I was reading this morning at Townhall.com an article by Spencer Brown entitled Democrats Are 'Devoutly' Hypocritical, that discusses Jen Psaki's recent complaints against the new Speaker of the House and contrast these with Joe Biden's supposed stance as a "faithful Catholic." What got me riled up is this statement from our ginger commentator:
Everyone’s least favorite former White House press secretary, Jen Psaki, devoted a segment on her show this week to decrying the apparently wrongful demonstration of faith by newly elected House Speaker Mike Johnson of Louisiana. Yet it was the same Jen Psaki who routinely stood in the White House briefing room to declare President Biden’s status as a “devout Catholic.” You see, it’s ok when Democrats are “religious” because it largely means…nothing. But when conservatives choose to be devout adherents to their faith, it’s a serious problem.
On MSNBC’s “Inside with Jen Psaki,” the former Biden spokeswoman lamented the fact that “the Bible just doesn’t inform [Speaker Johnson’s] worldview, it is his worldview. In fact, during his first speech in the new job, Johnson suggested his election as speaker was ‘an act of God,’” Psaki bemoaned. “His views on policy are essentially what you’d expect from a religious fundamentalist,” Psaki continued with her smear, “they are more divisive than they are divine.”
I know what Psaki means by "fundamentalist," but the truth is that what I practice as a Christian is about as "fundamental" as you can get. The Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, more properly should be called "Evangelical Catholic" for that is what we are. We subscribe to the Book of Concord and the Augsburg Confessions. Our worship services are based in the Bible. You can see a reference to the particular verses of the Bible for each part of our service. Moreover, we believe that the bread and wine of the Communion service IS the body and blood of Christ because he said it was. Unlike the Roman Catholics, we do not have to go through a "transubstantiation" process, it just is. It is a great gift from God, grace, really, and a profound mystery we do not try to explain.
Someone asked me what the word "woke" means. I have heard it used many times, and used it myself, without really having a good definition. But if I had to put a definition to it, it would be all of the modern notions that go against the Truth of the Bible.
For example, there is no such thing as "transgenderism." God created us male and female. It is in our DNA, and no amount of butchery can change these facts. Indeed, God intended for males and females to complement each other and to be joined. One is not better, or greater than another, but we each have our special areas of expertise and influence. Both are necessary in raising children.
The Bible does not condone homosexual behaviors. God's first command was to be fruitful and multiply and fill the earth. Homosexual unions can not have children, so therefore God condemns them.
Abortion is murder. God weeps for every child that is murdered in the womb. Are you getting the picture that God likes children? Jesus said Suffer little children, and forbid them not, to come unto me: for of such is the kingdom of heaven.
Jesus was not a socialist, nor a capitalist. He did not condemn soldiers or the military, but did condemn those who practiced it dishonesty. It is the same for businessmen. tax collectors. From these and other examples, Luther determined that any lawful and honest way to make a living was sacred to God. I could go on, but you get the picture. It is not possible to be a modern "Liberal" or "Progressive" and "woke" and be a 'devout' Christian.
Mike Johnson appears to be a Baptist. He prays, which is an excellent thing. The act of praying recognizes that we are all His creatures, in need of constant guidance. To pray is to acknowledge that He is in heaven, and we are not the ones in control. He appears to trust in God. All of us should trust in God, for that is what is printed on our money, is it not? We will see how Mr. Johnson translates his faith into public policy, but I personally hope he makes a difference for Christian values.
I have spoken to many atheists who claim that one can be good without believing in God. This view is ahistorical, for if one could be "good" then why were so many pagans in ancient times so bad? Beginning with the small Christian congregations scattered about by the ministry of the Apostles, the morals of the people began to change, at first by the example of the Christians. But eventually the laws began to reflect Christian morality. Most of our early laws reflect the Christian beliefs of the Founders and the people who came to America and carved out a nation. So, in a way the atheists are sort of correct that it is possible today, but only because they live in a Christian nation. It is not possible to be a good person and live in a pagan or Muslim society.
The terms "evangelical" and "fundamentalist" should not be used as pejoratives but are. "Evangelical" means of, or according to the teaching of the Gospel. Fundamentalism implies a literal understanding of the Bible. We evangelical Catholics believe that the Bible is the inerrant word of God. But everything the Bible says is not to be taken as literal truth in the modern sense.
For example, the earth was not created in six twenty-four-hour days, but that is also not what the Bible is trying to teach either. What it is actually recording, in a nutshell, is God's plan of salvation, Plan A was to create earth, create mankind and put him in charge of earth. Man was to manage earth according to God's will. When the devil came along and tempted man to place himself in God's seat, God had to go to plan B. Plan B is the salvation story unfolding in the rest of the Bible. In this understanding, science and Christian belief are entirely compatible, as long as scientists understand the limits of their special knowledge.
One of the great misconceptions of we moderns is the notion that we are much smarter and more sophisticated than the ancients. We are not. Please do not misunderstand what I am saying here. Yes, the modern conveniences like indoor plumbing, cars, airplanes, television and radio are great blessings. But the ancients were as smart and as sophisticated as we are today. We just have more stuff. To understand the Bible, besides reading it, it helps to understand how the ancient audience would have read it. For that, may I suggest the book The Unseen Realm by Michael S. Heiser. If nothing else, it might help each of us to be humbler.
Oh, and if you think we are a bunch of stick in the mud types, understand that a Christian congregation could be thought of a sinner's anonymous club. All are welcome. You will not shock us. But you might have some of your ideas changed. Nobody is irredeemable unless they want to be. The door to heaven is always open. The door to hell is locked on the inside.
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