2 Corinthians 5:17 – “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!” 

To me, saying “yes” to God means saying “yes” to transformation. There isn’t just a single time where I said “yes” to God and I was suddenly transformed. I say “yes” every day when I smile at someone on the street, choose to help out my neighbor, or take action for an important cause. Transformation through faith is a journey that never ends. 

In my own community in Washington DC, many people struggle to get by financially and the presence of ICE agents threaten the safety of my neighbors. There are many people who don’t have a safe place to sleep at night, putting them at even higher risk. Every day there are more videos on social media of people being detained or brutalized by officers. There is intense pressure on marginalized groups to hide. For those not currently being subjected to violence, there’s pressure to look away and stay silent to avoid being targeted.

To resist these pressures and say “yes” to our faith, immense courage is required. Many of our political leaders haven’t been showing the courage to say “yes” to human rights and transformation. One recent example out of many is the Democratic National Committee’s display of cowardice when they voted down a resolution calling on the United States to stop selling arms to Israel. For me, one source of courage comes from education. This summer I attended the Mennonite Action national training in Raleigh, which gave me the tools and information I need to lobby, have difficult conversations with friends, and stay safe when I’m at actions. Community is a powerful force when it comes to changemaking. If our political leaders refuse to do what’s right, it is up to us not only to hold them accountable but also to lead our communities from within. 

Transformation through saying “yes” to God is an act of defiance against oppression. 

More and more, society and the government want us to be afraid of each other. Some seek to divide us by creating artificial scarcity and violence in our communities. We are urged to be selfish, to push away our neighbors and ignore the cries of the suffering. Meanwhile, Jesus challenges us to change ourselves in order to love everyone, even in the face of adversity. Everyone gets to make this choice daily.