Things I Think…
1. The reason we’re all so invested in the politics of the day is because the kingdom of God is an abstract notion and not a reality to most Christians. In this (and many other ways) we are functional agnostics, praying that our side wins, not that His kingdom comes…
2. The idea that Christians are a culturally separated people, a “holy nation” unto themselves, sent to be kingdom ambassadors of peace and reconciliation, is a notion, not a reality, rejected in favor of swapping this world for His kingdom…kind of like driving on a temporary spare rather than buying a new tire…
3. Everyone in leadership at Liberty U knew who and what Jerry Falwell Jr. was and is. The 11th commandment is “Be thou successful, that your sins may be forgiven”….
4. Falwell didn’t sin because he was isolated and stressed. He sinned because he’s a sinner, sin is delicious and he was enabled to sin by everyone who was supposed to hold him accountable. His depth of repentance will be determined by the size of his severance package and his ego…
5. There are already pious articles being printed wringing hands over whether Falwell is receiving enough “grace”. I don’t give a hoot in hell whether he is our not, I’m concerned about the trainloads of people he ran over to keep his lifestyle and stature intact…he will have every resource he needs at his disposal…most of them won’t…
6. The death of local newspapers and radio has created an alternate reality with alternative sources of information that have effectively cut us off from our own communities…where the reality on the ground may be much different than that on the air…
7. The violent protests have done an amazing job of ensuring that most Americans will not care about the legitimate issues they bring to our attention and will instead simply resent the disruption and destruction they create…which means we’ll never solve them, but cycle through the same mess again…
8. There will be another pandemic and because of the way this one was handled, it will wipe out millions who won’t trust anyone warning them about a virus ever again…
9. Admit it…the things of God bore you and your Christ is only sufficient to get you to heaven, but wholly insufficient to deal with practical matters…like politics…you can’t repent until you confess…
10. “As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.”” (Luke 9:57–58 ESV) .What Jesus was trying to tell those who would follow Him is that their security would be wholly dependent on Him…what’s yours dependent on?
My favorite Things articles in recent memory.
I suspect Jr. will receive a tremendous severance package. And I doubt the board of the Liberty will deem his departure “for cause.”
It’s just another example of the differing justice systems that plague our nation.
Thanks, Jean…his severance for sin will be more than many make in a lifetime of work…
“Falwell didn’t sin because he was isolated and stressed.”
Reminds me of the excuse given by a former Speaker of the House who blamed his immortality on his love of country that caused him to overwork himself.
I think you meant “immorality”… 🙂
LOL, yes, “immorality.”
For many folks it seems, love of America is only possessed by those who “love God,” and is thus salvific for all practical purposes.
So, it can be blamed for their “immortality”!
Interesting ponders…..
Lately i find that i might be too much like Lot’s wife as i near the end of my sojourn here. Looking back instead of forward.
On the other hand, if i were honest I’d be praying “Thy kingdom come” intensely as the world seems to be heading into Satan’s Swan Song..
I’m sure folks have thought that in the past also, but it does seem that God is lifting His hand of restraint. Again or the final time? Dunno, but i do have an eye on the sky, as in the back of my mind lingers the question: is it time, Lord?
Em, it is so good to see you back!
I used to read a lot of Russian history and the currant situation in America reminds me very much of the time of turmoil before the Russian Revolution. But I keep telling myself things won’t go that far because there are so many good, decent people in America, and not just the Christians. But many decent people are being bullied into paying lip-service to things that are pure evil.
#1 speaks exactly to how so many Christians are reacting in today’s political climate.
I am re-examining my own heart.
Yes, there’s no hole big enough, no nest high enough, serpents reach them all. Security? Fleeting… illusive… gone…
Falwell’s position was nepotism, pure and simple. His father never prepared him for the task entrusted to him–or perhaps modeled it exactly as played…hmmmm.
My larger point is that most evangelicals have no clue as to the real wealth and power granted to the so-called faces of the evangelical world–they are spokesmen of what they know not for those they care not. Franklin Graham is in no way like his father, but has built an empire upon his father’s name & fame.
It has only been 1 day and Falwell, Jr. is already on his way to being an Internet meme. Here is but one example: “Jerry Falwell, Jr. says that he is not speaking at the RNC this year. He told Republican officials that he prefers watching.”
“Falwell didn’t sin because he was isolated and stressed. He sinned because he’s a sinner, sin is delicious and he was enabled to sin by everyone who was supposed to hold him accountable.” Roger that, preacher.
“ 9. Admit it…the things of God bore you and your Christ is only sufficient to get you to heaven, but wholly insufficient to deal with practical matters…like politics…you can’t repent until you confess…“
as the young people say,
STRAIGHT FIRE 🔥 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Soooo freaking true.
Do you think the average Egyptian knew the God of the Hebrews was behind all the craziness happening all around them?
Too many of us are caught up in the mask debate (and all the other ones) to see what God may be doing, to evangelize the lost, to have a good attitude.
Thanks for helping us with perspective, Michael.
I just read a short post by a popular contributor on Quora, self-described “gay married” but leans conservative. His opinion on the Falwell scandal (which we shouldnt forget includes his wife as an actor) is as predicted above in regards to the views of Christian leadership and hypocrisy. Not that the quoran was likely to be a convert, but that choices elicit voices.
Re: Falwell. I don’t know much about him, other than his sins, which are on public display. I don’t see what’s wrong with have compassion for him along with those he ran over. He can’t be in a good place right now. Shouldn’t that provoke compassion?
“But I keep telling myself things won’t go that far because there are so many good, decent people in America, and not just the Christians.”
How decent can they be if they are unbelievers in “rebellion” against God? Isn’t that what I read on the previous thread?
Re: politics. I don’t like the idea of mixOmg of politics and Gods Kingdom. But when it comes to taking care of the poor and immigrants as a nation doesn’t it require political power?
Pardon the Omg autocorrect
JoelG,
I seem to recall some things in the NT how Christ felt about the hypocritical Pharisees (he wasn’t very compassionate). And Paul’s comments in his epistles too. Was there compassion for Ananias and Sapphira? Maybe the current thieves and frauds in the church like Falwell, Jr. should suffer the same fate as them – that’s one way to clean house.
JoelG,
The bottom line is when the outside world overall takes things like accountability, transparency, responsibility ethics (like Conflict of Interest), workplace behavior, and the like more seriously and more strictly than the American Church, the b*tching of Christians here in the US and all their announcements, proposals, viewpoints, etc. will be increasingly derided and ignored.
The American Church has lost its saltiness and and such it deserves to be poured onto the ground and trampled into the dirt.
Let’s compare what happened to Harry Stonecipher at Boeing and how quickly he was gone from the job to the years it took to get rid of Falwell, Jr.
That is exhibit A.
The American Church has lost its saltiness and and such it deserves to be poured onto the ground and trampled into the dirt.<<<
Absolutely not! You are overlooking all the good American Christians have done and are still doing. Yes, some need to repent of certain ideas but to suggest the American church should be trampled in the dirt is worse than their mistaken opinions.
The modern spirit is one of self-loathing. Whites must hate their whiteness, Americans must hate America, and Christians must hate American churches. I don't play this game but I know who is its author because I can smell the sulfur.
YAHWEH God revealed himself to Moses as ….”a God merciful and gracious, slow to anger, and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness, keeping steadfast love for thousands, forgiving iniquity and transgression and sin, BUT (emphasis mine) who will by no means clear the guilty, visiting the iniquity of the fathers on the children and the children’s children, to the third and the fourth generation.” I submit it is not either/or with His compassion and judgment, but it is both/and.
CM,
Okay. He’s paying the consequences. As do all the others you cite from the NT. I don’t shout “hurray” they’re finally getting their due! I hope they turn from punishing themselves and others.
PS – I’ve never understood how anyone can sum up the “American Church” as one cohesive group, especially with all the splits and calling each other heretics. But I digress…
Joel G.-“I don’t shout “hurray” they’re finally getting their due! I hope they turn from punishing themselves and others.” Yes. God loves Jerry Falwell, Jr., and his wife and his family. We’re all of us thieves and rebels, and we would do well to say, “There but for the grace of God, go I.”
Joel,
How decent can they be if they are unbelievers in “rebellion” against God? Isn’t that what I read on the previous thread?<<<
Even unbelievers care about their country, state, neighborhoods and families and don't want to see them destroyed.
Mike E. yes agreed. I know I’m too soft. I know how lost I feel after I sin big time and how easy it is to retreat to a corner in defensiveness. I just hope he realizes that love.
Xenia. Yes they do. I work for a family of unbelievers and they are some of the kindest people I know. They have taken care of my family and I and the thought of them being on the doorstep of eternal torment because they don’t assent to a set of historical facts about Jesus that for one reason or another they don’t believe right now (as far as I can tell) makes me ill.
I know the standard Christianese response but doesn’t change my emotions.