Take the deeper look

Don't be deceived by the swirl of news. What happened to Shirley Sherrod in our nation this week is deeper than race. I do not minimize the racial component and I pray that I never under estimate the damage that racial prejudice does in this world.
At the same time, I see this same dynamic at work in the church and in the world all the time when there is no racial component. Here's how it goes:
1. Somebody has an agenda/a point to make. They don't care how they make it or who gets hurt in the process. In fact, the way they go about making their point is designed to hurt someone -- often someone innocent.
Those with an agenda are so caught up in their hurt feelings, their cause that they willing to violate every basic constraint of honesty, common respect and integrity. That's step #1.

2. Step #2 is gullibility. People are so gullible that they will believe anything. News/sensation-saturated people will believe a lie in a heartbeat.

3. Step #3 is fear. Constant criticism takes a toll on even the best leaders in the church, in the nation and in the world. Keeping perspective is a constant challenge and a climate of constant criticism eats away at the core of people. At a certain point, they react instead of act. And a reaction is almost always misguided.

That's what happened in the case of Shirley Sherrod. Someone had an agenda. They carefully, deliberately crafted and distributed a video clip that was designed to distort and deceive. Christians of ALL political persuasions should rise up and say that this was wrong. And then, instead of calling out the malicious slandering for what it was, people believed it without getting the whole story. The rush to judgment -- made on all sides--was like a stampede of stupidity. Caution and careful thinking evaporated. And, fear only complicated and deepened the sins that were being committed in this situation to an innocent person.

Lest anyone think that this dynamic is something to criticize in any one political administration, let me say that I see this same dynamic regularly in churches. Someone has an agenda. It is often hurt feelings, a power dynamic or a personal grudge. They have a point to make and, by golly, they are going to be heard. They forget completely about the Golden Rule, the teachings of Christian faith and they go after an audience. (Often it is the District Superintendent! :) ) The fundamental dishonesty of people hell bent on making a point is mind-boggling. And yes, I am talking about people in church. There's a reason the Bible cautions over and over against dishonesty, gossip and slander.

The gullibility of people is also astonishing. People will believe anything. I don't have an explanation for it. This defies rational definition. Time after time, as a pastor and as a District Superintendent, I have had people come to me with tales that, without any research, I know are not true. Once a salacious rumor starts, it's like people throw every teaching of sober judgment out the window. Amazing. There's a reason that much of Scripture is devoted to guiding people to be thoughtful, careful and wise in decision-making.

And then, there is the fear -- fear of what others will think, fear of being attacked, fear of what malicious people will do. Only God knows how many people have compromised their witness and how much faithful ministry has been destroyed because of this fear. There's a reason the Bible teaches over and over "Do not be afraid". Fear leads to sin and very poor decisions.

When people have an axe to grind, hurt feelings to express, a point to make, people ought to say: STOP. Don't do the wrong thing for the wrong reason. When people attack others with lies and innuendo, people ought to say: STOP. Think about it. Get the whole story. When people are afraid, people ought to say: STOP! Fear is an almost certain sign that another mistake is about to be made. Make decisions from faith, not fear.

The cycle we are witnessing on the news is a parable I see played out in churches all the time. I watch it and weep. I watch it and pray that we will learn to rise above it in this horribly antagonistic, contentious world.