I wrote a response to a nationally syndicated columnist, lecturer, and TV commentator tonight. Cal Thomas, a conservative writer by what I can determine through his articles, was talking about Evangelical pastors endorsing Rick Santorum for President, even though he is Catholic. The article is titled, 'Not by Sight, but by Faith' but I'm not sure if you can find it anywhere on the internet.
Mr. Thomas' article quickly degenerated into an attack on Evangelicals, for whatever reason, and included Tim Tebow because he is an out-spoken Christian athlete. He used several scriptures to back up his points that the Kingdom of God is best when hidden or invisible, that Christians should not pray or display their faith in public, and that Christians are insecure about their faith because they want a Christian president.
God forbid that we as Christians would want a Christian leader for our country.
Anyway, I decided that since I argued so well against his column, nearly point for point, that I should share it with anyone that's out there to read it. Cheers!
"Dear Mr. Thomas,
I have read your articles for several years and I have enjoyed them for the most part. You tend to write about controversial topics, so I imagine you get some hate mail. This email is an attempt to correct you, much like a newspaper lists corrections after a date or time gets misreported. I say these things with respect and hope you will take them to heart.
I am afraid that aside from your reference to Matthew 6, you have grossly missed the meaning behind the scripture verses you quoted in your most recent article. Those scriptures you used to back up your point that the kingdom of God is best when invisible or hidden are not talking about the Kingdom being hidden at all. Being a writer, I am sure you know what a simile is... Here's the one scripture:
Matthew 13:44, "The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field." NIV
The kingdom is "LIKE a treasure hidden in a field." Emphasis of course, in the word 'like' which designates the use of a literary term known as a simile. Jesus was talking about the extraordinary worth of the kingdom, hence the man buys the field in which the kingdom resides. It's valuable. Jesus makes the point to cherish it more than all of your possessions. He says to value it and be joyous in finding it...Your possessions are made meaningless next to the Kingdom of Heaven.
You miss the meaning again with your reference to Mark 4:30-32:
30 Again he said, “What shall we say the kingdom of God is like, or what parable shall we use to describe it? 31 It is like a mustard seed, which is the smallest of all seeds on earth. 32 Yet when planted, it grows and becomes the largest of all garden plants, with such big branches that the birds can perch in its shade.” NIV
The point is not that the Kingdom is best small "like a mustard seed" (another simile)...On the contrary, it grows to become massive and becomes the largest of all garden plants. Using these verses without context and against what they mean is misleading and dangerous to those who read your column. But I suppose it may not be your fault:
Mark 4:33-34
33 With many similar parables Jesus spoke the word to them, as much as they could understand. 34 He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, he explained everything. NIV
I suggest that when using Scripture that you pray about it's usage and it's meaning before using it to attack the faithful... speaking of which...
Tim Tebow is just doing what he would normally do by praying before, during, or after a game...it's the media who publicize it. As a Christian, I should be happy that Tim Tebow is taking his time in the spotlight to serve God's purposes (that is, "19 Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20 and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you." Matthew 28:19-20).
In the interviews and press conferences, Tim is just living up to what Jesus has told him to do,
8 “I tell you, whoever publicly acknowledges me before others, the Son of Man will also acknowledge before the angels of God." (Luke 12:8)
I assure you, that's said with the context to support it. With your use of Matthew 6 talking about the hypocrites, it is a mistake to apply that to Tim Tebow because the scripture is talking about motivation, not action. It's as if you were saying that all people who pray in a church are automatically hypocrites, because others can see them do it. The scripture is meant for those that seek for others to see them, to show off basically (showing pride, selfishness, etc.). They get their reward because what they are seeking is not the answer to their prayers; it is the attention, pride, and satisfaction they get by being watched while they are supposedly being 'holy'.
When Tim Tebow has doing things to bring awareness to the Christian faith, and to Jesus Christ, he is doing what we all should do. It is not insecurity for which we cheer him on. Christians seek to have their faith in the public eye because that's where it should be! It's a mistake to put your faith in some locked-away cabinet of your life, only to be shown on Christmas and Easter. Your faith defines you, whether it is a strong faith in Jesus Christ or a strong faith in science, human nature, etc. It penetrates every facet of life, so why not when you are put on display? Tim Tebow is turning an overly selfish, greed-driven sport into a testament of his own faith, and I can't help but appreciate and support that. His football team beat my favorite, the Pittsburgh Steelers, so maybe my comments about him should have more meaning with you knowing my loyalties... As an Evangelical Christian, it is his duty to live up to what Jesus says in Matthew 28. We as Christians are supposed to share our faith with others, so they might see how Jesus is the savior and the only one, the only idea/thing/being, worth following.
As a Christian, it is his duty to pray for those in power to use it as God wills. I haven't seen him make any public endorsements of candidates, and I don't think he ever will. What Christians want is for our country's leaders to reflect Jesus as the idea that drives us to work, supports our laws, and enacts justice. It is not an easy task, for any man to be asked to do that, but Christians hope for a man in the highest office in the land to have his moral center resting in Jesus Christ. We would like to avoid repeating the mistakes of all of those self-indulgent empires that have failed in the past. That failure would not be possible if Jesus Christ was the greatest adviser to our president. I've prayed for President Obama, and all elected officials (as has my church and all my Christian friends), but that doesn't mean I don't want someone else in office who more accurately reflects Christ's mission on our planet and in our country.
Don't get me wrong, I don't want a theocracy established in America...forcing my faith on others would miss the point and block the ability of the Holy Spirit to work in people's lives in order to help them to have a conversion of heart. No one does anything for the goodness of God by forcing someone to believe in something they do not believe. As I said, that misses the point. For it is God who saves our souls, not the missionary. I can force someone to say they believe in God and force them to follow His commands, but if they do not believe, then they are not saved. As I said before, what good is that?
I've started to ramble to make my point, so I'll stop here and hope you'll forgive me. To take Scripture out of context to serve your own purposes is a mistake, and I pray that you can correct it. For if you believe that Jesus is your Savior, then you have brothers and sisters of faith in the evangelical churches. I hope you have taken this email to heart, and if you have read it with an open mind, you can come to understand how the Kingdom of God is meant to be wonderful, huge, and valuable beyond measure.
God Bless you,
Michael Schellhammer"
Emphasis added for the blog, cause I like it that way. . . The Truth is Out There.
