Defense

Jesus said: “And everyone who speaks a word against the Son of Humanity will be forgiven; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will not be forgiven. When they bring you before the synagogues, the rulers, and the authorities, do not worry about how you are to defend yourselves or what you are to say; for the Holy Spirit will teach you at that very hour what you ought to say.” – Luke 12:10-11 (NRSV adapted) 

Jesus is anticipating trouble for his followers. “Deny me if you must,” he says, “but don’t you dare deny the way God works in the world.” We don’t know how many people, laboring under the persecutions that did indeed come, eventually did what Jesus warned against and recanted their faith. Instead we have stories of those who didn’t, the saints and heroes and martyrs who trembled but stood firm. Stephen. Paul. Perpetua and Felicitas. 

It may be time to revisit some of their stories, and the stories of less-ancient ones too. Anne Hutchinson. The Public Universal Friend. Oscar Romero. Carter Heyward. Dan Berrigan. Plus whatever name you just yelled at your screen when you realized I’d left out your favorite. 

If a council or a power demands you account for your belief that trans people deserve to thrive, will you be able to tell them about how God’s action in your life led you to that belief? What about your commitment to the preservation of Creation? The welcome and humane treatment of immigrants and refugees? The rights of women to control their own bodies? Will you be able to tell them how you know God demands these things? 

Jesus says the Spirit will tell you what to say if the time comes. But it might not hurt to study up a little ahead of time anyway. 

Prayer
Give me the words and the courage to proclaim you everywhere I go. Amen.

About the Author
Quinn G. Caldwell is Chaplain of the Protestant Cooperative Ministry at Cornell University. His most recent book is a series of daily reflections for Advent and Christmas called All I Really Want: Readings for a Modern Christmas. Learn more about it and find him on Facebook at Quinn G. Caldwell.