Christians Behaving Badly

Ed Brayton over at Dispatches From the Culture Wars, one of the blogs I read (and thoroughly enjoy) had a couple of posts the other day on Christians behaving badly. One is hilarious, the other deeply saddens me.

In the first, Pat Pat Robertson claims on his website that his special protein shake is his secret to leg pressing 2,000 pounds at 76 years of age. Ed links to a CBS sportsline story that gives the Florida State record at 6651 1335 pounds and that guy had the blood vessels in his eyes burst from the strain. My parents used to always tell me not to lie because if done enough, the truth becomes impossible to seperate from the lies. I’m pretty sure they were right. Either Pat really doesn’t recognize reality anymore, or he’s putting a little extra something special in that protein shake.

The second story is about a high school graduation ceremony in Kentucky. I’ll quote Ed’s telling of the background.

There was apparently a tradition there for the students to elect a “graduation chaplain” to hold a Christian prayer at the graduation ceremony, with the full cooperation of the school. But this year, a Muslim student filed suit to stop that tradition and a judge issued an injunction against it. So instead, in the middle of the principal’s opening remarks, 200 students stood up, interrupted the proceedings, and recited the Lord’s prayer, prompting a standing ovation from most of those in attendance. That act received praise from the school principal and superintendant.

I think his post said all that needs to be said on the issue. It’s got a nice quote from a Baylor professor who points out that the kids are using prayer as a weapon. The point is a political statement; a statement specifically crafted to give them power and offend a person they disagree with. Furthermore, they went on to boo the kid as he crossed the stage. Love they neighbor as thyself? Turn the other cheek?

It’s amazing. They might as well have rewritten the golden rule to — “do unto other Christians who share your views on just about everything as you would have them do unto you.”

It sickens me. It angers me. There is no love here. Only self-righteous indignation. And the adults stand around and pat them on the back. Ever wonder where they learn it from?