the Centrist

Bonnie Erbie the host of PBS’s weekly news analysis program, “To the Contrary” … recently wrote an editorial called: “Huckabee the Caveman” in the Dec. 20th issue of “US News and World Report”. She started her analysis with an attack on my faith. Rather than focus on Huckabee’s record, she chose to denigrade his faith. Huckabee is not necessarily “my guy” for several reasons, but nobody deserves to be persecuted for their faith or lack of such in America. Erbie stated: “If you happen to be walking behind presidential aspirant Mike Huckabee, you might see a small trail of blood and hear a scraping sound. That’s because his knuckles are dragging. This darling of the evangelical right has proven himself to be every bit the caveman we main streamers believe him to be. Of course, that’s all the more likely to increase his appeal to his flock.” Her cynicism is underscored by her choice of this most holy season to dub us “knuckle draggers”.
Well, I for one stand proudly with my brethren in Christ dragging my knuckles along side of some the greatest humanitarians, scientist, philosophers, and educators in history. If dragging my knuckles brings me along side of the likes of: Billy Graham, Sister Teresa, St. Augustine, Anselmn, Thomas Aquinas, Francis of Assisi, or scientists Newton, and Galileo (to name only a few of my heroes), then a bloody knuckle or two is a small price to pay. When one thinks of modern day organizations such as the hospital movement, the orphanage movement, the Salvation Army, YMCA, YWCA, Alcoholics Anonymous, Pregnancy Counseling Centers, as well as the myriad of homeless shelters … I am proud to support them and count them in our number. Moreover, to worship a Savior that refused the trappings of material wealth and loved mankind to the extent that He was willing to suffer and die so that we could be with Him, is no small thing. Rather it is the thing our life’s journey should emulate. I have lived in a span that has seen this nation rejoice and celebrate their Judeo-Christian heritage, to one which actively denies and vilifies it. Unfortunately in this Politically Correct Society it seems more important to blame everything bad in this nation on those who espouse an inclusive faith that, for the most part, has spread love and understanding, than on political philosophies and politicians who try to play God. Moreover, we Christians follow a leader who has never required or even approved of the sword. Any who have attempted to read the New Testament must come to the conclusion that Jesus never asked His followers to promulgate His faith using violence, but only Truth and Love. Even this secular society should at least recognize that just as one cannot judge a parent by his/her child, one should not judge Jesus by His children. He asked His followers to be known by His examples. So admittedly I and my brethren fail that task on a daily basis, but most of us simply get up, wipe the dust from our sandals, and try again. Many times this means we leave a person behind that looks at us, and judges our Savior by our poor behavior, for that I ask forgiveness … but hopefully more often than not it means we approach our daily tasks with compassion, love, and understanding. It means we ask our God to forgive us our sins as we have forgiven those who have sinned against us. That is not an easy task, but one by which Christians ask their God to be measured.
So as I ponder what I believe and who I am in this most holy of seasons, I conclude it is the forgiveness and love which is everywhere present in the New Testament. As my mother-in-law challenged decades ago, while I was yet an agnostic erudite ivory tower professional, “Bill, show me a better way to live, and a better life to follow and I will.” I am still ashamed at my arrogance of those days when my presupposition and world view was that education was more valuable than wisdom.
So at this special time of the year, when we celebrate the miracle of all miracles, that the God of Creation would deem it worthy to become flesh and flesh in the most humble of circumstances, I would like to tell Bonnie Erbie that I love her and forgive her. I would like to tell her that I am praying for her and am putting her name on my prayer blog so that many around the world will also pray for her; that she too may join us with scars on our knuckles in order that we will join Him with scars on His hands and feet.

Merry Christmas.

Dr. B