I am in the process of reviewing Joe Hockey’s speech to the Sydney Institute on the 9 November 2009 entitled In Defence of God. If you like to listen to it, it is on ABC Flora.
In the speech, Hockey refers to The West Wing episode in which the President consults a gay and lesbian hating radio host. She claims that Leviticus is anti-homosexual and President Jed agrees. Jed then seeks her advice on some other Biblical issues.
The lesson - be careful when people agree with you!
Enjoy!
Confessions, I do like to read Bill Muehlenberg’s CultureWatch blog. Yes, it is an extreme Christian right political blog. The Christian right believe that the oppression of women, the hatred of those with other sexualities, the idiocy of creationism, the desecration of the natural world and the evils of capitalism have been all ordained by God. They are totalitarian, mocking those who disagree with them. They hold a right wing dominion theology.
So why bother reading? First and foremost, whatever I think of the vile opinions of Muehlenberg and other extreme Christians right wingers they are my brothers and sisters in Christ. They are family. Christ want me to do more than just be civil, Christ requires me to love them like a blood relative. Love requires, among other things, to care what they think and to correct. This means I must engage in debate with them. They might deny me legitimate Christian faith because of my opinions. Since neither of us have a copy of Lamb’s Book of Life (Revelations 21:27), I refuse to return the rudeness.
The second is to correct my own opinions. I am fallible; no matter how much I want to delude myself otherwise. There are two ways to test ones views. Both ways involve study of scripture, prayer, reason and understanding Christian tradition. One is to do this constantly talk with those who agree with you. Another way is to engage in study under some neutral tutor. Finally and most importantly, is to talk and debate with those who you disagree with. Why is that most important? It is because that way my ideas are tested by the purifying fire of debate.
And finally, one needs to know what your opponents think. How am I going counter the views of those I oppose without first listening to my opponents first? Forgive me, if I think that is too obvious
There is another reason I read Bill Muehlenberg’s blog besides the reasons above, I enjoy it! I am nothing but a theological tragic. I love the interplay between Christianity and public policy. So does Muelenberg.
