We’ve never done this before. None of us. We are all coping with a global pandemic as well as we can, and in our own way.
I’ve had moments of great joy—watching our community rally around each other to take care of one another. We’ve all seen self-sacrificial acts of heroism from our essential workers, medical professionals and first responders. There is much, even in this time, to be thankful for.
We’ve also all seen a darker side to our culture and our civil discourse, and I call that darker side a culture of contempt.
Contempt is different than anger. Anger can be justified; it can be a God-given gift that alerts us to injustice or injury. Anger tells us something needs to change (for better or worse) and that we can be part of the solution if we act in wisdom.
But anger, when it’s allowed to take over our hearts and minds, can often lead to contempt, and contempt ruins lives. It can also ruin a civil society.
In the 18th chapter of Luke’s Gospel, Jesus tells the story of a Pharisee and a tax collector. The Pharisee prayed aloud, proudly, “Thank you, God, that I am not like these other people.” The Greek word used to describe this Pharisee, which we translate as “contempt,” literally means someone who “reduces (others) to nothing.”
We should never, according to Jesus, look at another human with contempt. Contempt takes a civil discussion and turns it into a shouting match.
Those who can’t wait for society to open up because they care about the damage being done to our economy (and the real effects that has on people we all love) are seen, when viewed with contempt, as irresponsible threats to my life.
Those who desperately want their neighbors to stay home because they love their community are seen, when viewed with contempt, as cowards and wimps or even tyrants.
We will all get through this in better shape if we follow Jesus’ teachings about contempt. No one is worthless to God. No one. And no one is so great that they have earned God’s approval. No one.
God loves us because God is love, and God’s love is demonstrated most fully, I believe, in the cross and resurrection of Jesus. The cross and resurrection teach us that all human life matters.
If one man rose, the great apostle Paul argues, the rest of us can rise too, and then even death (or the coronavirus) won’t get the last word.
Instead of contempt for one another, let’s choose the high road Jesus took of praying for those who would harm us even as they harm us. COVID-19 might, for a while, take some of our freedoms. It might take our health. But if we lose our humanity and our shared sense of kindness, empathy and love for each other, it won’t be the coronavirus that is at fault.
Gregory is pastor of Lifesong Christian Communities and director of spiritual life at Oaks Christian School. He and his wife, Kristin, have been married for 20 years and have three children. Email him at thegregorys1@aol.com.
"discourse" - Google News
May 29, 2020 at 09:09AM
https://ift.tt/2Xee5i0
Take the high road in civil discourse; treat others with love, prayer - Moorpark Acorn
"discourse" - Google News
https://ift.tt/2KZL2bm
https://ift.tt/2z7DUH4
No comments:
Post a Comment