pulpit General Information Hillary Clinton Interfaith Blog Latest Media Center Media Center Media Center MyBlog MyBlog News Newsflash Newsflashes Our Team Reader Blogs RSS Sermon of the Week Shop Social Networking Static Items Support Talking Points Test blogs The Basics Theology Uncategorized YouTube

Select a Month November 2020 October 2020 February 2020 August 2019 July 2018 July 2017 March 2017 February 2017 August 2016 July 2016 June 2016 December 2015 November 2015 October 2015 September 2015 August 2015 July 2015 June 2015 May 2015 April 2015 March 2015 February 2015 January 2015 December 2014 November 2014 October 2014 September 2014 August 2014 July 2014 June 2014 May 2014 April 2014 March 2014 February 2014 January 2014 June 2013 April 2013 March 2013 February 2013 January 2013 December 2012 November 2012 October 2012 September 2012 August 2012 July 2012 June 2012 May 2012 April 2012 March 2012 April 2009 March 2009 February 2009 January 2009 December 2008 November 2008 October 2008 September 2008 August 2008 July 2008 June 2008 May 2008 April 2008 March 2008 February 2008 January 2008 December 2007 November 2007 October 2007 September 2007 August 2007 July 2007 June 2007 May 2007 April 2007 March 2007 February 2007 January 2007 December 2006 November 2006 October 2006 September 2006 August 2006 July 2006 January 2006 August 2004

TAKE THE

Religious Wisdom Quiz

What does Paul tell the Ephesians not to let the sun go down on?

Select your answer to see how you score.

Your sin Your anger Your unforgiveness Your disputes