More About That Weird Benediction

I didn't spell out what troubled me about the benediction offered at the opening of the RNC in my hometown of Cleveland ["The 'Land!"] earlier this week and was going to address that, but this fellow beat me to it.  I might have been a tad kinder, but, again, I can be shockingly Midwestern in my opinions from time to time, so maybe not.

Anyway, read this if you wish:

Just as I don’t think Jesus wants credit every time a Grammy winner thanks him for inspiring her hit song “Fornication Is Awesome,” I also don’t think Jesus will accept a prayer that’s pretty much a textbook example of what he condemns in Matthew 11:7-10, a prayer perfectly befitting those court preachers in “soft clothing” who sing the godliness of unholy rulers because they love the perks of earthly approval and don’t have the guts to call those kings to repentance, like John the Baptist and other true prophets. Without the assurance that Jesus says “Amen” to this prayer, I’m afraid I can’t say it either.

However, Pastor Burns, if you have the opportunity to offer up another prayer at the next Republican convention, let me suggest something very simple and straightforward, something countless Christians throughout the world pray every Sunday morning. Just walk up to the microphone and pray the following words: “Lord, have mercy upon us. Christ have mercy upon us. Lord have mercy upon us.”