Bethlehem Steel Company financed passage for hundreds of Europeans to come to America. The company built five villages, one for each of the ethnic groups near the ore mines where they would work. They built a Catholic church and a Presbyterian church to accommodate the newcomers. A state-of-the-art school was built of limestone taken from the open pit mine. The people came with their prejudices and hatred intact. My father, a mine worker, told stories of the upheaval. I witnessed it in school.
Every day recess was the scene of a pre-arranged fist fight. Students cheered until one of the fighters had a bloody nose. Teachers did nothing to end the hostilities. Kids told their parents about the nasty names, but were told sticks and stones may hurt my bones, but names will never hurt me. That’s not true! The pain of name-calling can last for generations. I can write the names at age 82, but I would only nurture the unkindness.
I was enrolled in a chaplaincy training program. The twelve of us sat in a circle and each was to say something nice about each student. Without making eye contact with me, a young pastor said, I hate Larry. When I saw the list of students and their faith background I was upset about having a cult follower in my class. The supervisor promptly challenged him. Hold the fort, man! I will not tolerate your attitude in this group. Is it Larry you hate or his religion? Come clean. It is easy to hate, but you will address your hatred. The young pastor never spoke to me during the 12-week program. Unfortunately his name-calling was not a singular experience. Unkind appellations came from the lips of church members in good and regular standing during my 40 years of ministry.
Jesus was the victim of name-calling. He healed the sick, opened blind eyes. made the lame to walk. In spite of His goodness the names continued. As I read the Gospels I can’t help but think that the names hurt. The Savior did not reciprocate in kind.
When I am the recipient of unkind name-calling I can only say, Lord, help me to follow your example.