At any rate, it is difficult to write this morning without addressing yesterday's comments from former Presidential candidate/televangelist/pundit Pat Robertson. Now, I woke up this morning determined to write about anything other than "Rev." Pat. Then, I clicked on my TV set while drinking my morning coffee. What I saw there was the morning programing of Turner South, home to The Braves, re-runs of The Andy Griffith Show, and all things Southern. It's also the channel I'd been watching the night before when the Cubs scored their 8th run against the Braves and I turned off the set to go to sleep.
There, on the theological academy that is Turner South, I got to hear the musings of "Rick and Bubba," as they debated the fine points of Pat Robertson's comments. The Rick and Bubba Show is broadcast on country radio stations around the nation every morning, and their listenership is especially strong here in the Southeast. Mostly, their audience is made up of thirty-something, southern, white guys like me. Listening to them go at it, it became obvious that Pat Robertson would have to be my topic for this day, whether I liked it or not.
It amazes me that his comments could get so much media coverage. Personally, I tend to think of Pat Robertson much as I would an old, eccentric (which is always a nice way of saying "nutty") uncle that you only see at family reunions every few years. For the most part he's harmless, and nobody really listens to what he's got to say because they know that he's liable to say anything, anytime. Such outbursts are especially likely to happen when "Uncle Pat" hasn't been getting enough attention. Generally, you just have to hope that most people will overlook the stuff he comes up with, and be kind to a doddering old man. And, for the most part, that's what happens. We forget he's out there.
But this time, his comments have been all over the place, picked up by most every cable news outlet. Granted, what he said on this occasion did have to do with his advocacy for the government-sanctioned, illegal execution of a foreign head of state and all, but who's really listening to him anyway? Honestly, I figure that some other sensational thing will happen soon (it may have already) and by tomorrow, our crazy Uncle Pat will again be relegated to a far corner of the Christian family table, surrounded only by those few folks who think his odd stories and irate spoutings are cute.
But, maybe I'm wrong. Either Rick and Bubba are two of "those few" who agree with him, or they represent a section of the Christian faith that I struggle to comprehend. It was fascinating to hear them as they defended Robertson on their morning show. Now, who knows if any of what they said is really what they believe. I'm certainly cynical enough to believe that what they were doing was pandering to their demographic and looking for higher ratings. But, the fact that they could even make that decision perhaps does betray something that they think they know about the people who listen to their show.
Most of the time, entertainment programs don't go looking to anger and isolate their target audience. If what they were preaching was hitting home with their listeners, the most frightening point is that the "defense" they were making wasn't a political one (Hugo Chavez is a threat), or a practical one (Pat's right after all, assassination is cheaper than a war), it was a theological one.
Rarely do we get to witness a real, live, Christian debate happening in our media, and I relished the opportunity to hear "real people," like Rick and Bubba's callers, talk theology. For that matter, ol' Rick and Bubba were pretty "real" themselves. Their first caller said, "I say let the pastor without sin throw the first stone. Pat Robertson was wrong, and Jesus would never have said something like that." Alright, I thought, there's a pretty good start. "Oh Yeah," replied Bubba, "how would you prove that with scripture?" I sat up and took notice. Now this was getting really good.
"Well, how about, 'love your enemies, and pray for them,'" the caller responded. He continued, "or what about, 'turn the other cheek?'" The caller then went on to outline how Jesus consistently loved the unloveable and risked himself for others, even those who would mean to do him harm. "That's great and all," Rick said, "but Jesus was just talking about how we treat each other. It's different when we're talking about nations and countries. The God of the Bible has lots to say about how right it is to fight and destroy evil countries."
Admittedly, this show is an offbeat place to jump into discussions of Christian theology and "just war" theory, but the basic conflict outlined in those few moments forms the core of a debate among Christians that is as old as the faith itself, and continues still today. In fact, even the disciples had disagreements over the way that a Christian should seek to affect change in his or her world. Remember Simon "the zealot?" He and others like him advocated the overthrow of the Roman oppressors by force, and they must have been sorely disappointed in the plan that Jesus hatched. You see, it didn't have anything to do with assassinating Caesar.
Can there really be one set of Jesus' teaching that applies to how we treat the person next door, in the office, or at the busy intersection, but another that applies to the conduct of nations and conflict that happens on the world stage? Rick & Bubba seem to think so, maybe Pat Robertson does too, and so do we if we're not paying close attention to the way we think and act everyday.
The practice of picking and choosing which part of Jesus we allow to impact our lives (individually and collelctively) is a losing proposition. And yet, even with that knowledge, we all still do it. We know that we can't just take the part of him that we like, and that we shouldn't just invite him into the conversations that we choose.
I'm not a pacifist, and I painfully acknowledge that there are times when there is no reasonable choice but to fight. Even so, I just can't see how any follower of Jesus can read his words, experience his grace, or take him at all seriously and still believe that bloodshed (no matter to whom the blood belongs, or how much they deserve to have it shed) is the easy or obvious answer.
The challenge that I face today is one of really trying to live with all of Jesus' words. I have to let them push me into uncomfortable places. Above all, I have to entertain the strong possibility that the words of Jesus which I find most difficult, scandalous or offensive are the ones that most likely touch the very places in my heart that need the greatest healing.
Discipleship isn't easy. Love isn't for sissies. Hitting first, hitting back, or even hitting at all almost always seems like a good plan at first, but it's the hardest and most damaging path in the end. The miracle of Jesus' teachings is that they always offer us that which we most need. He never fails to be a source of comfort for the afflicted, and deep affliction for the comfortable. Which ones are we? When I read his words with an open heart, I always seem to know.
Jesus said, among many things, "blessed are the peacemakers." May his disciples always strive to be makers of the peace.
USEFUL STUFF UPDATE:
Last week I asked everybody to contribute any helpful links or resources that they have used in their own devotional lives and found helpful. Thanks to Baeh Reid, who points us toward http://www.bibleplayer.org/ a really helpful tool if you're an ipod or MP3 user.
Also, thanks to all of you who gave feedback on the sacred space site. I'm very glad it was helpful.
And, if this article has piqued your interest in working more with what "just war" theory is all about, check out http://plato.stanford.edu/entries/war/ This is the best synopsis of this very old philosophical/religious school of thought that I've seen. If you've got some time, and really enjoy wading in deep water, this might be for you.
LIFE AT SOTH:
Remember, God Is Closer Than You Think study will begin on Wednesday night, September 14th, 7 pm up at "The Ranch." This will be the first time we've put one of our newly renovated spaces to a big test, and I think we'll be able to hold everybody. The big room that was formerly Sandi's office on the end of the house is now an open classroom space, and we'll set it up for our use on Wednesday nights. Books are now on sale for $10, payable at the church office, or on Sunday mornings.
SOTH has a wonderful tradition of Wednesday night dinners together, once every month. We'll continue that tradition next Wednesday night, August 31, down at the main church building. Everybody is welcome and the food will be ready to go at 6:30 pm. After that, look forward to food and fellowship every 3rd Wednesday night in September, October and November.
"A Picture of Jesus" worship series will conclude this Sunday in all services. We'll look at the story of Lazarus, brought back to life by Jesus, and "Life" will be the theme of the day.
Know that I always appreciate your feedback and conversation. You can e-mail me by viewing my profile and following the e-mail link. Also, the letter icon below this column will allow you to forward this blog on to any friends (and hope they've got plenty of time to read!).
Grace & Peace,
Adam
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