Prevailing Winds "For the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is there is freedom . . ." 2 Cor. 3:17, TNIV

February 8, 2010

The Idaho Baptists And Good Intentions Paving The Road To Hell

Filed under: Uncategorized — keelyem @ 4:17 am

(From my post today on Moscow’s Vision 2020 community forum, responding to charges that the prosecution of the “Idaho 10” in Haiti will discourage people from helping poor children internationally:)

No, “good people” who want to help homeless, poor, or any other kind of children won’t be dissuaded from performing good deeds if the Idaho Baptists are convicted. The ten being held in Haiti demonstrated something other than “goodness.” They evinced a tragically silly shallowness that is unbecoming of the Gospel, no matter how truly kind they are — and there is evidence that the group’s leader is at least as cunning as she is kind. If these brothers and sisters are convicted of the charges against them, it won’t have a chilling effect at all on “good” people who care about the poor abroad.

On the contrary, truly “good” people seek to understand and to work within the laws that exist; they don’t, in responding to disasters and crises, just “arrive ‘n dive” into situations unfamiliar to them. They don’t let their tenderheartedness run rampant over their common sense. And they don’t naively, or arrogantly, assume that they know more than others who have dealt with problems, often at great personal cost, for far longer than they themselves have.

The Idaho Christians awaiting trial may well be loving, sweet-natured people. I’m truly sorry they’re in the position they’re in, but let’s be clear: It’s not religious persecution that has them in jail right now, and it isn’t a cynical world’s inability to welcome the kindnesses of strangers, either. They’re in jail because in loving the Lord with all of their hearts, they made a concerted effort to not love him in this case with all of their minds — with tragic consequences across the board.

2 Comments »

  1. “They’re in jail because in loving the Lord with all of their hearts, they made a concerted effort to not love him in this case with all of their minds — with tragic consequences across the board.”

    Very good!

    Comment by Ashwin — February 15, 2010 @ 1:38 pm

  2. Welcome back, Ashwin! Thank you for your comment. I really worry about the combination of naivete, arrogance, and rashness that propelled them — and that fed their pastor’s undiscerning support of what is now shown to be a reckless adventure in drive-by do-goodism. There needs to be a serious time of reflection and repentance for all involved, especially pastoral leadership.
    Keely

    Comment by Keely Emerine-Mix — February 16, 2010 @ 6:49 pm

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