It is wild to me that two people can view the same video and see wildly different things. It is even more wild to me that they can then act as if their biases and immediate reaction about a 30-second clip must be the truth. And that on both sides.

They don’t merely claim they know the truth; they take it for granted. So much so that if anyone disagrees with them, they aren’t merely disagreeing with their opinion. No, they are disagreeing with the truth.

It may give you a feeling of moral superiority to make an immediate gut-decision, but all it really does is make you angrier. It makes the other side angrier. It makes everyone angrier. And it causes those who are unsure to feel that they must make a verdict, as if they were the jury in an all-important case, and that their lives and the future of their country depend on their wise judgment. If they refuse to make a choice, they draw the ire of both sides.

“He that answereth a matter before he heareth it, it is folly and shame unto him.”
–Proverbs 18:13

The issue? Most of us have no clue what’s going on. Most of us are not wise. There are many times for every individual when, in the stressful circumstances of life, he must decide in the face of ignorance. We enter those decisions with trembling and anxiety. Such decisions could have drastic effects on our lives. But such matters pale in importance to these national debates.

Yet, we make judgments of national importance with such light gravity and castigate those who disagree. Instead of trembling, we are confident. Instead of being filled with anxiety, like we are about many everyday decisions, on this, a judgment of life and death, we approach it boldly as if we are the final arbitrators of right and wrong.

To hell with the other side, we are going to exert our powers! After all, we have watched a 30-second clip! And it was clear to me, the greatest of all judges, that so-and-so was at fault! And I am smarter than all those other rubes on the other side! How could anyone disagree with me! Therefore, whatever I say must be true!

Shame on us.

God have mercy on our souls. God have mercy on Minneapolis. God have mercy on America. God have mercy on ICE. God have mercy on the immigrants. God have mercy on the protestors. God have mercy on both Christians and those who oppose Christ.

God have mercy on me. I am an ignorant man trying to do the best I can every day for my family, church, and community. These matters are too large for me.

May you uphold the righteous, whoever they are. May you judge the wicked, whoever they are. Oh God, please protect the innocent. May you draw souls to you, regardless of their political persuasion. Our nation has rebelled against you and deserves all this violence and so much more. May you save us even in our rebellion. May you turn our hearts to Christ out of your steadfast love and for your ultimate glory. May you dwell with us so that our swords may be turned to plowshares and our spears into pruning hooks? We cannot have peace without you, God. We cannot know truth without you, God. Give us your peace. Give us your truth.

Amen.

The Tragedy of Premature Adjudication