"God Bless the Whole World. No Exceptions"
I've been seeing this bumper sticker with a bit more frequency of late and I've been trying to figure out what it means. Or what the people who purchase it and put it on their vehicles want it to mean.
First, why the imperative tone? We're accustomed to saying "May God bless you" or sometimes a shorter version "God bless." Either way, it's something of a prayer in the third person. Maybe that's what the bumper sticker is saying as well; after all, it's hard to be polite in the space of a bumper sticker. But somehow it comes across as more imperious than prayerful.
Second, to whom is this addressed? Apparently, it is believed that there are some people out there who do not want God to bless the whole world. And since most of the time these stickers are side-by-side with a "Kerry Edwards 04" or "Buck Fush" sticker (have you seem those?!), I am beginning to suspect that it's a political statement. Something like, "Hey, you Arab-bombing, homo-hating Republicans, God wants you to change your attitude." If true, it does not make a very good contribution to civil discourse. (Bumper stickers seldom do.) Besides, it would be inherently contradictory, because the "no exceptions" clause would seem to include Arab-bombing, homo-hating Republicans. But perhaps I miss the point.
Then there's the theological issue. Does God really bless everyone, no exceptions? I think we would be hard-pressed to find Scriptural warrant for arguing that God blesses the whole world. There's far too much in there about curses and judgements. The whole sheep and goats thing. There are some people that God seems to view with real distaste, so much so that He wants them out of his sight...for eternity. Doesn't sound like much of a blessing. But, again, bumper stickers don't contribute much to intelligent theological thinking either.
I've created a new sticker for my own car: "God bless the whole world. Except people with bumper stickers."
First, why the imperative tone? We're accustomed to saying "May God bless you" or sometimes a shorter version "God bless." Either way, it's something of a prayer in the third person. Maybe that's what the bumper sticker is saying as well; after all, it's hard to be polite in the space of a bumper sticker. But somehow it comes across as more imperious than prayerful.
Second, to whom is this addressed? Apparently, it is believed that there are some people out there who do not want God to bless the whole world. And since most of the time these stickers are side-by-side with a "Kerry Edwards 04" or "Buck Fush" sticker (have you seem those?!), I am beginning to suspect that it's a political statement. Something like, "Hey, you Arab-bombing, homo-hating Republicans, God wants you to change your attitude." If true, it does not make a very good contribution to civil discourse. (Bumper stickers seldom do.) Besides, it would be inherently contradictory, because the "no exceptions" clause would seem to include Arab-bombing, homo-hating Republicans. But perhaps I miss the point.
Then there's the theological issue. Does God really bless everyone, no exceptions? I think we would be hard-pressed to find Scriptural warrant for arguing that God blesses the whole world. There's far too much in there about curses and judgements. The whole sheep and goats thing. There are some people that God seems to view with real distaste, so much so that He wants them out of his sight...for eternity. Doesn't sound like much of a blessing. But, again, bumper stickers don't contribute much to intelligent theological thinking either.
I've created a new sticker for my own car: "God bless the whole world. Except people with bumper stickers."
posted by A.L. Blair | 11:40 AM
19 Comments:
Hmmmm... I just came over from Attention Span and find this post interesting. Maybe the owner of the sticker has been given the impression that Bush supporters don't think God blesses the whole world. Like Pat Robertson condemning gays and Ariel Sharon. Just a guess.
Jennifer,
Is that like what New Orleans’ Mayor C. Ray Nagin said about "God sending Hurricane after Hurricane..."? Perhaps we should all stop the bashing rhetoric and start realizing that God loves us all and that the people who say "God bless America", which is who I think the bumper sticker is aimed at, are just praying and not putting anyone down.
God bless all who respond to my inanities with words of wisdom. :)
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I've always thought (and still do) that the bumper sticker is, as Steve pointed out, simply a reaction to and a check on the "God Bless America" bumper stickers (and why the imperative tone with those?). Sometimes the people owning "God Bless America" bumper stickers (including people I know) have an attitude that implies they would like God to bless America and no one else (if you would like to see proof that these people exist, just read The Vent in the Atlanta Journal Constitution.) In fact, I have seen a facetious bumper sticker that said "God Bless America...and no one else." I think that particular attitude (and the fairly common unexamined assumption that while everyone is human, Americans are more human*) is what "God bless the whole world, no exceptions" is reacting to.
I'm sure many people with "God Bless the Whole World" stickers are just making a political statement. I'm also sure that many people with "God Bless America" bumper stickers are just making a political statement. I'm also sure that many with each bumper sticker are expressing a heartfelt wish.
Finally, as to the question of whether God actually does bless the whole world... Well, I don't think that the bumper sticker is arguing that he does (and maybe that wasn't your point.) It's asking him to. We know from 2 Peter 3:9 that "[God] is patient with you, not wanting anyone to perish, but everyone to come to repentance." And that would be the greatest blessing. If God himself desires to bestow salvation on everyone - including terrorists - is it unreasonable to say, "God bless the world, no exceptions"? In saying this, one is stating the desire that God himself desires - that all should receive the greatest blessing of salvation. Because of free will, all will not in fact come to repentence, but it should be our desire nonetheless, shouldn't it? Of course, I imagine that few of those with "God Bless the Whole World" on their cars have the bumper sticker because they think like this.
*As an example, last year in Time magazine there was a spread of photos of dead Iraqi men (police recruits?) who had been executed by terrorists in a soccer stadium. There have been over 2000 dead U.S. soldiers, but never have I seen the media splash photos of their dead bodies lying as they fell - not that they should. There does seem to be a double standard.
I have a bumper sticker on my car that says "Mutual funds are for the weak minded"...
Just thought I'd share.
And stocks are for Puritans?
Thanks for the interesting discussion on this topic.
Do you know where I could purchase one of these bumper stickers? I love the message and I'd like to put one on my car.
Thanks in advance!
How about, "For God so loved the world, he gave his only son"? I believe that could be considered a scriptural basis.
It doesn't say Jews, descendants of David, whites, or even human beings...just the world.
I think the message is one of inclusion, rather than exclusion, as some people have chosen to direct their energies.
It seems to me our job is to pray for everyone at all times. Asking for God's blessing is following a directive,I believe, remember:pray for those who persecute you and other passages which support praying for all.
Personally I would lie to create a bumper sticker that says "God Blessed the whole world and made no exceptions John 3:16"
I have such a bumper sticker on my car, and it is in response to the flag wavers who think the only country that counts is the U.S.A. -You know, the YEE HAW, bomb the world, Toby Keith crowd. I love this country as much as any other American, but I also believe the strident invasion and mass killing of the citizens of a sovereign country who had no role in 9/11 brought out a lot of Bush cheerleaders who used the God Bless America theme as a means to support his mission. I don't support this war, and "God" should bless the entire world; this planet needs it more than ever.
Hi,
First, I definitely agree that the bumper sticker is in response to the very oft heard phrase "God Bless America". The imperative tone is in response to the original.
Out of fairness, I'd like to ask- has "God Bless America" ever struck you/ bothered you as something of an imperative, as well?
I think that the message of God Bless Everyone, not just our own country, is Jesus's message, too- he came for all, not just Americans.
As your readers have pointed out in John 3:16, yes, God blesses the world!! God's curses and plagues and the animal sacrifices and the other Old Testament horrors ended with the gift of Jesus.
I have the bumper sticker. It is from the American Friends Service Committee. It means exactly what it says. And it means no exceptions. If you can believe this than you cannot justify the hatred and violence that is destroying our planet.
I don't have one, but I want one. It's a simple, positive statement, and I'm amazed at how much people can read into it. I take it at face value, not aimed at anyone or in response to anyone. We don't often think of praying for our enemies--prayed for bin Laden lately?--but that is what this statement reminds us to do.
It's just a prayer...
"God Bless Everyone. No Exceptions."
Just a little more concise than:
"I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you."
Well, to avoid the imperative, it could be worded,
"May God bless the whole world!
No exceptions."
It's probably way past time for this post to be read or noticed, but I found your original post beneath the dignity of someone from a medium-sized Christian university and an ordained minister, married with two children. But then I've come to expect unChristian behavior from most Christians, so I'm not all that surprised. I'm sure, as some of the commenters pointed out, there is ample scriptural basis for the quote. The best one of which would be "love [even] thine enemy." Most of all, I just wanted to know something about the origin of the quote.
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