I gave up partisanship for Lent. I guess I just started feeling restless from dwelling on news that really doesn’t call us to do anything other than gripe about “the other.” I don’t want to be one of those people who goes around with shallow anger about injustice. I want to be someone who speaks the truth in such a way that justice is produced as an alternative reality – something better than what we’ve seen.
Many people claim that the U.S. is a Christian nation, while only supporting laws of “don’t” and “can’t.” You can’t do this, you can’t do that. Sure, there are things that we shouldn’t do and those things must be dealt with. But the truth is, Christianity is based on laws of can and shall and should. Ways of life that show what one must do like loving your neighbor and your enemy. Ways of supporting the poor not because it’s what anyone deserves or has worked for, but simply because we’re supposed to love one another.
If a politician tried to legislate those things that Christians are called to do, they’d be considered socialist. No politically savvy legislator would ever try to push the way that the early church lived (Acts 4:32-35) nor tout Mary’s song in public (Luke 1:46-55) much less require that a person set aside a tenth of his or her produce for others (Deuteronomy 14:22). He or she would be thrown out, even by those proudly waving the Christian banner.
Engaging one another across party lines (or any other lines that divide) is the only way of hope. God crossed the line of divinity into humanity for the sake of life. Jesus crossed all sorts of lines that were meant to divide the poor from the rich, the “righteous” from the “sinner.” If we’re serious about faith and hope, we will use all means possible to dialog in ways that bring about change, and drop the divisiveness. We’ll stop encouraging divisiveness by not forwarding hateful emails, listening, watching and retweeting commentators who make a living off of hate mongering.
This doesn’t mean that we will remain quiet about injustice. Instead, we will open a new door to address injustice in ways that can possibly bring about true change.
Think about Nathan – whose story is told in 2 Samuel of the Old Testament. David had committed adultery, then had the husband of his lover killed. Instead of blogging, tweeting, FBing about it, Nathan went to King David and spoke in such a way that David felt convicted to change – to do what was right in the aftermath of his wrongs.
Crossing lines doesn’t come as easy as divisiveness but nobody ever said being Christian would be easy. It takes work and faith in a strength far greater than our own. May the Easter season bring this kind of new life – an alternative reality.
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I think Christianity has become like one big sporting event and we are all the spectators. We like to boo the opposition, cheer for our group and wear the t-shirt. But the truth is, we are all on the sidelines. It's so much easier to wear the t-shirt than it is to play the game. When we play the game, we may have an occasional loss, but the satisfaction of actually doing something is so much more rewarding. Love this post, Neelley!
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