WIR -- Chameleon Christianity
Chameleon Christianity
by Dick Keyes
Terrific little book I'm re-reading. Here's in intersting quote from the beginning.
Some years ago I received two letters in the same week. One was from the Moral Majority and the other was from Katharine Hepburn, writing for Planned Parenthood. The messages were almost exactly the same. Both could be paraphrased, "There is a well-funded and powerful minority in this country that is trying to take away all that America stands for, as well as your own personal freedom. But there is hope -- we are here. Your contribution will help us stand against this group and the destructive legislation that they sponser at this critical moment in our nation's history." The rhetoric was identical although the political perspectives were violently opposed. Neither group made an argument but rather each fed off their followers' fear of the other. [page 18]
Any thoughts?
by Dick Keyes
Terrific little book I'm re-reading. Here's in intersting quote from the beginning.
Some years ago I received two letters in the same week. One was from the Moral Majority and the other was from Katharine Hepburn, writing for Planned Parenthood. The messages were almost exactly the same. Both could be paraphrased, "There is a well-funded and powerful minority in this country that is trying to take away all that America stands for, as well as your own personal freedom. But there is hope -- we are here. Your contribution will help us stand against this group and the destructive legislation that they sponser at this critical moment in our nation's history." The rhetoric was identical although the political perspectives were violently opposed. Neither group made an argument but rather each fed off their followers' fear of the other. [page 18]
Any thoughts?
posted by William Sofield at 10:22 AM
5 Comments:
I, for one, dont think Katherine Hepburn should be having any more children, so maybe planned parenthood aint such a bad organization after all.
Good point.
i get your point, tho. And i think it starts from the longing to win a battle. The longing to succeed. The problem is we often focus on this so much we forget the whole point to begin with was to show our love to others. I dont think that means we SHOULDNT appose things like abortion.. but maybe there's a better way to do that.
It's a tricky line between considering everyone's feelings and sacrificing your beliefs in the interest of political correctness.
Different from Planned Parenthood and the Moral Majority (apparently) I think our motivation should be love -- not fear. Both are powerful motivators, but love will win over fear every time.
Pragmatic arguement -- Every day, mothers step in front of trains to save their babies -- love conquers fear.
Biblical arguement -- God has not given us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of sonship (Romans 8) -- love conquers fear.
Common sense arguement -- You catch more flies with honey than vinegar. -- Love conquers fear.
Fear is a cheap and easy way to get people to do the "right" thing. Love is costly and hard, but in the end --
Love Wins.
Fear is a very effective fund-raiser--a very powerful motivator in general. We even see fear often used as tool to motivate religious devotion (e.g. fire and brimstone preaching).
However, the Gospel gives us reason to not fear. Neither Planned Parenthood nor the Moral Majority nor any other power of this world is king. Christ is king and his kingdom is one of grace, mercy, justice, and righteousness.
- Steve
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