Get Over It!

I'm sorry I haven't posted in a while. My wife faced a health situation that started on Christmas Day, resulting in two hospitalizations and a surgery. She's home now and recuperating well. My thanks to many of you for your thoughts, prayers, and demonstrations of love and support.

Much is being made of Fox News analyst Brit Hume's comments concerning Tiger Woods. I didn't see or hear the discussion, but apparently Hume suggested that Tiger might deal with his current life dilemmas by connecting with Jesus. It has created the usual storm of protest from the left and the resultant normal indignant reaction from those on the right. And, as usual, it serves to widen the chasm between genuine followers of Jesus and those whom Jesus has called us to love and reach. Lord have mercy, this dance gets tiring.

So, I here do publicly proclaim myself officially off this ridiculous dance floor. And here are my parting words to both camps, not that either party particularly cares...

TO BRIT HUME'S CRITICS: Get over it. Believe it or not, there are followers of Jesus who simply want other human beings to have access to the relationship through which we have found purpose and healing. It's not because we think we're better than anyone; far from it. We know that in God's eyes we are no different than Tiger or anyone else. We've simply discovered that God doesn't seek to judge or condemn us, but instead God seeks to reach us, love us, heal us, and send us into the world to offer the same to others. Like it or not, we're the only faith focused on someone who is fully God and fully human in one person, who died a literal human death, and who was raised in victory. It makes no logical sense, and we know that. We didn't seek Him; He sought us, and His seeking is open to everyone. We're not shutting up about it, we're not going away, and we're not watering it down for the sake of tolerance. Deal with it.

TO BRIT HUME'S CRITICS CRITICS: Get over it. Every time our faith faces public criticism, too many of us act out in righteous indignation. And, because of that, we're known to many people living far from God as a holier-than-thou bunch of whiners. Where in the world did we get the idea that governments, schools, and cultures owe support of Christian proclamation, teaching, and values?!? Is Mark 13:9-13 not in your Bibles? Study history. The first followers of Jesus had no governmental or societal support. They didn't whine about it. They went about the business of fulfilling the great commission of Matthew 28:19, against unbelievable odds. And, "day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved." (Acts 2:47) Historically, fervor of spirit and evangelizing blazes when the movement is under pressure or attack, and sags when the movement has official support. If we put half as much energy into offering Jesus to the lost and hurting as we do into reacting every time the faith is attacked publicly, our churches would be bursting at the seems, and Jesus followers would be too busy doing hands on ministry to whine about anything. It's a "first century" world now. Deal with it.

Okay, I'm done. Dance away if you want to. I'll see you around the next bend in the river.