“The lamp of a wicked man is snuffed out;
    the flame of his fire stops burning.”
Job 18:5 (NIV)

I can’t help but shake my head in fascination at the times in which we are living in , especially as it relates to the polarization of politics and media. Both sides of the political spectrum are pursuing legal means to prove their opposition’s top candidate of corruption while being selectively dismissive of the accusations against their party’s candidate with a repeated refrain pointing to the opposition saying “Well, what about…”

I am reminded of a t-shirt that keeps popping up in my social media feed. It says, “Study History: Realize that People Have Been this Stupid for Thousands of Years!”

Did you know that the 1824 Presidential election between John Quincy Adams and Andrew Jackson ended up being decided by Congress because no candidate secured enough electoral votes? The Speaker of the House was Henry Clay, who had also run for President that year. In a back room deal, Clay secured the White House for Adams in exchange for Adams appointing Clay to one of Adams’ secretary positions. Four years later, the rematch between Adams and Jackson got nasty, with Adams’ supporters accusing General Jackson of murdering six of his own militia men and accusing his wife of adultery. Jackson’s supporters accused Adams of using public money for personal purchases, gambling inside the White House, and hiring prostitutes to create political leverage when he was ambassador to Russia.

The demonization and scapegoating of others, especially those who are different or with whom we disagree, has long been a very human enterprise. It starts on the playground, continues in school, in community social circles, in religious circles, and in politics.

In today’s chapter, Job’s friend Bill pipes up in the conversation once again, but the gloves have come off. Bill recites a Hebrew wisdom poem that describes “a wicked man.” The poem is filled with descriptions that point directly to Job’s circumstances. Here are a few of the more blatant ones (I’ve changed personal pronouns with [the wicked man] for effect):

“The vigor of [the wicked man’s] step is weakened.” Job’s illness has left him weak and emaciated.

“Terrors startle [the wicked man] on every side.” Job has complained of the terrors and nightmares that have plagued him at night.

“Calamity is hungry for [the wicked man].” In one day, Job had all of his flocks stolen and all of his children died in a storm.

“It eats away [the wicked man’s] skin.” Job’s body is covered in festering sores.

“[The wicked man] is torn from the security of his tent and marched off to the king of terrors.” With his flocks stolen and children dead, Job is left with no financial security and any prospect for a future are non-existent.

“The memory of [the wicked man] perishes from the earth; he has no name in the land.” With Job’s children dead, he will have no descendants to remember him or leave any kind of legacy.

Bill’s accusation is clear: Job is obviously a wicked man.

In the quiet this morning, I am amazed at Bill’s callous poem. The culture of his day held firmly that tragedy and suffering were a sure sign of God’s wrath, and that tragedies and suffering must point to the wickedness of the person suffering from them. For 18 chapters Job has been questioning this premise. The more he does so, the more entrenched his three friends become in their position. The more entrenched his friends become in their position, the more Job becomes entrenched in his. Again, it’s kind of like what I see happening in our culture in which we demonize those who think and believe differently. The more I demonize, the more justified I feel in doing so.

History has revealed to me that this is not a particularly healthy pattern.

My mind, as always, wanders back to the teachings and example of Jesus, who quite regularly humanized and treated with kindness those whom His own culture demonized. This includes who were ethnically different (Samaritans), those who were culturally marginalized (women), those who were religiously demonized (woman caught in adultery), and those who were politically demonized (Romans). The only ones you can arguably say that Jesus demonized were the religious fundamentalists of His own tribe who perpetuated the demonization of all of the others I named. But that’s a stretch. Jesus regularly dined with the religious leaders, was a guest in their homes, and welcomed them into conversation. While His words against their corporate actions was particularly harsh, His interpersonal relationship with them as individuals was kind and gentle.

And so, I end this week committed to personally follow Jesus example, refusing to demonize others. In particular, I want to humanize and treat with gentle and loving-kindness those whom my tribe(s) tend to demonize, even if they demonize me. I find Jesus’ words, beautifully paraphrased by scholar Eugene Peterson, an apt contrast to Bill’s poetic attack on Job:

“You’re familiar with the old written law, ‘Love your friend,’ and its unwritten companion, ‘Hate your enemy.’ I’m challenging that. I’m telling you to love your enemies. Let them bring out the best in you, not the worst. When someone gives you a hard time, respond with the supple moves of prayer, for then you are working out of your true selves, your God-created selves. This is what God does. He gives his best—the sun to warm and the rain to nourish—to everyone, regardless: the good and bad, the nice and nasty. If all you do is love the lovable, do you expect a bonus? Anybody can do that. If you simply say hello to those who greet you, do you expect a medal? Any run-of-the-mill sinner does that.

“In a word, what I’m saying is, Grow up. You’re kingdom subjects. Now live like it. Live out your God-created identity. Live generously and graciously toward others, the way God lives toward you.”
Matthew 5:43-48 (NIV)

Note: I will be out next week traveling on business.
I will return to publishing new posts on Monday, August 28.

If you know anyone who might be encouraged by today’s post, please share.