Old Year, New Year: Duane W.H. Arnold, PhD
I wanted to write an article about all the wonderful things that have taken place in 2019, but it is rather hard to do. Please don’t get me wrong, I am thankful for my family and my friends. My mother, coming up to 93 years of age in the new year, is doing well and is comfortable in her assisted living apartment. I am constantly buoyed and encouraged by the creativity and energy of my younger friends involved in music and film. A few of my older friends and mentors have died, while others are facing health challenges. It’s to be expected. My wife of thirty-nine years appears to be willing to stick it out to at least hit forty years. Knowing what a difficult person I can be at times, that is a bit unexpected! Moreover, during the last year, there has been the opportunity to experience new books, new music and new films. So, all in all, on a personal level, 2019 has been a reasonably good year.
When, however, I look beyond the personal aspects of this last year, I find myself deeply troubled.
We are deeply divided and, it appears, many of the divisions are deepening. This is true with regard to the church, society, culture and politics alike. We see this division every day in our choice of boutique “news” programs, radio shows, blogs and periodicals. Most provide an echo chamber for a particular point of view which is championed, while at the same time excoriating any other point of view. This pattern of behavior has now expanded to encompass Christian communities and publications as well. Additionally, the vitriol, language and disdain which was once limited to drunken arguments in a bar, are now a part of everyday discourse on social media. What was once considered offensive in any normal conversation, can now be found written daily in tweets by the President of the United States and, of course, many who oppose him answer in kind.
In church and society alike, we deepen the divisions, day by day, week by week, month by month. We describe each other as “deplorables” or “elitests”. We deride others as “neo-fascists” or “left-wing crazies”; and with every insult the divisions grow deeper and the walls between us grow higher. Among Christians and people of faith we have watched the same thing taking place. Many have baptized their political views and have made those views a tenet of their faith, and this is true of not only the right, but the left as well. We have even taken on this formula of division in theological discussion in which another opinion on a given topic is immediately branded not as speculation or having a different point of view, but instead is classified as heresy or false teaching. In so doing, we cease to listen; we cease to reflect; we only react.
If I could have one wish for 2020, it would be that we would recover our sense of decency.
More than fifty years ago, while campaigning in California, Robert Kennedy said, “If there is one overriding reality in this country, it is the danger that we have an erosion of a sense of national decency. Make no mistake, decency is at the heart of the matter.” He then went on to outline what he considered indecent – poverty, the war in Vietnam, illiteracy and racism. I would posit that in our own time, the erosion is, if anything, more profound, for it has entered our very souls and our perception of one another, both in the church and in society at large. When we begin to perceive someone with a differing theological view, or a differing political view as “other”, we essentially dehumanize them. They are no longer someone made in the image of God, someone to be respected, they are simply an opponent to be overcome and, for some, to destroy.
Yet, I must admit, that my concern at the end of 2019 is that we can no longer even agree on what decency means.
For me, and I can only speak for myself, it is indecent that families are separated and placed in cages on the border. It is indecent that gun violence is taking the lives of children in schools and on the streets. Yet, as I write this, I realize that even here there is no agreement as to decency, as both of these examples already have deeply divided us as a society. If I were to echo Kennedy’s words that poverty is indecent, or lack of education is indecent, or the flight of young people to drugs and violence is indecent, there is no agreement, either as to the reality of the problems or, indeed, if the problems are ones that can be addressed.
Somehow, at least it seems to me, we have lost our moral compass.
A moral compass and a sense of decency is not something we should expect to discover in either the Republican party or the Democratic party in the current situation. It is, however, something we should expect of communities of faith. Many of those communities of faith, however, have failed us. In aligning themselves with one party or another and subsequently “baptizing” policies and personalities they have simply become yet one more partisan voice, one more part of a political machine. These alignments may well haunt us for years to come.
If we are to recover a sense of decency, or a moral compass, it will likely have to be done on our own. We will have to make our own individual decisions, day by day and week by week, guided by prayer, scripture and those other tools provided for us. Yet, I believe that God uses individuals. Many years ago, I arranged for my friend, John Michael Talbot, to sing at an event at which Mother Teresa of Calcutta was speaking. Meeting her before she spoke, John and I were amazed at how tiny she was, especially standing in between two formidable Bulgarian nuns who accompanied her! Her address that day was moving and simple. I still remember her last words before she left the lectern:
“I never look at the masses as my responsibility; I look at the individual. I can only love one person at a time – just one, one, one. So you begin. I began – I picked up one person off the street. Maybe if I didn’t pick up that one person, I wouldn’t have picked up forty-two thousand….The same thing goes for you, the same thing in your family, the same thing in your church, your community. Just begin – one, one, one.”
Whatever your concern, whatever your station, the way to recover that compass, the way to show that decency in 2020 is to simply begin with one person. I can’t change society. I can’t change the church, but I can make a New Year’s resolution to reach out to begin with one person. Who knows what might happen?
“Just begin – one, one, one…”
This might be my favorite article from you, Duane. Well said.
Duane, I agree with you – we should have decency and a moral compass – even I try.
But you said we need to regain this decency and moral compass. When did we ever have those?
You quote RFK 50years ago showing that we lacked such. Everything he listed was a culmination of the previous 50 years as they too lacked decency and a moral compass.
Before that we had the robber barons, the roaring 20s and the gangster era.
Earlier we had slavery and civil war.
Perhaps instead of trying to reclaim something we never had, we need to establish, for the very first time decency and a moral compass.
Jean
Many thanks…
It won’t be for the first time. There was a time of decency in public discourse. When Joseph McCarty was censured, decency prevailed. When the morality of public policy decisions was considered of importance, such as in the Civil Rights Act of 1964, decency prevailed. When the Voting Rights Act was passed and enforced, decency prevailed. When Little Rock High School was desegregated, decency prevailed. When James Meredith was admitted to the University of Mississippi, decency prevailed. The list is long…
Duane, my apologies – I did not catch on that you were writing about forced legislated “decency”
Duane, “moral compass” – your understanding is well received. I remember so much of the Jesus Movement days of John Michael. I can only imagine (and not the play on the song….) how the two of you were visiting Mother Teresa. My wife whom is 41 and of another culture (communist country that pretends to be open society), was not aware of this unique Christian serving the poor. She immediately looked for more information and was amazed of the how one could serve others, one by one. Thx for the read.
It is not the legislation, it is the sense of decency that stands behind what is done… What stands behind Brown v. The Board of Education which overturned “separate but equal”? What stands behind the Peace Corps or Vista? What stood behind Lincoln’s second inaugural address? I think it was a sense of common decency, in many cases, without regard to the political/societal costs. These speak to “the better angels” of our nature…
prodinov
John Michael, at the time, was a fairly new Roman Catholic. On the day, he sang, “Holy Is His Name”. Mother Teresa loved it! Afterwards, she gave both of us a hug!
although you lament the lack of a moral compass and decency, others may see the glass as half full and not half empty.
all the items in the list below were accomplished by a greater decency and a greater moral compass;
https://www.facebook.com/100001361688354/posts/2706266556095374/?d=n
and perhaps most importantly of all, the day of our Lord’s return grows closer and not farther.
Decency existed when we had a higher level of social agreement. Decency is gone and has been gone for a while. Gun violence in schools and other public places is a symptom of a nation with no internal core or if you will no decency.
An interesting convergence is coming. Security at churches will bring men by that I mean establishing security teams. That phenomenon may issue forth in mini militia teams. That would bring men who would come to say that churches will be safe places. Watch for this development to become very intense.
Church might become a place for men to demonstrate an instinct that is bering killed off by a culture that is feminizing men faster than you sell dollar a gallon gas.
I know my point is a deviation from the point but recovering decency will have to include restoring masculinity and restoring order.
The desire for order is a frightening reflex.
Wait…
I thought that the neo-fascists are the left wing crazies…
?
Duane
You will never recover and establish a Christian moral ethic. We are living in a time when you are more likely to be jailed, fined, or sued for adhering to even the tatters of biblical decency. What is decent now is the Equality Act, forced speech and tolerance.
Jesus told us as much would happen, and he didn’t come to establish decency. Unfortunately for the Christian in this natural plane he came to make us set apart for him. We will not be called decent for that.
BD
“Decency existed when we had a higher level of social agreement. Decency is gone and has been gone for a while.”
Living in such a society fills me with dread… (pun intended…)
SP
“What is decent now is the Equality Act, forced speech and tolerance.”
What I see is inequality, careless speech and intolerance…
I still contend that an age of American decency is a myth. The fact that decency must be legislated speaks for itself.
It seems odd to me that RFK campaign promises are held up as some proof of decency.
RFK served as counsel to Joe McCarthy’s committees that ravaged and terrorized innocent folks accused of being commies. As Attorney General, he personally had J Edgar Hoover do all kinds of covert activities to demonize Martin Luther King and what can we say about his womanizing (much in the style of Bill Cosby) even sharing women with his brother.
But aren’t we correcting all that today and returning to decency with the #me too movement, the “cancel culture” and hate speech legislation?
You might want to do some actual historical research, as you obviously know very little about this subject…
Duane, you can be a history denier if you wish.
Each thing I mentioned about RFK is true and documented – most in my personal library.
Do you care to state which is not true?
Of course you won’t because it would show you to be a fraud. (I will say I am flabbergasted at your denials)
Perhaps there was an feeling of decency because the press and associates covered up and didn’t speak of these things.
Actually, you are incorrect on a number of points.
I am not claiming that RFK was a saint. His words concerning decency, however, continue to ring true.
Others may find your curmudgeon routine entertaining, I simply find it tedious and, in the main, unworthy of response apart to say, it makes sense that you of all people seem to find decency something not to be valued.
Now this is where you continue to LIE about my position (which I find indecent)
Go back and read the first sentence of my first comment yesterday. I highly value decency and said such.
So when you take the time to reread my comment, please come back and apologize – which you probably won’t.
Yes, you said, ” I agree with you – we should have decency and a moral compass – even I try.” You then immediately qualified this by saying, “But you said we need to regain this decency and moral compass. When did we ever have those?”
So far you have in one thread called me a liar and a fraud. Maybe you need to try harder…
LOL – after all that you still did not have the decency to apologize for lying about my position even after confirming it.
I guess advanced degrees affords you the privilege.
Carry on in your myth driven world. I’m out.
Perhaps you didn’t read the last paragraph of my first comment where I called for the establishment of decency that we have never had.
MLD
“Perhaps there was an feeling of decency because the press and associates covered up and didn’t speak of these things.”
Yes this is a part of being “decent.”
The biblical rule is translated into English as “gossip.” Saying things, gossip, is often compared to murder. Why? Because one can’t fully take back or repent from the damage they do to others by the things said. The person murdered can never regain his life.
The problem here is trying to define what “decency” is and what it should look like. Of course it is true that humans have always been indecent to one another, bringing hurt and evil on others. However, being a polite and decent society doesn’t mean these things don’t happen, rather it means how we participate and handle them.
Yes it is well know about JFK and his skeletons, but in the day decency meant we treated him with respect and care.
I guess I just don’t get why you have to put such a negative and possibly less than a “decent” spin on these things. If you need another word maybe we might call it “civility.”
I read all that you say… and find it less than compelling.
MLD:
“RFK served as counsel to Joe McCarthy’s committees that ravaged and terrorized innocent folks accused of being commies. As Attorney General, he personally had J Edgar Hoover do all kinds of covert activities to demonize Martin Luther King and what can we say about his womanizing (much in the style of Bill Cosby) even sharing women with his brother.”
I believe you are confused about heart of the article.
MM
Many thanks, you’re correct…
Moral compass, decency…. as i grew up those words were honored in the media, schools, movies, homes(?)… over my lifetime i have seen a shift to honoring such as hypocritical – you knew you and no one else could live the standards, so? Drop them. The point of having ideals, standards was misinterpreted and…. lost….. ?
Or so it seems from here….
Em
I think you are right. Regardless of faults and failings, at least we had a sense of decency, or as MM said, civility. And, yes, those ideals were honored, if not always upheld. The only way we can do it now is one person at a time…
The word “decency” is much like the word “gay”. It just doesn’t mean what it used to mean.
Steve,
Perhaps, but we know in our hearts what decency looks like…
Duane, not really! You as well as I know that the heart is desperately wicked. But that’s another rabbit trail for another day or perhaps another year. Happy New Year!
Steve
Happy New Year to you!
“As water reflects the face,
so one’s life reflects the heart.”
Steve, my friend. Christians don’t establish norms for their communities based on the wickedness of the heart. We know what decency is because we have God’s law, which reveals it. Perhaps you’ve heard:
“Do we then overthrow the law by this faith? By no means! On the contrary, we uphold the law.”
Duane, you can be a history denier if you wish.
Oh, the delicious irony! Love it!
Bob1
I’ve been called many things… this one I’ll frame and hang on the wall…
Happy New Year, Bob!
Jean, we are not really talking about decency in our Christian community but decency in the secular public. Mayor Pete may be a decent guy in the public stage but considering God’s law as a practicing homosexual, he is far from decent. Would you agree?
Steve
As a friend, give it a rest…
Steve,
Are you saying that Christians should act one way in their churches, but another way in the world?
Steve, i don’t think the folk here hear you today…. ?
Duane, give what a rest?
Jean,. No that is not what I am saying. I am saying that I make no assumptions that are public leaders are Christians.
Thanks, Dr. Duane! Happy New Year to you!
There’s more to decency than sexual preferences…
Mayor Pete is the sanest, IMO, besides Gabbard, whom I could see myself voting for, converted Hindu or not. We’ve had many adulterous presidents. Many “Christian” presidents have done un-christian things. Sexual escapades either prompt you to vote, or they do not. Personally, I’m not attaching my identity to a politician, much less committing my hopes and fears.
Who knows. I may vote for mayor Pete if it came to that but I’ll be honest not sure our country is ready for the first man in the white House. I could be wrong. When Obama lit up the Whitehouse in rainbow colors to celebrate pride month, this was not a demonstration of decency in the traditional sense but I’m sure it was in the progressive sense. Just makes my point in the changing of definitions.
I believe the White House was lit with rainbow colors when the decision came down from SCOTUS regarding same sex marriage. I think traditional standards of decency are different from traditional standards of morality, although at times they intersect…
Duane,. You might be right. I was responding to Jeans definition of decency coming from God’s law. Regarding the SCOTUS, I think there is a argument to be made they acted indecently in usurping the legislative body in over turning centuries of tradition with gay marriage . But I’ll take your advice and put this topic to bed. Hopefully 2020 has some uplifting stories we can all latch onto as a nation and be more United.
Despite all of our sins, the USA still retains a strong, dare I say, Christian ethic. I’ve heard it from both Indian and Vietnamese immigrants in my 28 year career of working in tech, and from my Mexican friends, that a most significant thing that they appreciate about the USA is its lack of endemic corruption. It’s not a “white” thing, but I think a Christian thing.
New Victor
A good observation. I think we have some corruption in the body politic, but it seems to be “at the top” in terms of conflicts of interest, special dealing, etc. In most of the developing world, such corruption is, as you say, endemic throughout. I do think most of American society has retained a sense of “fair dealing”, which is to our credit.