08.30.07 Ambush (Pt2)
"Are you even a Christian?”
I flashed back in my mind to a church parking lot in Tyler, Texas. I was nineteen. Becky and I were just friends who sometimes kissed. And we were having our first fight - over politics.
At the time I was in the habit of listening to an hour or so of Rush Limbaugh every day. I was a runner and data entry gnome at a real estate title company which gave me lots of car time with no cassette or CD player. And I was very Republican and probably would have chosen Rush over music anyway. My church was also dominated by Republican and patriotic thinking - the definition of patriot being one who is a Republican, or at least that’s the message I somehow got and clung to with all three and half pounds of gray matter.
And there was Becky, telling me she didn’t vote. “Don’t you care that your taxes keep going up every year? Don’t you care that Democrats want to pay lazy people who won’t work more than you’ll make working hard with a college degree? Does that sound fair to you? Don’t you care that babies are being killed and we can’t put the ten commandments up in courthouses anymore? Does sound that sound like a nation under God to you? That’s not what our Christian founders wanted. And you aren’t doing anything about it?”
She just smiled.
Doesn’t that just tick you off - when you’re passionate about something, taking it very seriously, arguing your little heart out and your audience just smiles. Passive aggressive is what that is. Wrong, wrong, wrong. But very effective.
“Are you even a Christian?”
I smiled back at him. “I think so,” I said.
“Well, you better be sure. I don’t think a Christian would want their kids learning how to be gay do you?”
I smiled back at him.
“This country was founded under God by Christians,” clipboard lady chimed back in.
“Woe,” I said. “What is a Christian?”
She gave me the usual definition using words like “believe” and “saved” and “heaven” and, most importantly, “Jesus.”
“I guess I am a Christian then,” I said and grinned at the eavesdropping volunteer. “Name a founder of this country for me, any founder,” I asked clipboard lady.
“George Washington, Thomas Jefferson-”
“Thomas Jefferson wasn’t a Christian...”
She went back to staring blankly at me.
“...not by your definition he wasn’t anyway. He wrote his own version of the bible - you can buy a copy on Amazon. He took the bible you and I read and took out the parts that made Jesus look divine. No miracles. Nothing that made it look like Jesus was God. America was founded during the Enlightenment and it was popular back then to believe in a Creator who made the world and wound it up like a watch and then walked away from it. Some people didn’t believe God was involved in everyday life. Some people didn’t believe Jesus was God because God doesn’t get mixed up in stuff down here on earth. He gives us rights and abilities and gifts and then turns us loose on each other - some people thought back then. Jefferson thought that. It’s called Deism and a lot of our founders were Deists but I don’t know how many exactly. But some big ones. Franklin and Jefferson for sure. They believed in God and talked a lot about God and his laws but you’ll have a hard time finding a quote by them about Jesus. So are you a Christian if Jesus isn’t God to you?”
Anne Jackson said:
I forgot to mention, when Chris and I come see you in Athens, I have this thing I want you to sign…
transitionpete said:
who’s doing the ambushing?
shaunfan said:
Touche. Interesting background on yourself, you imply you no longer listen to Rush. What changed from then until today? The Bible? That’s what changed for me. Interesting how it has made me less Republican overall. I’m still conservative but more open-minded as Jesus commands.
Great part 2 Shaun, your blog has better cliffhangers than “24”. Keep the Faith and God Bless!
Kevin
Anon said:
Yay! Happy ending! or beginning perhaps? I hope the 2 adults learned something valuable by talking with you.
Cali Amy said:
Yeah, it’s good to clear up misconceptions about history and our founders.
I’m actually surprised they mentioned Thomas Jefferson, as his not being a “Christian” is something I hear quite frequently.
Nathan Gaddis said:
What a great story!! What happened next? You have to do a part 3, Shaun! I had a few similar experiences like this when I use to be on the road, and you just gave them the answer that I always wished I could’ve given. That was great. Now please continue on…
Shawn Bashor said:
I guess instead of teaching your kids about homosexuality, she prefers to teach them about slavery and how it is okay according to our founding fathers. While they are at it, I think they should become mason’s.
Steve Shore said:
Hey Shaun!
I’m glad to read about how you once were in the church=republican crowd. I was brought up that way and it was in college when I started questioning all that - to the point that now I’m fed up with politicians (especially republicans) hijacking Christianity for votes. I told my very conservative republican parents this recently, and they couldn’t believe that I wasn’t in that camp any more. It’s funny what things you start to discover as you start to think on your own! Now if only more Christians would think for themselves, that would be great… They can then still have their beliefs if they want, but at least then they would have considered there may be more to Christianity than their narrow view. (Yep, this has been my rant recently… which is why I’m rambling)
Just Matt said:
When is part 3?! When is part 3?!
Good response - just the thunder I was looking for.
Shaun Groves said:
Never said I don’t listen to Rush. I listen. Less. And differently.
shaunfan said:
I also listen less to Rush now, I’m less hyped up (especially since he took a shot at my local team’s QB McNabb) on ultra-conservative viewpoints than I used to be. My reason for listening differently is based on exactly the enlightenment you gave to those people about the definition of Christianity needing to include belief in Jesus as God. I used to think conservative = Christian, liberal = non-Christian and I’ve learned otherwise. Your song “Jesus”, Todd Agnew’s song “My Jesus” and downhere’s song “The Real Jesus” are 3 sobering reminders about the character of Jesus. Thanks for that.
Kevin
said:
i used to be a big Rush fan, in the early 90’s, but let’s just some of his lifestyle choices are a bit disconcerting, especially while he’s bellowing how wonderful he is.
Although, it appears I’m much more conservative then most of you I certainly attempt to temper that with the love of Jesus. I just happen to think that govt. is not the answer to everything. . .
But really, I go back to “How do you drag your 4 yr old into that conversation?”. And not knowing Thomas Jefferson wasn’t a christian is very sobering, perhaps she homeschools?
emma said:
wow… i did not know this stuff…
Kristopher said:
Rush is great! Especially the drummer Neil Peart!
haha! “Christians” are also allowed to have a sense of humor and not take themselves, or differences with others, too seriously. Until I find the verse in the Bible that says all followers of Christ must be conservative, liberal, or somewhere in between, I won’t make any assumptions.
BUSH said:
thanks for sharing...you handled yourself way better than i would have with the radio volunteer...i mean person who caught a radio shirt in the crowd…
no longer nancy said:
all I’m saying is there better be a Part 3.
Billy Chia said:
I enjoyed this story.