Responding in Faith Rose Hayden-Smith We are made to exist in a delicate network of interdependence. We are sisters and brothers, whether we like it or not. To treat anyone as if they were less than human, less than a brother or a sister, no matter what they have done, is to contravene the very laws of our humanity. And those who shred the web of interconnectedness cannot escape the consequences of their actions. —Archbishop Desmond Tutu
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n the last several years, I’ve grown increasingly concerned about polarization in America and how Christians are contributing to the rising tide of anger and intolerance in our civic life. This is particularly evident on social media. I see the faith that animates my life being used to justify things I regard as antithetical to that faith: discrimination towards members of the LBGTQ community, immigrants, those of different religions and political ideologies, anti-science rhetoric, and misogyny towards women. I see my faith distorted in ways that render it nearly unrecognizable. This angry rhetoric belies the hope, light, and inclusive message our faith should bring.
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I’m disturbed by the growing insistence of some Christians that we should blur the lines between church and state, trying to convince the rest of us that their counterfactual version of American history is correct. They would have us believe that they alone have managed to intuit what the founding fathers intended. The America First movement is grafting with some Christian groups to create a form of Christonationalism. This truly frightens me (and should frighten us all.) I’ve been reluctant to write publicly about this for many reasons. My family believed religious and political beliefs should be held privately and discussed at home. I’ve also questioned my qualifications to weigh in: I’m not a theologian or a religious scholar. I am Episcopal and do not have the lived experience of my Evangelical friends. As a result of all these things, I tend to shy away from actions that might offend people. There’s also this: as a deeply flawed person, who am I to cast stones?