Are you a registered voter? Have you taken the time to really understand the issues and candidates, to separate out fact from hyperbole? Will you actively seek to educate yourself and others on the key issues so we can act as responsible, caring citizens who are speaking up for those with no voice?
Even though Martin Luther was such an outspoken activist, later Lutherans were often reluctant to get involved in politics. Luther’s vision should continue to inform us as we live out our faith in all the dimensions of society. It is that vision that motivates us to act as God’s partners for justice in the world and that keeps us from quietly giving in to unjust systems and structures. It is that vision that can sustain us as we participate in God’s reign of justice.
Dear God of Justice, you call us to serve our neighbor, to give a voice to the voiceless. Yet we often lack the courage to do so. Help us as we strive to speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, knowing that in all we do, we are your partners in the world, promoting love, justice, and the well-being of all creation. Amen.
Today is the fifth Sunday of Easter. The readings are Acts 8:26-40; Psalm 22:25-31; 1 John 4:7-21; John 15:1-8. This message was adapted from the “Called to Be Political” resource written by the Rev. Thomas Strieter and available for free download from the Women of the ELCA.