Kyle Gebhart

I recently watched the documentary Jesus Camp and was disturbed in some ways that surprised me. Or, maybe it surprised me in a way that disturbed me…anyhow.

First a little personal confession: the ‘liberal media’ doesn’t really bother me.

I spent four years at a secular, liberal arts college. Spending those years at the University of Pittsburgh tuned my ears to both liberal and conservative bias. It is easy for me to ‘read between the lines’ when I read the paper. I can usually sniff out the film editing which changes the tone of an interview. Because of this, there are obvious oversights in films like this. This doesn’t bother me because I don’t expect secular humanists to have an understanding of Christianity (especially in its more charismatic expressions). “So if the whole church comes together and everyone speaks in tongues, and some who do not understand or some unbelievers come in, will they not say that you are out of your mind?” 1 Cor. 14:23. That question has an obvious answer in this film, they definitely think we are crazy (of course, I think they are crazy, so we are all equal on that score!)

I expected that Jesus Camp would be inaccurate in its portrayal of evangelical Christianity. What I didn’t expect was that it would actively become part of my discussion of American Civil Religion. If you do a little search on the movie online, you will find that there is a particular clip that is extremely disconcerting to many unbelievers, take a look.

These kids are definitely NOT worshipping President Bush. They are praying for him, and I don’t expect humanistic non-Christians to understand the difference. The part that disturbs me isn’t that they are praying for him; I’m disturbed by this question: If Barack Obama is elected in 3 months; would he receive equal treatment in Christian sanctuaries?

Will we honor and pray for our leader if his political, ethical and religious views are contrary to ours? Or will we villainize and curse him?

I find it unlikely that cut-outs of Obama are going to be brought into Christian children’s camps to receive prayer. I hope I’m proved wrong. We need to pray for Barack Obama. We need to lay down our lives for those (perceived) to be our enemies. To quote Jesus:

“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect.” Matthew 5:43-48