In the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation, one of the most villainous and terrifying of all of the strange new civilizations that the crew of the Enterprise boldly encountered was The Borg. The Borg was a collective of beings, part human-ish and part technology, that sought to assimilate others into their “hive.” The Borg were known to declare, when other beings showed reluctance to join up with The Borg, that “resistance is futile.”

I think of the Borg a lot these days, especially around the notion of resistance. I’ve noticed that resistance has become a motto, a declaration, a pronouncement, in response to the Trump administration— its policies, procedures and pronouncements. As I approach and depart from Old South, for instance, there’s a homeowner with a yard sign that simply says, “Resist!” Then, there’s the order of spices I received from Penzey’s, with a free small pouch of some sort of spice blend labeled “Resist!” And, there’s Maine’s brave governor who, when confronted with Trump’s unreasonable and unlawful demands, declared, “See you in court!” Alright, it’s not exactly “resist,” but it’s close enough.

And last Sunday, I found myself pondering resistance during my sermon. The scripture was Luke 6:27-38, part of the Sermon on the Plain in which Jesus talks about how God’s children are expected to behave— love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, etc. The teaching offers a clear and decided directive on grace, generosity of spirit, and loving beyond the normal human instincts to love. Good relationships are not based on the transactional— you give to me and I’ll give something comparable back to you. Instead, good relationships, good community, are found in love, respect and extravagant generosity:

 “But I say to you who are willing to hear: Love your enemies. Do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you. Pray for those who mistreat you.  If someone slaps you on the cheek, offer the other one as well. If someone takes your coat, don’t withhold your shirt either.  Give to everyone who asks and don’t demand your things back from those who take them. Treat people in the same way that you want them to treat you. “If you love those who love you, why should you be commended? Even sinners love those who love them.  If you do good to those who do good to you, why should you be commended? Even sinners do that.  (Luke 6:27-33, CEB)

Yet, on the national stage we have a President who is not at all concerned with love and generosity. Instead, we have a President who is utterly and completely transactional. While a president can pursue whatever policies and decisions he deems important, presumably putting into action what the voters voted for, this particular President has a whole bunch of so-called Christians backing him, working with him, cheering him on, influencing him, etc.

So, what’s going on here? How can these supposed Christians, especially those who love talking about their “faith” and their “religion” as fundamental to who they are and how they serve the public, support policies, procedures and behaviors that are so clearly in tension with the basic teachings of Jesus?

Those who perceive themselves to be children of God, who appreciate the connection they have to the Divine, recognizing and understanding the significance of the life of faith, presumably endeavor to behave as such and to live their lives in close connection to the ways of love as Jesus taught. People of faith ought to be willing and even eager to live lives of love.  And, the simple truth is: there’s nothing transactional about God’s love.  If we desire to behave as God’s children, as God’s people, we appreciate that we are called to live lives of love and generosity. At the same time, we are not taught to lives of passivity or being constant doormats in the competitive and harsh realities of life. “Turning the other cheek” is not about being passive, it’s about resistance in the face of injustice.

In these days, then, Christians ought to feel drawn to active resistance in the face of the emptiness and waywardness of always looking to balance what I/we give with what I/we get back.  To live as God’s people means that we see and treat everyone as a person created in God’s image, always seeking goodness, mercy and justice, the highest good, for each one and for all.

I’m not exactly sure how exactly I’ll be resisting and I’ll admit a bit of concern that my resistance may end up in the futility category. But, my faith has laid a clear path. There really is no other way.