Table Talk Newsletter

Pastor’s Letter

Blessings to you in the name of our Risen Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

At the writing of this letter, the General Election in the United States will occur on 03 November. Those who are US citizens, have the opportunity to vote. In conversation with people about local and national elections, many expressed frustration, anxiety, anger, disillusionment. Some reported that they would not be voting, they will not be participating in a “rigged election.” Others shared that they would not participate in a system filled with corruption. In a lot of ways, I feel their pain and I agree with many of their comments. On the other hand, not long ago, folks fought and died for the right to vote and to have a voice in the electoral process.

Voting is a right and privilege not to be taken lightly. In other words, it requires awareness, reflection, soul searching, prayer and openness to listening to opinions and ideas perhaps differing from our own. Yes, and I know it requires a lot of patience. It requires patience to sift through the lies, hidden agendas, corruption, name calling, character assassination, etc.

During the last week of October, when this letter was penned, the current giving by individuals and organizations was over $11.5 billion to support candidates or initiatives. Some donors gave millions of dollars to their chosen candidates, e.g., Elon Musk gave over $300 million to Republican candidates running for office to attempt to ensure their election, the Soros family gave over $100 million to Democrats, and AIPAC over $100 million to their favorite candidates. One can’t help to wonder if the money will have any influence on those candidates if elected, i.e., will there be coercion or implied need for payback in the way of special favors or consideration? How does the big money influence free and fair elections?

You will most likely be reading this letter after the elections. The ballots have been counted, candidates elected and the decisions on the propositions made. The General Election has hopefully occurred without violence and without an insurrection as we witnessed on 06 January 2021.

Let me fast forward, regarding the outcome – did the winning candidates and propositions turn out the way you voted? Whether things turned out the way you wanted or not, we as Christians are called to continue a response in the world. If the voting went your way, or if it did not, our call is to agape our neighbor. Our response yesterday, today and into the future is to love God and love neighbor, more specifically, to remain engaged in the ritual discourse, to remain engaged in the political discourse. As we do so, we are to acknowledge and celebrate that which is life giving and life affirming, and to lift our voice, speak up and speak out against the injustice of the Empire.

In closing, I leave you with the following text from Matthew 25:

34 Then the king shall say to the ones on his right, Come, you who have been blessed of my father, inherit the kingdom having been prepared for you from since foundation of the world; 35 For I hungered and you gave to me to eat, I thirsted and you gave me drink, a stranger and you gathered to me, 36 naked and you clothed me, enfeebled and you looked after me, in prison and you came to me. 37 Then the righteous ones shall answer to him saying, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed, or thirsty and give you drink?

38 Yet when did we see you a stranger and gather to you, or naked and clothe? 39 Yet when did we see you weak or in prison and come to you? 40 And having answered the king shall say to them, “Truly I say to you, insofar as you did to these the least of my brothers, you did to me.”

Shalom, Salam, Peace,

Pastor Raymond