I am a man of letters. Given any scenario and any problem I find myself always turning to good books. So many of the problems which hound us today hounded families and societies generations ago and will likely due the same centuries from now. But there are unique voices that I turn to for wisdom especially in these uncertain times where our nation seems most divided.
The temptations which hound every American citizen (and non-citizen) at this moment are numerous and overwhelming. But some that stand out most are to either demonize people with whom we bear fundamental disagreements or to wallow in the shade of self-pity. What are we to do?
Here I begin with a book that has often been a close friend: The Fellowship of the Ring by J. R. R. Tolkien. You may be well-read in the work or entirely unaware. However, its counsel – which is primarily rooted in a fantasy world – bears timeless significance because its author likely birthed these thoughts in the midst of World War I.
In the story, we read of the sorrow of a young man (though properly a hobbit, that’s not germane to this point) overwhelmed by the reality of what appears be a hopeless situation. The young man turns to his all-wise friend and counselor Gandalf. I will now recount the story…
“‘I wish it need not have happened in my time,’ said Frodo.
‘So do I,’ said Gandalf, ‘and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.’”
We are indeed at such a moment as a nation. A time which is at this moment dividing families, nations, and undoubtedly even churches. To say nothing would be an abdication of duty. So what should I say? I echo Gandalf, “All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given us.”
In God’s providence, it is my sacred duty this Lord’s Day to preach on Romans 12:9 and following. Here the Apostle Paul is calling the church to a new ethic, all which reveals the inner hidden Spirit of Christ within them through truly tangible means. I will not go into the linguistic dynamics but at its core the entirety of this portion has a single banner over each of the moral imperatives and it is simply this: “Let love be genuine.” (Rom. 12:9 ESV)
What does that mean in this situation? It looks like Christians, above all people, are to be known for their love. According to Paul, it is a love that hates evil. A love for one another that is genuine and rich in trust. This sort of love wants to outdo one another in showing honor rather than being the recipient of honor. It is consistent, not lazy. It is hopeful in God’s plans far more than our own. And such a hope is “patient in tribulation” by being “constant in prayer.”
Here we find the beauty of the cross being the only means by which the most penetrative love the world can imagine comes forth. “Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another….Repay no one evil for evil, but give thought to do what is honorable in the sight of all. If possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave it to the wrath of God, for it is written, ‘Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord.’ To the contrary, ‘if your enemy is hungry, feed him; if he is thirsty, give him something to drink; for by so doing you will heap burning coals on his head.’ Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.” (Rom. 12:14-21)
If you give yourself over to rage, hatred, violence, vengeance, and the like, you will find yourself devoured. I see this often in marriages that are broken. The husband feels disrespected by the wife so he withdraws and withholds love. The wife does not feel loved so she disrespects the husband and likewise she withdraws. And so what has often been called “the crazy cycle” continues on and on until they divorce or one of them makes the conscious decision to step towards their spouse in love and respect.
We have hit such a cycle in our nation. We have options as mentioned: demonize our opponents, belittle our opponents, establish the idea that they are subhuman, etc. But none of these actions will really bring about any healing or civility. They will only make everything continue towards chaos. The most powerful thing that any of us can do is to love.
What sort of love is meant? The kind that was displayed on the cross of Jesus Christ and that Paul teaches us more about this in 1 Corinthians 13. It was not a love for selfish improvement or advantage. It was a selfless love that looks for the good of others. It is a patient, kind, without belittling sort of love. It is neither arrogant nor rude. Such love is rich in resentment or irritability. Even more “it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never ends.” (1 Cor. 13:7-8)
This is how we get off the crazy cycle we find ourselves in at the moment. It is only by the supernatural work of God the Holy Spirit birthing love in our hearts. This is the transformative power of the gospel for the moment. It is not about the weak seeking to displace the powerful through violence. It is about the weak and strong alike extending mercy to one another because if we do not, we will be devoured by ourselves as well as each other. Our communities are too precious to let something like this happen. Let us then be known by our neighbors and our political rivals, not for our combative stance or quick wit but for our love. For if the love of God in Christ was able to reconcile the infinite chasm which existed between God and humanity by transforming enemies into family, how much more can this sort of love bring peace between neighbors. May the beauty of the gospel be most evident in you today as you reflect the love of Jesus to desperately flawed individuals who need love just as much as you do.