Editorial: Attacking politicians starts at home

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I do not advocate attacking politicians anywhere, including at or in their homes. I condemn it. I do not advocate attacking their family members. I condemn it. I do not advocate making light of such attacks. I condemn it.

The unpleasant truth is these kinds of attacks start much closer to home—our home. They begin with contempt toward us that often grows into contempt toward others. We need to deal with that contempt in our home before it enters someone else’s home.

As followers of Christ, we need to get to the root of contempt. The root can be found in our hearts and minds. Yes, even ours. It must find no home there. Jesus said as much.

Contempt broke in

I’ve spent plenty of time around conservative Christians. I’ve heard some of their opinions of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.). They’re the kind of opinions that fertilize contempt of political opponents and others.

This goes the other way, too. I’ve heard progressive Christians voice their opinions of conservative and far-right politicians. Such contempt has fueled attacks against Republican officials, as well. It was just five years ago that GOP Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.) was nearly killed by a politically motivated shooter while practicing with colleagues for the annual congressional baseball game.

Early on the morning of Oct. 28, David DePape broke into the San Francisco home of Speaker Pelosi. That act alone demonstrates a level of contempt DePape has for others.

Speaker Pelosi was in Washington, D.C., but her husband Paul was at home. DePape was looking for Speaker Pelosi, with plans to kidnap her and break her knees. Paul called 911, and when police arrived, they witnessed DePape hit Paul with a hammer, hospitalizing him.

Some have made jokes about the incident or promoted conspiracy theories about it. The jokes have been condemned, and the conspiracy theories have been debunked. One thing is unassailable: Threats against politicians and other public officials—Democrat and Republican—are on the rise. This is directly attributable to growing contempt in our politics.

Sourcing contempt

If we compare contempt to medicine, we take it in two forms. One is the straight aspirin of anger and rage prevalent in our culture. The other is the sweet-coated Advil of jokes at another’s expense. We take both with the water of casual comments.


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This medicine affects our hearts and minds, along with the life flowing between and out of them. And it’s readily available, no prescription required.

Contempt for other people is sin. The Oxford English Dictionary definition makes that plain: “the feeling that a person or a thing is beneath consideration, worthless, or deserving scorn.” This feeling about others contradicts the image of God in the other person and defies the command to love others. And I’ve heard it come out of Christians’ mouths.

We don’t come out of the womb feeling contempt for other people; we are taught it. The lessons often start early and at home.

DePape’s attack on Paul Pelosi started long before he smashed through the window of the Pelosi’s San Francisco home. If it didn’t start with his parents or guardians, then it may have started with his earliest friends. If not them, it almost certainly started with DePape’s earliest exposure to the internet and social media.

Was there even a single follower of Jesus in that mix who discouraged contempt from growing in DePape’s heart and mind?

Defeating contempt

The antipode to contempt is encapsulated in the Sermon on the Mount.

“You have heard that it was said to the people long ago, ‘You shall not murder, and anyone who murders will be subject to judgment.’ But I tell you that anyone who is angry with a brother or sister will be subject to judgment,” Jesus said (Matthew 5:21-22a).

Anger is akin to murder, Jesus warned. It often makes its first appearance as contemptuous words.

“Again, anyone who says to a brother or sister, ‘Raca,’ is answerable to the court. And anyone who says, ‘You fool!’—[or, ‘You idiot!’]—will be in danger of the fire of hell” (Matthew 5:22b).

How many have we deemed “idiots” recently—politicians, fellow drivers or otherwise? Such a proclamation constitutes an attack.

You may not be the kind of person who will attack with a hammer or gun, but you may be the kind of person who will attack with words. And someone may be listening—a child or grandchild, perhaps.

Words have more power than a hammer or gun. Their effect reaches farther in space and time. They may and often do encourage those who will attack with hammer or gun.

Just sentences later in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus said: “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you, love your enemies” (Matthew 5:43-44a).

Such love is not characterized by contempt. Such love knows how to disagree and oppose without dehumanizing. This love is what we must allow to grow in us and encourage to grow in others.

DePape has particular responsibility for his attack on Paul Pelosi. The rest of us don’t get to sit back, though. We also carry our own measure of responsibility for the contempt we allow or cause to grow among us.

We may not be able to turn back all political attacks and other contempt-fueled violence. But one thing we can do is not feed it with fertilizer from our own hearts, minds and mouths. Jesus commanded as much.

Eric Black is the executive director, publisher and editor of the Baptist Standard. He can be reached at [email protected]. The views expressed are those solely of the author.


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