Jesus is the answer for the world today.
Steele’s book Shame: How America’s Past Sins Have Polarized Our Country is well-written and thought-provoking; it has brought me to reflect on many issues in our global community today. As a person born right in the war zone, I continue to wonder about the role of those of faith in the political arena, but as I read and study more, I have found it to be much more complicated than I used to see it. Steele’s Shame was another great reminder of the complexity. “Since the 1960s, America has had one overriding answer: to give America a new mission beyond freedom, to establish “The Good” as a national mission on a par with freedom.”[1] at the core of Steele’s argument is that in Shame he says White America must stop and lay aside the heavy feeling of guilt and Shame which some left-wing liberals attempt so hard to put on them. Steele argues that racism and segregation are things of the past, and America has done more than enough to remedy its painful past.
Liberalism has dominated American politics for the last 50 – 60 years simply because it took propriety over this terrible Shame. And said, we will save America from it. And we will end racism, and we will end sexism, and we will overcome all those things, and we will the people we hurt. We will have great societies and wars on poverty, and we will redeem them and bring them up to par with everyone else; we’ll correct that, restoring our legitimacy as a free society.[2]
In the short time that I have worked in Arizona, I have come to know more of the chronic adversity that Native Americans continue to deal with today because of the atrocities perpetrated against them hundreds of years ago; Steele would probably bring up his lectures on personal responsibility as he does on the side of Black Americans. Still, he cannot underestimate the deep hurt and wounds caused by such atrocities.
Where do we find hope?
First, the question might be, why do I seek answers from Christians or people of faith? The reason is simple; Sin is the root cause. The question in the book of James comes to mind “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?” (James 4:1)
As Steele correctly mentions in his book, “The idea is that America, arguably the greatest country in of history, also committed one of the greatest sins, perpetrated that sin over centuries, dehumanize the entire race of people relentlessly year in and year out for a very long time.”[3] Asked how he had decided to name his book Shame, the author answered that he had a challenge finding a name that could capture the theme but, with the help of his wife, came to agree on naming it Shame. Like other politicians on either side, Steele’s ideas help inspire some discussions. At the end of the argument, only God can see the heart and judge motives. In his other interviews, he is heard supporting President Trump and the great things he has done for America. While I don’t expect politics to answer the evils of society, I believe there are a few ways that God has used and continue to use the few he has anointed to shine light on the darkness around us.
America’s Sin is evident, but her Love is more extraordinary.
I was reminded of Jesus speaking of the woman whose many sins had been forgiven in the gospels “Therefore I say to you, her sins, which are many, are forgiven, for she loved much. But to whom little is forgiven, the same loves little.” (Luke 4:47) and probably America’s Sin having been too great is the reason there is also such greatness and Love pouring out of America. “The United States still tops the chat by far in terms of total missionaries, sending 127,000 in 2010 compared to the 34,000 sent by Number 2-ranked Brazil.”[4]
I think it is nothing to do with conservatives and liberals in America; it is about the fight between good and evil; as the song goes, “Jesus is the answer for the world today.”
I continue to see so much Love, light, and goodness out of America to the whole world.
[1] Shelby Steele, Shame: How America’s Past Sins Have Polarized Our Country (New York: Basic Books, 2015).
[2] C-SPAN, “Shame: How America’s Past Sins Have Polarized Our Country,” August 27, 2017, accessed November 29, 2022, https://www.c-span.org/video/?431251-8/shame.
[3] Ibid.
[4] Nairaland, “Top Countries Sending and Receiving Christian Missionaries” (November 5, 2017), accessed November 29, 2022, https://www.nairaland.com/4158321/top-countries-sending-receiving-christian.
About the Author
Jean de Dieu Ndahiriwe
Jean de Dieu Ndahiriwe is a Clinical Correctional Chaplain and former Child Refugee from War-torn Rwanda. A member of the Maxwell Leadership Certified Team, Jean is passionate about Servant Leadership and looks forward to seeing more leaders that inspire Lasting Peace and Justice for all, especially "the least of these".14 responses to “Jesus is the answer for the world today.”
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Jean,
I continue to find the complexities of race, politics, and sexism growing more complicated by the day.
I haven’t decided if its Im becoming more aware by education, and learning more of each facet or as a whole each topic is growing more complex through society.
Have you found a link of the growing complexity in your life?
Alana,
It has always been complex, but I was probably a distant observer. The more I learn, the more I discover how difficult some are.
Jean,
I like how you tie in this scripture:
The question in the book of James comes to mind “Where do wars and fights come from among you? Do they not come from your desires for pleasure that war in your members?” (James 4:1)
It prefaces the following paragraph well.
Thank you for doing the following research:
“The United States still tops the chat by far in terms of total missionaries, sending 127,000 in 2010 compared to the 34,000 sent by Number 2-ranked Brazil.”
I honestly would not have guessed this.
If you had more time and opportunity-I would have enjoyed hearing more re. Native Americans. The paragraph that mentioned them was like a “teaser”.
Great post Jean!
Thanks, Kristy,
I had never considered seeing such high poverty levels in America. Native reservations in Arizona have large numbers of impoverished people, many of whom are in prison due to drugs and alcohol. Generations of brokenness and dysfunctional living.
Should these and others be attributed to what Steele calls “America’s Past Sins”?
Thank you for such a thoughtful response to Steele’s book. I appreciate your perspective. I agree that the role of faith in the political arena is extremely complicated. I think about Paul’s admonition to pray for our leaders in 1 Timothy 2:1-3. He said this to people living under the Roman government and being persecuted for their faith. I wonder how our national politics and the role that faith plays in the political arena affects how the church is perceived. I would love to hear your perspective.
Becca,
I agree that it is complicated, and you gave the best example of Paul’s admonition in times of great persecution. I think unity remains a challenge, it is as if there is a Christian Party and a Non-Christian Party. I never forget a couple of years ago one of the pastors was preaching during BUSH’s campaigns for office and said “Remember God has always spoken through the Bush”.
Becca and Jean,
Im going to join your conversation around church in the mix of politics. This is one area that I have struggled with and I think many church leaders do as well. There are some leaders willing to step both feet into the political arenas with the church in hand. I often think of Jesus’ ministry and how he stayed outside the church, outside the government and engaged in ministry beyond the systems of the day. I wonder when we use the church in government politics and when we allow church politics to persuade, have we miss used the teachings of Jesus? I’m really just thinking out loud and questioning when we look at Jesus’ form of ministry have we followed his example or are we missing something he tried to teach us?
Good questions Sara; thanks for the comment! I think if active religious folks did it Jesus’ way we would have a much better world.
Jean,
I deeply appreciate your consistency in bringing subjects back to Jesus, using a biblical perspective and a Gospel-oriented posture for whatever we discuss. I want to hear more about your work in Arizona with the Native American population. Where do you see hope breaking through in these situations?
Thanks, David,
Native American incarceration rates are second highest in Arizona after the African Americans, which mirrors national statistics. The atrocities inflicted on Native Americans hundreds of years ago still haunt their progress today, the same as African Americans.
I think much like the U.S., Christianity, through history, has done both great acts of love and perpetrated terrible atrocities. Steele posits that the confrontations of U.S. hypocrisies in the 60s was needed but perhaps has gone too far. Do you think that Christianity has gone or should go through a similar reckoning?
Caleb,
I think Christianity should lead the way in reckoning. If Christianity served her rightful purpose, all these atrocities would not happen.
Jean,
Very thoughtful post.
Do you think that the Church in America is moving toward or away from relying on the government to legislate solutions for the social problems?
Thanks, Audrey,
Unfortunately, Churches, in most cases, seem to rely more on the government. I think some churches struggle to find needed resources to operate meaningful programs and decide to align with those in power to find needed resources.