Caricatures: The Fuel of Our Polarisation
Hey Friends,
As I think on the growing political divide in the US between the Left and Right specifically and the growing chasm of polarization globally. One thought looms in my mind.
Caricatures are easy to hate.
Why?
Because they aren’t real. They’re thin, distorted depictions of real people. Our hearts exaggerate the flaws we dislike or disagree with, while minimizing—or outright ignoring—the things we share in common.
Sometimes, what we share is simply this: we’re all broken by sin, and we all need God’s mercy and grace.
This doesn’t erase the reality of right and wrong, truth and error. But if we look at someone and see only error, chances are we’re staring at a caricature our heart has drawn.
The heart is remarkably skilled at crafting caricatures of people, groups, and parties. And the Principalities and Powers? They’re experts at handing us ready-made caricatures to despise—complete with justifications for why we should hate them.
So how do we escape this perfect storm of a willing heart and manipulative powers?
By doing the very things Jesus told us to do:
- Love your enemies.
- Pray for them.
- Turn the other cheek.
- Do good that heaps coals of fire on their heads.
- Forgive their wrongs, even through tears, even when anger still lingers.
- Offer friendship and hospitality.
- Step into real dialogue.
In other words, resist caricatures by living the words of Jesus.
