I have gained more sympathy in the past week for people who avoid the news.
Early last week, President Trump sent National Guard troops into Los Angeles in response to protests over ICE raids throughout the city. Though the demonstrations were confined to a few city blocks, largely peaceful, and Governor Gavin Newsom hadn’t requested federal support, the presence of troops drew more protesters, including anarchists and pro-Palestinian demonstrators.
The heightened skirmishes that followed the arrival of the National Guard were still within the LAPD’s ability to manage. As LA resident Katie Moore wrote in a report for Good Faith Media, local law enforcement stated that the situation was “ten times more manageable than a Dodgers or Lakers championship victory celebration.”
Later, Trump announced on social media that he was calling on ICE to expand raids into other large U.S. cities.
On Thursday morning, an Air India passenger plane crashed, killing 241 of its 242 passengers. At least 30 more people on the ground died when the aircraft struck a hostel for medical students. One passenger walked away from the tragedy.
On Friday the 13th, Israel launched strikes against Iranian nuclear sites, claiming it was necessary to prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon. Iran responded with a counter-assault, prompting a counter-counter assault, all of which has resulted in hundreds of deaths and thousands of injuries. Donald Trump is currently weighing options for possible U.S. involvement in the war.
These new Middle East developments come as Israel continues to punish Hamas for its 2023 attacks by killing civilians gathered near a humanitarian aid site in Gaza.
On Saturday morning, Americans woke up to learn of a political assassination in Minnesota. Earlier that morning, Vance Boelter, impersonating a police officer, killed state representative Melissa Hortman and her husband in their home, and shot and wounded another legislator and their spouse. During the search for Boelter, officials found documents in his vehicle with the names of 45 Democratic lawmakers and locations of anti-Trump protests.
Boelter, a preacher whose beliefs were shaped by the New Apostolic Reformation movement, was captured on Sunday.
Saturday also saw at least four nationwide events competing for the nation’s attention.
The U.S. Army celebrated its 250th anniversary with a long-planned festival in Washington, D.C., culminating in a parade of military personnel and equipment. The parade, estimated to cost between $25 million and $45 million, was a component added quickly after Trump assumed office in January.
Saturday’s parade also “happened” to fall on Trump’s 79th birthday.
Earlier in the day, millions gathered across the country to protest the barrage of Trump’s second-term actions. The events, labeled “No Kings Rallies,” were largely peaceful but highlighted the weariness and resolve of citizens who have grown alarmed by the president’s ongoing anti-democratic behavior.
Many communities also held their annual Juneteenth celebrations, commemorating the day chattel slavery ended in the U.S., and Pride parades, celebrating the contributions of LGBTQ+ individuals to our national life. These events occurred against the backdrop of a massive rollback of protections for marginalized groups in the country. Also, Sunday was Father’s Day
Late last week, an acquaintance of mine made a Facebook post that has since been deleted, using the “No Kings” rallies as a setup for a comment about people who would be in church worshipping Jesus the next day. “I understand that tomorrow there will be over 2000 ‘No King’ rallies held across the country,” the post began. “I also understand that on Sunday morning there will be over 5000 ‘There is a King’ rallies held in Texas Baptist churches. Celebrate Jesus.”
My initial reaction was anger. I have respect for the person who shared the sentiment and an emotional connection to the organization they once represented, but I saw their words as an empty attempt to appear “above the fray” of cultural issues.
I’ve lost patience with “apolitical” and “purple church” leaders who divert attention away from the injustices committed by the politicians with whom many of their congregants are aligned. They do this while lingering longer than necessary on the Bible verses they believe implicate the injustices committed by those their congregants are mostly opposed to. The strategy is to feign ignorance or appeal to nuance and complexity over issues like immigration while “standing on the truth of God’s Word” over abortion and LGBTQ+ concerns.
They aren’t as subtle as they think they are.
Although my frustration with the “There is a King Rally” post remains, my anger has softened into understanding. For one, I also attended a “There is a King” rally on Sunday morning, though my congregation would never call it that. I believe that Christ stands above all our wars, conflicts and struggles, calling us to a higher understanding and a deeper love.
I also better understand the sentiment when I consider how our souls are not designed to take in so much charged information at once. If you’ve watched the news for just a few minutes a day since last week, you’ve learned more about the horrors of the world than many ancient people knew in an entire lifetime. This is too much weight for us to handle, making a turn to God a natural impulse.
But just as our souls weren’t designed to see so much injustice and pain all at once, they also weren’t designed to turn away from it once we see it.
Christ also stands inside all our wars and conflicts and struggles. And, against the wishes of all “apolitical” and “purple church” leaders, scripture is clear that Jesus takes sides. He is with the marginalized, those who have their backs against the wall, facing the tip of the spear.
We have these competing realities: we must rest, turn our screens off, and shift our attention toward the source of life. But we also must recognize the billions of people around the world who can’t turn off the bombs heading in their direction or the authorities coming to snatch their loved ones away. And we must take sides.
May you have the grace and wisdom to know which to lean into today.
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Senior Editor at Good Faith Media.
