<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=16hKy6_1GzR5W6a00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=16hKy6_1GzR5W6a00" width="1920" height="1003" ><figcaption>David W. Marshall</figcaption></figure>It is the feeling of invisibility being felt by our youth. It is where they feel disregarded or overlooked by society. During the 2015 riot in Baltimore, the late Congressman Elijah Cummings walked the streets in West Baltimore to de-escalate the civil unrest following the death of Freddie Gray in police custody. The congressman was confronted and asked by a teenager why political and faith leaders were there now, but not before the protest. As a resident of Maryland, I saw first-hand how Cummings worked in the trenches on behalf of communities within his district. The confrontation with Cummings was out of raw frustration. What the teenager saw as inconsistency would have been correct with many other lawmakers, but he was off target with Cummings.Cummings was willing to go into the midst of looting and arson with a bullhorn calling for peace says a lot about him as a community leader and as a man of character. While leaders like Cummings maintain genuine community involvement, the youth’s reaction exposes a pattern of reactive intervention over proactive engagement. As a result, there needs to be more accountable public servants like Cummings and less hypocritical servants like Ohio U.S. Sen. Bernie Moreno.Moreno said that anyone who does not believe that Jesus died for their salvation is unfit to serve in the Senate and “should be nowhere near Washington.” Moreno spoke at a rally in Chillicothe, Ohio, where he was joined by President Donald Trump and Sen. Jon Husted - all Republicans.During his remarks, Moreno turned his focus to the race in Michigan, where Democrat Abdul El-Sayed was in a tight Senate race with former Rep. Mike Rogers. El-Sayed will be the first Muslim to serve in the U.S. Senate. Moreno said Abduk El-Sayed and other non-Christians have no business in the Senate. Asserting that belief in Jesus as savior is a prerequisite for public office directly excludes not only Muslims, but Jews, Hindus and Buddhist citizens while subverting religious diversity. This type of religious litmus test mirrors the historic Protestant resistance against Catholic leadership such as the 1928 Al Smith campaign and 1960 JFK election. Moreno is dangerous because his hate-filled words that contradict both the U.S. Constitution and the Bible, will be embraced by many.He is dangerous because his words lead to institutional erosion. When faith is weaponized, younger generations disengage from both civic institutions and religious communities. Those who support this belief may speak about upholding the U.S. Constitution, but they don’t understand or simply ignore its meaning and purpose.Article VI of the Constitution says “but no religious test shall ever be required as a Qualification to any Office or public Trust under the United States.” We need to listen to young people and understand their challenges, concerns and perspective on life. Many young people lose hope because they see the “American Dream” as beyond their reach.Secondly, youth are looking for authenticity from those who are in trusted positions. In most individuals such as Moreno, they don’t see it regardless of their political party, religion or race. They perpetuate the erosion of public trust when their racism, classism and religious exclusivity is on display. Youth are looking for political and faith leaders who are real, genuine and free from lies and deception. Thirdly, if you claim to be a follower of Christ, then let us see Christ in you consistently. These hypocritical Republicans are not showing us Christ, and they know it.We need more officials like Cummings, a man of faith whose words and actions were a reflection of him being a “peacemaker” in his community. Jesus said, “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.” When it comes to those lawmakers who call themselves followers of Christ such as Sen. Tim Scott and House Speaker Mike Johnson, God will hold them accountable.Have they read Isaiah 10? “Woe to those who make unjust laws, to those who issue oppressive decrees, to deprive the poor of their rights and withhold justice from the oppressed of my people, making widows their prey and robbing the fatherless.” God will hold them accountable, because God don’t like ugly.<blockquote>David W. Marshall is founder of The Reconciled Body, the faith-based organization. He can be reached through https://www.davidwmarshallauthor.com.</blockquote></div></body>

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It is the feeling of invisibility being felt by our youth. It is where they feel disregarded or overlooked by society. During the 2015 riot in Baltimore, the late Congressman Elijah Cummings walked the streets in West Baltimore to de-escalate the civil unrest following the death of Freddie Gray in police custody.

God does not like ugly

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It is the feeling of invisibility being felt by our youth. It is where they feel disregarded or overlooked by society. During the 2015 riot in Baltimore, t

God does not like ugly

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