America has a hate problem.
This problem is owned by the political right and the political left.
As the hate problem continues to grow, we will see a rise in violence like we saw with the murder of Charlie Kirk, and the Annunciation Catholic School shooting before that, and State Rep. Melissa Hortman before that…
And while I believe the Church has the tools to help us out of this, we are using the hammer of Thor to try and build our own warped version of Christendom instead of the Kingdom of God.
This problem is owned by the political right and the political left.
As the hate problem continues to grow, we will see a rise in violence like we saw with the murder of Charlie Kirk, and the Annunciation Catholic School shooting before that, and State Rep. Melissa Hortman before that…
And while I believe the Church has the tools to help us out of this, we are using the hammer of Thor to try and build our own warped version of Christendom instead of the Kingdom of God.
The Church in America has a hate problem too.
The violence will only increase unless something changes.
How can America escape this death spiral of violence?
The solution can’t be hatred of the other side. It is very easy to demonize people outside of our political tribe, while excusing the bad behavior of people we perceive to be on our side. But for any change in America to take place, we need to first recognize the hatred within our own allies, and the hatred within our individual hearts.
I am a non-partisan. Not because I don’t have strong political opinions. I do. But because I am a Christian first – above all other allegiance. Consider the words of Jesus, “‘My kingdom is not of this world,’ said Jesus. ‘If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight….’” This means that every follower of Christ will never be truly at home in the political systems of humanity. We might have leanings and preferences, but the Republican party is not the Kingdom of God. The Democratic party is not the Kingdom of God. The United States of America is not the Kingdom of God.
Many Christians in America have found their identity too tightly joined to national political systems. And we participate in the GREAT PILE OF HATE that is exploding in violence.
Sure, we recognize the hatred when the other side participates, but we excuse the hatred on our own side and within our own hearts. Both the political left and political right are not honest about their own hate, or at the most they justify it.
I am going to write a sentence that will bother half of my readers:
President Trump has said hateful things.
Now I am going to bother the other half:
Many on the political left hate Trump supporters.
I could continue, and offer quotes, and social media posts, and offer detailed analysis and evidence, but let’s just be honest and move forward.
Just look at the murder of Charlie Kirk. Go onto social media. Find an article. I see hateful comments from the left almost justifying his assassination. I also see hateful comments from the right using this as an opportunity to demonize every elected and unelected democrat.
Something is broken in America when our first response to murders and school shootings is political hatred. The correct first response is grief. Grief is a process, and our response to violence does not end with grief, but if we can’t lament, the cycle of hate and violence will continue unhindered.
The GREAT PILE OF HATE continues to grow in America.
The political left hates Donald Trump’s hate so they feel justified in hating the hater.
The political right hate the culture shifts and platforms of the left so they feel justified in hating the ones who support the damaging platform.
Hate will never undo hate.
When you hate your enemies, it only makes the situation worse.
Look at the GREAT PILE OF HATE image below. As I see it, Americans are largely addressing hate with hate, which only makes the problem grow.
The violence will only increase unless something changes.
How can America escape this death spiral of violence?
The solution can’t be hatred of the other side. It is very easy to demonize people outside of our political tribe, while excusing the bad behavior of people we perceive to be on our side. But for any change in America to take place, we need to first recognize the hatred within our own allies, and the hatred within our individual hearts.
I am a non-partisan. Not because I don’t have strong political opinions. I do. But because I am a Christian first – above all other allegiance. Consider the words of Jesus, “‘My kingdom is not of this world,’ said Jesus. ‘If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight….’” This means that every follower of Christ will never be truly at home in the political systems of humanity. We might have leanings and preferences, but the Republican party is not the Kingdom of God. The Democratic party is not the Kingdom of God. The United States of America is not the Kingdom of God.
Many Christians in America have found their identity too tightly joined to national political systems. And we participate in the GREAT PILE OF HATE that is exploding in violence.
Sure, we recognize the hatred when the other side participates, but we excuse the hatred on our own side and within our own hearts. Both the political left and political right are not honest about their own hate, or at the most they justify it.
I am going to write a sentence that will bother half of my readers:
President Trump has said hateful things.
Now I am going to bother the other half:
Many on the political left hate Trump supporters.
I could continue, and offer quotes, and social media posts, and offer detailed analysis and evidence, but let’s just be honest and move forward.
Just look at the murder of Charlie Kirk. Go onto social media. Find an article. I see hateful comments from the left almost justifying his assassination. I also see hateful comments from the right using this as an opportunity to demonize every elected and unelected democrat.
Something is broken in America when our first response to murders and school shootings is political hatred. The correct first response is grief. Grief is a process, and our response to violence does not end with grief, but if we can’t lament, the cycle of hate and violence will continue unhindered.
The GREAT PILE OF HATE continues to grow in America.
The political left hates Donald Trump’s hate so they feel justified in hating the hater.
The political right hate the culture shifts and platforms of the left so they feel justified in hating the ones who support the damaging platform.
Hate will never undo hate.
When you hate your enemies, it only makes the situation worse.
Look at the GREAT PILE OF HATE image below. As I see it, Americans are largely addressing hate with hate, which only makes the problem grow.
The problem is multiplied because we won’t acknowledge the hatred in us. We might say to ourselves: I just feel strongly about this. This is righteous anger. I’m just really concerned.
Or we might find ourselves yelling at the news. But I think a good indication of hatred comes out in name-calling:
“They’re just woke.”
“Those bigots.”
The bigger the GREAT PILE OF HATE grows, the more violence we’ll see. And that pile will continue to grow as long as we keep adding to it. It will keep growing until we can be honest with ourselves about the hate we have in our own hearts. It will become a mountain unless I change. Unless I repent. Unless I ask God to help me to stop hating, and to somehow help me to love my enemies.
The Church has the tools to answer this current crisis. Jesus said, ““You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven. For he causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matthew 5:43-45).
How can America escape this death spiral of violence? By practicing love for our enemies.
When we stop hating the haters, we stop adding to the GREAT PILE OF HATE. But Jesus doesn’t tell us to disengage and walk away. Instead he tells us to love. Add love to the equation.
Do you know what happens if you throw seeds into a pile of garbage? Something miraculous. Those seeds start to grow. Slowly at first, but then faster with each passing day they can transform the refuse into life.
Or we might find ourselves yelling at the news. But I think a good indication of hatred comes out in name-calling:
“They’re just woke.”
“Those bigots.”
The bigger the GREAT PILE OF HATE grows, the more violence we’ll see. And that pile will continue to grow as long as we keep adding to it. It will keep growing until we can be honest with ourselves about the hate we have in our own hearts. It will become a mountain unless I change. Unless I repent. Unless I ask God to help me to stop hating, and to somehow help me to love my enemies.
The Church has the tools to answer this current crisis. Jesus said, ““You have heard that it was said, Love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I tell you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven. For he causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous” (Matthew 5:43-45).
How can America escape this death spiral of violence? By practicing love for our enemies.
When we stop hating the haters, we stop adding to the GREAT PILE OF HATE. But Jesus doesn’t tell us to disengage and walk away. Instead he tells us to love. Add love to the equation.
Do you know what happens if you throw seeds into a pile of garbage? Something miraculous. Those seeds start to grow. Slowly at first, but then faster with each passing day they can transform the refuse into life.
This doesn’t mean we are silent about injustices and harms. It means we need to respond differently. The Apostle Paul didn’t say to do nothing in the face of evil. Instead he said, “Do not be conquered by evil, but conquer evil with good” (Romans 12:21).
What are some practical steps we can take?
The only way out of this death spiral of violence is by practicing love for our enemies.
We need to love our enemies.
I need to love my enemies.
Stop adding to the pile of hate.
Sow love.
What are some practical steps we can take?
- Criticize your own political tribe first.
- Pray “God I ask that this politicians plans don’t go forward, but I ask that you bless him/her with a deep relationship with Jesus.”
- Pray “God help me to oppose this action, but give me your power so I can love the leader and his/her supporters.”
- Spend time with someone from a different political tribe. You don’t have to talk politics, just get to know and appreciate them as a person.
The only way out of this death spiral of violence is by practicing love for our enemies.
We need to love our enemies.
I need to love my enemies.
Stop adding to the pile of hate.
Sow love.
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