Gospel According to Jack

In the news the issue of water boarding (not surfing) has been a topic of conversation.  The conversation has been whether this is torture.  And the conversation has led to many who have various opinions about how to interrogate terrorist suspects.  Torture is something that our country has historically been against.

What is interesting is that the debate was not whether torture should be used but what is torture.  Both sides of the water boarding issue expressed their opposition to torture but disagreed what is defined as torture.

Now the argument takes a stranger twist.  Now some are asking, “Is torture itself wrong?”  Some believe that torture might be alright if it brings useful information that saves lives.

And who is in favor of torture?  I’m not sure many political leaders are standing up and saying, “We love torture.”  Yet the public has been polled and the support for torture among the public might surprise you.  And yet what has shocked me the most is that the category of folks who support torture more are those who go to white evangelical churches.  So I call this support for torture, “The Gospel According to Jack.”  Jack is the main character on 24 who is not shy to torture suspects to get information.   Of course Jack only has 24 hours to save the free world form utter destruction.

When you look at the poll I am posting on this site it should be shocking.  15 percent of overall Americans support torture.  24 percent say sometimes.  So half this country is OK with torture!

But wait…look at this poll again.  What category of Americans MOST favor torture?  White Evangelical Christians!  Yikes!  I can’t believe it.  18 percent say  OFTEN and 44 say SOMETIMES.  That’s 62 percent!!  And those who go weekly and monthly favor it more not less!

I’m sorry and this is not a political statement but an ethical issue.  This poll shames me.  Jesus the Prince of Peace told Peter to put away his sword because those who live by the sword will die by the sword.  Paul and others were tortured by the state.  Early Christians suffered for their faith by Roman authorities.  We lost our way from time to time in history (Crusades, etc) but peace loving churches have always been there to remind us that this is not who we are as believers.  As a Baptist I am aware of the suffering that Baptists and others faced in this country in the early days because of our belief of freedom.  Baptists and others were jailed, beaten for their faith.

I realize we are afraid.  9-11 was terrifying.  I’m not saying that we don’t ‘get tough’ on crime.  I’m not against interrogation and I know we have a scary world that we face.

Yet if we lose our humanity to keep ourselves safe what have we gained?  As believers do we believe that it is right to do evil to fight evil?  Is it right to pull out finger nails, use hot pokers, and such?  Because if torture is OK then what do we really think this means?  Torture is abusing a person to inflict pain and suffering to get information.

I remember after 9-11 people were asked on the street if they would give up freedom to be safe.  Many people said yes.  They said that if it took being less free  but to be alive they’d take it.

Not me.

I want freedom more than safety.  I want justice more than safety.  I want righteousness more than safety.

I want to be safe.  Don’t get me wrong but I believe we can do this without resorting to that which led 19 men to kill scores one September day. I will not resort to the lowest level to fight evil.  I’m not comparing the US to the terrorists. I don’t believe we’ve committed acts such as that but we don’t want too either.  We don’t want to resort to draconian measures to keep the peace.  We don’t want to become that which we fight.  We need law and order.  We need a system that is fair to all.  Even the worst of sinners deserves that system.  That’s why even those who do horrible deeds are allowed a fair trial and justice in this country.

And for heaven’s sake the church needs to be the leading voice of love, grace, and peace.  Remember- 2 wrongs don’t make a right.