One year ago, our country saw a massive rise in anti-Asian hate crimes as COVID swept thru our nation. We collectively grieved, addressed it as a church, and prayed for our nation. Several weeks ago, coinciding with the Lunar New Year celebration, these same crimes started to rise yet again and so on a Sunday morning Lovell Davis led us as we lamented and prayed together during our worship gathering.
Last night as I read about the horrific events in Atlanta where Asian run spa’s were targeted and a number of people were killed, I immediately thought of my own family, friends, and community. Most of you know that two of my children are Chinese and I’ve observed over the years how they have been treated differently simply based on their ethnicity.
I then thought of my friends. Far too many of my Asian friends have shared stories with me of how they have been treated differently, often out of fear or hate. One friend shared with me today how when he was young hate speech was literally painted on the side of his house. I’ve also heard similar stories from some of my friends that are part of Sunset Community Church.
Then I thought of our community. Here in Renton, people of Asian descent make up between 26-30% of the population and in our church family we have five Asian ethnic groups represented. Directly across the street from our church there are two Vietnamese owned restaurants, one of which I just ate lunch at yesterday. So the rise in these crimes is personal, relevant, and something we cannot nor should not ignore.
One thing that is made clear throughout scripture is when someone murders an image bearer of God it is a crime against God himself. Jesus himself not only reaffirmed this truth but went even deeper than the action of murder. The root of murder is fear and hate, and these find a home in our hearts long before they manifest in action. So that’s where Jesus goes in his sermon on the mount, to the heart (see Matt. 5:21-22) and in doing that he challenges us all to root out our evil thoughts before they become evil deeds.
So what about you? What about me? Have we made room in our hearts for evil thoughts about people who have a different skin color or a different country of origin than us? Maybe your answer is, “Of course not!” I hope it is.
But what about the things you have allowed into your heart that have more subtly worked in and caused you to see an entire people group in a negative way? Many of us have been fed these things by the media we consume, the politicians we follow, and even by things said in the Church. The last one is especially grievous to me and is why I’m writing.
So that there are no questions as to where we stand, no space for this kind of evil to be comfortable in our church, and so that we may be unified, let me clearly state; there is no acceptable level of prejudice or partiality toward any people group in Sunset Community Church. As followers of Jesus the love we are to give is never to be based on ethnicity, age, skin color, country of origin, or socioeconomic status, but is freely given to all people.
And to our brothers and sisters who are hurting or fearful in this time, I want you to know that we love you. We will stand with you in your pain, we will defend you against injustice, and we will pray with you for comfort and peace.
Grace and peace,
Pastor Andrew