Following Jesus

I want to speak to something that feels very close to the heart of Jesus, yet very heavy on the hearts of many in our country.  We are living in a moment when immigration is constantly in the news… A moment when people are crossing borders out of fear, desperation, hunger, and war… A moment when political rhetoric is louder than compassion… A moment when human beings—made in God’s image—are being spoken about as problems, threats, or burdens. But before we listen to the voices on the news, we must listen to the voice of our Savior. Jesus was once asked, “Who is my neighbor?” And, as He so often does, Jesus answered the wrong question. Instead of telling us who qualifies as a neighbor, He showed us how to become one. Today we ask: How does a follower of Jesus treat the immigrant, the refugee, the stranger at our door? Before we talk about policy, we talk about people. Behind every border crossing is a story: Some flee violence. Civil wars. Gangs. Political persecution. Parents wat...

He has shown you, O man, what is good. And what does the LORD require of you but to act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God? — Micah 6:8 There is no fear in love, but perfect love drives out fear… — 1 John 4:18 We have witnessed in recent days another wave of national tension and cultural anxiety. The election of Zohran Mamdani as mayor of New York City has stirred both hope and fear, both reasoned concern and unreasoning panic. Some of the concerns raised are grounded in real questions about governance, economics, stability, and leadership. Others arise from prejudice, misinformation, or fear of those who are different from us. The question before us is not, “What do we think of the political situation?” The question for the church is, “How should a follower of Jesus respond?” Christians should think theologically, not politically. Pastorally, not partisanship. Through the lens of Jesus, not the lens of cable news. What should the response of the followers of Jesus...

I come with a heavy heart, remembering recent tragedy. As you know, two members of the West Virginia National Guard were ambushed and shot just blocks from the White House in Washington, D.C. on November 26, 2025—one, Sarah Beckstrom, age 20, has died; the other, Andrew Wolfe, age 24, remains critically wounded. The following Bible passages come to my mind. Genesis 1:27 — We are all created in God’s image.  Exodus 20:13 — “You shall not murder.”  Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) — When Jesus commands us to “turn the other cheek” and “love our enemies” (Matthew 5:38-48). What does this horrendous act of violence mean for Christians? How do we respond? Well, first, we mourn. This act of violence shocks our conscience. As followers of Jesus, we do not turn away from grief. Rather, we honor the dignity of those lost and their families by lamenting before God, lifting up the wounded and their loved ones in prayer. Scripture calls us to bear one another’s burdens (Galatians 6:2) an...