[Vision2020] Fwd: arcticle on "Confederate Christianity"

[Saundra Lund]

Steve Wilkins, forwarded by his good friend Doug Wilson, wrote:
"We are all quite happy with Biblical Christianity which embraces all
peoples, tongues, tribes, and nations, and we have all devoted our lives to
defending and promoting this faith.  Unlike modern liberalism which condemns
and excludes those who differ from their accepted "orthodoxy," Biblical
Christianity breaks down barriers and is the sworn enemy of all
self-righteousness. We will even call racists to repent and welcome the
penitent into our fellowship with open arms!"

And that, it seems to me, is the rub:  "Whatever your sin, repent and come
into our Real fold, which *we* call Biblical Christianity (never mind that
others think they believe in Biblical Christianity -- they are wrong).
Anything short of that, and you're wrong and doomed.  As long as you agree
with *our* interpretation of Biblical Christianity, it's all good; anything
short of that, and you're fair game.  After all, it's part of our mission to
save sinners (those who don't agree with our One True "orthodoxy") from
themselves."

Sounds to me like it's Mr. Wilkins who is hopelessly confused:  it's NOT
"modern liberalism which condemns and excludes those who differ," but his
particular flavor of "Biblical Christianity."


FWIW,
Saundra Lund
Moscow, ID

The only thing necessary for the triumph of evil is for good people to do
nothing.
-Edmund Burke 

-----Original Message-----
From: vision2020-admin@moscow.com [mailto:vision2020-admin@moscow.com] On
Behalf Of Douglas
Sent: Wednesday, December 10, 2003 11:48 AM
To: vision2020@moscow.com
Subject: [Vision2020] Fwd: arcticle on "Confederate Christianity"



Visionaries,

Below is a letter from my good friend, Steve Wilkins. FYI.

Cordially,

Douglas Wilson


>Dear Friends,
>
>I was sent a copy of an article that recently appeared in your paper 
>titled "Confederate Christianity in Moscow?" Since I was mentioned in the 
>article, I thought it might be permissible to respond.
>
>I need first simply to deny outright the implications and accusations of 
>the article. Neither Doug Wilson nor I (nor George Grant) are interested 
>in reviving "Confederate Christianity" (whatever that might be) or 
>reviving the Confederacy or creating, condoning, or encouraging any other 
>kind of nationalized faith. We are all quite happy with Biblical 
>Christianity which embraces all peoples, tongues, tribes, and nations, and 
>we have all devoted our lives to defending and promoting this faith. 
>Unlike modern liberalism which condemns and excludes those who differ from 
>their accepted "orthodoxy," Biblical Christianity breaks down barriers and 
>is the sworn enemy of all self-righteousness. We will even call racists to 
>repent and welcome the penitent into our fellowship with open arms!
>
>Second, all of us have been active (and quite public) nearly all of our 
>adult lives, in our opposition to racism (racial pride, racial 
>superiority, and any other religion based upon pride in created 
>distinctions). Further, our opposition has not been merely intellectual or 
>academic but open and public (I wonder if any of the folk so upset up 
>there have ever received death threats from racists as we have). So, the 
>implication that we are racists is so far off the mark as to be delusional.
>
>Third, none of us has ever implied or stated that the Old South was 
>sinless, perfect, or innocent. We believe it to have been as corrupted by 
>original sin as the North or the West or any other section of the country. 
>None of us has ever implied or stated that the institution of slavery as 
>it existed in this country (whether North or South) was sinless or right. 
>Indeed, we have been careful to point out specifically where it was wrong 
>and have declared that it was (and is still) indefensible.
>
>We do confess that we are deeply grieved over the self-righteousness and 
>arrogance that seems to have pervaded our country in this century. And we 
>are especially distressed over the intolerance, naivete, and gullibility 
>demonstrated by those who profess to be the champions of tolerance and
reason.
>
>So, all three of us have been brought to agree with the Apostle Paul that 
>all have sinned and come short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23) and, in 
>spite of protestations to the contrary, even Northerners and Westerners, 
>educators and politicians, newspaper reporters and editors, stand with the 
>rest of us in desperate need of the grace of God.
>
>Sincerely,
>Steve Wilkins