Published by Morning TV talk shows have never been very interesting to me simply because they’re too liberal most of the time and I can’t relate. Other times, I’m just flat out embarrassed for them. I’ve been watching “Good Morning America ” only to see the segment on the new seven wonders of the world, and hoping to see my personal favorite show up. I’m a little bit torn because I like it a little quiet without billions of other tourists, but I would like to see it mentioned as I have an emotional kinship to the place. I can remember saying, “When I grow up, I’m going to move to…”, and I did. I feel the same way about the place I don’t want crawling with tourists.
When the short teaser segment was finished, Diane Sawyer was reporting from one of the memorials on the Mall in Washington , D.C. , having a chat about race and sex with Barack Obama, regarding a Washington Post article that asked, “Is America Too Racist for Obama, and Too Sexist for Clinton ?” As she posed that question to Obama, he performed the usual dance most “thinking about running for president” politicians do.
She switched the topic and slid into the reason she was on the Mall: the groundbreaking for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial. What she said hit me right between the eyes, and I don’t think she even knew what slipped out of her mouth. She talked about how they were going to return in a moment, blah, blah, blah, and then it happened; “…where he will take his place among the PANTHEON of heroes.” WHOOPS! Have a little blasphemy with your morning coffee, there!
It was at that point I realized she didn’t know what the word “pantheon” meant, or she used it in such a flip fashion it set my red flags flapping in the breeze. Pantheon is a word made up from two Greek roots ; PAN means “all” or “many”, and THEOS means “god”. Sawyer’s statement really said, “…where he will take his place among the many god heroes”.
I must admit I’ve never been to the nation’s capitol, but I don’t think I have to view the various monuments to know there aren’t any “god heroes” there. The Bible gives us a hint that God is no respecter of persons, and He’s a jealous God who doesn’t share His glory.
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Look at the very first definition you posted; that’s the main definition, and the Greek roots back it up.
Why would you want something memorializing the dead when God is no respecter of persons, and death is considered the great leveler? What did Jesus say – “let the dead bury the dead”?
Have you ever considered these places and the hommage paid at them to be “worship”? Only one is worthy of that worship. The Bible warns us about using places or monuments for worship.
Remember the brass snake on the pole Moses was told to put up to stop the Israelites from being bit? That brass snake became such a symbol, people flocked to for generations after the wilderness wandering was over. Think about how many years passed from Moses to Hezekiah, before it was removed because it had become an godly idol (2 Kings 18).
These momuments are as close to worship as one can get.
Much ado about nothing, Texxmezz.
Again, Ms. Sawyer utilized either the 2nd or 4th definition. That you would twist it to say she meant “gods” is not appropriate.
No, I would not consider any of these monuments places of “worship”, and I doubt most of America would, either. Remembrance, yes. Worship, no. I’ve never met anyone who worshipped George Washington or Thomas Jefferson or Abe Lincoln.
You write, “The Bible warns us about using places or monuments for worship” and you talk about idols. Have you looked on top of your church spires lately, or on the wall behind the altar? Are you Catholic? What would Jesus say about all these little Saint So-and-so statues?
No man come to the father except through Jesus, right?
You are making too much of this “pantheon” thing. As a Christian, you should have more important things to worry about.