Have you felt “out of sorts” lately? I have.
I won’t go into specifics. Let’s just say it has do with how decisions and actions are damaging things I care about.
And, without fully realizing it, I’ve been sorting people into categories.
This is exactly what Danny Silk tried to warn about at the Bethel Leaders Advance last November (2016). The Greek word for “accuser” (as in “accuser of the brethren Rev 12:10) is “kategoros” from which we get the word “category”. The verb form’s original sense of “accuse” eventually weakened to “assert or name”. Yet, as Danny shared, it is still true that when we “sort” people into categories and then devalue them based upon the category we think they fit into, we are really doing the work of “the accuser of the brethren”.
Have you ever experienced someone trying to sort you into a category? When my sweetheart Susan lived in North Carolina in the early 90’s, people in the supermarket would scrutinize any blue clothing she wore. They wanted to know if she wore the Carolina sky blue of the UNC Tar Heels or the darker blue of the Duke Blue Devils. They first needed to know where her loyalties lay so they could know how to relate to her!
We all feel the pressure of pervasive “us versus them” mindsets in our culture. To meet our intense human need to belong and be accepted (and feel we are “in the right”), we’re tempted to compromise truth and the values God established in our consciences.
The Nazis continually portrayed Jews as subhuman, as disease-carrying rats. So, removal and even “extermination” of Jews eventually seemed appropriate to many. Dehumanization of individuals and groups is conveyed in many ways today including comedy sketches, politicians and commentators who play to prejudices, slanted news stories, etc. Can we find the heart to stand up to this whether we like or dislike the person or group being dehumanized? This is particularly hard when we’ve been taught to believe an individual or group is a threat to our way of life – and maybe to our existence.
Jesus challenges us to die to our self-centered judgments so we can be compassionate – even as our Father is compassionate. 27 “But to you who are willing to listen, I say, love your enemies! Do good to those who hate you. 28 Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who hurt you.
35b Then your reward from heaven will be very great, and you will truly be acting as children of the Most High, for he is kind to those who are unthankful and wicked. 36 You must be compassionate, just as your Father is compassionate.
Luke 6:27-28 and 6:35B-36 NLT
I’m encouraging myself to see people first as humans loved by Father God instead of first sorting them into categories. This is not easy for me! I’ll still feel scared or angry or both about how decision makers are degrading the well-being of future generations. I’ll need to keep asking Father God to help me see people the way He does.
And may I remember to keep asking for Holy Spirit’s life and power to lead me in authentic and civil responses to people wanting to fit me into their ownl version of “us versus them”.
I found many helpful insights and moving stories in Brené Brown’s new book Braving the Wildernessabout her recent research into belonging, authenticity, and spiritual connection. You can read a few quotes I picked out from her book here.
Jesus is challenging my heart attitudes. I need to learn to trust Him more in the midst of the many short-sighted, destructive decisions my species is making.
As Heidi Baker admonishes us: “Stop and love the one.” And “God is God, I’m not. Hooray!”
With affection,
Pastor Russ Fochler |
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