Have you seen this recent meme and posts about it?
First off, she never said this. We really need to have our yes mean yes and our no mean no just as Jesus said. Disinformation is problematic and often harmful in the long run if we claim that we want any kind of justice. I have seen people write about this as if a quote. It doesn’t matter who we are or how we vote, our personal honor is important because it builds trust, helps build relationships, and over time, what we say might eventually influence people in surprising ways. Please be careful reposting memes and quotes, as people can be mislead.
Why is this important? We live in caustic times. If people don’t trust us, we lose the opportunity to positively influence others. If we are correct in our opinions or beliefs, left or right, why lie of tolerate those who do? I think we should not, and yes, that should include lies from those in political parties and authority of any kind. It should not matter if we agree with their stated goals.
Attorney General Bondi did say it was unacceptable to interrupt services and federal authorities would charge those who do it. This leads to my second point. Virginia already has laws on the books against this kind of protest action or disturbance dating to the 1950s. I suspect others do as well. Just as with the mask laws, it seems the law was partly in response to the KKK and other such groups active at the time due to struggles over Civil Rights. I’d like to suggest there are better ways to influence change including peaceful protests outside the church or faith community. That seems to generally be the law already. To become what we say we hate – again left or right – is a grave error often making things worse and hardening hearts. It can become fodder for more untruths or questionable legal actions.
All faith communities should be protected from unlawful interference as with our homes. It matters not if their theology or politics is bad in your view, because someone could claim the same about your faith community and take action. And if someone does not believe in a god, they should not be harassed. That’s what the constitutional mandate for Freedom of Religion protects. We should seek to love and respect the humanity of other humans even if deemed our enemies. We should seek to encounter people as the individuals they are, not say, “All (fill in the blank) are bad.” This does not negate social repercussions, law suits, or convictions when the group opposed to us doesn’t live to this standard, but our giving up our moral and ethical values to achieve our goals often proves like a cancer long term. I recognize the risks, but particularly if a Christian, we should understand that doing the right thing often comes with costs. It is why Jesus taught so often that we must take up our own cross and follow him.
If Jesus is Lord, and I believe he is, we must try not to act out of fear, and we should humbly seek to listen to one another. In the end, we might be the ones who are wrong. Regarding this meme people have pointed to Jesus’ “cleansing of the Temple” as a defense of the protesters. I think it’s important to note that he didn’t enter the inner sanctum. He was in the courtyard. Jesus was trying to embody scriptural prophesy, and he likely knew he was provoking authorities to precipitate his arrest and crucifixion. I don’t think Jesus’ situation and purpose fully informs our own. We are not Jesus. Otherwise, there would be plenty of churches having tables flipped every Sunday for their lack of love or other sinfulness. He might even chase you or me with that whip of cords, for at times, we likely all deserve it.
Fight for justice? Yes, but seek to love all the more – even those who persecute us. For God has promised a full and lasting justice is on its way.
Postscript: Sadly, on the evening of this post, I read that the White House X account changed a photo image itself. A woman arrested for her part in the above incident was altered to make it appear that she was crying. Presented as if true, the falsity of the image was soon identified. The person in charge of the White House account answered bluntly and unrepentantly, “Enforcement of the law will continue. The memes will continue.” Forgive us, Father, we know not what we do.
© 2025 The Rev. Louis Florio. All content not held under another’s copyright may not be used without permission of the author. Scripture passages are from the NRSVue translation unless otherwise indicated.
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Well said ________________________________