At St. Thomas à Becket Episcopal Church in Morgantown, West Virginia the Rev. Michael Delk delivered a sermon on Christian integrity that connected Scripture to present-day violence. His message challenged dominant public faith narratives and rejected moral complacency. Christian integrity, he argued, is not political branding but faithful action, because belief demands honesty and courage.
Fatal Encounters That Sparked Moral Alarm
The message centered on the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. Both were 37 years old and killed by federal agents weeks apart. Good was shot while sitting in her car. Pretti was filming agents during a peaceful protest when officers disarmed and fatally shot him. Supporters say videos show no imminent threat, so the deaths raise profound moral concerns.
Questions of Force and Accountability
Addressing official responses, Delk criticized the swift labeling of both victims as domestic terrorists. He questioned those claims because publicly available videos appear to contradict official statements. He also pointed to the lack of medical aid after the shootings. Supporters argue these details reveal a troubling pattern of excessive force and delayed accountability.
Faith Beyond Politics
Rather than engaging in partisan arguments, the priest framed the issue as one of morality and human dignity. He compared the killings to Jesus’s unjust arrest and execution by the Roman state. That comparison placed state violence within the Gospel story, where power acts for convenience rather than justice.
Scripture and Prophetic Witness
Drawing from Luke’s Gospel, Delk reflected on Simeon’s warning that Jesus would face opposition. Truth, he said, threatens systems built on domination and control. Jesus’s message of unconditional love endangered those systems. They killed him, yet resurrection proved that love and truth endure.
Rejecting Hatred While Refusing Silence
The sermon warned against hatred because it corrodes the soul. Listeners were urged toward disciplined love, prayer, and faithful witness instead of vengeance. Followers of Christ, Delk said, must speak and act when the innocent suffer. Silence may feel safer, but integrity requires courage rooted in grace.
Integrity That Endures
The message closed with hope grounded in Incarnation and Resurrection. Christ understands fear and suffering because he lived it. Believers are called to show up, speak truth, and trust that God’s love prevails, even when the future feels uncertain.
Source:
This Is What Actual Christianity Is Supposed to Sound Like
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