Truth Over Tribe

1. Tribalism is wrecking your life and relationships

Tribalism ruins your closest relationships, escalates your anxiety, incentivizes inauthenticity, makes unnecessary enemies, and blinds you to what's true.

Tribal mentality divides us. It pits us against those who think differently, damaging friendships, families, and communities. This us-vs-them mindset breeds anxiety as we constantly fear "the other side" and worry about conforming to our own group. It leads to inauthentic behavior as we hide our true thoughts to fit in. Tribalism also blinds us to truth by making us dismiss information that contradicts our tribe's beliefs.

Real-world impacts are severe. Families have stopped speaking over political disagreements. Long-time friends cut ties over differing views on issues like COVID-19 or racial justice. Communities become polarized and unable to work together on shared problems. This division makes us all poorer - in relationships, understanding, and our ability to solve societal challenges.

2. Your brain is hardwired for tribalism, but it's destructive

We're not the descendants of astronauts; we're the descendants of Stone Age survivors.

Our tribal instincts evolved for survival. In prehistoric times, belonging to a tight-knit group and being wary of outsiders was crucial for safety and access to resources. Our brains developed to quickly categorize people as "us" or "them" and to feel strong bonds with our in-group.

These instincts are now maladaptive. In our complex, interconnected world, this tribal mentality leads to:

• Prejudice and discrimination
• Difficulty cooperating across group lines
• Susceptibility to us-vs-them propaganda
• Polarization in politics and society
• Resistance to new ideas that challenge group beliefs

While we can't eliminate these instincts, awareness is key to overcoming them. Recognizing our tribal tendencies allows us to consciously resist them and build bridges instead of walls.

3. Social media algorithms exploit and amplify tribal tendencies

Meta is hacking the worst parts of our innate tribalism to the tune of billions of dollars in profit.

Profit-driven design fuels division. Social media platforms are built to maximize user engagement, which translates to ad revenue. Their algorithms have discovered that content provoking outrage, fear, and tribal loyalty keeps users scrolling and sharing. This leads to:

• Echo chambers where users mostly see content that confirms their existing beliefs
• Amplification of extreme viewpoints
• Rapid spread of misinformation that fits tribal narratives
• Increased polarization as users are pushed towards more extreme positions

The impact goes beyond online behavior. This digital tribalism bleeds into real-world relationships and politics. It makes us:

• Less trusting of those with different views
• More likely to demonize the "other side"
• Less able to find common ground or compromise

To resist this, we must be aware of how these platforms manipulate us and consciously seek out diverse perspectives.

4. Personal "truths" fuel tribalism and hinder genuine dialogue

An entirely subjective truth, rooted only in the opinions of the tribe, not only makes culture wars inevitable, it makes them unresolvable.

Relativism undermines shared reality. When people believe in their own personal "truth" rather than objective facts, it becomes impossible to have meaningful debates or reach consensus. This leads to:

• Dismissal of contradictory evidence as "fake news"
• Inability to change minds through reason and evidence
• Retreat into tribal echo chambers
• Resolution of disagreements through power rather than persuasion

Examples abound in modern discourse:

• Some claim "2+2=5" to challenge "white" mathematics
• Others deny basic medical facts about vaccines or obesity
• Conspiracy theories flourish, immune to debunking

To overcome this, we must recommit to the idea of objective truth that exists independent of our opinions or tribal affiliations. This doesn't mean certainty on all issues, but a willingness to follow evidence even when it challenges our preconceptions.

5. Social erosion and isolation increase tribalism

You were designed by God to flourish in a robust, trusting, generous, self-giving network of relationships. Without it, you wither.

Community breakdown fuels division. As traditional social bonds weaken, people are more likely to retreat into tribal identities based on politics, ideology, or online affinity groups. This erosion is seen in:

• Decline of civic organizations and local community involvement
• Increased geographic sorting by political affiliation
• Less interaction with those holding different views
• Rise of loneliness and social isolation

The consequences are severe:

• Less empathy for those unlike us
• Difficulty seeing common humanity in "others"
• Susceptibility to tribal propaganda and scapegoating
• Decreased social trust and cohesion

Rebuilding strong local communities and fostering diverse relationships is crucial to combating tribalism. Churches and other institutions that bring people together across dividing lines play a vital role.

6. Jesus offers an alternative: a diverse, inclusive kingdom

Jesus founded the one and only tribe whose purpose is to put other tribes first.

A radical vision of unity. Jesus consistently challenged tribal thinking, reaching out to those considered "other" by his society. He envisioned a kingdom that transcends ethnic, social, and political divisions. This is seen in:

• His interactions with Samaritans, tax collectors, and "sinners"
• The diverse makeup of his disciples (e.g., Simon the Zealot and Matthew the tax collector)
• His teachings on loving enemies and breaking down barriers

The early church embodied this vision. It brought together people from vastly different backgrounds:

• Jews and Gentiles
• Slaves and free
• Rich and poor
• Multiple ethnicities and nationalities

This diverse unity was a powerful witness in a deeply divided world. Today's church is called to embody this same radical inclusivity, putting allegiance to Jesus above all other tribal loyalties.

7. Overcome tribalism through generosity, kindness, and listening

Tribalism simply cannot withstand the weight of self-sacrificial generosity.

Practical steps to break tribal barriers:

1. Generosity

   • Give time, resources, or kindness to those outside your "tribe"
   • Example: Church paying off medical debt for entire community

2. Kindness

   • Respond to hostility with grace
   • Look for the humanity in those you disagree with

3. Listening

   • Seek to understand those with different views
   • Be open to changing your mind when presented with new information

These actions humanize the "other" and make it harder to maintain tribal animosity. They also reflect the character of Jesus, who showed radical love even to his enemies.

The impact can be transformative. Acts of unexpected kindness and generosity can break down walls of suspicion and create opportunities for genuine dialogue and understanding.

8. Pledge allegiance to Jesus above any earthly tribe

You must never allow your party's platform or interest to shape your ethics and beliefs more than Jesus's teachings do.

Jesus transcends political divisions. His teachings and kingdom vision don't neatly align with any modern political party or ideology. This means Christians must:

• Relativize their commitment to political tribes
• Be willing to critique their own "side" when it contradicts Jesus' teachings
• Resist the temptation to baptize political ideologies as "Christian"

Practical implications:

• Evaluate political positions through the lens of Jesus' teachings, not party loyalty
• Be willing to work with those of different political persuasions on issues that align with Kingdom values
• Maintain a prophetic voice, critiquing injustice and unrighteousness in all parties

This doesn't mean withdrawal from politics, but a refusal to let earthly tribalism supersede our primary identity as citizens of God's kingdom.

9. Admit when you don't know and be open to changing your mind

Don't believe everything you think.

Intellectual humility is crucial. Tribalism thrives on overconfidence and the illusion of complete knowledge. Resisting it requires:

• Admitting the limits of our knowledge
• Being open to new information
• Willingness to change our minds

The Dunning-Kruger effect illustrates the danger. Those with only surface-level knowledge of a topic are often the most confident in their opinions. True experts recognize the complexity of issues and are more likely to acknowledge uncertainty.

Practical steps:

• Cultivate intellectual humility
• Seek out information that challenges your views
• Be willing to say "I don't know" or "I was wrong"
• Listen to those with different perspectives or expertise

This approach doesn't mean abandoning convictions, but holding them with appropriate humility and openness to growth.

10. Cross tribal lines to build relationships with "others"

You should feel more at home with people who share your faith than people who share your politics.

Diverse relationships combat tribalism. When we have genuine friendships with those different from us, it becomes harder to demonize entire groups. This requires intentional effort:

• Seek out opportunities to interact with those of different backgrounds
• Be open to friendships that cross political, racial, or cultural lines
• Look for common ground and shared humanity

The church should model this diversity. Jesus brought together people who would normally be enemies (e.g., Simon the Zealot and Matthew the tax collector). Today's church should likewise be a place where diverse people unite around their shared identity in Christ.

Benefits of crossing tribal lines:

• Increased empathy and understanding
• Ability to see nuance in complex issues
• Resistance to stereotyping and prejudice
• Opportunity to be challenged and grow

By building these relationships, we reflect the inclusive love of Jesus and work against the divisive forces of tribalism in our society.

Last updated: November 16, 2024