Church Voices

George Carlin is dead. I don’t really know much about him. Other than having a college roommate who quoted him from time to time and watching about 1/2 an episode of the failed George Carlin show I have no connection with him. At least not until seeing the reactions to his death.

What I’ve seen has been, in many cases, anti-gospel. What I’ve seen has been an almost somber glee that George Carlin is now facing the wrath of God. It seems many Christians classified George Carlin as their enemy. So much so that his life is viewed as, at best, a cautionary tale, and at worst, a vanquished enemy who is reaping what he has sown.

And its this view of Carlin that makes me say that the church, or at least the vocal parts of it found in the blogosphere are devoid of living out the gospel. Jesus’ admonitions to love our enemy, as well as the writings of John, and Peter, that God loves the world and wishes none to perish leaves absolutely no room whatsoever for this attitude.

If we believe the gospel, and the scriptures, then we know, and admit the difference between ourselves and Carlin is Christ. Lets make this a little more personal. What separates me from Carlin is not the seven words you can’t say on television, and what separates me from Carlin is not the contempt he has for many Christians (many who don’t look a thing like Christ, lets be honest we gave him the ammunition he shot at us). In fact, what separates me from Carlin isn’t even the blasphemous things he said about Jesus Himself, because if we’re completely honest the attitudes we hold, and the things we say probably cross into blasphemy even when we don’t intend them to. No, what separates us who are a part of the kingdom of God is Jesus Christ himself. Its not that we don’t say seven specific words, or that we’re somehow inherently more moral than George Carlin. It is Jesus Christ.

So please, just save all the words that explain just how terrible he really was, and pretend for at least a second that if Carlin is found outside of Christ, and if he is separated from God that its worth mourning, or at least worth something a little more like Christ than somber glee. Instead of seeing Carlin as an enemy, maybe try thinking of him as the lost son who never came back, or the lamb that wandered off and the shepherd didn’t find him.

If Jesus can weep over Jerusalem who murders the prophets it might be time to adopt a slightly different attitude.