1 of 4

Write now Article Tools

If we look to our public figures, including politicians, to glimpse the face of God, we are in a really sorry state. Small children look to parents and parental figures to get some idea of what this "God person" must be like; as adults, we should know that any and every politician is already compromised and can only do so much to navigate the waters of the eternal sea; i.e., politics. However, I find it hypocritical that so many people zing Bush on his religious faith when they ignored the opportunistic religiosity of Bill Clinton, when it suited him, like carrying a Bible around during his impeachment trial.

The first president to really put religion "in our face" in recent times was the pathetic loser, Jimmy Carter, undoubtedly the worst president of the 20th century after Lyndon B. Johnson. It was the egotistical peanut-brained farmer from Georgia who tried to capitalize on his "born again" status among the demoralized American public of the 1970s. If it had not been for Nixon and Watergate, the grinning red-neck would never have been elected. Liberals could overlook Carter's religious creed, mainly because he did not let it interfere with his own left-wing sentiments of being pro-abortion, something most "born again" Christians don't like. For some unknown reason Carter appealed to Black Americans, even though he attended a segregated Baptist Church. His boozing brother, evangelist sister, and carping ante-diluvian mother looked like the cast of a Tennesee Williams play too weird to make it to the stage. No, if I looked to the likes of Jimmy Carter to get an idea of God, I would either be an atheist or at best a Druid talking to tree spirits.

Of course Bush is not a perfect Christian-all Christians admit to being sinners. As for his sending soldier to die, well, every president-including Carter in the botched rescue attempt for our hostages in Iran-has done that. At least Bush honors the dead service people, whereas Carter boasted "no servicemen have died during my administration", relegating those dead eight men to chopped liver.

When I look for inspiration, I usually avoid all public figures. I find God at work among the quiet, humble people who really practice charity and compassion. The unsung heroes-I am planning a book about such people, none of them famous, none of them politicians, none of them religious figures-who, in my experience, show what it is all about. They may not agree with me on everything, but that's not the point.

As for religious figures, here's a simple litmus test, and you don't even need to know a lot of scripture to apply it: anyone who preaches hatred, especially in the name of God, is not from God, unless it is some Old Testament god like Baal, Moloch, Dagon, Bel, or one of those other wanna-bees. Hate the sin, maybe, but never the sinner. We don't have to look to Osama Bin Laden to find hate-mongers. As for those who feel God hates the people whom they hate-well, those are the real idolaters, the ones who have made God in their own image.

Try to observe and remember to yourself every day how many small acts of kindness, how many unselfish deeds, you see people do for total strangers, simply out of the goodness of their hearts. Hopefully you will be pleasantly surprised at just how much good there is out there.

Public figures only made God look bad to those who want an excuse to make God look bad. A great line from a character in a play by Irish author Sean O'Casey: "Don't go blaming God for the stupidity of men!"

Learn more about this author, Peter Beolingus.
Click here to send this author comments or questions.

Add your voice

Know something about Christian politicians and priests who are making God look bad?
We want to hear your view. Write now!