From Our Minister: September 2007

Jesus answered, "My kingdom is not of this world. ...
Then Pilate said to him, "So you are a king?"
Jesus answered, "You say that I am a king.
For this purpose I was born and for this purpose
I have come into the world— to bear witness to the truth.
Everyone who is of the truth listens to my voice."
Pilate said to him, "What is truth?"

John 18:36-38 (ESV)

Many have echoed Pilate’s question to Jesus throughout the centuries. Before him stood Jesus, a king whose realm was not confined to time and space, not restricted to this earth. Pilate represented the most powerful empire of the ancient world, yet before Him stood a king unlike any other, the king who spoke truth and only truth, whose followers are revealed quite simply—they listen to His voice.

A political leader who speaks truth? Please forgive my suspicion. That’s what working on Capitol Hill can do to you. However, living in Boston has brought entirely new meanings to what politics is all about!

We should be proud that a member of our church, David Boyajian, had the courage and savvy to speak out and draw, what has become, international attention to the effort to gain official recognition of the Armenian Genocide.

David’s letter to the Watertown TAB in July prompted the Watertown Town Council to rescind its affiliation with the “No Place for Hate” Campaign. Drawing attention to the NPFH Sponsor Anti-Defamation League’s unswerving denial of the Armenian Genocide, David tapped into the moral integrity of the New England Jewish Community.

The Regional Director of the New England ADL, Andrew Tarsy, stood for the truth of the Genocide and was fired. Leaders in the local Jewish community expressed outrage and now, in a way that we could never have anticipated, we have witnessed the ADL acknowledging (at least in words—that is a start!) the truth of the Armenian Genocide. Mr. Tarsy has been reinstated, and members of the Jewish and Armenian clergy in the region will meet on the Capitol steps on August 30 to convey solidarity in standing for truth, giving dignity, recognition, and respect to those who perished in 1915, as well as all other genocides, including Darfur in our day.

No, Jesus’ kingdom is not of this world. His reign is in the hearts and minds of His followers who listen to His voice. As we unite under His rule, the world begins to see that He truly is the one true Savior and Lord.

In the meantime, we rejoice and continue to work with everyone we can so that truth will not be cynically suppressed. We congratulate David and publicly express our gratitude to the Jewish community of New England for their determination to speak out and stand up for the truth.