What would Jesus say today?

Jesus warns about the spiritual danger of harboring contempt and hurling insults at others. Racist imagery and refusal to acknowledge wrongdoing perpetuates division and dehumanization. Christ's teaching calls us to recognize the sacred dignity of every person and to repent when we have caused harm through our words or actions.

In a time when military force is being considered for domestic conflicts, Jesus calls us to the higher path of peacemaking. True peace requires addressing root causes of conflict through justice, dialogue, and reconciliation rather than displays of force. Those who actively work to bridge divides and heal communities reflect God's character.

Jesus rebukes those who focus on minor legal technicalities while abandoning the fundamental principles of justice. When political considerations override the pursuit of truth and fairness in law enforcement, the very foundation of justice crumbles. Christ calls us to prioritize the weightier matters—ensuring equal justice and protection for all people.

Jesus identifies himself with the stranger and immigrant, making hospitality to foreigners a measure of faithfulness to God. When we close doors to those seeking refuge or opportunity, we close doors to Christ himself. His words challenge us to see the image of God in every person, regardless of their nation of origin, and to balance security concerns with compassion.

The parable of the Good Samaritan teaches that we must care for those in physical need, crossing social boundaries to help. When people cannot afford basic medical care in a wealthy nation, it reveals a failure to embody this principle of neighborly love. Jesus calls each of us—and by extension, our society—to ensure the sick receive healing regardless of their ability to pay.

In an era of escalating political violence, Jesus's command to love our enemies stands as radical counter-cultural wisdom. Violence flows from hatred, and hatred from viewing others as enemies rather than fellow human beings. Christ calls us to break the cycle of retaliation by responding to hostility with love, recognizing that only such radical grace can transform hearts and heal divided societies.

Jesus warns that internal division leads to collapse. When a political movement cannot agree on fundamental moral principles—such as rejecting racism and white nationalism—it reveals a house divided that cannot stand. The deeper issue is not political strategy but the moral foundation upon which any movement must be built: recognition of the equal dignity of all people created in God's image.

Jesus teaches that how we treat the most vulnerable reveals our true character and our relationship with God. While addressing fraud is important, cutting off aid harms those who depend on it for survival—the hungry, the poor, the marginalized. Christ identifies with "the least of these," reminding us that bureaucratic disputes should never override our obligation to care for those in desperate need.

As political anxiety weighs heavily on the nation's collective soul, Jesus offers rest for those burdened by the chaos of the world. His invitation reminds us that our ultimate security and peace cannot rest in political outcomes but in something transcendent. Christ's gentleness and humility model an alternative to the harsh rhetoric that exhausts us, pointing toward a peace the world cannot give or take away.

Jesus declares that truth—not coercion or fear—is the path to freedom. Universities exist to pursue truth through open inquiry and debate, even when that inquiry is uncomfortable or challenges power. When students must meet in secret and institutions face punishment for allowing dissent, the very foundation of truth-seeking is threatened. Christ's words remind us that genuine freedom requires the courage to speak and hear truth without fear.