Coulter's 'Idiotic' Response to Christian Missions

American Thinker ^ | August 8, 2014 | Janice Shaw Crouse

[right-wing agnostic]

One of the essential lessons of clear thinking is to avoid specious “either/or” dichotomies. Ann Coulter violated this basic standard in her intentionally sensational article, “Ebola Doc’s Condition Downgraded to ‘Idiotic.’" She wondered why missionary doctor Kent Brantly didn’t stay in the U.S. to “serve Christ” instead of going to Liberia, where he “risked making his wife a widow and his children fatherless.” In other words, in Ann’s opinion, Christian service is limited to one of two options: serve in the U.S., or abandon wife and children to “slink off” to do “heroic” “good works” in “Third World countries” that are “disease-ridden cesspools.” Obviously to folks with Ann’s infantile perspective, such “idiocy” is merely to “impress” people like the NY Times columnist Nicholas Kristof.

[right-wing agnostic]

The author raises some good points about how Ann Coulter undermined Christians' efforts across the globe by her noxious article. Even though I no longer consider myself religious, I take no pride seeing good people--especially Christian missionaries--undermined. I fully understand that if it wasn't for Christianity the United States and the world would be a much worse place. That's why we should fight Christians enemies--principally the left and Islam--tooth and nail until they're annihilated./rwa

[taxcontrol]

I am of the opinion that Ann raised a valid point. There is a lot of need here at home as well as overseas.

[driftdiver]

Christianity is growing immensely in China and Africa because of missions. Millions of souls saved. There is plenty for both if more than 5 percent got involved.

[D_Idaho]

I agree there is great need here in the U.S.. but to use her column to bad-mouth a doctor for going where there is great suffering just seemed to be in bad taste.

[MichaelCorleone]

I put myself in the shoes of the wife and kids, especially the kids. Would I want my spouse, or my father if I were the child, doing this if it means risking his life? What about the possibility of bringing that or some other virus home to the wife and kids? It is possible.

Unless this husband/father has an unmistakable calling from God, my answer would be ‘no’. There are plenty of unmarried/childless men and women who could fit the bill. I realize this same reasoning could be used for men going to war or becoming a policeman.

[Coldwater Creek]

My church does both, foreign and home.

If there ever was a narcissistic idiot, it would be Ann Coulter.

[easternsky]

Apparently Ann has never felt the call of God, you do not choose where He sends you, you just obey.

[Balding_Eagle]

It looks like there are others bad mouthing the good doctor.

[Valpal1]

I’m always impressed with Ann’s athleticism. She always finds new showstopping ways to jump the shark.

[ansel12]

She said a heck of a lot more than that, this was an attack on Christianity, and Evangelical Christians, which is a huge leap forward into the direction that Ann has been moving into for years.

[ansel12]

Thank God, that not everyone is like you.

[CharleysPride]

If Andy stuck to calling the guy a showboat by proving he was reckless and thrill-seeking that would be one thing, instead she pulls all this pro-state argument out?
No thanks honey, not in my country

[horse_doc]

I am of the opinion that Ann raised a valid point.

It is only valid if you believe that humans are in charge of the spread of Christianity. They aren't. The Holy Spirit is.

There is no such thing as a "lay" missionary. Every single Christian is entrusted with the Great Commission, and MUST go where they are called.

I've been a medical missionary. Before I became a Christian as an adult, if you would have told me that I would have ended up where I did(literally at the end of the Earth),I would have laughed at you.

Ann Coulter judges Dr. Brantly's work by human standards because she has a frankly lousy grasp of Christianity. Under a Christian worldview, the only standard to judge Dr. Brantly is whether he was obedient to a call.

The greatest thing about this whole episode is that it gives American Christians a chance to look hard at their faith. Most of what I've seen posted on FR over the past week shows me that most Christians have a very, very poor grasp of their faith, and what is required of them.

[Wuli]

Ann was throwing out the bath water - how far a man’s faith and any calling from that faith may take him - just to throw out the baby - that one man’s faith and calling took him to those less fortunate than himself in another land, instead of staying where it was comfortable and safe.

She was by default condemning altogether faith and following a calling from faith.

I think we must be seeing again an instance where Ann had been getting too little attention, too little P.R., too little notice, and so she sought to shock that attention from everyone.

[CharleysPride]

Ann’s “any intervention, anytime” attitude has only one exception:

Liberia.
She attacked Bush Jr in 2003
and she’s attacking a missionary now.

[Banjoguy]

B.S.
The responses I have read to Coulters essay, are full of self-righteous hubris,and pedantic name calling. “How dare she question our moral superiority?” I happen to think she is right. And, by the way, missionaries, in the name of God, are responsible for the undermining and destruction of more then a few indigenous cultures on this planet.

[Dutchboy88]

Perhaps you can explain where in the Scriptures the “call of God” is described.

[Hugin]

Colter used to say snarky things to get attention to her real points. Now she seems to just be snarky for it’s own sake. If she keeps it up she will be the conservative version of Maureen Dowd.

[stars & stripes forever]

There is a lot of need here at home as well as overseas...

Maybe that’s your job.

[WorkingClassFilth]

Having a family full of missionaries all over the world for all sorts of reasons, I will say that God never called anyone to undermine their families for some other calling. God, spouse, children, believers and the world; in that order. Dump on your family without support to do “God’s” work and you are just dumping on your family. Missions begin at the end of your arm and with your family. Too many fools out there doing stuff ‘for’ God and not enough doing the fundamentals.