Garrison Keillor on kinds of Christianity

Garrison Keillor has written a humorous, yet touching column about Christianity.  He starts by lambasting some immoral Christians in the news.  But then he recalls his own less worldly evangelical upbringing.  And finally he writes about his current high church Anglicanism.

Best line:  “I love my neighbor as myself, but only because I don’t much care for myself.”

Big finish:  “For the Lord is good; His mercy is everlasting; and His truth endures to all generations. And wherever two Corinthians are gathered together, there he is in the midst of them.”

Read it all, linked after the break.

From Garrison Keillor: Where two Corinthians gather – Tulsa World:

Every time Bob McDonnell talks about his corruption conviction in Virginia he mentions how Jesus Christ is sticking with him all the way, which surely is true. Jesus does not dump a guy just because he is sleazy.

The Lord has always been there for thieves and malefactors, but this is mercy. It doesn’t mean that Jesus approves of taking $175,000 in gifts from a man seeking official favors from a governor, as McDonnell seems to suggest. Jesus didn’t wear a Rolex. He did not hit up the Pharisees for thousands of shekels so the apostles could have rib-eye steak and a 35 B.C. Cabernet at the Last Supper.

Well, we all have our little inconsistencies. Don’t we? Einstein unlocked the secrets of the universe, but he had a hard time piloting a small sailboat. I am no model Christian, either. I love my neighbor as myself, but only because I don’t much care for myself. I believe in prayer but if you asked me to pray aloud in men’s Bible study, I would turn purple and leave the room.

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