This present moment requires a public theology of unity
Photograph by James Lee via Unsplash
Rev. Dr. Robert W. Lee
It’s been over half a century since the Apollo missions inspired a generation of people to wonder about the limitless nature of the cosmos. Yet this spring the crew of the Artemis II have beamed back images to earth that have inspired that same wonder and awe at the smallness of what Carl Sagan called our “pale blue dot.” The crew has engaged in scientific experiments and data gathering. They have seen the earth in ways few others have, and I was struck by their deep conviction to inspire us to care for our planet that God gave us. Artemis’ pilot Victor Glover remarked on Easter Sunday, “I think, as we go into Easter Sunday, thinking about all the cultures all around the world, whether you celebrate it or not, whether you believe in God or not, this is an opportunity for us to remember where we are, who we are, and that we are the same thing, and that we've got to get through this together.”
Right now, our world seems to be barreling out of control. With military violence in places like Palestine, Ukraine, Lebanon, and Iran we see the full scale of humanity’s proclivity toward destruction — a striking contrast with the display of human ingenuity and creativity in the Artemis II mission. I feel that we should lean into the gifts of exploration, unity, and innovation rather than our lesser traits geared toward pain, isolation, and Christian Nationalism. We are better off together than apart. We are better off engaged with one another in work that inspires rather than divides. We must appeal to what President Abraham Lincoln called “the better angels of our nature” in our national and international discourse.
We must engage in the public discourse as Christians that don’t seek nationalist or religious homogeneity, but rather celebrate the vast tapestry of peoples and viewpoints that seek equity and justice for all. We must do the work of God for this particular time in history.
This requires repentance and seeking atonement for the ways we collectively and individually are perpetrating harm. Frankly, we do not have the leadership in this country that can accomplish that in this moment, so it must be up to us. We must develop a public theology of unity rather than uniformity. We must engage in the public discourse as Christians that don’t seek nationalist or religious homogeneity, but rather celebrate the vast tapestry of peoples and viewpoints that seek equity and justice for all. We must do the work of God for this particular time in history. This moment is not simply a political moment that churches and people of faith can shy away from, but a watershed moment where our public faith must meet the moment and its demands.
A century after President Lincoln’s first inaugural, President John F. Kennedy gave his inaugural address. He said, “let us go forth to lead the land we love, asking His blessing and His help, but knowing that here on earth God's work must truly be our own.” If God is who I know God to be, then we must be with God in the fray. We must show compassion, justice, mercy, and faith. We’ve got to get through this together. We dare not miss this moment for the sake of the church being civil or downright complicit. After all, well-behaved churches seldom make history.
The Rev. Dr. Robert W. Lee is an American Baptist minister and author of six books. He has preached across the world, written for all kinds of media outlets, and appeared on television on CNN, MTV, and ABC’s The View. Visit his website at www.roblee4.com to connect with him.
The views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of American Baptist Home Mission Societies.
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