The Hypocrisy of White, Evangelical, Suburban NIMBYism

Stan Moody:

As an evangelical pastor for the past 31 years, and having served as a Maine State Representative in both political parties, I am ready to tear away the façade of suburban elitism as it plays itself out in political discourse. It’s long past time for a reset!

This was triggered over the past few days when Barbara and I attended a summer festival featuring prominent writers and politicians. A consistent theme emerged that likely would have been overlooked by the interstate field of good citizen attendees, many of whom have received or are in position for the coveted “Citizen of the Year” award by their local Chambers of Commerce. That is, considerable time was devoted to eliciting applause at how righteous and sacrificial the presenter was. It was a truly “humble” exercise!

I was reminded of Jesus’ warning from Matt 6:2: 

So, when you give to the poor, do not sound a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, so that they will be praised by people. Truly I say to you, they have their reward in full.

“We’re Out of Here!”

To be honest, my reaction to the conference was regret over what might have been or might still be possible in my own life. I was a little bit behind Barbara, who was suggesting that we consider trekking back home. Finally, overcome by internal conflict between praise and self-sacrifice, I suggested, “Let’s get back home! I’ve got work to do!” 

While this was going on, I was anxiously awaiting my 4^th offer on a piece of land left over from an upscale housing development I had built in the late 1980’s. Having had this piece on the market for some 13 years, let’s just say that it had been zoned out of reasonable adaptation from much of anything other than as a cross-country track for students from the adjoining high school.

“If They’re All Going That Way, it Has to be Wrong!”

So, what is going on here? We have two warring political parties, both consumed by a sense of what is the best course of action for our local and national governments. On the Evangelical front, it splits 80/20, reminding me of my old, tired mantra, “If they’re all going that way, it has to be wrong!”

We Evangelicals have the audacity of sitting in our comfortable, safe, suburban enclaves postulating on what Jesus would do with our marginalized communities struggling for survival and quite removed from view. Somehow, we have placed Jesus in the context of central, rather than personal, governance. We are passionate about where our money should or should not be spent by folks other than ourselves. Over and above that debate about Jesus, we share in common with each other subtle protection of our property values and suburban family life. 

Meantime, we are faced with the Sermon on the Mount (Matt 5-7) and other such scriptures as Heb 13:12-14:

Therefore, Jesus, also, that He might sanctify the people through His own blood, suffered outside the gate. So, let us go out to Him outside the camp, bearing His reproach. For here, we do not have a lasting city, but we are seeking the city which is to come.

Armchair Politicians in the Name of Jesus:

My take, then, is that as to the American Evangelical, neither the 80% nor the 20% has it right. We are armchair politicians supporting and voting on what institutions outside our contact or control ought to be doing and falsely using Jesus as our standard. That is to say nothing about nearly unanimous evangelical support for American imperialism over select banana republics. 

The course of remedial action has fallen onto soup kitchens geographically removed from our comfortable lifestyles. In that respect, both voting blocks are essentially the same people.

Do I have a remedy? Sadly, no, as I have done a lot of talking and preaching about Matt 25 and far less doing. The bottom line is that unless I am kicked out of our beautiful suburban home, any dramatic change of lifestyle is highly unlikely – all but for an act of God, I suppose. 

What I am certain of, however, is that anger and retribution by one faction over another as to what a system beyond our control ought to be doing through the example of Jesus is a case of the blind leading the blind. The rational fault in my thinking, of course, is that I am not a discerner of gradients of evil. There is enough sin to go around for everyone, I suspect.