The Conservative Edge

I live not too far away from where “Touchdown Jesus” was displayed. I have passed the statue many times as I have traveled on the I-75 corridor between Dayton and Cincinnati. I never thought about God when I looked at it. Instead, I wondered if the church that made the display really understood that it was drawing more attention to them than it ever could draw to God.

I’ve also wondered if the church, and so many churches like them, even bother to study the real meaning of scripture. Sometimes, the behavior and attitudes of church leaders and their congregations seem to indicate that nobody takes time to read the Bible anymore. If the Solid Rock ministry had bothered to check the New Testament, they would have found that constructing the “Touchdown Jesus” statue would have been an exercise in futility, folly, and ignorance.

Firstly, the Bible declares that man was made in the image of God; therefore, human beings are to be the ultimate representation of God/Godliness by their very lifestyles. Jesus stated in the Book of Matthew, “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” It is obvious, then, that good works should cause people to think about the character of God, in a way that sculptures or art could never accomplish.

Secondly, there is an astounding speech made by the Apostle Paul as he addressed the Epicurean and Stoic philosophers in Athens, Greece. His remarks are recorded in the Book of Acts, chapter 17. In particular, Paul stated that, “…we ought not to think that the Godhead is like unto gold, or silver, or stone, graven by art and man’s device.” He went on further to call it “ignorance” and that God commands all men to repent. This powerful argument was the result of Paul’s frustration with a city that seemed to be wholly given to idolatry. Paul was trying to reveal how we cannot express God through sculpture or images, but that we do express Him through a virtuous and honorable life.

I have heard that the Solid Rock church might rebuild “Touchdown Jesus.” Frankly, I think they should use the money for a better purpose. I know it is highly unlikely that lightning will hit twice in the same spot, but if God is involved…well, you just never know.

Religion is a funny thing. It’s sort of like water—it has equal capacity to either sustain or kill any human being. Some people (a shrinking minority of individuals) can develop an acute sense of morality as a result of their particular religious beliefs. On the other hand, far too many people misuse their faith, seeking to control or rule other persons.

This desire to attain supreme authority is not limited to Bible-believing Christians or even jihadists who follow the Koran. Religion takes many shapes and forms, and there are certainly more gods who are worshiped besides the One who created the Earth. We must remember that religion is based on faith, not reality. Faith must also be expressed and preached by someone with enough charisma, skill, and determination so that his ideals might be accepted and, ultimately, never questioned.

I am particularly reminded of one fellow in the Bible, a man named Simon, mentioned in the Book of Acts. He claimed to be some great power of God, and asserted himself so effectively, that he completely controlled the minds and behaviors of the people who lived in his city. The only way his spell could be broken was by the revelation of a new religion that emphasized freedom and healing over mind control. Simon lost his following when the new religion swept through the town.

Alas, Simon still lives. He lives because faith can still be used in this 21st century to control, manipulate, and subdue. The deity worshiped today is Mother Earth, and her disciples are many. High priests like Al Gore demand that we accept his ideals on faith, not reason or careful consideration. Claims are made that a majority of experts agree with him, even though it is entirely possible that a majority can be wrong. We are urged to accept computer projections of earth’s warming instead of proven laboratory tests and concrete evidence. Just as Gore and other liberals might suggest that God cannot be real because He cannot be proven to exist, Gore’s own theory of global warming cannot be proven either.

It has been said that a tyrant’s stated desire to save the world only conceals his true desire to rule the world. The people who would benefit most from a re-engineering of American society are the high priests such as Gore who are already set to benefit from the energy industries they endorse. The citizens of America, meanwhile, will be left with growing energy bills, shrinking transportation freedom, higher unemployment, and a general stranglehold on pursuits of liberty, wealth and happiness.

In the Biblical story about Simon, it is obvious that there was no liberty, wealth or happiness in his town. Religion and faith had been used (misused, one might say) by Simon to achieve a dictatorship. The same thing will happen today if Gore and the other false disciples successfully subdue America in the name of Mother Earth.