Monday, September 25, 2006

Bumper Sticker Theology

Seen on a car bumper this morning: "Eve was framed."

The driver was a burly man in a baseball cap. I spent more time than was wise trying to imagine the scenario that resulted in this strip of paper being affixed to his car. Of all the philosophical or political statements one could choose to purchase, this one struck me as a remarkably succinct expression of theology gone bad.

It also exhibits precisely Eve's error. If we can believe Eve was framed, that means that we can determine what is right and wrong for ourselves. By trying to do that, God tells us, we become blind--and dead.

The burly cap-man probably wants to defend Eve because he hopes to defend himself. But even Eve did not seek such a defense.

"He that trusteth in his own heart is a fool," Prov. 28:26, and, "But the fool rageth, and is confident." Prov. 12:10.

Lord protect me from such confidence.

13 comments:

Lauren said...

She was framed. Therefore she did no wrong. Therefore there is no sin.

Uh-oh...no Tree of Life, either.

Mike Pitzler said...

I've seen that one too: an attempt to hold God responsible and man innocentASV Romans 9:14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.and God's retort:ASV Romans 9:14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid.

The question goes much deeper, doesn't it? We want to know why God put us in this predicament. Eve was 'just' sorting things out.

Really?

We swim in a world questioning God's sovereignty. Sin isn't so big to unredeemed man. Man's sovereignty and man's rebellion are 'natural' to natural man. He'll defend his sovereignty to the death, and he'll resist God's even farther.

God is unimpressed:ASV Romans 9:15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I have compassion.

If the burly man in the baseball cap would care to read God's answer to God's purpose in this matter, he might discover that God is more sovereign than he thinks:ASV Romans 9:21 Or hath not the potter a right over the clay, from the same lump to make one part a vessel unto honor, and another unto dishonor?

No. Eve wasn't framed, she willingly and knowingly put herself in the position of 'god'.

I agree with both of you: She didn't even try to defend herself, and without Christ the Redeemer, none would ever taste of the Tree of Life. Sola Deo Gloria.

Heidi said...

Forgiveness is so much better anyway, than an excuse.

Pete Blackwell said...

Jaysus Christ, if you'll forgive the expression, it's a joke.

Perhaps you religious loons would do better if you picked yourselves up a sense of humor.

Vic said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Vic said...

pjb, and a fine joke it was.

Mike Pitzler said...

Yes, a joke, and one to be choked on, too. If we don't laugh, forgive us. If we don't tell you it's not a dirt nap ahead, it's hell you're steaming full speed towards, we're poor watchmen. How about a little ditty for your trip, peanutbutterandjelly?

"There must be some kind of way out of here," said the joker to the thief.
"There's too much confusion. I can't get no relief.
Business men they drink my wine. Plowmen dig my earth.
None of them along the line know what any of it's worth."

"There's no reason to get excited," the thief he kindly spoke.
"There're many here among us think that life is just a joke.
But you and I have been thru that, and that is not our fate.
So let us stop talking falsely now, the hour is getting late."

All along the watchtower princes kept the view,
and while many women came and went, barefoot servants too.
But outside in the cold distance, a wildcat did growl,
two riders were approaching, and the wind began to howl.

Pete Blackwell said...

There you go with that sense of humor, again. Thank you for the Bob Dylan lesson. That really elucidated everything.

By the way, the clear implication of the joke, which you all miss, is not that no "sin" was committed, but that someone else (namely Adam) did it.

Not too long on the theology, which is why it's a bumper sticker. Give that a moment's thought. It's a bumper sticker.

(p.s. calling me "peanutbuterandjelly" doesn't count toward you having a sense of humor, for obvious reasons, not the least of which is your apparent dyslexia.)

Lauren said...

Actually, Peej, I've no doubt you'd find us rather funny if you knew us. The destiny of your immortal soul, however, is not a joke; moreover, emphasizing my proper use of the subjunctive here, we wish it were not a joke to you.

Vic said...

"By the way, the clear implication of the joke, which you all miss, is not that no "sin" was committed, but that someone else (namely Adam) did it."

I apologize for being too subtle. It is a fault.

You are right that Adam bears responsibility for the sin, but the narrative indicates that Eve committed it all on her own. Nobody else caused her to eat the forbidden fruit.

I really meant the joke was fine, exceeding fine, as is the edge of a razor.

The bumper sticker is one of those self-refuting statements that reveals ignorance. It is self-refuting in the same manner as the statement "my ignorance is total."

The bumper sticker accepts the Genesis account that Eve was convicted of sin (otherwise it couldn't claim she was framed). But the bumper sticker ignores the point of the Genesis account: what Eve was convicted of was the sin of relying upon her own judgment over the decree of God. The only way you can assert the "framed" argument is if you (1) are ignorant of the story or (2) are committing the same sin that Eve committed.

I recognize that irony is often mistaken for ill-humor. But in some circles it brings a smile.

Zack said...

Oh goody. Someone else who understands the wit of the bumper sticker industry.

Pete Blackwell said...

Heck, I think you're over-analyzing things here. That bumper sticker is, as I understand it, a quasi-feminist statement that speaks not to Genesis, but to the ways in which Genesis has been used over the years to justify the inequality of women.

That said, it's shallow as hell. Because it's a bumper sticker. They're all vapid or worse, cutesy.

Except for that Darwin fish with feet thing. That was pretty clever.

Anonymous said...

I have to agree that you are looking into this too far...

I could write a statement talking about the inequality of women and the history of the injustices towards women - linked to the origanal sin. However, it seems to me you all wouldn't really be interested in hearing it. You have made up your minds on what the sticker means - and seem to have no desire to hear WHY someone would have that sticker.

Lovely, attack before asking why... why doesn't this shock me?