The court, religious diversity, and evangelical absence

@BIGBROTHER1: If you speak to any evangelical Christian they're going to tell you that reading through Leviticus is a painful experience. Because protestant theology is largely New Testament based its difficult to comprehend Leviticus. But we don't right it off. Its impossible to understand an omniscient God. Instead we embrace the mystery. Though a judge adhere's to the "law of the land," nothing you find in the New Testament would warrant a "handicapped" decision.

Still, the Christian's FAITH (in God's guidance) would put him in a Supreme Court position if rightfully so. There are many evangelicals who've made political impacts with regard to this FAITH.

@GIMPI: When men begin to trust in their own wisdom is when they begin to fail. Why...why would I discount the wisdom of an all-knowing God? Why would I trust my own decision-making abilities over God's wisdom. Do you really put your full faith in men? Thats naive. We're all, including myself, subject to passion and temptation; furthermore, failure. So I'll trust a God who I have felt and seen do many things. Who has changed lives. I'll trust in He who lived a perfect life, void of temptation. Who died that we also might have this chance.

Good men/women will be put in the court. Good people regardless of faith. (But I couldn't leave my fellow evangelicals hanging.)

"So, for all of you agnostics, atheists, secularists, pantheists, etc., by your hatred of Jesus and His followers, you are only fulfilling what Christ, Himself, said would happen.
"...So, tell me, how long will you mock? How long will you call God a "myth", laughing at Him and His people, all the while wanting "blessings" upon you?
God will not be mocked. Look at the world around you and realize that this is so."
Posted by: mrhonda2115

Where, exactly on this thread, are you seeing this "mocking", Mrhondda2215? I don't see any. The reference to Leviticus are accurate, if unpleasant. The other poster is largely positive. Praising reason, logic and studious application isn't mocking at all. It's complementing someone, (or a group) on positive behavior. What's wrong with that? So far, on this thread, you are the only one showing any attitude.

As to your "...how is your increased secularism working for you? question, I would say pretty well. We're in an economic downturn, sure, but it was largely caused by deregulation and lack of oversight, and these things can be fixed. Crime rates are actually falling, and have been for decades. The world isn't more violent than it has been. We just hear about it more, due to our advances in communication. (Like the internet. Without this forum, we wouldn't be talking.) We have always had things to fear and mistrust. Government, any government, by virtue of having power, is always regarded with suspicion, all over the world. It's human. It's history. However, the governments in the west is mostly responsive to it's populace, and not so so much oppressive as annoying. That democratic ideal of a government that is not so much feared as bi*ched about is spreading, too. That's positive.

Our standard of living is pretty good, compared to historical norms. Most of those advancements have been made possible by secular scientific advancements. I assume you take advantage of those secular 'blessings' along with the rest of us? Are those the 'blessings' you refer to? If not, what do you mean by 'blessings?'

In general, we are more free, healthier and more prosperous than we have ever been, by and large. I, personally, like that. I take it you don't?

One thing is apparent here. There is much hatred toward Christians and Jesus Himself. This shall continue. For Jesus, Himself, said, in speaking of things to come: "...and you will be hated by all on account of My name" (Luke 21:17).

He also said in John 15:18: "If the world hates you, you know that it has hated Me before it hated you".

So, for all of you agnostics, atheists, secularists, pantheists, etc., by your hatred of Jesus and His followers, you are only fulfilling what Christ, Himself, said would happen.

Jesus said His Kingdom is not of this world. It is in the world, for He said the Kingdom of God is upon you. Yet, God will judge the world.

In Psalm 2 are these words: "Why are the nations in an uproar; and the peoples devising a vain thing? The kings of the earth take their stand, and the rulers take counsel together against the Lord and against His anointed: "Let us tear their fetters apart and cast away their cords from us! He who sits in the heavens laughs, The Lord scoffs at them. Then He will speak to them in His anger and terrify them in His fury."

You continue to laugh and mock believers as imbeciles..ignorant, following a "myth".

Let me ask you, how is your increased secularism working for you? Crime rates are going up. The country is more violent. The economies of the world are being staggered and shaken. Society is full of fear and panic. Even the governments are not trusted anymore. Violence fills the earth. The protective walls of The United States have fallen, as she is suffering attacks on her land.

So, tell me, how long will you mock? How long will you call God a "myth", laughing at Him and His people, all the while wanting "blessings" upon you?

God will not be mocked. Look at the world around you and realize that this is so.

"I wonder whether our traditional emphasis on grace and mercy and admission to heaven rather than justice and law in this world now has contributed to this pattern."

Prof. Gushee's comments deserve to be taken seriously and welcomed by those of us who don't follow his (or any) brand of religion. They should also be studied and discussed in evangelical religious and educational circles.

Here is an academic and an evangelical who is asking NOT why evangelical Christians are being discriminated against (which has been the rallying cry of that community for the past decade-and-a-half) but what it might be that they're doing wrong that is keeping them from full participation in the life of the culture.

One has to assume that, in making comments like the one I've quoted, Prof. Gushee is suggesting that taking a fresh look at social justice -- that "liberal" concept reviled by so many conservatives -- is critical to our humanity no matter what religion we call home.

And perhaps he's gently nudging evangelical Christians to do much more for the "have-nots" in our society than simply telling them about Jesus and exhorting them to believe.

Or maybe I have his message entirely wrong.

Nevertheless, this seems like a genuinely enlightened essay, and I hope we hear more from Prof. Gushee.

One important qualification for the Supreme Court is the ability to think rationally and to form arguments using facts and logic.

An evangelical is pretty severely handicapped in these areas. We really don't need a justice who "reasons" that since Leviticus says so, we should start burning witches and stoning adulterous women to death.