Okay, I know I should give it a rest, but I can’t. I believe the current petty cultural reality is so toxic that it will not, cannot change unless our most visible leaders make a determination to take the high road. Why are the president of the United States and the governor of California wasting precious and valuable time, energy, and effort engaging in a playground name-calling fight that most of us outgrew by the third grade? Why do literally millions of Americans beieve they have any right to know what’s contained in the Epstein files? Why has mainstream American humor deteriorated to mockery and humiliation? Why are a hateful minority of the fortunate and blessed in our country so unwilling to share with the victims of violence and terrorism from other lands?

The original meaning of the word “indignation” was “to deem unworthy or offensive.” If there is a concept more antithetical to the gospel of Jesus Christ, I don’t know what it is. Our faith is grounded on the belief that all human beings are created in the image of God. How we treat one another is the direct and true way we feel about Jesus the Christ. We are established on the foundation of the Golden Rule (ancient – do not do to another what you would not have done to you; more recent – do unto others as you would have them do unto you) and the Great Commandment (love the Lord your God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength, and love your neighbor as yourself). Anyone supporting the outrageous and destructive divisiveness in our country may be a lot of things, but they are not followers of Jesus Christ.

Where are the efforts for healing? Where is the intention of unity? Where are the voices for reconciliation, restoration, and revitalization? Who is trying to build all of us up instead of constantly tearing us apart? Is there anyone left who actually believes in the God-guided vision that all of us are more important than any one of us? Is there anyone left trying to solve problems instead of creating new ones? Do we truly believe that hate and rage and violence and turning opponents into enemies will take us anywhere we want to end up?

Millions of voices pray the Lord’s Prayer at least once each week. It includes “…your (God’s) will be done on earth, as it is in heaven.” Think about heaven for just a moment. Do you believe there will be hate in heaven? Guns? War? Politics? Name-calling? Vilifying? Demonizing? Castigating? Condemnation? Coercion? Economic inequality? Pollution? Arrogance? Stupidity? Aggression? Evil? If we don’t foresee it in heaven, it is our Christian commitment not to tolerate it, instigate it, or perpetuate it on earth. Things have got to change, and they certainly don’t appear to be changing within those who wield great power. Paul had it right. The powers and principalities don’t get it. Christ came to give us an alternative, and it is time for those of us who proclaim Christ as our Lord to live this alternative in a broken and hostile world.