Hail to Which Chief?

Rev. Franklin Graham, son of televangelist Billy Graham, reaffirmed his anti-Islamic views on ABC's Nightline. He angered Muslims in the US when he described Islam as "very evil and wicked religion" days after the 9-11 attacks. During the TV broadcast, he matter-of-factly stated that his views have not changed since then. Another evangelist, Pat Robertson of the 700 Club fame, another loose cannon and erstwhile Republican, had aired similar views before, calling Islam "satanic". (Roberston, in another controversy, called for the "assasination of Hugo Chavez" as a means to contain the outspoken leftist President of Venezuela).

More moderate Evangelicals and Catholics have steered clear of the controversy and distanced themselves from these two outspoken preachers. The Roman Catholic Church holds regular inter-faith dialogues, bridging different religions together which allowed cooperation on sensitive social issues such as a united stand against pornography.

The Vatican has clearly learned from past mistakes: it has done away with its rigid stance regarding other religions, at least not publicly. Attacking other religions has proven to be counterproductive. The Crusades in the 11th or 12th centuries, as well as the sectarian wars in France and England, in particular, have not only brought bloodshed, but lingering hatred among people of different persuasions. It has only bred ill-will and ensured that religious hatred extend far into the future.

Evangelical leaders like the Grahams and Robertson seem to be acting on their own, shooting their mouths off without benefit of counsel from their elders, council, or whatever. Being recognized religious leaders and spiritual heads of Protestants everywhere, they are assumed to be morally incorruptible. The problem of course is that they have ostensibly become so overwhelmed with their own sense of self-righteousness and moral ascendancy, that they really believe everybody just have to see it their way.

I do not see how bigotry and assasination can ever fit in their preaching agenda, really. How can they even begin to preach about loving one's neighbor, or about leading a life away from sin, or perhaps, talk about forgiveness when they espouse ideas and values that clearly run counter to fundamental Christian beliefs.Which Master are they really serving?