How should Christians respond to all the anger in our culture? It seems to be getting worse.
A great description for our current era comes from Arthur C. Brooks, a public policy scholar, who states that we live in a “culture of contempt.” It is a very apt term. Our nation and world are becoming increasingly divided. When politicians disagree with one another, they do so with hostility and open mockery. People who hold different viewpoints are labeled as enemies. Entire groups of people are objectified as societal problems. Public discourse seems to be at an all-time low.
The causes are complex. For the past 25 years, the standard political tactic has been to attack opponents. Conflicts over COVID-19 policies deepened the division. Social media provides a forum where people fire off statements they would never make in person. All of this conditions us to view others with contempt.
Sadly, this contempt even finds its way into the Church. It is discouraging that baptized followers of Jesus are quick to take to social media to attack others, be it fellow parishioners, their pastor, Church leaders or whoever else they view as the source of their dissatisfaction. People quickly excuse themselves for bad behavior (“what do you expect when…?”). It certainly goes against the Gospel Jesus taught. This negativity affects the future of our Church, for young people witness the poor example of adults and question the authenticity of the Christian faith.
While the internet and mass media expose us to a constant barrage of hate, there is nothing new to this. Sixteen hundred years ago, St. Augustine wrote “The City of God” in the final days of the crumbling Roman Empire. In this spiritual classic, Augustine argued that two cities coexist on earth and are intermingled. The City of Man is based on love of self. Those living in the City of Man focus only on their needs and wants.; they are selfish and self-centered. Rather than forgiving wrongs, they prefer retaliation and are incapable of giving the benefit of the doubt to anyone. The City of God, on the other hand, is based on love of God. Citizens of the City of God are loving, forgiving, self-sacrificing and full of compassion. They serve others rather than focusing on themselves. St. Augustine stated that every day we face the decision anew: In which city will we choose to live?
Our era is similar to St. Augustine’s, perhaps more than we realize. The culture of contempt is pervasive, and the future is uncertain. But the choice to live in the City of God isn’t contingent on the behavior of others. The saints of every era faced the same decision. The only solution is to follow their example and embrace the Gospel of Jesus, regardless of what is happening around us.
Father Scott Jones is the episcopal vicar for the Northern Vicariate of the Archdiocese of St. Louis.
