The Revealer: God Save the Queen

I read this article written by Omri Elisha, in “the revealer” and was impressed by some of the authors insights. The author is definitely not an evangelical, but appears to have studied “us” quite well.

…many American evangelicals rally their support and their blessings behind the President because, rather than despite, the fact that his life before September 11, 2001, seemed to contain so little that would have prepared him for what was to come.

Before the election, Laura Bush is quoted in Crosswalk email newsletter as saying:

In Ohio, I visited with a woman who summed up our success this way. She said, “President Bush was born for such a time as this. He never wavers when it comes to doing the right thing. It makes me feel so secure to know that our leader has such a love for our country.”

I don’t know which part of that statement jumps out at you, but I do know which part resonated the most with popular evangelical sensibilities. Six words: “for such a time as this.”

This is not empty rhetoric. It is a straightforward reference to the Bible — the Book of Esther, chapter 4, verse 14, to be precise — and it is among the most evocative and meaningful catchphrases in the language of evangelicalism.

She makes a good argument against those who think we see “W” as the messiah:

I hear a lot of people complain that George W. Bush thinks he is the new messiah, or at least some kind of prophet for the modern age, determined either to bring about an American theocracy or global Armageddon. As evangelicals like to say, “that’s between him and his God.” What I say, though, is this: As far his image in evangelical eyes is concerned, Dubya ain’t Jesus — he’s Esther.

HatTip: The Revealer: God Save the Queen