In today’s Gospel Jesus speaks about an everlasting sin: “But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an everlasting sin.” This everlasting sin is demonizing Jesus: “He is possessed by Beelzebub…By the prince of demons he drives out demons.” Jesus is quite willing to teach and debate with the scribes and religious teachers of his day. What he strongly condemns is not disagreeing with his teaching but using ad hominem attacks and demonization to try to undercut his authority.
Sadly, today we see all too often this technique of ad hominem attacks and demonization not only in our daily political discourse but even in our religious discourse. Our language and rhetoric today tends to be excessive. Sometimes we seem all too quick to believe conspiracy theories and whatever someone posts on the Internet. The Gospels guide us to use the life and teachings of Jesus as the sure guide to all truth. In the Gospels truth is not first and foremost an abstract or philosophical concept but Jesus Christ himself as comes out in this dialogue between Pilate and Jesus:
Jesus: “You say I am a king. For this I was born and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth. Everyone who belongs to the truth listens to my voice.”
Pilate: “What is truth?” (John 18:37-37)
Pilate tries to hide and escape responsibility behind some abstract question about truth. The fact is truth, Jesus Christ, is standing right in front of him. You and I are also challenged to always use Jesus as the sure guide to truth and the true will of God.
If we attack and demonize the other, we are not showing the love that God has already showed us, particularly by God sending his beloved Son into our world.
In today’s heated discourse let us reject those who use ad hominem attacks and demonize their opponents. Let us also look at our own language and mode of argumentation. How do I demonize the other is my daily discourse? Let us pray that Jesus may guide us to follow his way of truth and love.
Image: “Great Teachers Teach Outside” by Vicky TGAW is licensed under CC BY-NC-SA 2.0.