Cows of Bashan

Today's mystery: Who is Donbia Nass?

And who really cares?

My post last week about the cool, groovy elder I ran into at Ren Faire, the one who ripped me to shreds for ministering without my husband's "covering," generated a comment from a reader who calls himself "Donbia Nass." Mr. Nass (I'm sure that Wilsonites who criticize me anonymously and crudely are male, but I suppose I could be wrong) finds my ministry to "illegals" downright rib-tickling in its stupidity, and thanks me for the entertainment I provide him when I talk about such silly things. Such a clever, cowardly, anonymous little man, whose identity is about as important to me as the identity of the jogger who just ran past my house.

On the other hand, some of you may be wondering who in the world the "cows of Bashan" are, and why I would call Mr. Nass one. The Old Testament book of Amos, a faithful prophet of God who, oddly enough, used his real name, refers to haughty upper-class women who mock the poor and indulge in idleness and drink. From Amos, Chapter 4, verses 1 and 2, TNIV:

"Hear this word, you cows of Bashan on Mount Samaria, you women who oppress the poor and crush the needy and say to your husbands, "Bring us some drinks!" The Sovereign LORD has sworn by his holiness, "The time will surely come when you will be taken away . . . "

OK. Right away, you've noticed that I refer to Donbia Nass as male, and yet the cows of Bashan clearly refer to women. But the rebuke of the prophet doesn't depend on the sex of the rebuked; only in certain theological circles is gender the lens through which all else is viewed. More reasonable, and humble, folks simply shudder at the message. They don't giggle that the "cows" are female and Nass isn't. Imagine a paraphrase: "Hey, honey -- bring me a Guinness! I'm reading that dumbass chick's blog again!"

That said, what does Scripture mean in condemning the "cows of Bashan"? These upper-class, indulged women were compared to the prized cattle of ancient Canaan -- pampered, fed without worry, watered at the best troughs, and fattened for slaughter, a slaughter of which they were utterly unaware. The targets of Amos' ire, then, are those who revel in life's luxuries while spewing contempt for the poor, the victimized, the "other" whose path never crosses theirs by design. Donbia Nass's mockery of my ministry to Mexican immigrants -- he just calls them "illegals" -- demonstrates the carefree indulgence of those fattened for slaughter, a slaughter invited by contempt for the poor.

Isaiah 58 sums it up well, and I hope my erstwhile critic takes this to heart:

"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice, and untie the cords of the yoke; to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter -- when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?"

This comes as a plea to contend for justice and defend the poor from those who benefit from their oppression, and it's a plea that follows the LORD's promise that he will "put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless." (Isaiah 13:11, TNIV). I don't have any idea who "Donbia Nass" is, and I don't care. The Lord Jesus does know, however, and cares very much. Juvenile pranksters with cold hearts and arrogant attitudes won't fare well at the Judgment Seat, and my prayer for Mr. Nass is that he repents of his bovine-like smugness and submits as a humble sheep to the Shepherd of his soul and mine.

Do keep writing, Mr. Nass, and know that you have my prayers.