Today is the second day of the 2025 General Assembly session, where 138 legislators from all corners of the Commonwealth convene to consider laws to (hopefully) make us a more just and better society. Often forgotten is that elected leaders are one part of the equation of making our society a better place to live. Citizens play a role in governing by sharing their perspective with legislators and testifying before committees. But what, if any, is a Christian’s responsibility to government?

The gloom that blanketed Bald Knob the other day was palpable: enough to weigh down the Christmas cheer of the season. The culprit was a fog so thick it could be felt. Light didn’t arrive until mid-morning. Even then it was hard for me to get it into gear that morning. There’s something about clear days and sunshine that boosts our spirits. We don’t realize how good it is until the fog and murkiness sets in.

Last week, the Chief Equity Officer for Jefferson County Public Schools, Dr. John Marshall, made a post on the social media platform X which warned black students that they should not expect fair treatment from most white people. He said, “Regardless of the rooms, meetings, classes, etc., you’re in, know THE MAJORITY of whites could care less about you & have no issues harming you.”