Signs and Wonders 03.23

Christian clout? According to Ralph Reed's Faith and Freedom Coalition, evangelical Christians are playing a major role in the Republican primaries. Reed said about 4.3 million evangelical Christian voters have cast ballots so far-or about 51 percent of the 8.5 million total votes cast. That's a significant increase over the 44 percent in 2008. What's interesting is the split: Rick Santorum gets about a third of evangelical votes, but Mitt Romney and Newt Gingrich are not far behind, with about 30 percent each. This data leaves much room for interpretation. It could mean evangelicals are having a major say in determining the nominee. It could also mean that evangelicals don't care much about what their leaders say, since most evangelical leaders seem to be backing Santorum. Of course, data could also mean that if Gingrich wasn't in the race, Santorum would be winning the popular vote by a significant margin-assuming Santorum is the second choice of most of the Gingrich voters, which seems a reasonable guess. Reed, for his part, is encouraged by the data. He said energized evangelical bode well for the fall.

Same-sex Brits. The British government began a 12-week "consultation" on March 15 that is widely expected to lead to the legalization of same-sex marriage in England and Wales. Catholics and many Anglicans oppose the move, but these churches have become marginal forces in Britain. And for those who think that Prime Minister David Cameron is a conservative, just because he cut spending and eliminated wasteful government programs, take note of this: Cameron and his deputy Nick Clegg support same-sex marriage, saying they hope the law is on the books by the next general election.

Doing the right thing. A Catholic priest who denied Communion to a lesbian at her mother's funeral said he did the right thing. According to Religion News Service, the Rev. Marcel Guarnizo said, "I did the only thing a faithful Catholic priest could do in such an awkward situation, quietly, with no intention to hurt or embarrass." Amazingly, the archdiocese of Washington, D.C., disciplined the priest and not the lesbian over the matter. In a statement released to the press, Guarnizo said he was treated unfairly, adding, "The lack of clarity on this most basic issue puts at risk other priests who wish to serve the Catholic Church in Washington, D.C."

Soli Deo gloria. I thought it was worth noting that this week, Wednesday to be precise, was the birthday of Johann Sebastian Bach, born on March 21, 1685. Bach's music remains some of the most beautiful and widely played ever written. At the end of most of his compositions he wrote the letters: "S.D.G.," an acronym for Soli Deo gloria, Latin for "Glory to God alone." He comments across the ages to much of the banal music we play in church today: "The aim and final end of all music should be none other than the glory of God and the refreshment of the soul. If heed is not paid to this, it is not true music but a diabolical bawling and twanging." To which I can only add my own "amen."

A fallen hero. The pilot of a U-28A aircraft that crashed near Camp Lemonnier, Djibouti, on Feb. 18 was laid to rest at the U.S. Air Force Academy Cemetery on March 12. Capt. Ryan Hall, 30, was a native of Colorado Springs. "Ryan has come home," said his father, Dennis Hall, a graduate of the Academy. "While there will be moments of sadness, today is a day of celebration, because we love him and we will see him again in Paradise." His deployment in Djibouti was his seventh since joining the Air Force in 2004. On the day of his funeral, Colorado Gov. John Hickenlooper directed state agencies to fly their flags at half-staff. The last text message he sent to his brother included a reference to Acts 20:24: "I consider my life worth nothing to me; my only aim is to finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me-the task of testifying to the good news of God's grace."