Can Baseball Save Us?
I’m looking forward to our ballgame this Sunday evening! I’m not a sports fan myself, but I find myself getting excited about the opportunity to introduce my girls to a time-honored American tradition. Rev. Caleb Campbell, an evangelical pastor who does outreach to those caught in Christian nationalism, encourages us to find points of connection with those “patriots” who are worried about their country, so that church can be the safe place where they find acceptance and belonging based on love, not fear. He writes:
“Many of us have experienced a conversation with someone who passionately believes in a conspiracy theory they heard on talk radio or who is deeply anxious due to the influence of American Christian nationalist leaders. They may say some hurtful, harmful, and hateful things while expressing themselves. When faced with these types of conversations, there are usually three common reactions. The first is to ignore the person and hope they stop talking about it. The second is to distance ourselves from the person by asking them to leave or refusing to invite them to our gatherings again. The third is to argue with the person, attempting to change their mind with better data. However, these approaches rarely reshape someone’s perspective. Instead, I suggest a fourth approach: speak to the heart. Ignoring problems won’t make them go away, distancing ourselves from others can lead to further entrenchment in their convictions, and arguing about facts rarely results in true change. Genuine transformation always starts with the heart. Communicating to the heart involves creating a hospitable space for others to share their fears and concerns and inviting them to explore their concerns with you.... In the book Saving Us, Katharine Hayhoe encourages us to take an inventory of our story, our values, and our heroes, and to use them as anchors for heart-to-heart conversation. She invites us to figure out where to open a discussion, take inventory of who you are and what you might have in common with others you know and meet. This inventory could include beliefs that we value, traditions, people or possessions that we hold dear, events that we celebrate, hobbies we pursue, and even the idols WE are tempted to worship!”
I’m not saying baseball is an idol, but it is definitely a point of connection across the varieties of American cultures. As with the World Cup this year, it can be so refreshing to enjoy what we have in common. At Synod Assembly, Vice President Cassie Wilson gave a testimony about all the things that make Jesus so relatable: he cried, he made wine, he welcomed children, he needed his space, and most especially, he loves all the people I can’t stand! Wilson calls this “the Attractive Jesus” - one who would enjoy a good game of ball.
with love, Pr. Chelsea
