Articles
Living in an "Emocracy"
Ayann Hirsi Ali is credited by her husband, Niall Ferguson, for coining the phrase “emocracy.” Ali says we are no longer living in a “democracy” but an “emocracy,” meaning that we are governed by irrational emotionalism rather than by principles of reason, justice, law and the common welfare of all.
Specifically, we are living in era of outrage, of special interests that have no regard for any other point of view but their own. Reasoned argumentation has given way to assassination of character. The “cancel culture” looms large. Say the wrong thing and no apology will be accepted; an inadvertent slip of the tongue will get you fired, humiliated, banned from public discourse or otherwise marginalized. Everything, no matter how small, is politicized and blown out of proportion (for example, CNN recently declared that Asian fonts, sometimes looking like chopsticks or pagodas, are racist). Such accusations alone are enough to make business, education and government officials cower.
This emotional outrage has been weaponized by those intent on cultural and political change and applied to such areas as race, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status and religion. Label, slander, complain, scream, intimidate, march, riot and make violent demands – these are the preferred methods of seizing publicity, money and power. We are a nation of warring factions that cannot see the good in each other or recognize the valid points of one’s opponent. As a result, our national landscape is polarized, alienated and antagonistic. How should God’s people view this climate of division and hate?
Thoughts:
1. Emotions are volatile and often detached from reality. Emotions, or “feelings,” are valid elements of our psychological makeup. Excitement, elation, anticipation, relief, infatuation, gratitude, empathy, the thrill of victory – these and other emotions provide “color” to life. They lift us from mundane drudgery; they inspire us to strive and achieve. They are like salt, sprinkled here and there to enhance the flavor of living.
But be warned: emotions are too unstable for rational decision-making. There is a dark side to our feelings that, when misguided or exaggerated, becomes detrimental. We must especially guard against outrage:
* Cain’s outrage led him to murder his brother over worship to God.
* Joseph’s brothers’ outrage caused them to sell him into slavery.
* Moses’ outrage led him to dishonor God and be banned from Canaan.
* David’s outrage drove him to seek vengeance against Nabal.
High emotion mimics the effect of euphoric drugs, releasing chemicals like endorphins and dopamine into our brains. This can interfere with the control of impulses, the ability to analyze a problem and make calm, measured decisions that are appropriate and godly.
Spiritual maturity, on the other hand, evokes self-control, contemplation, longsuffering, love for others, duty toward God and other considerations that talk us down from outrage and other volatile emotions that lead to impulsive, damaging interactions:
* “A soft answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger” – Pr 15:1.
* “The wrath of man does not produce the righteousness of God” – Jas 1:20.
* “‘Be angry, and do not sin’: do not let the sun go down on your wrath” – Eph 4:26.
2. Bitterness toward life drives much social and political agenda. We’ll not explore political motivations in this article, other than to say that misguided political aspirations can only be successful by preying on the damaged and unstable. For years we have witnessed deliberate, successful attempts to breed discontent, incite victimhood, promote feelings of marginalization, disenfranchisement and mistreatment. We are now reaping the whirlwind of ingratitude, envy and vengeance of the aggrieved.
Apart from the actual rending of our social fabric and its lethal consequences, it is instructive to see the end results of disregarding the clear instructions of God’s word:
* “And having food and clothing, with these we shall be content” – 1 Tim 6:8.
* “Do not intimidate anyone or accuse falsely, and be content with your wages” – Lk 3:14.
* “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God” – Ph 4:6.
The antidote to bitterness and simmering anger is thankfulness for all God has done for us. We must learn to define blessedness by something other than possessions, status and power, for there will always be those who excel us in each of those categories. The answer to the question, “What makes one truly happy?” differs wildly depending on the respondent’s view of God.
3. Practical suggestions for keeping emotions in check.
* “Let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath” – Jas 1:19. Pun: God gave us two ears but one tongue, so we should listen twice as much as we speak. Think. Ponder. Consider the other point of view. Unless disaster is imminent, we have time to meditate.
* You don’t have to have the last word in every argument. Let it go; let emotions dissipate; think about what has been said.
* It’s OK to have an unexpressed thought. (I wish someone had said that to me earlier in life; it’s an exhortation I need. Or maybe they did, but I didn’t listen.)
* Remember how often you have been in the wrong and frustrated others who held the higher moral or intellectual ground.
* Begin at home. Would your family say there are two of you – the one with the “church demeanor” and the one who “lets it fly” in private? While we obviously have a more casual persona at home, that should not include abusive, angry, demeaning treatment of our loved ones.
