Politics, Persons and the Serpent of Evil Thoughts
Do not, then, let the serpent of evil thoughts come between you and God.
From my reading this morning. I think about all that's going on in the world, how much conversation revolves around things that separate us—mostly political stuff. I have pretty firm thoughts about good and evil, but what I have been learning in the last 8 years or so (and not yet mastered) is that American politics is at level 0.00000001 in the grand scheme of eternity. What's infinitely more important is my relationship with the *other*. That always begins in the heart, with thoughts from the heart. Is my heart open to the other... you know, the one who disagrees with me. The one who is a "communist, fascist, red hat, blue hair" or whatever it is that is opposed to my own opinions.
As strongly as I feel on certain issues, there is a way to wrap those issues up, store them in a little black box tucked away in the corner of the mind, and open the heart to each and every person, all in the love of Christ. This (in my opinion) is The Way. This is possible when our ultimate goal is to live the image of Christ, to be a person as were created to be. A person, when truly like Christ, is a person in communion with the other—with God and neighbor.
I can only speak for myself, but I know this to be true from experience—I cannot experience God in my heart while I'm holding my neighbor in contempt in my heart. It doesn't mean at all that I have to agree with my neighbor's opinions. It means I have to love my neighbor. By "have to", I don't mean it's a moral imperative, rather it is about knowing God. I can't know God while having contempt for those who disagree with me... whether it's the derisively termed "orange haired man" or the "hyena cackle lady". Even to think of one with such terminology betrays the condition of my heart as one that is narrow, closed off, full of arrogance.
These are just thoughts about me and myself -- posted publicly as a sort of "accountability" for all those who know me and can say to me, "where's your heart B?" when I let myself get drawn away into the mire of you or me rather than you and me, in Christ.
"Adam had open and ceaseless communication with God until the serpent came between them. The serpent’s aim was to destroy Adam’s relationship with God, to steal Adam’s glory, and to bring paradise to ruin. But the serpent got more than he bargained for, since he was utterly trampled down by Christ, the new Adam, and now the doors of paradise stand open to all. Do not, then, let the serpent of evil thoughts come between you and God." —Archimandrite Aimilianos of Simonopetra. The Way of the Spirit: Reflections on Life in God.
From my reading this morning. I think about all that's going on in the world, how much conversation revolves around things that separate us—mostly political stuff. I have pretty firm thoughts about good and evil, but what I have been learning in the last 8 years or so (and not yet mastered) is that American politics is at level 0.00000001 in the grand scheme of eternity. What's infinitely more important is my relationship with the *other*. That always begins in the heart, with thoughts from the heart. Is my heart open to the other... you know, the one who disagrees with me. The one who is a "communist, fascist, red hat, blue hair" or whatever it is that is opposed to my own opinions.
As strongly as I feel on certain issues, there is a way to wrap those issues up, store them in a little black box tucked away in the corner of the mind, and open the heart to each and every person, all in the love of Christ. This (in my opinion) is The Way. This is possible when our ultimate goal is to live the image of Christ, to be a person as were created to be. A person, when truly like Christ, is a person in communion with the other—with God and neighbor.
I can only speak for myself, but I know this to be true from experience—I cannot experience God in my heart while I'm holding my neighbor in contempt in my heart. It doesn't mean at all that I have to agree with my neighbor's opinions. It means I have to love my neighbor. By "have to", I don't mean it's a moral imperative, rather it is about knowing God. I can't know God while having contempt for those who disagree with me... whether it's the derisively termed "orange haired man" or the "hyena cackle lady". Even to think of one with such terminology betrays the condition of my heart as one that is narrow, closed off, full of arrogance.
These are just thoughts about me and myself -- posted publicly as a sort of "accountability" for all those who know me and can say to me, "where's your heart B?" when I let myself get drawn away into the mire of you or me rather than you and me, in Christ.
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