The politically motivated killings of a democratic politician and her husband over the weekend put a serious damper on what was otherwise an encouraging day – 13.14 million people showing up to unequivocally pronounce, “No kings in America”. The alleged murderer was arrested Sunday night. He’s been identified as a Trump supporter and an Evangelical pastor, which of course has caused ripples throughout the country.
I often focus in this blog on how our Christian witness has been warped in this country by the increase in Christian nationalism and the marriage of right-wing politics with the white Evangelical Church, but today, thanks to this story, my attention has been pulled elsewhere.
Growing up in my conservative Christian bubble, it was indirectly known (and sometimes, directly stated) that to be Christian was to be Republican. “Christian Democrat” was considered an oxymoron at best. Many Christians, in my church at least, questioned whether a Christian Democrat could even truly be saved. A viral video I saw on Facebook reels today showed an American mega-pastor screaming from the pulpit that Democrats were "demons" and "baby butchers" and then ordering anyone in the church who was a Democrat to stand up and leave, because they weren't welcome there.
Even more concerning, a pastor I’ve been following lately, Mark Sandlin, recently posted a poll that showed 75% of Christians (presumably, Republicans) don’t trust Democrats. In the same study, 61% of Christians say they feel less respected by Democrats today than they did in the past.
The mudslinging is happening from both sides of the fence. We seem unwilling or unable to see the other’s point of view. The divisions are so great that we may even see the other side as the enemy. We may even dehumanize the other side and use derogatory terms to describe them.
In extremes, this division leads to violence.
Even murder.
Following the murders and attempted murders, there were some Republicans who poked fun at the killing spree or even seemed to celebrate it. The president purposefully ignored it altogether.
Divided we fall...
When Luigi Mangione killed the United Healthcare CEO, there was a similar lack of empathy and callousness from Democrats.
Who have we become?
C.K. Chesterton once said Jesus told us to love our neighbor and love our enemy, because they are often the same person. In 1 John 4:20, the apostle wrote, "Whoever claims to love God yet hates a brother or sister is a liar. For whoever does not love their brother and sister, whom they have seen, cannot love God, whom they have not seen."
We have brothers and sisters in Christ on both sides of the fence. We can't write off those who disagree with us as "not real Christians" merely because we don't understand them. We certainly are given no allowance in Scripture to hate or harm them. We are clearly and repeatedly told to love our brothers and sisters in Christ.
How do we bridge the divide? I don't know the answer, but I have a few thoughts:
#1 We need to stop thinking in black and white. Neither side is 100% right or 100% wrong. There is good and bad to both viewpoints.
#2 Similarly, we need to stop seeing the other side as the enemy. They are human beings, too. They are loved by God, too. They have experienced hurt and suffering, too. Find your compassion.
#3 We need to be willing to consider the perspective of the other person. In my classes, I teach that true active listening is listening to understand, not to respond. Let’s try to understand the other. We may not agree, but let’s at least hear where they are coming from. The media thrives on building division between us. Democrats are "baby butchers" and Republicans "hate gay people" but what if they don't? What if there are other aspects, other degrees to the issues we have not considered? Spend more time listening than talking. And really, really listen.
#4 Love them, as Christ loved you.
#5 Pray for them. It's hard to hate someone you are praying for.
Of course, maybe we don’t want to bridge the gap. Maybe the divisions are so deep, the suffering so much, the blame and hatred so high, we are unwilling.
I think that’s probably how the murderer in Minnesota got to the point of shooting people. He didn’t think any other kind of reconciliation was possible.
I don’t want that. No one wants that. Right?
Yeah, I think there are some radicals – on both sides – who won’t listen to anything. But I think most people are genuinely well-intended and don’t understand the hate going around. I think most people are doing the best they can with the information they have. Throwing shade just makes defensive walls even higher.
Let’s break the walls down.
Not with hate or violence, but with love and compassion.
With open dialogue.
One person at a time.
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