Righteous Indignation

This year has been one for the history books, and we only just made it to June. I’ve written periodically about the coronavirus over the past few months, and how as a believer I think we ought to respond. This was the first time (except for the 2016 election) that I’ve written about current events on my blog. Generally, I don’t think that there’s any reason for me to add my voice to such a vast conversation as the one surrounding the current state of our world. A few nights ago, there was a riot in my hometown and I was reminded, once again, that sometimes current events don’t happen a thousand miles away but in our own backyards, and I felt like I needed to say something, if only to distill my thoughts.

In this post I am going to be talking about racism and systemic corruption and before I go on, I must acknowledge that I am writing from the perspective of a white, Christian male. These aspects of my identity have fundamentally shaped the way that I have experienced the world and interacted with it. They give me certain blind-spots in life. There are things I can never understand. One of those is to understand what it is like to live in a culture that is systemically racist and prejudiced against me. I have never firsthand experienced the injustices of racism. There may be moments in my life where I experience situational prejudice, but that is not the same as racism. Racism is a complex and multilayered issue that I do not think I will ever personally understand. As a white man, it would be wrong to pretend I understand the individual experience of a black person, or other people of color. I do not. As a white person, I have what you could describe as the cultural benefit of the doubt. Culture historically has been on “my” side. This is privilege, plain and simple. Specifically “white” privilege. Privilege does not make me a bad person, but it is something that I must recognize. To deny it is to deny the injustice of the system that gives it to me, and to passively accept the unfair advantage I have because of it. This aspect of my identity means that my voice is far from the most important voice in this conversation. My voice and my words should not replace the voices and words of black people who have experienced these racism firsthand.

The death of George Floyd has prompted protests and riots. Believe what you will about the validity of various protesting forms and free speech–I am not here to talk about these protests. The one thing I will say: I think these events are symptoms of a deep anger. This anger stems from generations of injustice. It is an anger that comes from seeing the wickedness of our world and not knowing what to do with it.

I am using the word “anger” in a very specific way here. I am not talking about untempered, uncontrolled rage. That sort of anger is unproductive. Such anger can take control of us, and as Christians we believe that to be controlled by our passions, including anger, is not good. I am using anger to refer to a righteous indignation towards injustice. Perhaps the most notable example of righteous indignation, or righteous anger, is seen in the story of Jesus driving the moneylenders out of the Temple of the LORD (Mark 11). Moneylenders had corrupted the purity of the Temple and Jesus physically turned them out of the Temple, filled with righteous anger.

I think we have a right to be filled, now, with righteous anger. Why? Because of the basic definition of righteous anger. To be righteous is to be in line with principles of morality and virtue. And to be indignant is to be angry because of an observed injustice or instance of immortality. To be indignant is to have a knowledge of justice and injustice. You know that emotion you might’ve experienced when you were younger, and your brother or sister broke something and didn’t get punished? That’s indignation, because you understood that something ought to have happened, and hadn’t happened.

That word “ought” is key here. “Ought” implies that there is a way that things ought to be, a way things should be. Seeing things as they should be will produce a sense of righteous satisfaction. Seeing things not as they should be will produce a sense of righteous indignation and righteous anger.

Things, right now, are not as they ought to be. Racism and corruption have been a part of our history, not only as a country but as a people, for about as long as history can record. And as for our own country, we cannot deny or ignore the history of slavery and the many injustices associated with it. Times have changed, progress has been made, but things have not fully healed. We can look around us and see the brokenness. We know that even now, things are not as they should be. And this sense we have of brokenness comes because we know how things ought to be.

I believe that God created Heaven and Earth and that He created humankind in His Image. This belief, the belief in the Imago Dei, is a core tenet of Christianity. It is the conviction that every human, regardless of race, nationality, creed, gender, sexuality, or socioeconomic background, has an innate value not because of anything they have done but by virtue of who they are. Psalm 139, my favorite psalm, which I frequently reference, says:

“For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.” (Psalm 139: 13-14, ESV)

This is a beautiful verse, one that brings me deep joy because of the promise it contains. It is a reminder that we all are beautiful. That we have all been fearfully crafted, wonderfully made. The incredible, unfathomable handiwork of God can be seen in the life and breath of any human, regardless of how much or how little that person looks like someone else. This value, present in all, should then prompt us to act with love and respect towards all around us, recognizing everyone else as fellow image-bearers, as fellow reflections of our own beautiful humanity.

Brothers and sisters, we know how things ought to be. We know that they are not there. As such, I believe we should be filled with righteous indignation. We know what is right and we are indignant at the injustice we see. We should be the first to stand up and stand against any instance of evil, including systemic oppression and racist institutions and actions. We should stand up and say that it is wrong, and we must hold our fellow believers to a higher standard, because we should know better. We know that we are all created in the Image of God–that we are all created equal. We must then act like it, and encourage others to do the same. We must confront any cultural biases that have skewed our own perspective, and learn, and grow. We must be willing to do better and be better because we know better.

There’s a quote famously (falsely) attributed to Dietrich Bonhoeffer, a pastor and a leader of anti-Nazi resistance from WWII. There is truth in this quote despite its nebulous origins: “Silence in the face of evil is itself evil: God will not hold us guiltless. Not to speak is to speak. Not to act is to act.” These strong words are an indictment against passivity, and they contain an idea that I (mostly) agree with. If we see an injustice, we should speak against it. We should not speak so loudly as to drown out the most important voices in the conversation, nor speak so loudly that we don’t have the humility to listen to those who might disagree with us, but we have the responsibility to speak in line with our convictions.

And as believers we hold the truth of consolation in our hearts and in our hands: the deep healing truth of unity with Christ. We know that the fullness of this consolation and rebirth and wholeness will only come in the new Heaven and the new Earth, but until then we are here and we have been given the divine commandment to preach this Good News to everyone. This Good News, this Gospel, starts with news which isn’t as good: the news that the world in which we live is broken. That things are dark, the world is depraved, and full of sin. We who know the light have a responsibility shine in the darkness because when the light shines in the darkness, the darkness cannot overcome it. We must not hide that light away, even when hiding the light might be more comfortable. We must push ourselves into discomfort and be willing to engage in difficult conversations with humility. And we must, we must, be willing to listen to the hurt of the world, because when we listen, we will know when to speak. Because to not speak, when we have seen and heard what is wrong, is to permit.

***

One thing that I have to keep reminding myself to learn and to grow and to be a good ally is more than just posting on Instagram–or even on a blog. I’ve tried to take some steps to educate myself. In a follow up post, I’m going to include some of the resources I’ve personally explored to educate myself and take some action steps towards being a better anti-racist ally, but I’ve included a shortlist of resources here. This is by no means an authoritative or definitive list, but rather some things that I have found personally helpful.

July 5, 2017

Reflections on the Fourth of July and the American Identity of a Christian

I am proud to be an American. I always have been proud, and I sincerely hope that I always will be. Lately, what constitutes “America” (morally and philosophically, not literally) has become somewhat ambivalent, and there are many things that America now promotes that I do not agree with. I, like many conservatives, feel the increasing pressure to accept beliefs regarding abortion, or gay marriage (and other hotly-debated issues) and am told when I express my own beliefs, which go against what is popular, that I am being un-American.

But still, I am proud to be an American. No matter the divisions that our country faces, there are certain ideals that we can all agree to: freedom, justice, equality. Though even the definitions of those have begun to be debated, most people will affirm that these are good and right. Notice, I did not include “truth” on that short list, because in our modern culture, truth is no longer something people hold to. Truth has become a choice, right and wrong has become a conversation, and even good and evil creep ever closer to pure gray.

These “American Ideals” of freedom, justice, equality (et al) were not born with our nation. We merely adopted them as our own. Before that and since then, these ideals, and other, bigger truths, have been found in a more eternal source: Christianity. A relationship with Christ provides the true fulfillment and freedom that many people seek from America. You cannot (and should not) find your salvation in a country. Now, whether or not America is (or ever was) a Christian nation…that’s not something I have the time or energy to go into with this post, though that is a very interesting and important discussion to have.

I am proud to be an American. America is not perfect; it never has been and it never will be. But no country built by humankind can ever attain perfection. Only the Kingdom of God will be perfect, and any attempt we make to reach that ideal will ultimately fail in one way or another.

I am proud to be an American. Like most Americans, I take joy in displaying that patriotism, especially yesterday on the Fourth of July. I enjoy many of the traditions that go along with celebrating the birth of our nation, but yesterday I started thinking about my attitude towards patriotism.

A few months ago, when I was still in school, we had a speaker come into our Worldview class and talk about all sorts of things we faced in our modern culture. We covered many topics, and honestly I don’t remember most of what he said. But he said one thing, almost offhand, that has stuck with me. He said that we regularly pledge allegiance to the flag of America, in a solemn vow taken with our hands over our hearts, but we don’t do the same thing with our Bibles. We don’t treat our faith, our Heavenly citizenship, with the same reverence that we treat our Earthly one.

When the speaker first said that, I was rather taken aback and honestly quite defensive of taking the pledge of allegiance. After all, it’s an act of honor, respect, and duty to our country–our home. But then I confronted my perspective. I was thinking far too much from an immediate, Earthly point of view, and not taking into account the fact that ultimately I am a citizen of Heaven, and that should always come first. The conclusion I reached was that it is not bad to pledge allegiance to the flag, and it is not bad to be reverent during the national anthem–in fact I would say that both of these things, and other patriotic practices, are good. However, a very important problem does arise when our perspective becomes skewed. When our role as Americans takes precedence over our duty as Christians….that is when there is a problem.

I am proud to be an American, but that is not where I find my identity. My identity is in Christ, and I am infinitely more proud to say that I am a citizen of the Heavenly Kingdom than to say that I am a Citizen of America. To my fellow Christians, don’t feel bad about showing patriotism. But, I encourage you to take the time to examine your perspective and your priorities. Where are you finding your identity?

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April 27, 2016

Hunting for a Career, Finding a Calling

A couple of weekends ago, I had the pleasure of visiting Grove City College during their Junior Crimson Preview Day. I was one of about 1000 students gathered in their gymnasium. The Athletics Building on Grove City’s campus has a very retro feel to it, as it was built in the 1950’s, and hasn’t been altered much since then. One had the feeling of being almost in a 1950’s high school. In that gymnasium, we sat and listened as several people representing the college (their president, various directors, and two students) addressed us. I do not remember much of what was said, but one specific thing has stuck firmly in my mind.

The Director of Careers Services (I believe that was his title) addressed us regarding our futures. We were thinking about colleges, he said, and would soon start thinking about careers. He said that Grove City was very concerned with not just helping us to find our Career in the future, but to find our Calling.

Being raised in a Christian family, and having attended Christian school for the whole of my education, this was not the first time I had thought about my Calling. For years I have been taught to search for what God wants me to do with my gifts and talents. But I had also been taught how to best evaluate my talents on a worldly level, so that I may find a career that best suits me.

This may not have been the first time that I heard about the blending of one’s Calling with one’s Career, but it is certainly the first time that it made a lasting impression on me. I will admit, a weight was lifted from me. We are pressured by our educational systems to decide on a Career early on, knowing that such a choice will affect the rest of our life. That choice is a terrifying one, especially for one of my age. But when I began thinking about it from the angle of searching for God’s Calling in my life, I began to feel peace. If I follow God’s plan in my life, He will guide me in the direction He wants.

This is not a get-out-of-jail-free card. Far from it. Letting God’s Calling guide your life does not mean that you will remove your hands from the situation, sit back, and let events play out as they may. That would never work. It means that you are going to be willing to invest heavily through prayer, self-evaluation, and scripture studying, to find out what your God-given gifts are, and how you are going to use those gifts. I believe that God will make it apparent what He wants you to do. If He doesn’t provide a plan, then I believe you will know that He is asking you to trust Him.

While I plan on actively searching for Career opportunities in the near future, I also plan on actively trusting the LORD in this search, and knowing that whatever opportunities arise, do so because of Him. I will let prayer guide me in my choices and path, and I ask for prayer from others as well.

Stuart Rozendal
Jeremiah 29:11

January 10, 2016

Christian YA Fiction

I may have done a post similar to this earlier, but I’m feeling inspired and I’m going to do it again. I’ve read YA (young adult) fiction before–Hunger Games, Divergent, Harry Potter, etc., are some examples of popular YA fiction, and books that I’ve read. Another popular example of YA fiction is Twilight (which I have thankfully not read); there are also the numerous books by famed author John Green.

YA Fiction tends to follow some pretty specific tropes: a spunky young heroine or a strong young hero facing impossible odds (often with a magical or supernatural twist), saving the world, and finding romance, all within a trilogy of books. Or, it can go the other route, with a “philosophical” and “modern” teen being misunderstood by society and finding a love interest so that they can be “ironic” and “witty” together.

There are a few popular categories of YA fiction: realistic fiction, dystopian/futuristic, and urban fantasy/paranormal.

Realistic fiction: books by John Green; also works like Eleanor and Park, The Book Thief, and The Perks of Being a Wallflower
Dystopian/futuristic: The Giver, The Hunger Games, Divergent, Maze Runner
Fantasy/Urban fantasy/paranormal: Mortal Instruments, Twilight

I would recommend several of the books on the list (Book Thief and The Giver are must-reads), but there are others I wouldn’t recommend. I’ve skimmed/read the first book of Mortal Instruments series not because I wanted to enjoy it, but because I wanted to get a better grasp of current YA fiction. I strongly disliked the book for multiple reasons, but I won’t go into those. Divergent is not a good series, in my opinion. It starts out strong but goes downhill fast.

Why am I not a huge fan of YA fiction? Throughout my experience with it, I’ve noticed that there aren’t often many strong values present. Of course, there are exceptions. Harry Potter really does have many wholesome values in it. The Giver is a powerful story full of complicated morality, and The Book Thief really just wrecks your emotions with its devastating story. But, as I said, those are, unfortunately, exceptions, not the norm.

I am a frequent denizen of the store Barnes & Noble. Often, when I go to the mall with my mom and sister I’ll go to the bookstore while they go shopping other places. I could probably help people locate books in that store I’ve been there so often. Barnes & Noble has a section dedicated to teen/young adult literature right by the escalator that I take to get to the “classics” section. I usually pause by the teen section, especially a table labeled “what teens are reading now.” I generally find it depressing: book covers are frequently dark-colored, with gothic fonts, brooding teens looking sullenly up at me. Labels frequently call the book “the next Twilight” or “the next Hunger Games“.

The front display of books in the teen section is called “Paranormal Romance”, a blended genre of romance, science fiction, fantasy, and horror. Stories like this often feature a female protagonist and elements such as vampires, werewolves, ghosts, witches, etc. Not wholesome stuff, and not things I desire to put into my mind.

Though I do enjoy a good YA read every now and then–Hunger Games was a guilty pleasure and I’ve devoured books such as The Giver and A Wrinkle in Time–I read very little of it, compared to the other books I often read. Not because I believe YA fiction to be “below” me in any sense; some of the YA writers are great masters of prose. I don’t read much of it simply because I don’t like filling my mind with that stuff. I haven’t read any paranormal fiction (Mortal Instruments falls into the category of urban fantasy–fantasy set in a modern city), and I don’t plan on it, ever. It’s just not something that interests me at all.

YA literature often caters to its audience and modern culture, and books rarely come out of it with a positive message. Or, if a positive message is present, it could be drowned out by everything else. The Fault in Our Stars, by John Green, and The Perks of Being a Wallflower by Stephen Chbosky, have ultimately uplifting messages, but neither are exactly 100% wholesome books.

I think it’s fine for YA books to deal with controversial topics, because teens face these topics every day, but it’s when the books start promoting unhealthy activity or an unwholesome worldview that I think the problem rises.

It’s getting harder and harder to use discernment when deciding what to read when it comes to YA fiction. Occasionally, I’ll come across gems, but more often than not, I’ll finish reading a YA book and feel conflicted (and not because it had a deep moral message). I may have enjoyed the story, but I really didn’t like some of the messages the story tried to beat me over the head with.

I while back I wrote a post about being a Christian writer. I think it’s especially important for there to be Christian writers for teens. Books with wholesome messages and characters you won’t feel bad supporting. I want to write a book or book series like that sometime, a series aimed at teens that either is directly and overtly Christian, or that contains Christian values and messages. I already have an idea for a series of YA thriller novels that blends the political, war, and science fiction genres, which I plan to have Christian values; I also plan on writing a book with a goal from the start that it will be Christian and have overt Christian messages in it.

I feel like, after critiquing so many books in this post, I should suggest some books that I feel are wholesome and have positive messages.

First of all: Book Thief. I’ve mentioned it several times throughout this post, but I’ll mention it again. It is an amazing book. I don’t know if the author is a Christian, but the book has an uplifting message–though it does break your heart and crush your soul. Read at your own risk.

Then, I would suggest anything by Bryan Davis. Namely, his “Dragon’s in Our Midst”, “Oracles of Fire”, and “Children of the Bard” series. Three linked tetralogies that become one saga following a family from the beginning of time to a dystopian future, they are seriously AWESOME and have amazing Christian messages. Bryan Davis is a strong Christian, and his books contain direct references to the faith and the LORD. Throughout the saga, many characters come to Christ, and we see Biblical history unfold in an amazingly different way that still stays true to God’s word. The writing is pretty easy to read, without being overly simple or “dumbed-down”. These books aren’t great literature, but they are great books. I would recommend them to anyone looking for either a solid family read, or a gift to your child, sibling or young friend. The books are targeted at the ages 8-14 I believe–but really, anyone can read them. They will inspire and convict you with their characters and messages and examples of faith.

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.