It’s difficult for me to believe that man was created in the image of God, given our history over time. Even the Bible is filled with accounts of our failures to live up to God’s expectations. We are, by and large, a selfish, cruel, and violent species, and the more civilized we are, the more violent and greedy we seem to become. From the beginning of written history we have account after account of wars, greed, selfishness, and violence. While there have been attempts to be more humane and democratic, all those attempts have fallen apart after about 200 years. The children of Israel begged for a king and suffered terribly as a result. Greece couldn’t hold it together any better than we have. Like us, Canada treated their native populations horribly. Country after country has committed genocide as a way to protect their power and wealth. Whatever democracy we claim to have had and are trying to save has been formed on the backs of those considered lesser – such as slaves, native Americans, and immigrants.
Right now, I am slowly working my way through The Heartbeat of Wounded Knee by David Treuer, himself a Native American, anthropologist, historian, professor, etc. It is a depressing account of how we so-called Christians have practiced systematic genocide to rid ourselves of those pesky Indians or anyone else who did not take kindly to being displaced, enslaved, killed, starved, and having their environment decimated and altered by bringing in non-native species and diseases. What saddens me most is the terrible way the church treated the Indians in the name of God. Sadly it seems nothing has changed as the Trump administration and Christian Nationalists seem bent on doing as much harm as possible for immediate personal gain, also in the name of God.
Recently, I wrote about judging and making judgments. While we can do something about being less judgmental, we must work harder to make careful and reasoned judgments. As Micah said years before Jesus was born, “The Lord has told us what is good. What he requires of us is this: to do what is just, to show constant love, and to live in a humble relationship with our God” (New English translation.)
What are we to do now that the people, like the Israelites, have clamored for a king? How do those of us who voted against this pseudo-king humbly stand for what is right and good, for humility is vital if we are to succeed in the long run? Protests are well and good and certainly better than nothing, but they are easily ignored or even put down by those in power. Wait two years for the next election? Become very careful that we don’t lapse into complacency because we feel helpless? Refuse to affirm the nonsense many have come to believe in hopes of changing their minds? The book The Quiet Damage certainly illustrates how difficult that can be. Hold the media giants accountable for the destruction they have created with the algorithms that feed falsehood all for profits? But how? Unfriend those spouting nonsense on Facebook? Threads? I certainly have more questions than answers. For now, the best I can do is to try harder to follow the example and teachings of Jesus, which, for me, is a full-time job, especially loving my neighbors who are flying their Trump flags and posting huge signs in their yards.