Written/Posted By Mary Ann and Prentice
(in a rare collaborative post rant)
They’re everywhere we go. There’s no getting away from them. We’ve been alternately trying to go around them, confronting them, ignoring them and trying to be a thorn in their sides for as long as we can remember, but their numbers never diminish. We’re not talking about your every day garden variety jackass, the kind of jackass that most of us may be from time to time, but the genuinely insufferable jackasses of the world. You know, the jackasses who not only act badly, hold offensive opinions and exhibit a meanness of spirit in all they say and do, but those who add the bling of radiant self-righteousness to their jackassedness.
Insufferable jackasses exude a miasma that makes us want to wash our hands every time we’re around them. They offend people every time they open their mouths, and are generally unaware they’ve even done so. Of course, though giving offense may not be their intention, they don’t
mind so much when they do.
You want examples? Here are a few.
1. Evangelicals who smugly opine that poor people, or those who find themselves in difficult financial circumstances, have no one to blame but themselves—that their own poor life choices resulted in their present condition. “I am not for bailing out people who acted irresponsibly and tried to live beyond their means,” they say. This means, of course, that they aren’t for helping anyone, at any time, for any reason.
This attitude is often accompanied by a smugness concerning their own financial security, a security which they are quick to tell you is the product of their own hard work and strict adherence to biblical principals of stewardship and financial management. They usually talk about Dave Ramsey as if he really had a ministry of some kind and use nausea-inducing terms like awesome and spirit filled, otherwise perfectly good terms made offensive by the context of their use.
We have read the New Testament quite a number of times. We have read it front to back, cover to cover, in a variety of English translations. Prentice has read it in the original koine Greek. We are satisfied that we understand at least the general principles contained in that book. We have read it with the most critical eye of exegetical rigidity and with the most liberal and hopeful spirit. In none of that have either of us ever encountered a single passage, insight or inference that praises the accumulation of material wealth by any means, at any time or for any purpose. Certainly, Christ himself offers us no example of such a thing in his life. Quite the opposite.
Prosperity theology is a dirty, vicious, slander on the name of the Almighty that spreads through evangelical churches like a greed breeding feeding frenzy. Every time we hear Dave Ramsey whipping up a crowd of material-crazed and success-addicted pseudo-Christians into a frenzy of debt-free wealth building, we are reminded that Jesus suggested that we give what we have to the poor and follow him.
It’s not that Dave Ramsey’s financial advice is all bad. It isn’t. Living within your means is generally a good idea. Failing to recognize that your success is not of your own doing, however, is a sin. Taking smug pride in your smart decision to pursue paths of opportunity that were never open to your brother degrades you, and it is most assuredly a sin. Pridefully boasting of your success in the face of a suffering community makes you an insufferable jackass.
2. Jackassica Theologica: We used the word “sin” several times in the preceding paragraph. Quite a few insufferable jackasses are of the jackassica theologica variety who have decided that sin does not exist and take great pride in announcing this decision to everyone who will listen. Like a shiny, plastic, over-inflated beach ball about to burst at the seams, they are puffed up and proud as they admire their own lovely design while slapping the collective wisdom of theologians who for three thousand years have regarded sin as a priori of the human condition as it relates to the Creator.
Jackassica Theologica is too smart and modern to believe in sin. He is too kind, loving, accepting, affirming and forgiving to lay a guilt trip upon himself or others for anything. After all, he imagines, he is himself God—or at least a lot like him. So, he must be entitled to do away with sin if it pleases him, and it does. Unless, of course, the sin is committed against him. Those sins he retains. All criticism directed at him remains sinful, is clearly the product of hate and intolerance, and should be summarily punished at first hearing.
Jackassica Theologica is not only obnoxious, he (or she) is also a dangerous person. God gave us a sense of justice so that we might perceive what is just and seek it. God also gave us a conscience so that we might intuitively differentiate right from wrong, discern good behavior from bad, and govern ourselves accordingly. To the bad, the hurtful, the wrong and unjust he gave the name sin. If sin does not exist then our sense of justice is no longer of use to us and our consciences may remain undisturbed by even the most hurtful and destructive behavior. The thief who robs us of sin makes away with our better instincts in the same bag.
3. Call2Fall And Other Fake Christian Publicity Stunts: A number of insufferable jackasses can be seen promoting such things as the coming Call2Fall national campaign set for July 5. This public relations stunt of the Family Research Council bills itself as a nationwide prayer event in which Americans will repent of their wickedness and, through prayer and forgiveness, cause our nation to receive forgiveness and restoration from God.
This, of course, is all shorthand for “let’s all get together and pray against the evils of homosexuality and gay marriage, in one giant 40,000-church strong prayer, and see if our numbers will impress any politicians to change their position on gay marriage. If not, maybe God will smite them!”
Now, of course, some Christians are opposed to gay marriage, yet harbor only the most kind and benevolent feelings toward LGBT people. That is possible. On the other hand, it is suspicious that the Family Research Council can expend such time and money in an the effort to prevent gay and lesbian couples from marrying, but can’t seem to come up with a minute or a dime—or so much as a muttered prayer—to address the problem of hunger and poverty across America and around the world. Millions for the war on LGBT marriage, but not a cent for the homeless, the sick, the desperate, the dying.
Again, we find numerous instances in the New Testament of Christ promoting charity and exhorting us to love and take care of our brethren. We can’t find a single instance of Christ offering so much as an afterthought in condemnation of relationships arising from sincere hearts and higher feelings.
But, enough. This is a blog, not a rant board. Rants should be reserved for situations where defenseless children form a captive audience, Facebook posts, cable news programs and such other forums as value rude behavior.
{ 6 comments… read them below or add one }
Very good post! There’s nothing wrong with ranting when it’s justified. Maybe Americans should do a lot more ranting a lot more often and maybe some things would finally change. The people making all the noise these days are the one’s who just want try shout everyone else down. We need to stop letting them shout us down.
Americans who love our country will be falling on their knees on July 5 in churches all across the country to ask God to deliver this nation from people like you. You claim to be a Christian but every time you write something like this it helps our enemies and makes America weaker at a time when we need strength. We need responsible Americans to lead our country out of the financial crisis we are in and godly people to set examples for our young people. We don’t need to continue lying to our young people and confusing them and telling them that sin is OK. That is how we got in this mess to start with.
Very well said and sure to draw fire from all sides. A good rant.
Amen. The self-righteous bigotry of the extreme right and extreme left are indistinguishable from each other. Bigotry is bigotry and greed is greed.
I am so sick and tired of hearing people say that poor people who are stuck with high credit card penalties and outrageous interest rates are just paying the cost of extending credit to those who don’t deserve it. That’s wrong. They are paying the price of corporate greed that has spiraled complete out of control.
Best thing I’ve read in a while. Rant on!