Religion, Sex, and Politics

It sounds like the title of a movie (definitely an independent film), but something with Johnny Depp in the lead would have been much less troubling. Our new President confronted an international hostage situation last week in his role as Commander in Chief. The results: Captain and crew are safe, three of the pirates were killed, and the fourth who was aboard a US ship seeking medical attention and also negotiating the ransom, was taken captive.

I must say that I appreciate that the President has not, in my observation, politicized the crisis or the rescue. They were very quiet on the front end, and didn't seem interested in taking bows on the back end. That, to me, demonstrates respect for the people involved and the gravity of the situation. So many politicians now will turn even the most tragic of situations into a campaign commercial. I do appreciate greatly that the President didn't do that.

I am also appreciative of the skill and carefulness of our military who were on the front lines of the resolution of this crisis. I am sure that doing what they felt was needed was not just physically and mentally demanding, but emotionally difficult for those involved.

It disturbs me to hear that the estimated age of all four pirates is between 17 and 19 years. It reminds me that, when I get frustrated with the state of affairs in our own country, I need only look around the world to find places of intense desperation. Handing your teenagers automatic weapons to risk their lives for ransom money, knowing that they will have to threaten the lives of others to succeed. Assuming a successful robbery, even after you get your big payoff, what do you have left, other than pure physical survival? What does your life mean if it is only sustained by threatening the lives of others?

I don't want to sound Polyanna-ish or preachy or fomulaic, but it's just another reminder of how desperately our world needs the inside-out transformation that comes through Christ. If the compassion and mercy and peace of our Savior were turned to permeate those who rule Somalia, and those who walk the streets of Somalia, what a different place it would be. What a different life they would have.

It reminds me just how important our church's ministry to children in South Africa is. It reminds me of the importance of the mission work we do through the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship to address hunger, poverty, and spiritual lostness. And it reminds me of the importance of faithfully being a channel of God's mercy and compassion right here at home.