Whenever I encounter personal or systemic injustice my least favorite response is of the ilk: ‘we are depraved’, ‘we are all hypocrites’, or ‘we live by grace’. As the language suggests, this self-effacing and perverse hamartiology comes from within the Christian community and it makes me ill (just imagine city council excusing unjust behavior by calling all humanity screw-ups). It is the same platitude that many clergy/theologians used to belittle the Civil Rights Movement: of course the system is broken but things will be right in Heaven, don’t expect too much here in the fallen world, cheer up we’re all sinners. At first it appears to be a humble assessment of our shortcomings, but once you’ve made such a claim you have actually mocked those who are crying injustice and denied them the opportunity to name a greater hope. This just won’t do. And when such sentiment is served as an apology it should be named for what it really is–justification for the status quo and a detachment from the matters at hand.
I believe theological notions of grace/depravity/fallenness/perfection should rather inspire the Christian towards contrition, gratitude, and dependence on God’s forgiveness, not used as carte blanche or a shield from our earthly responsibilities to seek justice. Grace is a reason to say we are sorry with presence and care and take action to make things right, not excuse ourselves as pathetic Sons/Daughters of Adam; to know eternal forgiveness and extend it towards others as we fumble towards the realization of an earthly kingdom.
If I were an aphorist: Hope is not a blind idealism towards utopia, but earnestly seeking greatness.
“The church isn’t perfect, Zadok.”
“Oh, it isn’t? What was I thinking. I’ll go hope for greater things somewhere else.”
(And I have.)
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