God in the dock

In the Daily Telegraph today a columnist was making fun of Mike Huckabee. Apart from the fact that he is a Republican Candidate for the Presidential nomination I know nothing about him. However, he wears his religion on his sleeve, and this is something no British politician would dare to do. When Tony Blair was asked whether he prayed with George Bush, his minder replied, "We don't do God." Despite this Tony Blair was a devout man who has since followed Cardinal Newman to Rome.

Blair thought he would be a laughing stock if he spoke about his faith and the Telegraph columnist seeks to poke fun at Huckabee. The particular issue was a commercial in which the candidate wished everybody a 'magnificent Christmas'. Like many of his readers, I fail to find anything remotely amusing about the ad. But I would go further. I find it offensive that anyone should make fun of someone's sincerely held beliefs about God.

I am reminded of Psalm 2:

Why do the heathen rage, and the people imagine a vain thing? The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us. He that sitteth in the heavens shall laugh: the LORD shall have them in derision.

God does not need defenders; he can take care of himself. As CH Spurgeon said, "I would sooner defend a lion." But His people do need defending. I am sure Mike Huckabee can take care of himself, but believers whose faith is frail may cower beneath such cynicism. Christians should stand up for their brothers and sisters.