My name is Rev. Brad Cunningham. I am the pastor of Liberty United Methodist Church, the church whose bleachers were recently stolen.
It is sad that the sacredness of our church’s property has been violated, but this is the second time the church has experienced this type of crime in the five years I have served here. It is sickening to see criminals destroy and steal people’s property to make a quick buck. I have personally been a victim of theft several times in my life, and it really hurts. In a perfect world these crooks would be caught quickly. Well, in a perfect world no one would ever think of stealing from a church, or anyone! Instead we live in a fallen, broken world where innocent people are preyed upon, the bad guys often get away, and it all just seems unfair. Since we live in this imperfect world, we have to start being intentional in how we react to it.
Lately that reaction has been anger, and you don’t have to go far to see it. From our politics to our economy, people are becoming angry and bitter. People are not listening to each other but are trying to yell over each other. When we see criminals steal from the innocent (whether it is Bernie Madoff or someone ripping up the school’s and church’s bleachers) we become infuriated and less civil. People cry for justice! However, with all of this vitriol I do not believe we are really interested in justice. Instead are looking for vengeance, which the angry heart thirsts for.
I often see this anger online. Check out the comments sections in the crime reports, or people engaged in shouting matches on their Facebook pages. People tend to run their mouths on the Internet, but it is honest. This anger isn’t just online. It has taken over our public discourse and our personal relationships. If anger was the solution to all of our problems, we should be in a better place already! Still, things are not improving. Something is not working. Should we become even angrier? No. There is enough of that. It is time to try something new.
In my searching for an answer, I think of the life of whom I have committed to serve, and that is my Lord Jesus. When he faced the ills of this world, the crimes, the injustices, he didn’t reach for the sword or get into a shouting match. Instead he invited criminals and the forgotten to dinner. He ate with them, entered their homes, befriended them, and in many cases healed them. Of course he instructed them to “sin no more,” but that was after he showed them that he cared. He even gave up his life for those sinners, and transformed the sinful heart into something beautiful. There is no room for anger with this kind of grace, and with good reason. Anger is a poison. It will slowly rot your soul and is already rotting the soul of our nation. Instead of seeking vengeance and satisfaction, we should be seeking healing and reconciliation. The man from Nazareth did, and look what he started! I would rather live in the world He promised than one that is ruled by the vengeful and fearful.
In the short turn we could prosecute criminals more effectively, write new laws, track metal sales better, etc. But that would only work in the short term. In this imperfect world there will always be people who resort to theft (or worse) to “make it” in the imperfect world they know all too well. We could treat them like dirt, dehumanize them and repeat this endless cycle. Instead I suggest that we start treating each other with love and respect, even to those who stole our bleachers. It is time to drop the anger. I will close by offering a personal note: To the person or persons who stole my church’s bleachers, I forgive you. I really do. I hope and pray you turn your life around, that you find some peace. Jesus loves you, and therefore so do I.

The Rev. Brad Cunningham lives in Gold Hill. 

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