Sacred Cynicism

    Apparently many of us in the church have been doing things wrong for a long time. Sometimes that is a tough confession to make, but there is always time to learn to do things better. From time to time many of those who follow Christ have tried different things in an effort to raise our visibility. I have been a part of groups that have started food pantries, collected clothing for those without, embarked on mission trips to other countries, started radio programs, or held carnival-like events for the children in the community. Some of these had more success than others, but for the most part our level of visibility was not much higher after than it was before.

This week it has become clear what we have been doing wrong. We should have decided to burn a copy of the Koran, and called CNN before we did it. Little did I know, nor would I have expected such a firestorm to erupt over an event like this, but it seems this is the type of event that would raise the visibility of a little group of less than 50 in Florida.

If I did not know better, I would wager my mortgage than this whole thing was nothing more than a Saturday Night Live skit. First, you have the pistol-wearing pastor of this little church. Next, you have the name of this outfit, the World Outreach Church. So you start a little church called World Outreach, and your big event is to do something that will infuriate and ostracize 1.4 billion people on Earth. The only thing missing from this picture is a few snakes to handle, and a sign out front that reads, “you can take my Bible when you pry it from my cold, dead hands.” As funny as this whole picture appears, a certain sadness accompanies my snickers as I realize that for many, this is the picture of Christianity they will see this week, this month, or even this year. It will confirm their worst fears, and leave them shaking their heads saying, “see, I told you so.”

To be honest, I am shaking my head at this whole spectacle. In countless places there are people being fed and clothed in the name of Christ. Thousands will give up a week or two of their lives, and go to a faraway land to build homes, or distribute aid in an impoverished place. As they do these things there will be no cameras, no interviews, and no visibility. And on Saturday a pistol-packing kook and his tiny band of confused followers will burn a few Korans in front of the cameras and accomplish….. nothing. Maybe this will be my solace from this whole spectacle. Cameras will roll, commentators will bellow, and nothing will have been accomplished. Yet outside the range of the cameras a child will have been fed in Pakistan, and a home will have been built in Kenya. I’ll take the trade.

I’ll take the trade because other people have made the same trade before. It is a trade that Jesus made first. In the last few weeks of Jesus life the gospel of John tells us that certain Greeks came to Phillip and Andrew with a request to talk with Jesus. I do not know exactly what they wanted, but whatever their request it seemed to have a pull on Jesus. This incomplete tale was important enough for the gospel writer to mention, and it was important for the writer to tell us that Jesus turned this request down. Maybe I am reading between the lines of John, but I think these Greeks had a plan. They were impressed with Jesus, and had an idea for gaining Him some fame and notoriety. Perhaps they would have a big event, try to make a political ruler out of Jesus, or back him with enough money to start a rebellion. If we could only see Jesus, they thought, we can really make a difference and do some big thing. Jesus said no, and walked quietly toward the cross.

I get frustrated when kooks get the press. Where are the cameras following the group building homes in Haiti? It is at times like these I must remember that not much has changed. Jesus did not choose the big event, or the route of fame and notoriety. Jesus followed the route of the servant, and whoever the Greeks in John were, we do not remember their names, but we certainly know Jesus. And I imagine that 50 years from now, no one will recall the kooky, pistol-packing foolish man in Florida, but a whole community, or even nation will remember the people that came and built the houses, or brought the medicine. I’ll take that trade.

A few others have noted that the whole world is alarmed and condemning of this little group who are burning Korans, while no one seems to bother very much when groups get together and burn Bibles. “Unfair” they cry, “why the double standard?” It is almost as if that Christianity is held to another standard, a higher standard. I think they are right, at least I hope they are right. I want us to be held to another standard, a higher standard. I’ll take that trade as well. Maybe like the early church, we will accept that standard and beckon people to follow us around, and see if we live a little differently. If we accept that higher standard, and live out the life that Christ calls us to live, there is nothing a little kook can do in Florida that can hurt us.