If what I said yesterday sounded a bit too "optimistic" or upbeat, let me ground it in the reality of R.J. Eskow's comments.
I am, frankly, sick to death of reading comments by people who know only about Christianity what they see on TV. Claiming to be worldly-wise or more insightful because they heard someone mention Fraser's The Golden Bough ("All Christianity is Mithraism!") or because they've heard of Jerry Falwell and James Dobson (who is NOT a minister; it amazes me how many people don't know that; nor is Pat Robertson, since he resigned his ordained status many years ago to run for President), means only one thing: you still believe that the whole world is contained in the "Tee-Vee." You are still, in Harlan Ellison's immortal phrase, suckling on the glass teat.
Time you were weaned.
As Mr. Eskow points out, the National Council of Churches represents tens of millions of Christians, and it forcibly objected to the invasion of Iraq. Did you hear about it on Tee-Vee? No. So, apparently, it didn't happen.
4 Christians are captives in Iraq right now, walking around (like only a few independent journalists, most of whom report for Free Speech News) in places even soldiers won't go; small wonder they were taken hostage. Why are they doing this? Because they are people of faith.
People of faith don't claw their way into big pulpits with bright TV lights and four cameras focussed on them at all times (and don't kid yourself, the ambition and lust for power it takes to ascend to that level of public scrutiny, to control that kind of financial empire, the sheer egotism involved, is no different for a preacher than it is for a TV national anchor.). People of faith don't tell you what they are doing, and make sure you understand their motives, and worry about getting your approval.
They just do it; because that is their faith, their belief, their Christianity.
Never heard of Christianity like that? Maybe you should get over yourself, and feel more a fool for your ignorance, than dismissive because such Christians are such a minority. Of course they are; they always have been; they always will be.
How many Martin Luther King, Jr.'s does it take, anyway? How many Jesus's of Nazareth?
It's all about leavening the flour. It's not about getting interviewed by Katie Couric, or running your own radio station, or owning more TV cameras.
Mr. Eskow ends by suggesting we pray for these four Christians, if we are of a mind to; and certainly prayer is always called for. He calls them heroes, and there I would diverge with him only slightly. The world needs more heroes, Mr. Eskow writes; and he is correct; but I would call them Christians. And the world could certainly use a few more like them.
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