On Faith: What Is Better?

I have been hearing from a number of discouraged people lately. They don’t want to watch the news, or check in on Facebook and other social media, or read the paper sometimes because of the anger they encounter in all those places.

I understand. Sometimes it seems impossible to have a conversation about what is better for our communities, locally or worldwide, without hard lines being drawn and opposing sides being unwaveringly chosen. It seems as if rational, honest, clear-headed debate is impossible. Each side questions the patriotism, integrity and character — and even the faith — of everyone perceived to be “on the other side.” People yell at each other on social media. People threaten each other in public places. The angry versions of “us vs. them” are even evident in some of the local issues reported on the pages of local newspapers.

And even gentle suggestions to be more understanding or openminded are met with irate defensiveness. I agree that all this is quite discouraging, especially when it seems like it is getting worse.

Is there some kind of evil at work that feeds this kind of divisive climate? Are we humans really so easily manipulated to be vicious and hateful toward one another? Those are hard questions that I admit baffle me.

What is better? Maybe there are better questions. Such as, “How can a community of any description so divided move forward for the good of all people?” Or, “Is there a way forward toward healing?” Or, “Is there hope for the Church, the community, the world?”

What is better?

Conversation, listening, praying for each other and with each other is better. Martin Luther, a “church reformer” from 500 years ago, writing in “The Small Catechism,” urged the followers of Jesus to keep God’s commandment to “not bear false witness” by fearing and loving God so that we defend our neighbor (my emphasis) and “speak well of them, and interpret everything they do in the best possible light.” That is better. Living into Jesus’ prayer for the world that “they may be completely one” and know they are loved (see John 17:20-23) is better. Love is better.

There is an organization called “Better Angels” that offers a civic version of this faith practice. This is from their website (www.better-angels.org): “Better Angels is a citizens’ organization uniting red and blue Americans in a working alliance to depolarize America. We try to understand the other side’s point of view, even if we don’t agree with it. We engage those we disagree with, looking for common ground and ways to work together. We support principles that bring us together rather than divide us, inviting reasonable dialogue (conversation, discussion) between people from both sides of the political spectrum.”

The progress of their work is one of the reasons I still consult Facebook (as well as some of the really awesome encouragements that are shared there, the positive messages, the beauty of Creation and calls to care for it). This, I believe, is part of the true work of the followers of Jesus in today’s world. Christ came for the healing of the world (Luke 4:18-21). The followers of Jesus are called to live into that healing, to promote that healing. That is better.

I understand the anger each “side” seems to find necessary, I really do, because sometimes I am nearly overwhelmed by it myself. But we all need to be on guard that we do not let that anger blind us to the Christ, the child of God, that is in each of us. The apostle Paul, first missionary and church planter, was aware of the power of anger, and advised creative and helpful ways to express it:

Ephesians 4:26; Be angry but do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger….

Ephesians 4:31; Put away from you all bitterness and wrath and anger and wrangling and slander, together with all malice ….

It’s good advice for a better way (actually, that whole chapter of Ephesians is pretty awesome).

I pray I can live up to that advice, and invite you to consider the implications if you did too.

Pastor Chris Hill is the Senior Pastor at Our Savior’s Lutheran Church in Cloquet.