Patriotism, communism, socialism, racism, sexism. All these “isms” seem to be defining who we are right, and they are putting is in odds with each other and tearing us apart. It makes me wonder, is this the way we should be posturing ourselves if we claim to be Christian?
Mathew 5:44 – “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you”
It is often suggested to approach those who oppose us with understanding and compassion. Sometimes, our greatest adversaries are our own fears and insecurities. We often have negative feelings towards things we are afraid of.
Despite all the negativity, I am still hopeful.
Let’s put things in perspective. This is not the worse it has ever been. We can go back just a few years, let’s start in the 1890s and stop just before World War II.
This week has been a divisive week for America. I have been saying for a while now that we do not have a point of reference for the many disruptions going on right now. Certainly, we have people alive who lived through Segregation and the Civil Rights Movement, but no one alive now experienced the labor riots of the 1890s through the early 20th century. The 1920’s contrary to its moniker, “the roaring 20’s” was no party either.
I have read and heard a lot about how bad Trump and his cadre of loyalists are. Again, we must turn to history to put things in perspective. In Trump, I am reminded of Woodrow Wilson, who often is noted as the most hated or worst president in US history.
Some notable criticisms of Wilson that have parallels to Trump’s policies today:
Racial Segregation: Wilson oversaw the re-segregation of the federal government, reversing decades of progress towards racial equality. Wilson and much of American society was racist, sexist and misogynistic in ways that would make today look tame.
Interventionism: His policies in Latin America were often seen as imperialistic and interventionist.
League of Nations Failure: The United States ultimately failed to join the League of Nations, undermining its effectiveness.
Isolationism: Wilson then as America has become again today is isolationist. “World War I was probably history’s worst catastrophe, and U.S. President Woodrow Wilson was substantially responsible for unintended consequences of the war that played out in Germany and Russia, contributing to the rise of totalitarian regimes and another world war. American “isolationism” — armed neutrality would be a more accurate term — developed as a sensible reaction to his policies. After Germany’s initial advances into the Low Countries and France, the adversaries in World War I dug trenches and seldom advanced or retreated much from those lines.”
Empathy
I ended 2024 with a post on our posture in 2025. Loving our enemies in a practical way starts with empathy. By putting ourselves in their shoes, we can begin to understand their perspectives and motivations. This understanding can soften our hearts and open the door to compassion.
Empathy is the cornerstone of this transformation, allowing us to bridge the chasms of division with understanding and compassion. By extending empathy, we create a fertile ground for kindness to flourish, even amidst hostility. This practice not only defuses tension but also builds a foundation of mutual respect and positive interaction. However, kindness should not come at the expense of our own well-being. Establishing boundaries ensures that we protect ourselves while continuing to engage with others compassionately. Through this balance, we acknowledge and confront our own “isms,” recognizing how they trap us in cycles of prejudice and separation. Embracing the teachings of Jesus Christ, we are called to transcend these barriers, embodying a love that is pure and unburdened. This journey of compassion and self-awareness leads us to a deeper understanding of our shared humanity and aligns us with the true essence of Christ’s message.
The Spiritual Practice of Kindness
We must strive to communicate with kindness. Even when faced with hostility, responding calmly and respectfully can defuse tension and foster a more positive interaction. Acts of kindness, no matter how small, can have a profound impact. Offering a smile, a helping hand, or a sincere compliment can break down barriers and build bridges.
Kindness also means loving ourselves. Loving ourselves means facing our “isms”, sexism, racism, liberalism, nationalism, consumerism and seeing how these keep us trapped. With a true relationship with Jesus Christ our Lord, when we really lean into Jesus’ teachings, we see none of this. Jesus challenged not only the imperial Jewish but also the imperial Roman notions of these “isms” and turned society on its head. We must do the same.
Compassion
We suffer because we cling. A lot of people are on a spectrum right now between concerned and scared. Our “isms” can keep us trapped in notions of permanence and certainty, often forgetting that life’s essence is fluid and ever-changing. Richard Rohr’s wisdom reminds us that by embracing compassion, we transcend our limited viewpoints and foster a world built on understanding and unity. It is through this practice of compassion that we begin to shed our prejudices, judgments, and the various “isms” that divide us. By freeing ourselves from these constraints, we align more closely with the teachings of Christ, who urged us to love unconditionally.
On 1/20, Richard Rohr outlined the difficulty of loving others by reflecting on Martin Luther King whose legacy we celebrated on Monday. Rohr offered these points at the end of his message:
First, we must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive…. Forgiveness does not mean ignoring what has been done or putting a false label on an evil act. It means, rather, that the evil act no longer remains as a barrier to the relationship….
Second, we must recognize that the evil deed of the enemy-neighbor, the thing that hurts, never quite expresses all that they are. An element of goodness may be found even in our worst enemy….
Jesus casts all our “isms” into the swine and they drown.
In Mathew 8:28-34, we hear about Jesus casting demons into the swine. In this story, the man is possessed by demons. He comes to Jesus, who if we are following along, has power and reign over sin and those things that consumes us, and he casts out the man’s demons into a herd of swine. Here, we can use this analogy for the demons that possess us. In the case of this post, all the “isms” that we use to identify ourselves.
When our “isms” drown, we are left with the pure love of Christ. This love, unburdened by prejudice and fear, allows us to see the inherent worth in every individual and to act with grace and humility. It guides us to extend a hand to those in need, to lend an ear to those unheard, and to be a beacon of hope in a world often shadowed by division. By embracing this divine love, we embody the true essence of Christ’s teachings, living lives that reflect his message of unconditional love and compassion for all.
When our “isms” drown, we are left with the pure love of Christ.
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