What can we expect as followers of Jesus? The martyrdom of early Christians, such as Stephen, teaches us that faithfulness to the way of Christ does not lead to a soft bed, a fat wallet, or celebrated fame. It often leads into harm's way as we confront the malignant powers of the world that foment perpetual conflict rather than peace.
Violence is rooted in toxic ideology, a way of looking at the world from a human point of view that sees enemies all around who must be defeated at all cost. Racism is one of those persistent ideologies that gives rise to gun violence in our society with ever-increasing frequency. The antidote to ideology is theology, a way of looking at the world from a divine point of view that sees potential friends all around who must be loved at all cost.
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