Daniel L. Gardner
Guest Columnist
Media has created a lot of buzz lately about God. Everything from Tim Tebow to the perennial war on Christmas and holiday trees has been in the news the past few weeks. I counted no fewer than three featured articles in the Sunday New York Times related to God.
Of course God has been a mainstay in GOP politics. After all, God is a Republican isn’t He? That reminds me of a poignant rejoinder in the book of Joshua chapter 5 and verses 13 – 15: “Now it came about when Joshua was by Jericho, that he lifted up his eyes and looked, and behold a man was standing opposite him with his sword drawn in his hand, and Joshua went to him and said to him, ‘Are you for us or for our adversaries?’”
“And he said, “No….” (Now that’s poignant!) “Rather I indeed come now as captain of the host of the Lord.” Joshua learned a valuable lesson: Sometimes we presume way too much when we ask either/or questions.
In the last two verses Joshua bows down and removes his sandals because the “captain of the host of the Lord” told him he was standing on holy ground.
As mere humans we often want God to be “on our side.” How foolish is that? Is God on Tim Tebow’s side? Does God root for the Denver Broncos, or actually perform miracles so the Broncos can win? Please!
I doubt Tebow has ever said God was on his side, but more likely he has said he was on God’s side. Claims like that infuriate atheists like Bill Maher who’s mocked and criticized Tebow for his prayer-like poses after scoring touchdowns.
For those who don’t follow sports, Tebow is quarterback for the Denver Broncos, son of missionaries, Heisman Trophy winner, and expressive Christian who has unexpectedly – some say miraculously – led the Broncos to seven wins out of the last eight games. Bill Maher is a comedian wannabee who mocks all things Christian.
But still, why all this buzz about God? I understand the God-religion issues in the GOP. Democrats don’t have to worry about God-questions. The Reverend Jeremiah Wright posed no serious threats to President Obama’s candidacy. Religion is a big “value” among the GOP faithful.
If God of the Bible is real – and I believe He is Who He says He is in the Bible – then shouldn’t true believers behave more like stricken Joshua who just encountered the “captain of the host of the Lord?” I mean, what else could possibly matter?
Christians are as fallible as anyone else, maybe even more so. At least, I know I’ve failed way more than my fair share of the time. Want to mock Christians? Go ahead! We’re very mockable. But, God isn’t. And, that’s the point progressive media pundits haven’t grasped.
As we approach Christmas, I hope everyone will reconsider God and His “good news of a great joy which shall be for all the people…a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.”
Daniel L. Gardner is a syndicated columnist who lives in Starkville, MS. You may contact him at Daniel@DanLGardner.com, or visit his website at http://www.danlgardner.com Feel free to interact with him on the Clarion-Ledger feature blog site http://www.clarionledger.com/section/blogs06. Gardner’s columns are also featured on http://dannygardner.opinioneditorial.com
His columns do not reflect the views of Starkville Now.
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