There is an interesting phenomenon going on these days in modern society that is not a good thing, but is very telling. This phenomenon is happening in various arenas. One was very noticeable beginning back during holiday season. There are certain holidays when families traditionally get together just to be with family. Some of the main family oriented holidays are Thanksgiving and Christmas, but it may happen at other times too depending on family traditions.
In recent times, before every holiday, I have noticed that media outlets have started running articles or segments about how to handle the situation if you will be seeing relatives who hold political positions or supporting candidates you don’t like.
Interestingly, the angst is almost always from those who are on the political left. Articles written for those on the right tend to advise their followers to just be kind and show love. Those on the left, though, hardly show any love or tolerance. One such article about this topic was called The top five absurd tips from liberal pundits for surviving holidays with Trump-voting family. This one was written before Christmas. (You can read it at https://www.foxnews.com/politics/top-five-absurd-tips-from-liberal-pundits-surviving-holidays-trump-voting-family.print/)
The five suggestions were:
1. Cancel Christmas altogether
2. Cut off pro-Trump family at holidays
3. Use therapy techniques to divert the conversation
4. Take a break and potentially leave the gathering
5. Ban the bad actors
But this is not just holiday situation.
Quite recently, a Christian group organized a religious rally in Seattle, Washington in support of the family and to proclaim Jesus Christ. As the rally got underway, political leftists and gay activist organizations came out and basically started a riot. Afterward, Seattle’s mayor stood before the press and blasted the Christians, blaming them for provoking the rioters. You just don’t see that happening when the situation is reversed.
We see this dynamic playing out in many other places as well. We see it in the courts, in the news media, in industry, in politics, in the entertainment industry – just everywhere.
Where Does it Come From?
So where does all the hatred come from, and why is all the violence and meanness mostly just on one side. This is not to say it never goes the other way, but the difference between the two sides is stark. Why is that?
In a nutshell, the difference in attitude and actions is based on the underlying worldview of the two sides. One side bases its beliefs on a biblical worldveiw foundation, while the other is based on naturalistic beliefs. Let’s take a look at the way both sides answer the essential worldview questions in order to discern where the differences lie.
Christian Worldview Beliefs:
1. Who is God?
Christians believe in the God of the Bible who is holy, just, and love. They believe that God has commanded that all believers imitate Him and live their lives based on those characteristics.
2. What is a human being?
Christians believe human beings are persons made in the image of God, but fallen. The image characteristic recognize the rightness of God’s ways, but the fallenness inclines them to rebel against Him.
3. What is salvation (the ultimate that a person can get out of this life)?
Christians believe that when people enter into a personal relationship with God through the atoning work of Jesus Christ on the cross, that people’s lives are transformed. With that, the Holy Spirit enters their life and provides the motivation and strength to live for God based on His desires.
Naturalistic Worldview Beliefs
1. Who is God?
Naturalists do not believe in the existence of God. Rather, they believe that the natural universe, operating by natural laws, is all that exists.
2. What is a human being?
Naturalists believe that human beings are nothing more than naturally evolved animal creatures. For them, there is no other possibility.
3. What is salvation (the ultimate that a person can get out of this life)?
Naturalists believe that survival and personal fulfillment are the ultimate that is possible for humans who live in the natural universe. There is no other possibility.
What Does it All Mean?
Naturalists only have one reason for acting the way they do; It satisfies their personal desires. For some that means being nice, but for others it means crushing those who don’t agree with them. Individuals decide for themselves what course they will take. There is no such thing as an objective moral right and wrong.
Christians, for their part, have two important reasons for not having the bad attitude.
1. Their lives have been changed by God, and they now have a desire to please Him by obeying His guidance.
2. They want to share the love of Jesus with people who don’t know Him. Being respectful to others, even enemies, provides a basis for sharing God’s love.
So what is the real difference? The real difference is the motivation – pleasing self or pleasing God. When pleasing self is the motivation, literally anything goes – and for some people that means hatred and violence. Pleasing God means becoming your best self, looking out for others, and obeying God. It’s as simple as that.