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What is Offensive?
Posted by Strider in Church & Missions, News & Culture
Last week Tucker Carlson over at Fox News did what guys in his business are supposed to do, he said something controversial in a controversial way. It made some headlines and even caught my attention way out here in Middle Earth. In discussing the Eagle’s quarterback Michael Vick, Carlson said that Vick should have been executed for torturing and killing dogs. Vick famously went to prison several years ago for cruelty to animals ending, it seemed then, a promising career as an NFL football player. After prison though, the Eagles signed him up giving him a second chance. President Obama made mention of his approval of giving Vick a second chance and this led to Carlson’s comment. What interests me is Carlson’s preface to his comment. He said, ‘Now, I am a Christian, I have made mistakes myself. I believe fervently in second chances, but…’ And that is of concern to me. He doesn’t just believe Vick should have gotten a harsher sentence, (yes, I understand that the ‘execution’ rhetoric was probably (hopefully?) hyperbole) he believes that Vick should not have been given a second chance. Well, he is entitled to his opinion but is he entitled to claim his opinion is grounded in Christian teaching?
We talk about the ‘offense’ of the Gospel. We usually use this term when discussing why we need to speak out against homosexuals or drinking alcohol. As I look through the Word of God and study the life of Jesus ‘offense’ looks a little different to me. It seems that Jesus offended a lot people and almost always for the same reason: forgiveness. The Pharisees were mad at him for forgiving the sins of the paralyzed man. They were mad that he fellowshipped with sinners, that he ate with them, talked with them, and even seemed to like them. They were mad that he healed people on the Sabbath. It seemed there was no good deed or loving act that they couldn’t criticize. It was as if he knew what would really push their buttons. He talked to women, and not just any women, he went to Samaria and spoke words of comfort and hope to THOSE people.
The picture of Jesus that I keep in my head, the one that defines him for me personally is the story of the woman caught in adultery. In John 8 the religious leaders bring a woman caught in adultery before Jesus and ask him what they should do. The religious leaders believe that if he sides with the law and condemns her to stoning then the crowds will leave him because his message will not be new or hopeful. If he lets her off free then he would not be respecting God’s law and that would make him no true prophet. But you know what happened. He proclaimed that the one without sin should cast the first stone. At this point in the story I am waiting. Will he not pick up a brick, declare to all what they already know, that he is sinless and bash her in the head? No, he doesn’t. I do that, you do it too, but Jesus didn’t and still doesn’t. The woman is guilty. The laws were written for a reason and a purpose. They can not be ignored because we don’t like them or popular culture decides they no longer apply and yet, Jesus forgave this woman and let her go. This is why I love him and this is why the religious leaders of the day killed him. Not because he stood up for the law, for what was ‘right’, for morality, or anything else; he was killed because he forgave sinners. And this is so cool because it was his sacrificial death that enabled him to forgive sinners!
We are the older brother if we like it or not. We, as Southern Baptist Church members have grown up in our Father’s house and have done our duty. We go to the meetings, we pay the tithes, we do the work and we have watched in eager anticipation for the day when our younger brothers get what is coming to them. The drug addicts, the prostitutes, the crooks, the homosexuals, the guys who sleep in on Sunday morning, the divorced, the Democrats and anyone who voted for the Health Care Bill, those Church of Christ people, the evil, the lawless, the lawyers, and even those guys who believe the earth is getting warmer are all around us and we have been waiting for the fire to come down on their heads. Now, I am a Christian, I have made mistakes myself. I believe fervently in second chances, but… Jesse Jackson? Anyone in Hollywood? Most people in New Hampshire? Surely not these Lord! It couldn’t possibly be politically correct to kill a fatted calf for Michael Vick, right?
I was in a local friend’s house for New Year’s Eve. They have a son who is becoming increasingly Muslim fundamentalist in his outlook and belief. He usually wont come in and sit with us because we are kofirs (unbelievers). But Friday night he came in and sat across from me. After a while he began talking about religion. He said that there were not even 100 good Muslims in this Country, they all fell short of the law. They didn’t read and obey the law as they should and now they are building a large new mosque here in Gondor. He said, ‘Strider, we have satellites and compasses and all kinds of science to tell us exactly which direction Mecca is in but do you know what they are doing? They are building the Mosque to face directly West so the walls line up North, South, East, and West. When we pray we will be facing straight at Rome!’ I laughed out loud but he responded that this was ‘NOT FUNNY’. I disagree. It is hilarious and in the end it always is. Legalists can never satisfy the law no matter how hard they try. I told him that Jesus died to save us from our sins and that our works were useless. He was angry with me. ‘Jesus could not have died’, he said, the Koran says he didn’t die. Our only hope is in obeying the law. I told him that was no hope at all. Our only hope is to trust that the Jesus who forgave that woman, the Jesus who rescued the thief on the cross, the Jesus who loved little helpless children still loves and forgives today. I love my friend. I love him so much that I was willing to offend him by proclaiming a God who loves and forgives. Go out today and offend someone- it’s fun and it’s the Christian thing to do.
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By far the most inspiring thing I’ve read all day. Thank you, Strider. May God richly bless you there in Gondor.
Strider,
You left out Rev. Al Sharpton.
I was a Baptist Fundamentalist for a few years and now understand that when we draw boundaries to fit within a code of ethics and we expect others to follow suit we are legalistic. The opposite is true when grace creates a holy standard for us, then the expectation toward others to live by my standards subsides. I just want them to have the same Jesus that changes from within. It is a great joy to see someone that was offended by the cross clings to it. I am encouraged by your post and will be looking to offend someone today. Thank you.
I think what Tucker was trying to say is that he felt sorry for the suffering of those poor animals. He wants to obliterate what is was that hurt them and killed them. But he forgot something in our Faith, that is what we mustn’t ever forget:
the behaviors of a person are not the same as the person.
We can reject the behaviors, the sins, what offends us;
but we must not reject the person. We must somehow find compassion for that person, forgive them if they hurt us, and try to help them as Christ would have done. And we can only do that with His help.
Strider,
I enjoyed your post – that is until your next to last paragraph. That is a caricature-and in my opinion a myth. I know their are some in our Southern Baptist family who stay up nights desiring the demise of those sinners (and “political opponents”) you mentioned. But certainly not all or even most. Most of our people are like Bruce “saved by grace through faith” who desire that even the worst of the worst will come to a saving knowledge of Jesus because we too were once lost and were found. And when that town drunk, prostitute, Muslim, Hindi, or Hollywood producer comes to know Him, we will brag on Jesus saving them!
We as a people of faith have our problems, our sins, and our pet peeves. We count on the Spirit of Love through teachers and preachers to guide and nudge us through the Scriptures for correction so that we are made more daily in the image of the Son. Jesus is big enough to take care of us without that myopic negative cynical mythical caricature (IMHO) on display about a people who loved you and prayed you to the Jesus of love and whom even support you now in Mordor.
Rob
Rick and Bruce, thanks for the good words and testimony.
Christiane, I don’t know Tucker and hope that what I have said was not judgmental on him. I intended to judge the attitude found in the one comment not the man himself.
Rob, I had to reread my paragraph a couple of times to see what you were seeing. I am the older brother myself both literally and figuratively. Jesus invited the older brother into the party as well. I guess what I was writing was intended to reissue that invite. We are what we are and you’re right, he knows that. He invites us with grace and the purpose of this post was to remind us of that, not to throw rocks at Pharisees- which I also do on occasion much to my shame.
A couple of reminders. Since the story of the prodigal son is used here as an analogy, then the teacher in me says lay out the story.
While the father waited upon the son to return, it was the son who “came to his senses” and sought through humility to come back to the father – as we good teachers then submit, Jesus waits with forgiveness, and will give grace to those who humbly seek it for their sins by finding Him and His remedy. While it is a correct saying “reject the sin and not the sinner” in then end it will be God who places both the sinner and his/her sin into eternal torment if they do not repent and seek God’s remedy. Thus our need to share the message of hope more enthusiastically and beyond our comfort zones.
The father replied to the brother who was angry about all that transpired, “…Son you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours.” (Luke 15:31). I have yet to read any who would “throw rocks at Pharisees” attempt to justify their analogy to this statement of Jesus – just saying
Rob
Brother Strider,
When we live out Christ in us…there is no other option than to be offensive in the same way Jesus was offensive. These days, most seem to proclaim the value of their faith by their perceived level of law keeping. So it becomes clear that faith without works is not offensive at all…. since the real work that believers are called to do is to fulfull the law of Christ. I think that was Paul’s clue.
Galatians 6:2-4 Bear one another’s burdens, and thereby fulfill the law of Christ. (3) For if anyone thinks he is something when he is nothing, he deceives himself. (4) But each one must examine his own work, and then he will have reason for boasting in regard to himself alone, and not in regard to another.
Blessings,
Chris
With David Rogers I am trying to understand all the implications of Ginny Dent Brant’s new memoir on the spiritual pilgrimage of her Father, Nixon Strategist and Billy Graham Crusade chair: Harry Dent.
That said, as interesting as Strider’s thoughts are here, I think the discussion could be greatly informed by Diarmaid MacCulloch examination of the Culture Wars in his concluding chapter of his magisterial effort Christianity.
Oh, forgot last April I was in a room to hear in person Tucker Carlson speak in a visit to Upstate South Carolina. Though I disagreed with him then, found him much more civil than in the remarks that keyed this Strider Blog