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Joe Scarborough: An Open Letter To The MSNBC Host
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Dear Mr. Joe Scarborough
Monday Jan. 11, 2021 during your show, ‘Morning Joe’ on MSNBC, you decided to dive into the Christian theological pool by referencing the Scriptures and blanketing all Christians as being a part of the ‘insurrection’ at the Capitol building on Jan. 6.
I understand you were pulling from an article written by David French but you clearly read it because you believed it. Many of us who are very aware of what is occurring in evangelical circles are well aware of French and his errant ways.
Mr. Joe Scarborough, you couldn’t be more off base from reality and a Christian theological point of view.
As a Christian, I am writing a rebuttal in response to your comments.
Russell Moore, the SBC, & ERLC
First of all, in the article by French, he referenced well known never-Trumper and president of the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) Russell Moore. His voice in the Christian evangelical world is loud.
Referencing Mr. French from a Christian perspective is a massive red flag. This is like quoting Louis Farrakhan or David Duke when you are promoting unity for all. Moore has been spewing anti-Trump rhetoric for the last 4 years.
He loathes President Trump. That is no secret. And being associated with the Southern Baptist Convention (SBC), Moore has successfully drove conservatives and Bible believing Christians away from the SBC. The mass exodus has been in Biblical proportions.
Theology and church planting are no longer the staple of this once excellent organization. Sadly, it’s now a political arm of the Democratic National Convention.
Russell Moore and David French do not speak on the behalf of Christians.
That is issue #1.
The Capitol Building Riot Was NOT ‘Christian’
It is really no wonder why CNN, MSNBC, CBS, ABC, NBC, and many other so called ‘news’ outlet have been labeled as ‘Fake News.’ It’s because this is an accurate statement.
I can prove it. By this tale that you, Joe Scarborough, cleverly spun like Rumpelstiltskin on a good day, you agreed with Mr. French. You echoed that the riot at the Capitol building was a ‘violent Christian insurrection.’
Tragically it was violent. And it was insurrection.
BUT, it was most definitely NOT Christian!
It was not Christian in any shape, form, or fashion. You owe millions of us an apology. Those of us who are Christians and openly denounced such actions at the Capitol building. You painted every Christian conservative with a broad brush on your show. And by doing, Mr. Scarborough, you have taken part in the ‘fake news’ that we have all come to despise.
You, Joe Scarborough, said that evangelical leaders were ‘leading their flocks’ to follow Trump.
That is precisely what did NOT happen on Jan. 6 at the Capitol building in Washington D.C.
As far as I know and have researched, there was not a single ‘evangelical leader’ that stormed the Capitol building. I am open for correction and welcome fake news fact checkers to do their work.
Saying It Doesn’t Make It So
Look, I get it. In America you can pretend to be anyone you want to be. We now get to choose what pronouns in which we identify. And that’s supposedly okay. If I am a male but feel that I am a female, all I have to do is use the power of the tongue and proclaim it so.
This is fanciful. It is NOT reality!
I am completely aware that false religious ‘pastors’ and teachers do preach such nonsense from their pulpits. But this is not reality and not orthodox Christian doctrine.
Proclaiming to be a Christian does not make it so. You know how I know that Mr. Joe Scarborough? Because the God-Man, whom we Christians worship said so:
"Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven."
And the Scriptures do tell us what the ‘will of (our) Father’ is. We have an instruction manual on how we are to respond to governments placed over us. It’s found in the Apostle Paul’s letter to the Roman Christians. Specifically in Chapter 13.
That’s Romans 13 if you are not quite following along.
We Christians Are Sinners
We are all sinners and continue to sin even after we have been converted. However, I agree that no professing Christian could have been apart of such an act at the Capitol building. Polls also show that 9 in 10 Americans oppose the attack on the Capitol building.
But to keep things On The Level, we must also conclude that this holds true for all of the professing ‘Christians’ who took part in the violence over the summer of 2020. Violence that included looting, stealing, physical harm, and even death. You don’t get to have it both ways.
And repeating the mantra that these were ALL ‘peaceful protests’ is nothing but a mirage and more ‘fake news.’
You know it and I know it.
Are There False Professing Christians?
Are there false professing Christians?
Is President Donald J. Trump a polarizing figure?
Both questions demand a positive answer!
We know there are false professions of faith in the Christian realm. How can I prove that? With the only true and honest source I can. To stay in context with the Scripture, in the same passage I referenced in Matthew 7 above, Jesus speaks directly to false professing believers.
"On that day many will say to me, 'Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?' And then will I declare to them, 'I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness."
There are many Biblical examples of false professors of faith. One well known character was Simon Magus. He attempted to be a convert for the sake of buying the power of the Holy Spirit (Acts 8). His plan was to use such power in his wizardry and magic shows. A 1st century David Copperfield if you will.
Another false professor of the Christian faith was Judas Iscariot. Probably the most famous, he was an actual Apostle of Jesus. He was called the ‘Son of perdition’ by Jesus. Judas sold out Jesus for 30 pieces of silver. This event led to the capture of Jesus and His eventual crucifixion. Although this was not a surprise to Jesus (John 6:70). This was Judas’ predestined fate before the foundation of the world.
Profession Does Not Equal Possession
The Apostle Paul made it quite clear that all who profess do not necessarily possess.
"For not all who are descended from Israel belong to Israel."
The Scriptures even warn us of the numerous false ‘pastors’ that will twist the Word of God like a pretzel. There are numerous passages of reference regarding false teachers.
"But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. And many will follow their sensuality, and because of them the way of truth will be blasphemed. And in their greed they will exploit you with false words. Their condemnation from long ago is not idle, and their destruction is not asleep."
A False Label
You, Joe Scarborough, said that Donald Trump’s supporters had ‘put down their Bibles’ and embraced a new religion. And by making such a statement you continue to assume that ALL of Donald Trump’s supporters are professing Christians. This could not be further from the truth.
It might be more accurate to say that those professing Christians who stormed the capitol building, looted Target stores, stole 60″ Visio’s, burned down businesses, and chanted ‘Defund the Police’ have NEVER picked up a Bible and read it. Because these are your words Mr. Joe Scarborough; “You can tell by their actions. Jesus said judge a tree by its fruits.”
It is no secret that many of Trump supporters are deeply rooted in conservative Judeo-Christian values, but as I previously just pointed out from the Scriptures themselves, not all who profess, possess.
Furthermore, there are copious amounts of areligious Libertarians and Independents that support the Trump policies.
Sadly it looks as though you, Joe Scarborough, are just painting a broad brush in an attempt to gas-light and gain ratings.
I guess it’s working because I am writing this letter. Good for you Joe Scarborough. It seems that’s all the ‘news’ or ‘fake news’ media is concerned about. Ratings.
What are you folks over at MSNBC going to do with Trump out of the picture? Maybe talk about Joe Biden and his track record of plagiarism, flip flopping, racist speech, and possibly even dive into Hunter’s escapades?
I doubt that. MSNBC isn’t news. Like the SBC has become, MSNBC is a political arm of the Democratic left. Maybe just admit that and we can move on from the ‘fake news’ label.
The Gospel
A Christian is one that will stand for what they believe in. We do it in a non-violent way. However, we are NOT commissioned by Christ to be doormats. This is another false teaching or thought propagated in our society.
Christians understand that we are fallen and sinful creatures. And without Jesus Christ those sins can never be forgiven. The only payment for those sins is an eternal place of outer darkness. A place where there is weeping and gnashing of teeth (Matthew 13:42). It’s called hell.
On judgment day, If we attempt to stand before Jesus at the Great White Throne and expect to pass into His presence based on our own righteousness and good deeds then we should expect to hear “depart from me you worker of lawlessness.”
But if we believe that Jesus Christ is the God-Man then we have eternal hope. If we believe that He is the Savior of the world and cast all of our burdens upon Him and rest in Him then we have eternal hope.
We also must believe that His principles and precepts are found only in the Scriptures that HE wrote. Penned by more than 40 different individuals carried along by the Holy Spirit.
Not just the ‘red words‘ as you, Joe Scarborough, referenced.
The Bible Isn’t Trail Mix
If we do that and proclaim what He proclaimed. If we follow the path He has shown us. And understanding that we do not get to use the Bible as though it’s Trail Mix. We don’t get to pick and choose what we like and leave what we detest. That’s not how this works.
And understanding that our phoniness will completely show when we reference the ‘Psalmist’ as the ‘Palmist’. Like the ‘man of deep faith’ Joe Biden did on Thanksgiving 2020.
What an embarrassment to Christianity!
My prayer is to be genuine. I want to know and understand what the Word of God says and follow it to the best of my sinful ability. Repent often as I will continue to sin for I am embodied with a flesh suit. Lead my family by example. To teach others the valuable nuggets of God’s Word that penetrate my pea brain.
Knowing that my trust is in Him and that His finished work on the cross sealed my eternality with Him in heaven regardless of my miserable works here on earth. His gift of salvation solidifies my place in His kingdom. But it also motivates me to love and to do good works. Understanding it isn’t those ‘works’ that will save me. But the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross at Calvary has completed the job.
And I look forward to hearing on my day of judgment:
"Well done, good and faithful servant!"
Valediction
I know it is unlikely that you, Joe Scarborough, will never lay eyes on this letter. But as a Christian believer I will hope against hope that you will. And I hope that you will take these words to heart instead welling up with pride and rebutting with hatred.
I just want you to know that painting a group of people with a broad brush is not only wrong but it’s unethical and it certainly isn’t Christian.
Sincerely,
Shawn Waugh
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