| Thin End of the Wedge
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December 2002
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Jesus and SUVs
The most ridiculous spectacle of recent weeks was the American media's fascination over the question of "What Would Jesus Drive?" The Evangelical Environmental Network announced that the second part of the Trinity would not be caught unresurrected behind the wheel of a sport-utility vehicle. Jerry Falwell, on the other hand, argued that Christ would gladly drive one, just as he himself does. A silly discussion, save for the danger such a precedent poses to reasoned debate.
The EEN states that all the choices a Christian makes are moral ones, including what sort of car to drive. This is a reasonable position to take, and more people would be better Christians if they deliberately made choices according to the simple question "What would Jesus do?"
However, it is also a question that prevents political discussion. Politics, after all, is the art of the possible, the art of compromise. If Christ (or Mohammed, peace be unto them both) enters the debate on SUVs, bilingual education, or stadium bonds, reason must be shown the door. There is no appeal beyond the word of God. There can be no introduction of new facts, new approaches, any innovation, because God's will is eternal.
By all means, let Falwell defend his gas-guzzling ways, and let the EEN dispute the wisdom of more pollution, higher demand for gasoline and more highway deaths due to SUV instability. Those are decent points for discussion, but an appeal to the Creator must stay out of bounds.
By the way, Jesus would certainly drive a 1991 VW Jetta, blue, with automatic transmission like mine. It was revealed to me in a dream.