That Escalated Quickly

 In many a movie, when things start to go sideways, we have heard the line, "Well, that escalated quickly!" It is a sign of bewilderment, of surprise, of pure unexpected outcomes. I feal like I just was wishing everyone a "Happy New Year," full of promise and hope, to just turn around and discover that innocent people are being shot in the face by our own government.

Our newly installed Presiding Bishop, who offered words of hope and wonder at his installation, had to quickly turn around and renounce the evil that is going on around us. In his own words: Alongside our siblings in Christ in Minneapolis and throughout Minnesota and all who have been impacted by aggressive immigration enforcement and violence by federal law enforcement agents, I mourn the shocking shooting death of Renee Nicole Good by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent on Jan. 7, 2026. Read more.

We have an Episcopal Bishop warning his priests to get their wills in order since they may be called to put their bodies on the line. Archbishops of the Roman Catholic Church in Newark, Chicago and Washington D.C. are making moral statements against our own government. The chief Roman Catholic Chaplain for the armed services has made a teaching statement reminding soldiers that they are called morally to refuse illegal orders.

Words, it seems, are not enough. The tension around us feels like it is ready to burst. What might we be called to do as followers of Jesus in this morally challenging time? When things seem to be escalating quickly!

Bishop Yuhiel Curry reminds us:

ELCA social teaching provides guidance in complex situations: “Public safety depends upon trust in law enforcement to respect and protect the rights of all” (“Gun-related Violence and Trauma”). As a church, we are concerned by the trend of law enforcement and federal agents involved in immigration enforcement relying on the use of force in our communities without sufficient accountability or oversight.  

God calls us to be witnesses to God’s presence, healing and hope. I invite ongoing prayers, vigils and advocacy for peace and justice, and I affirm the ELCA’s “pledge to continue our church’s historic leadership in caring for refugees and immigrants” (For Peace in God’s World).

As you pastor, I am called to do just as our scriptures call us all to do: to put ourselves, our bodies, our reputations on the line of those who are being oppressed by our own government. I pledge to seek ways to join in this work and I will share resources when I come upon them.

Our privilege can no longer be our shield.

For the LORD your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who is not partial and takes no bribe, who executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and who loves the strangers, providing them food and clothing. Deuteronomy 10:17-18