This comes at EXACTLY the moment I needed it. I’m actively wrestling with this question:
How do I simultaneously decry the evils of Christian Nationalism whilst also not getting sucked into what my friend Carl calls the root of all genocide—thinking that my world would be better without them in it? I want to see the people behind the ideology as those worthy of Christ’s love and blood, and be willing to let Him love them through me. So far I am mostly not connecting with that because I am just so angry at their blasphemous, greedy anti-Gospel. Do you have any thoughts for me here?
Anni, I am so with you in that! It is helpful for me to see it as a sickness, principalities & powers that are like a virus. Just by virtue of being a straight white male, I’m far too often humbled by my own ignorance and insensitivity.
I’ve been reading and re-rereading Greg Boyle’s “Cherished Belonging” this summer and it points directly at this. It might be timely for you. (And don’t forget to offer yourself loads of grace. This is so hard to hold right now!)
I’ve been fortunate enough to connect with Fr. Greg personally over the years and a couple things stand out… He doesn’t believe in such thing as an evil person. He has said this when asked about Trump over the years and how he has to hold on to that as true. As soon as we label someone as evil, the next step is to perceive them as disposable and God just doesn’t see anyone as disposable. That’s really helpful for me.
He also talks about burnout (but not in this book) as a condition that overwhelms when we’ve made something about us.
He’s worked with gang members and violent offenders over the years who have been perceived as disposable and he has seen first hand how written off and demonized people become by our rhetoric, our conversations and
Oh wow, this is right up my alley. My first job out of high school was as an educator’s assistant in a juvenile justice center. I learned right there how the students I worked with were people who had been failed by their systems—society at large, families, churches, neighborhoods—who, if given better circumstances, might have had a totally different trajectory. It really opened my eyes to the preciousness of each soul. This book sounds like something I would really benefit from. Adding to cart!
I agree that it is wrong to dehumanizing and demonize our fellow human beings, even the ones with whom we sharply disagree and treat us with indignity, and…
I'm struggling with characterizing someone's ideology and behavior as a mark of them being “unwell,” “not whole,” “not healed,” mentally ill, or even insane.
Setting aside that I have a hard time believing anyone is completely whole/healed, this characterization is the same one being made by many on the right about anyone who disagrees with them, albeit void of compassion or any extension of benefit of the doubt. I just saw a post this morning on the book of faces lumping transgender image-bearers together as a “dangerous and deadly combination of mental illness and hormones.”
Is pathologizing those who disagree with us and treat us with indignity, even when done with an eye towards seeing them more compassionately, especially without knowing their specific medical history/diagnoses or being their medical provider, perhaps another way to other them - holding ourselves in higher regard and them lower?
This comes at EXACTLY the moment I needed it. I’m actively wrestling with this question:
How do I simultaneously decry the evils of Christian Nationalism whilst also not getting sucked into what my friend Carl calls the root of all genocide—thinking that my world would be better without them in it? I want to see the people behind the ideology as those worthy of Christ’s love and blood, and be willing to let Him love them through me. So far I am mostly not connecting with that because I am just so angry at their blasphemous, greedy anti-Gospel. Do you have any thoughts for me here?
Anni, I am so with you in that! It is helpful for me to see it as a sickness, principalities & powers that are like a virus. Just by virtue of being a straight white male, I’m far too often humbled by my own ignorance and insensitivity.
I’ve been reading and re-rereading Greg Boyle’s “Cherished Belonging” this summer and it points directly at this. It might be timely for you. (And don’t forget to offer yourself loads of grace. This is so hard to hold right now!)
Thank you, Ryan! I will keep that title on my radar. What, specifically has been helpful about it for you?
I’ve been fortunate enough to connect with Fr. Greg personally over the years and a couple things stand out… He doesn’t believe in such thing as an evil person. He has said this when asked about Trump over the years and how he has to hold on to that as true. As soon as we label someone as evil, the next step is to perceive them as disposable and God just doesn’t see anyone as disposable. That’s really helpful for me.
He also talks about burnout (but not in this book) as a condition that overwhelms when we’ve made something about us.
He’s worked with gang members and violent offenders over the years who have been perceived as disposable and he has seen first hand how written off and demonized people become by our rhetoric, our conversations and
Mindset.
Oh wow, this is right up my alley. My first job out of high school was as an educator’s assistant in a juvenile justice center. I learned right there how the students I worked with were people who had been failed by their systems—society at large, families, churches, neighborhoods—who, if given better circumstances, might have had a totally different trajectory. It really opened my eyes to the preciousness of each soul. This book sounds like something I would really benefit from. Adding to cart!
This lesson is so hard to live by, but you make it sound to obvious and necessary, Ryan.
It is such a challenge, Kevin, but I recall so well you modeling this for us with grace.
The one who has ears to ear, let them hear.
Yes, Jo!
I agree that it is wrong to dehumanizing and demonize our fellow human beings, even the ones with whom we sharply disagree and treat us with indignity, and…
I'm struggling with characterizing someone's ideology and behavior as a mark of them being “unwell,” “not whole,” “not healed,” mentally ill, or even insane.
Setting aside that I have a hard time believing anyone is completely whole/healed, this characterization is the same one being made by many on the right about anyone who disagrees with them, albeit void of compassion or any extension of benefit of the doubt. I just saw a post this morning on the book of faces lumping transgender image-bearers together as a “dangerous and deadly combination of mental illness and hormones.”
Is pathologizing those who disagree with us and treat us with indignity, even when done with an eye towards seeing them more compassionately, especially without knowing their specific medical history/diagnoses or being their medical provider, perhaps another way to other them - holding ourselves in higher regard and them lower?
This came with such impeccable timing for me. Something I've been reflecting on recently too. Thank you for this.