For much too long the image of Christians in the U.S public sphere has been one of screaming heads with no capacity to listen. This has been true of every side of the political spectrum. My blogging on this issue stems from a concern that some of Christian discourse in the public sphere has descended into the demonizing and divisive discourse that was part of the culture wars in the 1980s and 1990s. It is time to turn the page!!!! Liberals, conservatives, moderates, progressives, and all others must choose a better way forward.
My hope is that Christians' would be committed to civil discourse that honors our discipleship of Jesus and to speak the truth in love. Perhaps, a better word would be "Prophetic Christianity." Prophetic Christianity is a way of being prophetic without being viciously destructive. One mark of true Propethic Christianity is an incredible capacity to be pastoral and empathetic without compromising conviction. We must earn the right to be prophetic. Christian prophets must embody paradox and dialectics. The paradox of empathy and compassion with zeal and passion. Empathy and compassion for those who most need it must be coupled with a righteous indignation against injustice, oppression, and abuse. Most Hebrew prophets reflected a love for the people even when they denounced their sin and injustice.
This paradox is not easy to balance; most modern-day prophets are all zeal and no compassion. A call to civility is not an excuse to ignore and obviate injustice but rather a call to denounce injustice and provide just alternatives. Genuine prophets do not dehumanize or demonize someone just because they disagree with them. In the words of M.L King Jr., "we should meet others capacity for inhumanity with our humanity." Admittedly, this is not easy. Still, we do things because they are right not because they are easy.
So my prayer is for respectful disagreement in the public sphere as we all seek the common good. My prayer is that righteousness will roll down like an ever-flowing stream. My prayer is that we would be civil while we seek justice, love mercy, and walk humbly before God.
