Zealots and Anti-Zealots

Progress toward becoming the Chaplain for the Washington DC SCCA Region has been encouraging. Our efforts were enthusiastically welcomed by most of the club’s leaders and a visit to the WDCR website shows Wayne Strout as the Club Racing Chaplain. Numerous workers and a few drivers have come up to me and given me private encouragement.  Praise God!

I certainly try to enthusiastically follow the most important commandment to love God and Jesus with all my heart, mind and soul. But, up to now, I would never have applied the name of “zealot” to me.  But recently, that is what I have been described as being. And after prayerful thought, I think I will happily accept the title.

Upon being accepted as the Chaplain, I naturally offered to provide an Invocation as part of the weekend’s National Race Opening Ceremony.   Initially my offer was accepted. With great joy, but with some caution, I penned an invocation that I thought would be acceptable to anybody other than those few who complain about “under God” being a part of the Pledge of Allegiance. To my great surprise, there were several people who voiced really strong objections to “invoking God” at an SCCA Club Racing event. These same people had no problem with me holding a Chapel service for those who want to voluntarily attend, but did not want the “zealots imposing their religion on non-zealots”.  It was decided that the best way to handle the controversy was to allow the invocation to be at the “option and sole discretion” of each event’s Chief Steward. 

It was the comment about “zealots and non-zealots” that got me thinking. Was the Invocation an affront to the “non-zealots”?  I think not.  Those who could be described as a “non-zealot” are mostly ambivalent.  A call thanking God for being able to race safely and asking for a blessing on all of the participants is probably not objectionable to them—sort of like when the President says “God Bless America” and seeing “In God We Trust” on our money.  But, to an “anti-zealot” calling on God is seen as a threat.

The term “Zealot” was first used to describe a sect of Judaism at the time of Christ who opposed “unjust and secular” Roman rule. Many believe that the Apostle Paul as a Zealot. The Hebrew description would translate to “one who is zealous on behalf of God”.

OK, then I admit, as an “Ambassador of Christ” I am certainly “zealous on behalf of God”—I am a zealot.  So why would anyone object to being “zealous on behalf of God” in public, thanking him for his Grace and asking for his blessing for all—zealots, non-zealots and anti-zealots (human secularists) alike?

 Those that could be called “anti-zealots” many times see Christians and those who “invoke God” as self centered, judgmental, self righteous extremists who want to “limit freedom” by “imposing their views” on others. In some ways, their suspicions are founded. Many times Christians do try to improperly impose their views on others—with good intentions, but still improperly imposing. We are to serve as “examples” and not judges and accusers.

Remember that “the World” is usually a hostile place. Our efforts to be “salt and light” may not be universally welcomed. In fact there will be those that oppose our efforts. Remember that scripture teaches that light always overcomes darkness in the end.  As said by our Lord and Savior in John 16:33  “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

PS. On May 6, in my first National Race in 26 years, my FV finished a respectable “mid-pack” 8^th in a very competitive field.