THE GREAT STINK – when truth alienates

2 Corinthians 5:18-19  All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation:  that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting people’s sins against them. And he has committed to us the message of reconciliation. 

rec·on·cili·ation:  The act of causing two people or groups to become friendly again after an argument or disagreement

Four times in these two verses we find this word:  RECONCILE.  He has committed to us the message of reconciliation – because He has reconciled the world to Himself. This is quite profound.

Christlike retribution (turning-the-other-cheek retribution) and Christlike reconciliation (seeking-full-redemption reconciliation) are like Siamese twins, forming an inseparable bond that brings life only when existing together.  It is like two rare gems from the same treasure chest, bringing life and joy to those who feast on their beauty.  There cannot be true spiritual reconciliation without Christlike turning-the-other-cheek retribution.

Only two-mile-people will be able to succeed in fulfilling true spiritual reconciliation.  These two consecrations are probably two of the hardest spiritual virtues to practice because it requires absolute humility, complete self-denial, and full resolute.  If you have not yet mastered the art of Christ-like retribution, reconciliation will be elusive.

…And He has committed to us the message of reconciliation… 

Reconciling man with God is the indispensable consecration of every believer, and then pursuing reconciling man with man is the ultimate goal.  This is the supreme calling of a new and transformed follower of Christ and a non-negotiable of the Christian faith.

Reconciliation is here spoken of as the launching pad between man and God as well as the landing strip between man and man.  Without reconciling man with God, forgiveness between man and man will be futile,  without reconciling man with God, peace between enemies will be meaningless.

But sadly we often sacrifice the virtue of reconciliation on the altar of truth.  One glance at social media often reveals that Christians would rather divide in the name of truth than reconcile in the name of Christ.

As consecrated imitators of Christ, we need to continually discern whether the church, in its life and witness, is truly engaging in its biblical mandate of reconciling people with God and people with one another.  Only when we engage in a Christ consciousness will we be able to embrace the role of Kingdom ambassadors?  God sovereignly shapes the world for the sake of the church and God lovingly calls the church for the sake of the world. We need to be able to transform our hearts and our mission to both poles of this biblical dynamic.

However, the consequences of a Church that lacks the ability to reconcile will always result in suspicion, fear, and hatred.

On Friday 15 MARCH 2019, more than 40 people were killed and more than 20 seriously injured in mass shootings at two mosques full of people attending Friday prayers in Christchurch New Zealand.  The Prime Minister at that time, Jacinda Ardern, described it as “one of New Zealand’s darkest days” and said the events in the city of Christchurch represented “an extraordinary and unprecedented act of violence.”

For most viewers, watching the acts of terror unfolding on Television, the only perpetrator was the one carrying the weapons and who finally pulled the trigger.   However, the one who pulled the trigger was only the final link in a long chain of negativity, suspicion, fear, and hatred.

Every post on social media that polarises people from one another becomes a link in a deadly chain that has the potential to end up with someone who is willing to pull a trigger.  Regardless of the topic, whether it be race, religion, political affiliation, or simply people who live and think differently than us, any post that creates a hint of suspicion, contributes to one person picking up a weapon and becoming the final link in a long chain of hatred.

The one key that God designed to unlock the deadly chain of dualism, distrust, and suspicion is reconciliation.  Only transformed people who have renewed their minds and softened their hearts will become vessels of peace and reconciliation.

THE GREAT STINK

Thomas Breuer, Senior Vice President and Chief Medical Officer of GSK Vaccines, recently wrote an article on what the “great stink” of 1858 can teach us about sowing suspicion on social media^[1].

This article applies as much to the principle of misinformation as it does to dividing information.  In essence, Breuer writes the following: 

“In the summer of 1858, a heat wave in London caused the incredibly polluted River Thames to ferment, producing a stench so overpowering that it brought life in  the city to a stop – an incident that came to be known as the Great Stink. Now, you might be asking, what can an incident in 1858 teach us about misinformation on social media in 2023? Quite a lot, as you will see.”

Understanding the Great Stink:  To start with, it is important to understand that the Great Stink did not happen overnight. Pollution in the River Thames, and the unpleasant smells and disease outbreaks that came with it, was already recognized as a problem in the 1600s. However, without an idea of how to fix this, or a strong incentive for significant actions, the city continued its rapid transformation from Roman outpost to urban metropolis; with a focus on growth rather than on the infrastructure or regulations needed to adequately sustain it.

This all changed in 1858 with the Great Stink. Soaring summer temperatures created a stench so bad that efforts to mask the smell with chloride of lime (industrial bleach) failed. As a result, all activity in the city, economic and otherwise, stopped and politicians were forced to admit that real reform could no longer be delayed.

Infrastructure had to be transformed; stronger regulations introduced and enforced. In the end, the Great Stink sparked a sanitary revolution that transformed the Thames into the cleaner, safer river that it is today.”

There is no doubt that acts of violence are birthed by the negativity of like-minded people.  One post of suspicion, confirmed by another one of hatred, and then explored by one of fear, eventually leads to one person who picks up a gun, walks to a mosque, and indiscriminately shoots people on behalf of all who fed his fears.

The great stink, the horror of the one pulling the final trigger, started in the cesspool of negativity on social media and then followed the process of unchecked misinformation, conspiracy theories, assumptions, and self-discovered conclusions.

Breuer refers to the prevalence of misinformation on Social Media as “the digital equivalent of the Great Stink”.  He adds that “This has been a growing issue for years, but not so great that those accountable felt compelled to more than the digital equivalent of using industrial bleach to mask the smell. Until now.  Even though today’s social media platforms have community standards, systems in place to report violations, and consequences for those who break the rules; these are insufficient to stop the systematic spread of misinformation.”

Only CONSECRATED and transformed ambassadors of the Kingdom of Reconciliation can provide suitable solutions.

Breuer concludes that “the Great Stink – was never about the smell.”  “In 1858, it was still believed that some diseases, like cholera, were spread through “bad air”. This misunderstanding led to the introduction of flush toilets in the houses of the wealthy, which effectively removed “bad air” from the house; and increased the amount of raw sewage being pumped into the River Thames. Sadly, by focusing too much on the wrong problem (smell), the real issue – contaminated water – only got worse.

In the same way, if the spread of misinformation itself was the real problem on social media, then we could solve everything by flushing the misinformation away, removing its foul stench. However, I worry that this hides the real issue that lies beneath – a loss of trust. The reality is that we are suffering from an on-going and worsening loss of trust in our institutions, industries, governments and even, in science itself. For a problem like this, real change is needed.”

And this is where we come in.  We, as followers of the great Reconciler, are often reminded that our attitudes, thoughts and communication should always reflect the One we follow:

• Philippians 4:8  In conclusion, my friends, fill your minds with those things that are good and that deserve praise: things that are true, noble, right, pure, lovely, and honourable.
• James 3:17  But the wisdom from above is pure first of all; it is also peaceful, gentle, and friendly; it is full of compassion and produces a harvest of good deeds; it is free from prejudice and hypocrisy.

If we don’t fill our “minds” with that which is pure, lovely, noble, true and honourable, then we move outside the parameters of a redemptive God and into the sphere of the one who seeks to destroy, kill and murder.  Once again, there will be no neutral exchange.  This is non-negotiable.  We need to ask ourselves whether our witness, in the way that we communicate truth on social media, will lead to reconciliation or alienation.

APPLICATION

Being a peacekeeper and a peacemaker is not the same. One runs from conflict. The other runs TOWARD it to create peace. Peacemakers actively pursue peace. Peacekeepers keep it by seeking to reconcile people.

A peacemaker, from a Biblical perspective, is one who is actively trying to reconcile people to God and to one another. Again, there is that word actively.  It’s about helping people reconcile who have broken relations among themselves, but more importantly, with God.  We already discovered in Consecration 2 that the the brokenness and sin we see in the world all stem from a broken relationship.  Reconciliation, therefore, becomes a virtue of necessity.

Sadly, as Christians, we often use truth as a weapon against sin and not a tool for reconciliation.  We use theology to determine our truth instead of using truth to determine our theology.

If Jesus is the way, the TRUTH, and the life[1], then Jesus is our departure point and not theology.  Therefore, we need to take a truth we hold dearly, then contextualise that truth by asking Jesus how He would address that truth, and then determine how we aim to live that truth.

For example.  If you are a fierce opponent of sexual immorality, homosexuality, pornography, fornication, etc., place yourself in the shoes of Jesus as He is confronted with this same question from a group of truth proclaimers – the Pharisees.  The Pharisees relied heavily on their theology as the basis for their judgment and are out to make a point:  “Teacher” they said “this woman was caught in the act of adultery.  In the Law Moses (our theology) commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?”  (John 8:4-)

Tricky, to say the least.  The Pharisees are convinced that they have Jesus between a rock and a hard place – so to speak.  Jesus cannot disregard the TRUTH of their theology neither can He condemn what He came to save.  But the Pharisees were out on a mission like many Christians often are when their truths are in question.  So, they kept on pushing His buttons just to make Him react:  “So, don’t just stand there teacher, give us an answer, what do you say?”

Reluctantly, and probably a little irritated, Jesus straightened up and said to them (my own interpretation), “Yep, you guys are absolutely right, the truth of your theology demands that any adulterer must be punished.  I’m with you on this.  Just one small issue though before we proceed.  Before we deal with the accused let’s apply your truth to you guys first.  Let any one of you who is without sin be the first to throw a stone at her.  You have my blessing.  But just be aware, I know your deceiving hearts…  Hey, where are you all going…  Guys, I thought we had a judgment to execute here…” 

It’s important to note that Jesus didn’t deny or condone the sin.  He didn’t deny the truth or the law.  What He did was to turn the question of the law into a mirror of redemption and reconciliation.  It must have been painful because everybody saw something in themselves that was equally sinful, and they all left the room.

Now evaluate the consequences of your truth in the context of other truths …

• Does it reconcile or alienate?
• Does it divide or unify?
• Does it give life or drain life?
• Does it provide a combination of truths or only one?
• Does it confirm or challenge your prejudices?
• And, most importantly,
• Does it convict or condemn?
• Does it lead to judgement or redemption?

[1] Joh 14:6  Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.

[1] https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/what-great-stink-1858-can-teach-us-misinformation-breuer-md-msc