Empty Chairs and Responsibility
Tonight, I see that twisted GenX genius Victor Lams comments at Amy Welborn’s about reaction to Fr. Rob Johansen’s “Empy Chair” sermon (which references Victor’s comments on Baby Boomers; how’s that for circularity?):
And I do think that all of us, non-contracepting parents, genXers and Baby Boomers alike, bear the collective, national guilt of the crime of abortion.
For reasons unknown to me (not that I’m arguing!), my older boys want bedtime storytime to cover the whole Bible, including the “boring” parts like Numbers and Leviticus. (Reason #42491435 to both homeschool and keep Nintendo out of the house.) Last night, we got to Leviticus 20:
The LORD said to Moses, “Say to the Israelites: ‘Any Israelite or any alien living in Israel who gives any of his children to Molech must be put to death. The people of the community are to stone him. I will set my face against that man and I will cut him off from his people; for by giving his children to Molech, he has defiled my sanctuary and profaned my holy name. If the people of the community close their eyes when that man gives one of his children to Molech and they fail to put him to death, I will set my face against that man and his family and will cut off from their people both him and all who follow him in prostituting themselves to Molech.
— Leviticus 20:1-5 (NIV)
I think Victor has it right. There are a lot of laws in the Pentateuch. This is the first time I’ve noticed one where guilt is imputed, not simply to the one breaking the law, but to all of those who know and look the other way.
And there will be a special place in Hell reserved (or, if you prefer, a custom millstone) for those who not just close their eyes, but open them, and call evil good.
[Episcopalinal priest Rev. Katherine] Ragsdale called conservative evangelicals opposed to abortion “a small and wacko fringe” and said an abortion-rights stance is a natural position for a Christian.
Keep all my decrees and laws and follow them, so that the land where I am bringing you to live may not vomit you out. You must not live according to the customs of the nations I am going to drive out before you. Because they did all these things, I abhorred them.
— Leviticus 20:22-23 (NIV)
Woe to those who call evil good
and good evil,
who put darkness for light
and light for darkness,
who put bitter for sweet
and sweet for bitter.Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes
and clever in their own sight.— Isaiah 5:20-21 (NIV)
God have mercy. God have mercy on us all.
Recent Comments