I'm a minister but...
And we wonder why non-Christians are weary, suspicious and even repulsed by Christianity. In this article in Newsweek, Jerry Falwell says of his university's debate team, "We are training debaters who can perform a salt ministry, meaning becoming the conscience of the culture." Yikes. What's even scarier is that Falwell's debate team is ranked number one in the country. Harvard's team, at 14th, doesn't even come close.
Haven't we learned that beating religion and its supposed values into people isn't the way of Jesus? This kind of press makes it increasingly difficult to stake my claim as a Christian minister and makes me feel as if I should open with a disclaimer when asked about my profession.
Him/Her: What do you do?
Me: I'm a minister but...
Haven't we learned that beating religion and its supposed values into people isn't the way of Jesus? This kind of press makes it increasingly difficult to stake my claim as a Christian minister and makes me feel as if I should open with a disclaimer when asked about my profession.
Him/Her: What do you do?
Me: I'm a minister but...
posted by jch at
9:39 PM
15 Comments:
Check your article link, this is at the bottom.
Correction: In the original version of this report, NEWSWEEK misquoted Falwell as referring to "assault ministry." In fact, Falwell was referring to "a salt ministry"—a reference to Matthew 5:13, where Jesus says "Ye are the salt of the earth." We regret the error.
in reference to this, check out my friend kyle's latest post
your family is on our hearts daily...we groan along with you and long for the day that your sweet boy is healed and home with you.
Thanks, bkdairy, for the correction. I changed the post but the point remains, Is this the direction Christianity should go? To rule from the bench in order to impose values that not even all Christians agree on? I'm still disturbed by the article.
Thanks for the heads-up.
Sorry - but I'm laughing out loud - "assault" vs. "a salt" - that is too much. Wondering how that debate team does salt the world?
It would be my friend, Leroy, who would bait me into making a comment on my own blog, something I try not to do. (The earlier comment was to thank bk for pointing out the error in the article.) Shoot, I didn't even reply to those flakes who told Laura that her faith was weak because of her probing questions!
Leroy, I would point back to this piece I referenced on January 21. I don't think any of us should want our "prophetic witness" to come from a position of power. I don't think that's what Calvin wanted either. Jesus certainly didn't.
So yes, Leroy, let's keep culture on the rails but let's do it with our actions and words from the street, not the bench.
Interesting that you brought this topic up. I was just talking with a friend this weekend who found the need to add a caveat to his cover letters when he was looking for a job. He got a much better response when he wrote, "I graduated from Abilene Christian University, but ..." I'm not sure exactly what he said from there on, but I thought it was sad that he felt the need to explain himself. For so many people Christianity is perceived as a negative thing, which will be difficult to reverse.
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I agree with Leroy, though I could not have said it as eloquently or with as many historical examples.
If we, as Christians, exempt ourselves from the political process, we leave a moral vacuum to be filled with those who support values contrary to the Bible. Am I saying that someone who is not a believer cannot be moral? By no means. But a believer, by what he or she holds to be truth, will be moral on issues that others may not. (The abortion debate, for instance. A candidate with a religious background will more likely vote to protect life than will an areligious candidate.)
We can and should influence from the streets, and through our votes. But we should also rise up to take a stand and lead.
I also do not have good feelings about most of what Falwell says. But the legal decisions that have led to more immorality in our culture were made in the legislature and on the bench. We have to take the debate to those venues if we stand a chance to correct the direction our country is headed.
I think what you are objecting to is debate without compassion. Taking a stand by creating hate. These are the tactics of the weak minded. If we believe that the Bible is true, and the principles found in it are just, and God's life is indeed the best possible life (John 10:10), then we should be able to intelligently and logically defend our Christian stance. Will this win souls to Christ? I doubt it. Will it prevent us from a state the restricts our religious freedoms? Most definitely.
"Will this win souls to Christ? I doubt it. Will it prevent us from a state the restricts our religious freedoms? Most definitely."
Lunar World...wouldn't you agree that winning souls for Christ takes precedence over our own personal freedoms and comforts?
I am in agreement with Joe here that this is all still unsettling. These ideas presented by Falwell and many others like Pat Robertson do not seem to represent the gospel as it was preached or lived by Jesus.
I'm all for a generation of Christians who know how to hold an intelligent debate, but am somewhat frightened by the prospect of this army being led by Jerry Falwell. When getting "back to Americans' gody heritage" means denying millions of people their basic human rights, I'm gonna say "Boooo" to that.
I've started "but"ing alot lately myself. Mainly "I'm from Texas, but..." and "I'm a Christian, but...". And I've also decided that I can no longer tell people what I do for a living. They say, "Oh." and then begin to feel bad about themselves for having a normal career. That's not very good for dinner conversation.
I have had that same tendency to add the "but" on my job title, but I gave it up. When people ask what I do, I tell them I teach children about how much God loves them. I even say that to strangers and fringe friends at the coffee shop. It seems to work for me. They always want to know more. Yea, God!
Having come from a pagan education (at LSU) in a Journalism and Mass Comm school, I very much want to see a generation of Christians capable of intelligent political debate rise up to help strengthen our moral foundations as a country. I don't think it needs to be our theme as Christians or be presented as such an agressive need, though. Guys like Jerry Falwell scare the snot out of me when they start speaking in public, becuase that kind of in-your-face Christian standard doesn't bless anyone in any way. Christians can work in politics and law without having to wear a giant sign on our head. God is big enough to use us even if we are quiet, gentle and consistent about our faith, instead of beating it into every open crevice that exists at the top of our well-trained lungs in front of open microphones. Nobody wants to be loved like that.
I agree with Joe about holding culture to a standard "from the streets" because it is our daily lives that will change the face of individual faith and global Christianity. Yea, God!
I often want to give a disclaimer of I’m a Christian, but…. The university that Jerry Falwell is active in is close to where I live in VA. Apparently he had some really offensive (I guess depending on your beliefs) things to say about 9/11. http://archives.cnn.com/2001/US/09/14/Falwell.apology/ And if you really want to fuel your fire go to http://www.positiveatheism.org/hist/quotes/foulwell.htm. I think assault ministry was more accurate. It seems like the people who are the most embarrassing “examples” end up being the loudest—just like how they always interview the toothless hick when a tornado hits in the south.
Hello Joe.
Joe,
You have no idea who I am but I came across your blog a while back and have continued to check up on Ira's condition. I keep your family in my prayers.
I also thank you for the great topics of conversation that you post. Your blog often causes me to think more deeply about theological issues. The issue of "in your face Christians" has been a touchy subject between myself and a close friend. She made a comment to me recently that no other religion, at least in the US, "recruits" like Christianity and that has given her a negative opinion of some Christians. I am in agreement that we as Christians have a responsibililty to spread the word of Jesus, but we be more successful at that "from the street, not the bench."
Thanks again for your thought provoking topics.
"Shoot, I didn't even reply to those flakes who told Laura that her faith was weak because of her probing questions!"
Good grief!! Talking about shooting the wounded!!
I wonder how many of those people have read the book of Job lately!
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