Carter: A Man of Little Consequence, Spoils His Farewell
Jimmy Carter had become a bit of a non-person in his long retirement. From the first day of his “ex” status, he was seldom interviewed on events of the day; seldom visited the White House or Congressional offices; and seldom, if ever, was consulted on policy even by Democrats once on his team. This was partly due to his generally disastrous record over four years, and the toxicity of his electoral shellacking. Despite the best intentions and limited effects of the Carter Center and his endless books, it was his assessment of Israel — as an Apartheid nation engaging in human rights crimes — that turned him into a type of political leper in Big Media and in politics. “Unclean!!!” (RELATED: Presidents Jimmy and Joe: Goodbye and Good Riddance)
All those matters were predictably glossed over in the state funeral at the National Cathedral. Eulogists spoke of his background as a peanut farmer (he actually managed a peanut warehouse) and as a “nuclear physicist” (he actually was a sailor on a nuclear — or as he pronounced it, “nucular” — submarine). But he was also lauded as a humanitarian, someone who railed against poverty and disease, and who created many federal agencies and programs, appointing women and racial minorities to them and judicial posts.
And people remember Habitat For Humanity. Although the laudable organization scarcely was named at the funeral, people saw, over the decades, Jimmy Carter hammering boards and carrying wood. Because of this, it was said through those decades he that might have been America’s Best Ex-President.
Carter’s famous Sunday School classes were mentioned too. Indeed he frequently had quoted the Bible in his public life, and cited Scripture, even in a famous Playboy interview, as having informed his principles.
At the funeral, there were hymns, an organ accompanied by an orchestral ensemble, and a choir. The National Cathedral arranges such services along High Episcopalian lines, far from the Southern Baptist church Carter attended most of his life; and even more distant from the more liberal Baptist church he moved to in his last years. But the eulogies, testimonies, remembrances, and anecdotes frequently referenced Carter’s faith. (RELATED: The Uniparty v. Trump at Jimmy Carter’s Funeral)
However, the ultimate display of his character, and the impression he wished to make on the American public and posterity — for he choreographed his funeral service — was different; a betrayal of the manufactured persona. We are left with the evidence that his famous positions might have been, instead, pandering. Was his faith a faux faith? Was his ultimate commitment to Christ? Or, to Contemporary Culture?
The very last song that was performed at his funeral was not a hymn of faith. Neither was it an emotional Gospel song. Nothing from the rural evangelical church, or a Black spiritual, that might have spoken to the masses; perhaps touched peoples’ souls — maybe even led someone to Christ.
Rather strangely, it was arranged that country music singers Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood would sing a duet. Their presence was not out of place in itself, but they were asked to sing John Lennon’s “Imagine”:
Imagine there’s no heaven. It’s easy if you try. No hell below us; Above us, only sky.
Imagine there’s no countries. It isn’t hard to do. Nothing to kill or die for; And no religion, too….
Imagine no possessions. I wonder if you can. No need for greed or hunger; A brotherhood of man….
You may say I’m a dreamer, But I’m not the only one. I hope someday you’ll join us, And the world will live as one.
These are the words that were the last to echo through the National Cathedral, and on millions of televisions around the world. It was, in a very real sense, Jimmy Carter’s last words to his countrymen, to people around the world, to history. None of his quotations were read during the service, which suggested a bankrupt legacy. Rather, imagine no heaven; imagine no religion; no countries (or borders?); imagine nothing worth dying for. This scabrous Hymn to Hypocrisy was, in the end, Jimmy Carter’s anthem, his theme song?
The church of Jesus Christ has suffered and survived uncountable attacks for 2,000 years. Heresies, false doctrines, error, corruption, errancies, biased interpretations, secularism, liberal philosophies, relativism… all attempts, sincere or otherwise, to make Christian Doctrine conform to the World’s views. Very little is new after 2,000 years — least of all the bedrock Truth of the Gospel against would-be messiahs who have their customized religion to show the world.
God did not establish His commandments and covenants according to what might be popular with His children. Jesus did not share His messages and then test their acceptance according to the latest opinions, positive or negative, among His people. Christians are followers, not focus groups.
And, surely, Christ did not respect Scripture and then sing for His people to “imagine” that there was no religion, nor Heaven. Imagine — that Jesus did not think anything was worth dying for. He died for us, Jimmy. You too.
In many news stories and TV clips, Jimmy was seen in overalls, “workin’ on a building.” That is the title of a rural Gospel song by the Carter Family (no relation), but can’t we imagine, after four years of his presidency and all those “good works,” and after the whole funeral service, that he would have committed himself to all the lyrics:
I’m a working on building; I’m a working on building; I’m a working on building For my Lord, for my Lord.
It’s a Holy Ghost building; It’s a Holy Ghost building; It’s a Holy Ghost building For my Lord, for my Lord.
If I was a liar I’d tell you what I would do: I’d quit my lying and work on a building too.
If I was a preacher I tell you what I’d do: I’d keep on preaching and work on a building too.
Imagine that.
READ MORE from Rick Marschall:
All Hail the Once and Future President, Donald Trump
My Career as George Santos’ Press Secretary
Rick Marschall is a former political cartoonist and frequent commentator. Among his 75 books and many essays, he has written about the American presidency, including three on Theodore Roosevelt. One of his three weekly blogs is MondayMinistry.com/blog
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