Over the last two months of lock-down, we’ve been treated to various displays of what we might call “extremism.” On the fringes of American religious life, we’ve seen flamboyant Pentecostal pastors and devout Reformed churches defy local stay-at-home orders with physical Sunday gatherings. Likewise in politics, we watch as militia members protest COVID lock-downs on courthouse steps waving Gadsden flags, armed with AR-15s.
These people have been almost universally derided by people in the mainstream from all across the religious and political spectrum. I’ve seen Christians mocking a pastor as he’s fitted with an ankle monitor after illegally gathering on Sunday. “Play stupid games, win stupid prizes,” read one comment. Likewise in the world of politics, the gun-toting rednecks on the steps of statehouses have been condemned by conservative pundits and politicians alike.
That bothers me a little.
By contrast, the vast majority of mainstream America is obediently complying, dutifully looking to updates and executive orders from governors, and wearing homemade COVID masks at the grocery store. Just yesterday I went to a hardware store to find hundreds of people wearing masks, practicing social distancing, and waiting in line quietly. The only person I saw without a mask was a grizzled Vietnam vet who looked to be in his 70’s. Of all people, I’d say he’s earned the right.
My experience at the hardware store is a good illustration of the breakdown of our American population. The vast majority of us are easygoing, more than willing to cooperate and do the generally accepted “right thing.” That’s by no means a bad thing. I thank God for those people. They keep things generally peaceful and stable.
But then there is that 3% who routinely defy convention. They are passionate and crazy. I thank God for them too. I don’t think it’s our place to deride them.
The reason I think that is that is because America was founded by political and religious extremists. Long before mass migration to well established colonies in America, a small group of Protestant separatists who refused to sing from the hymnal or recite the creeds of the Church of England set sail for an untamed land to worship the way their own consciences dictated. They risked their lives, and the lives of their families, to follow God. They died of illness. Half of them did. They knew it was a risk. They set out anyway because there was something they were pursuing that was more precious to them than even this earthly life. That’s extreme.
Our American Revolution was sparked by political extremists as well. Long before the founders wrote the Declaration of Independence and managed to unite the colonies in rebellion against the British crown, a fringe group of militia men called the Sons of Liberty was founded by a young radical named Samuel Adams. They crept onto British ships to throw their cargo overboard. They tarred and feathered loyalists. What sparked such violent insurrection? What caused these men to plunge their entire nation into war? A British tax on stamps.
Puritans were soundly condemned as fools and kooks by well meaning moderate Christians attempting to reform the Church of England within the rules, from the inside. Samuel Adams’ ragtag gang was also condemned by peace-loving colonialists and loyalists.
Who was right and who was wrong in that day? Without the hindsight of history, it would be a difficult question to answer. There’s a reason why these extremists are looked upon more kindly today than they probably were back then. They were right. They weren’t perfect, their beliefs and methods should be open to criticism, but they were right.
They were willing to do the right thing before anyone knew it was the right thing. History is made by people such as these.
How will future generations look at the people defying convention and social norms in our current day? I have no idea. Only time will tell. But I think we at least owe it to ourselves to closely observe what today’s contrarians are saying. Are they right? I don’t know. Perhaps we should at least listen to their arguments and see if there is any truth in what they say. Devotion to truth has an incredible way of cutting through the cultural noise. Now is a good time for all of us to examine our beliefs, why we hold to them, and what we would sacrifice for them.
During his doomed presidential campaign in the 60’s, candidate Barry Goldwater said “Extremism in defense of liberty is no vice. Moderation in pursuit of justice is no virtue.” It is a terrifying thing to swim against the current, knowing that you may be wrong, that you may fail, that future history books, which are written by the cultural victors, may look at you with scorn. That takes a courageous, and perhaps reckless person.
I’m thankful for those kinds of people.
