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'Woe to you, when all men speak well of you!'
Q: Is there widespread media bias against Christianity? Against evangelicals such as Brit Hume and Sarah Palin? Against public figures who speak openly and directly about their faith? Against people who believe as you do?
When highly public figures--politicians, scientists, entertainers and even news anchormen--choose publicly to offer personal advice, they should hardly expect the rest of us to draw back in reverent awe. Which is to say that Brit Hume is wonderfully entitled (both by the Constitution and his own faith's tradition) to give full voice to his religious convictions, and, if he so chooses, to urge Tiger Woods (and others) to convert.
What he cannot expect is that everyone will agree with him and think what he is doing is marvelous. It's even possible some will express their disagreement through media outlets. But this is America, a pluralistic nation and we all have free speech, right?
What Madison (bless him!) wrought in the First Amendment cuts both ways.
Two observations here:
1. It should be obvious that there are an awful lot of communications venues out there that fit under the heading "the media"--too much, in fact, to make easy generalizations about what "the media" does or does not do. Take a look at what's happening here: Some think Mr. Hume has been attacked through the media, and they are defending him and denouncing said attackers through..., yes, the media.
2. For those Christians who worry they see signs of hostility to their beliefs, well, what's the issue? Didn't Jesus explicitly warn you that might just happen? In return, he offered comfort and encouragement. You can find it in Matthew 5:11 (King James Version), "Blessed are ye, when men shall revile you, and persecute you, and say all manner of evil against you falsely, for my name's sake." A rather memorable bit of preaching, that Sermon on the Mount.
By
Gustav Niebuhr
|
January 12, 2010; 9:42 AM ET
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Posted by: sparrow4 | January 17, 2010 4:06 PM
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I think that we should calmly refer to any relative of any people. Let them earn their spiritual capital. Because: "A good man out of the good treasure of the heart bringeth forth good things: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth evil things.But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment.For by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned"(Mt.12:35-37).
The main thing is your thing, Christian, to love our God with all your heart and to gain humility, through which opens the Heavens ...
Posted by: shyanov | January 16, 2010 7:17 AM
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When Jesus said that the world will hate you, it was an observation and truthful prediction. He did not say it was a positive good. In a free country, Christians don't just have to sit back and accept verbal abuse without pointing out its unfairness.
Posted by: Publ1us | January 12, 2010 2:28 PM
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Most people don't know the real history of the religion of "Christianity." Christianity is NOT in any Bible. The name of the faith doctrine and movement in the New Testament is "The Way." "Christian" was created as a hateful epithet by Greek-speaking pagans in Antioch, Syria when Paul and Barnabas preached about the Anointed (one) aka the Messiah and the Christ.
Jesus' followers called themselves "Believers" instead.
Posted by: joe_allen_doty | January 12, 2010 1:00 PM
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The comments to this entry are closed.
" In a free country, Christians don't just have to sit back and accept verbal abuse without pointing out its unfairness.
Posted by: Publ1us | January 12, 2010 2:28 PM "
Indeed they don't. On their other hand they have no problem dishing it out. Thank G-d we live in a free country and I can say accurately and in all fairness, if you think Christians are being unfairly criticized, you need a reality check.