Jesus deserves honor today

I happened upon a grand placard. It was a wondrous design of art and beauty. Fixed in astounding relief were the names of many persons of great worth and note. They were members of a glorious, victorious team of years gone by.

Atop the list was one identified as “Coach,” an individual obviously highly venerated, for his name was designed in a richer, larger text than any other.

Although it’s true, the team would doubtless recognize and adulate him simply and honorably as “Coach,” attendees and other fans will also identify him the same in spite of the obvious lack of real application. A fan is never really coached by “The Coach,” thus we recognize him regardless of our association with him or the lack thereof.
In like manner, it seems some have great difficulty realizing that simply because a person isn’t their coach that doesn’t mean the appellation isn’t deserved. And because Jesus isn’t his Christ, Mr. Lorch is going a bit overboard to object to him being officially recognized as such.

I won’t decry a Muslim display recognizing Allah as God, or Muhammad as his Prophet. I just note the display has no meaning for me and go my way.

The issue is that Christ does have meaning for most people, and would be meaningful for those comparably immortalized. That is the matter which is critical. If we wish to understand why something is dedicated to or includes “Christ,” maybe we should consider why it was put there. It’s likely someone felt they’d been influenced to greatness by his words and deeds.

Our history is replete with and founded by individuals who very directly identify Christ as their primary motivation. That will include the majority of IU founders who overwhelmingly felt it was important to include the name of Christ, my ‘Messiah’ as well. If you can’t honor him as your own, then honor him for motivating others to provide and build this institution of learning and our great country. Disrespecting the values our greats held is disrespectful of them.