Normally I do not get political with my Religion in the City column. The articles are supposed to challenge and be an inspiring muse in people’s spiritual life. It has never been my intention to write to the left or right in either our community’s churches or government. I do not stand on the side of pro-lifers any more than I speak for pro-choicers. My articles are meant to be mindful expressions on the side of love, grace, hope and dignity for all of God’s children.
However, this last week I got myself caught up in a bit of a political/religious dialogue at the Hookah Palace in downtown Lakeland. Passing a Hookah pipe around a group of friends, conversations arise that might not ever find space or time in the “small talk” world of most of our daily lives. One of the quaint niceties of the Hookah Lounge is that each little table/couch setting is sectioned off by a partitioning curtain. The curtains give the idea of privacy but give little actual seclusion from anyone else.
As I sat reading the other day in my little couch area, the group next to me was discussing the recent words of Virginia State Delegate Bob Marshall, Republican from Manassas.
The number of children who are born subsequent to a first abortion with handicaps has increased dramatically. Why? Because when you abort the firstborn of any, nature takes its vengeance on the subsequent children. — Bob Marshall, R-Manassas
Apparently he really believes that children born with disabilities are God’s punishment for abortion. Mr. Marshall based his understanding of God’s punishment off Exodus 13:2.
Consecrate to me every firstborn male. The first offspring of every womb among the Israelites belongs to me, whether man or animal.
In all honesty the conversation would not have bothered me enough to say something normally. People are always warping scripture to put God on the side of their power and control issues. What surprised me was that the group of college students started naming other tragedies, illnesses and disasters that they believed could be caused because of God’s wrath. I think I actually laughed out loud though, when I heard one person say that they thought that the earthquake in Haiti could have been God’s response to Obama becoming President!
I would like to tell you this misinformed conversation of the group that day was the simply the result of classism, racism and bigotry, though I want to blame schools, media and the literalist babblings of right winged bible thumpers. I fear the blame needs to fall on our churches, synagogues and other religious bodies who have either not taught their members how to love or taught them to love and then allowed them to keep their light –under a bushel.
It is easy for open minded, educated, loving people to turn the other cheek, in essence saying “I know God loves me…to hell with you!” I think this is one of the reasons why when Jesus talked about the spiritual gift of tongues, he focused more on the interpreting of tongues rather then the gift of speaking them.
5I would like every one of you to speak in tongues,[c] but I would rather have you prophesy. He who prophesies is greater than one who speaks in tongues,[d] unless he interprets, so that the church may be edified. (1 Corinthians 14:5)
It has been convenient for liberal minded, educated Christians to blame the moral, ethical and spiritual brokenness of society on close minded churches and believers. However, I fear the injustice and misunderstanding are more likely a consequence of the apathy of educated, Christian minds. Our society listens to Fox News, Rush Libaugh, Pat Robertson and Virginia State Delegate Marshall because they are the ones who are willing to teach and share answers to people’s questions.
It is of no good to anyone to have love, knowledge or inner peace if you are not willing to share it — fight for it — teach it — and when it comes to justice, sometimes even die for it.
Do your friends, family, co-worker and church know what you believe in — what you stand for? With all your education, years of church, bible reading and services attended, are you living a gospel of grace or just talking one?
Bio: Chris Craig received his Master’s in Social Work from Tulane University and his Master’s in Pastoral Care & Counseling from Garrett Seminary. Chris guest preaches, leads spirituality classes, and works in social services in Lakeland. Chris is not ordained in any church, and his columns do not speak for any churches or organizations where he might be affiliated.
Cliff Wheeler
6 months ago
My first comment , Craig, is that I hope it was just a good quality tobacco mixture that you were smoking. My next comment is that I believe the world is simply full of individuals that want a “god” that is utilitarian and who does only what “We” wish him to do and on “Our” standard. The use of capitalization is intentional. The reality is that There is “GOD” and “He” is in control. I don’t pretend to know the answers as to why God allows terrible things to befall “good people” or catastrophic events to happen to nations. I do believe there is a bigger plan than that envisioned by my small mind and with my pitiful understanding. The question that comes to my mind with events such as the horrendous quake in Haiti is “how is God by His Grace going to turn this to His glory?”. I believe that many people do not understand the extent of the love of God and His immeasurable grace and patience with the world including the greatest of his creation (us). We are to blame in our sin for deserving the death and destruction that occurs. We have fought against our Creator from the beginning. The Christian is not immune to the events that create grief and hardship, but we do have the hope of salvation from the evil that plagues the world. I concur that there is a lot of hype regarding God as a fierce, vengeful being as opposed to a loving , sustaining, merciful one. The ones who are most anxious to express their views, unfortunately, are the Right wing conservative, hell fire and brimstone theologically oriented,and self-righteous individuals who have their own agenda to promote. The God I know looks upon the lost ,first child following an abortion with tears for both, and grief for the people of Haiti.
Carol
6 months ago
Thank goodness to hear a (I assume) Christian person admitting admonishing their fellow “believers” on their hateful judgments. I thought Nicholas Kristof had a great column on a similar theme Saturday (http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/28/opinion/28kristof.html)
Rod
6 months ago
Well, let’s just say that when you believe in the supernatural, all bets are off when it comes to who has the better way to interpret disaster. If earthquakes are not just a consequence of plate tectonics, then it becomes amusing to see the mental gymnastics required to see these disasters as all part of the plan of a loving god. As in, Yes, I know your family was crushed but don’t you see how all this is part of God’s plan for his greater glory? Cliff thinks they died deservedly because of their sin…and then seems to scratch his head at right-wingnuts who stress the god-fearing aspect of religion.
When you believe that a two-thousand year old book holds a god’s words, you truly have jumped ship from any possibility of rational understanding of reality, and the best way to deal with it. Blaming the victim for being sinfull and at the same time trying to explain YOUR continued non-sinless existence as due to a god’s mercy has to be the definition of Stockholm syndrome.
Chris and Cliff, I have no real reason, from what you have said, to think that either of you would have been the one person in Salem who didn’t believe in witchcraft.