We are a country that has been hit with a bigger and serious issue than COVID-19, and that is racial issue. Asians are targeted and bullied and even assaulted because they are wearing masks. There have been many attacks and even murders of African Americans primarily based on race. We all feel the pain and are angered because this is not just. And this is proof that we are all created in the image of God, because God is just and in fact we were all created equal: “And He made from one man every nation of mankind to live on all the face of the earth” (Acts. 17:26). At the same time we are reminded by Psalm 37:1, 8: “Fret not yourself because of evildoers; be not envious of wrongdoers! … Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath! Fret not yourself; it tends only to evil.” Our hearts should mourn over an injustice as well as the violence that often follows. But as Christians let us also be reminded that only the Gospel of Jesus can solve the root cause of hate and prejudice. There are many things we can and should do as individuals and as a church to love our neighbors, especially vulnerable communities. Let us pray for the healing of our land and be a peacemaker at such a time of strife!
我們這個國家遭受的打擊比COVID-19更大和更嚴重的問題 – 種族問題。亞洲人因為戴著口罩而成為目標，被欺負，甚至遭到毆打。主要基於種族的非裔美國人遭受了許多襲擊甚至謀殺。我們所有人都會感到痛苦和憤怒，因為這不公義。這也證明了我們都是按照上帝的形像而被創造的，因為上帝是公義的，而且我們都是受造平等的：“他從一人造出萬族，居住在全地面上，並且預先定準他們的年限和所住的疆界”（使徒行傳17:26）。同時，詩篇37：1，8提醒我們：“不要為作惡的心懷不平，也不要嫉妒那行不義的人！……當止住怒氣，離棄憤怒；不要心懷不平，以致作惡。” 我們為不公義以及隨之而來的暴力感到悲痛。但是，也提醒基督徒，只有耶穌的福音才能根本解決仇恨和偏見的原因。作為個人和教會，我們可以並且應該做很多事情來愛我們的鄰舍，尤其是脆弱的社區。讓我們祈禱求主醫治這地，在這樣的衝突時期成為使人和睦的人！
