Christians, and especially Christian politicians, can say the dumbest things. In a recently self published book Jon Hubbard, a member of the Arkansas House of Representatives, wrote this: “The institution of slavery that the black race has long believed to be an abomination upon its people may actually have been a blessing in disguise. The blacks who could endure those conditions and circumstances would someday be rewarded with citizenship in the greatest nation ever established upon the face of the Earth.” He also asserted that “the most important pledge I can make to the people of District 58, the citizens of Arkansas, and to myself, is to do whatever I can to defend, protect, and preserve our Christian heritage.”
On September 27th another Christian politician, Congressman Paul Broun of Georgia (a medical doctor, no less) declared in a speech to a group at Liberty Baptist Church in Hartwell, Georgia: “God’s word is true. I’ve come to understand that. All that stuff I was taught about evolution and embryology and the big bang theory, all that is lies straight from the pit of Hell.”
These words don’t reflect convictions of two men of strong faith. They reveal an appalling ignorance that has no place in religion or politics. Too often such statements are justified by people who may not agree with them but who insist on the right these men have to believe what they want to. What is more, criticisms like this one are often labeled “elitist.” But it is far from being elitist to say that freedom to say dumb things is not an excuse for refusing to grow up and join other adults in taking responsibility to be informed about things of which they speak. Whatever happened to the wisdom of Mark Twain who once quipped that it is better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.
One of the major reasons Christianity is in decline in this country, why less than thirty percent of church members actually attend church, and why our government is no longer able to function is because ignorance goes unnamed based on some misguided notion that freedom and tolerance justify it being expressed in public. The word “ignorance” means a lack of knowledge, education, or awareness. Just because someone is baptized does not mean they have knowledge, education, or awareness of what Christianity is really about or what the Bible actually says, and when they speak as if they do they should be called on it. The same thing is true for politicians. Just because Hubbard or Broun hold office doesn’t mean they possess knowledge, education, or awareness when it comes to the important issues we face.
One of my favorite words is “jackleg.” It means “characterized by unscrupulousness, dishonesty, or lack of professional standards, or lacking skill or training.” I don’t know about you, but I think religion and politics have too many jacklegs in leadership positions talking as if someone should listen to them. Unless and until we let them know unequivocally that their ignorance is no longer tolerable, that we insist they learn some things before they speak, that we have a higher standard than ridiculous points of view, we will continue down the road to chaotic politics and irrelevant religion we are now travelling. Exposing jacklegs won’t solve our problems, but it might give us a better chance at solving them.
