Wednesday, May 23, 2007
Decidedly un-Christian
Luanne Traud
Recent columns
- Marking a difficult anniversary
- My daughter, the voter
- A few new Voices would be nice
- A rush to legislate
From the RoundTable blog
Toward the end of each working day I pull up the queue where letters to the editor await the next stage of the editing process. For the most part I enjoy this work since letters would remain unwritten save for the passion that caused the letter writer to bang out words on a keyboard or to, yes even in this electronic age, take pen to paper.
I look forward to the well-thought-out arguments, the turn of a good phrase, the energy expended in taking us to task over some perceived grievance and even the challenge of puzzling through a particularly obscure sentence to understand the meaning the writer wishes to convey. I especially relish letters that present views on editorials that we have written when they cast the issue in a different light.
But there are times that I feel the need to take a vigorous shower to cleanse away particularly hateful passages, especially those that are regurgitated mob-like sentiments. These run along a common theme: God hates gays, liberals, illegal immigrants and editorial writers because gays, liberals, illegal immigrants and editorial writers hate Christians, disobey God's word -- even banished him from public schools, violate the Constitution and pick our hard-earned tax money out of our pockets and use it support gays, liberals, illegal immigrants and editorial writers.
Well, maybe not editorial writers. No, they just think hard-working folk should pay for the food, clothing, housing and health care of those good-for-nothings who won't go out and work for a living.
I know that I will most likely regret what I am about to say, knowing full well that I will unleash the wrath of the avengers, but worst of all are these so-called "Christians" who believe they, and they alone, are the true believers and carriers of the faith.
All my life I have thought of myself as Christian. But I have been mistaken. I am not "Christian" enough.
I experienced an epiphany of sorts, and I have Jerry Falwell to thank.
It finally dawned on me, after reading a number of letters criticizing our May 16 editorial, "Falwell's judgment day," in which letter writers erroneously accused us of picking on Christians, some actually wished our ruination, and I'm sure if allowed more than 200 words in which to express that sentiment would have preferred our eternity be spent in the fiery bowels of hell. I am not that kind of "Christian," thank God.
I have never been able to quote Scripture, nor have I read every chapter and verse of the Old Testament. I have, though, embraced the good news found in the New Testament. I believe the message of the Gospels is one of love, that Jesus is unconditional love and that although as human beings we will continue to fail at love we should approach every day and every situation with love guiding our choices.
That allows us to challenge each other in a respectful manner, and to, as the cliche goes, comfort the afflicted and afflict the comfortable -- especially if we ourselves become too comfortable, too complacent. And certainly if we become too rigid, too righteous in our beliefs. Because then, the message of love is corrupted; it becomes instead one of protectionism, one of fear, one of losing.
That, to me, is where Falwell failed. Although I never attended one of his services in Lynchburg, I had on occasion caught a television broadcast or listened to a radio interview or read a newspaper or magazine piece.
He said outrageous things because he knew they would be broadcast and that people would pay attention, even if the things he said were purposefully hurtful. I wonder if those who are so quick to criticize our editorial of the very public Falwell the day following his death, claiming it was too soon and failed to appreciate the sorrow of his family, felt the same way when Falwell blamed the 9/11 terrorists attack on the victims.
Yes, I know technically he blamed gays, liberals and feminists, but those labels surely fit many of those who perished.
That isn't love speaking. Nor is it love speaking when a preacher takes to the national stage to declare a beloved children's character is a homosexual because he's purple, has a triangle symbol and carries a purse. I thought the Teletubbies a bit freakish, but gay? What type of person even looks for sexuality in a children's character? The same type who sees the demons in fellow human beings rather than their godly blessings.
If that's being "Christian," count me out.
Traud is a member of The Roanoke Times editorial board.
