Nov 14 2006
Rosie’s Remarks on ‘Radical Christianity’ were hardly noticed by Christians…
[From the Christian Post]
Nearly two months after talk show co-host Rosie O’Donnell made shocking comments, comparing radical Christianity to radical Islam, a Barna study found Americans were largely ignorant about the incident.In a study conducted on over 1,000 adults in October, The Barna Group revealed that even most evangelical Christians were unaware of the controversial remark that aired on ABC’s The View, days after the observance of September 11.
O’Donnell had shocked co-hosts and audiences when she said, “Radical Christianity is just as threatening as radical Islam in a country like America where we have a separation of church and state. We’re a democracy here.”
George Barna said:
âFirst, notice that relatively few people were even aware of Miss OâDonnellâs comments. That highlights the difficulty of cutting through the clutter of media noise to grab peopleâs attention and influence their thinking,â Barna stated. âSecond, notice that a substantial portion of the adult population shares some level of agreement with Miss OâDonnellâs perspectives on Christianity. As churches and other ministries seek to advance the Christian message, progress will be made in an increasingly challenging, if not hostile environment.
“Finally, the fact that so few adults who consider themselves to be Christian felt that they were even owed an apology speaks volumes about the self-image of Christians and the centrality of their faith in their life.â
Read the article here.
[From me]
Unfortunately, Rosie has a few valid points. Christians can be judgmental–at least I know I can be. But, no true follower of Jesus that I know would blow up innocent people like happened on 9/11.
What can we do to make unbelievers see that we love them and especially Jesus loves them unconditionally? How can we display love without a “but?” What ways can we be better at teaching what the Bible says about sin without compromising the message and love people at the same time?
What do you think?
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3 responses so far
Kevin,
I’m wondering if our inability to really love people where they are is tied to our fear of being seen as condoning what they do? I’ve heard a good bit of SBC preaching over the past couple of months in meetings and on the web and I find us [SBC preachers]strangely angry at culture, and the people that inhabit it.
I call it strange because it seemed to be the opposite with the Jesus I see ministering in the New Testament. He seemed to have an uncany ability to love people expressively [woman taken in adultry/woman at the well] and not be afraid they might think He condoned their behavior. His angry seemed to be reserved for the Religious Fundamentalists of His day who believed they had it all together and everyone else needed to be like them.
I believe it is possible to love the unlovely and stand for the Truth of the Gospel at the same time. I’m afraid what we used to call our “testimony” is, in our day, more a prideful concern for our “reputation” [either personal or as a baptist] than a genuine concern for people for whom Christ died. And I’m thinking they [lost people] know it. It never ceases to amaze me how some of us get so mad at lost people for acting lost.
Paul B.
Add an “n” here - take away a “y” there and I really do know how to spell. Certainly better than I know how to type. Sorry. Paul B.
The big thing that gets me is the intolerance and then the bigotry which can result from the judgmental attitudes of believers. Janna raised very valid concerns about people who bomb abortion clinics or those who yell at gays during a Pride event. What purpose does that serve, other than showing hatred and resentment? It hardly shows that a welcome mat will be found at the front door of the church. And then people wonder why others (such as Rosie and Elton John) retaliate with their statements.