It’s Not Enough to Be Right
One of the pillars of a free society is the idea that everyone is entitled to their own opinion. As maddening as that may be, it is essential. No matter how ‘wrong’ we think an opinion may be, people are still entitled to hold it. The hope has always been that even deeply entrenched beliefs can be molded and moderated by the power of fact. We have always hoped that people could be persuaded by reason. Even our own deeply held beliefs have been subject to the same forces. I suspect we have all had beliefs that shifted over time. This process raises our thinking above the simplistic scorekeeping of who is right and who is wrong. The desired outcome of the marketplace of ideas has always been the progress of our society and our life together. The ideas that rise to the top should always be the ones that grow and strengthen our community. This idea is a secular reflection of the Beloved Community envisioned by Jesus.
Alternative Facts
In recent years, this process has been destabilized by the rise of ‘alternative facts.’ Instead of allowing opinions to be shaped by facts, there has been a growing movement of manipulating facts to justify opinions. When facts can no longer be agreed upon, the process of forging a path to progress becomes exceedingly complicated. The conflicts that arisen as a result have led to a growing sense of tribalism. Common ground is disappearing rapidly. For many, all that matters now is winning. There is a retooling of the old idea of ‘might makes right’…now it is ‘right makes might.’ Old, discredited ideas that we thought had been consigned to the ash heap of history are making a comeback. For example, the profoundly unscientific world view of white supremacy has returned in force. Even though modern scientific research has revealed the bankruptcy of this view, adherents of white supremacy have chosen ‘facts’ that support their opinion.
reveal the Reign of God
When truth feels under assault, it is hard to suppress the urge to do battle. This is especially true when we see the ongoing harm that is done to people for whom we care. When Jesus calls, encourages, and challenges us to reveal the reign of God through the ways that we love God and love our neighbors as our self, he is not denying the reality of the conflicts of his time or our time. Beyond the conflicts of each generation, Jesus sees the possibility of the Beloved Community. Through Christ, God reveals a vision of a radically inclusive community that is enlivened by the power of self-giving love. Even when conflict becomes unavoidable (in a moment such as this), we are challenged to never lose sight of the ultimate goal. We find our power and possibility in working together with people who also seek this vision. Together, we work for transformation and restoration. We fight an evil such as white supremacy not simply by winning an argument of ideas. We fight it by living out and reflecting the power and possibility of an ever-expending community that brings healing and hope to all. Please join us for worship this week. As our Lenten season winds moves toward Palm Sunday, the Passion, and the Resurrection, we will wrestle together with what this call means today.
