“When words are many, sin is not absent, but he who holds his tongue is wise.” (Proverbs 10:19)
I am an avid supporter of Christian radio. In fact, I’ve been doing a ninety-second commentary for several years on a Christian radio station that serves the Atlanta metropolitan market.
I say all that because as a supporter and insider of Christian radio, I believe that some of the weekly talk-show hosts are making a serious mistake, not to mention putting forward a pretty bad Christian testimony. Unfortunately, the same behavior I hear on the radio has become the norm for how we respond to political differences in our own circles.
Christian radio should never be used as a stump for conservatives, who also happen to be Christians, to further their political aims. Yet most of today’s talk-show hosts are embracing the political discourse that serves the interests of one party over another instead of using their medium to show Christians how to apply Godly principles to bring social change. Such tactics only divide the church and is not in keeping with the word of God.
Let me give you an example of what I mean. I recently heard one of my favorite Christian talk-show hosts deriding President Clinton for his past sexual misconduct and reminding his listeners that the same poor judgment is probably at play with foreign policy, campaign reform, gun control, etc. That’s a stretch to say such a thing and encourages Christians to take the “low road” when confronting issues with which they don’t agree.
Don’t misunderstand me. I was one of the first ones in line calling for the impeachment of President Clinton and I’m disappointed that the United States Senate failed to convict him. There’s no doubt in my mind that he committed an act worthy of removal when he lied under oath about his affair with Monica Lewinsky. But the matter has been given due process and if we really support the Constitution, then we must move on. In short, it’s over.
As Christians, we are suppose to be emulating Jesus in how we live our lives and respond to what life brings our way. The truth is I know doesn’t Jesus approve of what President Clinton did, but I also don’t think he approves of how we are using that president’s sexual misconduct to condemn him in everything else he does.
The Bible warns us about using a broad brush when sizing up others. Sadly, Christian radio for the most part has squandered an opportunity to use a powerful platform to model just how Christians should respond when they don’t agree with something our political leaders do. No, we don’t have to agree with the president, but we don’t have to stoop to such levels to make our point either. It’s character assassination and Christ would never stand for it.
We should never resort to legalism when looking at sin in someone else’s life. Admittedly, Jesus did once say that he had not come to abolish the Law or the Prophets, but to fulfill them. But God didn’t give us the Law to beat each other over the head with it. In fact, Paul said in his letter to the church at Rome, “Therefore no one will be declared righteous in his sight by observing the law; rather, through the law we become conscious of sin.” (Romans 3:20)
We need to remember that we live in the age of grace and but for the blood of the Lord Jesus Christ, we are all condemned to eternal death for our sins. The Bible doesn’t say that the wages of someone else’s sin is death. It says the wages of sin is death. Isn’t it strange how we look at sin in the lives of others and somehow forget that we are just as sinful?
God gave us his word to help us with how we live our daily lives. Most of us would readily agree that trying to live up to God’s moral code doesn’t guarantee our salvation. Perhaps we also should remember is that failing to live up to it doesn’t always bring death. Isn’t that what Easter is all about?
Share on Facebook