Social Justice Warriors Beware – Channeling Passion Through Outrage Instead of Love Could Backfire

We are going about achieving social justice in a way that may be taking us backwards. The good news is there seems to be a growing movement of people joining in the fight for social justice. The bad news is the outrage they feel from the injustices they witness is leading to more hate instead of fighting against it. I believe the solution lies in a simple principle foundational to western, Christian beliefs. Don’t let the religion angle fool you. I’m a devout believer, but this should resonate and apply to Christians and non-Christians, believers and non-believers. We can learn from it the power of pursuing justice without dehumanizing others. The simple principle: We are all created in God’s image. Meaning, we need – as fellow humans – to treat each other with dignity and respect even when we have opposing views.

While many have the right intentions to fight for justice, they go about it the wrong way which contradicts their efforts. It never made any sense to me when I see those who are seeking social change convey hateful behavior towards the ones who are inciting hate. You can’t hate those who hate. It’s illogical, ineffective, and usually leads to more (mutual) hate, which is destructive. Hate prevents you from seeing things that may be beneficial in solving problems and making progress.

Our society is full of sayings that tell us actions speak louder than words. Yet, many people joining the social justice movement are only at the words level of engagement. They’ll put a bumper sticker on their car. They’ll tweet. They’ll lament to friends. And they just build their hatred toward the “other side.” Too many are afraid to get their hands dirty. It’s not enough just to express that you don’t tolerate hate and you stand in solidarity with those who are on the receiving end of hate. Fighting for social justice not only requires us to call out the injustice but to do the work to help lift up those who are oppressed. You can feel rage, but there has to be action on the other side of that anger or else you are allowing the injustice to continue.

If we keep going down this road, I have grave concerns. Those who talk and don’t act are a problem. And, those who act, but effectively seek to oppress the oppressor puts us on a slippery slope and a vicious cycle of oppression. The answer to an oppressive mob isn’t a bigger, more oppressive countervailing mob. The end game can look like government regimes in anti-democratic nations where there is extreme oppression and large-scale carnage and death.

What is the better way? It’s love. Jesus’ teachings were rooted in serving, protecting, reviving, healing, teaching, and feeding those who are oppressed. We can feel angry at the injustice, but we need to find a way to show love in our actions and rhetoric. We must go into their neighborhoods and show them love. Listen to them. Be patient and gentle with them. Get to know them as people first so you know what they really need and understand what can harm them. Love requires action. It’s messy, hard, and can be painful but it’s the only solution.?

This is what we do every day at ChenMed. We build beautiful state-of-the-art medical centers in the poorest neighborhoods that are experiencing the highest levels of oppression, racism, and abandonment. Then we fill these centers with well-trained doctors and loving people. For us, our mission is to love the old, the sick, the poor, and mostly minority and marginalized people. We listen to them, call them regularly, and see them every month. They have 24/7 access to their doctor. We show our love by a welcoming, supportive hug (pre-COVID), teaching, and healing them. During the pandemic, we went to their homes to fulfill their needs. We serve them with empathy and selflessness and treat them with respect and dignity because they are a beautiful creation of God.

What about love for the oppressors? Yes, they need love and forgiveness too. Think about why they oppress people. They do it because they love the power. Why do they need to feel that power? They feel unsafe, unprotected, and are afraid of weakness and all the downstream effects of being weak. In fact, they are mostly scared of being oppressed. How do we solve this fear of oppression?

We are at a crossroads where I see the chance for real social justice. It may sound a bit Pollyanna to think we can get so much impact out of this simple Christian vision of social justice where we choose to pivot our anger to love that’s proactive, meaningful, and deep. This choice is hard, and it takes discipline; however, this is how we change a vicious cycle of division, mistrust, and violence into a virtuous cycle.?At ChenMed, I’ve seen first-hand what is possible.?In our medical centers, we see how love is sustainable, deep, making a difference, and a bright light in some of the most challenged places in America.?I invite you to come and visit and kick the tires. After seeing what is possible when harnessing the power of our greatest human ethic of love, I hope that every organization – governmental, public and private businesses, houses of worship – feels challenged to pursue this approach. The tipping point will come sooner than you may realize.