Image via WikipediaWhat the myriad comments like these are saying with we will "pray for you" is a slap in the face to the nonbeliever more pointed than any simple insult. It would be better if they took the sly smile off their faces and just went ahead and laughed at him.
Like the "hate the sin, not the sinner" chant fundamentalists use against homosexuality, the cloak of love doesn't quite cover the body of hate.
Of course, atheists aren't innocent. Many smiled with glee at the passings of Oral Roberts, Jerry Falwell, and D. James Kennedy. And some will party when James Dobson slides into his imagined eternity.
But we are in the open with it, we don't hide behind false feelings. We didn't like them, and were glad to see them go. I wish the religious could be so honest about atheists.
Here's hoping Christopher Hitchens comes through this just fine, and emerges on the other side not in any way thankful to those who offered their prayers.
It's sad that Musall would think that Christians are hiding their true feelings.Why would I be happy for Christopher Hitchens to die painfully and end up in hell? Can he really think that Christians are that mean and petty? I guess so. By definition if we believe the Bible about God's attitude about such things we can't take that attitude.
Say unto them, As I live, saith the Lord GOD, I have no pleasure in the death of the wicked; but that the wicked turn from his way and live: turn ye, turn ye from your evil ways; for why will ye die, O house of Israel? - Ezekiel 33:11
9The Lord is not slow in keeping his promise, as some understand slowness. He is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9
It's not Christians who pray for the physical and spiritual recovery of Christopher Hitchens who are being hateful. Hate fills those who are described by:
Many smiled with glee at the passings of Oral Roberts, Jerry Falwell, and D. James Kennedy. And some will party when James Dobson slides into his imagined eternity.
A video of Hitchen was also posted with Musall's post. Let's look ast it juxtaposed with the attitude Christians like Dr. White have.
"Gotcha!" isn't the appropriate response. Prayer is. No one is better or worse. We are all sinnersand withoout Jesus Christ we have nothing.
Christopher Hitchens has cancer, the faithful begin to respond - "gotcha"
You publically proclaiming on your blog that you're praying for Christopher Hitchens brings to mind Matthew 6:2-4.
ReplyDeleteThat's pretty funny. Jesus was talking about making a spectacle of one self to garner personal praise and honor. I could not care less. It's about obeying God, not boasting about it. It's about genuinely caring about what happens to a fellow human being. Ryan, if you can't see the difference, then you are even more blind than I thought.
ReplyDeleteJesus was talking about praying in public, not publicly saying that we ought to pray or that we are going to pray. Where is your exegetical ground to say otherwise.