Truth-Tellers

[Coronavirus – I]

Religious leaders are strategically situated, in this time of coronavirus mayhem, to do that which seems so rarely done: tell the truth. As truth-tellers, we do an injustice to our communities when we narrowly define what the truth is.

Okay, I get that for as long as you and I can remember churches and other communities of faith have spoken on “religious” matters. And within that scope, we’ve narrowed most of our speaking to avoiding hell (and gaining access to heaven). Times like these are not a license to continue talking that way but an indictment of our negligence.

Well, the time for narrow, one-dimensional, overly-spiritual, earthly-escape-plan talk is over. It’s important, but it is willfully limited (and limiting).

As truth-tellers, people like us use whatever public platform we have to say hard things. That means at a bare minimum we begin talking about the practical, concrete, daily habits of our lives that both lead to and encourage the current situation. Secondarily, but equally as fundamental to truth-telling, is using our platform to talk about the practical, concrete, daily habits that must change immediately to thwart a sequel to the level of instability we currently face.

How did we get here? How do we immediately change moving forward?

People like us that are unwilling to continue in ways like this tell the truth, which is why . . .

Talking about mental health is no longer an option.
Talking about physical health and immunology are no longer an option.
Talking about food systems and diet are not longer an option.
Talking about climate change, stewardship, and conservation are not longer an option.
Talking about economic imbalance and local economies are no longer an option.
Talking about neighborhood resilience is no longer an option.
Talking about justice is no longer an option.

Another way to say it is, these are religious matters. And we are truth-tellers.