Christians, cruelty and political power
It can certainly feel like "cruelty" when someone is rebuking us, but sometimes we need to hear some sharp words when we are sinning in order to bring us to repentance.
Some of the most vicious crimes in history have been committed by people who think they are doing the "right" thing, especially when they feel that their "god" approves. We saw this on October 7, 2023, when Muslim terrorists streamed over the border and massacred hundreds of Jews, committing acts of horrifying sexual depravity including gang rape of women and girls and slaughtering whole families in their homes. Muslim terrorists were also responsible for the Armenian Genocide, murdering hundreds of thousands of people while violently raping women and girls.
Unlike with Muslim terrorists, Christians actually do serve the One True God, but the rightness of our cause often causes us to forget the need to love our neighbor or the fact that we are also sinners saved by grace. It should not be surprising, then, that Christians are capable of needless cruelty in arguments over politics, even when it falls short of actual violence. Anyone who follows Mike Pence on X can see the obscene and hateful attacks on him any time he posts anything, including from people who claim to be Christians. David French called out this behavior in the New York Times a couple weeks ago.
We do need to be careful, however, that we do not mistake truth for cruelty. It can certainly feel like "cruelty" when someone is rebuking us, but sometimes we need to hear some sharp words when we are sinning in order to bring us to repentance. This is not just for our own good, but for others as well. Sometimes the "cruel" rebuke is kindness and love to those we have sinned against. God tells us in Proverbs 15:10 and Proverbs 15:32 that we need to be willing to accept rebuke. We are often a poor judge of whether things said to us or against us are "cruel," especially if they are pointing to our sin.
But we do need to be careful in how we treat others, especially those who are opposed to use politically. We need to be careful that, even when we know our cause is just, we see those who disagree as created and loved by God, and ourselves as much in need of grace and mercy as they are. We are too willing to condemn motives when we disagree on solutions - something that was far too common as Christians sniped at each other during the COVID-19 pandemic. We need to have humility and grace while at the same time knowing when a sharp rebuke is necessary, and to pray for the discernment to know what is needed and when.