Preserved by Purpose - The Heart of Christianity in an Upside-Down World

The world is upside down. That’s the conclusion I’ve come to after watching the news

for the last few weeks leading to the Presidential election. Why do I say it’s upside down? It seems like doing right is treated as if it is wrong and doing wrong is celebrated as right. In one week, there was non-stop media coverage of yet another fatal police shooting of a Black man. In addition, there are growing reports of extreme voter intimidation endorsed by the current president including one recent incident where a caravan of dozens of cars filled with Trump supporters attempted to run a Biden-Harris bus traveling on 1-35 in central Texas off the road.

This last week also saw a rushed vote to replace the late Supreme Court Justice Ruth

Bader Ginsberg. The Republicans in the Senate, working at a ridiculously fast pace that did not include enough time for a complete investigation into the extremist record of Amy Comey Barrett, confirmed her nomination. Many agree that her being named to the Supreme Court is with the anticipation of ruling that the Affordable Care Act is unconstitutional. If this happens, it could potentially force up to millions of Americans to lose access to health care. Media coverage of the joy of the Republican Senators confirming her reminded me of the glee that House Republicans showed in 2017 as they gathered at the White House for a celebratory picture and beer party after they voted to repeal the ACA. Quite frankly it was both confusing and infuriating that they seemed to celebrate causing pain to others. It also just seemed odd for many in the picture who have wrapped themselves in Christianity to show such a callous and selfish disregard for the needs of others.

Where is the heart of Christianity in this upside-down world? Some evangelical leaders

who have been hostile about supporting families impacted by police shootings support the nomination of Barret and the potential repeal of the ACA because of their “pro-life” beliefs. It just seems hypocritical to state that you are pro-life and yet remain silent when an innocent life is taken.

Incidents like these make me want to respond with the heart of Christianity and not just

the law of Christianity. Mark 12:29-31 states it clearly that as Christians, our greatest

commandments are to “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.” My former Pastor, the late Rev. Dr. Jerome McNeil, once stated that we should be moved by our Christian convictions and make sure that they are aligned with God’s word and the way of the Lord. In other words, we should show compassionate concern for others and not a political ideology. This is the heart of Christianity.

Shewanda Riley is the author of the Essence best-seller Love Hangover: Moving From Pain to Purpose After a Relationship Ends. She can be reached at preservedbypurpose@gmail.com or on Twitter @shewanda.