Jack Bauer Christianity
I was in the store yesterday and saw a front page article in the Nashville paper titled, Christians Back Torture Despite Their Faith.
Why is this? Does this surprise you? infuraite you? or do you agree?
Let’s discuss.
Compassion Bloggers Trip – India – April 26-May 2
Christians, in general, are very fearful people. If fear guides someone, I can see why they would support torture.
I’m not sure it’s “despite” their faith. THEIR faith might not conflict in any way with torture. What exactly have “they” been taught about the Christian faith that torture is in conflict with?
I’m incensed. I don’t know if I am suprised or not.
How is torture loving your neighbor as yourself? How does it show the world the love of God? We’re supposed to be known by our love…
“Do to others as you would have them do to you.” Luke 6:31
What Shaun said… and also, a lot of American believers are Americans first, Christians second, and have never embraced (or were never taught) the gospel of peace brought by a liberating King.
I think that Shaun has the basic problem. I have been on blog and message board after blog and message board and when given clear biblical reasons for not supporting torture many, many Christians defer and say, “If Bush did it, it must not be wrong.”
I’m not really sure how a Christian could come up with a justification for torturing someone else. And in my own life, the mere opening statement “If Bush did it…” would make me second guess it immediately, whatever it was! (snicker!)
Infuriated. And that Richard Land wouldn’t say these things publicly until Bush left office makes me even more furious. As others have pointed out, modern American evangelical Christianity is built more on a theology of fear and idolatry of the family than on the law of love.