“Wala ng iba?”
I was appalled seeing two names in a line-up of respected speakers in a church gathering. The person who shared the event poster has little knowledge of Philippine politics and the sad roles the two played. One doesn’t even have to be pro-gov’t to see the damage they did to our nation. I immediately left our GC before I could see defenders. I may be passionate about politics but I’d rather not know who among my friends are fist-bumpers. It hurts too much.
My friend said our GC wasn’t the place to talk about such things. That might be true but the event was public, their misdeeds were public, and she posted in a public place. I had to raise it in the same context especially since our GC wasn’t on a shared faith or politics.
My heart does not bleed for my politics but for the faith. One or two might be disgusted with evangelicalism because of those two and the way believers defended them like they were immaculately conceived. I have seen posts from unbelievers who threw the Bible together with the bath water because of the last six years. If I don’t speak up there, how can I show that born-again Christians are not one in raising their fist bumps?
My friend argued that doing so displays our disunity. I have no problem with unbelievers seeing they share the same values with some of the believers, so as not to reject evangelicalism altogether. I would rather be divided by truth than be united in falsity.
And if confronting the wrong among ourselves is, well, wrong, then let’s rip off Paul’s and John’s letters where they warn us against false prophets and teachers coming from within. My friend said they were private letters. Yes, they may have been private in the original context, but 2000 years later, it’s there for all to see.
She then quoted Phil 1:15-18 how Paul welcomed the preaching of Christ by his enemies because “whether false motives or true, Christ is preached.” I said the intentions of the enemies may not have been known to people outside of Paul while the heavy-handedness of those two were widely known.
I said it’s like inviting Hitler’s spokesperson to speak at a synagogue. It’s like inviting someone who has stolen from me to speak on the goodness of the Lord and you’re asking me to be quiet because “at least Christ is preached.” We’re assuming that they will preach the gospel at all when they take the mic.
My friend said God can still use fallen, broken people. Yes, but I don’t remember them showing such humility in admitting that they are fallen and broken. They have broken and stumbled people along the way.
She then said how our political leanings must not influence us in the preaching of the gospel. My objection is not based on politics, but about representing Christ. Wala na bang iba? If that church can’t think of anyone else in their thousand-membership and vast network, call me. I can recommend a few. They may have no name value but they have testimony-value.
I was appalled seeing two names in a line-up of respected speakers in a church gathering. The person who shared the event poster has little knowledge of Philippine politics and the sad roles the two played. One doesn’t even have to be pro-gov’t to see the damage they did to our nation. I immediately left our GC before I could see defenders. I may be passionate about politics but I’d rather not know who among my friends are fist-bumpers. It hurts too much.
My friend said our GC wasn’t the place to talk about such things. That might be true but the event was public, their misdeeds were public, and she posted in a public place. I had to raise it in the same context especially since our GC wasn’t on a shared faith or politics.
My heart does not bleed for my politics but for the faith. One or two might be disgusted with evangelicalism because of those two and the way believers defended them like they were immaculately conceived. I have seen posts from unbelievers who threw the Bible together with the bath water because of the last six years. If I don’t speak up there, how can I show that born-again Christians are not one in raising their fist bumps?
My friend argued that doing so displays our disunity. I have no problem with unbelievers seeing they share the same values with some of the believers, so as not to reject evangelicalism altogether. I would rather be divided by truth than be united in falsity.
And if confronting the wrong among ourselves is, well, wrong, then let’s rip off Paul’s and John’s letters where they warn us against false prophets and teachers coming from within. My friend said they were private letters. Yes, they may have been private in the original context, but 2000 years later, it’s there for all to see.
She then quoted Phil 1:15-18 how Paul welcomed the preaching of Christ by his enemies because “whether false motives or true, Christ is preached.” I said the intentions of the enemies may not have been known to people outside of Paul while the heavy-handedness of those two were widely known.
I said it’s like inviting Hitler’s spokesperson to speak at a synagogue. It’s like inviting someone who has stolen from me to speak on the goodness of the Lord and you’re asking me to be quiet because “at least Christ is preached.” We’re assuming that they will preach the gospel at all when they take the mic.
My friend said God can still use fallen, broken people. Yes, but I don’t remember them showing such humility in admitting that they are fallen and broken. They have broken and stumbled people along the way.
She then said how our political leanings must not influence us in the preaching of the gospel. My objection is not based on politics, but about representing Christ. Wala na bang iba? If that church can’t think of anyone else in their thousand-membership and vast network, call me. I can recommend a few. They may have no name value but they have testimony-value.