Even if you don’t watch the news, you have undoubtedly heard of the puzzling interactions between seemingly self-righteous opponents who are so entrenched in their positions, and so passionate in their expectations for others, that no amount of logic or fact from the other side will cause them to change their minds. Vitriolic ad hominem attacks replace honest discussion about issues as the self-righteous attitude held by one side automatically dismisses everything but instant capitulation by the other equally self-righteous side.
Critical race theory, which teaches the failure of the Civil Rights Movement of the 1960’s to change systemic racism, and condemns the founding of our nation as an exercise in white supremacy (see https://www.thoughtco.com/critical-race-theory-4685094), and which undergirds much of the philosophy of a group like Black Lives Matter (https://slate.com/human-interest/2016/07/all-lives-matter-versus-black-lives-matter-how-does-the-philosophy-of-language-shed-light-on-the-disagreement.html) seems to be at the heart of all this rage fomenting around us. My purpose Frankly, is not to get into an argument with the intractable on either side, but to remind all of the need for civility, When we take the time to examine the reactions of both supporters and non-supports on either side, what we have is a study in unmet expectations.
In the present public atmosphere, a failure to meet the expectations voiced by one’s opponents results not only in personal attacks, but in shaming toward those who dare to disagree. Disagree and the self-righteous will put a big red A on your chest and excommunicate you from the human race. On one hand, people are told to kneel and seek forgiveness for their whiteness. On the other, legitimate protesters against a broken justice system are lumped together with thugs and looters, and are labeled anarchists. Everyone is commanded (not just encouraged or asked nicely) to change their vocabulary to meet the expectations held by the transgender and the feminist. Conservative Christians are considered anti almost anything having to do with sex – they are especially indited as ant-gay at best, and homo-phobic at worst. The only ‘discussion’ ‘tolerated’ from the accuser is the Christians total renunciation of his or her faith.
Speaking with one another in such a caustic atmosphere seems a highly improbable exercise. May I suggest the obvious regardless of your stand on which lives matter, or what your view might be on gender and sexual issues, etc. etc. etc.? Turning to the Bible, which is authoritative for the evangelicals among us, listen to these words from Paul’s letter to the Ephesians, “
29 Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but what is good for necessary edification, that it may impart grace to the hearers.
30 And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption.
31 Let all bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking be put away from you, with all malice.
32 And be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.” (Eph 4:29-32 NKJ)
Such words are rightful expectations for those of us who are Christ followers regardless of any other expectations laid on us from other sources. To impart grace to those whose minds are already made up, and who think most, if not all, Christians are either hypocrites, deluded, or both, is a tricky business. While Christians can’t expect those who are not Christians to act with anything but wrath and anger, isn’t it interesting that even those who don’t follow Christ expect to be treated with kindness, and to have others listen to them? What we Christians are sometimes slow to realize is that we can only impart grace which excludes “bitterness, wrath, anger, clamor, and evil speaking,” can only happen as we learn to depend on the Holy Spirit to breath grace as He provides in and through us the ability to “be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, just as God in Christ forgave you.” Imparting grace is imparting the Gospel. Now THAT is a God given expectation we can live with!
Being hit with this twice. You and Mark are tromping around on the same battlefield. We are in Galatians 5 and getting ready to unpack verses 22ff next Sunday. Can’t hear it too often. We really need these kinds if lessons at this point in time. Actually what we need more of is Morgan Freemans. I just heard him in an interview and he suggests that we stop talking about racism. That’s what keeps it stirred up. I’ve said this for years. A cut can’t heal if you keep ripping it open all the time.
What people group can say they’ve never been on the bottom? I can think of only one group of people who had not been on the bottom. They were the Pics, ancestors of the Scots. They were so fierce that even the Vikings lift them alone. Somebody’s always been on the bottom. Think about the Greeks. They were slaves but they don’t seem to talk about it. Wonder if they have tried to rewrite that part of their history. Or do they accept it and go on. In England you had the Angles, the Saxons and the Gauls. Somebody was always on the bottom while someone else was on the top.
I like what Mr. Freeman said about Black History Month. He asked his interviewer if there was a White History Month to which the reporter responded that he was Jewish and no, there is no Jewish History Month either. Most wouldn’t be able to stomach that one. There’s no Jewish History Month and no White History Month. Mr. Freeman said he didn’t think there should be a Black History Month. He took his argument further by saying he is not a Black man, just a man. His interviewer was not a Jewish man but just a man. Leave off the distinctions. He’s got a point. By bringing out these distinctions we amplify our differences.
The big problem I see today is the name calling. There is no discussion. Name calling is not an argument. It amounts to “My mind’s already made up so don’t confuse me with facts.” By name calling the person has already made up his mind about you and there’s no need for discussion. It would change his mind about you. Without civil discussions, without laying out grievances, without putting forth even a smidgen of effort to understand the other’s position, nothing will ever be accomplished. But maybe that’s the way it will be till the eastern sky cracks open. Then there will be peace. Until then, as you say, our job is to rely on the Holy Spirit to give us grace to deal with these types of people.
I used to tell my Tuesday morning ladies that we should all decide now how we will respond to evil when we are faced with it. We don’t want to be caught off guard. I know that for me in particular, I don’t think well under pressure. I only see one option for myself. I need to tell God of my desire to not fail Him then express my inability to stand against evil. I don’t see confronting evil as my job. The Christian doesn’t go head to head with Satan. Eve tried it and we see the results of that encounter. Our job, as I see it, is to run to Jesus. Jesus conquered Satan on the cross and is now still in the battle to vanquish him. The Holy Spirit is the one who helps me in my responses to evil. Even Paul had problems fighting again evil. The thing he knew he should do, he didn’t and the things he knew he shouldn’t do, those are the things he did. He boasted only in the power of the cross.
Thanks for listening to my ramblings. As always, any error on my part should be corrected and I will welcome your feedback.
As always, thanks for your cogent reply to my post! You are a thoughtful and insightful friend! On the content of what you wrote, I believe that this current chaos is about a lust for power whether one is trying to keep it, or trying to usurp it from others. I find it sad that Morgan Freeman seems to understand it better than a lot of Christians I know.
Thinking about the struggle with evil – I do think there are times when Christians need to confront evil, though defining what actually constitutes evil is under constant assault, even in the church. But as you rightly remind us, running to Jesus is ALWAYS the correct response to the truly evil around us, spiritual or otherwise.
I am one who is heartbroken by the lack of civility at present, even in the church, though I readily admit, that’s nothing really new is it! Thanks again for thinking through all this with me!