And He Laughed...

Listening to NPR on the way home, I was listening to a story about a vicious gang in Kenya which is terrorizing the population. This gang is known as Mungiki, and they were started by--hold your breath--a pastor.

Now, that's a bit misleading--and I'll clarify, even though it ruins the suspense (not to mention the shock and awe) of the statement--he became a pastor after he left the gang, or when he left the gang, or whatever.

Not really the point, though.

Part of the story that was aired spoke of a pastor who's son was killed by this gang because he wouldn't pay the gang more money as a bus driver:

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But this year, when the Mungiki doubled the amount they demanded from bus drivers, the drivers balked, and that's when the orgy of violence began.

In a neighborhood called Banana Hill, someone attacked a 24-year-old bus conductor with an axe, nearly beheading him. The victim's father says he considers himself lucky that the killers didn't make him hunt for scattered body parts, as they often do.

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Simply horrific... Even sadder is a pastor with a dead son considers himself "lucky" when he doesn't have to scour the country side looking for the parts of his child's body...

But, as the article further states: "But one pastor's loss is apparently another pastor's good fortune."

As stated earlier, this pastor, former "president" of the Mungiki, was also interviewed by NPR, and what the article fails to communicate is the laughter this man wails out after making some of his statements. For instance, while the article simply states:

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"Due to the demonization of this organization, wherever I go … I wish I could walk with you on the street ... People respect me because they fear me. So whatever they are doing now works for me completely. And I say that's God," he boasts.

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Boasts may be what the editor thought was the best word... But on the air, this statement was followed by near maniacal laughter. Immediately following the end of his insane laughter, he stated:

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But Waruinge has ambitions to create a more fearsome organization, and says Jesus is the way.

"Jesus worked in myth. He creates 5,000 breads, 5,000 fish. Does that not create fear in you to fear that person?" Waruinge says. "This is how God works. God does not know democracy. You're either for me or you'll die."

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I'd like to hear from all the Christians in the house on this one, especially in regards to his last statement which I emphasized.

Is this an accurate reflection of how many Christian fundamentalists feel? Is it an accurate statement in regards to how you think god may view the world?

I think it must also be stated for the record, after he said "You're either for me or you'll die," he laughed again.

Such is the joy of the lord, I suppose...