May 3, 2005

Bias

Churchers have a right to pick their battles just like everyone else. But those who pushed for the boycott against ABC for their inclusive employment practices should at least admit that their biases are their biases and not necessarily anybody else’s.

My bias is that I doubt if they’re on this kind of agenda because they love Jesus more than entertainment. It seems to me rather that they apparently honor the parts of the Bible that they think preach against homosexuality more than they honor the parts that clearly preach against hate, gluttony, gossip, working on Sunday, usury, injustice, or women cutting their hair.

They are not, after all, boycotting NBC for providing health benefits to Katie Couric, whatever her coiffure. They are not boycotting Wal-Mart for doing business on Sunday in direct violation of one of the Ten Commandments. Nor are they boycotting the U S Department of Justice to change its name to something more appropriate.

Does anyone really think that Jesus is worried that too many people are getting healthcare coverage?

May 2, 2005

Reminder

In our church’s liturgy, we pray for the dead. Some folk find that morbid and distasteful, at the least, maybe even pagan. Whatever, it doesn’t stop us. In my case, the older I get, the longer the list.

From the tenor of the prayers, praying for those who have died in this life and gone on to another or wherever is often like putting in a good word for them with God (as if I had any influence, which I find presumptuous) or it’s like asking them that if they can find one to put in a good word for me. Actually, I’m not so conscious of doing either of these.

Rather does it seem to me — and this is the nourishing part — that praying for the dead reminds me of how connected we were in simply being acquainted, let alone really knowing each other, and, maybe more importantly, how connected we continue to be, acquainted or not. The same thing’s true in praying for anybody, even myself.

We sing “with all the saints who from their labors rest,” but I hope they don’t enjoy all that leisure so much that they forget who I am, and maybe will send a spiritual picture post card now and then saying something like, “Having wonderful time. Wish you were here.”