A glaring human failing underlies two seemingly unrelated global problems: planetary degradation and war. We cannot unite as a human family enough to change either threat. Easier of the two, environmental degradation might have a built-in fail-safe mechanism: humans cannot sustainably live off the land. They will kill themselves before recovery goes beyond a tipping point. Consider the problem of the planet first. War is the tougher one.
The world has seen so much technological progress but so little spiritual progress. This verdict comes down from the grand jury of nature. While the planet’s fate teeters, we don’t notice the connection: failing to love each other erodes the ground we’re trying to live on. Technology hastens our consumption of planetary life-giving resources. Spiritual immaturity undercuts our stewardship of the same. We do not have even the foresight of Pharaoh, who felt a crisis brewing and sought an interpretation of his ominous dream. When Joseph forecasted years of drought for Egypt, Pharaoh took action. He set aside grain from the currently abundant harvests for the possibility of challenging years ahead.
Oh, if we only had a benevolent world dictator! As things are, nobody can force us to cooperate. The maturity of Earth’s disparate nations spans such a broad spectrum that the cries of a little girl in Sweden go unheard by hard-scrabble farmers in Madagascar. Meanwhile, oblivious Americans want to drive their cars and prevent border crossings.
Each of us desires a good life. We have a built-in will to live. More than mere self-preservation, this deep urge involves finding meaning. For that, we need community. We find enjoyable interaction, companionship, intimacy, and a sense of self-worth together. Yet, communities seem to reach a size limit in population and geography. Beyond the limits, others belong to a different tribe, and everyone’s default outlook is suspicion.
Two millennia ago, a rabbi called Jesus proposed a radical solution. He called us to love our enemies. This man gave numerous outlandish commandments, but loving enemies must have been at the far end of the scale. The idea has never been taken seriously, even by his most ardent followers.
Yet, maybe Jesus was on to something.
Nearly continuous war has occupied humanity since Jesus. Toleration of others, much less love, might have made a difference. But what does he mean by love? Like his disciples, we do not understand him. He said that the Holy Spirit would explain and guide us. Will this Holy Spirit ever penetrate the human spirit?
The love Jesus meant is not subservient or sentimental. It does not hide from hard truths or propose overly optimistic, easy solutions. Our deep hurts do not respond to pats on the hand, with the more powerful standing over us saying, “There, there.” We live with an intractable contradiction, needing others but being hurt by them.
Respect for other humans depends on their position on an individual power spectrum. Riches, fame, political office, and being a business executive or a doctor help a person move up on the scale. Homelessness has the opposite effect. Jesus taught that true personal power is demonstrated by loving others. Only the most powerful among us can manage to love enemies.
Out of this power, love also refrains from judgment. By judgment, he means no matter what you think of a person, treat them with care. Do not fail to love them. Do not hinder what benefits them. Actively help them in ways that also help everyone.
Each of us has the option, moment by moment, to motivate our actions with love. However, doing so is not easy. Human nature and evolution have not made it common sense. Instead, it is uncommon sense upon which our survival depends.
Each of us can take love into account when we act. To begin with, consider whether what we want to do is harmful to someone else. As the doctors say, “Do no harm.” But then try to take the next step: can we contemplate actions that primarily help others? Finally, when identifying people who annoy us, seem to work against us, or hate us, can we intentionally do things that benefit them?
If Jesus was correct, we might see good results from a love motivation. On the other hand, he also said others would persecute his followers. Yet, maybe that persecution comes from recognizing weakness before people with so much power that they freely choose to love strangers.
A pessimistic response to these suggestions might be that two millennia have not been enough time for people to discover the power of Jesus’ commandments. How can humans get it together in time to save the planet? Success would seem to need a miracle. Yet, maybe Jesus can still catch on.
Non-Christians might also say that if those who claim to follow Jesus can’t do it, how can anyone expect others to be impressed? Good point. Ok, Christians, put up or shut up!