For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. – John 3:17

Today’s Scripture Reading (September 19, 2017): John 3

Canadian Politician, Jagmeet Singh, was recently accused of supporting the Muslim Brotherhood and Sharia Law at a local debate by a heckler. The heckler, Jennifer Bush, was able to get right into the face of Singh, something our American friends would never have allowed to happen, invading Singh’s personal space while adamantly demanding that no one else invade hers. All through the attack, Singh urged his supporters and campaign staff to not intervene, reminding them that one of the core values of the campaign was love, respect and inclusion – even if those who opposed them would not grant them the same values. While the heckler spouted hate, the crowd was urged to respond with messages of love and acceptance. Singh, at one point interrupting the heckler’s tirade, told her “Everyone in this room loves you, we all support you; we believe in your rights … but this isn’t the best way to do it [get her message across].”

What was jarring about the confrontation was that Singh received the criticism, even though it appeared to be misplaced. Jagmeet Singh, born in Scarborough, Ontario Canada, is not Muslim. He is a Sikh. He learned Sikh principles from his mother, including the principle he hopes to introduce to many Canadians – chardi kala. Chardi Kala is “maintaining optimism in the face of adversity.” When Singh was asked why he did not just tell the heckler that he was Sikh, and not Muslim, Singh responded that that would say that the words of the heckler would have been valid if he were a follower of Islam. Singh felt that the words were wrong, no matter the religion that he might follow. Love is not just available to those who support us. Love must be for everyone.

It is a very Christian sentiment, although one that is hard to put into practice. Singh is being denounced by people and groups who seem to believe that hate must be responded to with hate. From their point of view, the radical acceptance displayed by Singh was inappropriate – the heckler should have been denounced. But that would have been more of a support for the charge that the heckler was advancing. The radical acceptance displayed by Jagmeet Singh and Sharia Law seem to be out of step with each other. Love in the face of hate is rarely seen, but according to our Christian principles, always the right response.

And I think that Jesus would have been proud of Singh’s response, even if Singh is not a Christ follower. After all, Jesus is the one who taught his followers to turn the other cheek and to love their enemies. It might be chardi kala that Singh thought he was reflecting in the confrontation, but his response also clearly contained elements of Jesus’s Sermon on the Mount.

God’s decision in Jesus was not to respond to the hate of the world with hate, but rather to respond with love. He sent his Son into the world not to condemn it, but to save it. And that makes me wonder why more Christians do not exhibit behavior that matches that of Jagmeet Singh – and why his children seem to spend more time condemning the world instead of trying to save it.  

Tomorrow’s Scripture Reading: John 4