The Believer's Role in a Toxic, Violent Political Climate + Other Headlines

Tuesday Digest (07.16.24)

How Should Believers Respond Right Now?

Typically I comment on a news item on Tuesdays before getting into the headlines, but this is more of a message. Several things struck me in the hours following the attempted assassination of former President Donald Trump on Saturday evening.

First, I saw a rare humility and introspection from him. Typically a showman, his statements after the shooting seemed relatively out of character. “I’m not supposed to be here, I’m supposed to be dead,” he said to the New York Post.

Second, I saw a variety of opinion posts, social media posts and other messages asking the public to “tone down” the violent rhetoric. These came from Republicans and Democrats alike, from Christian pastors and avowed atheists. They expressed solidarity with Trump as a victim and gratitude for his survival—while also coming out very strongly against political violence.

This opinion piece at The Christian Post by Dr. Michael Brown got my attention:

But all of us are responsible for the words we speak, for the posts we share, for the memes we create, for the environments we shape. And all of us would do well to look in the mirror and ask ourselves some honest questions: Am I fostering godly conviction or breeding vile hatred? Am I helping to produce courage and fortitude or do my words lead to hostility and disdain?

Put another way, since everything reproduces after its kind, based on God’s immutable laws established in creation, what are we reproducing? If the emotions and attitudes we stir up were multiplied time and again, would the end result be good or bad—very bad?

In an address to the nation, President Biden said, “We can’t allow this violence to be normalized.”

Pennsylvania Rep. Dan Meuser, who was sitting behind Trump at the rally, said, “The level of lack of civility and hostility, maybe this will send a ringing signal to all those to cool it.”

The Trump campaign manager even asked staff to avoid “dangerous rhetoric” in any comments about the failed assassination attempt: “We condemn all forms of violence, and will not tolerate dangerous rhetoric on social media.” With the Republican National Convention underway this week, it will interesting to see if that continues.

Regardless of what happens in the political world, I have my own thoughts about how followers of Christ should respond in times like this.