When Adam blamed Eve for his sin, he objectified her as his moral inferior and a means to his ends. From then to today, one foundational characteristic of fallen human nature is our tendency to demean our fellow humans in the same way. Sound familiar?
Philosophers refer to this as “othering,” our intense natural inclination to turn fellow humans into abstract entities we can distance ourselves from or treat as less-than-human.
Once we identify people as the other, it becomes easier to justify treating them in ways we would not treat our fellow humans. Think of the horrific othering of Jews by Nazis. The slave trade and the Rwandan genocide are other examples. Now, it seems we are witnessing the othering of Americans by Americans along political divides. Not only does each side see the other side as dangerous to society, they do so with a fervor that is religious in its zeal.
Shadi Hamid notes in The Atlantic: “As Christianity’s hold, in particular, has weakened, ideological intensity and fragmentation have risen. American faith, it turns out, is as fervent as ever; it’s just that what was once religious belief has now been channeled into political belief. Political debates over what America is supposed to mean have taken on the character of theological disputations. This is what religion without religion looks like.”
He adds: “Christianity was always intertwined with America’s self-definition. Without it, Americans — conservatives and liberals alike — no longer have a common culture upon which to fall back.”
The solution to othering is found in the Christian gospel, which Paul described as “the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes” (Romans 1:16, my emphasis).
As Tim Keller explained, “The Christian gospel is that I am so flawed that Jesus had to die for me, yet I am so loved and valued that Jesus was glad to die for me.”
This means that no person — Democrat, Republican or independent — is fundamentally any worse or better than I am. No person is loved by God any less or more than I am. Now it’s our turn to see others in the same way.
Imagine the difference if America’s two hundred million Christians prayed daily for God’s spirit to enable us to love others as Jesus loves us. Imagine the impact if we modeled unconditional love for others whatever our political differences. Imagine the difference it would make in our divided nation.
Josh McDowell was right: “Whenever Jesus has been proclaimed, we see lives change for the good, nations change for the better, thieves become honest, alcoholics become sober, hateful individuals become channels of love, unjust persons embrace justice.”
I think it’s worth giving it a try. What about you?
God Bless America.
Norman Phillips,
Woodland
