twofingersandathumb

Yesterday I received the following e-mail forwarded from a friend (cut and pasted here directly with no editing) with the above photo attached:

How ironic is this??!! They don’t even believe in Christ and they’re getting their own Christmas stamp, but don’t dream of posting the ten commandments on federal property?

Now, I consider myself a loyal American and uphold the Constitution as the FFs (Founding Fathers) originally intended. I am a practicing Christian and believe in absolute truth. So on the surface, I would say, “Right on.” But something about this message bothered me. I could not take up the banner being presented and run with it. Why not?

I saw a few fatal flaws in the message that served to undermine its credibility:

First: The message states right off that this is a Christmas stamp. And then it continues into issues of American patriotism in the wake of worldwide terrorism related to jihad. This stamp is not a Christmas stamp. It deals with Muslim observances (blessed festivals), not Christian or Jewish. It is part of the USPS’s Holiday Celebration Series, but was not released as a “Christmas” stamp. So the email message is incorrect in its thesis, and thus becomes insupportable.

Second: Muslims do believe in Jesus Christ, but only as a prophet (not as the Christ/Messiah). They consider him a lesser prophet than Mohammad. Muslims do not acknowledge Christ’s resurrection from the dead nor his deity. Again, the opening assertion demonstrates some lack of knowledge on this point.

Third: I have not heard reported anywhere that it is specifically Muslims who oppose the display of the Ten Commandmants on public/government properties. This opposition appears to come mostly from “patriotic” Americans.

Fourth: The email infers that Christmas is an “American” holiday. However, it is not. Christmas is celebrated worldwide, and has been celebrated for centuries longer than the United States has existed. We Americans join the celebration but cannot claim it as ours. Note that many Americans do not celebrate Christmas, and even oppose it, but are still patriotic.

I agree that it’s a bit suspect to dedicate a postage stamp to a set of beliefs that considers it just and heroic to take lives on the basis that they’re not Islamists and therefore not valuable. Many Americans have lost their lives and loved ones at the hands of Islamists and we can assert that this stamp is therefore inappropriate and unpatriotic. Let’s use that as the basis for protest, because, for a country, group or person to commemorate principles that demand its destruction is unwise, to put it politely.

I hope you see my point in this: If one is going to make an argument one needs solid, reasonable, factual basis for that argument. Otherwise, it falls apart and is mere assertion. The issue I have with this email is that, although the idea might be right, the way in which that idea is supported is so flawed that it makes the entire idea invalid. This is true whether one is speaking of religious, political, scientific and philosophical concepts. Let’s be intelligent and winsome in making our arguments. We may not succeed in persuading, but at least we won’t shoot ourselves in the foot.

Dr. Jerry Falwell, pastor, educator and leader, died this morning. Evidently his work here on earth is finished and so God took him home. He was 73 years old.

He was the founder of Liberty University in Virginia and the outspoken leader of the Moral Majority and Christian Conservatism in the ’80s and early 90s. He was a friend of presidents. No matter what people thought of him, several things can be rightly said and agreed upon about him:

He was passionate about what he believed, and did not compromise on those beliefs. As such, he was often labeled “intolerant” by those who believe we should be tolerant of everything.

He was consistent. We knew what to expect from him. He was a person of integrity.

He was influential for good. He made a difference in the lives of many people.

He bore up under ongoing ridicule from those who opposed him or wrote him off as a fanatic unworthy of being heard. He did not give up, but kept going. He was dedicated.

He responded to his critics with respect, and did not back down from his belief that what God says is true. He based his life work on that foundation. He did not ridicule those who disagreed with him.

When he made mistakes, he took responsibility for them. He did not hide or make excuses for himself, nor did he blame others for them.

He believed in goodness and in truth. He believed that certain things were right and a lot of things weren’t, and that human at any stage is valueable and worth fighting for.

He smiled a lot. A dour countenance was not his way, and he was definitely not an angry man. He did not yell or shout; he was quiet and firm.

With his death occurring only a few months after the death of Anna Nicole Smith, I cannot help making a comparison between the two: how they lived, their impact, and how they look from behind.

What did Smith contribute to the rest of us? What impact and influence did she have on the lives of others? How did she fill in the gap between the date of her birth and the date of her death? What did she believe? Did she help anyone become a better person? Did she stand for anything? We are fascinated by her life and more so by her death and the subsequent sparring that occurred because of it, but why? What did she do that was so impressive? Why did we honor her which so much notice? I don’t get it.

Falwell’s death is spoken of by reporters today in hushed tones. There is a quiet respect and admiration as the details of his death are given. There is no frenzy. From FoxNews to CNN there appears to be agreement across the board that this was a man of substance and influence. Why else would he have been interviewed only last week by CNN for his opinions on partial birth abortion, traditional families and God? It is clear that even the opposition respected his quiet confidence.

See you later, Jerry. I did not know you here on earth, but I look forward to catching up with you when I get to where you are.

Photo of Jerry Falwell courtesy of Jerry Falwell Ministries