by Deacon Jessica Noonan (she/her), Co-Director at LEAD

The past couple of months I have had the privilege of listening to leaders from across the Lutheran church to learn what is happening in their geographic area. For example, I was curious about what church leaders are struggling with right now. One very clear and common theme I am hearing emerge from this listening – there is immense anxiety in the system. Our faithful church leaders are stressed and anxious as they navigate serving a Jesus who lived and loved generously and who cared for and befriended those on the margins of society while the US government continues to act in ways that is hurting those same people on the edges of society. I don’t mean in abstract ways, I mean the people these church leaders love, work with, and are in community with are being devalued and dehumanized as people. Yet don’t we worship a God who loved us so much that we were created in God’s image? (Genesis 1)

I have never understood more clearly the need for Christians to proclaim and live out Jesus’ instructions to “Love God and Love your neighbor” more boldly than at this moment in my life. Only being people who loves Jesus on Sunday in our safe spaces isn’t going to help us love in the generous ways that Jesus displayed in his life, death, and resurrection. We have to be out in the world speaking up when someone makes a racist comment or innuendo. We have to be out in the world spending our money in ways that help others. We have to be out in the world caring for those who are different from us. We have to be out in the world using our power and privilege to create “God’s kingdom on earth” as we recite in the Lord’s Prayer. We don’t want to do this in ways that push others away but brings our neighbors along in kind and loving ways. It’s fine line we are called to walk as we are meant to bring people together, not to divide them further.

Following Jesus is not easy. Don’t get me wrong, I mess up daily and I keep trying to do better in the next moment and next day. So, what’s next? For our church leaders and really for all who follow Jesus – take care of your own well-being, pray for each other and for our leaders, lean on each other, learn together and from each other by sharing resources and ideas, meet for a fun outing together to blow off steam, continue to look for ways to serve your neighbors and invite others along with you. You need each other to live out your call!