20100130.004 OPEN MOUTH, INSERT FOOT!

OPEN MOUTH, INSERT FOOT!

Well, I was looking back over this week and realized that I hadn’t published a blog. OOPS! Yes, it is true that I could have simply let it slide and waited until next week. And I said that I would “TRY” to publish one ever week. At any rate, the fact remains that I wanted to correct what I hadn’t done. And I remembered, shortly after the decision to write this, what I wanted to write about. Some of you, my friends, may read the title and think I am talking about myself. And, in a certain way, I am. But I want to point out someone else, who I feel pity for what he has said over the past couple of weeks.

It all began with the earthquake in Haiti. With the various organizations and groups seeking to send food, clothing, medical aid, and help of every kind, one man opened his mouth and stuck his foot in it, BIG TIME! A certain television evangelist who doesn’t warrant being mentioned by name and his quote, “. . . something happened a long time ago in Haiti, and the people might not want to talk about it. They were under the heal of the French, uh, Napoleon the third or whatever, and they got together and swore a pact to the devil. They said, ‘we will serve you, if you’ll get us free from the French.’ . . .” The implication that this television evangelist was making is that the earthquake is a result of this supposed pact with the devil. Of course, he has made other claims in the past, as well. He has said that the terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 were a direct result because the USA allows gays, and lesbians to live. He also said that the Devastation in New Orleans because of Hurricane Katrina, is because of all the abortions that the USA has allowed. Apparently this guy seems to think that all of the evils and problems happening in the world today are a direct result of some supposed sin that humanity has committed against God and so God chooses to punish us.

So, why bring any of this up? Yes, it is true that many news casters as well as many people on YOUTUBE have condemned such words. In fact, those Television Evangelist who show God’s love in their acts and words have claimed that this particular person really doesn’t know what he is talking about. But, the frustration that I see, is that people actually believe what he has to say. People buy into what he talks about and actually think that he must know what he is talking about because, after all, he is a minister. Here is a man who makes various claims with out substantiation and yet, people buy into it hook line and sinker. And I have to ask the question, “Why?” “Why would someone even begin to believe what this man has to say?” And the answer is, because they want to. They have itching ears (as the Bible puts it) and are willing to believe what they want to believe.

One of my Congregational members has mentioned that when she visits a cousin of hers and attends worship, the pastor tells the congregation all sorts of tales. The one that she mentions often and laughs at is when he said that the poem/song “Mary had a little lamb” was code used by the early Christians. Again, here is another example of people saying whatever they want to simply because they think it SHOULD be that way. And this leads me to all of those numerous emails that I have seen that make various claims concerning our current president, or some other urban legend. People buy into it, because they WANT to believe it. This is where my pity comes in. I have pity for the man mentioned above as well as all those who make false claims because they are so desperate to push their point of view that they lie about what is actual truth. I have pity for those people who are more willing to believe anything than they are searching for the truth and accepting it when they find it. I have pity for myself because I am sure that there have been times when I have said something that I thought was true, when in actuality, it was the furthers thing from truth. I guess the fact remains that we all must have a tongue with shoe imprints on it, because we all have said something or done something that is so false, and yet we espouse it as truth.

So, what can be done about such people? The only thing I can think of is to ask the right questions. We need to ask, “Where did you get your information from?” “How credible is this source?” “Is this something that I am willing to stake my life on?” “Is this something I am willing to hold up at truth no matter what others will say to my face?” I hope that when I die, people will say the following three words about me, “David was a man who had integrity, authenticity, and love for all people and all creation.” And I hope that you all, as my friends, will keep me to those three goals! Blessings always - DL