Ad Hominem, Ad Nauseum

“Nazareth! Can anything good come from there?”¹ Having accepted Jesus’ invitation to “Follow me,” Philip found Nathanael² and proclaimed the news the Jews had been awaiting for millennia: “We have found him of whom Moses in the Law and also the prophets wrote, Jesus of Nazareth.”³ Now one would think Nathanael might leap to his feet at the thought of Messianic prophecies fulfilled, but his response to the good news was ad hominem dismissal —Serious, Philip? Nazareth? C’mon!

An ad hominem (ad-‘hä-mǝ-nem) misstep occurs when we let our assessment of one’s character influence the acceptability of his/her assertions. For example, we dislike President [insert name here], so we deny the viability of anything he says or does. The opposite occurs as well, our blind acceptance of anything spoken from those we approve. These are reasoning “fallacies” that occur at any level — national, cultural, ideological, and personal. Ad hominem accusations often express themselves in name-calling — labels such as “extremist” in political contexts or “Pharisee” in more “pious” settings. Having so labeled others, we cease to consider their arguments. The ensuing losses are tragic: oneness, objectivity, peace, and productivity, for instance.

Judging comes naturally to us, so we must be careful not to determine the truth of a matter by our categorization of one’s character. While Jesus was eating at a Pharisee’s house, for example, “a woman . . . who had lived a sinful life . . . began to wet his feet with her tears. Then she wiped them with her hair, kissed them and poured perfume on them.”⁴ Watching this, the host thought privately, “If this man were a prophet, he would know who is touching him and what kind of woman she is—that she is a sinner.”⁵ Knowing his thoughts, Jesus pointed to the woman’s actions, saying, “Therefore, I tell you, her many sins have been forgiven—as her great love has shown.”⁶ The religious leader had judged the woman’s actions by her reputation, but Jesus discerned her character through her actions.

Which brings us back to Nathanael. His story did not end at cultural character assassination, rather before the sun set that day, this new disciple had proclaimed the Nazarene—“Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the king of Israel.”⁷ Such a stunning reversal. What changed? Nathanael discovered that Jesus knew him and called him, just as he was. “You will see greater things,”⁸ Jesus told him. Indeed, something good had come from Nazareth. He comes to us, too.

Father, forgive me for judging the proverbial book by its cover. Inspire me through peoples’ faithful acts of obedience, that I would appreciate them and go and do likewise. In Christ I pray. Amen.

¹ John 1:46 NIV
² Only John calls Nathanael by his given name; the other three gospel writers identify him by his family name, “Bartholamew” (son of Tolmai). Whether Nathanael BarTolmei and Philip were brothers or merely friends is unclear.
³ John 1:45 ESV
⁴ Luke 7:37-38 NIV
⁵ Luke 7:39 NIV
⁶ Luke 7:47 NIV
⁷ John 1:49 ESV
⁸ John 1:50 ESV