JESUS CHRIST AND ONE HELL OF A DAY

It’s a bit out of synch, but the above — U2 performing Woody Guthrie’s soul-shaker “Jesus Christ,” with my boy Bono talking about the import of the song (way back in 1988) — is worth watching.

I found it particularly heartening after a day of being beaten up a bit by some of Jesus’ followers. Hate mail. Hate calls. Even at home.

So far, these organized letter writers have told me I am:
1) a whore
2) a “faggot”
3) a lesbian
4) a lying bitch
5) a cold bitch
6) not a christian
7) faking faith
8) a hate monger
9) “worse than Imus”
10) a liberal moron
11) a liberal asshole
12) a member of the church of satan
13) a worshiper of “the silicone penis”
14) an embarrassment to my alma mater
15) an embarrassment to my employer
16) an embarrassment to my “once noble” profession
17) evil
18) lost
19) a terrible person
20) an awful example of a christian
21) a hypocrite
22) holier-than-thou, judgmental, and mean-spirited
23) shameful
24) disgraceful
25) sickening

And also that I:
26) surely would not be missed when i’m dead (either)
27) should be fired for what i wrote and/or apologize for offending “the worldwide Christian community,” which i have, they say, gravely offended and woefully grieved
28) would crucify jesus all over again “were he alive today” (theological sic)

And let’s not forget, because these were all fine Christians sending the above messages, that:
29) they hope i repent before i burn in hell. (even though the column clearly states not only my self identification as an “evangelical” but my faith in orthodox christian theology. go figure.)
30) they’re praying for me.

Them’s the highlights. (My mom is going to kick somebody’s ass after she reads that list. They surely have incurred the wrath of Mrs. God Girl. So, I’ll be praying for them, too.)

But, it’s okay. I can take it. (Even without Mom bustin’ some spiritual kneecaps.) There’s usually a price to be paid for being honest, and this isn’t the first time my brothers and sisters in Christ have come after me with torches and pitch forks.

And I’m sure it won’t be the last.

If you’re not familiar with Woody’s song, here are the lyrics.
God bless you, keep you, and make you keenly aware of his audacious grace.
Good night,
GG

JESUS CHRIST
(Woody Guthrie, 1940)
Jesus Christ was a man who traveled through the land
Hard working man and brave
He said to the rich, “Give your goods to the poor.”
So they laid Jesus Christ in his grave.
Jesus was a man, a carpenter by hand
His followers true and brave
One dirty little coward called Judas Iscariot
Has laid Jesus Christ in his grave
He went to the sick, he went to the poor,
And he went to the hungry and the lame;
Said that the poor would one day win this world,
And so they laid Jesus Christ in his grave.
He went to the preacher, he went to the sheriff,
Told them all the same;
Sell all of your jewelry and give it to the Poor,
But they laid Jesus Christ in his grave.
When Jesus came to town, the working folks around,
Believed what he did say;
The bankers and the preachers they nailed him on a cross,
And they laid Jesus Christ in his grave.
Poor working people, they follered him around,
Sung and shouted gay;
Cops and the soldiers, they nailed him in the air,
And they nailed Jesus Christ in his grave.
Well the people held their breath when they heard about his death,
And everybody wondered why;
It was the landlord and the soldiers that he hired.
That nailed Jesus Christ in the sky.
When the love of the poor shall one day turn to hate.
When the patience of the workers gives away
“Would be better for you rich if you never had been born”
So they laid Jesus Christ in his grave.
This song was written in New York City
Of rich men, preachers and slaves
Yes, if Jesus was to preach like he preached in Galillee,
They would lay Jesus Christ in his grave.