Don’t Be Good

By: Gabriela Yareliz

Have you noticed that people use other’s desire to be perceived as “good” as a manipulation tactic? People choose groupthink, their likes and dislikes (and sometimes their vaccinations and medical procedures) based on optics, oftentimes. ‘What will people think?’ is often the undercurrent. The craving for acceptance can be so exploited.

People manipulate others in politics and especially religion with this idea of “Don’t you want to be good? Don’t you want to be a good Democrat/Conservative/Christian/Muslim/Jew/wife/employee?”

And listen, there is a concept of righteousness that exists, but it’s not what people try to manipulate you with.

I once had a pastor who wanted to meet with me, alone. I said no. He said he would not listen to my ideas unless I met alone with him. I continued to refuse. Out of revenge, he gave my personal number (which the church had because I was actively serving in a Bible class), and gave it to every undocumented person in the church saying I was a free attorney for them. The whole church was undocumented so you can imagine how that played out. He said that my refusal to be manipulated made me a “bad Christian.” I was hot with anger and my hands were shaking when he accused me. I knew this guy was out of his damn mind, and he was an abuser. Few things piss me off more than someone weak and disgusting in power.

When I look at the concerted attacks right now against many Christians, whether it’s on their views on politics, world/foreign policy— there is this undercurrent of “Don’t you want to be good? Fall in line.” (Also, I have to go on record to say I was disappointed to see Jordan B. Peterson partake in this because I am a fan of his work). JBP should know, people do anything for acceptance and a quick buck.

We all saw this manipulation spectacularly during the pandemic. We quickly decided what made people “good” and what made people “grandma killers.” Medical professionals threw judgment out the window. People were so ok falling in line with something that had no basis, and people were fine and almost thrilled to other and exclude others (proven to be pointless).

This is why there is so much abuse in communities— we allow abuse and manipulation to spread when we don’t stand up to it. We prefer our temporary gain versus assessing the damage and consequences.

Slander and lies hold no weight. People are crazy out there, and liars destroy themselves.

Take it from someone who has been seen as a “bad Christian” and bad many things— it doesn’t matter. Put people in their place. If being “good” means being manipulated and falling in line— I don’t want to be “good.” I would rather be true and love and just.