[Vision2020] Coulter's Dream - from CNN

Sun Oct 14 13:53:51 PDT 2007

Learning about Christianity from Anne Coulter-on-a-promo-blitz is a little like learning good sportsmanship and fair play from Dennis Erickson or Barry Bonds.   They probably have some vague, studied notion of what it is, but are unwilling to practice it because the fame and the fortune are just sooooo distracting.

Donovan is right in saying that Christian doctrine holds that Jesus Christ is the Savior through whom all come for a right relationship with the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, the God of the Old Testament and the Father of God incarnate, Jesus.    This is what our Scriptures teach, and adherence to this belief is what is often called "Christianity."  I am a Christian who believes that this is what Jesus taught -- but I am not a Christian because I believe those things.  It's a case of who you know and believe, not what you know and believe.   

Asserting that Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life; the Messiah; God incarnate and the Savior of all who would turn to him isn't what being a Christian is all about.  In fact, belief in these doctrines without a Spirit-infused trust in and worship of Jesus as Lord can be dangerous -- obnoxious to others, Christian and, especially, non-Christian, and dangerous to one's own Spirit-parched soul.  Based on the fruit, I would presume that Ann Coulter may well be a believer in some doctrines of the faith, but her manner of engagement indicates she is in no way a disciple or follower of Jesus Christ.  And I believe that Ann Coulter is offensive and spiritually imperiled precisely because she has evidently chosen to embrace being "right" at the expense, likely eternal, of being "righteous."  Intellectual assent to certain beliefs, even ones I believe Christ taught, does nothing to produce righteousness.  The world is dying not from lack of certitude in doctrine, but from a lack of righteousness that impoverishes even those who mouth the basic doctrine but have never tasted of the Spirit.

It would be easier and certainly more popular for this vocal, self-professed political liberal to defend only the "love your enemies, feed the poor" part of the Scriptures -- who wouldn't love THAT Jesus?  Who would ever be criticized as a bigot if that's as far as they went, without the "I am the Way" stuff?  But being a disciple and worshiper of Christ is bound to bring disfavor among others, because it DOES sound divisive and exclusive.   There's no religious or political view that would compel me to boldly and consistently risk the disdain of people I love and admire.  But there is a God for whom I'm so compelled, because I love him.  So, for me, the Gospel is either exclusive and wrong, worthy of robust rejection, or it's what Jesus taught, and I will obey the One I worship and try to live in a manner worthy of him.   Simple, but not always easy.  And if I'm criticized and mocked, that's OK.  But let it be for my defense of the Gospel in what I say and what I do, and not because I've traded Jesus for Ann Coulter's style of combative, obnoxious engagement with non-believers.  

I have, by the way, only a handful of Christian friends and many more dear non-Jesus-identified ones.  If it came down to the picture of the Gospel I get from Ann Coulter and any of her local fans vs. the warmth and graciousness I've gotten from the others, I'd have to repeat what I first uttered 25 years or so ago:  Jesus, I love you, but spare me from your fan base . . . 

keely

Date: Sun, 14 Oct 2007 10:50:05 -0700
From: donovanjarnold2005 at yahoo.com
To: joekc at adelphia.net
CC: vision2020 at moscow.com
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Coulter's Dream - from CNN

Joe,     She was reiterating the Dogma of Christianity. There is no salvation without the acceptance of Christ as your savior.  If you don't understand that fundamental fact, or don't believe it, you obviously are not a Christian. It is core dogma of the religion.      A mean vindictive person would wish for Jews to die, or parish. She said she wished the opposite, that they would accept Christ so that they can be saved. That sounds like more of a loving statement than a hateful one to me.      She was not singling out Jews, the commentator was because he was Jewish, she believes that all religions outside of Christianity are in error, as do all Christians. I think you will also find that followers of the Jewish and Muslim faiths likewise believe that followers of any religion other than their own faith is also in error. Christians want all people be
 saved, even if it is considered politically incorrect to do so.      Best,     Donovan

Joe Campbell <joekc at adelphia.net> wrote:  Donovan wrote: "Ann Coulter did not say Jews, Muslims, Hindus, Atheists, all 
other non-Christians were worthless, or inferior for their beliefs.

She said that Christianity was Judaism "perfected." How does that not entail 
that Judaism is inferior to Christianity?

Sorry but I'm catching up on e-mail!

--
Joe Campbell

---- Donovan Arnold wrote: 

=============
Ann Coulter should say, "Religious conflict and war is good, and that some people should not be saved."?

I think this is rather absurd that people are making a big deal of this. Ann Coulter did not say Jews, Muslims, Hindus,
 Atheists, all other non-Christians were worthless, or inferior for their beliefs. She didn't say other shouldn't be allowed to practice their religion. What she said was that the world would be better off if the entire world was Christian. Which from an empirical point of view, the world would be better off if it was all one religion. Secondly, of course Christians want all others to be Christians, that is a fundamental belief of Christians that only Christians can be saved. It is also the belief of many religions that their religion is the better, and/or only true religion. I am Catholic, the largest and most diverse church in the world, and our creed specifically states that the Holy Roman Catholic Church is the "One and Only True Church". 

If she said all Jews and non-Christians should die, and only Christians are deserving of rights, that would be outrageous. But to expect Ann Coulter's statements to say the opposite is true; the world is better off if it has
 religious conflict and we should want others to suffer eternal damnation, is suppose to be a more of an acceptable statement?

I think she was kind of set up with that question. It didn't matter which way she answered. 

Best,

Donovan

Ted Moffett wrote:

All-

Ann Coulter's books sell big time... She's laughing all the way to the bank. Carl Westberg is right on the money (no pun intended) about Coulter being "pure show business." The more outrageous her comments, the more publicity. It's so obvious she's deliberately aiming to upset people with extreme political incorrectness. 

What is disturbing is that many people really believe what she advocates. Millions do believe that the US would be better off if we were all Christians. Correct? What is more shocking than Coulter's comments, is that she is supported by a sizable fan base. She definitely speaks to a large percentage of the US public that admires her
 frank expression of views that they sympathize with. 

She is merely a symptom of a much broader problem in US society.

Ted Moffett 

On 10/12/07, keely emerinemix wrote: This is the same Ann Coulter who dated Joseph Guccione, publisher of that paragon of Christian virtue, Penthouse magazine. Miz Coulter is a nutcase, and I think the orderlies need to find stronger straps.

keely 

---------------------------------
From: privatejf32 at hotmail.com
To: joekc at adelphia.net; vision2020 at moscow.com
Date: Fri, 12 Oct 2007 10:33:59 -0700
Subject: Re: [Vision2020] Coulter's Dream - from CNN 

Ann Coulter is totally nuts! "Perfected"? "Fast Track"? What is that!!!!??? Who buys this stuff?

J :]

> Date: Fri, 12 Oct 2007 06:46:38 -0700 
> From: joekc at adelphia.net
> To: vision2020 at moscow.com
> Subject: [Vision2020] Coulter's Dream - from CNN
> 
>
 Conservative commentator and best-selling author Ann Coulter may find herself in the midst of a controversy for comments Monday suggesting America would be better if everyone was Christian. 
> 
> Asked by CNBC host Donny Deutsch what the U.S. looks like in her dreams, Coulter said it would look like the Republican National Convention in 2004
> 
> "People were happy," she said, according to a transcript provided to CNN by CNBC. "They're Christian. They're tolerant. They defend America." 
> 
> When Deutsch responded, "It would be better if we were all Christian?" Coulter said "Yeah."
> 
> Deutsch, himself Jewish, continued to press Coulter on her remarks, asking, "We should just throw Judaism away and we should all be Christians then?" 
> 
> "Yeah," Coulter responded, adding "Well, it's a lot easier. It's kind of a fast track."
> 
> "You can't possibly believe that," Deutsch responded. "You can't
 possibly. You're too educated." 
> 
> "Do you know what Christianity is?" Coulter replied. "See, we believe your religion, but you have to obey. We have the fast track program."
> 
> Later in the interview Deutsch asked Coulter if she doesn't want any Jews in the world, Coulter responded, "No, we think â€” we just want Jews to be perfected, as they say." 
> 
> "Wow, you didn't really say that, did you," Deutsch said.
> 
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