The most Christian story I have ever heard has been banned over and over in the U.S. I will tell it here.
A few of our neighbors have chosen to demonize me publicly in the newspapers. They cannot wrap their minds around the idea that a skeptic can also be a Christian. A “true” Christian, they think, wants to see the Christian “team” dominate local government. They confuse religion with sports.
In a theocracy, reason is treason.
There once was a boy named Huckleberry Finn. Huck had a best friend named Jim, who was a runaway slave. Huck was raised to believe that protecting an escaped slave was a mortal sin. Huck was told that if he didn’t return Jim to slavery, Huck’s soul would burn forever in hell. Huck truly believed this, and had to choose between his friend’s freedom and heaven.
Huck thought: “I was a trembling, because I'd got to decide, forever, betwixt two things, and I knowed it. I studied a minute, sort of holding my breath, and then says to myself, ‘All right, then, I'll go to hell’.’’
Jesus asserted, “Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.”
Huck bravely sent his soul to burn forever so that his friend Jim could walk without chains.
This is the promise of a soldier: you can sleep peacefully at home because I will offer myself to keep you safe.
Christianity is not a sport. It is not a team, or a gang, or a political party. It does not even matter whether a god actually exists. Christianity is love for neighbor. Christianity does not require government intervention.
Christianity does not need our county commissioners to betray non-believing citizens by implementing invocations. Christianity does not care what slogans are on our money. Christianity does not need us to “beat” our neighbors. Christianity is not a game, a contest, or an election.
Dave Norris
Battle Ground
