• Home
  • Welcome- Start Here
  • Statement of Faith
  • Speaking Engagements
  • Bible Studies
  • Contact and Social Media
  • Bio
  • Popular False Teachers & Unbiblical Trends
  • Recommended Bible Teachers
  • Photos
  • Financial Support
  • Searching for a new church?
  • Biblical Counseling Resources
  • The Servanthood Survey
  • Podcast

Michelle Lesley

~ Discipleship for Christian Women

Michelle Lesley

Daily Archives: August 28, 2017

The Mailbag: What’s your take on White-Howse/Charlottesville/Trump?

28 Monday Aug 2017

Posted by Michelle Lesley in Mailbag

≈ 10 Comments

Tags

Brannon Howse, Charlottesville, Christian news, Christians and current events, Christians and Trump, current events, IFD, Inter-faith Dialogue, James White, Racism, Social Media, Trump

 

What’s your take on the James White/Brannon Howse IFD controversy? The Charlottesville tragedy and other issues of racism? Anything and everything Donald Trump says and does?

There are a lot of divisive situations going on in the world these days. It’s no longer simply, “Did you hear the news?” but, “Which side of the news are you on?” And it seems like, more and more, the evangelical public requires – demands even- that every Christian who has any sort of an audience must declare to the world whose side we’re on or what our position on the issue is. I mean, come on; if people are asking some nobody like me where I stand on various news stories, you know things have gotten out of hand. It’s not that I mind people asking my opinion, it’s just that I’m baffled as to why anyone would care what I think.

But for those of you who really want to know what I think on these issues, here ya go:

1. It doesn’t matter what I think, it matters what God’s Word says.

I’ve said this, like, at least a thousand times on this blog in relation to homosexuality, female preachers, church attendance, and any number of other biblical concepts, and it applies to current events as well. I could give you my opinion, but if it differs from what Scripture says, you’d better not listen to it. And if it’s in line with what Scripture says, well, the Bible says it far better than I ever could, so my opinion is superfluous.

2. It doesn’t matter what I think, it matters what YOU think.

When it comes to what or how to think about a certain situation, the primary source that should shape your thoughts is God’s Word. Not me, not Christian celebrities, not your family and friends: the Bible. You need to be able to think biblically for yourself, not just blindly believe the thoughts and opinions of someone you look up to. When you stand before God one day, I don’t know what all He might ask you, but I feel pretty safe in guessing that He’s not going to ask you what Michelle Lesley thought about a dewdrop on a blade of grass. If you want to know what to think about something, get your Bible out and study what it has to say on the subject.

3. It doesn’t matter what I think because voicing my opinion isn’t going to help or change the situation.

Take the White-Howse controversy for example (and if you don’t know what that is, Google it – I don’t have the energy to get into that whole can of worms). I don’t know, have access to, or closely follow either James White or Brannon Howse, so not only do I not have a dog in this hunt, but no public declaration from me is going to patch things up between them, bring about repentance wherever it might be needed, or solve the problems involved. I do, however, have friends on both sides of the issue. So the only thing a public opinion from me would do would be to alienate people on one side or the other, and, personally, I don’t think this particular controversy is worth that.

4. It’s an unnecessary distraction from the focus of my ministry.

Maybe the focus of your ministry is on racial issues within Christianity. Or rightly applying Scripture to politics. Or the proper way to evangelize Muslims. If so, it would only make sense that you’d speak out about the issues enumerated in today’s Mailbag question. The focus of my ministry is women’s discipleship: teaching Christian women how to rightly handle and apply God’s Word to your life so you can grow in Christ and better serve Him, your family, your church, and others. I’m willing to get controversial when I have to and when it furthers that ministry focus (such as my discernment articles). But to get off into the weeds of, say, the border wall, health care, and taxes (and all the questions, comments, and controversies that go with those issues), would be a distraction from what I’m trying to accomplish here.

5. Not every hill is a hill to die on.

There are a lot of hills I’m willing to die on, and virtually all of them have a chapter and verse reference. I do not like to see Scripture mishandled and false doctrine preached because people’s eternities are at stake, the health of the church is at stake, and Christian women’s sanctification is at stake. I am willing to fight those fights to the death and take the flak the Enemy and his servants hurl at me. But if I fight every fight that comes along, I’m not going to have the time or the strength to fight the battles that God has uniquely gifted and equipped me to fight. Other Christians, have a much better grasp of, and experience with, for example, the racial issues plaguing our country today. I would prefer to remain silent and learn from them. Sometimes the best contribution I can make to a discourse is to keep my mouth shut and listen.

6. It’s just annoying noise.

It makes me crazy when something happens in the news and that’s all anybody can talk about – in person or on social media. (It’s not wrong for people to talk abut these things, mind you, it just gets on my nerves hearing the same remarks and conversations over and over again.) When a scrillion people have already given their opinion on a particular issue – especially when a lot of them are saying the same thing I’d say – what is the everlovin’ point of adding my voice to the cacophony? All that does is put one more annoying opinion in your social media feed when you’d rather be seeing pictures of your friend’s new baby, reading someone’s quote of a Bible verse, or drooling over the latest recipe video.

Sometimes I comment on current events. Sometimes I don’t. When I don’t it’s usually for one of these six reasons, or because I don’t have time, or I’m not interested in the subject, or I’m not knowledgeable enough about the subject to make an intelligent comment, or because I’m not in the mood.

Or maybe I just found a really good recipe video to drool over instead :0)


If you have a question about: a Bible passage, an aspect of theology, a current issue in Christianity, or how to biblically handle a family, life, or church situation, comment below (I’ll hold all questions in queue {unpublished} for a future edition of The Mailbag) or send me an e-mail or private message. If your question is chosen for publication, your anonymity will be protected.

Share this:

  • WhatsApp
  • Telegram
  • More
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Print
  • Email
  • Reddit
  • Pinterest
  • Tumblr
  • Pocket
  • Skype
  • LinkedIn

Like this:

Like Loading...

WELCOME!

If you're new or would like to comment, please see the "Welcome- Start Here" tab at the top of this page. All comments are handled manually, and I do not publish comments which promote false doctrine. Thanks for stopping by!

Social Media

  • View MichelleLesleyDiscipleship’s profile on Facebook
  • View @MichelleDLesley’s profile on Twitter
  • View MDLesley’s profile on Instagram
  • View MLesleyAuthor’s profile on Pinterest

Good News!

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 16,673 other followers

Follow Michelle Lesley on WordPress.com

Want to support us financially?

Top Posts & Pages

  • Top 10 Best Christmas Songs of All Time ~ 2
    Top 10 Best Christmas Songs of All Time ~ 2
  • Christmas Mythbusters
    Christmas Mythbusters
  • Popular False Teachers & Unbiblical Trends
    Popular False Teachers & Unbiblical Trends
  • Leaving Lysa: Why You Shouldn't Be Following Lysa TerKeurst or Proverbs 31 Ministries
    Leaving Lysa: Why You Shouldn't Be Following Lysa TerKeurst or Proverbs 31 Ministries
  • Nativity Scenes and the Second Commandment
    Nativity Scenes and the Second Commandment
  • Recommended Bible Teachers
    Recommended Bible Teachers
  • Top 10 Best Christmas Songs of All Time
    Top 10 Best Christmas Songs of All Time
  • The Mailbag: Do you recommend these teachers/authors? Volume 3
    The Mailbag: Do you recommend these teachers/authors? Volume 3
  • The Mailbag: My kid knows the truth about Santa. What if he tells his friends who don't?
    The Mailbag: My kid knows the truth about Santa. What if he tells his friends who don't?
  • Searching for a new church?
    Searching for a new church?

1 John Bible Study 1&2 Timothy Bible Study Abortion Apologetics Basic Training Bible Bible Study Biblical Resources Biblical Womanhood Bible Study Blog Swap Book Book Reviews Calvinism/Arminianism Celebrity Pastors Christian women Christmas Church Colossians Bible Study Complementarianism Creation Death Discernment Doctrinally Sound Teachers Easter Encouragement Entertainment Evangelism Evolution Ezra Bible Study Faith False Doctrine False Teachers Favorite Finds Forgiveness Giveaway Gospel Gratitude Guest Posts Heaven Hell Holidays (Other) Homosexuality Idolatry In Case You Were Wondering Jacob Jonah Bible Study Justice Mailbag Mark Bible Study Marriage Men Ministry Missions Movies New Apostolic Reformation New Testament Obedience Old Testament Parenting Podcast Appearances Poetry Politics Pop Theology Prayer Prayer Bible Study Random Ramblings Ruminations Resources Reformation Day Relationships Rock Your Role Ruth Bible Study Salvation Sanctification Second Coming Sermons Servanthood Sin Social Media Southern Baptist/SBC Sovereignty of God Speaking Engagements Special Events Suffering Sunday School Television Testimony Tuesday Thanks/Thanksgiving The Ten (10 Commandments Bible Study) Throwback Thursday Top 10 Tough Passages Tragedy Trust Types and Shadows Uncategorized Vlogs Wednesday's Word Women Women of Genesis Bible Study Word of Faith Movement Worship

Blogs and Podcasts I Follow

  • Delivered By Grace
  • Equipping Eve
  • Fighting for the Faith
  • For the Gospel
  • Just Thinking
  • Pastor Gabe's Blog
  • Sheologians
  • The Cripplegate
  • The Hero of the Story
  • The Sword and The Trowel
  • Theology Gals
  • Theology. Driven.
  • Things Above Us
  • Tim Challies
  • Voice of Reason Radio
  • Wretched with Todd Friel
  • WWUTT (When We Understand the Text)

Links I Love!

  • Answers in Genesis
  • Berean Research
  • Bible Gateway- Fantastic concordance and other Bible tools
  • CARM- Christian Apologetics and Research Ministry
  • Christian Answers for the New Age (Marcia Montenegro)
  • Founders Ministries
  • Got Questions Bible questions answered!
  • Grace to You
  • Ligonier Ministries

Archives

August 2017
S M T W T F S
« Jul   Sep »
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  

Blog Stats

  • 2,618,390 hits

Create a website or blog at WordPress.com

Cancel
loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.
Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy
%d bloggers like this: