I’ve heard friends and other apologist for the left speak about the right’s dismissal of “the other.” The “other” is defined as anyone who is not like you. This is another way of promoting identity politics – a way of defining various people groups in terms of their culture and ethnicity. There is a very real danger in viewing any human as “the other.”
During the European slave trade many “Christians” justified the slavery of Africans because they were “other.” During the Irish potato famine, the British government had no qualms in allowing a million Irish men, women, and children starve to death because they viewed the Irish peasants as “other.” During the 19th century most Americans supported the deportation and genocide of Native Americans because the Indians were “other.” During the Japanese domination of Asia, many Chinese women were force into prostitution to “service” Japanese soldiers because they were viewed as “other.” In the Nazi-German domination of Europe the “others” – Jews, Gypsies, et al – were systematically eradicated as vermin. Many people view a human fetus as “other” and justify abortion. When we allow the political powers to classify human beings as “other” – for whatever purpose – we deny the unity of humanity and promote the continued oppression of fellow human beings. Viewing fellow humans as “other” is dangerous.
This is a very real temptation to which the right and left often fall. The right tends to promote a color-blind ideology that denies the otherness of the past. The left tends to promote color-defined ideology that promotes otherness, but in doing so demonizes the right – the right becomes the dangerous “other.” In the recent election both candidates demonized the “other.” Candidate Trump viewed the “others” as Muslims and illegal immigrants. Candidate Clinton viewed the “others” as “a basket of deplorables.” In the end the ideology of “other” leads to systematic oppression.
The biblical truth is that we are all descendants of the first humans – Adam and Eve. We are all created in the image of God. Every male and female of whatever ethnicity bears the image of God. No human being is an “other.” We are neighbors and the Scriptures command us to receive our neighbors as brothers and sisters.
The stranger who resides with you shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt; I am the LORD your God (Leviticus 19:34).
You shall love the LORD your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind. . . You shall love your neighbor as yourself . . . (cf. Matthew 22:36-40).
The sinfulness of humanity has resulted in the loss of God’s glory and the redefinition of humanity. Sociopolitical definitions reinforce the brokenness of humanity. God’s remedy for human brokenness is the Incarnation of God’s Son – Jesus Christ. Redeemed humanity is not homogeneous, but a people of many tongues, cultures, and colors. In other words, our distinctions should neither define nor divide us. Rather, in Christ we are one people (Galatians 3:28: 1 Peter 2:9-10). That is the Christian vision of humanity. When we can view every human being, with their distinctions, as created in the image of God, fallen, and in need redemption, then we see humanity as God sees humanity. It is this eschatological otherness for which we hope.
The only real “other” is God, and God is dangerous. God is wholly Other, and holy. The incarnate Son is humanity’s Savior and Judge. He is coming again and when he comes humanity will be judged for a history of hatred, violence, and oppression. All those who treated their fellow humans as “other” will be judged. Every human will bow before the divine Other. The only escape is to heed the proclamation of Jesus: “Repent, for the Kingdom of God is at hand!”
