http://www.vancouversun.com/columnists/douglas_todd.html
There are many blogs and opinion articles that constantly flow out of nations with a free press. But for me, one comes along every now and then that grabs my attention and serves as representative of popular sentiment. And so comes to the scene opinion columnist Douglas Todd of the Vancouver Sun.
The Vancouver Sun reports in his biographical sketch, “Although he was raised in a family of staunch atheists, Douglas Todd has gone on to become one of the most decorated spirituality and ethics writers in North America. He has received more than 50 journalism honours for his features, analyses, news stories and commentaries. Vancouver Magazine recently referred to him as "arguably Vancouver's most thoughtful journalist."
So, according to many, he is regarded as an honored and revered opinion writer. So who am I to be commenting and critiquing a blog of his? Well, because Mr. Todd is writing about me. He is opining on my friends and family. And while some may regard me as another bombastic American Christian and armchair theologian, something needs to be said in response to his October 29th blog entitled, “The State of North American evangelicalism.” By North American he means the United States and Canada.
And who is the subject of Mr. Todd’s article? Well, evangelicals. To those of us living in “North America” who may characterize ourselves or be regarded as evangelicals, we might be surprised at the attributions given about us in this opinion piece. Here are the highlights:
1. Evangelicals are often controversial
2. They are behind the “pugnacious”, anti-tax Tea Party.
3. They elected George W. Bush, which of course, led to wars against Iraq and Afghanistan.
4. Our “generals” in the culture wars are Pat Robertson, James Dobson, Benny Hinn, Sarah Palin, and Canada’s Charles McVety.
5. We have led the charge against homosexuality.
6. We are the main opponents to Darwin’s theory of evolution.
7. We are the most antagonistic toward Muslims.
8. We are intellectually weak.
9. We have a persecution complex…
As a North American evangelical/fundamentalist (fundamentalist meaning, in the main, that I hold the infallibility and perspicuity of the Bible) I am a bit surprised by Mr. Todd’s assessment. His call is clear:
“But it's time for non-evangelicals to take a deep breath. Away from the headlines, let's find out who these evangelical folks are, especially the ones in Canada. After all, they are among our neighbours, office colleagues and sports teammates.”
I chuckled at this comment as it reminded me of the scene from X-Men where Senator Kelly remarks to Dr. Jean Grey, “Ladies and gentleman, the truth is that mutants are very real, and that they are among us. We must know who they are, and above all, what they can do!”
Mr. Todd’s rhetoric leaves this evangelical wondering what his intentions are. What is the motivation for the inquiry? Why is it wrong for me to oppose homosexuality or regard it as a sin? Who appointed Pat Robertson, James Dobson, Sarah Palin, and Benny Hinn as my generals? Perhaps Mr. Todd will think that my questioning is just my persecution complex starting to kick in?
Mark A. Noll is hailed by Todd as the voice of reason and balance for the evangelical/fundamentalist. Yet, this voice is telling us to bring a balanced approach to issues in the arts, politics and science. Well, it seems to this “layman” that the balanced approach Noll is calling for and Todd applauds amounts to giving up biblical truth. Or should I say, fundamental biblical truth.
Mr. Todd isn’t all negative on evangelicals. He has some nice things to say about us. And just what does Todd praise evangelicals for? He names two: attendance and mega-churches. Evangelicals apparently have kept their position of 8-10% of the Canadian population while other groups have declined. Basically… numbers.
So, according to one of the leading Canadian religion pundits, evangelicals are a mixed breed of controversial, pugnacious, anti-intellectual war mongers who hate gays and Muslims. But hey, the good part is they are growing like weeds!
Methinks Mr. Todd needs to leave the office more often.
So Douglas, I have a few things to say on which you are critical of men like me.
I am indeed controversial. But if you will permit, it was not my doing. “As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and a rock of offence (skandalon): and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.” Romans 9:33. So, the Apostle Paul tells us that Christ Himself is a scandal. “But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness.” Are you still with me Douglas, or is the Scripture part annoying you? Perhaps this is the problem you have with us? Because we echo the voice of Scripture in telling the Jews that their Messiah has come and the Greeks (shall we say, intellectuals?) that the wisdom of God is displayed in crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. And so we are counted as fools? This doesn’t surprise us. Are you offended at the notion that God Himself desired to set aside the wisdom of the world?
Have my evangelical brethren not read the Scriptures? That Christ was crucified, according to the Scriptures, was buried and raised from the dead, according to the Scriptures? The very foundation of Christianity being Christ and Him crucified rests on the integrity, preservation, and perspicuity of the Bible. And, on the controversial issues mentioned, the Bible is not unclear on those matters either. If Adam was not the first man, then who is the Second Adam? If mankind’s common ancestor was not Adam, and that the human race fell in him in the garden, so that by one man’s disobedience all sinned, then who is the Second Man by whose obedience many are made righteous? You see, the same Bible that is the foundation of the knowledge that Christ was crucified and raised from the dead, is the foundation for understanding the fall of humanity in Adam and the redemption that is in the Son of Man.
As for our political involvement or non-involvement I think if you spent some time with real evangelicals you will find political activism at a very low ebb. Yes, there are some groups heavily involved in politics. But their influence on evangelicals at large is rather small. Did I vote for George W. Bush? Well, yes I did. Sometimes one has to choose the lesser of two evils. While most evangelicals vote their conscience, we also vote on civil and economic issues. We look for men of integrity, honesty, courage, honor, righteous, and just. And such men are hard to find these days outside of true Christianity.
There are several political and social trends in North American society today that do not square with the plain teaching of Scripture. Homosexuality is one of them. It is without a doubt against the Law of God given by Moses and the teaching of the Apostles. The same may be said of Darwin’s theory of evolution. The Bible never hints at the idea of the human race sharing a common universal ancestor brought about by natural processes and selection. Darwin wrote in his book, Origin of the Species, “"Therefore I should infer from analogy that probably all the organic beings which have ever lived on this earth have descended from some one primordial form, into which life was first breathed." Pp.490
Those of us with the most elementary education, basically those of us who can read or hear, can easily discern the difference between Darwin’s idea and the Genesis account in Scripture. They are not saying the same thing, now are they? Yet you want me to lay aside the law of non-contradiction to try and square Charles Darwin’s idea with the Bible?
As in many of such circumstances where the cultural norms and societal morals change with time, it sometimes occurs that such changes run against the plain teaching of Scripture. Some of us (evangelicals) will change with the culture and adopt new ideas and reinterpret old ideas. Those of us who remain with the old foundations and the plain teaching of Scripture might at times be thought of as odd, strange, or dangerous. This is not a persecution complex Mr. Todd, it is a fact of human history as it relates to true Christians.
If at this time in world history I am considered to be a dangerous ignorant nave, an intolerant bigot who is against all sound reason because I hold to the doctrines of Holy Scripture ahead of recent ideas, then so be it.
All I would request is that you actually connect with those to whom you criticize and negatively characterize. And if a no name guy like me doesn’t meet your standards, then give Dr. John MacArthur a call. There is one “general” you left out of your list. Oh, and call Albert Mohler too for a second opinion.
There are many blogs and opinion articles that constantly flow out of nations with a free press. But for me, one comes along every now and then that grabs my attention and serves as representative of popular sentiment. And so comes to the scene opinion columnist Douglas Todd of the Vancouver Sun.
The Vancouver Sun reports in his biographical sketch, “Although he was raised in a family of staunch atheists, Douglas Todd has gone on to become one of the most decorated spirituality and ethics writers in North America. He has received more than 50 journalism honours for his features, analyses, news stories and commentaries. Vancouver Magazine recently referred to him as "arguably Vancouver's most thoughtful journalist."
So, according to many, he is regarded as an honored and revered opinion writer. So who am I to be commenting and critiquing a blog of his? Well, because Mr. Todd is writing about me. He is opining on my friends and family. And while some may regard me as another bombastic American Christian and armchair theologian, something needs to be said in response to his October 29th blog entitled, “The State of North American evangelicalism.” By North American he means the United States and Canada.
And who is the subject of Mr. Todd’s article? Well, evangelicals. To those of us living in “North America” who may characterize ourselves or be regarded as evangelicals, we might be surprised at the attributions given about us in this opinion piece. Here are the highlights:
1. Evangelicals are often controversial
2. They are behind the “pugnacious”, anti-tax Tea Party.
3. They elected George W. Bush, which of course, led to wars against Iraq and Afghanistan.
4. Our “generals” in the culture wars are Pat Robertson, James Dobson, Benny Hinn, Sarah Palin, and Canada’s Charles McVety.
5. We have led the charge against homosexuality.
6. We are the main opponents to Darwin’s theory of evolution.
7. We are the most antagonistic toward Muslims.
8. We are intellectually weak.
9. We have a persecution complex…
As a North American evangelical/fundamentalist (fundamentalist meaning, in the main, that I hold the infallibility and perspicuity of the Bible) I am a bit surprised by Mr. Todd’s assessment. His call is clear:
“But it's time for non-evangelicals to take a deep breath. Away from the headlines, let's find out who these evangelical folks are, especially the ones in Canada. After all, they are among our neighbours, office colleagues and sports teammates.”
I chuckled at this comment as it reminded me of the scene from X-Men where Senator Kelly remarks to Dr. Jean Grey, “Ladies and gentleman, the truth is that mutants are very real, and that they are among us. We must know who they are, and above all, what they can do!”
Mr. Todd’s rhetoric leaves this evangelical wondering what his intentions are. What is the motivation for the inquiry? Why is it wrong for me to oppose homosexuality or regard it as a sin? Who appointed Pat Robertson, James Dobson, Sarah Palin, and Benny Hinn as my generals? Perhaps Mr. Todd will think that my questioning is just my persecution complex starting to kick in?
Mark A. Noll is hailed by Todd as the voice of reason and balance for the evangelical/fundamentalist. Yet, this voice is telling us to bring a balanced approach to issues in the arts, politics and science. Well, it seems to this “layman” that the balanced approach Noll is calling for and Todd applauds amounts to giving up biblical truth. Or should I say, fundamental biblical truth.
Mr. Todd isn’t all negative on evangelicals. He has some nice things to say about us. And just what does Todd praise evangelicals for? He names two: attendance and mega-churches. Evangelicals apparently have kept their position of 8-10% of the Canadian population while other groups have declined. Basically… numbers.
So, according to one of the leading Canadian religion pundits, evangelicals are a mixed breed of controversial, pugnacious, anti-intellectual war mongers who hate gays and Muslims. But hey, the good part is they are growing like weeds!
Methinks Mr. Todd needs to leave the office more often.
So Douglas, I have a few things to say on which you are critical of men like me.
I am indeed controversial. But if you will permit, it was not my doing. “As it is written, Behold, I lay in Sion a stumblingstone and a rock of offence (skandalon): and whosoever believeth on him shall not be ashamed.” Romans 9:33. So, the Apostle Paul tells us that Christ Himself is a scandal. “But we preach Christ crucified, unto the Jews a stumblingblock, and unto the Greeks foolishness.” Are you still with me Douglas, or is the Scripture part annoying you? Perhaps this is the problem you have with us? Because we echo the voice of Scripture in telling the Jews that their Messiah has come and the Greeks (shall we say, intellectuals?) that the wisdom of God is displayed in crucifixion and resurrection of Christ. And so we are counted as fools? This doesn’t surprise us. Are you offended at the notion that God Himself desired to set aside the wisdom of the world?
Have my evangelical brethren not read the Scriptures? That Christ was crucified, according to the Scriptures, was buried and raised from the dead, according to the Scriptures? The very foundation of Christianity being Christ and Him crucified rests on the integrity, preservation, and perspicuity of the Bible. And, on the controversial issues mentioned, the Bible is not unclear on those matters either. If Adam was not the first man, then who is the Second Adam? If mankind’s common ancestor was not Adam, and that the human race fell in him in the garden, so that by one man’s disobedience all sinned, then who is the Second Man by whose obedience many are made righteous? You see, the same Bible that is the foundation of the knowledge that Christ was crucified and raised from the dead, is the foundation for understanding the fall of humanity in Adam and the redemption that is in the Son of Man.
As for our political involvement or non-involvement I think if you spent some time with real evangelicals you will find political activism at a very low ebb. Yes, there are some groups heavily involved in politics. But their influence on evangelicals at large is rather small. Did I vote for George W. Bush? Well, yes I did. Sometimes one has to choose the lesser of two evils. While most evangelicals vote their conscience, we also vote on civil and economic issues. We look for men of integrity, honesty, courage, honor, righteous, and just. And such men are hard to find these days outside of true Christianity.
There are several political and social trends in North American society today that do not square with the plain teaching of Scripture. Homosexuality is one of them. It is without a doubt against the Law of God given by Moses and the teaching of the Apostles. The same may be said of Darwin’s theory of evolution. The Bible never hints at the idea of the human race sharing a common universal ancestor brought about by natural processes and selection. Darwin wrote in his book, Origin of the Species, “"Therefore I should infer from analogy that probably all the organic beings which have ever lived on this earth have descended from some one primordial form, into which life was first breathed." Pp.490
Those of us with the most elementary education, basically those of us who can read or hear, can easily discern the difference between Darwin’s idea and the Genesis account in Scripture. They are not saying the same thing, now are they? Yet you want me to lay aside the law of non-contradiction to try and square Charles Darwin’s idea with the Bible?
As in many of such circumstances where the cultural norms and societal morals change with time, it sometimes occurs that such changes run against the plain teaching of Scripture. Some of us (evangelicals) will change with the culture and adopt new ideas and reinterpret old ideas. Those of us who remain with the old foundations and the plain teaching of Scripture might at times be thought of as odd, strange, or dangerous. This is not a persecution complex Mr. Todd, it is a fact of human history as it relates to true Christians.
If at this time in world history I am considered to be a dangerous ignorant nave, an intolerant bigot who is against all sound reason because I hold to the doctrines of Holy Scripture ahead of recent ideas, then so be it.
All I would request is that you actually connect with those to whom you criticize and negatively characterize. And if a no name guy like me doesn’t meet your standards, then give Dr. John MacArthur a call. There is one “general” you left out of your list. Oh, and call Albert Mohler too for a second opinion.
