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Editorial: Think of West Branch Christians
Op-Ed · April 02, 2015
Ouch. Right before Holy Week and Easter, an issue arises to try to drive a wedge between Christians and non-Christians.
Yet we would encourage people not to consider “Christians” as a generic, faceless group, but “Christians” as their neighbors, friends and business owners right here in West Branch.
When Indiana’s Republican governor, Mike Pence, signed the Religious Freedom Restoration Act, a flurry of criticism called it legalized discrimination, even though 18 other states have similar laws and President Bill Clinton, a Democrat, signed an almost identical federal law in 1993.
Regardless of your position on RFRA, take a moment to remember Christians you know personally.
We’re talking about the members of Springdale United Methodist Church, who recently hosted a Nigerian teenage girl who talked about terrorists back home who attacked her school, twice. At the end of the talk, members of the church stopped to pray for her safety and the safety of her family.
How about Bethany Lutheran Church, which last summer allowed staff of the flooded Families Inc. to use their restrooms, storage and meeting space while the family services agency had their offices cleaned, gutted and repaired?
Then there is West Branch United Methodist Church, which hosts an annual Tailgate Party to recognize fall sports athletes from football to volleyball to cross country and cheerleading. Free food, music and games for all comers. All.
And count the number of folks who would consider themselves regular church attendees who pitched in to help the Lions Club in November pack some 84,000 packages of vitamin-fortified food for needy families here and in Kenya.
These examples are just some that made headlines. There are many other examples as well, right here in West Branch.
Nobody’s perfect, and no doubt personal conflicts have given way to both Christians and non-Christians saying things to members of the other side that they regret, or ought to regret. Yet neither in the news of recent years nor in letters to the editor do we see any significant, organized cases of West Branch Christians forcing their beliefs on others, or judging others — which is different than using good judgment.
We don’t all agree on everything. But perhaps we can agree that if Christians should not be allowed to force their beliefs on others, then others should not be allowed to force their beliefs on Christians.
If we can agree on that, then that gives us a good place to start a healthy dialogue. It is something to consider, whether you or your neighbors celebrate Easter at one of the many churches right here in West Branch.
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