I’ve been critical of Jim Wallis on occasion, and I think he jumped the shark when he pronounced a curse on Sarah Palin, but that doesn’t mean I don’t want to hear what the guy has to say. A Christian music festival in Oshkosh, WI has stirred up controversy by inviting Wallis to speak this week. Some local Christians are protesting and one sponsor has pulled out because of the invitation. A conservative Christian talk show host says that youth who attend the event are in “spiritual peril”. Really? Spiritual peril? Because he’s a Democrat and an economic liberal? Does Ingrid Schlueter understand that Christian orthodoxy and politically conservative orthodoxy are two different things? If we’re now judging people’s Christianity by putting them through political or economic litmus tests, perhaps we need to check our own understanding of the Gospel. I think he’s too political and I don’t agree with some of his views, but let the man speak. I guarantee that teenagers will be in more spiritual peril watching network TV or the latest Hollywood movie than they will be listening to Jim Wallis.
There’s a disturbing story coming out of India– a college lecturer was attacked and his hand severed by Muslim extremists who were apparently unhappy with the way he worded a question on an exam. The group alleged that the victim had made a derogatory reference to Mohammed. Sadly I think these kinds of stories happen more often than any of us want to admit, and although Islam certainly doesn’t have a monopoly on religious violence and persecution, we’re kidding ourselves if we try to paint incidents like this as isolated events.
The Faith and Reason section of USA Today’s website is discussing atheist Christopher Hitchens and his recent cancellation of his book tour to deal with throat cancer. Bloggers are apparently speculating about deathbed conversions and such. Undoubtedly, God sometimes uses crises to reach people, and I think it would be a wonderful thing for Mr. Hitchens to experience physical healing as a result of Christians around the world praying for him. The truth is, we don’t know exactly what God is up to here. But there are a couple of things we can be sure of– like the rest of us, Christopher Hitchens needs Jesus, and Jesus is able to heal him both spiritually and physically. Things happen when Christians pray, not when we speculate.
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July 6, 2010 am31 11:02 am
Jim Wallis rejects the exclusive message of Jesus as the only way to heaven. Jim Wallis believes homosexuality is compatible with Christianity. Jim Wallis believes that the Marxist redistribution of wealth (theft) is a biblical model for economics. You cannot separate economics from the Bible. Scripture has something to say on every matter of faith and life. Interesting that Jim Wallis promotes the Year of Jubilee concept from the Old Testament. Does he also believe in the stoning of gays, adulterers and rebellious teens found just a few passages over from the same book? You can’t cherry pick what you want out of Scripture to make up your “biblical case.”
July 6, 2010 am31 11:03 am
Everything I’ve read from Wallis’ virtual pen suggests he’s very much radically liberal from a theological standpoint as well.
July 6, 2010 am31 12:06 pm
Jim Wallis is a hero in my book. His only evangelical \crime\ is failing to bark right wing talking points that decry massive tax cuts for the rich and insane spending on preemptive wars.
July 6, 2010 am31 6:20 pm
Of the Christopher Hitchens matter, the more interesting conversation will the one that now occurs between Peter Hitchens and his illustrious brother. That’s one I’d like to eavesdrop on.
The real debate rages within families, where Jesus said the divides would be.
July 6, 2010 am31 9:03 pm
Something is wrong in American evangelical circles when a non-Christian heretic like Glenn Beck is welcomed in to speak, but an orthodox, evangelical brother like Jim Wallis is almost excluded. Christians can have different political beliefs. Jim Wallis provides much needed balance and outreach, with a solid Biblical focus.
July 6, 2010 am31 10:53 pm
Thanks, Shane, for your words on Jim Wallis. You’re right on here. And TonyP, you’ve nailed it as well.
July 12, 2010 am31 2:29 pm
Val,
I’m not disputing your statements- but the things I’ve read from Wallace don’t go nearly as far as you claim he does. If you are right, I’ve missed something somewhere.
Please site which works in which Wallace rejects Jesus as the only savior or says that homosexuality isn’t a sin.
August 2, 2010 am31 6:39 pm
this man is a danger to all who follow his radical, socialist agenda. If the UMC continues to associate themselves with this evil man, it will be destroyed. Now is not the time to fall for false doctrines as preached by this man. Salvation is on the line – individual salvation, that is. Christ did not die for societal salvation – acceptance of Christ must come from each individual person. When did the UMC start buying in to the wallis’ kind of lies ?? I am ashamed to be a United Methodist and will be pulling my membership post haste. I pray God will open the eyes of all who actually fall for social justice and the faith it tries to sell. Hell really does exist.