Praying for political ends
As if calling Obama a socialist, a racist, and a Hitler isn't enough, some conservatives have finally taken the gloves off. They are now openly and brazenly praying for him.
The Liberty Council, affiliated with Jerry Falwell's Liberty University, has created an "Adopt a Liberal" program, and identified those in power who need to become "a good influence on our Nation's culture."
So far so good, until you find out their defintion of "good influence." They seem to have reduced Christianity to homophobia, gun rights, anti-abortion, and fear of socialism and immigrants. So I guess it's not a surprise that most Democrats are on the list of those needing prayer. Perhaps they should add Jesus himself to the list, since Jesus was a known egalitarian who taught against fear and violence. And unlike most modern, right-wing Christians, he was silent about homosexuality.
Nonetheless, I understand the impulse to pray. When you have no ability to influence events gone horribly wrong, prayer is what you turn to. I remember praying before Colin Powell was about to give his big Iraq War speech to the UN Security Council. I figured that Bush was already beyond the reach of prayer but that Powell might still be vulnerable, especially since the war was about to violate every tenet of his own "Powell Doctrine."
I prayed that Powell would find his backbone and dramatically warn everyone that the whole thing was going to be a huge disaster. Instead, he waved a vial of anthrax in front of the TV cameras and used his credibility to move public opinion towards invasion. Then as now, God is steadfast in favoring free will over setting things right.
I'm not a big believer in petitionary prayer, and not just because of Colin Powell. I figure God is going to do what God is going to do. If God changed course based on impassioned pleading, there would be more lottery winners and fewer unplanned pregnancies in the world.
Instead, God takes the long view. Let people invade other countries and transfer wealth to the privileged and gut government agencies. Eventually economic meltdowns and hurricanes and history will unmask them. And let others attempt to provide health care reform or a stronger social safety net or a fairer distribution of resources in the world. Amid all the screeching and lying and praying, it might actually happen. Especially if enough of us demand that those in authority be "a good influence on our Nation's culture."
So, I guess I'll say thanks for thinking of us, Liberty Council. Being prayed at is much more pleasant than being yelled over or lied to. Perhaps they can even find it in their hearts to pray for the common good. Health care reform can use all the help it can get at this point.
3 comments
VF
Thanks for exposing the politicizing of even prayer. Right wing Christians have taken Jesus and the Bible and tried to turn them into their own pawns for establishing their world view. At first they were fairly successful, but then the Biblical reality of man’s sinful, selfish nature caught up with them, unfortunately (for them) including themselves and they are now broken, desperate, and running scared. Since the Bible clearly mandates serving the poor and crying out for justice, they ironically have gotten their wish because that is exactly what a lot of people, secular and Christian, are doing, despite right wing prayers and initiatives to the contrary. Until the church at large disavows this unBiblical turn away from loving God and loving your neighbor, the 2 great commandments, it will continue to be discredited. Fortunately it has a manual to get it back on track and some are heeding it. Thanks for your insight.
This is a good post.
Shay
As a Baptist preacher I knew down in Louisiana once warned me, “God always answers your prayers. He just doesn’t always answer them the way you hope He will.”
Most Recent Opinion Comments
Okay, almost 24 hours later and I finally got Issac’s Summer joke. I’m an idiot.
Swap the dog for a fire pit and it sounds like you’re writing about my back yard. Very nice.
funny, as your summer begins, another Summer ends.
And that, my friend, is love. Bob, I think I still owe you for my wedding cake, served in 1998. But nevermind.
I believe the kiss between Rob and I was documented on low-quality videotape in the mid-ninties porn classic, Dirty Harry…and Sticky.
“Do I have to sign some forms, or am I just considered ‘in.’” You’re in!
Got damn, Coulter. You are the greatest.
I have no specific memory of it, but I wouldn’t be surprised if I’d kissed Mike, too—once we’d both drunk ourselves gay. And earlier this week I gave Clarence Shelley a back rub. Do I have to sign some forms, or am I just considered “in.”
FWIW, I got a copy of the letter in question. It was written in a way that would be plausible to a casual reader who didn’t scrutinize it too carefully. It announced the formation of an organization called G.L.A.B.A. (which actually exists), and had discussion about typical…
Most Popular Opinion Articles (60 days)
- Feeling Hot, Hot, Hot!
- “Opposite” marriage includes fun, love, and drinking in the day
- I bet you wish you had a hat
- Politics and poker may or may not mix
- Priest suing N-G is part of Catholic splinter group
- Opening day brings drinks to the table
- Off the rails
- The desert
- Double trouble in Coulter’s dog prison
- A Modest-ish Proposal
Most Recent Comments
Oh nice! I’d totally vote for Matt Campbell!
“Smile Politely sports writer announces candidacy for city government.”
I also got to visit Big Grove Tavern during the soft open and definitely enjoyed the pork belly the most of all the dishes I sampled. The cheesy grits and the vinegary pickled vegetables were a perfect compliment to the rich pork belly.
The Alan Partridge lookalike on the right in the first small photo has nothing to condescend to anyone about. AH HA!
Snell and the little Hitlers of the neighborhood association need to chill out. Legitimate businesses should have the freedom to exist without having to endure the slings and arrows of ignorant and misguided opposition.
represent, Matt.
Yeah, I’d agree that Transporter Room 3 is the worst house venue I’ve ever seen.
Food trucks are the start-up, small businesses of the future for those unable to afford real estate. No surprise, that merchants who pay rent, utilities, and maintenance on a property would despise the traveling competition. Or developers who build more empty retail spaces would want to close…
Not so much far-right Tea Party as a balanced, moderate viewpoint between letting businesses succeed and protecting society with reasonable regulations. In spite of what the city reps are saying, the interpretation of policy on this issue certainly has changed. Letting a business start up under one…
I think it’s neat that SP has turned rightward, now espousing a Tea Party-style frustration with government regulations & taxes.
This makes me so sad. (Happy to live in Urbana, though!) Crave Truck has been a GREAT addition to the food choices in C-U, and it’d be a travesty to chase them away. This town should be supporting small businesses. I’m glad to hear that they’ll still…
*slow. clap.* Still offering no threat of intelligence…. I know I said I thought you should just write this whole column yourself next year, Isaac, but now that you’ve gone and taken a “part deux” run at it, I’d like to modify my request: Best Music 2013,…
Actually, it’s kind of nice, the quiet. John Heoffleur’s engaging commentary/dialogue is sorely missed, however. In lieu of someone intelligent saying something, I’ve compiled a list of Honourable Mentions: BEST ROCK BAND: Take Care ::these gentlemen have four completely different sets at their disposal right now (which…
What? Echo! (Echo!) Where’s the dischord and dissent?
This weekend will mark the first appearance of Kayla Brown’s Fire Doll Candle booth at the Market. Check it: http://www.facebook.com/firedollcandles
And without bloodshed. Sounds like the Savoy trustees aren’t as narrow-minded as some of their whiny pants constituents. Do you think quack Snell is already planning an asinine counterattack or is he still laying low after those “threats” against his person?
hey, if hair ain’t gon’ be over your head, my jokes may as well be.
Okay, almost 24 hours later and I finally got Issac’s Summer joke. I’m an idiot.
Excellent. I am glad sometimes American dreams are encouraged, rather than stifled.
Swap the dog for a fire pit and it sounds like you’re writing about my back yard. Very nice.
Facebook
Twitter
Full Site
hey, if hair ain’t gon’ be over your head, my jokes may as well be.