We Cannot Dehumanize those who Dehumanize
Nina Barnes, Rush Limbaugh, Chris Rock, and the Way of Jesus...
In her closing words at our Chicago PP&G retreat, Nina Barnes gave a profoundly needed, prophetic, Jesus-soaked challenge:
“We must speak up whenever dehumanization occurs – even when it is happening to those we think deserve it because they are dehumanizing others!”
(There was an audible gasp in the room.)
In our broken world, silence is not an option. To follow Christ is to join Jesus’ mission in the world, which he declared at the beginning of his ministry:
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
because he has anointed me
to proclaim good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim liberty to the captives
and recovering of sight to the blind,
to set at liberty those who are oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.”
(Luke 4:18)
Jesus came to live, proclaim, and invite us into the Eternal Current of God’s love for everyone and all things. Jesus named this flow "The Kingdom of God" and taught his followers how to swim in it for the sake of the world. That is still our invitation!
So when we see any human being marginalized, oppressed, or dehumanized, we join Christ in the flow of mercy, justice, liberation, and freedom. Neutrality is not always a moral option.
Loving in the Way of Jesus
And yet…AND YET…we cannot fight hate with hate. We cannot fight abuse by abusing the abusers. It’s just so easy to become the ugliness we’re trying to resist. Fr Ron Rolheiser brilliantly observed "Many movements in history based on truth failed because the energy powering them was ugly". And this has been true with conservative and progressive movements alike: we allow our perceived "rightness" to justify our lack of love. And yet paradoxically, our lack of love makes our rightness wrong. (St Paul wrote "if I have not love I am nothing.")
Nina continued in her sermon:
“Currently, to love as Jesus loves - and commands us to love – will make us radical to some; but either we believe in honoring the Imago Dei in all or we must admit that we’re selective in how we love.”
God loves all God has made. Your beloved family member and your despised enemy are made in God’s image. So is President Trump…and Pope Leo…and Katy Perry…and Drake…and you…and me. We don’t get to pick and choose. We either participate in God’s love for all, or we miss out.
But then how do we speak prophetically? How do we fight against unjust systems without violating the belovedness of those perpetuating the systems? Peacemaking often requires a measure of holy conflict, and this can feel unloving to those being confronted. Where can we begin?
The Lesson of Rush Limbaugh
First, refuse to listen to those who demonize others. We become whatever we consume, and if we fill our ears and hearts with one-sided voices, we will become one-sided people. Again, both the far left and far right are flush with personalities who want you to hate the other side. Don’t listen to them. Don’t listen to them.
In the 90s, a pastor friend lamented "I get to preach for 45 minutes a week to my congregation, but radio host Rush Limbaugh preaches to them every day. In terms of forming their imagination and character, I can’t possibly compete." Check your podcasts. Check your news and social feeds. Listen to the spirit of your chosen political leaders and spiritual leaders. Do they help you see the image of God in everyone? Or do they inflame a growing "us vs them" outrage? If so, run!
The Wisdom of Chris Rock
Second, when asked about making certain jokes, Chris Rock commented "Talk about what people do, not what they are”. Now we could all find video clips of Rock breaking his own rule…but I still think it’s helpful as we discern how to speak prophetically. When we see evil in the world, we attack and oppose the action, not the person.
I recently learned about Person-first language, which the NIH describes as "a way to emphasize the person and view the disorder, disease, condition, or disability as only one part of the whole person. Describe what the person “has” rather than what the person “is.” For example, a person with diabetes is not a diabetic. They are a complex, holistic human being created in God’s image…who also has diabetes. The disease is a disease, not an identity.
How might this inform the ways we speak and embody truth into our world? Can we relentlessly name and oppose evil actions without declaring that the perpetrators are evil? Can we honor the image of God in each person while naming the way they are dishonoring God’s image in others? Because both are, in fact, true. This is very very difficult, but absolutely possible. And desperately needed.
Three questions:
First, who do you find most difficult to honor their humanity these days? Please don’t write your answer in the comments, obviously, but try to be as specific as possible. Who immediately comes to mind?
Second, how does this person or group connect to your story? Fr Richard Rohr teaches "We don’t see the world as it is, we see the world as we are." Very often, the people who drive us crazy are triggering a part of our history or personal shame. Without excusing their actions, why do you think they create such a strong reaction inside you?
Finally—and please share this in the comments—who have you seen speak against dehumanization without dehumanizing? From whom can we learn? Whose example, from history and from today, can we celebrate and follow?
Blessed are the peacemakers.
Aaron and the PP&G Team
This is a whole word.