I received an interesting article from a friend the other day. The basic story came from Ben Stein’s Christmas message. I admire the way that Ben Stein thinks, and I enjoy his writing. For example, I like stuff like this:
I am a Jew, and every single one of my ancestors was Jewish. And it does not bother me even a little bit when people call those beautiful lit up, bejeweled trees Christmas trees. I don't feel threatened. I don't feel discriminated against. That's what they are: Christmas trees. It doesn't bother me a bit when people say, "Merry Christmas" to me. I don't think they are slighting me or getting ready to put me in a ghetto. In fact, I kind of like it. It shows that we are all brothers and sisters celebrating this happy time of year. It doesn't bother me at all that there is a manger scene on display at a key intersection near my beach house in Malibu. If people want a creche, it's just as fine with me as is the Menorah a few hundred yards away.
The article that I received had some additional thoughts tagged onto Ben’s words. There was a quote from Anne Graham. I don’t admire the way that she thinks. Here is an example of why:
"I believe God is deeply saddened by this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives. And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out. How can we expect God to give us His
blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?"
What’s the big difference? The biggest is this. Ben is saying how he thinks, and Anne is telling me how I should think. When people take the time to tell you how to think it is because they think that they can, or they should. This job is best left to our spouses.
People tell us how to think, so that we will be on their side, for whatever reason that they have. When this occurs, I seldom see it as someone interested in my salvation. It’s about power, or money. I will freely admit that I know nothing about Anne Graham, except for who her father is. It’s not that I want to attack her personally. I just hate this kind of thought, because it is intended to divide folks (which is bad), and I see it as the greatest threat available to spirituality, and therefore, Christianity.
OK, let me get on with my pontification, and carving up her words.
"I believe God is deeply saddened by this,” suggests some knowledge that she has the inside track on the emotions of the Almighty. Isn’t that a bit presumptuous? Furthermore, trying to define God in human terms is either an insult to Him, or a huge compliment to yourself. If anything has been made clear to us, it is that we are us, and He is Him, and that we are unable, in our humanity, to fully comprehend. (now, we see as through a glass darkly.)
Therefore, anyone that tells us with absolute clarity, how God feels; is a fool, or a con.
“For years we've been telling God to get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to get out of our lives.”
Who is the “we” here? If it’s not me, and it’s not you, and it’s not her, then who is it, and furthermore, does it matter who they are? If you find yourself disconnected to your maker because you can’t pray in school, or because they took down some sign at the courthouse, then you ain’t really trying anyway. I just can’t see how any of these things create any obstacle to having a personal relationship with God.
”And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly backed out.” Just more of this tripe about defining God in human terms that she understands, and is happy to explain it to us, for our benefit. Are we supposed to smell a burning bush when she talks like this? In point of fact, it is quite contrary to what we learn from the Bible. Check out the way that the Jews tell their story in Chronicles and Kings, and then check it out against your own experience. God never backs out, we do. Then we find ourselves in despair, find our way back to Him, say we’re sorry, and we are warmly accepted back into relationship.
How can we expect God to give us His blessing and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?"
Because he is God, we can hope for his blessing. We don’t deserve it, but we get it anyway. It’s called Grace. Protection has never been promised, and to think that God will protect people of a particular geography or belief system is hateful and divisive. Think how silly the song would sound if it were “He’s got only the Republican’s, in his hands, He’s got the people in my city, in his hands…”
The “whole world,” seems a lot more appropriate.
What’s my point? It’s this.
Ben makes a comment, which is filled with love and understanding.
Anne makes comments filled with judgment, and division, cleverly disguised as being Christian. It’s not Christian. It’s about politics. It’s about rallying people together, for political strength, so that Christianity can be legislated into places where they want it.
There is nothing in this world that can stop us from seeking His inspiration. Who said so?
“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8:38
If we find ourselves on the outside, we have only ourselves to blame. And anyone that tries to fix the blame elsewhere, and then offer the solution, should shut up, (please).
And now, I will.
God Bless
Michelle~