Whether it is killings at a mosque in New Zealand, church bombings in Sri Lanka or the mostly unreported violence against Christians in the Middle East, the attacks have a common theme. The perpetrators are motivated by hate.

Maybe it is coincidence, but the Lutheran churches in Lippstadt, Germany (and elsewhere for all I know), have an anti-hate campaign at the moment. Maybe it is more reminder than campaign.

It is pretty black and white, as you can see by the sign on the door of my wife’s family church, the Marienkirche. Hass schadet der Seele.  Hate hurts the soul.

Simple words, but profound when you stop to think of it. If only more people would believe and act that way.

This message was on the bell tower of another church.