Where did the last post come from…?
December 11th, 2008
Honestly, it came from me self-reflecting a little bit after spending the last three days sick and thinking about the latest Newsweek cover story. You would be surprised how much time I’ve spent thinking about it. Not in the “wow, that was well-written, it made me think about the issues,” kind of thinking. No, it’s been more like, “How can I most effectively and efficiently deconstruct the most irresponsible piece of ‘journalism’ I have ever seen in all my limited years of studying and reading old media.” Many of my posts work like that - where I will stew and think for days before writing (or not writing) my thoughts on something.
On this matter, however, I want to do more than “write down a thought or two” - I want to declare war on a magazine that has so blatantly declared war on me. I have never, in my life, seen a more obvious attempt by a mainstream news magazine to delineate between “us” (the right thinking, clear minded media type) and “them” (the neanderthal bitterly clinging to religion and guns) as I saw this week in Newsweek magazine. From the first line, “Let’s try for a minute to take religious conservatives at their word…” (emphasis mine; meaning, I’m not a member of whatever club spawned this article) to the Editor’s note: “Let the letters and emails come.”
As a religious conservative, I’ve now seen a mainstream magazine feel safe enough with its constituency economically to “take me on.” This does not make its ideas or presentations bold, noble, or heroic - mainstream media are hardly capable of such financial risks - no, this means that it (the editors and publisher) believes that the ideas presented are safe for publication; controversial yes, but economically safe - and that its views are the new social norm for the day. I think, sadly, that they are right.
And this answers the comment that I haven’t responded to yet - the one that asked me why, when it comes to issues like gay marriage, do I care? I care because of precisely what I just articulated - the redefinition of social norms under the banner of civil rights, which is a dishonest and intellectually inferior position masquerading as a just and noble cause. Once that redefinition takes place, and the lines that were once clear are at once redrawn, the future for my children suddenly takes a darker turn; for the precedent set in these arguments is one we will be hearing again, I can assure you. I have to end here - but this isn’t the last of what’s on my mind related to what I consider one of the most ominous signs of our time that I’ve seen in quite a while.
David
Entry Filed under: life at ihop-kc, signs of the times, writing
13 Comments Add your own
1. Jo | December 11th, 2008 at 12:25 pm
I just read your article and then I read the Newsweek one. Honestly… I have never seen the Word of God more twisted for a single destructive purpose than this Newsweek article. It’s calling good evil and evil good. Definitely a sign of the times.
2. eli | December 11th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
I think that in the future the Newsweek article will be seen by Christians as a major turning point in the approach of the end times. Without rebuttal or any equivocation a major news magazine marginalizes and ridicules anyone who might believe differently about homosexuality. Next, any pretense of pretending to present another side to abortion will fall away. Juxtapose this article with the attack on the Call San Francisco in the Castro District and you see the seeds of the persecution of Christians that will arise. In the Newsweek article you see the seeds of a synergistic religious system that marginalizes and ultimately will persecute the true church in the end times.
3. eli | December 11th, 2008 at 6:11 pm
The post above is in the wrong place. I am waiting to see if you move it after moderation.
4. Scott | December 11th, 2008 at 10:49 pm
“As a religious conservative,”
…Trying to figure out how to say this so that I come across in the way that I really feel…
I spent years being a religious conservative, and I don’t mean that unkindly; but I feel like that’s becoming part of my past. I don’t think you’re one either, David (not meaning to speak for you). The phrase seems to describe something that has become owned, shaped and defined by the world, and we’re something other-worldly. Something they cannot begin to understand, let alone define or shape. It just feels like religious conservatives doesn’t apply to us anymore.
God has had me in Rev 1 for almost two months now. One word from one phrase has been taking on more significance for me everyday as I read it, pray it and speak it: “kingdom”, from verse 6. “To Him who loved us and… has made us a kingdom… to His God…”
So though I have my feet thoroughly planted on planet earth, my heart is leading my brain to some place new, in which the slightest inkling is starting to dawn. Jesus made us a kingdom to His God. The signs of the time are starting to pop, but He’s drawing our hearts to a really different place, His kingdom. The world has no idea it exists, and when they try to pigeonhole people like us it’s like a bullet passing two feet over our heads: it gets your attention, but has no effect at all.
Maybe that makes sense to someone. I enjoyed saying it.
5. Greg | December 11th, 2008 at 10:51 pm
Dave, very very well said. The Newsweek story represents a distorted, intellectually dishonest reading of the Bible and of history. I hope Christians, particularly the younger ones, are discerning enough to see its falsity. And this isn’t just about marriage: the Gospel itself is at stake. Wish I had time to say more, but exams are around the corner. Take care!
6. william matthews | December 11th, 2008 at 11:42 pm
I wholeheartedly agree with you.
7. Ryan | December 12th, 2008 at 9:07 am
Dave,
I’m SO excited to see that you’re writing again. Your blog is one of those that I check just about every morning to see if there’s anything juicy to chew on.
I came across a FANTASTIC response to that Newsweek article by Rob Gagnon. He’s an associate professor of theology at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary. Here’s the link:
http://robgagnon.net/NewsweekMillerHomosexResp.htm
He absolutely deconstructs Lisa Miller’s entire article. His response is a bit lengthy, but it’s definitely worth the read.
I also saw a stat on Slice of Laodicea this morning which says that 52% of young people who consider themselves Evangelicals condone homosexual marriage or unions. It’s just a blurb, but here’s the link:
http://www.sliceoflaodicea.com/circus-church/52-of-evangelical-young-people-believe-in-gay-marriage/
Please keep us posted about when your book and Revelation notes will be released. I’d love to get my hands on both!
Blessings,
Ryan
8. Zack with a "k" | December 12th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
Dude well said, loved it.
side note: My name has been spelled wrong on your blog roll for like 17 years now… just sayin’
9. Tiffany | December 12th, 2008 at 8:58 pm
Thank you so much for writing this. I was totally unaware of the manipulation that was going on over this issue. I’m angry that many are being deceived.
10. David | December 13th, 2008 at 6:05 am
Scott - I totally understand where you are coming from. When I said, “religious conservative”, I wasn’t necessarily describing myself as much as I was asserting that I fit Newsweek’s profile of the backwards thinking bigot. Their attempt to enlighten me with their rendering of the scriptures is knit to their definition of “religious conservative”, and thus for the purposes of this conversation that’s what I’m working with.
Side note: I am fairly religious, but by definition I am a radical, not a conservative. I have no desire for things to stay the same or go back to the way things were, only a deep yearning for almost everything to change. That’s not conservative, by definition. So there you have it. “Religious Radical”. That’s going to be a helpful designation someday.
11. David | December 13th, 2008 at 6:06 am
Zack - I don’t mess with that part of the site - I’ll take it up with management.
Will - thanks for dropping in! Good to hear from you…!
12. David | December 13th, 2008 at 6:07 am
Greg - what I said to Will goes for you too, my friend - your insight is always appreciated around these here parts. You have a tender way of provoking the “religious” while helpfully checking at times the “radical”.
13. Andy | December 13th, 2008 at 4:24 pm
Dave - thanks for writing! Your response really got me thinking. To me it seems that it is not a new trend for the media to take the posture of deconstructing moral boundaries in an attempt to dictate immoral norms that are out of touch with mainstream America (while they pretend to just be faithfully portraying what already is reality). What strikes me most is the amount of divergence from mainstream morality that the media is becoming comfortable with - even when their divergence becomes so extreme that it costs them economically. I think it takes a certain amount of inebriation to embrance an economically self-destructive posture. I have been exposed to more TV than normal recently because of my job. It has been remarkable how many companies are introducing TV commercials with overtly homosexual references. I wonder how they think they are drawing more people to their products and services than they are alienating.
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