“ For there is no partiality with God. “ Romans 2:11… the Apostle Paul ( an early church leader)
The book of Romans in the New Testament ( the Christian holy book ) is the first letter we have from the church planter, theologian for the church, Paul. Romans is a reflection is about is in , and who is out in the Kingdom of God. Paul was Jewish, but became a follower of Jesus, after he was hit by a flash of light on the road Damascus. Some people,in the early Christian world, want to include all non-Jews ( Paul wants this to happen), while others do not want to include Jewish people into the new group that wants to follow Jesus. Romans is book by Paul, to have everyone be part of Jesus’ world. Near the beginning of the letter, he says that there is no partiality in God. There are no biases in God. “Come on in, the party is for everyone “ He says it it is for both Greek and Jew. This means it is for everyone . No partiality with God.
But we live in a biased and broken world.
In late March, Michael Sharp ( an American) and Zaida Catalan ( from Sweden ) were killed in the Congo. They were working for the United Nations trying to bring peace to the warring factions in the Congo. It seems that it was not a random, but a targeted killing. Following their deaths, many people have joined together to try to find out the truth about these killings. There has been an U.N. investigation. The Security Council has voted and made comments about it. The parents of Michael Sharp have met with various high-level people in New York, and have had a meeting with Nikki Haley, the UN Ambassador from the United States . The resources that have been brought together to try to find out the truth about these two peace workers has been truly amazing. The killings happened in March , and this is only October, and the investigation is continuing ahead at full speed. This is great. The UN Human Rights tribunal works on cases for years to find out the truth. Why is this case different ?
When the Liberal government was elected two years ago, one of their campaign promises was to set up an inquiry to the many dead and missing Indigenous women. Soon after the election, there was the naming of members of the Commission that would look into the issue. I believe that no one has yet to be interviewed to find out about these dead and missing women. It has been already two years since the Liberals have been elected. It seems that these women have once again been forgotten. The families of these women want to know, and I believe we, as Canadians, want to know the answer to our questions about these daughters and sisters.
Why are these two cases so different ? Why has one case moved very rapidly , and the other case have not even started their investigating ? Are there biases here, and what do you think that they might be ? How are we biased in the church and in our communities. Who gets the the easier road and why ? Where do you see the partiality in these two cases ? Life is not fair, but why is it not fair ?
Fred Redekop
Ponder Anew 