"Jim -- Did you catch that show last night?
Pam -- No, I don't watch TV. I have a life.
Jim -- Really? What's that like?
Pam -- It's nice. You should get one.
Jim -- But then who will watch my television?
"
- the NBC sitcom "The Office"
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
“Fifty member church in Florida gets international attention when it burns somebody else’s holy book. Five thousand member churches hold free clinics to everyone, food pantries, home fix-ups for free…. and never get a mention even in local news. It’s not so much that bad news travels fast, but good news rarely gets a ride.”[H/T Instapundit
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Comments on "Yep":
3. nhe
- 09/09/2010 10:30 am CDT
I agree that the quote is absolutely true. However, I wish it was never said. This is not something Jesus would say or even think, and He would discourage us to think it.
The "City on a Hill" doesn't need good press to shine.
Further, the quote is not a Godly response to what happened in Florida........ we should be condemning this act rather than seeing it as an opportunity to whine about our lack of press.
4. Quaid
- 09/09/2010 8:01 pm CDT
nhe-
I agree with what you've said about the City on a Hill not needing the media to be its PR wing. Sill, I think that the quote goes to a deeper level of questioning the irresponsible journalism that has surrounded this controversy over the last few weeks.
Of course the proposed actions of the group in FL were reprehensible. Of course they were condemnable. So why is the press reporting on something so horrible and calling it "news"?
This wasn't an act of a world leader or some rogue government, it was the action of about 30 or so people in FL. What on earth are they doing on CNN?
So - you're right in writing that we shouldn't be upset that our good actions aren't being picked up by the world news. We can, however, be upset that the media nearly tripped over themselves to get to a man whose actions seem to indicate that he is utterly unaware of what it means to "speak truth in love." Such journalistic mediocrity should be called out for what it is.
5. nhe
- 09/09/2010 8:09 pm CDT
Quaid - with regard to the media, I just expect that kind of reporting.....it's why I don't watch the news. I'm just not shocked or appalled by it. Maybe I should be.
I take far more issue with the lack of a Christian voice to address the controversy surrounding the building of a mosque near the 9-11 site. I think we should have a lot to say about that.
6. Bill
- 09/09/2010 11:11 pm CDT
I take far more issue with the lack of a Christian voice to address the controversy surrounding the building of a mosque near the 9-11 site. I think we should have a lot to say about that.
Heh - it's probably just because I'm sensitive to it, but no matter what I post having anything to do with Christianity, it always ends with someone complaining that Christians aren't doing enough of X or doing too much of Y.
Maybe I should stick with the Napoleon Dynamite videos . . .
7. nhe
- 09/10/2010 12:11 pm CDT
Heh - it's probably just because I'm sensitive to it, but no matter what I post having anything to do with Christianity, it always ends with someone complaining that Christians aren't doing enough of X or doing too much of Y.
Really?.............I don't understand. That certainly isn't what I meant. It's just that, as far as this particular news issue goes, I think that the discussion around the mosque near the twin towers site is far more interesting than discussing the whack-job in Florida. I'm not complaining (I don't think). Rather, I would rather just see Christians speaking out intelligently about hot (and relevant to us) topics than complaining about not getting good press.
I think the quote you posted is complaining far more than I am........isn't it?
8. Bill
- 09/11/2010 12:03 am CDT
Don't worry about it nhe. I think we're talking about two different things or misunderstanding each other or something, but it's not a big deal.
Do you want to talk about the mosque? I'm interested in your thoughts.
9. nhe
- 09/11/2010 2:46 pm CDT
Yes - I'll address the mosque situation.
First let me restate my point that you misunderstood. I just feel strongly that, rather than whining about our lack of good press, Christians should call out the very unChristlike attitude of the guy in Florida, because he claims to represent us, and he doesn't at all.
Regarding the mosque near the 9-11 site, I think the Christian response should be to say:
"What if the situation were reversed? What if a Timothy McVeigh type Christian extremist, who does not in reality speak for the mainline position, went and blew up the world's tallest building in Muslim Dubai and killed 3,000 people?
Would it be ok if, 9 short years later, a well-meaning Christian missionary publicly announced that he was building a church within a mile of the site in Dubai? I think the mainline Christian position would be 'No, that's not ok. It's unwise for us to overtly announce our intentions publicly where the emotions are still very raw. If we're going to represent Christ in some positive way in that area, it needs to be life on life, not making a public statement, or building a building.'
Even if the missionary had the best intentions, we would advise him against it."
In the current situation, most mainstream Muslims seem to be siding with the NYC Iman. What a great contrast we could display in the fundamental difference between the two mainstream positions!
I don't know, that's how I tend to think about this kind of stuff. I was really disappointed in the "no press for good Christian deeds" post. For me, that is SO not the issue. Yes its true, but we are missing a much more profound point.
10. Roy
- 09/11/2010 3:43 pm CDT
What makes anyone think that Islam cares a whit for sensitivity? Anyone not recognizing the direct insult *intended* by the mosque placement simply will get no audience from me. I'll direct their attention to 1400 yrs of history, perhaps only a few citations from the Qu'uran (or whatever it's currently accepted spelling) rather than the whole book.
On the other hand, I totally endorse the position that would recognize the utter error of the Florida group. Burnings in scripture, whether of things or books, happened in the context of repentance from one's *own* idolatry. Certainly in the OT era the burnings also included the decision to purify the land. But *also* rather than *primarly* the purpose.
Christians should make this sort of observation internally, ie, within the Christian community. Christians might also repent in the public square as well.
See Schlossberg, "Idols for Destruction" if you think Christians have no idols worthy of burning. I look for (and pray for in praying "Thy kingdom come") this burning of their own idols rather than someone else's idols.
12. Bill
- 09/11/2010 8:28 pm CDT
nhe,
I am pretty sure I agree with you on your mosque stance, but I am not sure I'm 100% one way or the other. But my vote is they build it elsewhere.
I was really disappointed in the "no press for good Christian deeds" post. For me, that is SO not the issue.
I'm sorry I disappointed you. I would agree it's not "THE" issue (and I never said it was). It's a side issue. Certainly not the most important one.
For what it's worth, I've heard a number of Christians publicly criticize the pastor's decision to burn Korans. I'll add myself to that list, here: While I didn't post on it, I think his decision is nutso, unChristian and counter-productive too (I hoped that was implied in this post, but I'm glad to make it explicit).
Yes its true, but we are missing a much more profound point.
Don't you mean that "I" (meaning me, Bill) am missing the more profound point? "You" aren't - so there's no "we" here. Just me :-) Don't feel obligated to include yourself in my folly.
14. Bill
- 09/11/2010 10:54 pm CDT
And it's the collective we - "I" don't like to point fingers. :)
:-)
15. Roy
- 09/12/2010 5:04 pm CDT
Roy: What makes anyone think that Islam cares a whit for sensitivity?
nhe: Wow - that's a strong statement. Should we really paint with that broad of a brush?
Roy replies:
Anyone not recognizing the direct insult *intended* by the mosque placement simply will get no audience from me. I'll direct their attention to 1400 yrs of history, perhaps only a few citations from the Qu'uran (or whatever it's currently accepted spelling) rather than the whole book.
Leave a Comment:
It's not even just that it's bad news. Bad news for Christians is good news for a hateful world. If this was a fifty-member mosque that was having a Bible-burning day, it might get mentioned on Worldnetdaily or some other niche outlet, but would otherwise be ignored.