This idea of a new pope has really got me thinking…<\/p>\n
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Now while not a member of the Roman Catholic Church (even though some seem to think my membership would be fairly solid),<\/em> the Intramuralist promotes great respect for all faiths. I appreciate Catholic tradition, and like-faith or not, there is zero doubt the pope has significant, global influence.\u00a0 Hence, I will be watching which color of smoke blows over the Vatican as the next wise leader is selected.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Thinking about this process, my mind has focused on the role of a priest \u2014 not necessarily a Catholic priest \u2014 but a leader within the Christian faith.\u00a0 What is a priest called to do?<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Different denominations may assign different duties.\u00a0 Varied religious rituals may be a part of the process.\u00a0 Yet time and time again, as I study ancient historical documents, one role stands out that seems to stand for all time.\u00a0 It is the responsibility of the priest to differentiate between the holy and the common.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n The holy and the common…<\/p>\n The sacred and the secular…<\/p>\n <\/p>\n As a culture, I don\u2019t think we get that.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Friends, please take that as no judgment.\u00a0 I include myself among the \u201cwe\u201d who doesn\u2019t get it.\u00a0 We live in an age where all things go, where all is accepted, where tolerance trumps intolerance \u2014 well, except, arguably, if you\u2019re tolerant of the reality that some things are actually holy.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Last weekend, \u201cSaturday Night Live\u201d ran a new skit, entitled \u201cDjesus Uncrossed\u201d \u2014 a sarcastic spin of the Oscar-nominated \u201cDjango Unchained.\u201d\u00a0 In the SNL skit, Jesus is resurrected, but \u2014 and that\u2019s an incredibly huge \u201cbut\u201d \u2014 instead of returning to save the souls of sinful men, Jesus Christ takes vengeance upon his one-time accusers.\u00a0 The skit then features approximately 2 minutes of bloody gore, similar to \u201cDjango Unchained.\u201d\u00a0 In pops the narration:\u00a0 \u201cHe\u2019s risen from the dead \u2026 and he\u2019s preaching anything but forgiveness.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n The public dialogue since has been fascinating…<\/p>\n <\/p>\n There have been claims of outrageous blasphemy.<\/p>\n There have also been numerous retorts to \u201clighten up\u201d…<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Can\u2019t a guy take a joke any more?<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n I wonder…<\/p>\n I wonder if the joke was on Muhammed, the historic leader of Islam, if that kind of joke would be asked to be tolerated? Can’t you take a joke any more?<\/em> … especially in light of the fatal September Benghazi attacks, when the American government actually paid<\/em> to put commercials on Pakistani TV, apologizing<\/em> for any offense to Muslims for an unrelated, anti-Islamic 13 minute movie trailer by 1 American citizen…<\/p>\n <\/p>\n I wonder if mocking Muslims would \u2014 could \u2014 be considered a joke…\u00a0 I wonder if they would have been told to lighten up.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Great questions, friends.\u00a0 Truthfully, I don\u2019t know all the answers.\u00a0 But what I do know is this…<\/p>\n 2 things:<\/p>\n <\/p>\n And (2) They have no idea of the difference between the holy and the common.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n Respectfully… always…<\/p>\n AR<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" This idea of a new pope has really got me thinking… Now while not a member of the Roman Catholic Church (even though some seem to think my membership would be fairly solid), the Intramuralist promotes great respect for all faiths. I appreciate Catholic tradition, and like-faith or not, there is zero doubt the … <\/p>\n\n