This evening, the U.S. House of Representatives is voting on a resolution reaffirming “In God We Trust” as the motto of the United States.  I’m sure the purpose of such a resolution, which changes nothing and has no force of law, is mainly to get an election-year vote on the books reaffirming the difference between “God’s Own Party” and the godless Democrats.  But with full apologies to Seth, Amy, and all the good folks at SNL, I just have to say: REALLY???

These Congressmen are the guys who go on about our duty to build up a strong defense.  The bill’s author J. Randy Forbes (R-VA) is committed Baptist who is also the author of the “Strong Defense, Strong America” initiative, in which he argues against any further cuts to the U.S. Military because “a strong defense means a strong America.”  REALLY?  Maybe Randy and his colleagues haven’t read Isaiah 31:1, where the God they say we trust said “Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, who trust in chariots because they are many and in horsemen because they are very strong, but do not look to the Holy One of Israel or consult the LORD!”  REALLY!  Of course, we know you can’t trust in horses and chariots; that’s why we have F-14 fighters and M1A1 tanks and carriers and nukes and cruise missiles!  REALLY!!!

The resolution to be voted today states that “in times of national challenge or tragedy, the people of the United States have turned to God as their source for sustenance, protection, wisdom, strength, and direction.”  REALLY???  That must be why we sent our armies to kick the crap out of Osama bin Laden and Saddam Hussein…because we were turning to God for protection.  REALLY!  And that must be why we spent billions of dollars bailing out banks that were “too big to fail,” because we were turning to God for our sustenance!  REALLY!!

In the resolution, Congress “supports and encourages the public display of the national motto in all public buildings, public schools, and other government institutions.”  REALLY?  I’m sure that must include displaying it at the Department of the Treasury, because nothing says “lay not up for yourselves treasures on earth” like a big bold copy of “In God We Trust” on the Treasury walls!  REALLY!!!

And of course let’s not gloss over that part about supporting “public display.”  Because that guy who these congressmen believe is the son of the God they trust, can’t possibly have meant it when he said “when you pray, don’t be like those guys who stand on the street corners where they can be seen by men.”  No, REALLY!

REALLY, these guys need to have a little review lesson on what the God they trust said.  ‘Cause I suspect the closest he ever came to describing them is Mark 7:6…”These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me.”  REALLY!!!

We talk a lot about the loving character of Jesus, and well we might.  But despite the popularity in some circles of pointing out God’s wrath, we rarely seem to notice one thing that really seems to have pissed Jesus off.  We find the same language in all three synoptic gospels, in Matt. 18:6-7, Mark 9:42, and Luke 17:1-2.  Jesus says that someone who causes “one of these little ones who are faithful to me” to stumble, would be better off if a millstone were tied around his neck and he were tossed into the sea.  Or to put a finer point on it, if you drive others away from Jesus, you’re better off drowned.

Obligatory disclaimer:  In this current whacko-filled environment I find it necessary to point out that Jesus never told anybody to actually perform the millstone remedy, and neither do I.  It’s what we call a figure of speech, and in no way should be taken as an incitement to actual drownings.

Disclaimer aside, I think it’s worth taking a good hard look at what could possibly have gotten Jesus so riled up that a guy who was normally all about self-sacrifice and loving service would–even in hyperbole–turn to such violent language.  Interestingly it’s not due to the basic depravity of man so pivotal to Calvinist theology.  Rather, it’s to those who create the conditions that drive others–Matthew and Mark both say others who already have placed their faith in Jesus–to turn from him.

Yesterday I saw one of the more impressive female posteriors I’ve observed in a while.  The lovely form was displayed to maximum effect in a skirt, the tightness and shortness of which would have earned an appreciative stare in any nightclub without a pole on the stage.  Only thing is, the owner of said glutes is too young to go into a nightclub, and the sighting was not Saturday night on the town, it was Sunday morning at church.

I know…coming from a guy in his late 40s this probably sounds icky in the extreme.  But, my younger sisters, may I have your leave to get personal here?  I’m writing to you in the hopes you will realize that what you wear matters more than you might think (and please understand, I’m addressing you as “younger sisters” not to convey any disrespect or sense of superiority, but rather my genuine, non-sexual fondness for many of you, my friends…I hope you understand).  First, a few disclaimers:

I wanted to highlight a recent post by my mom over at Pioneers’ New Testament, because what she says is actually a useful foundation for some things I’m going to be writing soon.  She has just posted a word study on the various Greek words that are sometimes translated as “Life” or “Soul” in the New Testament.  I recommend the post, and will add more to the concept soon.

I have a bunch of things I need to get written and no time to write, but you guys have got to check out my Mom’s latest article on repentance. It’s related to all the sin and atonement and kingdom stuff we’ve been talking about. . .

Trevin Wax has just posted a new review on his blog . It’s Lost In Transmission?: What We Can Know About the Words of Jesus, by Nick Perrin.

I can only go on Trevin’s review so far, but it looks to me like an important study for anyone who cares about the actual words of the Lord Jesus. I look forward to getting a copy.

I’d like to take a sidebar here to introduce you to a new-to-the-web translation of the New Testament. The Pioneers’ New Testament is a wholly original translation from the Greek by my Mom, who studied Greek in college and had planned to work for Wycliffe before a variety of life’s circumstances changed the trajectory.

Mom’s translation has appealed to some people who aren’t familiar with “Christianese” precisely because she’s avoided some of the common buzzwords that “everybody knows” who’s grown up in the church. At times I find the language a little more folksy than I would have chosen myself, but the value there may be that it forces you to think of the original writers as real people instead of exalted demigods as they are sometimes perceived.

The translation particularly excels at highlighting a few concepts that are not visible in most English translations due to limitations on our language and usage. Among other things:

• It highlights the difference between singular and plural “you,” a concept that matters a great deal if you realize Christianity was always intended to be a team sport rather than a lone-ranger business;
• It breaks apart the two different Greek words we usually translate as “sin,” “hamartia” (which Mom renders as “shortcomings”), and “paraptoma” (which she translates as “deliberate transgression”)
• It designates in capitals the places in the gospels where Jesus used the Greek “ego emi”–equivalent to the “I AM” of the burning bush–to help us understand Jesus’ nonstandard usage and what it may mean Christologically.

Anyway, I encourage you to check it out at http://pioneernt.wordpress.com.

I think Ruben Bolling has come up with a hilarious take on theodicy (the logical dilemma of a good God and evil in the world). Be sure to see the entire “Tom the Dancing Bug” cartoon here.

(Partial reproduction with cartoonist’s permission – Thanks Ruben!)