The Punchline
Over the past few weeks, we’ve looked at a number of issues bringing division in this country—hence the civil war reference. The cold part of the title relates to an ideological battle that resembles the conflict between capitalism and communism during the Cold War in the 20th Century. On one side is the push for more government intervention in the effort to redistribute wealth. On the other side is a strong emphasis on smaller government with less regulation and less taxes.
Through this discussion, we’ve seen the blaring dangers of big government with its hidden and stifling snares. And yet we’ve also looked at the realities of greed plaguing the so-called “free market.” Realities that certainly need to be addressed. All of this led us to look at other movements within liberalism that are often at odds with conservative policies.
And so we’ve at two sides of the American coin in a very cold civil war. But this week I want to look at the thin third side of the coin, a side upon which we can most certainly stand. And if this third side gains circular movement, then all the sides can be seen as one united globe. (If you’ve spun a quarter on its side you can hopefully catch the analogy here.)
This is where everything has been leading.
The Problem of Dualism
First we need to step back and look at a problem that is deeper than government policies or even things like systemic racism or corruption. It is a problem that may come as a surprise to some. It may also appear somewhat heady and philosophical, but I can guarantee you that this concept is a real world problem that affects every one of us, as well as the overall make-up of our nations and governments.
I’m referring to the issue of seeing things in “black and white.” And while this affects race, I’m not primarily referring to racial issues here. I’m talking about having a boxed-in perspective that makes intrinsic judgments of bad and evil. This is something that stems all the way back to something called the “Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil.” Humanity has bitten into the fruit of this tree over and over again and it has caused a whole lot of problems. The “knowledge of good and evil” has caused us to make quick judgments toward one another and to put everything into opposing categories:
Capitalism vs. communion, liberalism vs. conservatism, CNN vs. Fox News, blue lives vs. black lives, me vs. you, us vs. them.
It is way of thinking that easily pits two concepts (or groups of people) against each other. It is an issue sometimes referred to as “dualism.”
Our current political system (as well as the forces of media that are so intimately connected with it) is custom built to prop up this system of dualistic thinking. In fact, we’ve naturally created it that way because the juice from the fruit of the Tree of Right and Wrong is still dripping down our chinny chin chins. Meanwhile a cold and civil wind is growing and threatening to blow down our whole house, which instead of straw, sticks, or bricks is made up of flimsy cards.
But in all of our dualism and division, I believe there is actually a third road to walk down. And no, I’m not talking about voting third party (though you have every right to do that if you believe in the long-term policies and efficiency of that particular party). I’m talking about a totally different way of approaching life, and thus approaching all of these issues.
There is in fact only one alternative to the Tree of Dualism. It is a totally different Tree . . .
. . . It is the Tree of Life. Which is also a tree of love and forgiveness.
The End of the Parable
Now before you write this off as a Sunday School answer to a Post-Graduate School problem, I hope you stay with me for a little bit longer on this.
In order to really explain where I’m going with all this dualism/life/third-side-of-the-coin stuff, we have to return once again to that the great parable being subtly communicated to our nation—Captain America. It’s a parable much like the ones Christ would tell to communicate a point in a hidden and creative way; however, instead of a sower of seed, you have a heroic super-solider. That may not sound as biblical as a farmer or a vinedresser, but hopefully it can still make its point.
In each of the three Captain America movies, there is a final scene of sacrifice and forgiveness. In the first movie, Captain Rogers saves the world from destruction while aboard a plane. Yet in this act of global salvation he ends up flying right into a glacier, which leads him into decades of cryogenic sleep.
In the second film, Winter Soldier, Captain America wrestles with a dear friend who has been brainwashed and deceived and is now a reckless enemy who does not remember who he is, nor does he remember Captain Rogers. Rogers does everything he can to try to convince his friend of who he truly is, but to no avail. Finally, Rogers allows this friend-turned-enemy to beat him to a bloody pulp as he totally refuses to fight back. He essentially gives his life for his deceived friend. And once again, he is aboard an aircraft when this all goes down. The brainwashed friend beats him right through the floor, which leads both of them to fall through the plane and land together in deep water. They are both submerged, but the “enemy” comes up alive while Captain America remains unconscious and seemingly dead. Yet at the very end, you see at that the enemy now seems to remember something and he drags Rogers safely to shore . . .
That final scene of Winter Soldier is a beautiful picture of our co-crucifixion with Christ. When we were enemies in our minds, deceived by darkness, God knew the truth about us (that we were actually his friends) and he took our hatred and sin upon himself at the cross. This was the full and perfect demonstration of his unfailing love for us. It is now the revelation of this love that awakens us from spiritual sleep and restores us to our true identity. Thus in the “waters of baptism,” we literally enter into the reality of co-death and co-resurrection with Christ. We come up raised to a new life of restored friendship and identity. We remember who we are and who the Captain of Hosts is.
In the third movie, Civil War, there is another final scene of radical forgiveness. The Black Panther is another superhero in the movie whose father was murdered. Throughout the film, we find him going on a rampage to hunt down the person who is guilty of this. But he finally comes to a revelation as to the pointlessness of his wrath and anger. When he finally confronts his enemy, he chooses instead to forgive him. He realizes that his continued thirst for vengeance will never quench the pain in his heart. And he also learns to see even the pain and deception within his enemy. He sees the “story” behind the issue. Absolutely incredible.
All of these endings hold the punchline and the secret answer of this prophetic parable to the nation. This message of identity and reconciliation is one that will change the world in a far more powerful fashion than any economic, political, or religious agenda. Ultimately, it is not about determining right and wrong, bad and evil, but about demonstrating and manifesting unfailing love and mercy. Mercy is what triumphs over judgment. And this is the path of Life.
Boxing and Balance
The issues that we are facing, including many of the issues leading up to November 8 elections, are not so much about right and wrong as much as they are about life.
Now this isn’t an insinuation about voting purely based on the issue of abortion. I commend those who make that a one-issue vote, just like some in the 1800s made the ending of slavery a “one-issue” vote. I wouldn’t discredit that viewpoint. However, the “Life” I am referring to is beyond a legislative agenda. I am talking about a Way of Life that transforms the world at every level, from the womb to the tomb, and the posterity that follows. It is Way that functions much like organic life itself—at the embryonic level. In other words, at the ground level of our own hearts, homes, and local communities. That is where true social reformation can occur.
Any boxer understands that his feet need to be planted correctly before throwing a good punch. In most physical activities, finding one’s balance is absolutely key.
And so there are people trying to “box” without having proper footing. They are trying to throw punches at crony capitalism or deceptive socialism without having their feet planted in grace. And this causes them to lose peace in their soul, which reflects on their actions and words.
Despite making a good show on a YouTube video or a cleverly put together Facebook meme, there is a deep unrest within many so-called revolutionaries; an unrest that pollutes their whole agenda (whether conservative or liberal). They may try and justify that unrest and call it the pain of “injustice,” but in reality many of us are hiding our spiritual anxiety behind strong or romantic language. Throughout history, the people who brought the most powerful and peaceful revolutions were all known as having an incredible measure of personal peace and forgiveness in their own hearts. There was a personal sense of victory and hope well before engaging with the war-torn hopelessness around them.
We need proper footing to fight the issues at hand. Otherwise, our engagement will be a loud clangy gong that just makes more and more enemies and demonizes and divides more and more people. We will just be trying to fight for categories and ideologies instead of children, fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters . . . We’ll be fighting for ideas more than people. Or knowledge instead of life.
So what is that proper footing? Where do we find our balance?
It is found in the message hidden right inside these Marvel comic movies . . . It the revelation of radical love and forgiveness. It is a revelation rooted in the Gospel. And not this condemning turn-or-burn Gospel that has gained so much traction through our Puritan heritage. I’m talking about a Trinitarian Gospel—a Gospel that declares the revelation of a Good Father who always knew us as his friends, even when we were enemies in our own minds. A Father who then gave his treasured Life for us, not to punish someone in our place, but to demonstrate his love in a way that would jolt us out of our religious deception and hatred. This is about a God who came to heal us of our forgetfulness—the forgetfulness of our identity as the sons and daughters of God . .. and thus as the brothers and sisters of one another.
A Gospel that is about the restoration of family on the earth . . . Black, blue, all. Conservative, democrat, liberal, socialist. Brother and sister. Beloved of the Father.
In this revelation we learn to forgive people even in their false identities, while at the same time believing and hoping all things–never giving up on the true identity of humanity.
This is the path to Life. And we need Life more than we need policies and revolution. Policies and revolutions will come and go, and they will have their due course in the years to follow. But we need Life. We need an organism more than an organization. We need people more than we need opinions and facts regarding right and wrong. There are many ways to say all this, but hopefully the point is being made.
(Next week, we’ll look more specifically at the upcoming election and give some final practical thoughts in putting all of this together…)