Warning: This post contains everything Ameicans are not supposd to discuss in polite company: politics and religion. I am a fan of discussing them both.
Former Fox News anchor, Britt Hume, has stirred quite a controversy with his appeal to Tiger Woods to turn to Christianity seen in video below.
In one sense I was shocked and in another sense not shocked by people’s reactions. Many claimed to be offended by Hume’s remarks. I am not sure “Offended” is accurate. I think angry better describes them. Hume hits the nail on the head in his O’Reilly interview when he explains that the Bible addresses the issue. Many people hate Christianity. There is a growing intolerance to Christianity in the United States, largely in the academic community. I am neither dismayed nor offended by this reaction. I think it is predictable and perhaps even a healthy sign that the gospel is advancing.
The part that I do find odd, is that Americans, in particular, are so offended by proselytizing. Mark Joseph, the Huffington Post (surprisingly) addresses the issue in this blog post. I will add to Joesph’s remarks that I find it surprising that Americans, who fought so hard for freedom of religion, as opposed to freedom from religion, rail against Hume’s right to his freedom of religion. In sharing his perspective, Hume did not oppress, restrict, nor inhibit another from their right to freedom of religion, rather, he invited Woods to share his own religion.
It also seems clear that Hume did not share his beliefs out of hate, self-righteousness, nor condemnation. Just Taylor unpacks the background of Hume’s faith and more recent devotion to his faith in this blog post. I think with the back-story, I would conclude that Hume was merely posturing himself as, “One beggar telling another beggar where to find bread.” (Luther) Mark Joseph addresses this perspective as well in this blog post. I believe that Hume’s reward is not to be found here in vindication, but in Heaven according to Matt 5:11, ““Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” (Matt. 5:11-12)
This whole controversy is really far less about our civil rights or the notion of a growing intolerance towards Christianity, however. This controversy dates back to the foundations of time as God executed his plan of redemption: Jesus Christ came to save sinners, the race to which we all belong.
