Posted on 04/01/2013 9:21:41 PM PDT by virtuous
Yesterday I got a call from a reporter from one of our state’s larger newspapers. The newspaper wanted a comment from someone in the community to add a local perspective to all the national stories about the Supreme Court’s hearings on marriage. Since I didn’t live in that community, I wondered why she called me. What she said shocked me, particularly in view of what Christians will celebrate on Sunday.
As I listened to her explanation, running through the back of my mind was how often God said to his people, “Don’t be afraid.”
When I hung up, I couldn’t help but think about the fact that it was at this very time of year that Jesus, on the night he was betrayed, said to his disciples, “Do not let your heart be troubled; believe in God, believe also in Me.”
Fear is natural to our present human condition. It comes to us easily. Courage is hard to come by. In fact, in 1978, Russian dissident and winner of a Nobel Prize in Literature, Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn, told the students at Harvard:
“A decline in courage may be the most striking feature which an outside observer notices in the West in our days. The Western world has lost its civil courage. . . . Of course there are many courageous individuals but they have no determining influence on public life.”
If that was his observation in 1978, how much more so could it be said today. And the newspaper reporter’s call confirmed it.
Here is very close paraphrase of what the reporter said:
“I can’t find anyone locally who wants to say anything in opposition to gay marriage. I’ve called 30 area ministers and no one has returned my calls.”
She also said they had a hard time the week before finding a minister from a theologically conservative church who would comment on a local gay blessing ceremony.
I was flabbergasted. And interestingly, she was, too. She did say that it was possible that nobody had had time to call her back, and the next day she told me someone had called her back that evening, after hours. But two weeks in a row of virtual silence and only one out of 30?
I couldn’t help but think about the significance at Easter of the number 30. It is the number of pieces of silver that Judas took in compensation for his betrayal of Jesus.
Please understand I am not saying all 30 of those ministers or the ones called the week before are “Judases.” Obviously, one of them called back and one did comment the previous week. And I know some ministers in that community who would have commented in a heartbeat had they been called or even had a moment to return the call. I know some of them are reading this. They know who they are, and I thank God for them.
But let’s be honest. If any of those who did not call back did not do so because they were afraid that something bad would come of their public statement in support of the very institution Scripture says reflects the relationship of Christ to His church, then that minister betrayed the Christ they say they serve. Is the Living God no longer able to support and sustain those who speak up for His institution?
When those who lead a particular church have no courage, then those in that church who follow them will have no courage, either. When a minister doesn’t have the courage to speak the truth to those who are ostensibly there to hear the truth or when they don’t know how to speak the truth graciously and redemptively enough to talk about critical issues, then maybe another calling is appropriate.
I know there will be those who would say that it is not the job of the church to talk about politics. Okay, but they ought to also oppose any teaching about Jesus’ trial before the Sanhedrin, the Jewish ruling body, or his trial before Pilate. After all, those were political/governmental processes.
In fact, I don’t see much difference contextually — one was a trial almost 2,000 years ago and it was a trial at issue this week. In the former the “groom” was on trial and in the latter it was His bride.
I also know there are those who will say that talking about politics could turn people off who will not be saved as a result. To them I would submit that God is able to save whom He chooses to save. If he’s not the one who saves, then we Christians need to stop wasting time praying for God to save a friend or loved one and just get on with the business of saving that person ourselves.
It is ironic that this apparent demonstration of fear over the last two weeks by at least some ministers took place heading into and on Easter week. By the resurrection, God demonstrated the power to conquer death and Hell. There is nothing more that one man can do to another than to take his life. For those who believe the Easter message, death is therefore no reason for silence. If death is no reason for silence, then can a lesser consequence justify it? Oh, Lord, help our unbelief.
He is alive. He has risen. Now it is time for the historic, orthodox Church to come alive and rise up, too.
Wonder why pastors can’t fill the pews.
Was she seeking confirmation that it is still a sin?
What was her game? What was her own view on the matter?
Was she just trying to hold up someone for Orwell’s/Stalin’s 5-minutes of hate? “Oooh, look at this person! He’s stuck in the past with outdated views!!!”
She knows the biblical statements.
How many Imam did she call?
Second, a newspaper reporter is not exactly held in high esteem these days, and for good reason. Giving them the time of day would understandably be way down the priority list.
Finally, say something negative about the fudgebacks and the pastor winds up being harassed for weeks on end. Today's legal climate is about as hostile as it ever was.
The newspaper doesn't care what these Pastors think - they just want to create controversy to make for a ‘good’ story.
Think of the rooster crowing and it will all become clear.
bump for follow up reading
I agree to a point to what you’re saying. Really though its probably both. I just posted this on my FB page and cringe at some of the comments/scorn/derision apoplectic reverse moral judgement I’m bound to get from some of my “friends”.
I went to a catholic high school and have reconnected with some of them. Very sad to tears sometimes wondering what has happened to some of them. I sin too but I know what is sin. I am hurt to the core of my being that we even disagree over this being sinful. Lord Jesus forgive us we crucify you daily 24/7
Anybody consider the possibility the reporter lied to the pastor, and in fact hadn’t called any others?
They have no control of the article headline, no control over how their comments are edited, and no way to gauge the political or religious bias of the reporter.
However, I am surprised that national church leaders have not anticipated these questions and prepared carefully written responses for their individual ministers.
Bingo. I would not have returned her call either. Reporters are not even remotely trustworthy.
The Catholic Church quit teaching the ‘truth” with Vatican II and the infiltration of Marxist homosexuals that Bella Dodd wrote about.
The CC used to be clear—and all about the Truth. They regularly condemned Marxism and sin-—made it clear.....then the Kumbaya “mass”-—the ejection of most traditions-—those traditions which elevated the mass and added awe and wonder and reduced it to a glad handing—everyone goes to heaven-—mass. Tolerance of evil became a virtue. (Never mention “sin”).
Read Fr. Oko’s report on homoheresy. This is a brutal Alinsky-type attack inside the Church, and if you read the homosexual manifesto-—you will understand what we are fighting against. The homosexual agenda has been implemented through public schools and agitprop (Will and Grace) on TV. Normalizing Vice.
This is Satan v. God. And Satan is feeling his power since he owns the White House now, totally, and can force people to worship Vice —even in our military. If you don’t -—you will be forced into “sensitivity” training-—reeducation camp.
Destroy Virtue and you collapse civil society. Perversion is being forced on us and in our schools by Cultural Marxists in all curricula. Read about how Sex Ed (created by Cultural Marxists-—collapsed Hungary. We have had their Sex Ed forced into our schools to destroy Virtue in our kids since 1970. The Catholic schools faired better, but even their theology became contaminated by the infiltrators of the Church.
We need to return to orthodoxy. Catholic Theology is all about the Truth.
[[They have no control of the article headline, no control over how their comments are edited, and no way to gauge the political or religious bias of the reporter.]]
That’s precisely the reason they didn’t- they were smart enough NOT to fall into the trap- No matter what htey said- there was a VERY good chance it owudl be twisted to make Christians look hateful- I will bet that had they been approached by a Christian research center or magazine or news agency, they woudl have gladly answered knowign that the ENTIRETY o f their response woudl be ACCURATELY quoted- Thesse pastors are problably VERY sued to peopel trying to trip them up- catch tthem unawares, and make htem look like fools-
And quite frankly- Why is she even calling PASTORS of all people? She should KNOW that they agree with God before even askign the ‘question’- The fact that she is even calling htem is an indication her ‘question’ wasn’t really sincere- OF COURSE the pastors are goign to agree with God that it’s a sin- did she think they woudl answer soem other way? I don’t blame thsoe pastors for beign highly suspicious of her itnentions for calling
[[How many Imam did she call?]]
Excellent question- Hopefully I’ll get a call and be able to ask that question “Before I answer, How many muslim clerics have you asked this quesiton of may I ask?”
As Dennis Prager likes to tell Jews, but it’s very good advice for conservatives also: “Preach what you Practice”.
If you’re married to a member of the opposite sex for 20 years, and you’re happy with everything, then PREACH IT - don’t be ashamed of it.
Here I will offer something................no one trusts the heathen press and no one is willing to talk to the press except attention seekers, how about that? It may have nothing at all to do with the question the press supposedly wanted to ask them. Are you freaking kidding me? The ministers all know the press members scorn and ridicule Christianity. the press has lost its way.
Bullying by leftwing socialists/deviants to stop the discussion...
The spiral of silence.
My first thought was to wonder whether that local paper is like our local rag, notorious for twisting and misrepresenting statements, thereby earning the distrust and even the contempt of many of our area pastors and lay Christians. This may not be the pastors’ fault.
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