Randall Terry is no Christian.  Puh-lease, don't even try to tell me he is a Christian.  If he is a Christian, then I'm the Pope!  Just because I say I am the Pope does not make me so.  There are things about being Pope that have to occur before anyone else will believe yme when I tell them, "Hi!  I'm Pope Gregor!"  The most important thing is the evening fire in Vatican City where white smoke emanates from the chimney at the end of some big sleepover with all the Cardinals.  Oh, and then you have to send out all those change of address cards too telling everyone you live in Vatican City too.  Barring these things and a few others, though, why would you ever believe I was the Pope?  For these same reasons I propose to you, Randall Terry is no Christian.

Now, I know it's unusual to go biblical and then quote the New Testament, as opposed to the old, but these are unusual times.  So, without going Chapter and Verse, I recall St. Paul saying something to the effect that people "ought not make a boast of being a Christian.  By your deeds they will know you are Christian,"  or something like that depending on whose translation you fancy.  Well, usually I'm keen on the first part and have suspicions about anyne who feels an oligation to tell me they are a Christian, or of any other faith for that matter.  My mind tends to reply silently, "So?!?" (and I'm not about to credit that term just to Cheney, but I do snarl in my mind when I think this)  "Why are you telling me this?  How are you expecting this to alter my previous impressions of you?  Do you know it's not doing you any favors? " But in the case of Randy Terry it's all about the second part, "by their deeds we will know them".

The news reports that this self-declared Christian neither condones nor condemns the murder of Dr. George Tiller, who offered abortion as part of his medical practice.  (Yeah, yeah, I can already hear the challenges, so why is this different then the historical Christianity?)  In fact, he suggested after making the announcement the audience join him for hot wings and beer.  My point is that the pretense is gone, not even lip service is paid to the fact someone lost their life at the hands of another person.  Mr. Terry's true nature is revealed.  He revels in the spilling of blood.  

Terry justifies the murder because the doctor had performed so many abortions, taken so many lives.  (Okay, now there's an argument that will not end anytime soon, whether a fetus is a person, but I digress.)  If we assume those fetuses were life, I have to wonder, who celebrated any of the abortions?  Is there a time on record when the doctor threw a party because he had just terminated his 100th pregnancy?  Was there ever an abortion that was a cause for joy?  No, I suspect not, but readers are welcome to share with us if they know of, or ever attended any abortion parties.  Not for the doctor, not for the one who was pregnant, not anyone felt any semblance of joy that they had made such a heart breaking decision.  It's curious, that we deny these fetuses were life, and yet grieve so deeply when someone has an abortion, but that is not the point of my post.  Again, life-not life, it's an argument that cannot end.  The point is that the only response of anyone I have ever known who has had an abortion is an overwhelming sadness. 

For a Christian, whether you love someone or hate them, at their death is no time to party.  So what does that make Mr. Terry, that he would celebrate this death?   Where is his offense that blood was spilled inside a church, no less?  There is none.  He is despicable.  A party to celebrate murder, now whose carnival is that?!? 

One more thought before I close.  As a Christian, if these are lives and they died without sin, don't they go to heaven straight away?  Well, if so, then what do they have be mad about?   If it's paradise, why all this complaining?  It makes no sense.  And, let's just suppose the doctor committed some sin.  Is there a limit to God's forgiveness or just their's?  Oh, that's two thoughts.  It's late...no, it's early...well, I just had this burning question, "Exactly what deeds has Mr. Terry done that would make him a Christian?"