mercy and peace

Sometimes real life comes closer to satire than any comedian. I read yesterday of a high school “Love Trumps Hate” demonstration that ended when several demonstrators beat a Trump-supporting classmate so badly he had to go to the hospital. No doubt the victim tried in some way to provoke the crowd, and high school logic didn’t see the compromise to their message in this disproportionate response. That story seems to me to capture our reactions to this election season – all the nonsensical beating at the air and each other, the desire for the affirmation of our own kind and the discomfiture of all others. And the ready acceptance that people deserve pain and suffering for disagreeing with us. It flows both ways.

It occurred to me this morning as I read through James that that book would make an excellent handbook on relationships, especially relationships between groups. It seems like the vaccine against identity politics.

Take this little gem, from James 1:12-13: “Speak and act as those who are going to be judged by the law that gives freedom, because judgment without mercy will be shown to anyone who has not been merciful. Mercy triumphs over judgment.”

Two things here. First, we should extend to those we disagree with the same respect and consideration, the same mercy, that we want to receive, because we’ll be paid back in kind. Second, mercy can defuse and deflate a judgmental attitude; in the end, mercy wins people over while judgment just widens the gap. 

Here’s another, from James 2:17-18: “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.”

Those who seek peace, who try to bring peace, are the righteous ones, and they will be rewarded. That suggests that those on either side who take a “no compromise, no fraternizing with the enemy” approach aren’t righteous and should expect much of a spiritual reward. We need to avoid rhetoric like “there’s no such thing as a good Trump voter” or “time for all those liberals to make good on their threat to leave.”

I think these two passages, along with all the things James says about good works and telling the truth and praying, would make an excellent lens for us to view this transition through. When we consider calls to limit rights to demonstrate, or defund colleges who provide safe spaces and counseling, or register people based on religion, or disband the Electoral College, we should ask if they represent mercy or judgment. We should look for the proposals that are designed to bring peace rather than punishment. Paybacks are playground logic.

A lot of Trump folks are pointing at a different sort of transition in 2008, but I remember whining and angst and “not my president” back then too. Conservatives felt excluded because liberals gloated. Both sides need to remember what that felt like. And we all need to remember that being right isn’t as important as being merciful or peaceful.