I have had glasses since I was two years old. I do not know life without them, and unfortunately most of the kids I grew up with didn’t know life with them. I was teased all the time. My teammates in basketball would snap the strap of my goggles against my head and point out my “big” eyes because of the thick lenses. But the most common and hurtful insult to me was being called “four eyes.” It made me feel alienated.
Alienation, to me, means more than being separated or cast off. The root word says it all: alien. I was foreign, a stranger, of a different species, inhuman. To alienate someone is a very dangerous thing. It does more than distinguish — it dehumanizes.
Sadly, this was one of the first things that came to my mind when asked to write about God and politics. I am not versed on the intersection of theology and politics. My interests are in philosophy and religion. My head is in the clouds, and I just hope my feet are somewhat on the ground. But I, like many reading this, have felt the repercussions of God and politics.
Go back into your recent memory to the mess that followed Dan Cathy’s comments at Chik-fil-a. Forget about who you think was right or wrong. Whatever side you were on, did you not feel alienated? Unwelcomed? That you are bigot? That you are an unnatural wierdo destroying the very fabric of America? It hurts to be blamed, pointed at and chastised. And that is before there are any public demonstrations about how wrong, intolerant and hopeless you are.
I have talked to people who were on both sides of that day. Both sides felt alienated. Yes, we need to stand up for what we believe in and communicate it, but it’s effectiveness is not based on how loud we are or how many people we have on our side.
Look at how Jesus acted when he was confronted by someone different than his lifestyle and beliefs. He had the uncanny ability to challenge someone yet affirm their humanity at the same time. When he was faced with prostitutes he did not condemn them or run from them. He sat with them and talked to them. Why this approach? The prostitute knew how others believed she was leading a horrible lifestyle, but Jesus was the only one to come and demonstrate that she is better than what she is offering yourself. He did not condone her actions, but he dignified her by lifting up her humanity.
And look at the Pharisees. Within this fold of respectable men were the Glenn Beck’s and Bill Maher’s of their day. When the Pharisees heated up politically, Jesus challenged them. But Jesus did not play a game with them. It was not a debate, a time of throwing around thoughts, accusations and insults. No, like an arrow to a target, Jesus moved from venomous debate to the real issue. And by doing so told the Pharisees, “You are better than this. The people need to hear the truth and we are the leaders they believe in! Let’s be honest.” And just like that Jesus refused to play their game and instead encouraged them to fulfill their role as leaders. In his challenge, Jesus offered an opportunity to step forward and move on to something better.
I am sad to say that some of God’s children (whether Republican or Democrat or somewhere in-between) are not following suit. There has been more of an attitude to rub the truth in others’ faces instead of speaking truth in order to build peace and move forward. Jesus made peace, even if there was no resolution (like with the Pharisees), because he was blameless in his attitude and direct in his challenge. Many Christians have done a great job at defending the truth, but have forgot the attitude and resolution-seeking you should have as you defend the truth:
- “Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect.” (1 Peter 3:15)
- “But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you.” (Luke 6:27)
- “So show your love for the alien, for you were once aliens in Egypt.” (Deuteronomy 10:19)
I understand that there are times where common ground cannot be found and there will be disagreement at the root of an issue. And sometimes we will be attacked for what we believe. But let’s do not return persecution with persecution, insult for insult, judgment for judgment. No one leaves a verbal knife-fight uncut.
Whether you are Republican or Democrat, straight or gay, conservative or liberal, pro-choice or pro-life, these distinctions can become political weapons of alienation. As weapons, they deteriorate our communal life. Being called “four eyes” as a student not only defined me but it defined my accusers as divisive and unloving.
Jesus offers us a better example. When we find disagreement among each other, lets first dignify one another before any disagreements spew from our mouths.
__________
Image credits: flickr.com/photos/schani and flickr.com/photos/drew_photography
Philip,
In answer to your question “Whatever side you were on, did you not feel alienated? Unwelcomed? That you are bigot?”
Not at all. I found the whole thing fascinating and delicious.
My friend Jim Henderson has a saying that touches on what you are writing about: When people like each other the rules change.
As someone who is in some sense officially an alien, an American living in Australia, I think laughter helps a lot. Laughing at myself, and my relatively strange, to the natives, alien ways. laughing at the inevitable faux pas, at the difference, etc. =)
This post was thought-provoking. I agree with you in that Jesus was totally awesome in how he approached people! His love for them was obvious.
You made a comparison between Glenn Beck and the Pharisees. Would you mind explaining that a bit more? I realize that Beck can be an in your face kind of person, but I’ve never thought of him as someone who lords himself over others and thinks he’s better than everyone else. So, as you can see, I’m not connecting the dots.
Jennifer,
My liking Beck and Maher to the Pharisees was to demonstrate how the Pharisees were quite outspoken about political matters and did so in a polarizing way. Beck and Maher both have a reputation for doing the same.
Without getting into a discussion about political policies, do you see Beck and/or Maher as a helpful voice in the world of politics?
Kinda simplistic Brandon. Perpetuates the Gentle Jesus, Meek and Mild Myth. Jesus was no cream puff. He was tough as nails when truth was at stake. Can his followers do less?
I think you mean, Philip.
Also, I think you are missing the point Philip is making.
Personally, I think the gentle Jesus, meek and mild is a strong image. The very quality of meekness implies an incredible strength behind it. Being mild in today’s world of strong personalities is refreshing, provided it IS accompanied by meekness (again, incredible strength is there).
Also, I think we humans should take pages from the meek and mild playbook. Jesus was perfect, so we know when he had to be direct, he did it perfectly. Humans don’t have that same quality of perfection, and more often than not, I’ve noticed people, in a heated discussion or one of grave importance, don’t exercise good communication skills, thereby taking away the validity of whatever point they were hoping to make. Here is a great article about skilled communication that you might find both intriguing and helpful: http://www.forbes.com/sites/mikemyatt/2012/04/04/10-communication-secrets-of-great-leaders/
By the way, what do you have against cream puffs? :-p
I don’t believe that Jesus’ dealings with the Pharisees had to do with politics or human dignity; it was about their hearts. He used them as an example to the entire crowd to which He was speaking in Matthew 23, pointing out their hypocrisy, calling them blind fools, and lamenting their condition.
Bonnie,
A couple of quick thoughts. My focus on Jesus’ dealings with the Pharisees was not to highlight on the political content (although there were political conversations in the gospels). It was to highlight how Jesus dealt with very combative, debate-oriented people. Instead of playing a round of Debate Club with them, he went to the heart of the issue to force the truth to come to the light. He was trying to progress the conversation to a helpful conclusion.
Philip,
This is one of the best articles I have ever read, ever. It speaks the truth of the gospel and the character of Jesus. The battle has already been fought and won. Why are we still so malicious to one another?
“No one leaves a verbal knife-fight uncut.”
Best line I’ve read all day. Nice insights, Philip.
Tim
I don’t recall Jesus ever telling the Pharisees, “You are better than this. The people need to hear the truth and we are the leaders they believe in! Let’s be honest.” I do remember him calling them whitewashed tombs full of dead men’s bones. Jesus was full of compassion, but could be very polarizing, too. He offended many and still does. He also didn’t talk much about politics. He spoke of his kingdom. I can’t help but feel that you’ve put words in his mouth.
Joy,
Thanks for your comments and concerns. Matthew 23, which has been mentioned in multiple comments, and Jesus’ infamous scalding found there does not need to solely inform our understanding Jesus’ message to the Pharisees (reference his time with Nicodemus in John 3 for a very different tone with a Pharisee). And even within that text, the underlining point being made is one of hypocrisy. When you call someone out for hypocrisy you are usually doing one of two things:
1. Trying to embarrass the person in order to put them down and bring shame upon them, or
2. Trying to call them up to the standard they have left as a way to help them.
I believe Jesus is doing the latter. Jesus’ strong language does not mean he did not love or care for them – it means the opposite! Different situations and people call for different types of communication. Regardless of his tone, Jesus was asking them to be better Pharisees. We see this throughout the gospels. I do not see this as opposed to my original text where I wanted to specify how Jesus, as a whole, was trying to get the Pharisees outside of their little world and into God’s world. More importantly, start teaching God’s world and be real with God’s people.
I hope this clarifies my original statement.
I just wanted to add a note of clarity to the comments. In evangelical culture there is a standard narrative about the Pharisees. They were the “pastors” of the day who we hypocritical and unkind, neglected the poor, and required others to follow all their made-up rules.
That narrative isn’t exactly correct. The Pharisees were a powerful political group within Judaism. And they had influence at the synagogue. The synagogue was not just a church as we think of it today, but had the power of the word.
If we think of Caesar as the “political” party and the “Pharisees” as the “religious” group, we’re missing something. Remember, Israel was occupied by Rome. But they still had their own political sphere among the Jews. They saw themselves as an occupied nation, not as a completely new nation. They were not in Babylon, they were in Israel and remained Israel.
The Synagogue has the power to enforce capital punishment, which is one of the most exactly powers of political influence, as we think of political influences. Remember the scene of the woman taken in adultery? They picked up stones to do what? To inflict political power upon a woman who broke the Law. They threatened Jesus with the same, with stoning. And they threatened Paul too. They actually killed Stephen by this method for “blaspheming” which was against the Law.
I mention Law because that’s a major part of our political understanding. The Law of Moses and the Talmud were part of the everyday political life of the Jews.
The Jews didn’t think in terms of “religious” or “political” spheres. It was all one to them… a people living in community under the God of Israel.
So if we think Jesus was not political, it isn’t really our understanding of Jesus we’re missing. We can see his bold statements clearly enough. What we’re missing is that those he spoke to were the political powerbrokers of their time, separate from Caesar. Caesar and Harod were not the only political words lording over Israel….