Dan Z wrote:A war is brewing!
Polarization is on the rise in this country like I've never seen before (perhaps akin to the 1960s and 1860s)...and so is anger, hate, distrust, suspicion, pride. Voices on the left and right are getting more vitriolic, irrational and increasingly prone toward violence. The echo chamber of the internet certainly isn't helping...people can easily find affirmation for whatever they believe - rational or not. This is an emotive process - more about belonging, tribalism, prejudices than about thoughtful and reasoned discourse.
This polarization is sucking in and dividing many (most) Christians as well - and I suspect it will get worse before it get's better. Unfortunately, it is pulling in some (many) of our Anabaptist brethren also - who, tho they may claim to be non-resistant - are unsuspectingly enlisting in the fight.
In the midst of this growing societal dysfunction, and as a result of our non-resistance and our strong two-kingdom theology, I believe we Anabaptists have a unique opportunity to point to a better way in Jesus - but only if we are prepared for what is ahead.
This thread is dedicated to discussing how we Anabaptist might respond proactively to what is, I suspect, just the beginning of turbulent times:
Here are a few discussion starters;
Maybe we can learn some lessons from the witness of our Anabaptist forebears who faced turbulent times in the past.
- 1) How do we insulate ourselves and our faith community from the ideological propaganda designed ON BOTH SIDES to lure us into taking sides in the cultural/political war raging all around us?
2) How do we address those within our ranks who have already been sucked in, especially those who are actively recruiting other culture-warriors?
3) How can we best bear witness to the way of Christ, including taking a stand for his ethical teachings, without being pulled into a fight that isn't ours? Is passivity or silence in the face of wrong an option?
4) How should we minister to the casualties of the vitriol that is going on around us?
5) How do we prepare for the attacks on us that inevitably will come to us for not choosing sides?
Speaking as an outsider (but not in my heart), I would like to comment on discussion starter #5.
If our society continues to go in its current direction, the attacks from the world may be coming to an Anabaptist community near you. There are many among the liberal community who will call you "haters" because you don't agree with their liberal platform. If you say ill against, or discourage the practice of, homosexuality or the LGBTQ folks, they will call you haters. If you believe your wife should take care of the home and reject the workplace, they will call you haters. If you say that foreign aliens should be shut out from coming to this country, they will say you are haters. If you believe that Jesus Christ is the only way to Heaven, they will label you for that.
I believe that God loves these "haters", and we should love them, but if we take a stand against their sins it may cost you dearly. Eventually, they will want all of put in jail or killed. The day may some when we will be persecuted for our faith. Meantime, let us love everyone. but have the courage to take a stand for what the Kingdom stand for. Amen
Ken