Avoiding contention?

He that hath the spirit of contention is not of me, but is of the devil, who is the father of contention, and he stirreth up the hearts of men to contend with anger, one with another.

Behold, this is not my doctrine, to stir up the hearts of men with anger, one against another; but this is my doctrine, that such things should be done away.

– 3 Nephi 11: 20-30

President Dallin H. Oaks quoted this scripture in his General Conference talk during the Saturday Morning Session on October 5, 2024. Just before he quoted this scripture, he said:

This is a time of many harsh and hurtful words in public communications and sometimes even in our families. Sharp differences on issues of public policy often result in actions of hostility—even hatred—in public and personal relationships. This atmosphere of enmity sometimes even paralyzes capacities for lawmaking on matters of importance where most citizens see an urgent need for some action in the public interest.

What should followers of Christ teach and do in this time of toxic communications? What were His teachings and examples?

It is significant that among the first principles Jesus taught when He appeared to the Nephites was to avoid contention. While He taught this in the context of disputes over religious doctrine, the reasons He gave clearly apply to communications and relationships in politics, public policy, and family relationships.

– Dallin H. Oaks, “Following Christ,” Saturday Morning Session, General Conference of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, October 5, 2024.

The first paragraph above, with its references to “public policy” and “lawmaking” makes it very clear that Elder Oaks was talking about our current toxic political environment. In the third paragraph he declares that Jesus’ advice regarding religious disputes also applies to political disputes.

Elder Oaks was teaching us that true followers of Jesus should avoid contention. I agree. Elder Oak’s talk then continued on to promote brotherly love and peacemaking. I support this doctrine strongly. I believe this teaching is core Christianity.

His talk makes it clear that our Church leaders are very concerned about the lies and dissention being spread by Fox News, Newsmax, Sinclair Broadcast Group, PragerU, right-wing talk radio, MAGA “Christian” ministers, and many, many, elected Republicans. A lot of lies are also spread on Twitter/X, and other social media platforms. But, it must be said, the absolute master of lies, name-calling, and bullying continues to be the Republican candidate for President.

The unaddressed question

The question Elder Oaks unfortunately left unaddressed is: “When does “contention” begin?” I know from personal experience that, among church members, when a Democrat points out that a Republican has just told a lie, the Democrat is almost immediately accused of “causing contention.”

Because of this, I fear that Elder Oak’s talk will have the opposite of its intended effect. It will be used by Republicans to further demonize Democrats as “divisive” for simply trying to defend the truth.

The situation I just described, with two people in strong disagreement, is certainly a “contentious” situation. The Republican feels that he has been insulted by being called a liar and the Democrat feels HE has been insulted by being called “non-charitable” or “non-Christian.”

Who is really the responsible party in this situation? Who “started” the “contention?” If it was the Democrat, does that mean that all lies should simply go unchallenged in order to promote a false “peace”? Isn’t truth a higher value than peace?

Standing for the truth

The “Father of Lies” is Satan. Liars, especially deliberate liars, are engaged in Satan’s work. I believe it is entirely appropriate, even required, for a follower of Christ to identify, point out, and denounce lies wherever and whenever they appear.

Perhaps the key is the manner in which one points out the lies – condemn the sin, but not the sinner as the saying goes. But that does not work when the person spreading lies has adopted those lies as his personal identity.

In my scenario above the Democrat did not say “You are a liar.” He said, “That is a lie.” Turning the objective fact check into a personal insult was done by the Republican – not the Democrat. Rather than asking for, and considering, the evidence indicating that his statement was not true, the Republican chose to take offense. He was so wedded to the lie that he could not step back and objectively consider the possibility that he could be wrong.

In these uncivil times, it is important to try and remain loving, polite, and understanding. But sin and error must not be excused or ignored. Even President Oaks in his talk said we should not “compromise our principles and priorities.”

Drawing a line

The scriptures are full of examples of prophets calling people to repentance. Often they are not gentle about it. They call the people names like sinner, wicked, hypocrite, whoremonger, blind, wine-bibber, and murderer. Jesus even called the Pharisees and Sadducees a “generation of vipers” (Matthew 3:7).

Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword.
For I am come to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law.
And a man’s foes shall be they of his own household.

-Matthew 10: 34-36

There is a time for peacemaking and a time for defending the truth – no matter how unpopular the truth may be. I personally draw the line at deliberate lies and propaganda that are created and spread for the purpose of obtaining power and gain.

Liars need to repent

I have an undergraduate degree in Speech Communication and have taught both Speech and Debate. I am quite familiar with the various ways in which demagogues can twist language in order to manipulate people, and I am not easily fooled. But in the last decade, lies, propaganda, and disinformation have somehow gained widespread acceptance.

I can be friendly, even compassionate, with a person who has been innocently deceived. But when someone becomes belligerent, when he starts ranting and name-calling, when he puts his loyalty to the lies above human civility, I cannot continue a conversation – sometimes even a friendship – with that person.

When those situations occur, I strongly believe that the person who needs to repent is not the person who pointed out the lies. It is the person who believes, defends, and spreads the lies. The politicians and media personalities who invent the lies are probably already beyond redemption.

Stirring up anger

We must remember that the MAGA Republican political lies are deliberate and extremely well funded. These people are constantly spreading lies, insults, accusations, offensive names, and conspiracy theories for the express purpose of acquiring power and gain. They are saturating modern media – especially their own internet, radio, and television networks – with their lies. Many people have been deceived – including, apparently, a majority of the members of the Church.

Look again at the scripture at the top of this post. Jesus is speaking against those who “stir up the hearts of men with anger, one against another.” Who is doing that today? Sean Hannity (Fox) or Nora O’Donnell (CBS)? Charlie Kirk (Turning Point USA) or Lester Holt (NBC)? In almost every case you can name, the mainstream media personality can be found objectively reporting the news of what has happened, while the right-wing media personality will be found consistently twisting events in a way that stirs people to anger.

The label of “causing contention” belongs to the rabid MAGA Republicans and the vast unprincipled media empire that sustains them. They are always on the attack, they politicize everything, they demonize their perceived enemies, and they sow distrust in mainstream institutions. Meanwhile, they ignore or excuse absolutely every sin and crime committed by their cult leader.

Defending the Constitution

In our current government, at every level, the Democrats are the only ones who are fighting to defend the truth, the rule of law, our democratic institutions, the right to vote, and the Constitution – and for this patriotic effort they are often accused of being “divisive” and “contentious” by those who are actually the cause of the problem.

Meanwhile, the Republicans have surrendered their integrity and common sense to demagogues who intend to destroy our republic in favor of a fascist, authoritarian, dictatorial, regime.

The election of 2024 could be the last gasp of the great American experiment. And, sadly, the majority of the American members of my church are supporting the wrong side.

Reference:
The Book of Mormon: Another Testament of Jesus Christ, published by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1830.