The article at http://www.wtvr.com/ktla-obama-offensive-email,0,7512488.story is most upsetting. Unfortunately, it is rather “part and parcel” of many in our day. There is no respect for our leaders. This political leader has defamed the one holding the highest office in our land! Again, it is an oft repeated tale of those who oppose a given leader talking them down in every sort of way imaginable and many times those doing so claim to be Christians. This is appalling!
Regardless of our agreement or disagreement with a particular leader, we Christians are not afforded the license to speak as like with reference to them. Biblically, we have very specific instructions with regard to leaders. The apostle Paul gives us some of the clearest from his own difficulties. In Act 23, he is before the high priest and the Sanhedrin. To cut through the King James way of phrasing things, let’s just say that Paul is punched in the mouth at the command of Ananias the high priest (Acts 23:2). Paul responses with what can only be called an insult, “you white-washed wall”, and declares that Ananias will be judged for his actions (verse 3). When those nearby hear Paul reviling the high priest, they comment on his brashness to do so. Then Paul, in verse 5, referencing Exodus 22:28, says, “It is written, ‘You shall not speak evil of a ruler of your people.’”
Now, isn’t that really what is going on here, anyway? How many times have you heard it? We are commanded to be subject to our leaders as “God’s ministers” (Romans 13:1-4). We are commanded to pray for “all who are in authority” (I Timothy 2:1-2) and to speak evil of no one (Titus 3:2).
Naming the Name of Christ and calling ourselves Christian requires that we be held to a higher standard. While others may defame, degrade and otherwise disrespect our leaders, we ought not! It is a terrible reflection on the Lord and plain disobedient to Scripture, which makes it a sin, as disobeying any of God’s commands is.
Pray for and respect all of our leaders, regardless of our level of agreement with them.
As far as the racism of the email is concerned, let us make two observations. First, there should be no Darwinist upset with the picture, as they would claim that we are all related to the other primates, no matter what our color. This is no more than they already claim. The Christian believes that we are all created by God and not that we evolved from some common ancestor of the apes. Therefore, this should upset the Christian and not bother the Darwinist at all.
Second, it is an age-old, inappropriate comparison that has been made for centuries between blacks and apes. This is awful! Nazi Germany withdrew from the Olympics once claiming that it was unfair for their athletes to be competing against blacks, whom they referred to as animals. Have we progressed no farther than that? God created people of all colors and all are due the same respect. To de-humanize anyone is wrong! It does not matter what color a person’s skin is, they are still a person and deserving of the same rights and respect as any other person.
Christian, give all the respect they are due and especially our leaders. Treat all with equality and as God’s special creation.
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