The Internets are abuzz with the comments of Erick Erickson, prime mover of Red State, and CNN's Wingnut Avatar. Here's Erickson on Tuesday's election:
"My world view is pretty simple. I think this world is destined to go to hell in a hand basket by design. I think things are supposed to go to pot. So if Barack Obama wins, I won’t be upset."
I am a happy a proud member of
All Saints Church, the ONLY Church the Bushies tried crush by pulling its tax exempt status. I'm just another bozo on the Jesus bus, but I can't let this pass, because Erickson misses Christianity's message -- and the message of Barack Obama. Follow me below the squiggle....
Okay, Erick, first -- "The world is destined to go to hell in a handbasket by design." Wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong, wrong. The book that shook me out of my "lazy agnosticism" and brought me back to the church at age 57, "My Descent Into Death" by Howard Storm is a first person account of an atheist who had a near-death experience and talks to God -- asks God all the questions we would ask. Here's Storm's summation of what he learned (p. 144):
"Free will is the ability to make choices. God has given us this greatest of gifts. This freedom to do what we will is an amazing gift of love that is taken for granted. Even though we may imperfectly know God's will in the choices we make, our intention to choose God's perfect will will please God. We were put in this world to know and to do God's will. That is the whole of life experience."
Erick -- we are NOT "destined" to go to hell in a handbasket. Pull your head out of "Revelations" and open your eyes to real Christianity -- "Love your neighbor as yourself." In any given moment, we have a choice -- hatred or love. Compassion or bigotry. Fear or kindness.
In this election, we have the choice to support a man -- Barack Obama -- who will provide virtually everyone in America with some form of basic medical insurance. That means the 24 year old single mother with a 3 year old with brain cancer won't just have to watch her child die. That means millions of people will have a chance at a better, longer life. The other choice is a man -- a multi-millionaire who will NEVER face the kinds of desperate options faced by those without medical insurance -- who favors "repealing Obamacare on Day 1." That has real world consequences. Thousands of people will die because of this action. Unacceptable to a Christian.
Erick -- you go on to say, "God is sovereign and He is in charge and He will return. That is my hope and my ever present expectation." Once again, I think you mis-read your Bible. Jesus was asked when the kingdom of God would come. Jesus said, "Behold, the kingdom of God is within you." (Luke 17:21) That's right -- the spirit of God is within us. We can find what we need within ourselves. And then we'll know what to do.
A conservative Church in my neighborhood has a sign that says "Vote Like A Christian." I intend to do just that. My God is a god of infinite love, compassion, hope and mercy. I have one of God's greatest gifts -- free will. I'm voting for Barack Obama.