"Why do people choose the substitute over God himself? Probably the most important reason is that it obviates accountability to God. We can meet idols on our own terms because they are our own creations. They are safe, predictable, and controllable; they are, in Jeremiah's colorful language, the 'scarecrows in a cornfield' (10:5). They are portable and completely under the user's control. They offer nothing like the threat of a God who thunders from Sinai and whose providence in this world so often appears to us to be incomprehensible and dangerous . . . [People] need face only themselves. That is the appeal of idolatry."
- David F. Wells
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Via Abraham Piper I learned about Tea Party Jesus [language warning] this morning.
A sample:
The site purports to put words from Christians in the mouth of Christ, but I am not sure if these are all truly words from Christians or words merely from conservative politicians and pundits.
Abraham writes:
Could what you say be reprinted in a speech bubble on Jesus art without seeming ironic?
UPDATE: Since posting this, Tea Party Jesus has added at the top of the front page of their site a new "cartoon" with heavy profanity. It's a quote from some conservative politician, sure, but this is your warning that the language is graphic. And it's placed in a dialogue bubble coming out of an image of Jesus. This image was not there when I posted. Stealing the idea from Abraham, I have changed the TPJ link to an archived page with "tamer" examples. Sorry for any offense caused.
Trackbacks:
Trackback URL: http://thinklings.org/bloo.trackback.php/5969.
Comments on "WWJSI? (What Would Jesus Say Ironically?)":
2. Jared
- 05/11/2010 8:23 am CDT
Ken, I'm pretty much with you, but as I mentioned in the post, I would not put too much stock in these quotes coming from "Christians." I think they are coming from politicians who probably say they're Christians. The tagline at Tea Party Jesus should probably say "The words of conservative politicians in the mouth of Christ," not "The words of Christians . . ."
4. kenleonard
- 05/11/2010 10:43 am CDT
Mostly, I agree with you ... but how often do we as Christians call out the charlatans?
I know more than two dozen members of my church who are fans of Glenn Beck, for example. Then there's Limbaugh. Dick Cheney can tell a sitting Senator to F himself in public and it doesn't blip on too many Christians' radar ... but Joe Biden's mic slip becomes a huge controversy.
Whether they're really Christians or not, the political right enjoys immunity from criticism by the religious right. To the world, that means that we accept their claims of being Christians and endorse what they say.
5. Justin
- 05/11/2010 7:18 pm CDT
Ken,
I get what you're saying, but that's largely the point that's being made. Beck isn't a Christian (Mormon theology and Christian theology are two quite different things), and Limbaugh and Cheney (both mainliners) seem to have faith as an incidental part of their lives rather at the forefront link a Dobson or Robertson. Other big mouths like Michael Savage or Bill O'Reily don't appear to claim any faith.
I'm someone who doesn't get the following of Beck by Christians or understands why anyone would listen to Michael Savage -- and some of the best arguments against listening to these guys have come from fairly conservative Christians. Read Cal Thomas's "Blinded By Might" for a critique of the right from the right.
6. Bill
- 05/11/2010 9:26 pm CDT
I just had a thought that is, somewhat, encouraging to me.
Though I'm often a jerk as a Christian, the world still sees Jesus as NonJerk. Hence the jolt of seeing our words put in His mouth. Because it's not like Him.
Hence the blessed hope we have, to one day be like Him, and have nothing in our mouths but His words.
I know this isn't apropos this post, but it's a thought that just popped in my head, and made me prouder of Jesus.
7. kenleonard
- 05/11/2010 10:12 pm CDT
I've swapped a couple e-mails with the creator of the site, by the way. He (or she ... it's anonymous) is a Christian and is trying to make the point that a lot of very un-Christian things are being said by people who claim Christ.
Justin, I'm sure we agree on this. (By the way, I love Cal Thomas, though I haven't read that particular book.) For my own part, it's a matter of degree, and possibly striking a nerve because of other conversations I've had lately. A friend of mine from church was showing off his "Obama: One Big ... Mistake America" t-shirt.
We had words.
8. The Ancient Mariner
- 05/18/2010 10:08 am CDT
Missed this one somehow, but I still have a thought: do they do this to liberal politicians who claim the name of Christ as well? Or is this just beating up on one side of the political aisle? If one is fair, it ought not be ignored that liberal Christians--folks who are quite insistent that to be a faithful Christian, you have to be a liberal--are saying an awful lot of equally ugly things as well.
9. kenleonard
- 05/18/2010 12:23 pm CDT
I guess I'd have a hard time with the "equally ugly" assertion.
Moreover, this isn't about beating up any side of the political aisle. It's about getting people to think about their witness and what they're saying.
10. Jared
- 05/18/2010 7:12 pm CDT
I have not delved deep enough into TPJ to know whether they are liberals criticizing conservatives or conservatives criticizing themselves or Christians criticizing conservatives or what have you.
For my part, I try to pick on conservatives (and Calvinists, etc.) more than others, 'cause I is one. :-)
I think critical self-reflection is important.
Leave a Comment:
It's a very stinging indictment, as far as I'm concerned, of the crap that's coming out of people who claim to be defending Christian values, principles, etc..
This is a perfect example of why the marriage between the religious right and political right is toxic for the Church.
John Adams once asked George Washington to tone down his religious rhetoric in order that his political foes would not also be led to reject his faith. If he thought GW was going too far, can you imagine what he'd say today?
I can't say that I'm happy to see this site, but I'm not surprised. We are the Church ... we are the Body of Christ. If we act like this, then that site represents exactly what unbelievers see.
As disgusting as that site is, what it's parodying disgusts me even more.