Editorial: "Within a yard of Hell"

C. T. Studd (1860-1931) was an English missionary to China, India, and Africa. He is quoted with:

Some want to live within the sound of church or chapel bell;
I want to run a rescue shop within a yard of hell.

That sounds Wesleyan.

There are many directions Studd’s quote can lead you, but permit us just one.

Would Wesley be on TV? was a question that got asked in a meeting not too long ago. The question didn’t get an answer.

We’ve been talking at great lengths lately about taking our faith “to the street.” That’s good talk; it’s better action. And it’s even better action when we really understand the full meaning of “street.”

There is an important concept of “street” that always gets ignored. Whether we like the idea or not, television is considered "communication Main Street." That’s still true, even with the web and all kinds of electronic trinkets.

Unfortunately, the Christian church has a bit of egg on it’s face when it comes to broadcasting, television in particular.

II Timothy 4:3 says, “For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths.”

If you want a demonstration of that verse, watch and listen to much of what is purported to be Christian programming and see for yourself.

Be careful, however. It’s one thing to be upset with shallow, "consumerist" doctrine that sells well, it’s quite another thing to accept some of the responsibility.

Let’s fact it, Wesleyan doctrine is generally absent from communication Main Street and Wesley’s people called Methodists share part of the responsibility.

Somehow, and with some isolated exceptions, religious communities that see through the Wesleyan lens have relinquished the airwaves to “itching ears” doctrine. The subversion and misrepresentation of the Gospel of Jesus Christ is a blemish, not only on the hucksters, but on ourselves as well.

“We’ve a story to tell to the nations,” as the song goes, but we don’t seem to want to get the story dirty or something.

So let’s be presumptuous enough to say that, indeed, Wesley would be preaching on television, just as surely as he preached in a pasture to be chased by a bull.

Commentary: Fixin' stinkin' thinkin'

In my years I’ve seen quite a few political campaigns come and go. Thankfully, I can’t remember one campaign that didn’t do both. My skin crawls when they come, and I take a deep breath of clean air when they go.

I’m certain there is a better way to do what we do every two, or four, years, but George, Thomas, Ben, and all the other sweaty guys in powdered wigs in Philly didn’t come up with one. We don’t seem to be improving on it either. So, we’ve got what we’ve got, and it’s best to be thankful.

I have to work on myself in every political campaign not to fall into stinkin’ thinkin.’ It’s so easy to get sucked in to the mire. Stinkin’ thinkin’ is seductive.

Want an example?

I recently passed a display of all kinds of political paraphanelia. Some items were good-natured fun. Most were demeaning to persons. I thought those were pretty funny, so I laughed heartily.

And then came “the voice inside.” Inwardly, I apologized. I should have done so outwardly.

Three thought-problems come to mind in political campaigns that take a lot of energy from me to avoid:

1. Expedient thought. I might find a candidate that comes close to my set of beliefs, and then I adopt all the candidates beliefs as my own to get “my person” elected. That really amounts to prostitution of my beliefs.

2. Hate thought and speech. It’s more true than ever that political campaigns are eventually fueled by hatred of persons, rather than civil disagreement.I need to be an honest Christian. I don’t find license anywhere in the teachings of my faith for “Bill-bashing” or “George-bashing.” It’s OK to bash Bill’s and George’s ideas; it’s not OK to bash Bill and George. In fact, the Scriptures ask me to pray for both.

3. Thought and speech that ignors important information. I’m wise to gather all the facts I can before I decide anything. It’s dangerous to follow someone who just gives me the part that “tinkles their bell.” If candidates can’t level with me on the stump, they will surely hoodwink me in Washington, Harrisburg, or wherever.

Glad we could get together.