I posted (on Facebook) about Sarah Sanders the other day and it resulted in a good conversation with a friend from work. This got me to thinking a bit, as I try to put a finger on what it is about her that bugs me so much. I don't like the way she treats the press corps, but that is nothing new. I didn't like the four people who held that job before her very much either, and they were all men.
I don't like the way she flat out lies for the President, but that is her job. As I said the other day, it is the job of the Press Secretary to spin bull shit into gold. In her case, that's about all she gets to do.
It boils down, to me, to the fact that we both claim the same faith.
Having grown up in my faith in an authoritarian structure I can see why some might say that it is her job to show respect to the government. I get that. I really do. This is what is behind her admonition about questioning General Kelly.
But the lying... Does showing respect mean lying for the government?
Did John the Baptist hold his tongue before Herod because he did not want to show disrespect?
Did the Old Testament prophets? Did Isaiah? Did Moses?
The religious right backed this godless man for one reason. He promised them conservative Supreme Court Justices. Lots of them. Enough to alter the rulings of the Court for decades. It does not matter whom he hurts, as long as that precious prize is delivered. I get that too.
But how does one accept the lying.... the non stop lying?
The answer is, because they... and that includes me.... didn't just start doing it.
Have you ever hung out with a large group of mostly like minded people? The Evangelical church is a very large group of such. And when you start with the premise that a single Book is authoritative in every aspect of your life, and surround yourself with people who read it for you and tell you what it means, you better get in line and sing the same tune.
If you don't you aren't saved and you're going to Hell.
So you agree. The group says the Holy Spirit is working in their lives. You say it is working in yours. If it isn't, something is wrong and you aren't saved and you're going to Hell. You may not be aware of how the Spirit is working, but you take it on faith that it is, and announce it with great joy. Next to you, someone else shares that they are having the same experience. Someone else behind you fidgets uncomfortably.
Hallelujah. We are all saved and none of us are going to Hell.
The world is young. It was created in seven literal days. I believe it (no I don't. Shut up! Shut up! Do you want to not be saved and go to Hell? I BELIEVE IT). (Ahh.... better... and I feel the Spirit)
And so we lie to ourselves. The Bible never contradicts itself. (What about Judas dying two different ways? Shut up! Shut up! Do you want to not be saved and go to Hell? I BELIEVE IT).
And we tell ourselves we are not lying to ourselves, just walking by faith. We train ourselves to accept our lies as truth.
Make no mistake. I believe Jesus is the Son of God and all that goes with it. But I know why there are so few prophets willing to speak truth to power coming out of the evangelical movement these days.
I don't like the way she flat out lies for the President, but that is her job. As I said the other day, it is the job of the Press Secretary to spin bull shit into gold. In her case, that's about all she gets to do.
It boils down, to me, to the fact that we both claim the same faith.
Having grown up in my faith in an authoritarian structure I can see why some might say that it is her job to show respect to the government. I get that. I really do. This is what is behind her admonition about questioning General Kelly.
But the lying... Does showing respect mean lying for the government?
Did John the Baptist hold his tongue before Herod because he did not want to show disrespect?
Did the Old Testament prophets? Did Isaiah? Did Moses?
The religious right backed this godless man for one reason. He promised them conservative Supreme Court Justices. Lots of them. Enough to alter the rulings of the Court for decades. It does not matter whom he hurts, as long as that precious prize is delivered. I get that too.
But how does one accept the lying.... the non stop lying?
The answer is, because they... and that includes me.... didn't just start doing it.
Have you ever hung out with a large group of mostly like minded people? The Evangelical church is a very large group of such. And when you start with the premise that a single Book is authoritative in every aspect of your life, and surround yourself with people who read it for you and tell you what it means, you better get in line and sing the same tune.
If you don't you aren't saved and you're going to Hell.
So you agree. The group says the Holy Spirit is working in their lives. You say it is working in yours. If it isn't, something is wrong and you aren't saved and you're going to Hell. You may not be aware of how the Spirit is working, but you take it on faith that it is, and announce it with great joy. Next to you, someone else shares that they are having the same experience. Someone else behind you fidgets uncomfortably.
Hallelujah. We are all saved and none of us are going to Hell.
The world is young. It was created in seven literal days. I believe it (no I don't. Shut up! Shut up! Do you want to not be saved and go to Hell? I BELIEVE IT). (Ahh.... better... and I feel the Spirit)
And so we lie to ourselves. The Bible never contradicts itself. (What about Judas dying two different ways? Shut up! Shut up! Do you want to not be saved and go to Hell? I BELIEVE IT).
And we tell ourselves we are not lying to ourselves, just walking by faith. We train ourselves to accept our lies as truth.
Make no mistake. I believe Jesus is the Son of God and all that goes with it. But I know why there are so few prophets willing to speak truth to power coming out of the evangelical movement these days.