by Mark Van Steenwyk
Centrist and moderate friends share their concerns that any extreme viewpoint is a problem. “Polarization is the problem. Instead, we need to come together in a unified middle, ” they say. This instinct, to join together in lowest-common-denominator is often the posture of mainline Christianity.
I understand the appeal. The acrimony is intense.
But it is a mistake to blame this on “polarization.” Polarization isn’t the problem. At least not in the way it is usually described. We must recognize our society has been polarized all along. White supremacy, class oppression, patriarchy, sexism, transphobia, homophobia, are old and lingering problems that reveal the real polarity. To only notice polarization when white family members start getting mad at each other across the Thanksgiving table is to diagnose a problem too late. And if, within our churches, we are trying to maintain unity between Trump supporters and Biden voters (not to mention the folks like me far to the left of Biden) then we’ve already failed to recognize the central focal point of Christian unity.
We need to break our societal mental habit—a habit firmly ensconced within the church—that the church must avoid extremes and cling to the center. That peace is the absence of conflict and that we should, therefore, avoid taking any stance that might cause conflict.
In a society where the moderate position is support of a war machine that bombs brown folks in distant lands, perhaps we should become anti-war extremists.
In a society where billionaires have gained nearly 2 trillion dollars in new wealth since the start of the pandemic, perhaps we should become anti-capitalist extremists who stand in solidarity with the poor.
In a society where only the most timid of police reforms happen in response to the murder of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and countless others, perhaps an extreme position like defunding the police is entirely sensible.
In a society that prefers hidden oppressions to loud riots, perhaps the Spirit of Jesus is with those in the streets.
Abolition (of slavery) for example, was once an extreme view. Polarization over that issue resulted in the Civil War. In the early centuries of the American institution of slavery, the “reasonable” moderates would have advocated for something akin to compassionate slavery.
Eventually, gradualism became the moderate position (the idea that we should end slavery, but not right away). [MLK wrote about this at length as he argued in his book “why we can’t wait.”] Of course, now it is mainstream to be against slavery. But abolitionism was right long before it became the mainstream view. In the end, the extreme abolitionists had the right idea.
When we, the Church, demonize polarization as we seek a calm unity, we run the risk of prolonging oppression. We, the Church, should be unflinchingly extremist.
To be an extremist is to hold uncommon ideas or convictions. Rigidity of spirit or fundamentalism is about how one holds one’s views. Our society often confuses these for one another. The Church should know better.
Don’t believe the lie that civility is more important than justice. That politeness is always better than disruption. That quieter voices are always preferable to loud voices. Such things put conformity and order above human lives.
Politeness isn’t a virtue. Obedience to injustice is wicked. Disobedience to injustice is honorable. Politely standing by while people suffer is evil. Being rude to the oppressor is a necessity.
Don’t be afraid of being labeled and extremist. Be bold! Defy the tyranny of the middle. Embrace a radical love. Nurture your zeal for justice. Even if that, somehow, intensifies polarization. Any unity that comes at the expense of oppressed peoples isn’t a unity worth having.
Mark Van Steenwyk is the Executive Director of the Center for Prophetic Imagination. He’s the author of a number of books exploring the intersection of radical politics and deep spirituality. For the past fifteen years, Mark has traveled around the continent as a teacher, organizer and spiritual provocateur.
Views and opinions expressed by contributors do not necessarily express those of Shepherd Heart, where radical discipleship is understood to be deeper (y-axis, so to speak) rather than necessarily “farther out” on a political spectrum (x-axis). We recognize that Christians, whether they self-identify as conservative or progressive, are, alike, called to a deep discipleship of Jesus, and to the radical love he teaches.