I’m always highly skeptical of Benny Hinn types who claim to preach from a perspective of faith but then do so without ever citing a single line of Scripture – or worse yet, pervert that which is written. That latter proves that even the Devil can talk faith, a lot like Huffington Post’s Diana Butler Bass.
Bass begins her column with the last-distch effort of shaming Governor Scott Walker as a “bad” Christian by listing an unaccountable list of religious types — who I’m sure have no political leanings at all — as a way of saying God stands in opposition to Walker and Walker has no respect for these religious figures. While Walker’s actions have zero to do with his faith and everything to do with the mandate he was given on November 2nd — I’ll be her Huckleberry: let’s use Bass’s context for the sake of this piece.
Yet none of these prayers or sermons has swayed Scott Walker. He has steadfastly stayed on his original course, unfazed by the full weight of Roman Catholic authority or the mainline social justice tradition pressing upon him and urging him toward compromise and change.
Wait – but the left prattles incessantly about separation of church and state? Yes, except in the instances where they think they can prostitute faith for political purpose. The amazing thing about the United States, as evidence by Thomas Jefferson’s letter to the Danbury Baptists which the left only knows enough of to be comically dangerous, is how and why we are not a nation under the domination of a denomination. Freedom of religion and from religion, in a country blessed by God, a gift you are given regardless.
Walker hasn’t been swayed because the “swaying” occurred on November 2nd when Wisconsin voters went to the polls and voted for exactly what Walker is doing now: saving Wisconsin’s economy. Bass’s beef isn’t with Walker, who is just a representative of what the people wanted, but rather, with the people. The left can’t say that, though, because it deflates their populist narrative, so they focus on polarizing a bogeyman, in this case, Walker.
This is what I find particularly offensive as a person of faith:
Scott Walker is neither Roman Catholic nor a mainline churchgoer. The son of a Baptist pastor, born in Colorado Springs, the heartland of the Religious Right, Walker is a member of Meadowbrook Church in Wauwatosa, a non-denominational evangelical church. Meadowbrook’s statement of faith, a fairly typical boilerplate of conservative evangelical theology, includes beliefs in biblical inerrancy, sin, exclusive salvation through Christ, and eternal damnation.
In other words, Scott Walker does not give a rip about pronouncements by the Roman Catholic Church, any Lutheran, Episcopal, or Methodist bishop, or the Protestant social justice pastors. These religious authorities, steeped in centuries of theology and Christian ethics mean absolutely nothing in Scott Walker’s world.
“Social justice” is code word for “progressive.” That’s the clue. As a non-denominational Christian, I find Bass’s negative judgment for anyone who does not share her opinions about doctrine completely antithetical to the Gospels, which also warn against worship of legality and reveling in the division of denominations as opposed to focusing one’s heart on worship.
While Bass’s religious citations are flimsy and few, I could easily make the argument that she is advocating for a rejection of democracy and injection of a theocracy.
She’s angry that Walker doesn’t give credence to these authorities “steeped in Christian ethics,” yet I’m curious her criticisms in the wake of the various church sex abuse scandals? A quick and simple Google search revealed nothing. Perhaps her numerous criticisms are buried further back.
What makes her side holier for representing the union laborers and not the taxpayer laborers?
What makes the union holy?
Walker is representing the taxpaying laborers. Putting oneself above the others is antithetical to the lessons taught to us in Scripture and underscores Bass’s erroneous logic and attempt to, by way of maliciousness or deliberate obtuseness, bastardize the scope and message of faith. It’s ironic.
Once you know God’s direction, no change is allowed. Doubt opens the door to failure. Obeying Christ’s plan is the only option. In this theological universe, hard-headedness is a virtue, compromise is the work of the Devil, and anything that works to accomplish God’s plan is considered ethically justifiable.
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Walker is listening to One Person and One Person only: Jesus speaking directly to him. God, evidently, has directed him on his current path. Scott’s just trusting and obeying. He bears no responsibility other than that.
Compromise occurred November 2nd. Walker is following the voter’s voice.
And this is why Scott Walker’s religion is actually dangerous in the public square. Because it lacks the ability to compromise, it is profoundly anti-democratic.
He’s not motivated by religion, he’s motivated by the people’s November 2nd voice. So Bass is saying … that the vote of the people is evil? No, Ms. Bass, standing in opposition to what happened on November 2nd, 2010 is what is profoundly anti-democratic. Bass’s inability to put aside her limiting bias obviously impedes her ability to understand Scripture and relying on politically religious figures instead of God’s Word is the first red flag of false prophecy that people of faith are so often warned of throughout the Bible.
Let me enlighten the author of the article with Paul’s Letter to Ephesians, which speaks specifically about division within the body of Christ. I don’t see how Ms. Bass can present herself as a serious source on faith and yet fail to cite the Word Itself, preferring instead her unnamed “religious figures.”
Ephesians 4:2-7
Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love. Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all. But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it.
Did Ms. Bass happen to miss Romans 13:2?
Consequently, whoever rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves.
Now, had Walker acted in opposition to our Constitution, which in the Declaration of Independence it is defined that our rights come not from man, but from God, then yes, protest, speak out. But the voters acted within their Constitutional rights by casting their vote for Walker and Walker is governing within the bounds both of what he promised and the Constitution. Protest all you want, it’s your First Amendment right, but if Bass is going to take the ridiculous position that Walker’s opposition to a few religious figures is a defiance of God, then she needs to delve into Romans.
Ephesians 4:25:
Therefore each of you must put off falsehood and speak truthfully to your neighbor, for we are all members of one body.
Do you see, Ms. Bass?
I employ Ephesians 4:32 towards Ms. Bass over her actions. She’ll have to crack open the Good Book instead of standing on it to preach in order to discover the verse’s meaning; I just pray that her article’s tone is misleading and it isn’t her first time really reading it.
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