Last week, the Governing Board of the National Council of Churches adopted two statements, one on recent Middle East violence and acts of terrorism and the other on keeping our elections free of hateful rhetoric. These two statements have come together through the false controversy over accepting Syrian refugees into the United States.

We have seen presidential candidates calling for the registration of Muslims in the US and equating Syrian refugees in the US with rabid dogs. Fortunately David Bowers, the mayor of Roanoke, Virginia, apologized for comparing Syrian refugees to Japanese Americans who were forced into internment camps in the U.S. during World War II. However, well over half of our state governors succumbed to the hysteria and said they would not accept any refugees—people who are fleeing a horrific war in their country.

Tragically, there have even been some Christian leaders who have spoken against Syrian refugees entering the US, most notably Franklin Graham, who predicted that permitting the immigration into the US of Muslims will lead to terrorist incidents such as the attack in Paris.

Meanwhile, mass shootings in the United States such as recent incidents at a Planned Parenthood clinic in Colorado and a center for people with developmental disabilities in California (which was described by the San Bernardino police chief as a ‘domestic terrorist incident’) continue. Would that as much concern was raised by presidential candidates and faith leaders over such tragedies.

Personally, I resist the temptation to view these and other calamities in an apocalyptic light. The human race has survived plagues, world wars, and deadly diseases, but it does feel like our social fabric is badly fraying all around the world.

Here are some items that have caught my attention in recent days and weeks that indicate to me growing intolerance and fundamentalism:

• In certain areas of Israel, movie posters of the most recent installment of the “Hunger Games” movie cannot portray the lead actress, Jennifer Lawrence, because a female image is considered licentious.
• A court in Saudi Arabia has sentenced a poet to death for renouncing Islam.
• African bishops of the United Methodist Church issued a statement defining the two greatest challenges facing their denomination to be global terrorism and gay and lesbian people.

I resist following the example of many others to purchase guns, declare war on Islam, or define entire categories of people as enemies. I choose not to do so, because Jesus wouldn’t do that.

I pray for those who are involved in the Paris climate talks, both government officials and activists, because we need the Holy Spirit's help to secure an agreement that will safeguard God’s good creation.

Patient, sustained ministry continues among the member churches of the NCC to build a just and peaceful world. There are setbacks along the way, but as followers of Christ we can be sure a new heaven and a new earth await us.