Is Dismissiveness a Sin?
To summarize my current convictions and deeply held beliefs regarding colonialism and slavery before the reading, I had to reflect on my early years. I was taken back to my 6th grade class, and I distinctly remember my time in the library with a class assignment to create a booklet of one-page summaries on quite a few of the early American explorers. The likes of Francisco De Coronado, Samuel de Champlain, Hernando de Soto, and Christopher Columbus came alive on the pages as I read about them. I don’t remember too many assignments, but that one always stuck out in my mind. I enjoyed the research but also thought much about how incredibly hard it would be to step onto a new continent, not knowing what you would find. The adventure seemed to draw my attention. My family also spent much time watching Western television shows such as Bonanza, The Big Valley, Daniel Boone, Little House on the Prairie, The Lone Ranger, and of course the movie, The Alamo. The American conquest was removed by time and thus, idolized to some degree. These early years formed a more positive view of colonization without addressing some of the underlying motivations and brutal outplaying of the times.
I also think back to how my thoughts on slavery, were shaped and formed. Outside of learning about Abraham Lincoln and The Civil War, the atrocities of slavery in America and around the world were rarely addressed in school. Television shows did not depict the evil either, but certainly cast certain people groups as subservient in the acting roles. Our community was German so the interaction with other ethnicities was minimal. It wasn’t until the racial unrest in my own high school years, that more emphasis was placed on trying to understand the complexities around our country’s wrestling with slavery and the ongoing effects of racism.
After reflecting on my background, I realize for many years, I saw slavery and colonialism as a bit removed from me and separate in nature. It wasn’t until our congregations progressively became more diverse that the personal stories gave me a different view, particularly of slavery around the world, not just in America. It made me realize that through their stories I could see that racism and the desire for one people group to rule over another, was still alive and well. It had me look at my own dismissive heart when I deal with others that are different than me, whether in faith, culture, or ideology.
I would describe my deeply held beliefs as a process that has shifted from a dismissive mindset that said “of course, every person is created equal” to how can I help affect change in the Spirit of God’s love and acceptance (and mind you, not with an attitude of pity on someone else). No people group should ever be treated or seen as subservient. We as humans tend to vie for power and domination over others, whether in big or small ways, if our hearts are left unattended to.
My current convictions on colonization are still a bit hazy. Was the colonization of America and around the world all negative? Was colonization always to simply dominate another people group? Or was it, at times, to help with the gospel mission, literacy, and technology
After the readings:
Slavery: A New Global History by Jeremy Black gave much insight to slavery as a systemic problem throughout the centuries. The continuing cycles of dominance and the use of people as commodities, reflect the ongoing cycles of apostacy. It confirmed my thoughts on how humans are bent on wickedness if left to their own devices. It warrants a constant vigilance for me, personally and for the church. An “aha” moment for me was Black’s description of the incredibly long and tenuous process of global abolition, especially during 17 and 1800’s.[1] As Americans, we tend to simply see things in view of our own country. However, this was a global campaign, a cascading of God’s thoughts on humanity and human equality. I was again challenged to keep affecting change.
As I read, Nigel Biggar’s Colonialism: A Moral Reckoning, what I expected was for my haziness to be attacked with all the negative thoughts on colonialism as well as a condemning of the past. However, Biggar, does not critique without wisely stating “we ought not to judge the past by the present.”[2] What seems morally wrong to us now, was simply an accepted way of life then. Biggar is not anti-colonialism, but rather gives great ethical insight into how we can learn from the past and have hope for the future.
He treads heavily against the ethical violations, but also offers the hope of the emerging corrective stance. Biggar challenged me by having the reader take their own responsibility. He shares how it is our job to forgive our ancestors for not understanding the moral truths that we now hold dear, but also to stand in humility before our own grandchildren for our own “moral dullness.”[3] This was an “ouch” moment. I have often excused how my own ancestors have dealt with these topics. I am challenged to ask for forgiveness for them, but also to keep reckoning with my own dismissiveness that has been nurtured throughout my life. Could dismissiveness actually be a sin? Excuses always taint our ability to truly move forward. Having deeper conversations with my own children and grandchildren over my own dismissiveness and the need for repentance is well warranted. Perhaps, then, the sin of dismissiveness will lessen in their generation.
[1] Jeremy Black, Slavery: A New Global History (London: Running Press, 2011). Chapters 5 and 6.
[2] Nigel Biggar, Colonialism: A Moral Reckoning (London: HarperCollins Publisher, 2023). 8.
[3] Nigel Biggar. 9.
About the Author
Esther Edwards
Esther has served in ministry leadership for over 35 years. She is an ordained minister, an ICF and CCLC certified coach, and licensed coach trainer. Her and her husband have launched their own coaching practice, Enjoy the Journey Leadership Coaching and seek to train ministry leaders in the powerful skill of coaching. Esther loves hiking, reading, and experiencing new coffee shops with friends and family. She enjoys the journey with her husband, Keith, their four daughters, sons-in-law, and their five beautiful grandchildren.12 responses to “Is Dismissiveness a Sin?”
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Esther,
I appreciate how you reflected on dismissiveness and the need for repentance particularly as it influences your children and grandchildren. Thank you for sharing that. It caused me to pause and think about places where I may be dismissive and what repentant work needs to take place in me. Thank you!
Cathy,
My children loved and highly respected my parents and Keith’s mom and still speak of their examples. It has had me realize how powerful our impact is in our grandchildren’s lives. I pray that they will not look back and have to repent for us, but rather that they would look back and see how we owned our faults and obediently followed Christ’s heart beat for humanity.
Thanks for your honesty and the self-insight reflected in your post Esther. As I read about your wonderings about ‘dismissiveness’ I couldn’t help but think of my wife’s comment (who is also a counsellor) to me on more than one occasion: “Indifference is likely the most hurtful position to take in a relationship. If you are angry and arguing, at least you care enough to engage (even if it isn’t ideally). Indifference communicates: I don’t care enough about you to engage.” I’m not sure if you are using ‘dismissiveness’ in the exact same way as I am using ‘indifference’ here….but it seems the message is the same: non-engagement is not caring, and it doesn’t reflect the heart of God who passionately cares for the oppressed, vulnerable, and marginalized. It doesn’t seem to be a viable posture for the church…and yet I can find myself, overwhelmed with all the problems of the world….to slide to the ‘indifferent’ space. May God grant His people to better reflect his deep concern for others through our intentional engagement.
Thanks for your response, Scott. Your wife made a powerful point. Now that I look deeper into the meaning of dismissiveness, it actually goes a step further than indifference. It has a bit of disdain in the mix. One probably leads easily into the other. I do appreciate this exercise, because it was the reflection of thinking back in time as to what formed and shaped me, that I realized how easily I can slip back to old patterns of dismissiveness and indifference. Yes. we truly need to reflect God’s deep concern for others because left on my own, I don’t always have the bandwidth.
Esther, I think it’s so important and instructive that you turned the moral question of slavery and colonialism back on yourself.
That’s what a good preacher does, preaches to him or her self, first.
I hadn’t considered how so much of the media of mid-20th century America supported the idea that slavery and colonialism was ‘someone elses’ problem, but not ours. It seems our culture created an atmosphere where we felt removed from all of htat, even if we weren’t.
Thanks for the inspiring and challenging post.
It was an interesting walk down memory lane as I reflected on all those television shows. As Niggar mentions, we don’t often notice what is right in front of us because it is so accepted.
It’s true, we tend to swing to extremes – either beat ourselves up for past mistakes or make excuses to dismiss them. Your reflections are a great challenge to me personally to discuss honestly and model integrity for my children (and maybe grandchildren someday, but we’re a looong way from that!) Great post, thanks Esther!
Ester, I really appreciate you bringing in the concept of dismissal, here. This is such an insidious posture- easy to take and it can feel self protective. Whereas, if you actually work as you say to accept a posture of ”how can I help affect change in the Spirit of God’s love and acceptance?” Well, that takes real self-reflection which is hard and might require me to change! Thanks for that good challenge.
you said ” He shares how it is our job to forgive our ancestors for not understanding the moral truths that we now hold dear, but also to stand in humility before our own grandchildren for our own “moral dullness.”
Ah, forgiveness…so hard and not so easily accomplished. I think each generation takes a step closer perhaps?
Hi Esther,
Thank you for your post, which helped me broaden my horizons. You wrote, “Biggar is not anti-colonialism, but rather gives great ethical insight into how we can learn from the past and have hope for the future.” I agree that we cannot change the past, although we can learn from the good and the bad. In your opinion, is colonialism still possible in the present, even with good reasons?
Hi, Dinka,
I imagine it depends on what your definition of colonization is. We don’t often think of countries trying to conquer lands that are uncharted anymore. However, if it simply means dominating another people group, then, yes, it is still alive and well since, as in the case of Russia and Ukraine, more ground is trying to be captured by the Russians. There are also many countries still under military occupation. So mainly, today, it is not positive. If missionaries go to a foreign land, they no longer try to promote their country, just Christ. They adapt to the country’s culture. Many years ago, that was one of the positive thoughts of colonization so they did try to “westernize” other countries. Good question!
Esther,
It is so interesting that you mentioned westerns, you wrote, “The adventure seemed to draw my attention. My family also spent much time watching Western television shows such as Bonanza, The Big Valley, Daniel Boone, Little House on the Prairie, The Lone Ranger, and of course the movie, The Alamo. The American conquest was removed by time and thus, idolized to some degree. These early years formed a more positive view of colonization without addressing some of the underlying motivations and brutal outplaying of the times.” I have honestly never thought of how this has impacted the views of the westward expansion as a mostly positive experience. I want to explore this more.