Loving Our Neighbors

In light of the current climate of fear, hate, and anti-Muslim sentiment, the Session (governing council) of Falls Church Presbyterian Church has approved the following statement.

We are grateful to worship God in a nation that explicitly protects our freedom to do so. We affirm the freedom of others to practice as they so choose, whether they profess different creeds, a different faith, or no faith at all. We know we are living in a troubled world—we are angered by injustice, we are grief-stricken by senseless violence, we are heartbroken by cruelty. But we renounce attempts to use our anger and grief and heartbreak to stoke fear. We reject messages that tell us to be afraid of outsiders. We condemn the persecution of and discrimination against believers and non-believers around the world, regardless of whether such actions target and victimize Christians, Muslims, atheists, or those of other faiths. We further condemn the encouragement of and incitement to such persecution and discrimination whether initiated by politicians, the clergy of any faith, or violent sects claiming the mantle of religious authority..

We remember that God says “Fear not, for I am with you,” (Isaiah 41:10).

We remember that our God has given us a spirit of power and of love, not a spirit of fear (2 Timothy 1:7).

We remember that God’s perfect love drives out fear (1 John 4:18).

We will, with God’s help, work to do as God commands, practicing forgiveness, standing up for those who are persecuted, and welcoming one another, as Christ has welcomed us, for the glory of God (Romans 15:7)