Strange Bedfellows
Category: News Commentary...
Posted Friday, January 06, 2006 at 09:19 AM [GMT-6]

Update: If you want to know what a true Christian leader has to say about this situation, look at Dr. Jim Denison's summary:
This morning, we are to pray for Ariel Sharon and his family, and for those who lead the nation of Israel. We are to "pray for the peace of Jerusalem" (Psalm 122:6), and for God's blessings for all who live in that troubled region of the world. We should avoid polarizing statements which do not represent the inclusive grace of Christ.

This is a part of a longer emailed article entitled "Does God still love the Jews" (the answer is, of course, a resounding "yes!") which will eventually appear here.

The word for the day is "irony," and it applies in many layers to the apparent agreement between Pat Robertson, who needs no introduction (unfortunately) and a "a radical Palestinian leader in Damascus" named Ahmed Jibril. Each is claiming that Ariel Sharon's stroke and likely impending death is a direct result of God's judgment on the man, the only difference being that Pat thinks it's because Sharon gave up too much of Israel and Ahmed thinks it's because he gave up too little.

Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on your perspective), neither pronouncement should come as a surprise, and neither should be attributed any more significance than the utterances of your favorite comic strip character. Although, now that I think about it, I seem to find more wisdom and perceptiveness and, yes, even righteousness in some of the comics than in such self-proclaimed "prophecies."

For a more informed reaction, please read David Bogner's post, from which came the JP article linked above.

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Comments

Pat doesn't seem to understand that "the earth is the Lord's and everything in it.... and allwho dwell in it."

I also don't know if he quite gets that those who presume to speak for God will be held to account for their words. It may be close to comical for now, but I don't know if it's gonna be that funny when Pat has to give an accounting for every careless word.

The Israel/Palestine issue always leaves me pretty conflicted, and I don't claim to be informed enough to take a hard and fast position on it. But I have a hard time with anyone who makes definitive declarations of God's judgment, especially on individual people.

Your intimation that PR has become a cartoon is brilliant, as is your ascription of greater wisdom to comics. I doubt you'd hear Snoopy or Linus (or Charles Schultz, may he rest in peace) calling down judgment on communities or individuals, whether they were "right" or "wrong" in their public lives.

Posted by: Jim at January 6, 2006 11:05 AM

I agree........

Posted by: shannon at January 6, 2006 12:45 PM

..... with the part about the funnies, that is.

Posted by: shannon at January 6, 2006 12:45 PM

Jim, I'm far from expert on the geopolitical issues surrounding Israel, to the point of succumbing to the rather simplistic philosophy of "when in doubt, support it [the nation]." As with much in history, I think it's easy to get caught up in judging or reading meaning into the actions and philosophies of individuals at a point in time and thus lose the eternal perspective that God gives us in Scripture over and over ("I will bless this people.").

Anyway, I can't say with any assurance that it's to my credit that I gain wisdom and insight from comics, and any "brilliance" that accidentally blurts forth from these pages is strictly in the eye of the beholder, but I appreciate the support.

Posted by: Eric at January 6, 2006 01:15 PM
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