Building a Just World
Our cultural and political institutions are under stress from the rise of authoritarianism and the blatant corruption of the current Presidential administration. Will those institutions collapse and fail? Even if we are able to successfully resist the slide into fascism, do we just return to the way things used to be? Is that what we want? Or do we want to build something better? Not fascism, but not whatever it was we had before, either. What if we could build a more just nation? A more just world?
I’ve lately been thinking about the Beatitudes, a series of blessings in the teachings of Jesus.1 As a whole, the Beatitudes form a kind of roadmap or blueprint for a new reality where we nurture and support each other instead of try to tear each other down, where everyone has what they need. They give us actions and characteristics that mark the identity of loving and just community. They seek to challenge and redefine the dominant culture.
For example, our culture tells us that individualism is king, encouraging selfish behavior and defining success by how much wealth and power we have. It’s not what’s in our hearts, we’re told, but what’s in our bank accounts and if we have to step on a few people to get what we want, that’s ok. But Jesus says blessed are those whose hearts are clean, who have looked within themselves and encountered the God who is love. Those who empty themselves of selfish ego and evil intentions find happiness and fulfillment in becoming the people God created them to be.
Our culture tells us it’s ok to take advantage of others, but Jesus says blessed are those who show mercy to others for they will be shown mercy. In other words, we get what we give. If we treat others with contempt and hate, that’s how we will be treated. But if we treat others with mercy, compassion, forgiveness – if we give our love away unconditionally – then that’s what we’ll receive back.
Our culture tells us it’s ok to use violence and force to get what we want. Our own government is murdering peaceful protesters who exercise their right to freedom of speech. But Jesus says blessed are those who work for peace for they are the children of God, creating a legacy of healing and reconciliation for future generations.
Mercy and compassion, loving and selfless intention, peace, non-attachment to wealth, and humility – these are the building blocks of justice. But because they are counter-cultural they threaten the powerful, who are only concerned with keeping their power and building their wealth. Love and just community is a threat to authoritarianism, which is why our national government has sent its agents into Minnesota to murder resisters. Coming together in love to support each other is a threat to fascism and white nationalism. But Jesus says blessed are those who are persecuted because of their struggle for justice. They are already walking the path to a new reality. They are laying the foundation of a just world.
In his book “Life After Doom,” Brian McLaren asks what we would do if we knew the world was ending in the next day or week. Would we start looting and shooting our neighbors? Or would we want to huddle together with friends, family, and our community in what time was left and let them know how much they mean to us? To me there seems to be only one worthwhile answer to that predicament. Today, we are in a very similar situation, faced with the end of democracy and decency. Do we join the looters and shooters? Or do we stand up for love and justice? To be clear, doing nothing and remaining silent in the face of evil in the hopes it will just go away, only makes us complicit in the evil.
People have always been rejected when they dare to speak truth to power. But we shouldn’t worry if we are criticized and persecuted. We should only worry if the rich and powerful begin to sing our praises because that’s how they treat the pretenders and sycophants who lie and say only what the rich and powerful want to hear. When we stand up for justice and are attacked because of it, then we know we’re on the side of Love and that’s something to be happy about! When we walk in love, we become our healed and whole selves, the people God created us to be. The fascists and white nationalists want us to be paralyzed by fear, but we cannot afford to be afraid. Jesus’ entire ministry is a call to come together in the pursuit of justice, to set our fear aside and put our trust in God, in love, in doing what is right.
What are some ways we can stand up to injustice, either as individuals or as a community? If you’re not sure, maybe the ideas at https://pieceofthepuzzle.net/ideas-for-resistance/ might spur some thoughts. That’s a web page I put together last year when all of this mess was just beginning. But maybe we can also remember as we go about our daily business those building blocks Jesus gives us in the Beatitudes: mercy and compassion, loving and selfless intention, peace, non-attachment to wealth, and humility.
1. Matthew 5:1-12