SCOTT WILLIAMSON
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thoughts on culture
(and whatever else I want. it's my blog)


on pavlovitz....

11/20/2016

7 Comments

 
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John Pavlovitz is a popular Christian blogger right now.  His writings are devoured by the Progressive wing of Christianity.  Other bloggers who share his general worldview are Rachel Held Evans, Matthew Paul Turner, and Jen Hatmaker.  Maybe you’ve heard of them.  

Pavlovitz recently wrote this piece as an encouragement to those in pain after a difficult election cycle.  I appreciate his spirit in writing the article.  I genuinely mean that.

But, the article itself is infuriating.  Among other things, Pavlovitz is suggesting (self-righteously) that Trump’s character is so bad that the Christian Right who voted for him are responsible for his actions - that we are required to put ourselves between the oppressor and the oppressed.    

Using Pavlovitz’ logic, I could turn the tables and ask these questions:

1. Where was the Christian Left on abortion?
2. Where was the Christian Left on marriage?
3. Where was the Christian Left on Benghazi?
4. Where was the Christian Left when Hillary was destroying the women who accused her husband of sexual violations?
5-15. Fill in the blank.

Given the Christian Left’s views on abortion alone, it’s interesting that they now tell me I need to put myself between the oppressor and the oppressed.  That is rich.      

Look, Donald Trump was a horrible candidate and I never defended him.  But, the cries from the Left about his character flaws are utterly hollow.  If Hillary Clinton had been someone of character, I suppose we could stomach the criticism.  But, that wasn’t the case.

Here’s the thing….

We gave up our right to be outraged over poor sexual ethics when our culture submitted to the sexual revolution.  20 years ago, when Bill Clinton committed *the same sins of which Trump is now accused*, those of us who cried foul were told in no uncertain terms that those things don’t matter anymore.  We were told to grow up and shut up.  But, now, it's suddenly "shocking" when Trump turns out to be a philanderer?  That's quite a double-standard.

And, Hillary Clinton is of course married to Bill, and was complicit in trying to destroy those who accused him.

And, the Wikileaks documents bring other issues to light.  If Bernie Sanders had won the Democratic primary, for instance, he might very well be the President Elect right now.  But, the evidence suggests he was pushed to the side….

I’m actually shocked that more Democrats aren’t furious about that.  But, self-appraisal is a lot harder than simply blaming the whole thing on the barely-quantifiable number of White Supremacists left in the country.

In short, there aren’t many remaining (even on the Left) who haven’t figured out that the Clintons are corrupt.  And, that’s probably one of the reasons Donald Trump won.  A guy like that shouldn’t have been able to beat Hillary Clinton.  But, he did.      

Here’s the point:  Few Progressives actually weep over Trump’s character problems.  Their outrage is feigned.  Many of them (even some within the Church) have preached some version of “moral relativism” for years.  So, I’m trying to understand what grounds they now use to deem ANYTHING “wrong”.  It would seem they are simply mad that their candidate lost.  And, believe me, I understand that.  We all do.  But, the charges leveled at Trump voters would be a lot more legitimate if Hillary Clinton hadn’t been such a radically flawed candidate.

So, to my Progressive friends (both within the Church and outside of it):  Maybe take a look at yourselves.  YOU are the ones who defended an indefensible candidate.  Many Trump voters weren’t defending their candidate at all.  They simply voted against Hillary because of her profound corruption.  

None of us can claim the moral high ground here.  Both candidates were egregiously flawed, and we’re all partly responsible for putting them on the pedestal they occupy.     

Those of you sitting in judgment of Trump voters, as if you’re somehow morally better than the rest of us:  Well, the arrogance is deafening.  You have succumbed to the very thing to which you’ve so staunchly objected in the past:  Self-righteousness. 
7 Comments
Owen Wright
11/21/2016 06:26:05 am

Nice post, Scott. Your perspective is solid and your writing is excellent. Keep it up. I'll be listening.

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Greg Seneff Sr
11/21/2016 07:33:54 am

Excellent! Proud to know you, my friend.

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Doug Carrington
11/21/2016 09:36:40 am

I too have been left scratching my head as Believers who are often lifelong democrats preach to me about the evil of backing a party which supports a pro-life stance. Often they claim that democrat are concerned for helping the poor and that is the will of Christ in showing love. Personally I thought helping widows and orphans was the responsibility of the Church(not the government).
Now all my liberal friends seem to think I am a racist because I am a white male. Article after article they post lumping millions of white males into the same hateful group.Hey isn't that racist? They throw that word around so much that I'm not sure what it means anymore. They are fearful of a new Nazi regime or God forbid that the president-elect actually enforce laws on the books (Immigration). Truthfully I feel their concerns are not about protecting the minorities but rather regaining power so they can remind us how smart they are because don't you know if we were smarter we would vote they way they do.

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Mark Stephens
11/21/2016 01:07:59 pm

Nailed it brother... keep up the good work...

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Kenny Holloway
11/21/2016 04:39:43 pm

Congrats on kicking off your blog. A voice of reason, logic and an ardent defender of truth is much needed.

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Hatch
11/21/2016 08:25:58 pm

114 Likes + 5 Comments, Let me be the 120th to say...Congrats!

Hatch

"When we are crushed like grapes, we cannot think of the wine we will become."

H. Nouwen

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Phil Madeira link
11/22/2016 12:36:00 pm

Scott,

Congratulations on your blog!

I will be unpopular among your readers, but I would respectfully like to respond by saying that not all believers who voted for HRC are "Christian Left", just as I would be hesitant to lump all of Trump's Christian followers into the Alt-Right / Neo Nazi movement.

I voted Conservative until the end of the GWB years. I searched my soul and found that I could no longer trust one side as being better than the other. My vote was always guided by my desire for a Pro Life victory. Certainly, Scripture teaches that we are citizens of another country altogether, and that governments are vastly flawed endeavors.

The abortion issue has long been the carrot keeping Evangelicals following the GOP, yet a host of other issues connected to the "life" cause are ignored. If one is going to continue to see the abortion issue as the ultimate acid test for politics, I'd humbly suggest Ronald Sider's writings on being completely Pro Life, a biblical challenge on the compartmentalization of a few issues by both sides.

I would have much rather voted for Bernie, and I agree with your assertion that he was kicked aside by the DNC. I don't know if Bernie could have won. I wish he had. Surely all of us should be alarmed by the rise of the "Alt RIght" / Nazi / White Supremacist tendencies that Trump's campaign and election have unearthed. I would hope that some of my friends who voted for Trump are in regret now, because a decidedly anti life spirit has accompanied his election. The most important question you might be blogging about is not "where was the Christian Left" on whatever issue, but now more than ever- "Where is the Christian Right now?"

One may bandy about one's ideals of self protection, self government, and self-determination, but even a cursory look at the life of Christ and the Scriptures will reveal none of those things as having relevance in the life of his followers.

I wish you continued success in your endeavors.

Respectfully yours,
pm

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