Banishing Bothsidesism
Would we do this to Jesus?
I had just finished reading the Gospel of Luke, when it occurred to me that if Jesus’ crucifixion happened today, He might be the victim of bothsidesism or bothsidesing.
One version of bothsidesism says that both sides of an issue are equally culpable, therefore sidestepping closer examination into what actually occurred.
Here’s what Jesus’ arrest and crucifixion might look like today under bothsidesism:
Judas agrees to betray Jesus
Well, Jesus should have done a better job making Judas feeling included. I mean, Judas just wanted to give perfume to the poor, didn’t he?
Temple guards mock Jesus
If Jesus had done a better job explaining who he really was, then the guards wouldn’t have had to hit him and mock him about whether or not he could prophesy.
Jesus is accused before Pilate
Jesus should have been much clearer in his teachings. If he was less ambiguous, the court wouldn’t have made errors in accusing him of subversion and opposing payment of taxes to Caesar. Oh, and also claiming to be a king.
Begging Pilate to release Barabbas
Clearly Jesus needed to do a better PR job. If a murderer and insurrectionist is more popular than he was, then he deserved to fail.
Far-fetched?
Reading headlines and social media posts today make me think that this is not at all a far-fetched take. So often, no moral claim can be made because a false or exaggerated counterpoint is raised. Essentially, we conclude, “Who can say whether that first thing was bad? Everybody’s wrong.” All sides are deemed equally reprehensible such that everyone can just decide to believe and do what they want.
Songs and sermons sometimes ask us to put ourselves in the place of those at the crucifixion. Would we have been part of the mob clamoring for His death?
We can ask it a different way: “Are we clamoring for the death of righteousness?” Reading headlines and scrolling social media posts, sometimes it seems like we’ve concluded that it is truly impossible to make a claim about what is right and what is wrong.
Yet Jesus, in front of Pilate said,
You are right in saying that I am a king. In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world to testify to the truth. Everyone on the side of truth listens to me. (John 18:37, NIV)
Are we on the side of truth? Do we truly follow in obedience the One who is the Way, the Truth, and the Life?
I finished reading Luke’s Gospel and decided to be more vigilant of this in my own life. I do believe in right and wrong, and I claim to follow the ultimate source of Truth. He’s given His Scripture, the wise counsel of others, and the guidance of His Holy Spirit to help with discernment. I pray that I will make use of what He has given and indeed be on the side of truth.
