The problem with demagogues is never their action. By the time they have the power to act, it is much too late to stop them.

The problem is their speech. It intoxicates and infuriates. It draws all the moths to its fiery substance and burns us with its hatred.

'The danger is in the few appearing as many.' Share on X

It is dishonest to let the demagogue speak, for he shouts over the truth, undermines accuracy, and evades restriction. It is not just to call him one of the many, for he is always one of the few.

The danger is in the few appearing as many.

So why do the many now appear so few?

Where are the activists for love?
Where are those radicalized to a calling of peace?
Where are those waging reconciliation with community and neighbor and world?
Where are the rebels of hope and function in a world torn apart by dysfunction?
Where are the rulebreakers willing to feed those we hate and clothe those we despise and free those we spit upon?
Where are the just ones who bring freedom to the captive and power to the weak?
Where are the merciful who give respect to the outcast and choice to the restricted?
Where are the peacemakers who stand in no man’s land demanding the armies disarm?
And then gather the fighters all around in solidarity and invite them to call each other brother?

For this is the balance to the demagogue. This is the picture of his opposite.

There is no fairness and balance where the evil speaks and the good is silenced. There is no justice and integrity where the weak are pushed down and the powerful are free to lie. There is no hope where GOD is relegated to the bedroom and the false justification of war. There is no peace where violence is celebrated or ignored and the freedom to be reckless is raised above the freedom to be safe.

While our election season is full of demagoguery, its opposite is invisible, working the phones, visiting the sick, the imprisoned, the homeless, walking the streets. The hope is building through relationships and opportunities to share the love of GOD, the peace of Christ, and the hope of the Spirit.

But we could always help it along a little. Don’t you think? Like the bikers blocking Westboro Baptist Church at funerals. Or speaking up in danger, like Malala Yousafzai or Desmond Tutu. Or replacing hate with love. Even on Facebook.

Jesus doesn’t stand with the demagogue but with the one his enforcers beat to a pulp.

While politicians try to convince you to help take the country back with violent rhetoric, people of faith must stand with victims and the weak and say that we are transforming the world for love. And when we love one another, we cannot be defeated.

 

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