I’m glad in our apoplectic politically correct world it’s still open season on Christians. Jews, Aboriginals, Blacks, etc. – not a chance! But Christians!
Problem is – I am one. But not one of those! (Bruce *censored*burn). Fact is, I applaud the open season. I say it’s well-deserved after centuries of abuse when we called the shots in the West and knew it. Further, I am so on-side with Evangelical-bashing (at least of the Evangelical kind currently dominant to the south.) Problem is again – I am one (to the north).
BIGGER problem is, I actually believe calling oneself Christian means (taking a stab at though doing it poorly) taking Jesus seriously. Evangelicals don’t. Open secret. Vast majority of Christians to the south don’t. Appallingly blatant. Like George for instance, whose “favourite philosopher” (he actually said that without choking!) is Jesus Christ. Or Tony and Stephen. All Evangelicals. All national leaders. All so blind-sighted by wanton violence they wouldn’t recognize Jesus if he sat right beside them at a G8 summit or in a church pew. (He does, actually, Evangelicals believe: stranger yet we believe he even lives inside us.)
There is something peculiarly perverse about the vast majority of English-speaking Evangelicals who openly reject the teachings of Jesus on what one Bible teacher (Walter Wink) calls the Myth of Redemptive Violence, and another (Richard Hays) names consequently massive unfaithfulness.
Jesus taught: Love your enemies. Evangelicals teach: Destroy your enemies. The juxtaposition is that starkly blatant. Name whom you will: Billy Graham; Franklin Graham; Chuck Colson; Richard Land; James Dobson; Pat Robertson... The list goes on ad nauseum. And these are among the moderates…
Noted historian Sean Wilentz presented in Rolling Stone, April 21, 2006 the reasons George W. Bush is already judged by the majority of American historians as the worst President in U.S. history. Yet vast majority Evangelical opinion in the U.S., including that of British Prime Minister Blair and newly elected Canadian Prime Minister Harper, is jarringly out of step with that assessment.
Worse for other Evangelical and Christian believers the world over, vast majority U.S. Evangelical affirmation of Jesus as “Lord, Lord” including that by afore-mentioned Prime Ministers, turns out to be one massive religious contradiction of same, what the Bible refers to as “taking the Lord’s name in vain.”
So I say (while of course (!) loving my enemies), in President Bush’s immortal words, to all Evangelical-bashers out there: “Bring ‘em on!”
And with Tiny Tim I add, “God bless us, everyone!”
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