Libertarian “meme-makers” were quick to jump on a sex scandal in Tennessee involving a female cop and her fellow officers.

I get it.

As a libertarian, I don’t particularly like cops either. But as a Christian, I find the mocking and derision in this situation disturbing.

As an institution, police have a lot of problems. In the first place, cops are government enforcers. They supply the brute force that enables government violence, force, and coercion. Second, disturbing institutional problems pervade police departments, including a culture of authoritarianism, violence, and a lack of respect for the people they supposedly “protect and serve.”

In this context, cops deserve derision. I understand the impulse to mock what cops do and how they do it in the line of duty, and I don’t completely discount using such messaging to advance the cause of liberty.

On the other hand, it’s important to remember that cops are people. And individual cops are individuals. It’s a little bit strange to see libertarians who elevate the sanctity of the individual suddenly become rabid collectivists when it comes to a group of people they don’t like.

So, where does solid libertarian messaging cross the line into self-righteous gossip?

In my opinion, mocking people because of a sex scandal crosses that line. This isn’t something that is specific to policing. There are people from every walk of life doing weird sex stuff. In fact, I am certain that a lot of people making and sharing these memes wouldn’t fare well if their own sexual exploits and perversions were suddenly made public.

Jesus and the woman at the well immediately come to mind. (John 4:1-26)

I’ll concede that as libertarians, we can debate whether mocking cops involved in a sex scandal like this crosses the line, or if it presents an opportunity to effectively communicate a libertarian message to a broader audience. But my real problem with this saga doesn’t have anything to do with libertarian strategy. It stems from my faith in Christ.

Jesus calls his followers to a different standard. He calls us to love even the unlovable. He calls us to remember the sanctity of every human life — even cops.

I keep coming back to this. If your political philosophy turns you into a hateful, mocking, derisive person, you might want to rethink your political philosophy.

Jesus teaches us to love our enemies. Jesus teaches us to extend grace and mercy. Jesus teaches us that we need to get our own spiritual and moral house in order before we go digging our fingers around in other people’s eyeballs.

Stop for just a moment and humanize this cop and her husband. Imagine the embarrassment she is suffering through right now. Imagine the pain her husband feels. Imagine being in that situation and having an entire world full of strangers leering at you, pointing fingers, and piling on.

Imagine how you would feel if the world directed a spotlight into the darkest recesses of your life and you suddenly became a meme.

And then “love your neighbor as yourself.”

Circling back, I confess that I kind of get it. I don’t like cops. I don’t like what they do. And yes, I share the disdain expressed by many of my libertarian brothers and sisters.

But as a follower of Christ, I want to be better – not a better libertarian – a better human being.

I think of how Jesus treated tax collectors. They were regarded in much the same way as many people view police officers. They were generally loathed by society. They worked in a morally questionable occupation. And I’m guessing they probably weren’t the most pleasant people in town.

How did Jesus treat tax collectors?

He didn’t mock them. He didn’t make memes about them. He didn’t shake his finger at them and lecture them about their career choice.

He invited them to dinner.

In fact, Jesus used a parable involving a tax collector to remind us not to get too cocky about our own place in the universe.

To some who were confident of their own righteousness and looked down on everyone else, Jesus told this parable:

“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and prayed: ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people—robbers, evildoers, adulterers—or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give a tenth of all I get.’

“But the tax collector stood at a distance. He would not even look up to heaven, but beat his breast and said, ‘God, have mercy on me, a sinner.’

“I tell you that this man, rather than the other, went home justified before God. For all those who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted.”

I am the tax collector in this scenario. I’m thankful that Jesus extends me mercy, and I don’t have to worry about him meming my worst moments.