It is convenient to cast someone's entire life in an evil light when that person disagrees with you on an important issue.
But Candace, if Warren hadn't done or said anything about homosexuality, would you care about his income or his church's finances? Would you claim to know the motives behind his giving and charity work, declaring that he does good "accidentally" and "in spite of himself" [from the comments]?
Let's compare Warren to Bishop John Spong. Spong, like Warren, will probably live in material comfort this coming year, perhaps more so than some of his former parishioners. If he didn't happen to take a certain stance on a certain doctrine, would you be actively criticizing his finances too? Would you be equally suspicious of his motives for charitable giving and service?
Or has the issue of one's opinion on sexuality risen to become the only relevant criterion in deciding whether someone is good or evil? Do you have the ability to genuinely look for the good in someone who disagrees with you on this issue? Or has the issue of sexuality become your god - the lens through which you see and judge the world?
I used to admire the way you responded to people like whodat?, and I rejoiced at the patience and love you showed to your enemies. I would love for you to convince me that I didn't get the wrong impression.
No, my disgust with Warren has nothing to do with his stand on homosexuality. Comparing him to Bishop Spong is a bit like comparing apples and oranges, in my opinion. Bishop Spong isn't sending out emails letting us know that his budget is short this year and asking his supporters to dig deeper so he'll be comfortable this coming year.
Warren, on the other hand, is a businessman, running a business that just happens to be a mega church. He doesn't take a salary and lives in a modest house, drives a beat up truck, all lovely and admirable, but he and others like him purvey a cheap grace where God is reduced to a vending machine - or a business transaction where our prayers and good works go in and God's good blessings come out.
I don't have to agree with Warren on homosexuality but he's said some fairly disgusting stuff about gays and lesbians, comparing us to pedophiles and incestuous relationships. He has no understanding of gays and lesbians and worse yet, wants no understanding of us.
I just get the feeling that Warren is a con-man. Again, complete conjecture (which apparently everyone missed), but I sense that he's not everything he puts himself forward to be. I could be wrong, but I have a right to voice my opinion, even if it's pure speculation.
And another thing, I never called Warren evil. I don't think he's evil.
Fair enough. I don't know enough about Warren's ministry to say whether you're right or not (I haven't read any of his books or heard him preach). I too loathe the prosperity gospel, and if that's what he preaches, then I neither support nor defend his message. But we're not just talking about Warren's message, we're also talking about Warren the Christian.
I understand that you have clearly acknowledged your words to be conjecture - nothing more - and I don't dispute your right to post them. However, the question we, as Christians, need to ask is not "do I have a right to say/do this?", but rather "is it good for me to say/do this?". Is it good to post negative conjecture about a brother in Christ (wayward or not), in the absence of knowledge about his motives, addressed not to him directly but to the general public? Is that loving? Does it honor Christ?
Have you tried writing a letter to Warren directly and asking him, in a non-accusatory tone, about his motives, actions, theology, etc.? Even if he is unlikely to respond, at least you could say that you followed biblical protocol by confronting him individually before taking the matter to a wider audience. I mean, isn't there a right way and a wrong way for Christians to confront each other, with love?
I'm sorry for carelessly insinuating that you said/thought Warren was evil. I'm glad you don't think that, and it was wrong of me to imply that you did.
Thanks for your reply. Funny thing this morning, my daily horoscope echoes what you said:
"However strongly you may feel, some opinions are best kept to yourself."
I suppose that's wise counsel, and should have been my horoscope days ago! :)
I have tried to correspond with Warren in the past but had gotten nowhere. He's even blocked me from following him on Twitter. (!) So, my entreaties (hopefully they were not accusatory) have gone unanswered. I would love to hear from him one way or the other.
Haha, that's interesting about the horoscope. If only the stars could keep up with what the Holy Spirit has to say... :)
Wow, he he blocked you on twitter? What a strange thing to do. Well, I commend you for trying to start a conversation with him. Let us know, in the unlikely event that he ever responds (unless it's in confidence, of course).
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