Myopic News Coverage

Today, on the day after a bombing/shooting in a mosque in Egypt took over 300 lives, I made an informal review of the coverage priorities of the major cable news TV channels (those leaning both left and right), such as CNN, Fox, and MSNBC.  Today they decided it was important to focus the nation's attention on domestic political spats and holiday shopping stories and stats.  One wonders:  What does it take on the world scene to get the attention of small-minded, profit-driven American news media?

Polarizing Provocation

Charlie Hebdo's special edition recognizing the one-year anniversary of the terrorist attack that left 12 dead in their Paris offices makes a reckless, dishonest, and profoundly damaging statement:  the cover portrays God as a Kalashnikov-wielding terrorist scurrying about with blood on his hands, and it has the caption:  "The assassin is still at large."  Their point is clear:  God is to blame.  God is the killer.  Religion is the problem.

This broad brush journalistic swipe at religion is both incorrect and irresponsible.  We would expect some measure of discernment, some capacity to make vital distinctions, by those who write for a paper with the following self-description:  "A different angle on the news, for an in-depth view beyond the everyday media offer.  Humour, food for thought and satire from cartoonists, journalists, reporters, writers and columnists."  But discernment is cast to the wind in this brazen gesture to smear any and all who believe in God with the guilt of ruthless killers.  The Vatican, rightly, has sharply criticized Charlie Hebdo's anti-God message.

I can't help but suppose that this poor excuse for journalism is really a clever publicity stunt to sell papers and turn a nice profit.  Tossing out the baby with the bath water may be "Foolish Thinking 101," but it serves nicely to inflame other careless minds, cause unnecessary division, and, again, sell papers.  As they say, there is no such thing as bad publicity.

Two seconds of honest reflection on the history of the world will remind an open-minded person that religious faith has motivated many of the greatest humanitarian achievements.  Yes, religious people have sometimes committed great wrongs.  But to let that fact erase the massive contribution of good would be tragic and foolish.  Consider, for example, the countless hospitals founded by Christian missionaries that dot the planet.  Or so many many schools and universities.  Or charities or shelters for the homeless or social service agencies.  The list could go on and on.  But I'll stop.

Culture Wars, Religion, and Today's Turmoil

Kevin DeYoung's recent post, "Thinking Theologically about Islam," lays out helpful baseline commitments that Christians are urged to accept and agree upon.  They fall under the headings of "identity," "faith" and "welcome." 

Christian Presence in this World

After 9/11 the Elders at Bethlehem Baptist Church in Minneapolis endorsed an article by their pastor, John Piper, on how Christians should relate to people of other faiths.  Today, in the wake of the recent Paris attacks, these are helpful, thoughtful words well worth our prayerful reflection.

The Pope and the Limits of Free Speech

In the wake of the Charlie Hebdo attacks, Pope Francis has made ill-considered remarks inviting the conclusion that, at some point or in some manner, insulting words will / do (must?) provoke a forceful reply.  This is being construed, for example, by Vox as follows:  "Pope Francis on free speech: if you insult religion, expect violence."  

According to the Vatican News Service, "Pope Francis said on Thursday that there are limits to freedom of expression, especially when it insults or ridicules someone’s faith....  Pope Francis was asked by a French journalist about the relationship between freedom of religion and freedom of expression.  He replied saying that both are "fundamental human rights" and stressed that killing in the name of God “is an aberration.” But he said there were limits to that freedom of expression.  By way of example he referred to Alberto Gasparri who organizes the papal trips and was standing by his side on the plane. The Pope said if “his good friend Dr Gasparri” says a curse word against his mother, he can “expect a punch”, and at that point he gestured with a pretend punch towards him, saying: “It’s normal. You cannot provoke. You cannot insult the faith of others.  You cannot make fun of the faith of others.”"  

How this "punch" fits into Christian teaching is a puzzle--it surely doesn't seem to square with Jesus' message about love for enemies (Luke 6:27, 35).  Better to leave the matter of applying force to the state, since civil government has the responsibility to preserve law and order and to use means, even force when necessary, to protect citizens and apply justice (Romans 13:1-7).

[Jan. 17 update:  Numerous other reports are questioning the pope's remarks--e.g., British Prime Minister David Cameron, who contends that it is wrong to endorse revenge:  "I think in a free society, there is a right to cause offence about someone’s religion. I’m a Christian; if someone says something offensive about Jesus, I might find that offensive, but in a free society I don’t have a right to wreak vengeance on them."  And former Bishop of Oxford, Richard Harries, writes, "I am a great admirer of the Pope but when, to make the proper point that we should not insult the faith of others, he said his assistant could “expect a punch” if he cursed his mother, I was aghast."]
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Obscene Indifference

This New York Times editorial about the world's response to ISIS is sobering and serious.
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"Radicalized"

Back in 1970 Jim Lovell radioed from the Apollo 13 spacecraft, “Houston, we have a problem.”  Well, in a different way, today’s “radical” Christians have also run into a crisis:  “Devoted disciples of Jesus, we have a problem.”

What is it?  If you follow the incessant news coverage of the Boston Bombings, you'll notice countless sobering claims about how Tamerlan Tsarnaev had become “radicalized.”  Some years ago, apparently, he was not a “radical,” but an uncle has concerns that since 2009 his nephew had been an “extremist.”  In late 2010 Russian authorities first took an interest Tsarnaev, and in 2011 they told the FBI that he was a follower of radical Islam and a strident believer.  In 2012 he spent six months overseas, visiting the North Caucasus, an area of separatist movements and extremist Islamic ideology, and a hotbed of militant Islamic activity.  U.S. House Homeland Security Chairman Michael McCaul believes Tsarnaev received training during his trip, and became radicalized [source].  Bottom line:  a thousand times over the word “radical” is being cast in deadly dangerous colors.  To be called “radical” is fast becoming a way to be pegged a terrorist.  Being radicalized means becoming dangerous.

Shift gears to Pastor David Platt.  In 2010 he wrote a really good book for Christians entitled Radical:  Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream.  Trouble is, in our post-Boston world it’s become desper­ately difficult to use the “R-word” positively.  Today the term just drips with scary, even evil, connotations.  Is it possible to rehabilitate this once-helpful way of portraying legitimate devotion and zeal?  One wonders if every reference to Christ-honoring, neighbor-loving, self-giving, truth-telling, whole-hearted, compassionate Christian “radicalism” will need to be qualified and clari­fied and explained into oblivion.  After all, we do want to make sure no one suspects Christ-followers of the least trace of the kind of extremism that motivates the committing of murder. 

That’s where we stand as the church in 2013.  Our challenge is to encourage each other to keep on pursuing the Lord passionately ("You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart" [Jeremiah 29:11]).  And don’t waver in your commitment just because sloppy journalism portrays any and all religious passion as “fanaticism.”  Christ is not honored if we turn lukewarm in our love for him just to avoid criticism.  And yet, at the same time, let’s be vigilant more than ever to convey the biblical fact that the way of Jesus in this world is the path of peace.

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Boston Bombing

Helpful thoughts from Tony Reinke on our responses to the bombings at the Boston Marathon.
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