Several weeks ago one of my good friends, whom I’ll call Levi, received a well-deserved promotion within a big name bank. Soon after hearing the news, people began to occupy Wall Street. Coincidence? Yes; however this growing protest, (not sure I would call it a movement) which I initially lauded as a Christ-centered turning of the Temple money changing tables now has a face; which my prophetic vigor failed to see with pastoral eyes.
The same holds true with my opposition toward the Tea Party. My stomach churned during a recent debate when I heard tea party supports call for the death of an unnamed hypothetical person who refused health insurance, yet another close friend, who favors the Tea Party, is neither crazy nor racist nor hateful. I’ve heard it said that one should not “water down” the Gospel for the sake of friends, but having a face to the name of “fill in the blank controversy,” should give us pause as followers of Christ.
This tension, this false dichotomy between “Love God” and “Love your neighbor,” is more ancient than the language in which I’m writing. First let me say that I understand the Occupy Wall Street protest and the Tea Party movement to be fundamentally the same lobby with differing accessories. Both oppose institution for the sake of individual freedom. Occupy Wall Street seems to oppose the “too big to fail” financial systems which, unfettered, abuse the poor for the sake of an intangible market. The Tea Party seemingly opposes the “too big to succeed” federal government which, left on its own, transforms the existing Republic into a Socialist commune.
I recently posted on Facebook, “Am I wrong or is the Tea Party and Occupy Wall Street going to the same anti-institution rally, except one fills up with 93 octane gas and the other uses recycled fry oil?” Now, I may not have a clear grip on exactly what the protestors on Wall Street are shouting, nor do I truly understand how the Tea Party is more American than my Independent political affiliation, but my point is that being in relationship with both the protestor and the patriot guides our exhausting extremism into a fruitful and hospitable community; or as my mother says, “God gave you two ears and one mouth because you’re supposed to listen twice as much as you talk.” Why do the rouser and the rebel feel that their personal freedom, whether financial or civil, is being swallowed by the institution? We won’t know unless we listen with compassion and charity, but let me put it on myself . . . I won’t know unless I place aside the rhetoric and anger and listen with ears willing to hear a view not held in my heart with charity.
As an aside . . . it’s tough to listen when people choose not to speak. Blessings!