Tuesday, April 07, 2009
Woodstock II: A Savior Among Us
It's rather interesting that people all need a savior and will turn to a wishy washy politician to be thier idol if they can't find the real thing? Here is a good place to start. It's more complicated than believing red string tied on your hand will ward off evil spirits (Demi Moore?), but it's also much more real.
Is it any wonder that a false savior will, in subtle ways, downplay the importance of two of the things that keep powerful "leaders" at bay and protect American families: God and guns. I don't promote using guns against our politicians of course. What I am saying, however, is that our ability to protect ourselves and our families from criminals as well as totalitarianism is important. Whether speaking about an individual or a country, having the firepower can deter the need for using it. As we learned from the Karate Kid, you do not learn karate for revenge. You learn karate so you don't have to fight, Daniel-san! The alternative of needing firepower or fighting power and not having it would be quite unfortunate, and as we see in every crazed school shooting, it always is.
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I think the first part of your post hit on an important issue- people being willing to find their savior in a politician. If I may take that and move it in a different direction toward something I've been reflecting on: I think that many Christians in the U.S. have particularly fallen into the expectation that electing the "right" leader will save the country, give them hope, and if the "wrong" leader is elected, society is heading to hell in a handbasket. We falsely assume that society's problems can be solved by empowering the right ideology, and somehow those ideologies are more blessed, or the actions flowing out of them. Some Christians seem to forget that our hope does not lie in this world, not in political power or influence. Allying ourselves too closely with any party or candidate may compromise our ability to speak prophetically into the power structure, calling for justice and mercy and offering a not-of-this-world way of looking at things that God calls us to. In response to the post comment, it seems actually emphasizing God could be a tactic that a false savior may find useful- in a way that keeps Christians from questioning- throw out some Bible verses, some hymn lyrics, and they'll follow you anywhere- because, after all, the leader is godly, right? Take Bush's quote in a speech at Ellis Island: "This ideal of America is the hope of all mankind…. That hope still lights our way. And the light shines in the darkness. And the darkness has not overcome it." So now we've substituted America for Christ, but sometimes we confuse the two anyway, so let's not question too much. Lest we write this off as Bush-bashing, yes, I think the critique and challenge to Christians to stand apart and offer an alternative voice is just as important during the Obama administration as well.
ReplyDeleteOn deterrence: I think that often as a society, or as individuals, we jump to the idea that firepower deterrence is the only answer for the situation- the only way to keep us safe. I think instead it reflects a way of thinking, and potentially acting, that is more likely to bring about violence and continue the violent downward spiral. Also, emphasizing the weapons fix often keeps us from having to address the root causes of the violence, whether school violence, or an international situation. I think it is also useful to look at our overwhelming desire for security, which is ever elusive- where does the quest end, and as Christians, where should our ultimate security lie? Do we fall into thinking it lies in having superior power over others- a bigger gun? It seems that Christ promoted the opposite type of relationships- coming under, not over. He calls us to peace, to love our enemies, to turn the other cheek- how do we do that as we promote building of advance military capabilities that will be used to kill those designated as our enemies (or are these simply sound nice phrases that he tossed about?)? It seems that if we are not careful, all is seen as "us" over against "them-" a tit-for-tat thinking that drags us all down. Jesus could've spent some of his time on earth advocating the overthrow of the totalitarian Roman empire, which was brutally mistreating the Jews, or armed his followers, but instead he spent it showing a different way to live. And I think that way calls us to rethink how we do international relations, as well as personal ones.
ReplyDeleteGreat points, Carrie. You've got me thinking. I agree with you that our savior is not found in mankind and certainly not in career politicians. Neither a Bush nor an Obama should be seen as the great healer of our nation. Ideally, they are servant representatives of the people of this nation. I know I pick on Obama a lot, but really I'm picking on his followers more than anything else. Many of them seem especially prone to "follow the leader" for popularity's sake. I mean, you've heard them say how they feel proud of their country for the first time in their adult lives (Mrs. Obama), how they believe the economy will be restored, how his election was the greatest day of their lives, they get a tingle up their leg when they think of him as president, etc. etc. etc. They write songs for him and basically praise him all day long. It's almost cultish. And why? Because he's thin, fairly good looking, progressive, and black? He represents generation X or Y or whatever? I hope he turns out to be wiser and less of a career politician than I currently think he might be.
ReplyDeleteRegarding firepower, however, I'm reminded of Yoko Ono's speech at the Olympics a few years back: "Think peace, and there will be peace." Sounds great, right? Thinking peace would work in a world where free will to commit great evil is not a reality. To the best of my knowledge however, in the world we really live in, it is a reality. Thinking peace is certainly a goal, but there is simply not time to do so in an emergency of life and death. And a Charles Manson, Jeffrey Dahmer, Hitler will not wait for you to discuss morality with him, nor would he accept your logic if you did. He has a logic of his own, a false logic, which to him seems real. Not everyone believes, as you and I, that Jesus was right.
Assuming that violence can be completely reversed or prevented by getting to the source of the problem assumes that some people are not impacted by evil in such a way that they are incapable of logical thought. There may be a point of no return for some individuals, and for them it is kill or be killed. For the lost sociopath, the only regret is getting caught. There is no guilt. How will you teach peace and love to such as that? Perhaps it is possible. But I cannot wait that long while he attempts to kill my family or threaten my nation. I don't promote violence as a solution to many problems. In fact, it should almost always be a last resort. The root of violence is evil. Getting to the root of the problem is of course ideal.
You mentioned that Christ promoted turning the other cheek, and you're right. However, I see that in context of loving thy neighbor, going the extra mile for him when he asks for one, giving your cloak to a man with none, feeding the man with no food, standing up for the widow and the orphan, etc. Nowhere in scripture do I read, "stand and be shot by crazed lunatics in order to promote peace." Jesus says, "Blessed are the peacemakers." No doubt. But being a victim does not make you a peacemaker.
Perhaps it is right to allow yourself to be killed along with others you could have protected, but then I have to question why I might have the impulse to protect others in the first place instead of simply choosing to save myself or perish with faith. Does that impulse to battle evil come from God? Certainly much violence might be prevented by better parents, better laws, better policies, etc., however, I think these will all fail when compared to the individual's choice to choose evil over good. The question is whether or not it is right to deter this evil by letting it know that if it comes my way, it will meet resistance.
Also, regarding firepower, you can go to the April 15, 2009 post and read Thomas Sowell's article. Thomas Sowell is a black economist with Stanford's Hoover Institution. He points to the emperical evidence that gun crimes in England went up by 10% AFTER a total ban on handguns was put in place. Why? Because law abiders couldn't defend themselves from law ignorers.
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