When scripture admonishes us, it is usually in order to correct what would be normal human behavior; hence, when we are told not to "stand idly by the blood of our neighbor," it is because humans are tempted to do just that. Most of us are familiar with "bystander effect," that human situation in which there are lots of people witnessing a terrible event but those present assume someone else will intervene.
It is up to us. We cannot stand idly by while the blood of our neighbors, particularly the little ones, is shed. We must work to end violence. Even if we wish we could stand by, our faith literally forbids it.
Ours is a country with an epidemic of gun violence. Every single day an average of eight children die from gun violence; each year, 32,000 men, women, and children are killed. Gun violence is a public health crisis, and also a challenge to faith communities to join the effort to prevent this constant destruction of the sacred human life.
The good news is that we are part of a larger community of leaders working together to counter the violence through truth-telling. Please join in honoring this year's Gun Violence Prevention Sabbath, and add your voices to the growing chorus. There is power in community -- the power of peacemaking.
The second Gun Violence Prevention Sabbath, co-sponsored by Washington National Cathedral and Faiths United to Prevent Gun Violence, will be held March 13-16. Progressive Christians Uniting is inviting local faith communities and individuals to participate in Gun Violence Prevention Sabbath by remembering and praying, and using the toolkit provided in the action and events section below.
Yours in hope,
Virginia Classick and Sandie Richards
Progressive Christians Uniting Board Members
PS: For a tragically divergent perspective on the relationship of churches and guns in the news, click here. Ironically, the "gun revival" took place last night at a church that is only one mile from our own executive director's childhood home in Kentucky.