Evangelicals have created something foul that Jesus would view with anger and shame. The Red Letter group needs to be heard. If he didn't know Richard Cizik, I would be totally disgusted Cizik has gone beyond doctrine to environmental activism.
11
Given the reception the Red Letter Evangelicals are getting it appears that their magic sky man chose a treasonous, narcissistic con man. Might be time for them to reconsider the role of Christianity in their lives and the impact of misguided beliefs on their fellow Americans.
11
Social conservatives wonder why more and more Americans are rejecting organized religion. They need to look in the mirror for their answers.
42
One MSNBC commentator this morning summed it up as the Trump evangelicals playing the long game...more conservative appointees, etc., while these red letter believers were not willing to sell out short term for that future.
Of course the parallel is moderate Democrats demanding progressives vote for any Democrat this fall..even if those candidates fear mentioning impeachment, single payer health care, strong gun control, ....; anything to get a majority in either congressional house. Play the long game we are told. Sell your political beliefs for now.
7
It does appear as if for some Evangelicals the Presidency is their mammon.
9
I remember when Evangelicals fed the hungry. Now they build gun ranges? When did they lose their way?
44
I have a question that is honest. Is white evangelism connected strongly to white supremacy, or is that yet another faction that rode Trump into the White House?
He seems to be a patsy and a figurehead for so many horrendous groups, but maybe they are all just one group focused on throwing us backward to an intolerant time where wealthy white straight people have all the power and everyone else can just die slowly of neglect?
This support of Trump makes evangelical American Christianity look unrelentingly self-serving and un-Christlike. I honestly have no idea why people think that religion confers morality. Religion seems in this case to be a cover for egregious immorality and offenses against decency, empathy, and humanity.
Thank goodness for evangelicals who can speak to this travesty. They need to come get their boys.
23
File also as a free speech on campus story.
11
Sir, I am not a Christian and I never prayed in a church. But I will pray with you that whichever God we all pray to will lead us from darkness to light, ignorance to wisdom and to peace for all.
18
We proclaim titles and descriptors to signify what we believe and to make us feel comfortable that we have a place in the world, a purpose if you like. Then we worship said titles and let our minds be deceived by the importance of our doctrines and creeds. What scares me more than anything is that it is so easy to do. The more we do it, the further we are from God, but in our minds the nearer we are to Him and the more He loves us for our obedience!
I suppose the question should be 'how do we want to be defined as individuals? An overused spiritual label or one based on the humanity we show?
Aligning ones faith to a political leader is one of the dumbest things I've seen in a long while. Who in their right mind would self identify as evangelical after dancing so proudly with the devil?
7
Bereaved (of whom?) evangelicals descending on the White House to demand that the President do something for their religion? Doesn't sound like the separation of church and state that is enshrined in the Establishment Clause of the constitution. I'm not an evangelical nor wish to be bothered with their proselytising on my dime. Oh, that's right. Trump doesn't care about our constitution...
8
Falwell is patently not a Christian. He follows none of the teachings and embodies few of the virtues. Anyone can call themselves a Christian but that doesn’t make it true.
23
I went to redletterchristians.org. Members are advocating an evidence-based approach to abortion and birth control; a harm reduction approach to social problems; the hypocrisy of calling oneself pro-life while pro-gun, -war, -death penalty, and indifferent to helping the less fortunate and babies once they’re born. Those advocating these views receive the typical right wing hate mail, but it’s novel and refreshing to see reason on a Christian website.
28
Need more hope? Listen to this incredible sermon by the Black Presiding Bishop of The USA Episcopal Church which was given at the Royal Wedding last weekend.
https://www.episcopalchurch.org/posts/publicaffairs/presiding-bishop-cur...
FYI, the USA Episcopal Church has been banned from the Anglican World Wide Community (particularly African Churches) for supporting women priests and gay marriages.
I'm praying for a heart of love and forgiveness for folks like these African priests and Liberty College, First Baptist Dallas (where I grew up) and people like Jerry Falwell, Robert Jeffress, and Franklin Graham (ironically ALL WHITE MALES!). I believe the message of the gospel that love is the answer but it sure is hard sometimes to love these days.
10
As a lifelong Baptist I have seen how much people want to appear righteous to others. What I see is that they don't rwant to follow the admittedly hard and pious path of Jesus so they instead use the holy book as a hiding place as they follow the gold nothingness that Trump provides. They apparently did not read the story about what God does with God idols...! Oh boy are they in for a jolt. What is the most sad however, is that these self-proclaimed Christians don't see the sinfulness in themselves despite reading the Bible- and their herd mentality is keeping them locked into not see the reality of what the Bible is trying to tell them.
17
Kurt Andersen astutely describes USA as Fantasyland in his latest book. There are all kinds of believers in America, a long history of believing in any ideology, any charismatic speaker and any story, no matter how far-fetched, delusional, cultish, morally repugnant and corrupt. One might be tempted to have some sympathy for the brutal treatment of one faction of evangelical believers in the hands of another who had discarded their moral fiber long ago. Yet all these believers are sheltered under the US Constitution and Amendments, where anything labelled religion receive immunity from critical examination. The list of miscreant deeds in religious circles is long. So pity is uncalled-for. Good luck to all who try to dig themselves out of the religious morass, but their God have failed them so far.
6
In one full swoop of votes for the occupant of the Whitehouse, Evangelicals belied thier faith and placed their witness to the world on life support---They will pull the plug on themselves. I have immence respect for Shane Claiborne's mission to be undaunted by Evangelicals who support the occupant of the Whitehouse.
13
And I will ask the Father, and He will give you another Helper, that He may be with you forever; that is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it does not behold Him or know Him, but you know Him because he abides with you, and will be in you.
John 14: 16-17
5
Perhaps history will look back at Shane Claiborne as it does Martin Luther, a man whose principles lead him to confront the corruption of the church which dominated the politics of the day and to which he belonged.
14
Perhaps history will look back at Shane Claiborne as it does Martin Luther, a man whose principles lead him to confront the corruption of the church which dominated the politics of the day and to which he belonged.
2
Perhaps history will look back at Shane Claiborne as it does Martin Luther, a man whose principles lead him to confront the corruption of the church which dominated the politics of the day and to which he belonged.
I am by not an evangelical Christian, but I respect those who think and believe differently than I do, when they are willing to engage in genuine dialogue and if they believe that theocracy by any religion is simply wrong in 2018.
5
The key point in this article is not about the Red Letter Christians, but about the oppression coming from Liberty University and other evangelical groups. These people who work and attend Liberty are genuinely afraid. There is real fear in their comments and actions. Sooner or later, many of these people will have their "Me Too" realization and take a stand against this type of religious perversion.
12
There are three ways to influence power. Try to take over, manipulate, or ignore. Jeffress, Graham, et all, have chosen manipulation.
But is manipulation a wise course? Buckminster Fuller said, "You never change things by fighting the existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete."
That is the course Jesus took.
To the disappointment of his followers, Jesus chose to ignore power structures, both political and religious. He was not found lobbying the empire (and bragging about having lunch with Pilate) nor endorsing everything his religious tradition taught. He was both passionate and thoughtful. He knew that earthly power corrupts and is fleeting and so, made clear that his reality was of a completely different nature. His was the most radical worldview of all because it involved bringing people into his world through an inner renovation of the heart. Motives not only mattered, they were at the very essence of his world.
8
Also interesting, but couldn’t find it in here:
https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/may/22/silicon-valley-pastor...
Maybe the liberals aren’t so liberal after all. The blockade of Seattle’s city tax by Amazon recently hasn’t got much coverage either.
As long as you are propagating a system which only encourages survival of the fittest, your problems (I.e. education, racism, health care, even shootings etc.) will all remain in place
Proper redistribution can only be done by a proper coordination at the federal (or 50 fully independent state) level. And it may mean to pay more taxes, but for the “profit” of a truly fair society. And no, socialism is not communism, and when I look on productivity in Central Europe, then there’s not much difference there and here, but there is a huge in well being. No 65 year old person is pushed into work anymore, and the basic needs are taken care off even for the poorest. Sure it could be done better but at least nobody has to die alone on the street in winter
5
Perhaps history will look back at Shane Claiborne as it does Martin Luther, a man whose principles lead him to confront the corruption of the church which dominated the politics of the day and to which he belonged.
I am not an evangelical Christian, but I respect those who think and believe differently than I do, when they are willing to engage in genuine dialogue and if they believe that theocracy by any religion is simply wrong in 2018.
2
It's hard for me to understand why Falwell wouldn't invite Shane to his office to discuss these issues. It seems whatever Falwell thinks about these alternative views that this would have been at least the best PR strategy. LBJ met with George Wallace and despite totally different beliefs came to an agreement and common understanding that helped a lot of people. But I guess Falwell isn't the man that George Wallace was.
7
It is heartening to see there are Evangelicals who have not yielded their embrace of "The Golden Rule" for "The Rule of Gold."
25
Encouraging to see some in the deep evangelical sect actually advocating for non-evangelical, real Christian values. Liberty University seems to be a nonprofit, tax exempt cult that flaunts the separation of church and state. First off, because of the politcal work their tax-exempt status should be revoked. And, seriously what kind of "higher education" institution has a $3.2 million dollar gun range. Oh, and they're protecting the kids -- how? Thanks Mr. Claiborne, you are walking the talk.
30
Curious isn't it that a nonprofit school/church like Falwell' can be so politically minded and take such a stance for the president. So much for separation
10
I've been skeptical of the religious right's commitment to actual principles for decades now, but even I have been shocked at what a cheap date they are for Trump. I think in the long run, they will regret it.
22
Evangelicals, of which I am one, though not sharing the political beliefs of many, have lost their way. They want to force non Christians to behave like Christians so they feel like they live in a Christian country. They would claim persecution if they had to behave like a Muslim or Hindu. But somehow it is okay for them to do it.
This is not how Christianity was ever intended to grow. Christians are supposed to be known by their love, at least that is what Jesus said. But that's too hard, and so they have opted for force. A pastor friend, who I had a conversation with about this, marveled that some pastors he knew said we will "make them do it." No where, no where is that found in the Scriptures they claim to believe.
Also, in the mix is simply the lust for power and control that we all have to some degree, and the money available when one gets involved in this toxic brand of politics. Jesus never tried to control people. He said, "Follow me." Those who did so, did so out of choice. Those who didn't were free to go. One chose to betray him and Jesus still never called down those legions of angels.
It is my belief people like Jerry Falwell Jr. will have to answer for driving people away from Christ by their attitudes, instead of winning them like they were supposed to.
33
Amen, I also attend an evangelical church and we are actually hosting clairborne this fall. To speak on the death penalty. I'm impressed we are cause many in. My church voted for trump. I'm dismayed by Falwell and was by his father. Jesus preached against systems not so. Much people ( quoting Rob bell).
3
It is written that many would proclaim they preached and performed miracles in His name and we know the response...'Get away, I never knew you'. Sobering thought.
6
I do not identify myself as evangelical or even as Christian. It would be foolish for anyone to deny the importance of Jesus' teaching, though. What he said about how to live our lives is what everyone should know.
Trump doesn't know this. Rather, he happens to do things that some of his followers agree with, when those things agree with his interests. Past performance does not predict future results, especially when rationales differ.
This person is unworthy of worship.
9
What a beautiful example of how to use the 'redemptive power of love' to change hearts. I am so proud of these Red Letter Evangelicals in daring to confront the hypocrisy of those who call themselves Christians, in their support of our 'so-called' president. You truly became Jesus to them, leading by example not words and bringing gifts of love and prayers. Jerry Falwell is going to have some 'splaining to do when he meets Jesus. "To much is given, much is required". God's greatest anger is reserved for those who mislead the flock or become a stumbling block to others. These Evangelical leaders have done both.
20
It is embarrassing that President Garren of Lynchburg College, my alma mater, is afraid of Liberty University. Higher education is a place of exploring, learning, and too be inquisitive. The chaplains and faculty were offering to the students a chance to hear another side. President Garren shut this down.
This is not the Lynchburg College that I attended, they will not be receiving donations from me in the future.
16
Did you know that born again President George W Bush, believed that evangelicals could convert Arabs to Christians?
https://billmoyers.com/story/how-evangelicals-revolutionized-us-politics/
"In The Evangelicals: The Struggle to Shape America, journalist Frances FitzGerald notes that evangelical Christians had created a comprehensive plan to convert Muslims in the years before the 9/11 attacks, focusing on the nations “between the 10th and 40th parallels north of the equator in Africa, the Middle East and Asia, where much of the world’s Muslim population lived.” The Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), the largest Protestant denomination in the United States, had a particularly strong interest in Iraq. According to the leader of a missionary organization, conservative Christians “had prayed for years that Iraq would somehow be open to the gospel.”
"The US invasion began in the middle of March 2003, and by “early April representatives of the International Bible Society were already in Iraq watching the bombs fall and distributing tracts and videos,” FitzGerald writes. The International Mission Board of the SBC “announced that eight hundred missionaries had volunteered to distribute food and shelter and to ‘help Iraqis have true freedom in Jesus Christ.’”
Enough said.
Contrast this with saintly born again Jimmy Carter, Sir.
4
When my governor Mark Sanford, hiked the Appalachian to Argentina to see his paramour & came back to SC to hold his confessional press conference, that was the first time I heard of C Street.
Quickly learned more from TV appearances by Jeff Sharlet, who had written a book called 'The Family', that C Street was another facet of an organization we all know as the National Prayer Breakfast.
Please do some basic research on the history of this group and its predecessors in the 1930s to oppose FDR and his fights for rights for working Americans. A good short starting point is 'One Nation Under God' by Kevin M. Kruse. Sharlet's 'The Family' is in depth in how these people have infiltrated the entire DC establishment. Sharlet also has a book called 'C Street' that came out after the GOP/C Street sex scandals of 2009.
These people, back to Billy Graham, Norman Vincent Peele and others are, basically, Christian business libertarians & their policies are what we see in the 'Republican' Party today: business/corporations over workers. The goal of the ministers is to make people in their churches content with their lot in life as dictated by their bosses.
Unfortunately, the MSM seems terrified of covering these people. I hope this is just a start.
12
I was raised as a Christian. The Jesus I learned about fished, gave out free food at public gatherings, whipped money lenders, healed the sick, forgave the sinners, and occasionally had children murdered by bears for mocking his friends. Evangelical Trumpists would shoot him to death on sight and claim "self-defense."
And that's why I'm no longer a Christian.
12
I would ask you to follow the person/ son of God Jesus not the church which is a horrific representation of Jesus . Rethink you faith my friend.
6
One can hear Jerry Falwell Jr. respond "Were the Gospels of any use at Liberty, I would have heard"
6
As a Christian, the Red Letter Christians are a breath of fresh air in following the teachings of Christ as opposed to hypocritical Evangelical heretics who seem to have forgotten all about Jesus as they scramble to follow and bow down to the Gospel of 45.
18
As we see here, the "religious freedom" for which Falwell and his ilk clamor means freedom to worship their one true religion.
9
At least not all evangelicals are willing to follow the hypocrisy of those evangelicals who hide behind religion to practice their racism, bigotry and xenophobia.
13
The Falwells and Liberty University barely conceal their contempt for those genuine few that actually emulate the good shepherd. It's no wonder that people turn away in disgust and in ever increasing numbers from these vile, narcissistic, self serving theocrats.
17
I look at conservative Christian Fundamentalists today and ask myself “What does they see when they look in the mirror?”
Besides themselves.
8
How about themselves with horns sprouting from their head?
4
If Jesus ever did actually come back preaching that stuff about loving your neighbor, feeding the poor, and turning the other cheek, they'd kill him again. And they'd do it in the name of Jesus.
21
Trumps has done more to repair Jewish Christians relationships than Western Evangelical since 134 AD.
That's an interesting take on Trump but sadly it's not true.
4
This is the religious- right trying to exercise it's control over all Christian thoughts and actions to help consolidate the agenda for the conservative movement that is trying to take over the USA. The agenda for the 1% is to manage those of us at the bottom of their class defined ladder so we are complaint, and it seems to be working on schedule. The supper- power corporations have a need for complete control, and what better way than to manage all aspects of our lives than the mega money maker, Liberty University?
I refer anyone who wants to understand how the Republicans and corporations are using 10 Principles for undermining our democracy and taking back the power of control -- that they are afraid of loosing..See the documentary: Requiem for the American Dream, and interview with Noam Chomsky...It is on point...and if we don't vote like our lives depend on it in November, we will deserve what we get.
Trump, is a major coup for the 1%, the corporations and the religious right. We have seen this story before: the monarchy, the church and the made for suppression laws to keep the serfs in their place to serve the mighty.
17
Why do evangelical leaders like Jerry Falwell, jr. and Tony Perkins, as well as the vast majority of white evangelicals, support Trump so fervently? It's because they follow this moral principle: THE END JUSTIFIES THE MEANS.
20
It's good to see someone standing up to the corporate Christians and the gospel of greed.
Too many of the self proclaimed evangelicals have left their first love as mentioned in the book of "Revelation". They have traded Christ for politics and would sleep with the devil if it would further their political agenda.
17
Compare and contrast:
"....the leader said that his church could not participate in the revival. He and three other elders at the church had jobs at Liberty University."
"No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and money." Matt 6:24
22
Wow. I am so impressed. From now on when I diss Evangelicals I will be sure to make the distinction between those that are real Christians and the fake ones.
19
Where is Ann Coulter's outrage for this conservative campus censorship?
24
"81 percent of their vote"
Ha! Not mine!
9
It appears that only 19% of those who claim to be Christians really are Christians "following the Bible" not their bank account.
It is absolutely prudent to remember that it is not ours to judge. All we can do is pray for those who are corrupting what Christianity is and let the judgment go to the only one who can--and that is certainly not trump despite how loud and obnoxious his protestations may be. We are warned about false prophets and how to discern the fake ones.
Anyone who claims they have nothing to confess or ask forgiveness for their sins clearly opposes true Christianity.
5
This is like the money-changers throwing Jesus out of the temple.
24
Perhaps history will look back at Shane Claiborne as it does Martin Luther, a man whose principles lead him to confront the corruption of the church which dominated the politics of the day and to which he belonged.
I am by not an evangelical Christian, but I respect those who think and believe differently than I do, when they are willing to engage in genuine dialogue and if they believe that theocracy by any religion is simply wrong in 2018.
16
Thank you Rev Claiborne for speaking up against Falwell and those like him who have sold Christianity out to Trump. The most heartbreaking thing for me as an “evangelical Christian” was Trump’s support from 81% of evangelicals during the election and continuing through his travesty of a presidency. I don’t expect to change the minds of any Trump supporters, but I am going to continue to speak out to be identified with the 19%.
428
You will know them by their fruits.
29
Take heart in the fact that most times in church history the majority was wrong.
12 spies went into the land, only 2 gave a good report and the other 10 died in the desert.
The majority of religious leaders and followers shouted, "Crucify him!" Only a minority were not a part of it.
In the Middle Ages the majority hewed to the corruption of what the church had become.
35
The 16 election was a binary choice, simple as that. Those Christians who sanctimoniously sat on their hands in reality gave Clinton half a vote, just basic math. And that was not God's will for a Christian, imho.
If, as a Christian, you believe that Clinton's stated policies would advance the cause of Biblical Chistianty more than the policies of the Trump administration, I would seriously question your faith -- at least your understanding of the basics of God's will and clear Biblical principles.
Trump's personal failings, to whatever extent, ("we have all sinned, and come short of the glory if God, there is none good, no not one") simply illustrate the fundamentals of Christianity -- we are all lost in sin, condemed by it in the presence of a holy God, and in need of redemption through the sacrifice of Christ on the cross. The reality is, sin is a condition of all humanity, those without any, cast the first stone.
The election of Trump was and is completely about policy, not personality. My vote was not, is not, and will not be an endorsement of Trump's personal life in any respect, nor all of his policies, or lack thereof. To conflate the two is simply an error of understanding of God's ways. He uses very flawed people to work His will.
Supporting Trump was and will be the right thing for a true Christian to do.
As much as I want to feel something in this Liberty hubbub after growing up Evangelical Conservative in the south in the 1980s and 1990s, then going sharply progressive in recent years, I just feel tired. Is it possible that there are too few serious "real" Christians too late? All of this Christian damage control. For what? The word "Christian" just doesn't actually mean anything.
These days I find I am happier finding post-faith connections with people. The majority of passionate "believers" in anything -- left or right -- just cause me fatigue. It is a good way to get around being present each day with life's mysteries. It is a good way to hide from reality. Just drop the fervor, everyone, period. Join a book club, join City Council, join the PTA.
200
A number of Protestant denominations have churches that are integrated, with active urban or charitable ministries in which they focus on "walking the walk." United Methodist, Disciples of Christ, Episcopal, PCUSA Presbyterian -- I wouldn't even attempt to name them all. These Christians are sincere, and they try to bring their faith to life.
19
Happily, Christ wants us to live out 'love your neighbor', such as in 'Join a book club, join City Council, join the PTA.'
After all, He's the one who said, 'By this everyone will know you are my disciples, if you love one another'.
You are on the right track.
21
We’re ALL tired. But that doesn’t mean I’m going to sit back and meekly watch the Russian traitors destroy my country.
34
It’s time to Tax Churches that get involved in politics. Schools like Liberty University and Bob Jones University should lose their tax exemptions and in
my opinion have become so-called Religious Industrial Complex’s. They make money in the name of God.
34
The “Evangelical” movement we are saddled with is the political legacy of Richard Nixon, who spoke of “the great silent majority” who supported his Vietnam policies. After Roe v Wade, they dubbed themselves “the moral majority.” Having sacrificed their own children on the altar of what they what they finally came to recognize as an immoral war, their only choice was to adopt a corrupt theology to deny and or justify their sin. The unreasonable opposition, and I stress the word unreasonable, to abortion is really about a deep guilt.
8
Evangelicals suffer from "confirmation bias" in that they think that the eyes of God see a world with boundaries and lines drawn by politicians. A bigger problem is that they believe in "American Exceptionalism"...they believe God created the United States to stand above all others. The biggest problem is they take The Book of Revelation literally and only apply the teachings of Jesus to those who agree with them or abide by their man made rules. Whether they are Pro Trump or Anti-Trump does not amount to much. Both camps are just plain wrong.
10
Like it or not, Donald Trump sits in the White House partially due to the large turnout of the majority of the evangelical voters. They helped sway the election in his favor. How many did Hillary Clinton receive? We all know the answer to this question don't we? I'll give you a little hint. Very few. Maybe if the outcome had been reversed, she would be sitting in the White House today. I perish the thought.
1
I doubt either Falwell even looked at the box of prayers, or could ever see themselves as contemporary versions of the religious hypocrites Jesus excoriated in ancient times.
A $3.2 million gun range, Falwell's command to the campus newspaper editor on what to cover, the other Falwell's delusion that critics be shut down to "protect the children"--this is an authoritarian camp not a university.
The Falwells may say they worship God but it's money and power that rules their hearts and draws them to Trump. Their souls rest in their call center and federal financial aide--all to teach truly fake science to the gullible.
25
prove your point. Just the facts, please
Ms Easterlin just cited the facts.
Here's one, Leo:
Liberty University is not an academic institution, as evidenced by their refusal to allow consideration of, let alone debate about, ideas that do not fit their jerry-rigged dogma.
A church that spends its days whining about persecution and the mean old outsiders who ask them to support there positions with "the facts" blatantly discriminates against all ideas but its own.
This is a political club, not a religion. I am sick to death of my tax dollars supporting their abominations.
Its time to do away with tax exemptions for churches. Well past time.
And its time for Liberty University to admit it is a government supported cult, nothing more.
Its probably time for you to think a little bit on your own, as well.
I am absolutely astounded that evangelicals have chosen to align themselves with a man with absolutely no principals. How is it possible to support a man who mocks people with disabilities, disparages women and anyone who doesn't agree with him, and is probably ignorant of what the word "spiritual" means.
I am sure that there are other people like me who have completely given up on organized religion because of this bewildering endorsement.
28
There were many reasons to give up on organized religion well before the blight that is Trump. Evangelicals’ support for him merely confirms my jaundiced option.
6
My most puzzling question is, how could they support him when he proudly confesses never to have asked God for forgiveness?
1
‘Christians” like Falwell et al are exactly the reason that many intelligent people have rejected any form of religion and are largely responsible for the nascent movement toward the militant new atheism.
18
Nothing is more threatening to Jerry Falwell, Jr., Franklin Graham, and other evangelical leaders than a real Christian.
51
This is a very smart comment Of course the gospel is the furthest thing from money greed power and bigotry
7
Thank you James this is exactly the comment all Christians should understand
8
I abandoned the faith a very long time ago FOR CAUSE. I am sure that Jesus -- the old softie -- weeps for the Falwells and the other false prophets who worship the god Mammon, but I do not. Trump is their president: "By their fruits shall you know them."
14
Constitution -- separation of church and state. No more tax breaks for these scam institutions. Get these churches and their propaganda link between the Republicans and their convenient religion out of my government. I'm so sick of these influencers and radio hosts selling political messages to the uninformed. Separation of church and state!
23
Can I get an amen!
6
Evangelical mission statement: Taking Christ out of Christianity.
Thankfully there are some who feel different
11
This piece is proof positive that the main motivator for today's Trump supporting Evangelicals is sheer bigotry. Bigotry against LGBT people to the point where they want it made law, and think that conservative judges will carry it out. Bigotry against liberals to where they want their dogma taught in schools by force. Bigotry against blacks and minorities - take away their welfare, make them come to church and act just like the white people, or they're on their own.
9
It appears that the very Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ and His own Words and messages in it, are now an "inconvenient truth" to the worshippers of Trump and Mammon who call themselves "Christians."
13
Everything Trump touches becomes tainted. I expect that to be the case with the "Christian" churches that have embraced him in a cynical political ploy. Gotta say, I'm looking forward to hearing how the fabulously wealthy ministers will explain their deal with the devil. Perhaps they can justify it based on tax cuts. Wonder whether the sheep who follow them will figure this out and stop the gravy train these guys live on with the donations of their faithful. What a scam.
11
Thomas Jefferson edited his "Jefferson Bible"--redacting the New Testament's Pauline spin in terms of Leviticus and atonement--making Jesus a human sacrifice. Also redacting the marketing--Believe/Join/Submit and go to heaven. Also the ancient myth--psyche/pneuma/spiritus/soul merely replays the Greek mythology about death as "giving the ghost/geist" which goes to Hades--sans body.
But Jefferson saved the teachings of Jesus--which probably reflects Greco/Roman philosophy--stoicism and cynicism going back to Socrates: "Virtue is knowledge; Vice is ignorance" So "forgive trespassers." "Knowing the Truth makes you free." Etc.
It is anti-nationalistic/anti-discrimination/anti-chosen people--Good Samaritans are better than bad Israelis.
Also anti plutocracy--Camels and needles etc--and pro affirmative action for lower classes--as interpreted by the Social Gospel Christians.
Maybe Christianity has hit bottom with Trumpies.
Maybe it's time to reprise the Jefferson--made in America--Bible. Real American Christianity--The real gospel--good news--not the Fox [bad] News version.
5
To all, please VOTE November 2018 and then in 2020
0nce again, don't VOTE please don't complain.
9
Evangelicals have re-created Jesus in their own image:
“The people who hanged Christ never, to do them justice, accused him of being a bore - on the contrary, they thought him too dynamic to be safe. It has been left for later generations to muffle up that shattering personality and surround him with an atmosphere of tedium. We have efficiently pared the claws of the Lion of Judah, certified him "meek and mild" and recommended him as a fitting household pet for pale curates and pious old ladies.”
- Dorothy L. Sayers, Letters to a Diminished Church
7
I guess you can spin anything. Non Christian behavior can be called Christian. Christ's representatives on earth can hide behind the secular. And Christ's name can be used to raise money for the already rich and powerful.
8
What a shock (not) that today’s Evangelical “Christians” are more like Adolph Hitler, Benito Mussolini, Joseph Stalin and other notorious evil dictators than they are like Christ.
This bunch today makes me sad. They have usurped the title of “Christian” to hide their bigoted, hateful ways. Like so many other “1984”ish misnomers (such as “Liberty” University), the title of Christian has come to mean “Nothing Like Christ.”
It will not be too soon whenever comes the day of reckoning for these foolish, malevolent charlatans.
13
As a Liberty graduate, I too find Jerry Falwell Jr.'s unflagging and unreserved support of President Trump deeply troubling. The concern I have with this article is that it might imply that only leftward leaning Christians might have that issue. That's not the case. There are many across the political spectrum who find Trump's lifestyle, character, demeanor and attitude to be in direct contradiction to Scripture. In fact, he is precisely the sort of candidate that the Moral Majority of Falwell's father would have opposed. The younger Falwell (who is far less politically astute) has veered far from where his father would have landed regarding Trump. I believe that the late Dr. Falwell would have reminded his son(s), that the ends do not justify the means, that character does matter, and that sacrificing principle on the altar of political expediency is inexcusable.
17
I'm confused by this very strange red state practice of using public police forces, taxpayer funded, to enforce civil disputes for private businesses.
See it on live p.pd all the time. Businesses calling sheriffs to have someone trespassed. Huh? How about the business hire security and not use the police as a private security force.
How about the sheriffs serve and protect the citizens not the businesses.
Maybe this is at the root of all those Waffle House like calls acroos the Deep South.
13
Evangelical pseudo-Christians leaders dating to the ascendancy of the Reagan machine have one focus: power and control. The Falwell dynasty proves that they will do anything, bed with anyone to accomplish their goal. Part of the method follows the same plan as Nazis. Declare that humanity needs to be purified and define what purity means. Nazis relied upon the pseudo-science or race to rationalize centuries of religious and cultural bases bigotry and hatred against Jews and other "impure" people. Toxic Evangelicals also rely upon centuries of religious bigotry against gay people coupled with their pseudo-science that replaces objective science with their pseudo-science as exemplifies in Creationism.
Pseudo-Christians, toxic Evangelicals want a pure version of humanity. They gladly walk hand in hand with bigots such as Trump, people who want to create a hardened society of classes and politicians who want to twist the Constitution to put the most power into the fewest hands.
The Falwell dynasty, their colleagues and peers are Fascists. They choose to believe they are superior and, following their perverted and corrupted interpretations of Jewish and Christian sacred text, push the nation to a conclusion of religious genocide.
22
We can like some of these people on a personal level, but they are still just folks trying to tell the gullible among us how an imaginary being "wants people to live." The use of superstition, "faith," and deceit to influence human behavior is - or at least should be - a sad relic of our primitive past.
Reason, intellect, common sense, experience, decency, and compassion all easily establish that Trump is a grifter, liar, conman, ignoramus, and thief. No one needs a 2,000 year old book or an ancient, "feel-good" doctrine to tell us that.
One good thing about Trump is that, soon, an atheist will be elected President. If someone as directly antagonistic to the principles of Christianity as he is could get elected, then we are at least "coming to our senses" that other presidents, also, do not have to be Christian. You know, that the US electorate will soon be able to handle having a "grown-up" in charge, rather than someone insisting that he relies on his imaginary, authoritarian spirit in making decisions.
15
... and what does the word of God say?
(All similarity with someone today is not purely coincidental)
2 Timothy 3 King James Version (KJV)
3 This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.
2 For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy,
3 Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good,
4 Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God;
5 Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.
6 For of this sort are they which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women laden with sins, led away with divers lusts,
7 Ever learning, and never able to come to the knowledge of the truth.
8 Now as Jannes and Jambres withstood Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith.
9 But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest unto all men, as their's also was.
18
It's good to see that someone is willing to publicly call-out Falwell and his evangelical cronies. Trump wants to be president for life. He will throw-in with whomever is willing to support him: Russians, so-called Christians, etc. It's downright foolish that he's being given ANY church support. He's worldly in every sense of the word, and then some. His values and morals are clearly anti-biblical. True believers/followers know better than to attach themselves to him. Persons who support Trump are the same as him. They compromise and make excuses.
10
How and why does Liberty U. have a chief of police? Falwell, like his father, and Trump are hypocritical crooks. To not allow anyone to not be for Trump. L.U. also doesn't believe in evolution, that the fossils were put there by God to test Christians faith. Now, the thinking that must have gone into that deduction is incredible. Lynchburg is a theocracy and evangelicals think that the country should be one also
22
I’ve always struggled with the idea of organized religion, particularly from my first-hand experiences attending Protestant churches that seemed more like big business social gatherings than actual churches. I tired of how a local church would spend money sending people around the world on missions, yet fail to help people in their own community, much less their own country. I always tried to respect the faith of others even when I struggled with my own.
But in the age of Trump, and this blatant sell-out of their faith in exchange for temporal power by so many Evangelicals and religious Conservatives, I can no longer accept these people as “Christians”. You do not support a man who is so clearly not a Christian because he gives you laws and judges you like. You do not support a man who is so clearly not a Christian when he spews hate, vile and intolerance all day, everyday. You do not support a man that is the antithesis of the tenets of your faith because he strokes and coddles your ego, and feeds your basest desires for recognition.
There is no organized persecution of Christianity in America. But what there is in America is a movement where “Christians” are selling out their own beliefs and values, turning their backs on their faith, and going along with the flow in worshipping the golden idol that is Trump — all because they deluded themselves into believing they were lost in a desert for 40 years and couldn’t find their way out. They were never lost. Now they are.
16
It doesn't take anyone with the love of JESUS in his or her heart and mind to figure out that Falwell, Jr and his crowd isn't walking the social gospel set down by HIM. They are SINOs (So-called christians In Name Only). They will someday answer to yours truly and avoid a trip into heck!
7
Evangelicals are praying to false idols when they allow their political views to trump God's word. Such evangelicals are not Christians.
14
I've read several times that Franklin Graham's annual salary is between $1m and $1.2m.....all for the "love of Jesus," of course (LOL).
17
"But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control."
DJT exhibits none of these attributes, either as president or in his private life. How evangelicals can think he is guided by God is inexplicable to me. However:
"The acts of the flesh are obvious: sexual immorality, impurity and debauchery; idolatry and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, dissensions, factions and envy; drunkenness, orgies, and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God."
Sure sound like DJT and his cronies. Yet evangelical turn a blind eye. I thought they took the Bible literally.
13
What would Jesus do? What caliber would He use?
Matthew 23 is instructive:
23 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, 2 “The teachers of religious law and the Pharisees are the official interpreters of the law of Moses.[a] 3 So practice and obey whatever they tell you, but don’t follow their example. For they don’t practice what they teach. 4 They crush people with unbearable religious demands and never lift a finger to ease the burden.
5 “Everything they do is for show. On their arms they wear extra wide prayer boxes with Scripture verses inside, and they wear robes with extra long tassels.[b] 6 And they love to sit at the head table at banquets and in the seats of honor in the synagogues. 7 They love to receive respectful greetings as they walk in the marketplaces, and to be called ‘Rabbi.’[c]
...
13 “What sorrow awaits you teachers of religious law and you Pharisees. Hypocrites! For you shut the door of the Kingdom of Heaven in people’s faces. You won’t go in yourselves, and you don’t let others enter either.[e]
8
The most disgusting point in the article is where Jonathan Falwell, essentially claims they can't be on campus because of 'safety' issues. Apparently truth and open discussion of Christ's teachings pose serious risks to this celebrity clergy class. The proximal threat of disagreement--compared with the existential threat to evangelical Christianity's intravenous politicization into a movement defined by bigotry, misogyny, selfishness and incivility--screams hypocrisy. Hypocrisy worsened by a response that shows concern for public perception. I hope this class of modern-day pharisees enjoys the mortal pleasures of political ascendancy. History will treat them and their political grand marshal harshly, as it did with the Swaggerts, Haggerties, Bakkers, Tiltons, Copelands, and yes, Fallwells, and their heirs and contemporaries who follow Trump's lead--personally profiting from the pain and desperation of others.
It's sad because now more than ever, this country could use more movements, like Rev. Barber's Moral Monday, that seek to unite through the universal messages of Christ, through acceptance of all faiths based on love and acceptance, rather than exploiting the divisive rhetoric of a self-promoting demagogue, who has created a spoils system to hang on to (and abuse) power.
Where in the new or old testament did any religious figure say 'the ends justify the means?'
13
The hatred taught by Jerry Falwell was effectively transmitted to one of his sons, but the other seems to actually have a mind of his own. These evangelicals are not Christians. 1 John 2:11 - "But whoever hates another believer is in the darkness, walks in the darkness, and does not know the way to go, because the darkness has brought on blindness." Trump fans amongst evangelicals seem to be blinded by hate. But then that's what makes him Trump. Hate.
14
Jerry Falwell Jr. is following the Bible: he is rendering unto Caesar what is Caesar’s. Full stop.
What more could we expect of him?
4
First, there is nothing in this article about how leftist groups, like ANTIFA, have violently advocated banning conservative speakers from many college campuses. You cannot condemn right-wing closed mindedness without also condemning that of the left. However objectionable or untrue the content, it is still better to debate and engage, force the other side to give proofs, and challenge their assumptions, than to disallow speech.
We have become a country which cannot bear to listen to views which oppose our own. Maybe we always were. It’s time to change.
As for Jesus, he would have likely had no opinion on Trump, as he had none on Caesar. Jesus was concerned with matters that transcend politics. All true religion is completely unconcerned with politics, and has no ambition to change anything about the external world. True religion points the way to the spirit which stands completely free from questions of temporal power, and is eternally untouched by the impermanent manifestations of the physical world.
This is a supposedly-religious school which is banning someone from preaching Jesus' word.
And the one time Jesus got violent was when he found people turning the house of worship into a place of commerce. An awful lot of shiny pastors in expensive suits resemble the men Jesus drove from the temple. Or did Jesus think preachers needed their own jets?
10
Nonsense. This story is about the interaction between two philosophies of Christianity and Falwell’s university. ANTIFAs are not either type of Christian and don’t go to Falwell university, so they are irrelevant to the story. This is simply good journalistic writing and storytelling about a specific subject based on recent factual events and witness accounts. That you don’t like the subject, supporting facts, or feel a that a different story should be told is irrelevant.
I’m glad that it gives positive information about Christians that I haven’t seen elsewhere or experienced myself. That is a more balanced viewpoint than I’ve had. An article including ANTIFA would have diluted that message.
There are plenty of factual accounts and opinion pieces about ANTIFA that any of us may read to educate ourselves or confirm or refute personal biases. I suggest you read stories about ANTIFA if your priority is to learn about them, compare and contrast them with other groups, confirm your biases, or refute them. I did not read this story to learn about ANTIFA. I read it to learn about Christians. What I learned countered my negative biases. I consider that a hallmark of good journalism. It might be the highest purpose of a free press.
This particular story would be weakened if irrelevant material were included.
5
When I consider the rational as to why some political Evangelicals would support Trump, it seems to be based on the idea of being "wise as serpents and gentle as doves". A pragmatic outlook which says Trump is accomplishing so much of their agenda, that his moral failings can be overlooked.
However, there is a second way to look at this. During the temptation of Christ in the wilderness, Satan shows Jesus the Kingdoms of the world. "All these things I will give you if you bow down and worship me." Christ's response: "the Lord, your God, shall you worship and him alone."
Perhaps political Christians need to count the cost of pragmatism and ask which master do they serve.
6
Liberty University warned Claiborne “that if he set foot on the property, he would be arrested for trespassing and face up to 12 months in jail and a $2,500 fine.”
... in the true spirit of liberty and Christian brotherhood, no doubt.
Apparently, this was “to protect their kids” from some sort of unspecified “civil disobedience.” Heaven forbid!
17
Inevitable.
Falwell consorting with porn-star's boyfriend Trump, hush-$$$ Trump, liar Trump, cheater on his wife Trump.
Building a 3.2 million dollar gun range. I guess there are no poor folks in West Virginia.
Someone, somewhere was bound to notice that none of that has anything to do with Christianity or the teachings of Christ.
They may not like the messenger but it is obvious to everyone but Falwell and Jeffress and Franklin Graham that they have traded their beliefs for political power and have lost any credibility that think they have.
13
I really do wonder what the reaction at Liberty will be if, or more likely when, it is revealed that Donnie, not Elliott Broidy, impregnated the Playboy Bunny, leading to an abortion. I envision thousands of heads simultaneously exploding on campus.
6
It's interesting to me that the Christians in our country who get the least amount of attention are the ones who have the least need of it—the Amish and Mennonites. They simply go about their lives and never complain or try to make converts like it's a popularity contest. Funny thing—I'll bet most Americans truly respect and admire them. I wish evangelicals would take a lesson from them.
10
i grew up in the rural south, desegregated by the time i was born, with one caveat that persists to this day: Sunday morning church services. the same people who preached the "gospel" promoted deeply-held beliefs that "race-mixing" was evil, and that God had set some people above others by divine design, which meant that God sanctioned the subjugation of black folks, poor folks, anybody who wasn't them. the evangelicals were always the loudest of these "Christians," and never seemed to see that their relentless push to forever enshrine bigotry as a religious totem was at odds with everything Jesus taught.
the trump evangelical camp is just more of the same. as i am blessed and a believer, i work to undo these wrongs however and whenever i can, and take comfort in this: woe unto these false prophets. God is not mocked.
12
Why do evangelical Christians support Donald Trump in such numbers? Hint: It has NOTHING to do with their Christian faith. Trump-supporting evangelicals find -- independently -- the same solace in Mr. Trump that they find in their religion:
Validation of their fears and insecurities; validation of their pride; validation of their hate; validation of their misogyny; validation of their greed; and validation of their desperately hoped-for superiority.
Kudos to Shane Clairborne for making the distinction and supporting his church.
17
We are watching all the essential elements of democracy erode, in real time.
12
Go, Shane, go! This most un-Christian of presidents has been playing evangelicals. It's bold of him to go straight into the belly of the beast: Liberty (So Called) University, the training ground of Taliban-style Christianity and an educational institution dedicated to closing minds rather than opening them.
13
Contemporary Evangelicalism is fundamentally a political movement. As a branch of Christian theology it is nearly wholly a front for right wing conservatism. One need only look at the transition from Billy Graham to his son, Franklin Graham. The latter should actually open up a "religious hour" on the FOX network where it would find good company with smug know-nothingness. Evangelicalism will wither --like FOX's aging white audience; young recruits won't be there to replenish a cultural movement that actually harms them, their broader ties across race and class, their awareness of inequality as a social (not a spiritual) failure. Evangelicalism's medievalist retreat, displayed in using scripture to ignore science, is the perfect cultural weapon that serves corporate irresponsibility to society and to the environment. The Evangelical marriage in not with spirituality or heavenly grace, but rather with things profanely earthly: it is a political movement betrothed to corporatism as the most determinant worldly virtue. Simply put: Evangelicalism, since the rise of the so-called "Moral Majority" has been hijacked. Today, Donald Trump has mainstream Evangelical leaders in his back pocket. They seek political trickledown. Meanwhile, the larger majority needs to move on and tend to things that actually heal the political cancer that has grown behind the saintly frauds. And in this larger struggle, Evangelicalism as it now staggers, is of little help.
9
It not only is of little help, it is doing active harm.
"... Mr. Falwell, who had just opened a new $3.2 million gun range on campus."
That's really all you need to know about those people right there: whom would Jesus shoot?
Whom would Jesus mock--the disabled, the poor, the 'losers'?
Good luck to the Christians of conscience who seek to re-take the Christian narrative from these... ah... 'publicans. It will take a miracle; the Church has always been about power, not righteousness.
10
2 Thessalonians 2:9-12 NIV:
“The coming of the lawless one will be in accordance with how Satan works. He will use all sorts of displays of power through signs and wonders that serve the lie, and all the ways that wickedness deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to love the truth and so be saved. For this reason God sends them a powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie and so that all will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in wickedness.”
5
The money changers and merchants have re-invaded the Temple. Once again, it has become a den of thieves and hypocrites, pimping out one of the world’s great faith traditions. The moral rot behind the cult of Trump is doing more damage to organized religion than any overtly repressive government ever could.
7
It might be illuminating to refer back to a piece that Michelle Goldberg wrote about the real motivations behind the Evangelicals shift about 50 years ago toward exerting political influence. That, and their seemingly hypocritical love for a president who makes Caligula look like Mr. Rogers.
https://nyti.ms/2GfXdx0
“When God has drawn a line of distinction, we should not attempt to cross that line,” he wrote, warning that integration “will destroy our race eventually.” In 1967, Falwell founded the Lynchburg Christian Academy — later Liberty Christian Academy — as a private school for white students.
Yeah, it seems they didn't have much use for politics until their white children had to start going to school with black children.
12
So glad that there are still some Christian Christians remaining.
10
So sad that that double-barreled label—“Christian Christian”—is both necessary and accurate.
Jesus often reminds me that God loves all His children -- not just white conservatives.
11
Evangelicals seem to be the most unchristian religious groups in the US today. They rather like Trump, don't act according to what they preach. Their political "choice" has no ethics -Christian or otherwise - he lies, he cheats and he steals. He is an egotistical con and it looks like he has conned many Evangelicals.
9
When you mix politics and religion, you get politics.
10
Good Luck Mr, Claiborne.
This country was founded on Toxic Christianity.
6
The conflict described here is explained very well by Prof. George Lakoff, who points out that political/religious beliefs are best describes as frames or analogies based on the family. These are embedded in the subconscious, and not subject to logical discourse. Conservatives (and most evangelicals) believe in the "authoritative father" model of the family - Trump's pronouncements that rules are to be followed (fact-based or not) and his militaristic and punitive approach appeals to their desire for rules and order; progressives believe in a "nurturing parent" model of the family - empathy for those less fortunate, independent thinking, negotiation before conflict and encouragement as well as support for others to achieve fits their model of society as a family. Many (the undecided, independent voters) combine elements of both hypothetical families in their lives.
To their credit, conservatives have articulated their views consistently for decades by taking control of the language used to describe religious/social/political issues. Progressives have generally failed because they rely mostly on logic.
For progressives of all faiths (or none at all), it would be wiser to articulate and contrast these opposing views clearly and simply if we'd like to make inroads in politics and social policy. While I appreciate Mr. Claiborne's courage for challenging conservative evangelicals, this is not about logic or reason. It's about which model of the family has the most appeal.
7
This is perhaps the most perplexing part of the Trump phenomenon. In my nine years of parochial education (Lutheran Church Missouri Synod, the conservatives of the Lutherans) I was taught about the love of the Gospel, the mission to help the outcasts, and the dangers of the hypocrites, particularly among the clergy and devout (the Pharisees). This president is everything we were taught not to be: greedy, adulterous, one who bears false witness, rejecting of the stranger, etc. Yet 81% of Evangelicals voted for him?? In my Lutheran school we played "opposite day." We seem to be in some kind of opposite era.
28
I had the same education. Eight years of daily biblical memory work which included statements from Christ like, "Depart from Me for I never knew you". Or "faith without works is dead".
9
As a fellow Missouri Synod Lutheran (lifelong, since my infant baptism), I have strained hard to hear anything from it that argue profoundly against this black tide in evangelicalism.
Having formally, academically studied the struggles in the churches in Germany in the 1920s, 1930s, and 1940s and the American churches responses, I am—unfortunately—not surprised. Considering the official communications out of the American churches (e.g., publication of American church bodies such as magazines, formal statements, etc.) it was not until 1946 that the Lutheran Church Missouri Synod offered even a mild rebuke of National Socialism and its agenda.
I do not consider Trump a modern Hitler. He lacks the dark intelligence. However, I do believe that the threat to the churches in America wrought by a Christian Nationalist narrative pursued by a large and vocal segment of American Evangelicals at the expense of the gospel is an equivalent threat to Christianity in the United States.
8
I did not know about the LCMS's rebuke in 1946. But it's not surprising. There had to have been a lot of Lutherans working in those camps and on those battlefields in the 30s and 40s. Just as I wasn't entirely surprised when the LCMS minister (a regional president?) who participated in the ecumenical service post-9/11 was rebuked by the St. Louis hierarchy for sharing a pulpit. That was less than two weeks after the attacks. Wir bleiben beim Alten, as my father used to say (I pivoted left long ago and steer toward the new).
I wish I shared your view that Trump isn't a modern Hitler. I worry we assume him to be more foolish than he is. I don't think he'll go down without a fight, and he'll use every person and weapon he can to overcome his insecurities and "win" (being discovered a debtor, not a billionaire, may be the deepest of his fears). Time will tell.
It is sad how Shane Claiborne was able to attract so few people to his revival meeting. You have to feel a bit sorry for this man that so few people showed any interest. He reminds me of those preachers who stand on street corners preaching endlessly and saying very little. He appears to be a little off balance and not well informed. He sounds like a bit of a loose cannon out to make trouble.
Liberty University did the right thing not to allow him on campus. It is funny how few of their students bothered to attend. Mr. Claiborne seems to be one of those charlatans from years ago.
No one took Mr. Claiborne too seriously which is why the low turnout. What he probably managed to do was to continue the support for President Trump and possibly win new recruits. Much to his surprise his efforts backfired.
Actually, those "Christians" at Liberty University are charlatans, and leading that pack of money changers in the temple is Jerry Falwell and, by association, Donald Trump. Falwell and Trump are very much alike: both are in it for themselves, although Falwell covers his stink in a fragrant coating of Jesus. In this instance, and this instance only, I've got to give Trump his due: at least he doesn't pretend to be a follower of Christ, or a follower of anything save the cult of his own personality. Falwell builds a $3.2 million gun range and preaches torrid nonsense in the name of a poor carpenter from Galilee. Falwell is truly the golden calf: he will never be fit to tie the sandals of the One who came before him. He is the dirt that evangelical Christianity must shake off its sandals if it's going to get anywhere in 21st century America.
16
Your description most likely also describes the Pharisee's opinion of Jesus back in the day: "a little off balance, low turnout, a bit of a loose cannon out to make trouble" when he threw the tax guys out of the temple who were making money off the poor.
Like the spiritual says "You got to serve somebody".
A 3.2 million dollar range tells you something about what and who.
22
It sounds like trying to unionize the workforce in a company town. I expect Liberty has an outsized influence in Lynchburg overall, and not in a good way.
10
Another reason for the embrace of Trump: the huge sums of federal financial aid steered to Liberty University 's online branch. Big government is terrible unless it's fattening the coffers of the political right.
21
Perhaps history will look back at Shane Claiborne as it does Martin Luther, a man whose principles lead him to confront the corruption of the church to which he belonged and which dominated the politics of the day.
I am by no means an evangelical Christian, but I deeply respect those who think and believe differently than I do, when they are willing to engage in genuine dialogue and believe that theocracy by any religion is simply wrong.
20
What is the 3.2 million gun range for? Frankly it sounds like Falwell reads the Onion instead of his Bible.
Are they beating the local plows back into weapons?
Falwell is off in the weeds on almost every single issue. Including his support of Trump in exchange for a seat at the country club table.
17
All one needs to do is simply ask any person professing to be a Christian whether or not they support Trump. You can rest assured that anyone replying in the affirmative is most certainly not. Such individuals have absolutely no moral authority, as far as I'm concerned.
20
Most religions have been all about money for a long time. Trump loves nothing but money. Evangelicals and Trump are a good fit...money, money, money. Poor people, the ill, prisoners, not so much.
33
The Falwell evangelical is no more Christian than a dollar bill.
They worship - yes worship a soulless creature like trump, a man so devoid of humanity, so low in character, who sows hatred, division, greed and lies and whose nature of meanness is the very opposite of Jesus. He "hits back ten times as hard", shows no mercy. He takes from the poor and gives to the reach. He despoils the earth for pleasure. And they love him for it. He is their golden calf.
I have come to have the same regard for them as I would the plague.
62
Jesus drove the money changers from the temple and said "it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle then it is for a rich man to get into heaven." If Jesus could vote, he would vote for Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren because the Republican Party is a party of and for the money changers and the rich
29
I do not believe that Christ would have voted for a Democrat even if it were Bernie and Elizabeth.
Christ was the original communist (small c) who said things like, "Sell all that you own, give to the poor, and THEN come follow Me". I do not believe that if Jesus returned today He would set up a capitalistic kingdom with billionaires on top and serfs working on the bottom.
He might have taken a brief look at Jill Stein but He probably would have told her to get her party elected in a few local offices first before trying for the White House.
Saint Francis caught a lot of flak in his time too. Mr. Claiborne stands with the very best.
34
So where are the voices of concern about "academic freedom", "free speech on campus" and "religious freedom"? The ones who regard some mild excesses at "liberal" colleges as an affront to human civilization?
Crickets.
43
I'm all for academic freedom. Where's the academic freedom on the "Liberty University" campus? Why is the student newspaper not even allowed to report on the Red Letter event?
Why are pastors of the other churches so afraid even to be seen meeting with the Red Letter Christians?
Why are the leaders of Liberty University so afraid to hear the word of Jesus or allow anyone associated with them to hear it?
12
These "Red Letter Christians" are probably feeling many of the same feelings Jesus had as he was mocked and isolated by his peers at the time.
31
I'm still scratching my head why some conservative evangelicals equate Trump with Cyrus the Great. Heaven help us. Maybe to them the ends justify the means. To others they are seen as trying to defend the indefensible. Lies, divisiveness, antagonism against the poor and non-whites? No problem. Surely there's some bible verse they will pull out to justify all of that. I hope that they don't put people off becoming Christians.
Good luck to the 'other' evangelicals like Mr. Claiborne giving their differing views. They are likely to face a wall of stiff-necked opposition. Or maybe it would be more accurate to say that they will face Cyrus the Great's army of followers?
13
The might of Liberty University, other actors in the religious right, along with the revolving door of "Christians" going in and out of the White House tells all us of what the real truth is: this brand of christianity is big, really big, business. Period.
Thank you Mr. Claiborne for calling out these shameless hucksters who stand behind the Bible for their own greedy gains. I sincerely hope more "Christians" take a hard look at what they say and what they do, the two couldn't be farther apart at the moment.
496
Lenny Bruce was way ahead of his time when he did his famous bit "Religion, Big Business". What a shame no one of stature dares call out these hypocritical charlatans for what they are.
38
BUILD A WALL. That is, between all forms of religion and the nation's politics.
I don't distinguish between the "good" Right and the "bad" Right, any more than I distinguish between the Wicked Witch of the East and the West.
And further, it is not a badge of honor to forego health insurance and pray for one's health; the lack of a national health program is a social travesty perpetrated in no small part by Evangelicals themselves.
41
One one side we have Mr. Claiborne, who is poor, helps the poor, and appears to have read for comprehension the words of Jesus.
On the other, the wealthy, powerful head of a wealthy, powerful university - frightened that the Word might get out.
Go, Mr. Claiborne. I'm fine with people living their own lives according to their faith. I don't feel inclined to believe the Falwells of the world, who claim to be moral but are cozy with Trump - or believe the head of Hobby Lobby, a man who claimed providing required insurance to people with jobs in his stores offended his deeply-held religious beliefs - while he was paying millions to smuggle Iraqi artifacts likely sold by ISIS.
47
Is anyone really shocked that the Evangelic leadership has blocked Jesus teachings from being actually being heard in the context they were meant to be? Just another day protecting the money from Jesus teachings that challenge the ability to make it to their bank accounts.
22
A company town, be it steel or coal production in
the 1920s, or an evangelical centered town in
Virginia, will respond in the inevitable fear
inducing, top down dictated mode as summarized in this article.
Suppress coverage, distort message, intimidate people
from attending a meeting...all standard operating behavior
for controlling one's population. Then crow success when
only a small number of attendees participate.
Hardly surprising, hardly new. Always worthy of
recounting however just to remind everyone who
the bad guys really are.
22
I was raised atheist and only recently started reading the Bible for the first time. It stunned me. The Jesus of the New Testament is SO different from so-called Christians like Falwell. Jesus challenges everything we value: money, status, power, material things, as worthless. He demands kindness, forgiveness, humility, self-sacrifice, poverty. It is a powerful and hard challenge, but the reward is an eternal happy life. I am now baffled why there are so many Falwells and so few Shane Clairbornes. Are they reading the same book that i am?
104
I don't think many "surface" christians really read the bible. Or they read enough to get a few quotes to justify their cause, action or attitude. Mostly it seems they are relying on the local church to guide them.... To let them know them know that that their causes, attitudes and actions are righteous.
10
What other reason could there possibly have been to kill Socrates?
1
In Emily Bronte's "Wuthering Heights", there is a minor character named Joseph who, in today's parlance, would be termed a religious nut. Ms. Bronte described him this way: "He was, and is yet most likely, the wearisomest self-righteous Pharisee that ever ransacked a Bible to rake the promises to himself and fling the curses to his neighbours." This description doesn't apply only to the fictional Joseph: it applies to Jerry Falwell and those "Christians" like him. They're reading the same book as Shane Claiborne, but they aren't using it the way he is, not at all. They are the Josephs, the "self-righteous Pharisee[s]" of the 21st century.
12
Evangelicals would do the country a favor and read the part of the constitution that addresses the issue of separation of church and state.
They have no monopoly on morality.
41
Here's to hoping the real evangelicals can start winning over from the frauds like Falwell, who somehow convinced himself that Jesus was all about piling up wealth and power.
Jesus said: "go, and sin no more". Falwell tells buddy Trump: "Hey, you be you, but just give me more judges forcing my views on the public."
39
Evangelicals that support Trump are not Christian. They are the cult of Trumpism, which is as far from Christian as you can get. A true Christian will not remain silent.
74
Who made DSS of Ottawa the arbiter of who is a true Christian? The left wants everyone to mind their own business and reserve judgement unless it's an issue that's important to them and then they feel free to label, to judge, to condemn, to declare their way is the only way, etc. It's amusing up to a point.
@Katie
Hit a nerve did he?
2
A “true Christian” is a person who lives according to the teachings of Christ. Anyone who knows what the teachings of Christ are is in a position to judge whether words and actions are in accordance with those teachings. Character is based on actions. Actions can be judged according to criteria. Jesus provided the criteria.
10
Kind of hilarious—this fight over an illusion.
11
Great! More people screaming at each other about Trump! Just what we need more of. Yay!
3
Money has poisoned America. The Falwellian millionaire class of supposed pastors have sold out and dragged their followers to a temple of greed. Secure in their feathered nests, they look down on immigrants and the poor. Jesus would cast them out of his church, but then, Jesus isn't around to give them the boot, is he? Based on the last 2000 years or so it ain't too likely he's going to show up anytime soon to deal with these folks. À fact the glittering preachers of America are fully aware. They have no fear of otherworldly comeuppance. Only real danger to their bank accounts and influence will move them.
24
"Mr. Claiborne still wanted to lead a group onto the Liberty campus and hold a prayer vigil — or at least leave a gift for Mr. Falwell, who had just opened a new $3.2 million gun range on campus."
One wonders what type of gun Jesus would shoot? The only gift that Tony Campolo would leave is a stack of prayers. Wonder if Falwell bothered to read them.
27
Until Christian leaders who are cowering in the shadows stand, arms linked, unified on national TV in some great stadium and loudly reclaim their religion, it will be forever tainted and they WILL START to feel the discrimination that the extremists amongst them imagine exists.
14
Even if they can somehow believe anything told to them by an obviously self serving fraud like Falwell Jr., how can any self-respecting Christian with the slightest compassion or understanding of Christ's message support a charlatan like Trump?
They really shouldn't be so surprised or outraged when others think of them as fools and hypocrites.
21
Religion is a business of fear.
25
This is a lot like an article about anti-Obama blacks: they are a tiny minority and mostly a figment of conservative imagination.
3
The 3.2 million on the new gun range probably says all you need to know about the version of Christianity practiced at Liberty University.
I'm glad there is this alterative Evangelical movement out there; it sounds like these people actually read what Jesus taught. I don't think Jesus would have been too interested in sharpening his skills down at the gun range.
41
Liberty University isn't all that different from Trump University. It's not a place to go to actually learn. It's a place where Falwell and his ilk enrich themselves off gullible people who think they're going to get a good education.
9
Money. Fame. Sex. Power. These are what Donald Trump worships.
25
I am so glad the finally someone is standing up for the correct path to follow. Now the evangelicals followers of trump need to worry for they are completely wrong. Thank you for article and thank you Shane Claiborne!
20
A fine example by these people that hypocrisy in now the core of the Evangelic curriculum in their teaching institutions, and their churches. Jesus has been sent out for coffee and his teachings are ignored in the service of greed and power. These are not religious people, they are willing hypocrites, voters who are bought and paid for. They have lost all semblance of integrity and their professed beliefs are laughable, due to their acts that blatantly reflecting the evil that they profess to abhor. They are in bed with the Devil and telling the flock that "it's ok, Jesus approves, he will tell you when he comes back with the coffee..." I am not sure how they think this will end well....
23
Trump 'evangelicals' aren't Christians. They talk a big game, but they don't 'walk the walk' at all. They are about as 'Christian' as the most fervent atheist.
21
Actually, most atheists/agnostics I know (including myself) are a lot more generous and tolerant of others than these evangelicals seem to be.
21
Remove people's health care.
Cut taxes for the wealthy so you can cut social security and medicare for the poor.
Allow more pollution into our air and waterways.
Say nothing when extremists foment violence against people of color.
Close our borders to the oppressed and needy.
These are the tenets of the new Christianity, endorsed by the modern day Pharisees and Sadducces from their mansions.
Any wonder that people are leaving churches in droves, nothing has changed in 2000 years.
32
I feel disappointed that a number of the comments draw a distinction between being a liberal and being a Christian. There are liberal minded people who are Christians. In fact, Jesus was a liberal. It seems that some commentators have a sense of superiority, because they don't believe in Christ.
22
I applaud Mr. Claiborne and those who support him. I am an atheist but appreciate those whose faith leads them to live a moral, rather than and immoral life. I consider Jerry Falwell and his ilk to be some of the most immoral people on earth.
I wish the NYT's and the WaPo would cover the Rev. William Barber and The Poor People's Campaign.
https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/may/21/christian-religious-left...
I think even non-theist or non-Christian people could support him without reservation.
20
Love Rev. Barber!
4
Curious how the timing of this outpouring of concern only appears after American Evangelicals succeed in obtaining their dominion over Jerusalem.
Monotheism? Sure.
And he said Liberty was justified in barring the Red Letter Christians because Mr. Claiborne had threatened to commit civil disobedience. “An organization has a duty to the parents to protect their kids,” he said.
Yes, nothing says danger more than people committing non-violent civil disobedience! Don't you think taking on the NRA and pressing for sensible gun regulations would protect the kids even more?
33
This is reminiscent of Bonhoeffer and the White Rose Movement. Thank you for covering this event.
7
Have we strayed so far from the First Amendment that this is now an issue? Yes. The power of religious lobbies in this nation is a slap in the face of our Founders. The two things they were most afraid of, were the idea of church and state joining hands, and standing armies that could be directed to acquire property or power through violence. Presently, candidates are given versions of the "religious tests" that were mentioned in the first plank in the Consitution's firewall against creeping authoritarianism. The second is the misinterpretation of the Second Amendment, which mandated state militias because of their experience with, and fear of, large standing armies directed by one large, overriding entity. Jefferson, et al, are rolling over in their graves right now.
298
I'm not evangelical, but I do take heart and hope from this article. I wish the Red Letter Christians the best, and they have my support. Perhaps unintentionally, what was presented in this article restores a sense of faith in me. Thank you.
Because when you read a sentence such as this: "Mr. Falwell never responded, though in addition to banning the Red Letter Christians from campus, he forbade the Liberty University student newspaper from covering the revival", one starts to worry about what kind of country we will leave our children.
41
I clearly remember the birth of these latest ideas about the tenets of Christianity.
in my opinion, that Era was very much about gaining a huge amount of political clout for what are now called "Evangelicals."
Not to mention the lust for money and political power.
18
FINALLY!
36
And here I thought the war on Christianity was between the Christians and the atheists, liberals, Muslims, and Jews. It's quite clear now it's a civil war.
21
It does seem like a battle between David and Goliath. Lets hope the underdog takes this one.
14
The underdog, David, won the first time. Take heart..
The Rev. Elliott is quoted as saying: “Everyone’s afraid,” he said, pausing. “That’s strong language. Everyone’s very mindful of how they speak and how they deliver the truth. It’s hard to tell the truth in a context like Lynchburg.”
This is America?
36
>>Mr. Claiborne preaches the gospel, lives among the poor and befriends prisoners on death row, modeling his ministry on the life of Jesus...
Oh geez, no wonder the evangelicals hate him. Modeling yourself after Jesus is the last thing they do. Evangelicals today are the Pharisees all over again, self-righteous and ready to sell out God in a heartbeat if they can hold power over others.
And they all know it.
161
You know, if there really was a god, you'd think he'd rid the world of all these charlatan and sham religions and the hypocritical hucksters and snake oil salesmen that go out and fleece all the gullible believers. Religion is for those that don't want to think.
18
Toxic christianity. So true.
22
At least since the time that so many evangelicals rejected Jimmy Carter, a man who truly exemplifies Christ, in favor of Ronald Reagan, I have suspected them of worshiping political power instead of God.
Donald Trump, they claim, is a man of God, while Hillary Clinton, who says she strives to live by her Methodist tenets: “Do all the good you can, for all the people you can, in all the ways you can, as long as ever you can,” is considered to be evil incarnate.
Jesus said his kingdom was not of this world. Christianity was intended to be, and is strongest, as a counter-culture movement. I often wonder if those claiming otherwise are reading those same red-letter words in the Bible that I do.
59
It is difficult to represent a counter-cultural movement when one is standing in line at the buffet.
9
Living his life like Jesus. Of course evangelicals dont like him.
44
Wow - Lynchburg sounds like a truly horrible place
48
"And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves."
— Matthew 21:12–13
As applicable now as it was then.
64
What was the line from the Don Henley song? "They tell you to send your money to God, but they give you their address." Sad so many evangelicals bought into the Make America Hate Again movement. It is likewise sad that so many people claiming to be Christians do and say some of the most unchristian things imaginable. I'm fairly confident if you ultimately make it to heaven Donald Trump will be nowhere to be found....
44
What finally drove me away from Christianity in the 1970's, was Christians. It started with the obnoxious "I found it" campaign. For the first time in my life, I was being harassed on street corners by strangers, who aggressively challenged me as to my Finding It, and pressed their right to make me believe their fantasies about their wonderful sky god's ability to save me from the eternal torture they were so happy to describe to me. Etc. It's gotten worse since then, as these fanatics continue to hijack our liberties and institutions, for their own herd mentality, superstitions.
10
Regardless of whether Jesus really existed or not (and I don’t believe the mystical stuff) the words are there in that book and many of them are pretty dog gone good. Brilliant lessons in how to live a life of compassion.
Too bad there’s too many so-called Christians who don’t follow those important lessons.
They’re the modern day Pharisees.
26
The nexus between evangelicals and the GOP isn't new, and Republicans have certainly pandered to Protestant bigotry in America quite often the past 30 years. Seriously, I'm somewhat perplexed by why some evangelicals are only reacting to this now---and I don't think I'm alone.
21
I encourage everyone who's interested in the relationship between Christian Evangelism, social justice, and our national politics to check out Moral Mondays and its parent organization, Repairers of the Breach. Just about anyone interested in social justice will say, "Good stuff."
10
So refreshing to finally see some evangelicals stand on Jesus' side, not Trump's. Trump is an anathema to everything Jesus stands for, and the evangelical embrace of Trump befuddles and embarrasses me, and sets the Church back enromously...and, sadly, rightly so. So kudos to the Red Letter Christians for seeking to advocate a different, better path.
616
Never mind the church being set back, society is being shackled.
33
And I will believe Trump is a Christian, as they have tried to claim, when he acts like Zacchaeus acted when he met Jesus. He vowed to make restitution over and above to all those he cheated. When Trump does that, I will believe he is a Christian.
48
Not a believer myself, it is heartening to finally see some self-professed Christians standing against the denigration of their religion and core beliefs. Basically, the followers of Trump are nothing more than Cultists.
25
I have wondered more and more about how “Evangelical Leaders” imagine they are perceived by the public at large.
Do they have any inkling that their unwavering support of a deeply flawed man undercuts their moral authority and respectability? Don’t they see that this position repels most of those who might otherwise be drawn to their churches?
The Bible warns of the dangers of false prophets. This group would benefit from serious study of the red-letter passages in the New Testament.
17
They haven’t walked among the “public at large” for years, if ever!
4
Thank you Red Letter for your courage and faith. You have put your life on the line to address hypocrisy and the false gods of power and money as Jesus did with his message of love (Luke 10: 25-37) and truth (Matthew 23). You have the respect of many and are a model for all.
12
I was dismayed to read that Falwell has opened a $3M gun range on the Liberty University campus. Claiborne’s gesture of bringing a gift of a hand plow that he made from a melted-down handgun made me feel a little bit better. Thanks for publishing this article, NYT. It is wonderful to hear that there are some true Christians in the US who are doing what they can to spread love (my interpretation) and to counteract the Falwell/Liberty Evangelicals.
26
The evangelicals have determined that the ends justify the means. Character, integrity and truth in leadership are not important. Neither is the treatment of groups that are not within the evangelical circle.
This is not my version of Christianity.
17
Although I'm an Agnostic, I have been watching the Rev. William Barber and his Poor People's Campaign with keen interest as he tries to reclaim the Evangelical label from the Falwell's of this world and their followers. It is heartening to see that it's not just Evangelicals of color, with their legacy of fighting for civil rights, that are willing to stand up and rightly call out the fake Christianity of those who have sided with Trump. I have been aware of single individuals, like Frank Schaeffer, who are speaking out about the corruption of their faith. But is nice to see there's a movement, even if still relatively small in comparison to the "Trump Evangelicals".
But make no mistake, those fake christians have not "sold out" to Trump. These people have been propping up far right candidates who have been promoting and enacting policy that go against the teaching of Jesus, for a very long time. The only thing that's new with Trump is that, even thought not even he believes that he is a Christian, the Evangelicals who follow him have chosen to ignore his lack of any religious faith. As long as he pushes the same agenda that the rest of the far right "Americhristian" politicians have long been enacting, they will remain willfully blind to his complete lack of character.
And don't get me stated on the followers of the Prosperity Gospel. Although I have to admit, maybe that is one gospel even Trump could believe in.
15
Matthew 24:24 “For false messiahs and false prophets will appear and perform great signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect.” This does not describe Trump & Co., I don't what does.
18
if your job is to preach the Bible and its doctrines, and you're too afraid to speak out against people who bastardize it for their own gains, and use it to demonize and vilify other people, I'd suggest you look for another line of work. Otherwise you are complicit and will soon be spouting the same rhetoric to keep in good graces with those in power.
-Not Religious
14
Nothing more than another case of "my version of religion is better than yours".
3
Let's not confuse the truth. There are religions and there are cults.
9
You're right. I should have said "my cult" is better than yours. Thanks for the heads up.
Claiborne makes his most salient point here, which is one that I hope many evangelicals take to heart:
"'There is another gospel in our country right now, and it is the gospel of Trump,' Mr. Claiborne preached at the revival in his Tennessee drawl. 'It doesn’t look much like the gospel of Jesus.'”
Even Mr. Claiborne understands that now, for the vast majority of evangelicals, political identity is now the driving force, not religious or moral principle. Principle only matters when you have to inconvenience yourself to stick to it, and the excusing of enormous numbers of sins and evils by Trump and his cronies show that they do not take their Christian or moral principles with the seriousness that their gospel demands. The way they have allowed Trump to subsume Jesus is so incredibly saddening.
I would hope that evangelicals and religious conservatives know that this is the reason why liberals cannot take them seriously, and not because we have something inherently against Christians or those who choose to follow a faith.
470
It seems that pro-Trump evangelicals are willing to tolerate ANY behavior in Trump that leads to the circumstance of the Second Coming. They believe that ALL of Palestine must belong to Jews to produce that event. So, as long as Trump delivers more support to Israel to promote that outcome, they support him.
The 'End Days' and the Second Coming have periodically been predicted throughout Christian times. I am old enough to remember that many evangelicals believed such would happen when "Red China' was admitted to the UN. But, that didn't pan out. Neither will total occupation of Palestine by Jews produce such.
In the meantime, the words of Matthew have import: "Judge not, that ye be not judged."(KJV) That cuts both ways. Both sides to the movement could benefit from reflection. But, that would be a tolerant approach by both. 'Tis a quandary.
9
I have the strong impression that they are hoping to PROVOKE the End Days; they are willing to kill the rest of us so they can get to their party sooner.
2
If Christians would actually enact what Jesus preached what a different world and country we would have: Love your neighbor as yourself. Feed the hungry. Shelter the homeless. Minister to the sick and dying. Forgive your enemies. The opposite of the gospel according to Trump.
55
Hats off to Mr. Claiborne, an individual with conscience (our ability to tell right from wrong), as opposed to opportunists in the Evangelical midst, lending tribute to corrupt and unscrupulous Trump, an abomination if the example of Jesus' teachings is being sought, and followed, and (Ugh!) preached in his name. As an agnostic, I can smell hypocrisy as well as anybody with their faith alive. I realize that believing is not knowing, but still, exploring the existence, or not, of a God, is worth the effort. But Falwell and his campus, is a fraud of sorts. I suspect that, deep down, he knows it, but the instinct of his survival, as misplaced it is, is strong enough to pay homage to those in power, however vicious and unrepresentative. Who would have thought that prudence (doing what's right, however difficult) is in short supply?
10
Mr. Falwell, regarding your support for President Trump, the "condition of your church may be strong", but by no measure is it "just".
30
The church is long overdue for another 16th century style Reformation. This time, for the evangelicals. As someone that grew up evangelical and walked away from faith entirely, this is refreshing and healing to read.
Although, I am disturbed...a gun range?! To abuse and twist Christ's message of peace so profoundly! Pure evil!
"For they that are such serve not our Lord Jesus Christ, but their own belly; and by good words and fair speeches deceive the hearts of the simple."
31
I was taken aback by this paragraph. Are guns now part of evangelicals' lifestyle or platform?
Mr. Claiborne still wanted to lead a group onto the Liberty campus and hold a prayer vigil — or at least leave a gift for Mr. Falwell, who had just opened a new $3.2 million gun range on campus. Mr. Claiborne had ready a hand plow that he made from a melted-down handgun, a literal following of the Bible’s instruction to “beat swords into plowshares.
15
Yes. Jesus (Trump lookalike) is wrapped in the American flag and has a Bible in one hand - and an assault rifle in the other. This is the false prophet Falwell and his ilk believe in.
I am a Christian and I am disgusted and heartbroken.
2
The fusion of religion and politics in America has never been so glaring, and the Republicans, not just Trump, are turning that unholy alliance into electoral gold. In the past, the single issue of abortion has provoked outrage among religious leaders who saturated the media and the pulpit with their denunciations of such barbarism, and even condemned political candidates who took the "wrong" stand on that issue. Now that outrage has receded, as those same leaders have fallen silent while calculating how the present occupant of the White House can serve their interests. Because religion in general enjoys such a sacrosanct position in American society, it is more likely that the involvement of religion in politics will continue to grow rather than abate.
8
Horrifying.
While brother Claiborne is vastly preferable to Trump, I just don't see much value in a set of Biblical literalist, delusional, evangelical believers protesting against a set of hypocritical, opportunist evangelical pretenders.
They are all on the lunatic fringe and I prefer a more rational, science and ethics-based resistance to both groups.
23
Farewell is a rich bigoted big mouth, a carnival huckster who abandoned Christianity many moons ago and has no understanding of Christ’s message: namely love for all mankind— especially the poor.
46
As far as I know Jesus never had a political agenda unless treating people with compassion is political which is by its very nature divisive. His Kingdom is also not of this world so those who place politics above the real message are lost and blind; needing prayer and love.
I no longer attend church anywhere because no one really welcomes strangers into their church home. They might make some gesture like having you fill out a card and meet an insincere greeter but you never feel like you are home. Most just smile and walk away. I came to the conclusion churches are like social clubs and strangers need not apply. So, it is no wonder to me that they now have a political agenda. They exist on an earthly plane and "the good that they would do, they do not, but the evil they would not do, that they do." I prefer the company of pagans to so-called Christians. At least they are sincere.
I am an alumnus of Liberty. I would be ashamed to admit that if I hadn't gotten a good look inside. The real wolves in life do not dress as sheep, but as priests and ministers.
63
Oh my, your post hit me like a spear to the heart. So true and so very devastating. May the Lord help us all.
3
It shows what hypocrites the majority of the evangelicals really are. Divorce and extra-marital sex are terrible things until they wanted to support a thrice-married philanderer. Another commandment which suddenly lacks importance to them is, thou shalt not bear false witness, as their leader in the White House spews falsehoods about anyone who has some dirt on him. Life is sacred in the womb but not after it is born and requires monetary assistance for food and shelter.
No wonder the main-stream evangelicals hate the red letter group. It shows them up for being the lying hypocrites they are. Jesus would be ashamed that they call themselves Christians.
65
Oh, but Trump's a 'baby Christian', haven't you heard? I agree wholeheartedly with Michael Gerson's comment in The Atlantic: it borders on blasphemy.
7
Several weeks ago, my school choir performed in a Mennonite church in Virginia. Small congregation. The pastor--a young man--asked for prayer requests before he led off in prayer. And a woman stood up.
Asking for prayer for a man I'd never heard of. Name of Shane Claiborne. (I didn't hear it right at the time--when I saw this article, I recognized it right away.) He'd been told, if he or his people set foot on Liberty's campus, he'd be arrested. What did you say? I thought. Come again?
"I'm requesting prayer," she went on, "for the cards we propose to send Mr. Falwell. Assuring him of our prayers.
"And I don't much FEEL like praying for him right now."
That evangelical Christians have STAMPEDED into the ranks of Trump supporters. . . ..
. .. is a monumental DISGRACE to evangelical Christianity.
"They might at least," said one black friend of mine, "have done it RELUCTANTLY. Done it 'cause there was no one ELSE.
"But no! They went whole hog. Hollerin' 'n' whoopin'.
"It makes me SICK."
All this--plus the "reign of terror" discernible in so many churches and evangelical communities. Pastors afraid to bring it up to their congregations. People meeting in dark, out-of-the-way restaurants, quailing lest they be recognized.
Evangelicals! Whoever you are!
There'll be a price to pay.
A bitter price.
You were given the incomparable gospel of Jesus Christ. To preserve. To disseminate. To hand down.
What have you done with it?
63
I grew up in that neck of the woods and wholeheartedly agree with the picture you paint. Evangelicals do indeed reign with fear and the atmosphere is oppressive! To speak out is to lose all you hold dear. The churches are tribes and an outsider loses their family and friends. I’m so much healthier since I moved away... but the price was steep. Now I can live authentically, but it sure would have been nice to retain a few friends and family. It was the right choice though.
288
"I’m so much healthier since I moved away... but the price was steep. Now I can live authentically, but it sure would have been nice to retain a few friends and family. It was the right choice though. "
Not the same scenario of yours, but I feel your pain. I too have lost friends and contact with family because of the divisiveness created by the "christian right" hypocrisy. It is a decision that I still struggle with, but like you I feel it was the right decision.
Namaste, Mike
This is about being oneself, while respecting other people, in a society the values of which you do not share.
When I was an adolescent I was very impressed by the words of Polonius in Hamlet: ‘To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man’.
These words still seem bafflingly true and still help me in occasional moments of doubt as I grow older. It might be possible to follow them thoughtlessly however and simply become a bore with unoriginal opinions who admires themself for being ‘honest’ or ‘speaking their mind’. I was told, at school, that the essence of good manners was to be oneself without being obnoxious to others (Mr Ratcliffe, the retired RAF officer who told me this during his career as a teacher attributed it to Mark Twain but I have never been able to locate exactly where.)
Finally Steven Petrow said: ‘Too many people think that "good manners" are about subjugating yourself to others. Not true. Respect, and just as important, self-respect are two key elements in this equation.’
If you had to leave the religious and oppressively conformist society into which you were born as you did not share its views then you must have considered all these ideas and I would say have reached the right decision.
Religion turns out to be a powerful political tool. Preach that the Republican party is aligned with God's wishes, win elections, and enact anti-Christian law.
12
Institutional Evangelicals own Jesus, just like Republicans own the American flag.
13
Dear Stretchy Cat Peron,
They may think they own Jesus, but no one owns Jesus, certainly not them. They are however making a mockery of his very good name. I am sure Jesus is not best pleased by the Jerry Falwell types that have tried to coopt his message. As Jesus said, "There will be many who come to me in that day and say, look at all the good things we did in your name and he will say to them, I never knew you."
2
It seems to me that Claiborne is living an authentic Christian life, while Falwell is merely living a Chri$tian life.
34
As Peter said "they have gone the way of Balaam".
13
Wow, some good news from the far right. Trump doesn't even go church but these phony Christians have been worshiping him and his sordid lifestyle.
It's refreshing to see some actually spiritual people speaking out. Nice to see!
24
It's nice (and surprising) to see Christian evangelicals with Christian values...
...for a change!
40
News item: The Falwells are fake Christians--the living, breathing representation of everything that is wrong with industrialized religion.
$3.2 million gun range, indeed. How many college scholarships, how man indigent and/or homeless Lynchburg locals might those funds have funded?
60
A new term worth spreading around "Fake Christian."
19
So next time some hate speech person such as someone who has supported pedophilia insists on speaking at a public university despite the objects of the students, faculty and others, will the right wing scream about the lack of religious freedom?
This has zero resemblance to actual Christian values at these right-wing evangelical institutions. It is about hating others especially anyone in the LGBT community, Muslims, women who need abortions for their own very private and good reasons, or gay people who want to celebrate their love with a wedding cake. Tony Perkins, of the Family Research Council with virulently anti-LGBT and Muslim views, is Trump's appointee to the international commission on religious freedom. He will know whereof he speaks there, since he represents the intolerant side of things.
Trump has an established state theocracy at his beck and call, and it is the evangelicals who did their deal with the devil every bit as much as other former American patriots who did their deal with Trump's treasonous activities and Russian help to win the election.
22
Well, thank God there are some Evangelicals who see Trump for what he is. Falwell and Franklin Graham have sold their souls to back Trump. And let's not focus on Trump's sex scandals, because the Evangelicals use pat phrases to sidestep those. Steve Cortes keeps saying: "We didn't elect St. Francis here,"and then he chuckles at his pat phrase and how well it dismisses all sexual wrongdoing. let's focus on things like the massive fraud Trump was convicted of with Trump University. He scammed over7,000 of his own admirers, and it wasn't in the distant past.
It is a far worse case for these so-called Christian pastors to support Trump, because they are leading their congregations down the same path of lies and corruption and telling them it's God's will. No, Falwell, Trumpism and all it entails is the direct opposite of God's will. Shun and shame the poor, the refugees, lie to workers and the middle class about wages and salaries, dump money on the rich, destroy the government and undermine people's faith in democracy and the Constitution. And while you're at it, Trump, lie, insult, accuse, blame others. Because you're a fake Christian talking to other fake Christians. Just as Southern Christians used the Bible and the "cover" of their made-up version of Christianity to defend slavery, now Evangelicals are using the same tactics to defend whatever Trump does.
35
Let's face it, the mindlessness of religious zealots makes them easy to control by phony preachers who bask in the political power it gives them.
20
anyone believing 45 is a Godly man is out to lunch.
17
Trump thinks he IS God. His whininess about following simple rules and moral precepts is telling.
5
It is well past time that someone spoke out against the heathen brand of Evangelicals who praise Jesus while damning his breathren: the downtrodden and minorities who like Mary Magdalene understood that Jesus’s love meant kindness and giving—-not taking and punishing.
17
I'm not religious at all but I have considerable respect for what the Red Letter Christians are trying to accomplish. While I'm quite sure we disagree on a wide range of topics, I think the one item where we would agree is that there is very little that is Christ-like in today's evangelical conservatives.
26
Actually, none.
8
I'm Catholic and I say you hit it right on the head. I am appalled by the easy devotion to Trump while the central teachings of Christ are disregarded with little or no thought.
Trump has said that people are surprised to learn that he is Christian. What kind of statement is that?
I am afraid it is hard to recognize the face of Christ today when you look into the faces of today's Christians, especially the evangelicals.
9
It is reassuring to learn that, contrary to media charicature, all evangelicals do not support Trump. It is also not surprising since Trump's values are so clearly antithetical to the Bible, which this group holds primary. I wish the Red Letter Christians all the best.
401
Then speak up and out against what Trump is doing to America and Americans! That simple!
That old phrase about AIDS death fits: "SILENCE=DEATH!"
22
The Rev. Jonathan Falwell said he disagreed with Mr. Golden’s premise that evangelicalism has been compromised by backing Mr. Trump. “I think the condition of the church today is strong,” he said.
**********
Falwell's church may be strong, but it clearly does not stand for nor represent the teachings of Jesus. If it were about Jesus, Shane Claiborne would be welcomed with open arms instead of threatened about staying away from Liberty University. The Falwells and their ilk are being called out for adhering to those seven deadly sins (greed, lust, gluttony, sloth, envy, wrath, and pride) and their worship of Mammon, and they know they cannot refute it. That is not strength.
29
I have been wondering when someone in the evangelical faith would mount a serious challenge to the “Christian” embrace of Trump. For those of us who do not inhabit that world, take a few minutes to google and read about “Dominionism” and “Seven Mountains” which are the core tenets of extremists in the evangelical faith. It is beyond troubling and explains much about their embrace of Trump and hatred of secular society. We remain ignorant of their goals at our peril. They would do to our country what extremists in other faiths have done in the rest of the world.
31
Bishop Dr William Barber of the Moral Monday Marches and the new Resistance campaign is a Evangelical, He is nothing like jerry falwell.
6
If we are really interested in modeling the life and example of Jesus, what ought to happen is that we talk to each other candidly and respectfully because we are Christians. We will not agree on many things (and it doesn't matter for this purpose, which side of the political divide I am on). Our disagreements may be heartfelt, profound and deeply held. Lawyers appear in courtrooms all the time, disagreeing vehemently, yet respecting one another as professionals. If the rest of the country cannot restrain itself from overt expressions of politically-based hostility or hatred, we as Christians ought to be able to do so - even as we acknowledge that we have very different perceptions of what is the best for our country and our faith. The essence of the Gospel is not that we agree - the essence is that love requires respect for each other as we communicate that disagreement. Peter and Paul disagreed (see Acts) but they did not fail to express love by continuing to communicate.
13
"Mr. Falwell... just opened a new $3.2 million gun range on Liberty's campus."
"What Would Jesus Pack ?"
Forget the poor and the needy....help the gun-toters.
Most of America's evangelical Christians have devolved into the selfish, tyrannical fascism that the Republican Party officially sponsors....humanity be damned to manmade endtimes.
These Red Letter Christians are a breath of fresh air who actually practice Christianity.
What a shock it must be to the bankrupt, perverted Evangelical Inc. system that is an American disgrace story of raw political power and support of right-wing extremism.
Jesus was a Social Democrat who would be burned in effigy by today's Grand Old Phony party.
Jesus would be throwing up on Liberty University campus if he saw the Whited Sepulchers R Us it has devolved into with its gun range, suppression of speech and blind support of Greed Over People.
America's atheists and non-religious have much more in common with Jesus than Evangelical Inc.
The Red Letter Christians reflect the real Jesus.
296
No they don’t reflect the real Jesus, but they’re on the right path.
3
Excellent comment. As a former Unitarian who became a Christian in a moderately evangelical church I have become increasingly concerned about the identification of Christianity with the Republican Party. I have begun to feel that there are few of us out there. Since I live in TX, the situation is worse than in many places. It is dismaying that many other people, who are on the surface good people, have taken up Trump's bigotry and politics. I have believed in the wall of separation between church & state, which is one of the few things for which I am willing to die. The Trump "Christians" have views which are directly in conflict w/what Jesus himself taught. They are greedy and money-worshipping, which is in contrast to Christ's teachings and they certainly do not help the widow, orphans, poor, and old people like me. Since I live a hop, skip, & jump from Santa Fe, their gun fetish especially upsets me. As the only democratic socialist in my church, I feel that Bernie Sanders, acts more Christian than any of these pseudo-Christians. I am not supposed to judge others' faith but I can judge their politics, which are totally lacking any moral compass. I have 5 other compatriots, not quite as extreme as I am, in my church and the rest are Trumpets so we have our work cut out for us. Reading about this Red Letter group gives me hope.
21
Such exemplary evangelicals. Stunning really. I guess it was the spirit that called them to spend 3.2 million $$ on a gun range. Spending that amount of $$ on say a clinic for the poor down-trodden left behinds, dropping dead daily from opiate addiction would have been so "wwJd?" - after all, he was the original liberal, and they don't need no stinkin' liberal thinking when they can preach Guns for God to them instead..
30
Growing up as an evangelical I was taught that politicians and money changers must be kept out of the temple. Now they have not only let in both, but a fraud who has probably broken all the ten commandments. There will be a reckoning for this and it won't be pretty.
101
good to see that some are confronting the far right fascist evangelicals still....not a fan of the evangelicals at all
30
It is good to see some Christians embracing the true message of Christ. The distorted christianity that obsesses over peoples sex lives and glorifies money, wealth and Trumpism has no basis in the gospels.
47
Since "Jesus" - for whom there is not contemporary evidence of his existence- never wrote a word, how can you say what his "true message" is? Of course, the Gospels, etc. written years after his death and mangled over subsequent centuries, off no proof.
4
Oddly, or not, there is evidence of His existence. Read the historian Josephus. There is no proof, one way or the other, of the resurrection but he was a real historical person. That is an indisputable fact. Josephus WAS a contemporary.
Despite being a nonbeliever, I greatly admire the likes of Shane Claiborne and William Barber II. I don't share their spiritual beliefs, but I do share their belief in equality for all and making the world a better place. If only they had the same size platform as hate-mongers like Jerry Falwell Jr or charlatans like Joel Osteen. Their message is infinitely more appealing and challenging.
85
Don't tell me that at a conservative christrian "university" a liberal christian organization isn't allowed to speak an evangelical message because the powers to be are fearful for the students welfare.
Looks to me that Falwell U is the Berkley of Va.
13
Why are the conservatives so afraid of free speech? If they really believe God wants them to champion a political leader who wants to let children suffer, immigrants be attacked and the frail and elderly be left to die with inadequate healthcare they should be willing to stand up and defend their beliefs.
791
Well said. But the parade of the False Christians is a never-ending spectacle. If Jesus ever did return and witness the hypocrisies of modern-day Christians with all the intolerances and hatred they practice in His name on full display, he'd never stop throwing up.
80
I think that possibly their faith is not as strong as they say it is and they do this to convince themselves. The most insecure people often are authoritarian because they want to be told what to do and are afraid of thinking for themselves. Often, that is combined w/a need to seek power & control over others to prove to themselves that they are right. If one has faith, one doesn't need to force it on anyone else; that defies the whole concept of free will. You can force people into a religion in totalitarian states, but you still can't change the mind of the person inside him/herself. It's pointless. The best way to evangelize is to be an example of a good Christian oneself and others will come to you and want what you have. The best example of a true Christian in this country is Jimmy Carter.
111
Yes, I eagerly await the essays by Ross Douthat and David Brooks on the unconsciable suppression of dissenting speech at Liberty University; complete with dripping disdain about evangelicals needing safe spaces where they aren't challenged by opposing views; and sober speculation that this type of censorship is undermining democracy itself.
102
Evangelicals are under the control of the antichrist. Falwell, Reed, Graham and Perkins are doing its bidding. How can they claim a carnal relation to the Republican Party and a mendacious president in the name of Jesus Christ?
Laurie Goodstein once again knocks the ball out of the park with her penetrating writing. That there is such a split within the evangelical movement should wake up the Liberty University power brokers. Very clearly, Liberty University and other Trumpian religious institutions should see themselves as the temples in the time of Christ in which he cleansed them and overturned the tables of the moneychangers.
Their close relationship to Trump gives Falwell, et. al. more carnal power. They are not going to give that up; thus Mr. Claiborne and followers will suffer under the weight of Liberty University as did the early Christians suffer in the Roman Empire.
My atheist friends will laugh quizzically at all these religious machinations, but, keeping with the context of the Christian bible, masses of people will be led to follow the antichrist. And here comes Trump to lure them. And we can laugh at the fundamentalists who look to the End Times. Their faith in Trump is producing the End Times.
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"When the day of the revival came, the mood and the music inside the cavernous auditorium was upbeat, but began to deflate as the 2,000 seats failed to fill. About 350 people from 28 states attended over two nights. Many said they felt alone in their home churches and had come to find their tribe"
If they know the Gospel, they know about entering through the narrow gate. Don't feel deflated.
67
Thank you! Well said!
2
There's your problem right there: "institutional power and money" - everything Jesus fought against. We are all seeing the Kingdom of God right now, just outside our front doors. It is filled with hate and prejudice and psychopathic lust for money and power.
Organized religion is politics by another name, and fanatical politics are very rarely beneficial.
86
Now Jesus has become a political weapon. Forget the poor, Put Trump in his place!
18
You may want to take a look at the Red Letter Christians website (www.redletterchristians.org) - they advocate for economic and social justice, fairness and opportunity for all. Their assertions and efforts appear to be 180 degrees opposite of the so-called conservative evangelicals, who support taking from the poor to enhance the obscene wealth of the 1% and corporations (btw, I am not a Christian myself, nor a member of the Red Letter Christians).
47
The poor we're already forgotten when the question "what would Jesus do?" was answered with building a "new $3.2 million gun range on campus". This is not about trump being put in his place, it is about hypocracy and practicing one's faith instead of only claiming to.
14
I was a dedicated conservative evangelical for 30 years. I can tell you the political loyalty program is pretty simple: vote Republican or go to hell. All you really need is the voter guide distributed in the lobby of your church near election time, and to follow it perfectly. No real need to feed the poor or help the sick (esp if they are liberal (aka lazy), just vote the straight GOP ticket and join the "saved". Yet Jesus never taught "Deport thy neighbor", nor was he fond of tax cuts for the rich and making it harder for the poor to get food aide. And "live by the sword (gun), die by the sword" was a warning not a command.
380
You are quite right. I knew a lot of evangelicals were Republicans but did not realize that in many cases, baptism meant de facto membership in the Republican Party. I finally said that I had to confess not only that I was a lifelong member of the Democratic Party, until I DemExited when Hillary stole the nomination (cast my first vote for LBJ), but that I am a full-fledged democratic socialist independent who was a state Bernie delegate and voted Green because I couldn't write in Bernie. They haven't kicked me out yet and I doubt they will. They love me anyway and I love them. Every church has to have its representative nut case & I'm it.
10
Evangelicals attempting to convert other evangelicals. What irony.
30
Organized religion is an activity that is designed to do one thing: that one thing is to perpetuate itself.
Organized religion has nothing to do with god.
43
One could make the same case about many public institutions, not just religion. For example, justice and legality are all too often strangers to each other.
At its best, religion is a way of articulating a clear code of ethical behavior from the individual level to the institutional. There is a kind of vacuum around such questions today. What is a good person? What does a life well-lived look like? When does personal self-interest need to cede to a larger good, for the "common weal"? Too few people in positions of authority -- political and religious -- are asking these questions. Or answering them publicly.
You do not need to be religious to be moral, but if there is no widespread consensus of what is right and good society falls prey to the wolves.
Perhaps god might be a way of articulating a code for behavior, perhaps, but clearly the clergy are there to keep their brand alive. Again ORGANIZED RELIGION has nothing to do with god.
Evangelical thuggery is all Falwell and his Lynchburg community preach and live. The continued persistence of anti-Trumpers like the Red Letter Christians are among the only things that can save Christianity over the long haul.
After Trump, it's a total joke among the rest of us Americans who have been saved by the eternal message of science and sanctified by the blood of humanism. The Red Letter Christian numbers may seem small but there's bound to be many more cowering in trumpified, money-changing sanctuaries living on bloated borrowed time. They need to step up and claim their voices, fast because the rest of us have moved on while demography continues to work its reality.
The bulk of the unbelievably sociopathic sexual and racial obsessions of evangelicals will have to be ejected eventually because Jesus, the homespun radical advocating for the children, sick, and poor was the only thing that mattered of the man then and the only thing of relevance today. Everything else belongs in the Iron Age desert from which it came.
72
I believe that science & religion are compatible and each has its own place. As a former Deist Unitarian raised agnostic, I came to Christianity late. I take issue w/much of the Old Testament, which is supposed to be fulfilled, if not superseded, by the New, which seems not to have penetrated the Falwell types at old. They want to enforce the 10 Commandments on anyone but when was the last time you heard them reference the Beatitudes. Oddly, many of my church compadres are medical/science people. I believe that God gave us our brains to use to explore His (or Her for those who lean that way) world and care for it. I believe in science, knowing how objective it is. Facts are facts; I reconcile it as best I can and do my best to comprehend what I see and know. It is extremely hard to reconcile a 2,000-year old book w/all we know now. I believe God wants us to work at it; that includes obtaining scientific knowledge. For those who believe, no proof is needed; for those who don't, no proof will suffice. I DO believe we can all be civil and hold intelligent conversations on these matters w/o getting bent out of shape. I believe Thomas Jefferson, a Deist, called an atheist in his own times, is the best example of how to do that.
7
Christians telling Christians that they are not very Christ like.
Here is a plan: let go of the notion of gods. There are no gods. There never ever have been any gods and there never ever will be any gods.
Free your MIND. Think.
30
But, but - I'm so afraid of the dark!!
16
That is your belief and it is OK for you to hold it. I was an agnostic for years. It is not fear that makes me believe, but hope. I took Pascal's wager and haven't looked back. I believe in Christ as my Savior. If I die and He is in heaven and I get to go there, great. If not, I will just be as before, atoms going back into the earth. My ticket is punched if He is my Savior. What you decide is your decision. I've read Paine's "Age of Reason," which is something all Christians need to read to come to terms w/their faith. There are few good intellectual responses to it; it is a great work. I wish a Christian intellectual, someone of the stature of C.S. Lewis or Garry Wills, would address Paine's arguments. I'm not bright enough.
1
Dear W,
How can you be so sure there are no gods? Or is it just your firm belief that there are no gods? Your welcome to your opinion but please don't inflict it on the rest of us as fact.
1
Besides the main point, we learn that liberty u has a $3.2 million shooting range!! Didn’t know that was on the Christian curriculum. I guess they won’t be “hardening” their school campus.
119
Oddly, I didn't realize until recently that Falwell and Robertson are still alive. I am older than dirtand fully believed they were dead. (SIGH). Not a Christian attitude, but it is easier to endure some people than others.
2
Falwell Jr—the son, not the father.
Robertson is still alive, though. And a caricature of himself.
"Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely".
Can those who bend to the will of Liberty University for personal gain, or demand fealty above faith, be considered true servants of God? These Trump-gelicals prove everyday that they are exactly the hypocrites I always believed them to be.
124
Racism stands between white evangelicals and their God. Now they are calling it Trump, but it's the same thing. Nothing much has changed, except that they won, they are in power and now we see what they are really made of.
136
This is true of many of them; I am shocked but not surprised by the hate some of them express. As a committed Berner, and a lifelong New Deal Democrat until Hillary's theft of the nomination when I DemExited and became an Independent, I deplore the blatant open racism as well as the unconscious racism of these people. We have to admit that all of us are in some way racist, whether we are black, white, red, yellow, or purple people eaters. We can only advance by seeing and removing the mote in our own eye. The open racists are easier to identify than the silent ones.
Oh, please. Hillary Clinton did not steal the 2016 Democratic presidential nomination. BTW, old Bernard never was, or currently is, a Democrat. This is a lie perpetrated Bernbots to deflect from their complicity in the eventual election of Donald Trump. "I couldn't vote for her." "I decided to stay home and not vote." "I voted for Jill Stein." Your choices, your right to make them
But millions voted for HRC in a process decided before Bernie became a fake Democrat. Yeah, the primary rules should have been changed because ol' Bernie wanted it. Riiiiight. Fake Democrats. Fake Christians. Both contributed to the Trump disaster unfolding before us.
Liberty university is the second largest on-line college in the world with about a billion dollars of annual revenue. It takes advantage of its tax exempt status and is deeply vested with republican politics. And then there is Franklin Graham, the son of Rev. Billy Graham. He has hijacked the evangelical faith and politicized it. His faithful are the core of Trump's base.
706
Shane Claiborne and the Red Letter Christians follow in the steps of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. I wish them luck, but I don't hold out much hope.
52
But we remember Bonhoeffer!
Perhaps in 60 years we will remember Trump as well, but not with admiration.
5
I get a daily e-mail from Red Letter Christians and thusly have been known to find discomfort. This is part a larger plan.
Perhaps the Liberty people could use a large dose.
18
Amen. Thank you. Finally.
35
Well you can't blame those people making a living from Liberty being afraid. After all, when Jesus was told he could start a new religion, he responded:"Hey, I'm making a good living as a carpenter. Why should I upset people?"
52
Don't waste your time, or breath. A long time scam, based on fear and exclusion. Just saying.
19
I tend to agree with you but I know good people who live their faith and who derive comfort from it. I try to have some respect for their faith as long as they don't try to impose it on anyone else.
6
One person's religion is another person's scam. I don't insult anyone's religion, although I consider some to be more cult than religion, because I was taught manners, something severely lacking these days. I may privately think they're nuts, but as Jefferson said, "It matters not to me if a man believes in one God or twenty. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my bones." (Quote is from memory so I may not have it exactly right but you get the drift, I'm sure."
3
Good for these Red Letter folks. Imagine that just like many Republicans, there are many Evangelicals who are horrified by this alignment of Evangelical Christianity with Trumpism.
Another good thing - the publicity that Curry, the leader of the Episcopal Church is getting. The loud political Evangelical leaders have taken all the air space and it is time for main stream Christians to get Christianity back to what it is really about.
There is NOT a war on Christians, there is a war within Christianity and finally I’m seeing that the Christianity that everyone says they miss from 40 years ago (main stream Protestant, not the Christianity of these loud, money grubbing, political power grabbing “leaders” who are driving non believers away) is beginning to get our message out there.
134
It's about time! The Red Letter Christians are following in the real path laid down by Jesus of Nazareth. His message was that love for others is the most important thing and that standing up to the power structure who ignore this message is to walk in Jesus' footsteps. The bigotry, hate, and self-centeredness of many evangelical Christians is a sad contrast to the Red Letter Christians.
177
Bishop Michael Curry has the best answer to Trump's Evangelical Christians. Read his wedding sermon here, https://n.pr/2GAi50Q
If it's not about unconditional love embodied in our daily lives, it's not about the God who is love made incarnate in Jesus Christ.
46
Finally a candle is lit.
And He said to them, "Follow Me, and I will make you fishers of men."
Repent Pharisees. Those who support Herod will be thrown out of the temple and God’s judgement will be harsh.
32
Free Your Mind. There are no gods.
18
And the wonders of our world and the science that attempts to explain it are just random chance in the vast universe? And we will eventually figure it all out? Nah.
My small mind will go with belief that a god gave us the ability to know ourselves and so free will. And he sent a guide teaching us to love one another.
2
And God made the scientists, too-for a reason. We need them now especially since the Trumpets are destroying our environment.
1
Well, I've just bookmarked "RedLetterChristians" in my browser. This article made my day! My husband is the pastor of a small nondenominational church, and we've talked about Christians' hypocritical attraction to trump. I often say that if we just used the red words in the Bible, things would be morally clearer.
I'm heartened by this organization, and re-energized.
213
Hallelujah! It's about time someone started asking why so many Christians are so unlike their Christ.
I'll be praying they get more press. Thanks, NYT.
558
To be "Christian" is most certainly not the same thing as being "Christ-like;" Christians are rampant, followers of Jesus are few and far between, and exceedingly rare in Lynchburg, VA.
81
We really need to look more seriously at the whole separation of church and state thing. The religious contradictions and hypocrisy that's shown on full display here are enough to make just about anybody run fast from the Christian church. Religion in politics is also one of the biggest turnoffs for many voters - in both parties - and keeps people from going the polls. I personally have a problem voting for a Christian.
56
I'm OK with Christians who live their faith and actually try to do some good in the world. I'm not OK with people who try to insert religion into public policy.
22
Forbidding the coverage of the event in the campus newspaper?
Reverend Falwell, there is a reason why the First Amendment comes before the Second.
145
That is a great line! I will borrow it in future. Thanks!
6
About time.
23
"By their actions so shall they be judged"
This is the condemnation corporate/materialist "Christians" have brought upon themselves.
More fascist than Christian.
48
The Bible isn't about power, money and property?
13
These true Christians are completely correct. Trump is an atavistic throwback to might makes right by any disgusting means available. Trump is of brute liars. He is not of God, not of humanity, not of science. The court christians are not Christians, they are Trumps lackeys.
69
Since when does a university president get to tell the school newspaper what stories the paper should or should not run?
If this became public at my school, the president would be forced to resign. We actually had a president resign for less once. Evangelical dissenters are fighting a tougher battle than I realized. Jerry Falwell can repress dissenting opinions without fear of reprisal. That should be a warning sign that Evangelicalism has come off the rails. To be Evangelical is itself a form of religious dissent. The movement wouldn't exist if not for the religious tolerance granted by our Constitution.
Just goes to show, those who benefit most from the freedoms of our nation are usually the first to deny those same rights to others. Freedom of speech is protected by the First amendment too you know.
425
Conservative evangelical groups and organizations ACTIVELY prevent discussion of alternative points of view. People are shunned if they are different, or if they questions the prevailing dogma. This isn't new - this is their way of life. It actively conflicts with the teachings of Christ, which were all about challenging the hypocrisy of the religious elite of their time; and all about love for all. Conservative evangelicals are the descended from the Pharisees of the Bible - they are truly the enemies of Christ.
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Censorship of student newspapers by university presidents is exceedingly common. Students want to cover controversies but sometimes end up backing off once it's quietly insinuated that the university could make things very difficult for them personally or no longer provide support like a rent-free place to have the newsroom if they proceed. I don't know where you go to school, but I wouldn't be at all surprised if it indeed had happened at your university in the past.
4
Free speech via the First Amendment isn't mandated in a private institution like Liberty U. because there is no right of free speech among individuals.
4
I am a christian to the bone; I have been watching this situation and here is what I believe. My belief as a believer in the man from Nazareth is that it is a holy experience. This word means set apart, or of such importance, that it is not to be mixed with things that are not like it. I believe this relationship with God is of such importance, like the apostle Paul with all fear expressed that he would in no way impede or obstruct this life altering message with anything. It should be noted that most of the christian men of previous generations were of this mind, Billy Graham being one, who would not even tell people the denomination he was a part of. To take sides (any side) in political debates is endangering precious souls who could be dissuaded from it's beautiful truth of God by people who seem to have little concern for this. The teachings of Jesus are about humanity's real problem: that is sins destroying nature, and a God who has the answer for this. I am sorry to say, by the actions that I see, many have lost sight of this truth!
11
Beautifully and well said. Thank you
Good to know that there are more rational religious fanatics out there. But they are still fanatics. Fanatics of any fashion are dangerous, and religious fanaticism has no business dominating policy making in our democracy.
41
“When one person suffers from delusion, it is called insanity. When many people suffer from delusion it is called religion.” Robert Pirsig
36
So you think that people like the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and Dietrich Bonhoeffer were delusional?
On the grounds of the temple in Salt Lake City stands a monument to the Ten Commandments. As I read them I realized trump has broken all but one that we know of. This is their guy.
295
You mean the one about the graven images?
11
No--he worships graven images of himself. I don't know which commandment he hasn't broken, but I don't think that's the one.
Maybe he's keeping the Sabbath holy. By playing golf.
Doesn't matter to evangelicals whether he follows them, only that he demands that they be posted in public places...
9
This entire story is about the intertwining of church and state. I find it extremely ironic that Liberty University is able to act with hypocritical impunity because their tax-free organization has been able to amass enormous economic power in Lynchburg, which they have turned into a "company town."
*This* is elitism. *This* is haughty denigration and disrespect for people who don't agree with you. By now you have to willfully brainwash yourself to deny that "economic populism" and addressing the legitimate economic concerns of the white working class has been nothing more than an elaborate con played by Trump and his "conservative" "religious" elite.
313
I am a Christian, and in recent years have repeatedly been astonished by how non-Christians view Christians. Some misperceptions I have actually encountered:
1. All Christians are in sympathy with conservative American evangelical views: THEY ARE NOT
2. All Christians are Evangelicals: THEY ARE NOT
3. All Christians believe everything in the Bible is factual: THEY DON’T, AND THIS COMPLETELY MISSES THE POINT
4. All Christians are Catholics: NO. (less than a quarter of Christians in America are Catholic)
5. All Christians are led by the Pope: NOPE - not even all Catholics agree with the Pope
6. All Christians are openly or at least passively supportive of a conservative political agenda: NO AGAIN - Jesus preached love, tolerance, decency, equality, and spoke out against the corruption and evil he saw in the world: he was a radical!
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Sort of like believing all Liberals believe in Open Borders and Socialism.
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My sympathies, but, until your view has the louder voice, the fundamentalist Trump-Christians will continue to dominate the discussion, and destroy our democracy, as well as the religion you call Christianity.
And until the whole thing is reformed so that taxpayers aren't covering for the tax-free billions brought in and misused by these people, the destruction will continue.
I haven't trusted a fundamentalist since the 70s, and see no reason to change that.
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WDP: Thank you so much for your post. We "Mainline" Christians are constantly apologizing to our non-Christian friends for the high jacking of the Christian religion by extreme Evangelicals. They are not what Christianity is about. If anything they are an abomination before God. Any so-called Christian that supports Trump and his policies of racism, hate and exclusionism is no Christian at all.
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“This is not Jesus.” I’m reminded of Dostoyevsky’s “Grand Inquisitor” scene in “The Brothers Karamazov,” in which Jesus returns, performs miracles and shakes Christianity Inc. to its core just by his presence. I think this is the same fear Jerry Falwell Jr. and other Evangelicals for Trump must feel when challenged by fellow evangelicals. Is their day of reckoning coming?
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Yes, in NOVEMBER.
VOTE
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Twice!
But remember what happens at the end of that story? Jesus is sent packing. Now, to mix things up, the moneylenders have truly bought the Temple, lock, stock and barrel, the evangelical Pharisees preach there as well paid servants and there is no one with the power to drive them out.
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