restoring our biblical and constitutional foundations
That Fox
I have been fascinated in recent days by the chameleon-like metamorphosis undergone by Alabama Attorney General Bill Pryor. An outspoken supporter of conservative causes, he has now decided he must uphold the law (whatever that means) and see that Roys Rock is removed from the state judiciary building in Montgomery.
It reminds me of an episode that is recorded for us in the New Testament Gospels. The Pharisees had warned Jesus that if He remained in Herods territory His life would be in danger. They were, of course, trying to help Jesus keep out of trouble with the authorities. Naturally their well-intended warning failed to terrify JesusHe wasnt dumb enough to fall for that one! Instead He bids them tell Herodthat foxthat He intends to defy His threats. He will stay the course until His ministry is completed.
Now the word fox is an interesting term. Today it connotes cunning cleverness. Not so in Jesus day. In its Jewish usage it had a double meaning. First, it referred to low sneakiness rather than straightforward dealing; and second, it was used in contrast to lion to describe an unimportant and irrelevant person as opposed to a person of real honor and greatness. In essence, Jesus was saying: Folks, I am going to do what the Father has told Me to do. I will therefore make My way toward Jerusalem on My timing. I wont flee there. After all, Im not dumb enough to fall for your machinations!
Its apparent to many Moore supporters in Alabama that Bill Pryor will do anything to help his nomination for a seat on the eleventh U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals. At least thats the opinion of the 150 protestors who marched on Pryors office on Tuesday to demand he resign for supporting the eight associate justices who are seeking to remove the Ten Commandments monument. As protest organizer Patrick Mahoney said, Bill Pryor should be protecting the citizens of Alabama instead of campaigning to get confirmation on the eleventh Circuit. Pryor, like King Herod of old, certainly seems to be behaving like a foxa sneaky and weak leader. He has joined Alabama Governor Bob Riley and members of the Supreme Court in deserting Moore in his hour of crisis. Little wonder that Judge Moore has had to come out and publicly oppose him!
Commenting on the term fox, G. Campbell Morgan once wrote: It is an appalling picture. Jesus evaded Herod, sent him a message of contempt, and when face to face with him (at His trial before Herod) had nothing to say to Him. It is a solemnizing story. A man may get into such a condition when he yields to the base, that even Christ has nothing to say to him. Add to this the statement of Karl Barth and you get a pretty good picture of where the battle lines are drawn in Alabama today: Jesus would, in actual fact, have been an enemy of the state if He had not dared to call King Herod a fox (Luke 13:32). If the State has perverted its God-given authority, it cannot be honored better than by this criticism which is due it in all circumstances.
Who would have thought the anti-God crowd would be joined by conservative Republicans! What could have motivated them to desert the U.S. Constitution? If the Republican leaders in Alabama think they can get away with this, they better think again. The conservative Christian vote is strong in Bama, and already plans are underway to defeat Pryor and Riley at the polls. Riley may not have to wait for election day to feel their displeasure, however. His $1.2 billion tax plan is up for approval on September 9 in a statewide referendum, and Moores supporters will likely cast a protest vote.
Ah, the price of being a fox.
August 27, 2003
David Alan Black is the editor of www.daveblackonline.com.