What's Really Important Has God Been Tricked By The GOP?
When I first heard that both Bush and Cheney were going to address the Republican National Convention I was taken by surprise. I couldn’t help thinking, “why would John McCain, desperate to deny he represents a Bush third term, want this pair speaking at the RNC to remind everyone of just how really close they are on policy, or to even remind everyone they are all in the same party?”
It was despicable enough that a James Dobson minion and employee of “Focus on the Family,” Stuart Shepard, requested that politically conservative Christians join him in praying for rain at Invesco Park in Denver, Colorado in time to mar Barack Obama’s DNC acceptance speech, but the irony of that request was yet to play out and aid the Republicans in a totally different way in their crusade to turn religion into a political weapon, instead of a spiritual acknowledgment of God.
Although Shepard didn’t exactly get what he prayed for, he was apparently heard and answered. It’s amazing how often many (certainly not all) “good” Christians don’t actually pay close attention to the meaning of the “Word of God” they read in the bible. I’m not quite sure how they interpret “as you sow so shall you reap,” but when they pray for rain to ruin an opponent’s event, I have to wonder if they are surprised when they get, instead, a major hurricane that threatens to drastically alter an event of their own? It must seem puzzling to them when their own thoughts and prayers result in dire consequences to themselves when irresponsibly and selfishly invoked.
Or did they understand this and apparently have a duel purpose in mind? Are they that clever? Were they able to play God for a sucker, and forward their own self-interests after all?
The Elmer Gantry type rain prayer may have resulted in the answer to another prayer, and manifested as a big advantage for our spiritually challenged friends, all the while being the proverbial cloud with a silver lining. The great discomfort and potential danger to all those living in New Orleans and the surrounding areas may just be a small price (for others) to pay so that these "particularly" pious, pompous and politically self-proclaimed followers of Christ can achieve another goal. Ironically, John McCain and the GOP might get the “out” that they really prayed for – essentially not having to have Bush and Cheney speak at their convention, even though they were obligated to invite them. What a neat trick!
As it turns out, it was announced that the President and Vice President would indeed not be attending the RNC, but would instead remain on duty because of the threat of Gustave to hurricane challenged New Orleans. After all, it wouldn’t do to have them completely fail in their responsibilities to defend New Orleans a second time. And the cookie in the jar turns out to be not embarrassing the GOP candidate himself by having these two appear at his nominating convention! Who says prayer doesn’t work in mysterious ways?
Of course there just might ultimately be a greater price to pay down the road when attempting to trick God. We are now painfully learning it was not wise to fool (mess with) Mother Nature, and will no doubt eventually realize it is equally unwise to mock God.
And though I don’t really credit Stuart Shepard or James Dobson and their followers with the power or intelligence to actually pull off such a scam, I do often marvel how, throughout history, all too many professed followers of Christ have interfered in the political arena in attempts to sway governments and people (often with catastrophic results), even though Jesus was purported to have said, “Render unto Caesar the things which are Caesar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s.”