When is it or isn't it appropriate?
I joined a discussion this morning about comments the newly elected Governor of Alabama made about Christians being his brothers and sisters but those not knowing Him are not. These remarks created quite an uproar yesterday. The left-wing pundits were talking about it. Various Jewish and Muslim groups commented on it.
As I was thinking about what my friend had said on Facebook, I read two very important words in the article. The Governor was addressing, and I quote, a "church group". Doesn't the context of making these remarks to what I would guess would be a like-minded group of people in that particular setting change the severity of the remarks? I asked myself this question, and the answer I came up with was, well, yes.
Context does matter. I was taught that a good speaker, or for that matter, a good writer knows his audience. You're supposed to tailor your remarks to your audience as well as your point-of-view. Unless I'm very mistaken, a Christian, speaking to a group of Christians at a church, wouldn't be too far out of line with his remarks, well, unless, he's the Governor of the State of Alabama. Is it too much for a Christian to hope that others come to Christ? Or when you're elected to be a public official do you just stop being who you are? I don't think so. Some believe we're all brothers and sisters, and to an extent that we're all God's creation, that's true. The Bible, though, lays out a different idea about what being brothers and sisters in Christ is and I believe that's what the Governor was addressing in his remarks.
Let's look at those words. Brothers and Sisters. You hear that term a lot if you live in Utah, because it's how our LDS neighbors refer to other members of their religious sect. When I commented on my friend's facebook post, I mentioned that because of his beliefs, our LDS Governor wouldn't exactly look upon me as a brother, as many of my own friends who are LDS (and I'm glad you're my friends!) wouldn't. That doesn't mean, though, that he's a bad governor because he doesn't think I'm his brother, does, it?
Are we so intolerant that we can no longer accept that sometimes people are going to have differing viewpoints from ours? Can we not accept remarks made in the context they're made any more? Or do we have to examine every LITTLE word or phrase to find fault? If that's where we as a people are headed, I ought to quit writing my blog because I make mistakes and have even said some dumb things here in the past (working on not doing that these days). I'm not going to, but you see my point.
Your opinion, of course, may vary. If so I'd enjoy hearing what you have to say on the matter of elected officials expressing their views on their faith.
God Bless,
Coop!
As I was thinking about what my friend had said on Facebook, I read two very important words in the article. The Governor was addressing, and I quote, a "church group". Doesn't the context of making these remarks to what I would guess would be a like-minded group of people in that particular setting change the severity of the remarks? I asked myself this question, and the answer I came up with was, well, yes.
Context does matter. I was taught that a good speaker, or for that matter, a good writer knows his audience. You're supposed to tailor your remarks to your audience as well as your point-of-view. Unless I'm very mistaken, a Christian, speaking to a group of Christians at a church, wouldn't be too far out of line with his remarks, well, unless, he's the Governor of the State of Alabama. Is it too much for a Christian to hope that others come to Christ? Or when you're elected to be a public official do you just stop being who you are? I don't think so. Some believe we're all brothers and sisters, and to an extent that we're all God's creation, that's true. The Bible, though, lays out a different idea about what being brothers and sisters in Christ is and I believe that's what the Governor was addressing in his remarks.
Let's look at those words. Brothers and Sisters. You hear that term a lot if you live in Utah, because it's how our LDS neighbors refer to other members of their religious sect. When I commented on my friend's facebook post, I mentioned that because of his beliefs, our LDS Governor wouldn't exactly look upon me as a brother, as many of my own friends who are LDS (and I'm glad you're my friends!) wouldn't. That doesn't mean, though, that he's a bad governor because he doesn't think I'm his brother, does, it?
Are we so intolerant that we can no longer accept that sometimes people are going to have differing viewpoints from ours? Can we not accept remarks made in the context they're made any more? Or do we have to examine every LITTLE word or phrase to find fault? If that's where we as a people are headed, I ought to quit writing my blog because I make mistakes and have even said some dumb things here in the past (working on not doing that these days). I'm not going to, but you see my point.
Your opinion, of course, may vary. If so I'd enjoy hearing what you have to say on the matter of elected officials expressing their views on their faith.
God Bless,
Coop!
We are all Gods children so that does make us Brothers and Sisters not matter what religion you are.
ReplyDeleteSorry meant "No" matter
ReplyDeleteI would absolutely agree on that. I think the bigger issue I was referring to was when is or isn't it appropriate for public officials to talk about their faith. I'm willing to give the Governor the benefit of the doubt of trying to convey a sense of community with his fellow Christians in a church setting. Maybe not the best words, nor the best church, nor the best day for what he said, however.
ReplyDeleteI still believe in the old chestnut "you catch more flies with honey than vinegar" and when I talk of my faith, I always try to explain what God has done for my life; not comparing myself to others. I think letting people SEE Him at work in my life sometimes says more than words alone could.
I hope when I share that if you can see what God does for me, that you'll ponder what He can add to your life, too!
Coop