USA Today Religion Reporter Slams Baptist Preacher for Tweeting That Rep. Weiner Needs Jesus
A Baptist preacher calling a sinner to repent and trust in Jesus Christ for salvation is hardly news. Except, perhaps, when it's done via Twitter.
USA Today religion blogger Cathy Lynn Grossman yesterday took seminary president and Twitter user Albert Mohler to task for this tweet sent on Saturday:
Dear Congressman Weiner: There is no effective "treatment" for sin. Only atonement, found only in Jesus Christ.
Tweeted in response to news that Weiner was taking a "leave of absence" and seeking "treatment," Grossman read into Mohler's tweet an "evangelistic dig at Jews like Weiner and other non-Christians," although there's nothing specific in the tweet directed at any particular religious persuasion. Yes, Weiner happens to be Jewish, but he also happens to be a man whose private sexual indiscretions are now, to his shame, openly on display to the whole world.
If anything, a more charitable inference may be that Mohler's evangelistic plea is aimed broadly at millions of men who, like Anthony Weiner, are slaves to their unchecked sexual appetites and facing disastrous consequences in their lives because of them.
In closing her piece, Grossman again took a swipe at Mohler's tweet, dismissively tagging it as "turn-or-burn evangelism" as she prompted readers of her blog for their reactions in the comment field:
Let's set aside the sex scandals of avowedly Christian public figures who presumably already believed in the Christian concept of salvation but weren't living up to their religious morals. And plenty of rabbis have already chimed in with Jewish counseling on how Weiner might find the path back to righteousness.
This reads as an evangelism tactic, riding in on the Weiner headlines but aimed at people like Jews such as Weiner, Buddhists like Woods, and many others, such as Weiner's Muslim wife, who hold different ideas about salvation, different approaches to atonement.
DO YOU THINK ... the Weiner scandal is an opportune moment for turn-or-burn evangelism?
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Comments
DO YOU THINK....
Submitted by drsamherman on Mon, 06/13/2011 - 1:27pm.
Cathy Lynn Grossman is an overwrought, hand-wringing, liberal opportunist?
or perhaps CLG thought the
Submitted by cwcheese on Mon, 06/13/2011 - 2:07pm.
or perhaps CLG thought the tweet was directed at her... OMG... IT WAS!!!!!
i think you missed a word
Submitted by OuttaMyWay on Mon, 06/13/2011 - 1:45pm.
while you use the term "shame", he has not indicated that he has any.
Talk about a slam on a religion!
Submitted by Newsbubba on Mon, 06/13/2011 - 2:04pm.
For Grossman to use the phrase, "evangelistic dig at Jews like Weiner" is an affront to Judaism!
Calling Weiner a "Jew" is like referring to Bambi as "a Christian." In name only, babe. In name only!!
Thank God that there are few "Jews like Weiner," yet they all seem to be liberal Democrat politicians.
"Weiner needs Jesus" I agree.
Submitted by okie-pastor on Mon, 06/13/2011 - 2:23pm.
"Weiner needs Jesus"
I agree. We all do. But I'm biased.
"turn or burn" evangelism is liberal nomenclature for what is perceived as Christian intolerance.
Consider the following illustration:
If a blind man is walking toward a cliff. And two people are watching him.
And one does not say anything for fear of offending him. But the other realizing his fate says "stop! Please don't go any further! Turn around and go the other direction because You are headed toward danger!"
Which one has more compassion? The one who would let him die for fear of offending him or the one that actually lead him to salvation?
Christians (which I am) want to offer salvation and share faith, hope, joy, love to those who are walking a dangerous path. It is revealing about those who mock this as "turn or burn evangelism"
Please (and right on Pastor)
Submitted by DemsRFascists on Mon, 06/13/2011 - 3:14pm.
As if Ms Grossman believes there EVER "is an opportune moment for turn-or-burn evangelism"...
Amen,
Submitted by almostacowboy on Mon, 06/13/2011 - 4:16pm.
...Brother Okie.
Jewish in name only...
Submitted by Mike S on Mon, 06/13/2011 - 2:26pm.
The evidence does seem to point to Weiner being a secularist with a Jewish background.
Was that "Rabbi Clinton" presiding at Weiner's Wedding?
okie-pastor is on the money!!!
Submitted by KornKing on Mon, 06/13/2011 - 2:25pm.
Unfortunately, it seems as the media experts look for a god(little g) that establishes order by "polls", rather than being willing to consider the God of all creation as the source of all order.
More of today's univeral lust for ignorant universal lust.
Submitted by russedav on Mon, 06/13/2011 - 4:55pm.
It is clear that these people have no clue when it comes to Christianity and sadly that's too often no less true about professing "christians" who are more inclined to treat it as a club they attend for an hour or two on sunday while fleeing home afterwards as fast as possible to illustrate their lack of interest and James 4:4 spiritual idolatry and adultery.
Mixed-up
Submitted by ozarkian on Mon, 06/13/2011 - 5:50pm.
Anyone else notice that the media and the left (same thing) use "evangelicals" as a synonym for Christian? Not sure when that started, but I think it's their way or getting wiggle room -- "well, I wasn't talking about YOU; I meant those evangelicals." It's especiially a synonym for heartland Christians and/or those who are Babptist, Methodist, etc., rather than Presbyterian or Luthern.
Or maybe they just think "evangelicals" makes them sound like they know all the ins-and-outs of Christianity when they don't, because they use the terms interchangeably.
Let's Get a Few Things Straight
Submitted by Tenebrous on Mon, 06/13/2011 - 5:55pm.
1) This was NOT "turn or burn" evangelism. No. "Turn or burn" is Johnathan Edwards' "Sinners in the Hands of an Angry God", and it has its place, but this tweet was in no way that. It's not even close. Grossman is paranoid.
2) Typical "expand the field of debate" tactic. We're not talking about Christians who screw up; we're not talking about Bhuddists; we're not talking about anyone else except for Anthony Weiner. Does Grossman have a hard time dealing with one issue at a time?
3) Being saved doesn't mean you'll never sin again! Why does she think that, when Christianity does not teach that, and no-one is even claiming that? Being saved means that you are forgiven and that sin no longer runs your life. You'll still screw up, but you're motivated and able to overcome. Overcoming can take a while if you've been in the gutter for a while. Grossman is ignorant of what she speaks.
4) Claiming that evangelism is beyond the pale is another liberal tactic to shut up Christians; her words are the screams of a guilty conscience. What if someone had tweeted some Islamic dawa to Weiner? Would that be ok? Grossman is both a censor and a bigot.
5) Cathy Grossman needs Jesus, too. Ooooh. I went and did it, didn't I?
Visions and Principles blog
Cathy Lynn Grossman
Submitted by Thunder Lizard on Tue, 06/14/2011 - 1:35am.
.... needs Jesus too. One day the Jewish people secular and religious will understand that Jesus is their messiah. The Muslim people need Jesus too, not as "one of the prophets" but as their savior.
The difference is, a true Christian shares this with others and it is their choice. It is not forced on them at the point of a sword. However in New Testament times, preaching about Jesus got one of two responses: revival or riots. We're entering that time again.