“To stand in the gap” means “to take the place of a fallen defender,” according to freedictionary.
The phrase can also be found in the Bible at Ezekiel 22:30.
And I sought for a man among them, that should make up the hedge, and stand in the gap before me for the land, that I should not destroy it: but I found none.
Here God was preparing to unleash a “fire of wrath” against Jerusalem for its sins, but if only one man had been willing to intercede or “stand in the gap” on the city’s behalf, He would have cancelled His plans.
Sadly, not one man was willing.
Politicians sometimes the phrase it as a dog-whistle call to Christian conservatives, who use it often themselves. The idea is that we’re on the path to certain punishment by God unless American Christians intercede or stand in the gap on behalf of the nation.
When I saw the following video, I wondered what the pastors at Saddleback Church are saying about this program. I tend to call this stuff, “Have you seen my puppy evangelism”; but I wonder if they see it as “standing in the gap.”
On behalf of children in Orange County, Saddleback is “taking the place of a fallen defender” (California public schools have been cut to the bone as a result of our devastating state budget crisis).
Or, the church is standing in the gap of the hedge which separates God from His retribution against the nation for harboring those who are not defenders at all. Rather, they are “roaring lions” who put our country at risk by defiling and “devouring the souls” of innocent children. (Ezekiel 22:25)
Or, woo-hoo! Unscrutinized access to impressionable – and possibly unchurched - children!
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lol…I love the bratty boy in the middle of the crowd that, while saying “We love Summer Skills Camp!”, is making a mocking, angry face. At least he has managed to to be thorn in their side during their propaganda. :P
How many people sent their kids there to receive skills reinforcement and how many sent them there for VBS? Did the former notice how all the teachers were sprinkling their replies with religiospeak? Did those parents know that their children were conversion targets?
And was that bible verse talking about some dude saying “Okay goddude…*I* will stand in the gap. You can trim the hedge properly now and spare us your wrath!” or is it really referring to someone willing to be a literal scapegoat…a sacrifice on behalf of the people? I suspect the latter, knowing how much the bible loves it when innocent people die on behalf of others. Suppose Saddleback still wants to stand in the gap then?
Academics and learning about God go “hand-in-hand,” you know.
Michelle: “Did the former notice how all the teachers were sprinkling their replies with religiospeak?”
Yes, and I also noticed that, according to the video, the teachers are all “certified.” Apparently certified doesn’t mean qualified after all. :)
Am I a bad person because I almost pulled the car over yesterday to yell, “Stay away from those kids!” to some pamphleteer cheerfully roping in a couple of youngsters? Their Dad was standing by and I was in traffic but, damn, that would have felt good.
So, that’s what you’ve been up to. :)
Nance: “Am I a bad person because I almost pulled the car over yesterday to yell, “Stay away from those kids!”
I hope not because then I’d be a bad person, too. I’ve never done it before but… ;)
Perhaps I missed something–since I didn’t see any links to the actual program here and I’m way too lazy to look it up myself [smile]–but what’s the problem with offering summer classes that also contain religious indoctrination? I mean, yes: If they claimed it was only going to be summer school and they slipped in some religious stuff under the radar… yeah… that’s bad.
But I’m having trouble believing that the parents who sent their kids to this thing would have been opposed to their kids getting the Kool-Aid this church hands out. And this video, while certainly not hyping the religious instruction, does include it.
Now, I’m fine with you believing that religious instruction is evil and whatnot, but I’m confident the pastors at Saddleback are thinking this program was a huge success: They helped teach kids their math facts and a little more about God. So, your last one is probably the closest: Woo-hoo! Unscrutinized access to impressionable – and possibly unchurched – children!
But you forgot: …and if they accept Christ, their family may start coming to church and get save too! [smile]
~Luke
Hi, Luke. I was up late posting this so maybe I wasn’t as clear as I hoped to be. In this post, I’m speculating about what the *pastors* (not the parents) may think about the program. I don’t think I contradicted your opinion: “I’m confident the pastors at Saddleback are thinking this program was a huge success.” Whether the pastors see it as a new “outreach” opportunity and/or something larger is something that I don’t know because I don’t read minds. I did, however, spend a bunch of time attending Rick Warren’s church and reading his books. What I learned is that he doesn’t do anything unless it serves a larger purpose, the Great Commission.
As for what *I* think, I called it “have you seen my puppy evangelism,” which is kind of provocative, but you said that you’re “fine with (me) believing that religious instruction is evil and whatnot.” So, no disagreement there either, it seems.
I never really speculated about what *parents* (of children attending the program) think, though I guess I disagree that parents who send their kids to this Saddleback realize that their children are being served “the Kool-Aid this church hands out.” Though I admire you’re spunk! :) My experience as a local is that not everybody follows Warren closely and understands his larger purposes. You probably know that the church bends over backward to present a welcoming, “seeker-friendly” public image. How better to lure Saddleback Sam — and his tween daughters. (Did you hear that the Jonas Brothers performed at their Easter Sunday service this year? Gosh, who need puppies anyway when you’ve got Nick, Joe, and Kevin!)
I looked around for some links to promotional fliers, etc, but couldn’t find anything. I did find a link to Project City Hope, the “campaign” under which the summer school program operated. Apparently, Project City Hope is a collaborative community service initiative of Saddleback Church designed to transform southern California during this Decade of Destiny. Hmm.
I won’t have a computer for the next few days so I apologize in advance if you respond and I don’t get back to you.
It’s about doing very bad things to children, Luke.
Whether the abuse is physical or emotional or some religion given the seal of approval of school because it comes with summer math lessons, it’s all evil. In this case, it degrades the ability of children to think clearly. Some recover, as some do from other kinds of abuse, but many do not. Many go on to live lives filled with fear and superstition and continue to run our country based on their corrupted thinking.
Whether the parents signing the kid up is the perpetrator or the “school” itself is more to blame, it’s all bad. All bad for the kids and all bad for the future.
Yeah. What Nance said. :)
I was going to add a link, but it’s gone so I’ll post this one instead: “Saddleback Church Deletes Page on Creationism and Homosexuality” – http://tinyurl.com/8hdseg
Related post: Two Can Play The Game
Late to the comment party — the parents and pastors *I* can’t understand, are the ones telling conflicting power of story between sacrificial “stand in the gap” scapegoating, and the Ayn Rand Objectivist free-market corporatist prosperity gospel money-changers.
Luke, presuming you know more about that kind of curriculum than I do, please help me understand what’s actually being taught to kids and how to reconcile the conflicts, when both those banners are flying over the same kingdom?