Near and . . . Far

So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near . . . .

 - From Ephesians 2

A Facebook friend of mine loves to hate Donald Trump. By extension, he likewise expresses hate towards people that voted for Trump. He doesn't think he hates. He certainly does not believe he hates people that voted for Trump. But hate is what is felt, in the way people are treated. If we are to believe the victims in the #MeToo movement, then that means we should believe people that say "You are being hateful to me."

And as we have learned in the social justice movement . . . when someone says "You have stepped over the line," we are expected to change course, and even apologize. Make things right. Swallow your pride. 

This friend is a self-described evangelical. But he hates Christians that vote for Trump, so much, that he eschews being called an evangelical, if it puts him in the same camp as Trump voters. But he's also a retired professor in a Christian seminary (which should clarify the picture somewhat). He also had a career in journalism (which should clarify the picture totally). 

The mark of Christian purity should be evidence of humility. This friend is not at all interested in being proven wrong, in making things right, in admitting he's human, in apologizing. 

Let's see if we can get to Paul's point, in the letter to the Ephesians. In fact, let's see if we can understand any Scripture that talk about unity in the Church, or how to handle people from other cultures (like Samaritans, for instance). Let's try to identify a short-cut to empathizing with Samaritans, or Women at the Well, or Greeks, or Gentiles, or people of color, or white people, or males . . . . 

How can we tap into these emotions that have made people so hateful, so bigoted, so racist. Is it possible?

 Let's start with how you think of trump voters, (if you're a woker). Let's start with how you think of progressive millennials (if you're a traditionalist).

Now you've got it. That's what we're talking about. It's what Paul was talking about. It's what Christ talked about, and still talks about. You hate people without thinking. You want to separate from them. You are not with them, or of them. You look down on them.

And you must stop. 

Those who are far off will unite with those who are near. Near and Far are a very long way from each other. They are farther away, than a Trump voter is, from a San Fransisco liberal. God tore down the division between us. 

Let's start acting like it.