Randy Cassingham's Blog

"Blasphemy" is what I'm guilty of, if you believe "Santa", one of several people who wrote about a story in last week's issue. It's about a couple of farmers who quit their jobs rather than work for a place that uses feng shui, meaning they would not work for a place which "relies on a power other than God" -- to which I retorted, "You mean like the sun?" Yep, I'm going straight to hell for that. The below is actually the short version of the events that transpired next. There's a longer version, with an expanded selection of letters, here.

First, I'll mention that of the hundreds of pastors who get True, you know how many complained? Right: none. For the record, I do have an Official Consulting Pastor, the Rev. Rus Jeffrey, the senior pastor of a church in upstate New York. (For the other side of the record, I don't pass stories by him first -- he gets his copy of True when you do -- but he has agreed to let me know immediately if I ever "step over the line." And he never has.

"Santa" says, "You should not write blasphemous things when sending out your e-mails. The [story] is grossly irreverent toward what is held to be sacred and there was absolutely no good reason for you to write it in the first place. God... forgives you, I'm sure. You just know any better. Get back to me some time after you've had a near-death experience and let me know then whether or not you believe in God." (Ah, the old, arrogant, "there are no atheists in foxholes" rant.) Anyway, like an idiot, I thought Santa might be moved that True's Official Pastor not only didn't object to the story, but told me he "laughed out loud" when he read it. Not a chance: "Please have your 'Senior Methodist Pastor' e-mail me personally on what he said to you." (Her immediate assumption: I must be lying!)

And you know what? Rus did just that: he confirmed that he loved the story. So Santa sneered, "Dear Rev. Rus, (yea, sure -- and I'm Santa Claus), you have to admit is that a grave sin was committed against the First Commandment by inferring that the sun is a god. [huh? -rc] If you do not know it, you need to go back to the seminary and study some more theology. Why would anyone believe what Randy says when he can so freely can commit a grave sin against God. Just because Randy is a friend of yours, is no reason to side with him and damn your own soul into the pits of hell, which is where you are heading. Jesus is God. Feng shui is not God and neither is the sun." Uh huh. That clears that up. (When I asked her why she hides behind a screen name and won't sign her name to her opinions, as I do, she refused to answer, but did tell Rus she's a woman.)

When he's in town, Rus and I often talk about how some people hide behind selected Biblical passages to condemn, yell, scream, curse, and damn others to hell -- thereby driving millions of people away from churches -- rather than treat others with the respect that the Bible demands. So it's ironic to consider Santa's final question of Rus, after Rus confirmed that he indeed enjoyed the feng shui story: Santa said a "human being should not being saying such things to others, especially a 'Senior Methodist Pastor' from THIS is TRUE. That definitely was not very Christian of you!! Was it???" Look in the mirror, Santa, and ask that question again. I can smile at the foibles of politicians, criminals, school officials, landlords, cops, military officers, students, bus drivers, athletes, farmers, animals, royalty, conservatives, liberals, and everyone else but Christians, because if I dare suggest that they are human too, a few crybabies will stamp their feet and shake their Bibles at me, sputtering with quivering, anonymous voices that I'm going to hell. What sad example of Christianity indeed.

To be sure, in the grand scheme of things complaints from just a few people now and then is not a big deal; what gets me is that they're not a thoughtful "I disagree with you, and here's why," but rather "our merciful God is going to condemn you to suffer in hell for eternity." Santa is of course right about one thing: a lot of my readers DO believe in God. Luckily, most use their beliefs to enhance their own lives, rather than use them as a weapon to try to condemn others. Feng shui is not "God", nor is it a religion (and no one ever argued it was); it's an ancient practice of assuring that the "energy" in spaces flows harmoniously through the environment. It is sad indeed to see that some Christians cannot stand the concept of harmony. Luckily, most people who believe in God also believe that He has a sense of humor, and know their personal beliefs are not the only way to think.