Circuit Writer

My latest column for The Tahlequah Christian, written for the week of April 25 – May 1.

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I’m quoting from a page found on Facebook, the popular social networking site:

DEAR LORD, THIS YEAR YOU TOOK MY FAVORITE ACTOR, PATRICK SWAYZIE. YOU TOOK MY FAVORITE ACTRESS, FARAH FAWCETT. YOU TOOK MY FAVORITE SINGER, MICHAEL JACKSON. I JUST WANTED TO LET YOU KNOW, MY FAVORITE PRESIDENT IS BARACK OBAMA. AMEN.

I didn’t spend any time setting up this comment, because it’s not worth the setup. This type of language is crass and despicable, and what’s worse, it’s said in the guise of religious language that is presumably Christian. For those of you who may remember me making any comment in Sunday School class or even from the pulpit that other Christians are controlling the discourse about our faith and making us look bad, this is exactly the kind of thing that I was talking about. This behavior is hate speech pure and simple.

As you all know, I’m not interested in whom you support politically or what party affiliations you hold (and legally I can’t as your pastor), but I hope that this type of language is something we can all agree is pushing across the lines of both Christian morality and good taste. To wish death for anyone, even in what is supposedly a “joking” manner, is to be out of relationship with that person and others as well. This is not consistent with the Jesus who a) dined with tax collectors, b) defended allegedly adulterous women, c) touched and healed leprous people, d) learned from the example of foreign women … the list could go on and on.

We don’t have to like our elected officials, but this type of behavior lies clearly beyond the pale. If we want to make a difference in our public life, wishing for the death of our opponents isn’t going to cut it. We have to raise our voice and work to make a meaningful difference – something that we mainline Protestants seem to have forgotten how to do over the last couple hundred years.

If the tone of my writing sounds angry, then you’ve caught my drift. And you should be angry as well – as a Christian, this hateful “prayer” was delivered in your name, too.

Living the hope of resurrection,

Clint