As Arizona pastors, we can’t let a GOP official use Christianity to ‘lynch’ someone

Opinion: Maricopa County Republican official Shelby Busch told an audience that if Republican Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer were in the room with them, she would 'lynch him.'

Rev. Katie Sexton and Caleb Campbell - opinion contributors
Published on azcentral.com on July 2, 2024

As pastors in the state of Arizona, we are concerned about the toxic polarization that has taken hold in our state and the weight it is adding to the souls of our neighbors.

A video recently surfaced that showed violent rhetoric toward an Arizona public servant. It deserves the rebuke of Christians in our state — and all people of goodwill. 

Maricopa County Republican official Shelby Busch told an audience that if Republican Maricopa County Recorder Stephen Richer were in the room with them, she would “lynch him.”

This was not only a call to violence. It is a term that carries a particularly disturbing connotation in the history of our country.

Violent rhetoric of this kind has no place in Maricopa County or Arizona. With hate crimes on the rise and violent threats against public officials — especially election officials — at a dangerous high, this type of language is reprehensible and contrary to the teachings of Jesus.

Furthermore, Busch stated that there was a difference between Richer, who is Jewish, and other public officials because other officials can have “Christian disagreements.”

To be clear: No matter what types of disagreements Arizonans have, our religious tradition calls us to resolve them peacefully. Disagreements should never be resolved through violence, regardless of their extent.

Beyond the danger of this call to violence, the rhetoric of “Christian disagreements” implies that Christians can treat non-Christians with less respect or dignity. This is contrary to the teaching of Jesus, who calls us to love our neighbor as ourselves.

[read the rest of the article at azcentral.com]