After President Trump was shot Saturday afternoon, the first attempted assassination of a sitting or former president since Ronald Reagan was wounded in 1981, I issued the following statement to the press and social media:

“We are grateful that President Trump was not seriously injured in the tragic shooting at a campaign rally in Pennsylvania this afternoon. We are praying earnestly for Mr. Trump and his family and the loved ones of the bystander who was killed — and we ask our fellow Christians to call on our mighty and merciful God to comfort all those affected.

“While the full details of what occurred are still rightfully being carefully investigated, it is in no way premature to call for Americans of all ideological perspectives, Republicans and Democrats alike, to commit to bringing greater civility to their advocacy in the public square.

“We should and must be better as a nation in our ability to lean into our shared humanity when we disagree on matters of public policy. Today’s events should steel our resolve to do just that moving forward.”

I thought a lot about my words the rest of the weekend. Specifically, about just how we who claim the name and calling of Christ should set about doing what I exhorted us to do. The Scripture that came to mind, and remains there as I write these words, was Matthew 5:9: “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.”

Originally published by the Washington Times.