American Culture, Tradition, and Intolerance
May 14th, 2010 by David Dansker
Think for a moment about celebrating the American culture and tradition of missions, missionaries, and ministers. Imagine an exhibit funded by taxpayers with explicit Christian themes such as crosses. Or, how about a stature of Jesus 26 feet high and weighing nearly fifteen tons erected in the performing arts plaza in San Francisco’s Civic Center, and across from city hall. Certainly, the unveiling of such a work of art would be dedicated by dignitaries that would include San Francisco’s Mayor Gavin Newsom. Consider also that the expenses for this celebration would be funded in part by the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission, using taxpayer dollars.
No doubt that ACLU and the term “separation of church and state” have already come to readers’ minds. Now consider this: all the details in this account are true with the exception that the sculpture is not of Jesus, but is actually of Buddha.
The fact that Buddhism, the religion, is being sponsored by the San Franciscan government is downplayed by citing such religious iconography “is rooted in Chinese culture and tradition,” and reflects a “continuing interest in the continuity of Buddhist philosophy” by the artist who created it.1 Do you think that would stand for a moment today if the imagined artist of the Jesus statue above cited his continuing interest in Christian doctrine as the driving force for his art?
In the mean time, American veterans had to fight all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court to keep a seven foot metal cross erected in the Mojave Desert to honor American war dead. After finally prevailing in court against challenges that it violated separation of church and state, libertarian vigilantes took matters into their own hands and went out into the middle of the desert and stole the cross.2
For people coming face to face with Buddha it doesn’t cost them anything. A person is fine in the eyes of Buddhism so long as they are trying to do the right thing most of the time; their best is acceptable (it’s convenient that you keep your own books on this account).
To come face to face with Jesus means to acknowledge that one is a sinner, and all one’s accumulated righteousness is as filthy rags when held up to God’s standard for approval. In this encounter that demands one accept the righteousness of Jesus and follow Him, one will either begin hating his sin, or hating Jesus. The cross of Christ will become an offence them(Gal 5:11); even to the point that a mere cross erected out in the wilderness cannot be tolerated. Certainly, America is in that wilderness now.
Notes:
1. Kate Patterson, “Arts Commission Announces World premiere of Zhang Huan’s Colossal ‘Three Heads Six Arms‘,” SFAC, April 14, 2010.
2. Katharine Russ, “So, Who Made Off With the Mojave Cross…and Why?” CityWatch, May 12, 2010.