Jesus said, But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be subject to judgment, and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be subject to the council, and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be subject to the fires of Gehenna.” -Matthew 5:22 I
have never been a fan of practical jokes. I don’t even like watching TV shows or videos that make people look stupid. What is even worse, in this day and age, is the constant filming of people at their worst. People hoping to generate “views” on their videos will intentionally instigate conflicts in order to catch strangers saying or doing inappropriate things. What had been a tool to reveal bad behavior in our society has turned into a bully stick for people that disagree. Or maybe don’t even disagree, but just want to manufacture drama for internet points.
I feel bad, when people are embarrassed and absolutely terrible, when they are shamed. I don’t think it’s funny. And even if it was, the harm that is done considerably outweighs any object lessons. Life is messy. And all people are complicated. Discrimination happens over and over again, but how we choose to handle it shapes our community.
Making fun of people or shaming them, when they make mistakes does not encourage them to change. Ever. Sharing stories and experiences, being honest about how words and actions make us feel, and choosing to stand up for people in love are all much more effective ways to make real change.
This is probably more important than ever. The divides in our society are growing wider and wider. I do not believe that simply refusing to talk about differences makes them less important. In fact, the opposite seems to be true. I can’t even tell you how many conversations I have had with people in which they make assumptions about someone else’s views that are actually entirely wrong! People have even made assumptions about me that are shockingly off base even though I am pretty free with my opinion.
A big part of the problem is that the human brain prefers binaries. We love to categorize people. In the 1980s, there were people that said a person couldn’t be Christian and listen to heavy metal or play Dungeons and Dragons (watch Stranger Things for a good example of that). My friends who aren’t Christian have been astounded to find out that I have no problem with evolution. As I said above, people are complicated. Almost no one fits neatly into just one category or exemplifies the stereotypes of any group.
It is tempting to look at people on the other side of a divide as “fools,” but Jesus said that calling someone a fool is a very serious offence. We are all created in the image of God – not just our bodies, but our minds too. We can’t write someone off as stupid without offending the One, Who made them. It’s also too simplistic to assume that someone who disagrees with you is just stupid. It takes a lot of courage and moral integrity to approach them with curiosity instead. Find out why they think the way they do. Try to learn from people, who are different – not in order to convince them you are right, but in order to find Christ in them.
To be a Christian is to demonstrate radical love. I hate the divisions all around me, but I also recognize that this is an opportunity to show the love of Christ. Don’t miss the opportunity by avoiding people you think believe differently than you. You may just have more in common than you realize.
