The Internet Monk 

"the power of opinion, the phenomenon of speech, the impact of truth"

A Webjournal and News Review by Michael Spencer

Singing Praise Choruses To Barbarians At The Gate

by Michael Spencer

When editorial decisions are made here at The Internet Monk, the responsibility of ranting is generally given to our cultureWatch editor, Eric Rigney. By temperament and general appearance, Rigney is more the ranting type. I, on the other hand, attempt to bring the occasional flash of common sense political insight from a libertarian-conservative-Republican point of view. Today, however, I am sending Rigney to print t-shirts, while I take up the mantle of the ranting prophet. So beware. This will not be pretty.

As a public speaker by profession, I am well aware that a sizeable percentage of my audience probably disagrees with me at any time. I'm quite used to being in the minority on questions of public morality, religious belief and political theory. I doesn't bother me. I never lose sleep over it. When people walk up to me and say, "I disagreed with what you said," I am honored that they listened. I may explain my point more fully, but I'm comfortable being opinionated. Hey, let 'em be wrong. This is America.

So who are these Christians who say that it is un-Christian (the worst term in the universe) to be opinionated? It was recently delivered to me that some Christian brethren are offended that I am so opinionated, particularly on political matters. Inappropriate, they say. This, apparently, is somehow at odds with their conception of proper Christ-like behavior. Those who represent Christ shouldn't be opinionated. Of course, last time I checked, that statement appears to be an opinion. Your view of truth is that my view of truth is offensive because its my view of truth. Apparently, we would all be more like Jesus if we never held an opinion that offended anyone. Wrong. You can't trump my opinion as a Christian with your opinion as a Christian. Same card.

It is hard to say just how bad- how really horrible- this kind of thinking is, and it is very sad to realize it is passively believed by millions of Christians in America as somehow right. It's a comfortable view these days because what is called American Christianity is actually some sort of American Gnosticism, a religion of direct human experience with God that has no need of the Bible, the Gospel or Christ and the Cross in the classically Christian sense. We are apparently such basically cool people, that we can get in touch with God our little ol' selves if we just tune in the right way. Today, we have a Bible that is described as a "love letter," a Gospel of manipulated and self-generated feelings and experiences (complete with band), and a Christ who is a whispy, feminized, dispenser of hugs and life management principles and no-cost/no discipleship salvation. Of course, this is the appropriate religion for people whose only actual concerns are feeling good about themselves and having it all without feeling guilty. Sinners seeking a remedy for the righteous wrath of God need not look into modern Christianity for any help. The prophets of Christianity without public opinion are welcome in this temple.

Just in case anyone out there needs a simple reminder, the entire Christian worldview is an in-your-face exercise in being offensively opinionated to a godless age. (Read Romans 1) To understand and communicate the truths put forward in the Bible is to be offensive and opinionated. You don't have to be rude and obnoxious about it, but you can't get up and say politics or social issues or public morality are off limits because we aren't supposed to be opinionated about such matters. That just won't wash. Sodom and Gomorrah apparently got a big dose of someone's opinion. The Old Testament Prophets seem to be delivering divine opinion in human words on politics, public morality, economics, family life, education, social problems, sexual ethics and so on.  Don't think Jesus was opinionated? Which Gospel are you reading? The one where Jesus told the Roman governor he had no power over him? The one where Jesus pronounced judgment on the entire nation of Israel? The one where Jesus turned over the tables of the money-changers?

Let's get specific. If Jesus lived in America, would he vote? (Opinionated) Would he vote for the candidate who supported NOW or Right to Life? (opinion) Would Jesus vote for candidates that wanted to remove religion from public life or protect the role of faith in communities? (another opinion) Would Jesus vote for more taxes and bigger government or less taxes and smaller government? (Opinion) Would Jesus have an opinion on the public endorsement of homosexual marriage? Illegitimacy? Bio-technology? Cultural issues like school violence or Rap lyrics? School vouchers? Home schooling? (opinions all) Hey listen, quote me: If I didn't think Jesus would vote the way I do, I wouldn't vote that way. I would vote the way Jesus would. I don't think it was a sin to vote for Gore. I just think you were wrong on almost every Biblical issue to vote for a guy who put government against God's law and character as revealed in scripture.

I read an editorial by a liberal Southern Baptist newspaper editor where he endorsed Hillary Health care on the basis of the parable of the Good Samaritan. Now, I think health care is great, but are to believe that God endorses the biggest jump in statism ever contemplated in a free society because some people need cheap health care? These are the same people who think Jesus died for a woman's right to choose and if he were here today he would be turning water into wine at homosexual unions. I am not at all intellectually embarrassed to say I have read the Bible and statist, big government solutions disguised as compassion do not fare well. Of course, that's just my opinion.

What we have in America today is a Christian culture singing praise choruses while the barbarians are burning down the city and taking our children. Christians are preaching Oprah and calling it Jesus. This no-man's-land of non-opinionated Christianity is standing around with eyes closed singing "As the Deer" while bad people, really bad people take over this culture and attack our families and children. Everybody feels good about their relationship with God while Western Civilization falls to pieces. What we need is to get out of the zombie state and get out into the streets, businesses, schools and media outlets of America and put the truth to work changing this culture. That would glorify God right up there with a good offering. Of course, you have to believe we are to be militantly transforming culture, not hiding out trying to be nice. You have to believe that the transformation of culture is compassionate and loving. (Opinion, sorry.)

I have a whole talk about where this kind of weenied out pessimism comes from, but I will spare you. Christianity is political, social, public and it is opinionated. That's not the whole story by any means. The state is not the church, and the Kingdom of God isn't brought about by politics.No human being or human program can make a person new. But I tell you what: God's truth is better than anything else on the shelf and you'd better be prepared to fight to make it so. It matters. This world we live in is a theater of God's glory and our God-centered involvement in politics and cultural renewal is how we proclaim Christ Lord of all. Do everything to the Glory of God, said the apostle. Include in that, be sharply and offensively opinionated about the truth God has revealed.

I'm happy Christians are praying about school shootings. Its my opinion we ought to change the schools. I'm happy Christians are preaching against Eminem. It's my opinion we ought to change the market and the art form to put the guy in the dust bin. I'm happy Christians are selling books to themselves in their own stores. It's my opinion we ought to write the books that top the best seller lists and run the bookstore business. Sense a direction here? Truth. Opinion. Action. Compassionate change.

All right, all right, I know this is starting to sound like a sermon, but I can't help it. This hacks me off. Representing Jesus is a matter of standing in stark contrast to the world, and unfortunately these days, the captive culture known as the church. To be one of us, you start with an opinion about a man- Jesus- that is becoming so offensive it may soon be a hate-crime to evangelize. If you want non-opinionated Christianity, you are in trouble from the first day.

So that's my rant- and my opinion. (OK Rigney, you can have your stump back.)

Michael@internetmonk.com                                                                             Post a Comment