As our stock of reasons for rescinding the 2020 experience continues to mount, I wanted to wax historical for a moment, just as the rest of us are continuing to wax hysterical. The whole Floyd saga has set me thinking over the past few days, adding not a few moments of reflection and challenge. Here, on the Bereans page, our own inestimable Dr. Smith has already written eloquently as ever on the issue. If you have the time, read his piece first. While I don’t have much to add to his work, it’s times like these that remind me of one of my favorite insights from Adam Smith in the Theory of Moral Sentiments. Observe:

“Let us suppose that the great empire of China, with all its myriads of inhabitants, was suddenly swallowed up by an earthquake. And let us consider how a man of humanity in Europe, who had no sort of connection with that part of the word, would be affected upon receiving intelligence of this dreadful calamity.

He would, I imagine express very strongly his sorrow for the misfortune of that unhappy people, he would make many melancholy reflections upon the precariousness of human life, and the vanity of all the labours of man, which could be thus annihilated in a moment.

And when this fine philosophy was over, he would pursue his business or his pleasure, take his repose or his diversion, with the same ease and tranquility, as if no such accident had happened. The most frivolous disaster which would befall himself would occasion a more real disturbance. If he was to lose his little finger tomorrow, he would not sleep tonight; but, provided he never saw them, he will snore with the more profound security over the ruin of a hundred millions of his brethren.”

I remember something of a light going on the first time I read Smith’s words. Whether or not he realized it, Smith captured a tremendous breadth of ground in a few short paragraphs, much as he was often apt to do. It is not that humans are so vain as to care more about appendages than human lives; it is rather to realize the system of hierarchies, wants, and desires that very tangibly shape our experience of life. A friend and I (who may or not be a fellow infrequent contributor here) have dialogued privately before on the ways in which we create systems of duties for ourselves, first to family and dearest friends on out to acquaintances and different levels of government. This is a perfectly natural and right thing to do in our lives. What force we can exert for good is most likely to catch hold at these first order duties of family and community, and, as such, there lie our sentiments. Thus the European isn’t calloused about China’s vanishing act. His sentiments simply don’t lie there; not a chance has been given for them to root and grow into something which would actually grieve him.

And so it is with George Floyd and the protests. For some, the bitter sting of police violence and racism has lodged itself deep into their sentiments. As Dr. Smith notes, we should refrain from thinking the past has passed. For others, watching their innocent livelihoods and those of others be wantonly destroyed by mobs strikes home much deeper. We should be equally wary of compartmentalizing property and life; the two are more closely joined than we often think. And so, one man seeks to protest. Well and good. Another fellow seeks justice for Floyd. Well and good. Yet another calls for peace. Well and good. And still some wish to see their property respected amid chaos. Well and good.

As Christians, this is simply another call to grace. We unite around the King, the Kingdom, and the Cross. Beyond that, there will be diversity, and that is perfectly fine. Resist the urge to browbeat others about not being outraged one way or the other. Their sentiments are their own, not yours. Not one of us has the moral chops to sit in judgment on another over what most concerns them. If you seek to change their mind, do it tactfully. During this time of struggle, give grace to each other and their sentiments. To put it another way:

Let Wisdom reign, and each man go his way.