Now, followers of Jesus are called to have unity with other believers. We’re called to love one another. Because of the Holy Spirit within us, we have an existential and eternal connection with one another.
But none of that is to suggest that we don’t have serious problems that we need to address among ourselves.
And yet there are many within evangelicalism who seem downright allergic to the idea that the American church has ever fallen short when it comes to issues of abuse of power, racial discrimination, the mistreatment of women, or conspiracy theories and misinformation. Anyone in the community of faith who brings these issues to bear is immediately met with suspicion. They are called social Marxists and woke preachers who are devoid of the gospel.
But let’s make one thing clear. If you are dying on the hills of denying racial disparity, the suppression of women, or misguided conspiracy theories, you are dying on a hill that Jesus most certainly never asked you to.
Often, our willingness to die on these hills has less to do with our theological conviction and more to do with our fear. Fear that we’ve been wrong. Fear that if we have been wrong, we aren’t sure what to do about it. Fear of losing our power or influence if we “change teams.”
And because of that fear, we do whatever theological gymnastics are required to present our stance as the “biblical” view.
2. You Can’t Possibly Conceive of Why Someone Would Disagree With You.
While much has recently been made of the so-called sin of empathy, an inability to fathom why someone would think differently from you does not constitute moral virtue. In fact, it’s a fairly strong indicator of low emotional intelligence.
If you find yourself unable to understand why anyone would be so foolish (or so evil) to hold a certain view on an important issue, you may be in a position where you’re dying on a hill that Jesus never asked you to. Seeking to understand and empathize with another person’s perspective will help you to discern whether that’s the case.
When you can see the world through someone else’s eyes and understand the circumstances and emotions that led them to their position, it may lead you to soften your approach. In other cases, it may lead you to change your position entirely.
That won’t always be the case. As much as we can feel for the pains of another person, our morality is still anchored in the truths of Scripture.
But when we villainize other people, we run the risk of treating them far more harshly than Jesus would. What’s more is that we shut down conversations and make redemptive cooperation less likely. Jesus would never ask us to do that.
3. There Are Other Sincere Christians Whom You Have Sworn as Enemies.
As I said above, Christians are called to love one another. So if you hold a particular position or hold it in such a way that causes you to treat another believer or subset of believers as your sworn enemy, chances are that you are dying on a hill that you weren’t meant to.
