I write this as a penitent (sometimes) but far-from-wholly-transformed sinner. Here is a true story from many years ago – another time, another place.
I was in a Christian library somewhere (I shall not say where) and someone I knew slightly (who I shall not name) came up to me, eyes bright, and pointed at a new book which had just been written by Alister McGrath, the evangelical academic.
‘The truth is out!’ the person exclaimed to me (a propos of nothing). ‘Alister’s a liberal evangelical!’ And on his way he went, his good deed for the day done, dodgy teaching duly identified and a dodgy teacher duly pointed out.
Lightbulb moment
It was a bit of a lightbulb moment for me. Because what I was left with was not the truth (or otherwise) of the accusation. What I was left with was an unpleasant aftertaste at that person’s delight – exultation even – in naming, shaming and dismissing a Christian leader, who, though no doubt far from perfect, has undoubtedly done some pretty helpful things in his time. Nuanced, thoughtful? These things his analysis was not.
A second story, also from another time, another place. A friend, who had heard me respond with a public, withering remark to a lecturer we had both listened to, said later to me: ‘You can destroy someone with a single sentence.’ The worst thing was not that he was right (although he was) but that my instinctive reaction was pride! Yes, I thought, I can do that! And on my way I went – my smug, self-righteous, soundly-orthodox self; an element of which no doubt, ironically, continues in the paragraphs which now follow.
Sarcasm and cynicism?
The point of these two stories is simply this. That often today when I read contributions online in Anglican and evangelical circles, as well as elsewhere, the prevailing tone which often comes across is one of sarcasm and cynicism – ‘snarkiness’ to give it the term someone coined.
We tend to do this by (a) giving an impression of delighting in highlighting the latest horror story of heresy or immorality (with undercurrents of ‘Lord, I thank you that we are not like this...’) (b) labelling them like some distant primitive tribe (‘the gay lobby’, ‘the liberals’, ‘the charismatics’, ‘the Anglos’) and (c) pronouncing upon their heart motivation in ways that I simply do not see we can do (what with us not being Jesus and all that). Er, am I now falling into this trap myself? Er...
But as evangelicals we should be known among other things for our exceptional graciousness, kindness – and even empathy – as well as the clarity of our doctrine. Not everyone who has strongly (or even mildly) different views from us is a lying heretic planning to take over the Anglican Communion (okay, I exaggerate – although not much, for some of what I see!).
One good model we have is Tim Keller. One of the brilliant things about his book My Rock, My Refuge is not only the doctrine but the empathy it demonstrates for us as fallible, sinful readers. He ‘gets’ how messed up we are! Do we ‘get’ that in others too?
Well, there we are. By the time I see this in en I will certainly (a) have forgotten what I have written and (b) fallen myself into this ‘snarkasm’ trap again. So my challenge to all of us, including me, is: where possible, let’s try more positive, empathic contributions online. And let’s see how often we can use the hashtag ‘#kindness’.
