Monday, December 2, 2019
681 - Don't Judge, But ...
Spirituality Column #681
December 3, 2019
Common Christianity / Uncommon Commentary
Don’t Judge, But …
By Bob Walters
It’s the news I pay the most attention to – Christianity, doctrine,
heresies, and witness – and from where I sit religion has had a big past few
weeks in the media. Let’s review …
- Newly-announced Christian Kanye West – the acclaimed, formerly
profane, and award-winning rap music artist – has been saying everything right
since his very public profession of Jesus last summer. He’s released a Christian music album in his
genre but with a solid faith message.
Christian bloggers everywhere (I read a lot of them) are going from
“wait and see” mode leaning toward, “This guy appears sincere.”
- All well and good; I pray Kanye is sincere and so far I’m
thankful for his witness. November 24
Kanye spoke at Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church with its 20,000 or so attendees
who gather in the former arena of the Houston Rockets. Osteen is famous for his book, “Your Best
Life Now,” and is a frequent target of doctrinal satirists for his refusal to
mention Jesus. “Jesus is too controversial,” Osteen told 60 Minutes a few years back. He really said that. Osteen is all God, Bible, and “this life,” but no Jesus.
- My favorite Christian satire provider is the BabylonBee.com, a daily compilation of
“news” memes that arrive via email (it’s free). You have to be a little bit of
a church wonk to appreciate its humor, but the Babylon Bee is always on Osteen’s case big time about not
mentioning Jesus. It’s having fun with
Kanye, too … but taking him seriously.
– Then there was the news that Paula White, queen of the
American prosperity gospel scene (I can’t capitalize gospel in this context)
which promises if you donate enough money to her you’ll earn more earthly
blessings from God, was brought on as White House spiritual advisor to Donald
Trump. Ummm … whence VP Mike Pence?
Call your office Mike … we need your help here. Bring your Bible.
– I was accepted recently (you have to apply) into the “Fans
of David Bentley Hart” Facebook discussion forum of esoteric theologians and
philosophers who enjoy Hart’s writing.
“DBH” used to teach at Notre Dame but I grew to know his truly brilliant
talent through the wonderful journal, First
Things. Wow … can that guy write an
essay.
However, all the rage now among the DBH set is the doctrine
of “Universalism,” which basically states and believes, in the most flowery,
complex, theological, and academic language imaginable, that “All Will Be Saved,” the title of Hart’s
recent book.
I enjoy the forum’s and DBH’s word-smithery, but I also read
the Bible and can’t find anything that says heaven is an all-skate. I pray for everyone to be saved, sure. We all must; every soul saved is glory to
God. Jesus himself said He came to “save
all mankind,” (John 3:16), but also says He is the only door (John 14:6). Many disbelieve.
God is love, God is infinitely good and merciful, and God is
also absolutely righteous. That’s why I
believe there is an inside latch on heaven’s gates. Philosophers and theologians worry me when
they imagine their wisdom and mercy outpaces God’s.
- And, headline heartbreak: the Chick-fil-A Foundation
“reprioritizes.” The restaurants will
continue to be awesome and do things right, I’m sure, but it used to be fun
marching in for a chicken sandwich and tasting the excitement of being a vicarious
rebel for Christ against the foul winds society stirs against
Christianity’s very existence. Truett
and Dan Cathy’s one foundation was Christ.
Chick-fil-A’s one Foundation, now, is chicken.
Walters (rlwcom@aol.com), as penance for the above shot at
Chick-fil-A, bought lunch there Saturday.
It was cram-crowded inside with drive-up cars lined around the
building. Walters then shopped at Hobby
Lobby and put $5 in the Salvation Army kettle.
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