THE END OF HYPOCRISY: Conservative activist Dinesh D’Souza built a career as a person of color who was willing to champion traditionally white conservative views. But a scandal lost him his job as a Christian college president. (Photo: Mark Taylor/Wikipedia)
Here is yet another example of how GOP conservatives pimp evangelical Christians.
Outspoken conservative commentator Dinesh D’Souza, who is highly sought after on the Christian speaking circuit, recently resigned from his post as president of The King’s College, a private Christian institution in Manhattan. Why? Because while delivering the keynote address on “defending the faith and applying a Christian worldview” at First Baptist North in Spartanburg, S.C., D’Souza, who is married (though allegedly separated from his spouse), was outed for sharing a hotel room with a female who is not his wife. He referred to his “traveling companion” as his fiancé.
So let’s get this straight: A Christian leader, who promotes conservative Christian values in his books and speeches, who heads a Christian college, is speaking at a Christian event on defending the faith, but is sharing his hotel room — and likely its bed — with a woman, Denise Joseph, who is not his wife.
Huh?
Christian publication World Magazine broke the story which led to D’Souza’s eventual resignation from King’s College claiming he didn’t want to be a “distraction.” Of course prior to that D’Souza ran to the conservative Fox News and passionately denied wrongdoing because he and his wife of 20 years have been separated for two. He claimed World Magazine misreported the story and even wrote that “This is pure libel.”
“I had no idea that it is considered wrong in Christian circles to be engaged prior to being divorced, even though in a state of separation and in divorce proceedings,” D’Souza wrote. “Obviously I would not have introduced Denise as my fiancé at a Christian apologetics conference if I had thought or known I was doing something wrong. But as a result of all this, and to avoid even the appearance of impropriety, Denise and I have decided to suspend our engagement.”
C’mon playa. Are all of us Christians that naïve, or just stupid? Certainly the world is not buying your pure lie.
Look, men (and women) behaving badly is not foreign to us Christians. I know it’s not foreign to me. Many of us were doing it out in the world before we came to know Jesus. Many of us have found ourselves falling into sexual sins while in the church, whether the sin be homosexuality, fornication, or adultery. In the Bible, David fell into adultery and brought Bathsheba down with him (2 Samuel 11 ). There are other examples. Sin is sin. There’s no hierarchy. We’ve ALL fallen short of God’s glory, which is why we need Jesus Christ to cover and redeem us daily. The deeper sickness is how too many so-called conservatives promote themselves as the keepers of the nation’s moral conscience, proclaiming how others must behave, yet masking their own sins. Unlike what Jesus warned us in Matthew 7, these hypocrites look pass their “beams” and point out other people’s “twigs” on their way to personal fame, fortune and political power.
But as certain Christians attach themselves to these conservative hypocrites, what does it say about OUR collective witness to the world when the truth comes to light? For example, how can we in good conscience fight against state and federal laws that would allow other taxpaying Americans their right to same-sex marriages, when we don’t honor the church’s marriage covenant? Meanwhile, we allow divorce, which is equally sinful, as if it’s no big deal.
Another big deal problem with D’Souza is that he not only pimps Christianity but also the sin of racism. D’Souza is behind 2016: Obama’s America, a scathing documentary about President Obama based on D’Souza’s best-selling book The Roots of Obama’s Rage. At $26 million so far, it’s the second-highest grossing political documentary. D’Souza is an Indian American who was born in Bombay, Maharashtra, India. Yet, he makes his fortune and fame by attacking not just a member of another minority group, but the nation’s first black president — the symbol of the dreams that helped black Americans endure the deep pain, blood, sweat and tears since the first child of African descent was born in North America in Virginia in January 1624.
Many Asian Indians began immigrating in large numbers to the United States soon after the passage of the 1946 Luce-Celler Act, which allowed 100 of them to enter per year and become naturalized citizens. Dalip Singh Saund, who would in 1957 become the first Indian American congressman as a Democrat from California, was instrumental in the act’s passage. He also supported the civil rights movement. Unlike black Americans whose ancestors were brought unwillingly crammed in hulls by the hundreds per ship as slaves whose backs would build America’s economy, many Asian Indians came by airplane on education and work visas from Canada, South African and of course India. Many of them today, in the spirit of Saund and Mahatma Gandhi, whose nonviolent leading of India’s independence from Great Britain inspired the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., understand and appreciate the plight of being marginalized and oppressed in your own country. But then there are those like D’Souza, and governors Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, and Nikki Haley of South Carolina, who discovered they could slither along the back of the civil right movement, and move on up in the Republican “Dixicrat” Party. With their darkened skin tones, they prostitute themselves as some newer more acceptable minority that won’t rock the boat. Theirs is a new shuck and jive at the expense of blacks, whites and others who fought and died trying to equalize opportunities for all Americans.
Meanwhile, America grows more and more divided by race as recent polls show this election may be the most polarized since 1988 and that anti-black racial attitudes have increased during Obama’s presidency.
In light of this national crisis, how would our Prince of Peace, unity and justice have us defend the faith and apply a Christian worldview?
All of us, including D’Souza, ought to read Matthew 7.
thought provoking commentary.
Mr. LaVeist,
I think you need to consider your words more carefully. Surely you don’t really mean to say, do you, that D’Sousa is a racist simply because he has produced a film attacking the president? He would count as a racist, of course, if he were criticizing Obama for being black, but you give us no reason to think that’s what he is up to. In fact, lest we engage in the sort of judging you enjoin us to avoid, we ought to take D’Sousa at his word: he is unhappy with Obama because of his policies and actions in office, and he would be just as unhappy about these things if Obama were white. If you do mean to suggest that he counts as a racist simply by his criticism of a minority, then of course you count as one, too for criticizing D’Sousa. But this just shows that such a view is completely untenable. I might add that your comments towards the end of your post do not look so good in the light of Matthew 7. You suggest that Indian Americans who have joined the Republican party are “prostituting” themselves, as if it cannot possibly be the case that they actually believe the views they publicly endorse. That’s an ugly and poisonous accusation. If you are really worried about the Christian witness in the world and how Jesus would want us to go about politics, I would encourage you to think very carefully about what you are saying here.
Sincerely,
John Milliken
John: Thanks for your feedback. If you haven’t already, you might want to re-read all of Matthew 7. I have no problem with a person’s right to their political view. Many Democrats also fought to maintain slavery and against the civil rights movement. You know that’s not my point. It’s very clear that I’m talking about hypocrisy and exploiting Christianity and Evangelicals for personal gain. Also, exploiting the civil rights movement, as Nikki Haley has, when it suits her personal narrative, yet supporting the very type of oppressive policies (example:Voter ID laws) that those in the movement (of all races and backgrounds, Republicans/Democrats and including Asian Indian Americans) fought for and risked their lives to eradicate for ALL Americans.
Will, you’re against voters having to identify themselves?
I’ve heard arguments on both sides of the Voter ID issue. I think it’s very presumptuous to assume that voter ID laws are meant to be opppressive. And it’s especially presumptuous to think that oppression is the motive of most of the people who support these laws. Why shouldn’t voters have to prove who they are? Voter fraud is a real problem, and in my view a more real problem than the burden of producing identification. I realize you may disagree, but I hope you can at least see that this is not an outrageous point of view just because it’s not yours.
Judy: Appreciate your thoughtful feedback, but stay focused. This opinion piece is not about voter ID. Even if it was, how “real” is the problem and what was the true motive behind this strategic nation-wide movement? This opinion piece is about hypocrisy and exploitation particularly of well-meaning Christian Evangelicals for individual gain. Check out Matthew 7. The answers (even to the voter ID issue) are there for all of us to ponder and apply.
Will, I have to identify myself at the bank for the same reason I should have to identify myself at the polls. Because I value what’s mine. Notice, no one ever questions the motive of the bank in seeking to identify people that are withdrawing money from it.However, using your logic, banks are racist for making people identify themselves. Obviously banks are just trying to keep black people from getting all the money.
I know this isn’t the main focus, but it was the reason you gave for including Nikki Haley in your post. You have a pretty good case in my opinion regarding Dinesh D’Souza, but by throwing in Haley and Jindal at the end of this article, you seem to imply that any prominent minority in the Republican party is guilty of some ‘shuck and jive’ as you put it. If that wasn’t your intent I’ll take you at your word, but that’s what your post seems to imply.
Actually Dinesh D’Souza probably is actually racist as most people of color are actual racist/shadist. Most people of color subconsciously prefer lighter shade skin regardless of the tone lighter is subconsciously better. Of course there is the history behind, but more detrimental to the history is the present day subconscious practice and beliefs rooter it racism/shadism. It sounds horribly when spoken aloud, consciously, but the inherent behavior just tends to trend this way even amongst the most aware/progressive people of color. White people tend to be less racist or shadist and more xenophobic, ethnocentric, and/or nativist. That’s why is doesn’t matter how much the D’Souza, Bobby Jindal , and Nikki Haleys of the world acculturate and assimilate, they still remain outsiders.
Very well said, John.
“When the Obama-bashing conservative activist lost his gig as the president of a Christian college, it was just the latest example of how right-wing conservatives pimp evangelical Christians for personal gain.”
Really? So it’s about pimping? Not ideological difference and activism?
“Conservative activist Dinesh D’Souza built a career as a person of color who was willing to champion traditionally white conservative views. But a scandal lost him his job as a Christian college president.”
So people of color are not allowed to agree with white people? And what are those “traditionally white conservative views” and why are they wrong?
“Here is yet another example of how GOP conservatives pimp evangelical Christians.”
Man. You really like the word “pimp”.
“So let’s get this straight: A Christian leader, who promotes conservative Christian values in his books and speeches, who heads a Christian college, is speaking at a Christian event on defending the faith, but is sharing his hotel room — and likely its bed — with a woman, Denise Joseph, who is not his wife.”
Blatant hypocrisy. I agree.
“C’mon playa. Are all of us Christians that naïve, or just stupid? Certainly the world is not buying your pure lie.”
Agreed.
“We’ve ALL fallen short of God’s glory, which is why we need Jesus Christ to cover and redeem us daily.”
Agreed.
“The deeper sickness is how too many so-called conservatives promote themselves as the keepers of the nation’s moral conscience, proclaiming how others must behave, yet masking their own sins.”
Agreed.
Unlike what Jesus warned us in Matthew 7, these hypocrites look pass their “beams” and point out other people’s “twigs” on their way to personal fame, fortune and political power.
Hypocrisy is wrong. But I’m sure you don’t mind pursuing personal fame, fortune and political power as long as it’s your own. One could easily make the case that it’s the reason you wrote this article. I would consider that a waste of time. Why not separate the issues so as not to confuse the accusations? You’re also cheapening the conversation by not admitting D’Souza actually believes what he does and has a logic behind that belief that can be argued with. You’re taking the easy way out by hurling blanket accusations about unknowable motives for which there is no solid premise to argue upon (convenient for you) instead doing the tedious job of arguing with the known facts of his political positions and trying to persuade your reader as to why those positions are wrong.
“But as certain Christians attach themselves to these conservative hypocrites, what does it say about OUR collective witness to the world when the truth comes to light?”
Who are you attaching yourself to? Do they uphold any morals that they also break?
“For example, how can we in good conscience fight against state and federal laws that would allow other taxpaying Americans their right to same-sex marriages, when we don’t honor the church’s marriage covenant? Meanwhile, we allow divorce, which is equally sinful, as if it’s no big deal.”
Right. So because I break speed limits I should not be in support of traffic lights. That would be hypocrisy.
“Another big deal problem with D’Souza is that he not only pimps Christianity but also the sin of racism.”
Oh do tell…
“D’Souza is behind 2016: Obama’s America, a scathing documentary about President Obama based on D’Souza’s best-selling book The Roots of Obama’s Rage. At $26 million so far, it’s the second-highest grossing political documentary.”
And making money is wrong…
“D’Souza is an Indian American who was born in Bombay, Maharashtra, India. Yet, he makes his fortune and fame by attacking not just a member of another minority group, but the nation’s first black president — the symbol of the dreams that helped black Americans endure the deep pain, blood, sweat and tears since the first child of African descent was born in North America in Virginia in January 1624.”
So since D’Souza is an ethnic minority he must swear allegiance to the first black president?
“Many Asian Indians began immigrating in large numbers to the United States soon after the passage of the 1946 Luce-Celler Act, which allowed 100 of them to enter per year and become naturalized citizens. Dalip Singh Saund, who would in 1957 become the first Indian American congressman as a Democrat from California, was instrumental in the act’s passage. He also supported the civil rights movement. Unlike black Americans whose ancestors were brought unwillingly crammed in hulls by the hundreds per ship as slaves whose backs would build America’s economy, many Asian Indians came by airplane on education and work visas from Canada, South African and of course India. Many of them today, in the spirit of Saund and Mahatma Gandhi, whose nonviolent leading of India’s independence from Great Britain inspired the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr., understand and appreciate the plight of being marginalized and oppressed in your own country. But then there are those like D’Souza, and governors Bobby Jindal of Louisiana, and Nikki Haley of South Carolina, who discovered they could slither along the back of the civil right movement, and move on up in the Republican “Dixicrat” Party.”
I imagine you with a long feather in your fedora along with a cape and a cane because you just pimped your own history for the sake of partisanship.
“With their darkened skin tones, they prostitute themselves as some newer more acceptable minority that won’t rock the boat. Theirs is a new shuck and jive at the expense of blacks, whites and others who fought and died trying to equalize opportunities for all Americans.”
By “rock the boat” you mean “hurl accusations repeatedly” without offering a logical alternative to the ideologue you’re hurling them at right? Is it possible that some minorities are tired of other minorities making excuses for themselves and excuse-making is really where the dividing line is?
“Meanwhile, America grows more and more divided by race as recent polls show this election may be the most polarized since 1988 and that anti-black racial attitudes have increased during Obama’s presidency.”
I would imagine largely because of people like yourself who have nothing to offer conversations like this besides overly obvious and longwinded statements that amount to: “I’m a minority. You’re a minority. We can’t disagree.” Or “I’m black. You’re white. Your ancestors enslaved my ancestors. You should feel guilty for disagreeing with me.”
Depending on what the topic is, I may actually agree with you. But people like yourself never get past the accusation to the actual topic.
“In light of this national crisis, how would our Prince of Peace, unity and justice have us defend the faith and apply a Christian worldview?”
Truth and love, and neither at the expense of the other lest they become lies and hate.
“All of us, including D’Souza, ought to read Matthew 7.”
And you, in particular, should quit the B.S. and use your platform to say something more substantial than blanket accusations of pimpery and prostitution. If the majority of black people think like you, than the majority of black people are contributing to the said dividing line because people are tired of being B.S.’d along racial lines. Say something more than “I’m black” and “You can’t disagree”. It doesn’t register.
One more question and I’m done: would you agree that there’s an injustice in the quality of education blacks receive compared to whites? Assuming you do (most people do), would you consider the reason there’s such a dividing line between blacks and whites is because whites have had access to better information whereas people like yourself have fostered your basic ideology in an environment of relative ignorance and it therefore results in a myriad of logical fallacies? Because I don’t see how else you can waste so much page space to only say “I’m black. You can’t disagree”…
Jay: Thanks for your feedback, but you spent a lot of space here to show that you’re in denial about D’Souza’s hypocrisy and how he’s exploiting Christian Evangelicals. By his actions, I’m doubtful that he even believes his own books and documentary. He has discovered a way to get paid. Perhaps, as outlined in Matthew 7, you might reconsider buying what he’s selling.
Will, I would like to respond to your reply, but it isn’t based on anything I’ve said. If you’d like to see what an evenhanded analysis of D’Souza looks like, you can find it in the comment section of the article urban faith posted when his movie first came out…
Jay: My friend, the logical fallacy is the red herring that constitutes your final paragraph.
Oh. So you mean you didn’t enjoy being misrepresented? There is one to ponder…
Jay: My friend, you give yourself too much credit. It’s difficult because it comes naturally, but be not blinded by self-assigned paternalism. I neither need nor seek your affirmation. God and His word is more than enough for me. Check out Matthew 7. The answers are there for all of us to ponder and apply.
Will, if at first you don’t succeed, hurl wild accusations of veiled racism in the form of paternalism. Some people play the race card because it’s the best card to play given the situation. Other people play the race card because it’s the only card they have. Maybe they’re not playing with a full deck. Which one are you?
This is a pathetic blogsite. Award winning journalism? Where’s the neutrality and presentation of both sides?
Let’s face it, people for the most part are racist. We love, support, and defend those who are like us. Believe like us. Look like us. Live like us. Have as much as we have, or as little as we have.
But because most of us have a sense of justice and I believe want to live in harmony with each other, over time we come to accept, and if not accept others tolerate others.
It does us all well as the bible says, not to think more highly of ourselves than we should in any case. We should do try this and seek to unify the races by not taking on a superior stance with others but esteeming all as worthy.
In order to be unified as humans with the same needs essentially, we have to throw out that which divides and prevents the needs such as housing, government, families, a means to take care of families, and the protection, education, and health of these families from interrupting that unity.
Sadly the only time unity is realized is when the safety of the whole nation is threatened, such as in the case of war. A clear and present danger has a way of causing us to be more willing to pull together despite our differences than any other time. The ground gets real equal, when the enemy is coming.
Many don’t see the danger of a hate monger posing as a sheep. That’s what Dinesh D’Souza is. Who cares about his beliefs if they only lead him to divide people rather than, as a man of God bring them together. And there are many like him of every persuasion who for whatever reason delight to divide the country over the lines of race.
What should be our response to these types? The bible says expose them, have nothing to do with them.
There are a plethora of ways that we don’t see eye to eye as a nation of different races and rejecting and exposing one divider is not enough, we have to look inside of ourselves at the divider in us too.
To defend D’Souza for the sake of mind sparring and not painting him in even more sinister terms than done here is irrational to me; but the height of irrationality is not dealing with the D’Souza that creeps around inside of us.
“America grows more and more divided by race as recent polls show this election “. This is typical Leftist rhetoric.The only people that are dividing by race are the Left. They are the onlly ones promoting it.
Apparently, anyone that disagrees with the Left is racist. The same people that don’t agree with Obama also don’t agree with Clinton, Pelosi, Reid and other prominent black politicians.
Hypocritical???
Why? Because he preaches values that we should all strive, let me say that again in case you missed it – STRIVE, to live up to. D’Sousa never said he was a saint. He never said he was perfect. But on the Left, if a conservative takes a misstep, that gives license to the Left to do anything they can to destroy that person. It is difficult to misstep when your value system is based on self.
The difference between conservatives and the Left is that conservatives take responsibility for their actions. They don’t claim to be perfect. But when “outed”, as you point out, they typically don’t try to justify their position. They take responsibility for their actions. Did Clinton when he was caught – NO. Did D’Sousa drag the college through the muck with denials as Clinton did. No, he resigned. You tell me who is the better person.
The Left feels that it is OK to demonize, lie, slander, destroy a person on the other side as it is for the greater good – which of course is defined by them.
You don’t like christians and you don’t like D’Sousa – so it is perfectly reasonable to demonize him. You use words like; racist, pimp, prostitute and conservative hypocrites to try to mask your racism and hypocrisy.
One minute you are calling D’Sousa a hypocrite for not living up to high ideals you obviously don’t agree with. But then you use the Bible to try to bolster your argument when in fact you did the opposite. As mention by others here, who is judging who? You use David as your example of “We’ve ALL fallen short of God’s glory” but apparently if D’Sousa falls short he is a hypocrite.
The Left claims that they are the tolerant ones – not the right. But I see absolutely no tolerance from a group that will demonize, slander and destroy anyone they disagree with. Nobody on the Right demonizes the Obama – they disagree with his policies. They don’t attack him personally – unlike the Left.
Tom: Seems like you haven’t read Matthew 7. Check it out. Also, read about what David did after his conversation with Nathan. Compare this to D’Sousa’s response to the Christian magazine that correctly exposed him. What David did is what I had to do when I have fallen short. It’s what all Christians know they should do concerning their sins. Take note of how David was forgiven. Again, be brave enough to read the Word for yourself.
Will,
How do you know what this man is doing? He is in a dark place right now, how do you know he is not in he’s closet (where the Lord says to pray) on his knees asking God to forgive him for what he has done. I don’t know you and I don’t follow your writing, I stumbled upon this article on accident, but it sing’s allowed with one sided racist non-sense. And please leave the Sermon on the Mount out of this, using the bible here is just making you look ignorant. He isn’t judging Obama, he is telling people why he thinks this man is not fit to run our country, and there is nothing wrong with that. If you want to write an article on why you think Obama is fit to run this country, then do that, but tearing this man down because he has stumbled is just a pathetic ploy to get your name a bit more publicized. But it looks like it has worked so crongrats. If you call yourself a Christian (a real follower of Christ’s Word) then the only thing that should come out of your mouth right now is words of encouragement for a brother in Christ!!! And if it is a front and this man is just fooling people then GOD will judge him not us. I’ll pray for you and as I pray I hope people will all pray for us as a nation because we do need it now more than ever .
May God bless your daily walk with Him.
Ladbrokes PLC has Obama 1/4, Romney 11/4; looks like a blowout. Time to begin the Dinesh D’Souza Suicide Watch. Have a nice day.
Wil,
First of all, I have read the Bible many times. Again, an accusation knowing nothing about me but typical.
Second of all, I would think the plank (I assume that is part you are talking about) refers more to you than D’Souza. You claim he is a racist because of a book he wrote that you don’t agree with. Did you see it? I did. I don’t see anything racist about it. Everything he says is valid – whether you agree or not. There is nothing made up and any inferences are backed up. He uses Obamas own book in Obamas words. You don’t agree with him – fine. But to call him a racist is nothing more than showing your racism.
This is not so much that D’Souza “strayed” as we all do as it is that you don’t like him and want to destroy anything good he does. So, stopping his engagement and resigning wasn’t good enough for you. He should be dropping to the ground and asking your forgiveness. Because this is more about you then him.
First, it is about his straying from the values he espouses. Then it is about being racist because he writes a book the criticizes Obama. Then it is a comparison of Asian Indians to the Blacks and how the Blacks suffered way more and that they are getting the benefit of civil rights. Seems like you have an agenda here and I think you need to look into yourself and what your issues are. The paragraph about Ghandi and Martin Luther King says volumes. The fact you are attacking three Indian-Americans, D’Souza, Jindall and Haley, that happen to be conservative also shows what your real agenda is.
Tom: Read carefully what I wrote again. I said that D’Souza “pimps” (exploits) racism. You also might take another look at the definition of racism to be sure that you’e being rational in labeling me as such. Lastly, being a racist is inconsistent with the Gospel.
I know the definition of racism and it has different definitions. But when you use race for your arguments you are a type of racist. “…but also the sin of racism….Yet, he makes his fortune and fame by attacking not just a member of another minority group, but the nation’s first black president “. Now D’Souza is not attacking Obama because he is black. He is putting out facts as he sees them based on his book and the fact that he doesn’t like his policies and what he is doing to this country. YOU are the one injecting race into the argument. You attack his book – not on any evidenciary grounds but on the fact that it is contradicting a black president.
“America grows more and more divided by race” – only on the Left. “anti-black racial attitudes have increased during Obama’s presidency.” – again only on the Left. The Left are the ones injecting race into any argument. It happens all over the place. A conservative says something that is not the least bit racial – not even spitting distance to race – and they are accused of racism because everyone know that what they said is code for racism. So really there is nothing a conservative can say that a Leftist can’t claim is code for “x” where “x” would be: Sexist, intollerance, racism, bigotry or homophobia.
I know what pimping is. And again you are saying that he “exploits” racism – but I don’t see any concrete evidence of that except your accusation.
And the fact that being racist is inconsistent with the Gospel, which I agree, doesn’t mean that a christian can’t be a racist. And using the Bible as a reason why a person isn’t a racist doesn’t win an argument.
Tom: You wrote “doesn’t mean that a Christian can’t be racism.” I understand what you’re getting at, but read carefully Matthew 7:21-23. Forget what you “think” I MAY be saying and what my agenda might be. What IS Jesus telling all of US? We can identify ourselves however we want to ourselves and the world, but according to God (who sets the definition and therefore is the only one who decides) it is not possible to be a disciple of Christ and a racist.
excuse the misspelling. I meant to write “…can’t be a racist.”
You know, I just thought of something a little funny and a little scary at the same time. I wonder what God thinks of the things we’ve posted here.
I’m almost certain that He would say we’ve all missed the mark. Some of us, in insisting that because the facts D’souza uncovered in his research on the president’s books support his enlightened opinion that the research he did makes it conclusive that his assertions are totally accurate, and right. Some of us, in insisting that people are who we say they are, when we don’t know them. Some of us, who just want to be right. Some us, who think we have little corner of the truth to sum everything up nicely.
The problem with dialogueing is that much of what we say, is a very small dust particle of the truth; or an out and out lie. We can’t know truth apart from the One who is the Truth and it is really quite preposterous for any of us to think we can assess motives and reasons for the things that others say or do with accuracy.
All we can do is assess things by the weakest of tools. To then go forward as though our position is right and true because “I’ve got the facts right here in front of me” is ludicrous, because we cannot, apart from Christ, rightly divide those facts.
Even in a court of law we’ve seen many times how the facts belie the truth.
Now since no one has all knowledge, and clearly, since no one knows what to do with all knowledge but God, how ridiculous are we by our assertions and beliefs to make ourselves mini-gods in holding that we know the veracity of what we are saying.
Suffice it to say, that even the most learned in this conversation is just a puny human who has his dust particle of truth. The rest of us are already blown off the page by what we do not know.
We should really all be ashamed. God’s watching.
For: Preaching — No charge For: Philosophizing — Pro Bono
Wanda, you should ask yourself whether or not anyone here is actually doing what you’re saying before you offer your rebuke. I find this kind of comment perplexing because you claim to have a problem with people asserting themselves and you say so by asserting yourself. Anyone who has an opinion has it because they think they’re right. Otherwise it wouldn’t be their opinion. No one should have to say “It’s just my opinion” before they start talking anymore than they should have to say “I am going to start talking” before they start talking. It doesn’t need to be said. It’s evident.
If you think there is something innately sinful about assertive, persuasive discussion, maybe you should follow your own advice and not participate. I won’t be following your advice because that’s not my conviction. Every man should have it settled in his own heart…
There are times in the bible when we are admonished to avoid foolish talking. But I feel like saying very loudly AFLAC!!! Like the duck in the commercial. Why is it that not many of us in this conversation realizes that calling each other names, making polite epithets, challenging others to answer arrogant accusations, and harping on the same things when the answer is all around us is amazing. But then, “Its’ the economy stupid” didn’t get anyone’s attention either.
Now I hear you saying, your position was settled in YOUR heart; but you felt like you had to let Me in on it.
Ahhh…my comments were not interpreted correctly by you Jay. But that’s okay, I am officially out of the conversation. Night.
I’m doing my best Wanda. That’s what it sounded like to me…
Will,
How do you classify the man as a racist, just because he criticizes Obama in a documentary? Just because He’s Indian and he criticizes a Black president automatically means he’s a racist? There’s no evidence that shows this either in his statements about Obama nor in his documentary–has he not criticized him at all based upon his race. From what I read, it sounds like you are passing judgment in that regard, and also for you to call him a pimp is also questionable. Has he had a grievous falling? Absolutely, a man that is in as prominent a position as he is should have definitely been able to see the flaw in his actions. But to classify him a pimp without any evidence other than he sells books and does speaking engagements (Which other pastors do as well) seems to be passing judgment once again. Does this mean all Christian leaders that sell books, make documentaries, and schedule speaking engagements are pimps? Again what evidence do you have of this? It would be one thing if he had mishandled financial records, or people came out from under him admitting to him using capitol for personal gain, or being exploited by him, but none of this has occurred. Yes in Matt 7 Jesus makes it clear to get the log out of your eye, before trying to get a spec out of your brother’s. Is D’Souza guilty of this? He may be. But if he is, you call out where that is in love, in hopes that he would come to repentance. The only area I can see that he may be guilty of hypocrisy is in the area of the whole marital situation which is pretty serious. But bringing in the accusation that he’s pimping Christians and is a racist is completely irrelevant to the discussion of his marital mishap. The fact that is out is that he messed up with the martial situation. That’s something that we can judge accurately because we have the facts. Therefore weighing this matter in love would not be considered us passing judgment. We should pray for the brother’s restoration and repentance. But for you to throw in “Opinion” that he is a racist and a pimp is passing judgment. Simple reason is you don’t have any facts or evidence that you can present to validate your accusation. It’s mere opinion. He’s exploiting Christian evangelicals? How? He’s pimping people? How? He’s a racist? How? No valid facts or evidence have been presented to prove this; the statements are very general and blanket. The marital discussion is fact; something we can all rally around and discuss because the facts are out, and the evidence is concrete. However, the other accusations you make against him seem to be personal opinion and I definitely believe you should watch what you say about someone who Jesus may have shed his precious blood for. Criticizing those in the body of Christ is a serious issue, and I think before we do it we should have a loving heart, and our facts should be straight before accusing them of something that is not made clear in their actions. We have to be careful, because we may find ourselves accusing a blood bought brother of something he isn’t doing. The issue of his marital mishap is fact. The issue with him being a pimp, and exploiting others has no validity unless there’s evidence to proof such. So far, I have seen none.
“By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.”
(Jn 13:35).
Above all, keep loving one another earnestly, since love covers a multitude of sins.
(1 Pet 4:8).
Grace and Peace.