I have been musing over President Trump’s suggestion that we could consume, or be injected with, disinfectant to kill off the virus. At one level we have to say it is absurd (and dangerous) to make such a suggestion. At another level we could say something like: “Some of the best ideas are the simplest”, or “Just because an idea is scoffed at by the establishment doesn’t necessarily mean it is a rubbish idea.”
Take the first point. A very very simple idea to stop the virus is to keep social distance. Another very very simple idea is to wash your hands regularly. Even my 4 year old grandson can see the logic of these. And, speaking of children, wasn’t the faith of a child commended by someone? “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I tell you, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it” (Mark 10:14–15).
On the second point, you have probably seen lists, similar to the one below, of great ideas which were initially rejected.
“This ‘telephone’ has too many shortcomings to be seriously considered as a means of communication. The device is inherently of no value to us.” Western Union internal memo dated 1876.
“I do not believe the introduction of motor-cars will ever affect the riding of horses” Mr. Scott-Montague, MP, in 1903.
“Who the hell wants to hear actors talk?” H.M. Warner (Warner Brothers) before rejecting a proposal for movies with sound in 1927.
“There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home.” Ken Olsen (President, Chairman, and founder of Digital Equipment Corp) in 1977.
The supreme Christian example of this phenomenon is the way the Cross was seen as “a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles” (1 Corinthians 1:23). But yet billions and billions of people have been drawn to the Cross, and continue to be so drawn.
So... while we might say that President Trump has got it wrong, he has nevertheless inadvertently highlighted some aspects of common sense and Christian Faith. Not such a chump, after all!
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