On Monday, Oprah had a Christian father on, who had forgiven his eldest son for killing his wife and other son -- and shooting him. What struck me the most about the conversation was that the dad never suspected his son of any kind of evil.
This man has been through unspeakable pain, and I'm proud to call him a brother in Christ, but something he said, I can't get out of my head. He said that he and his wife were very hands-on parents and that their family was their life. Their son who set up the killings was a sociopathic narcissist. He didn't even really hope to accomplish anything in killing his family, other than to fulfill this dark lie in his soul -- that they were to blame for his problems.
Here's where I run into problems. The most the father would say about his son's narcissistic tendencies, was something like, "Yeah, he could be a little selfish. He was self-centered. Sure." I understand he doesn't want to believe these things about his son, but the guy says all the right things, but seems like he has no soul within, like he is an empty shell trying to reach at something that will make him feel. This man cannot believe his son is a monster, and while I understand it, the proof is in the fruit. Or lack thereof.
We cannot ignore ugly truths, believing they'll go away if we don't see them. Sin that is hidden and kept pretty, gets bigger. We cannot believe the world is all good and all wondrous without knowing that Satan prowls like a lion searching for things to destroy. And how easy is it to get at that person who refuses to see that there is a dark side?
Image is killing the church, in my opinion. IS the truth in us? Lord forbid a man admit at church that he's addicted to porn, or a woman confess to gossiping or having an affair on her husband. The church can't handle that kind of honesty. It makes people uncomfortable. AS IT SHOULD!! But like a necessary surgery, that kind of honesty, based on God's truth is just what we need -- before it gets worse. Before we find out the hard way that the truth is not in us.
When I look at journalism now, I cringe at the lack of truth in the papers. The serious propaganda trying to place all the blame of the country's trouble on one man. Where is the look into Obama's terrorism connections? Into his lack of a work history? I have more work experience than Obama, and this scares the heck out of me! To me, it's not a democrat/Republican thing. It's about the truth. It's always better to have things out in the light where they cannot multiply in darkness. But rather than delve into some of his background, they'll call you a racist for asking and move on. Next question.
Delicious
10 Comments:
Someone at work asked me a few weeks ago how Christians justified the way they act with "Showing God's Love". First, I'd like to point out that it was TOTALLY a God thing that I was standing there, with a non-Christian I've been praying for the last year and a half, talking about God's love and she was willingly asking questions.
Granted, she asked to try to prove a point to me that Christians were hypocritical, but still, she asked!!!
Her question was something like "How do Christians justify that they way they treat homosexuals and the way that church in KS or whereever that picket funerals is God's love?"
In a workplace setting with a VERY diverse group, of course I gulped and sent a panicked plea for God's help.
I said quite a few things, but it reminded me of your post. My biggest point was that people can CALL themselves Christians and not be a follower of Jesus. Just because they profess it with their mouth doesn't make it be. We will know them by their fruits.
My second note was that Christians aren't perfect either. We're fallible. We screw up. There are times in our passion to do "God's will" that we go overboard and come off looking stupid.
Anyway, I so agree about Obama as well, and to be honest, am slightly irritated at McCain for not taking his gloves off and delivering the suckerpunch that is needed. There is something fishy going on and its making me want to scream!
Ugh, good grief, I didn't realize that was so long. Sorry for my novel of a comment!!!
I agree with this post so very much. It's heartbreaking that so many Christians do not see the TRUTH for what it is.
I received an email this morning with a link to an ABC interview where Obama talks about "my muslim faith." I cannot believe anyone in this country is willing to vote for someone with such strong connections to Islam and all of their evil intent towards Christians and this country. We need to wake up!
Here's the link if anyone is interested:
http://israelinsider.ning.com/profiles/blog/show?id=2018399%3ABlogPost%3A5935
I hope that makes sense. I wrote it late after a day of finishing off my book, but I just want us to stand for truth, regardless of how ugly it is. Krista, I loved your post, very thoughtful. It's hard to be in that position. I'm proud of you.
Everyone's a hypocrite. We're all sinners. I get that, but I want to love people with the truth gently and kindly. Not always my strong suit. LOL
Oh, gosh, Tracy, thanks for posting that link! You all have to go look at it. It's so telling and even though Stephanopoulus tried to correct him, the sentence would have made no sense any other way. I passed the link on to friends. Scary, I'm telling you.
It's scary to me how many people will just accept a smooth talker, no questions asked.
Has anyone noticed the way Obama pronounces "Pakistan"? It sounds like a middle-eastern dialect. Which is odd, I've not seen any other journalist, politician, etc. use that pronounciation.
Or I could be over-analyzing, which I am so capable of doing :)
Amen sistah! Preach it! So glad I'm not alone in how I feel and believe!
Sin is sin. It's ugly, and we as Americans do NOT like ugly...but the only way to be beautiful is to be like Jesus...not LOOK like Him, but BE like Him.
So frustrated with Christianity in America today...but it begins with me.
So, pray for me. I'm an emotional, spiritual mess right now. Spent a weekend that seems to be hellish in emotional nature, and I cannot pull myself out of this spiral of anger, despair, and absolutely agonizing heartache that literally causes my chest to constantly hurt.
Oh, and BTW, I'm a pastor's wife, so I'm not supposed to be a mess...but I am.
Love you, K!
I had a scholarship in journalism at Ball State. After a couple of years in the program, I was so sickened at what the profs were teaching us to do, I quit. Gave up my scholarship and was disillusioned. I had been picked on in class for my beliefs and I had no one to talk to about it.(or to support me.) It was a painful time in my life. I thought we were supposed to write truth.
About this guest on Oprah. I assume his name was Kent Whitaker. I reviewed his book(Murdered by Family) for Church Libraries magazine (I'm assigned books to review according to my expertise.)
He lived with this son until he was finally arrested and convicted. What I found odd was that this son had tried to kill them (or have them killed, too) before. They had warning signs but they ignored/didn't believe them. Sad story. His son is on death row.(Obviously it was in Texas. If it had been California, the jury would've felt sorry for him that he'd lost his mother and brother!)
Sounds like a Colleen Coble novel, and you think she just makes up that stuff. Truth is in every novel she writes!
Here, here! I spent 13 years in a church that covered up a multitude of sins and looked the other way. When the dirt came out from under the carpet, the church split. :( One of the hardest things I'd ever experienced. So many were hurt for no reason.
As for truth and politics, don't get me started on the media, propaganda, finger-pointing, covering up and ignorance. It's enough to make a gal wanna SCREAM! I just pray McCain starts the attacks he needs to do to wake up voters. Otherwise, ignorance is going to lead our country to destruction!
Great comments, girls. It's so good to know there are others out there praying. Of course we need change in America. Why the heck are we bailing out AIG when they're a stupid company? Where is the capitalism in that? And why not directly help the Americans who got the short end of the stick from these nasty, predatory lenders?
But yeah, let's not throw things out that have worked in the past. Let's just not say everything in this country is bad and stab ourselves in the process. if you want this country to look like California, go ahead and get more liberal. S heesh.
And what is with the hatred toward Sarah Palin? What has she done to deserve that? Run for office?
Post a Comment
<< Home