Love one another

The NPR piece, Anti-Gay Riot In Tblisi Tests Balance Between Church, State, details an incident in Tbilisi, Georgia, in which Orthodox clergy not only participated in attacks against gay rights activists, but encouraged their congregations to do likewise. 

The former Soviet republic of Georgia is contending with the aftermath of an episode of mass violence that took place in May. In Georgia's capital city, Tblisi, a mob of thousands attacked a small group of people who were staging a protest against homophobia.The leaders of the attack? Georgian Orthodox priests. … The incident began when members of Georgia's lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community and their supporters obtained a permit to hold a vigil on the steps of parliament. They planned to mark the International Day Against Homophobia on May 17. … When some leaders of the Georgian Orthodox Church heard about it, they urged their congregations to come to a counterdemonstration, which was promoted as a peaceful and family-oriented event. When the day came, it was anything but peaceful. Led by Orthodox priests, the crowd overwhelmed the police barrier around the small group of anti-homophobia demonstrators. Video from the clash shows a priest brandishing a stool as a weapon; other priests are heard to curse and yell "Kill them! Kill them!"

I heard this story on the radio while driving home from work recently, and I could not believe my ears. I have spent quite a bit of time in Eastern Europe and just visited Tbilisi in April, so I understand that there is little support for gay rights in this part of the world. However, although I have heard of many such incidents, I have not heard of one promoted by and participated in by the very leaders who are supposed to teach their congregations to love their neighbors as themselves (Mark 12:31, Matthew 22:39). 


The Bible I read teaches that we are all equal in the sight of God, and specifically calls believers to love others: 


"A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you love one another" (John 13:34-35).


It also commands that murder is a crime (Exodus 20:13). 


It is understandable that different people will have different beliefs or opinions, but that does not give any of us the right to enact violence on others, particularly if we ever hope to win them over to our way of thinking. Who would want to become just like their persecutors? Stockholm syndrome is classified as a mental illness for a reason. 


In any case, whether or not another person ever agrees with our way of thinking, we each have a responsibility to see others as worthy of respect. Violence is never an acceptable solution, and inevitably leads to more violence. We owe ourselves and those who come after us something better. Certainly it is more difficult and more time consuming to resolve differences through dialogue, but I truly believe this is the only way to achieve lasting and sustainable peace.