I've been a Christian for the majority of my life. I was born a little over 37 years ago on a Monday. That following Sunday, I joined my parents in church (like I had any choice). Actually, my dad was the Sunday School Superintendent and my mother was the piano player. The musician Brian Duncan has a song in the early 90's that mirrored the story of my life - Mr. Bailey's Daughter. I went on to attend Bible college and was a licensed minister for several years. Church and church life is something I'm very familiar with.
I wrote in my blog some time back about the fuss raised by Christians about what was happenening with the Christmas Holiday this year. Now, there's another bru-ha-ha stirring in regard to the up-and-coming TV series The Book of Daniel. Undoubtedly this will be Hollywood doing what it does when it comes to religion and I don't mean painting a good picture. However, when I read the story line for the pilot, I couldn't help but see the majority of "Christian" households being described there. Parent's struggling with an issue in their life while their children are struggling with others. Unfortunately, ministers aren't exempt from the pains and misfortunes of life. What is it about the Christian crowd that makes them freak out when a little bit of reality raises its head? Is this a case of the dog barking because it just got hit by a thrown rock? I just have to laugh.
But, I'm not writing about the Book of Daniel. Instead, I'm writing is in response to one of the most dispicable statements think I've ever seen in print in my lifetime. Pat Robertson, in response to the news that Ariel Sharon was stricken with what will likely be a mortal stroke, said this could be an "act of God" against the man for handing the Gaza Strip over to the Palestinians a few months ago. He also attributes to the assassination of Yitzhak Rabin as also being possibly at the hand of God later in the same article. Of course this isn't the first time. Not long ago, Mr. Robertson hinted on the air that the president of Venezuela should be assassinated and suggested that Pennsylvania voters should not expect the help of God in a natural disaster because they were "voting Him out of their schools." Is the judgment of God something to be celebrated?
I've got nothing against Pat Robertson. I grew up watching him with my parents (one TV in the house. Mom and Dad watched what THEY wanted to). But, it seems like that every time he's in the news it's because he has insinuated or said something that is a huge stretch for Biblical Christianity and has to answer for it. Strangely enough, worldly people know what the Gospel is supposed to sound like and are quick to cry foul when Christians step out of line - and they should.
Of course he's not the only offender. Jerry Fallwell blamed the terrorist attacks of 9/11 on the abortion industry and any and everyone who had sex outside of marriage. I remember thinking "if that was the case, why weren't there more planes? They could have set the entire country on fire to kill everyone who was 'in sin'." Any number of TV evangelists create another set of problems for any of us who try to live out our faith everyday.
I don't claim to have all the answers or to have the perfect theology or philosophy for this life. I'm just trying to make my way like anyone else. But, if these guys can't keep their feet out of their mouths, the rest of us will need to come up with something else to call ourselves - because Christian has already been taken - for the worst.
2 comments:
hoel:
a couple thoughts. first, i agree with you on pat robertson. i'm embarrassed by his seeming unfamiliarity with the fact that a new covenant--one of mercy and one that has shifted toward the gentiles not ancient territorial boundaries--is in effect.
second, what a terrible thought about more planes! interesting, but evil. pure evil. true, even. but evil, pure evil. bad hoel. no donut. :)
I know that's a bad picture. More planes - just plain scary. My problem is how these people can keep saying things like this and remain on the air. They already are irrelevant, but they think people are listening to them. The only time people pay attention is when something assinine comes out of their mouths - which appears to be more frequently these days.
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