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Liberty University's Commencement Speaker a Democrat This Year

C

Calminian

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supersoldier71 said:
If former President Carter is, as he says he is, our brother in Christ, then that relationship is of greater importance than his political leanings because it is literally established in the blood of Christ Jesus.

To be clear, you can be a Christian and be wrong about a lot of stuff if you believe that you personally are a sinner,saved by grace.
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True, it's very possible he is a brother and his sin is covered by the blood of Christ. But I'm not sure that means we ignore the sin.

Most Christians believe sin is an issue, but seem to compartmentalize political sins. That's a bit of a problem because some of the worst atrocities in history have been committed through political means. 60 million murdered unborn babies since RvW for instance. That is doubled the murders of Hitler and Stalin combined. If a Nazi claimed to be a Christian and wanted to speak at LU, should we embrace him also??

So, while it's possible for a Christian to be pro-abortion, abortion is still a sin that needs to be called out. We don't simply dismiss sin just because it's committed by a Christian.
 
supersoldier71

supersoldier71

Active Member
Calminian said:
True, it's very possible he is a brother and his sin is covered by the blood of Christ. But I'm not sure that means we ignore the sin.

Most Christians believe sin is an issue, but seem to compartmentalize political sins. That's a bit of a problem because some of the worst atrocities in history have been committed through political means. 60 million murdered unborn babies since RvW for instance. That is doubled the murders of Hitler and Stalin combined. If a Nazi claimed to be a Christian and wanted to speak at LU, should we embrace him also??

So, while it's possible for a Christian to be pro-abortion, abortion is still a sin that needs to be called out. We don't simply dismiss sin just because it's committed by a Christian.
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Nope sure doesn't.

I AM NOT PRO ABORTION (all caps for emphasis) but I do believe we'd be more effective if we focused on our core competencies: personal holiness, preaching the Gospel and making disciples versus expecting to legislate people away from sinful behaviors while leaving them as children of hell.




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C

Calminian

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supersoldier71 said:
Nope sure doesn't.

I AM NOT PRO ABORTION (all caps for emphasis) but I do believe we'd be more effective if we focused on our core competencies: personal holiness, preaching the Gospel and making disciples versus expecting to legislate people away from sinful behaviors while leaving them as children of hell.
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And how do you do that while ignoring the biggest genocide in all of human history? 60 millions murdered babies. How doe you keep your testimony while sharing the Gospel?

Hi, I'm supersoldier71. I know there's a lot of murdering going right now, but I just ignore it and worry about my personal holiness. Let me tell you about Jesus and how he's made me into a better person.

I mean I'm sorry, I just don't see how we do this as Christians. We lose our testimony we lose everything. If you're not fighting evil, you're not achieving personal holiness and you're not a good witness for Christ.
 
C

Calminian

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JonC said:
I think you may have confused inviting a speaker as constituting an endorsement. Do you know of any liberals Liberty University has actually endorsed?
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I'll agree with this to an extent. I don't think we as Christians should only associate with those who share our views. Liberty has invited non-Christians to speak and I'm fine with that. So long as they stay true to their convictions and disagreements with those speakers.

But how do you handle someone you believe to be a Christians\ that is pro-abortion? That's a tough one for me.
 
JonC

JonC

Moderator
Moderator
Calminian said:
I'll agree with this to an extent. I don't think we as Christians should only associate with those who share our views. Liberty has invited non-Christians to speak and I'm fine with that. So long as they stay true to their convictions and disagreements with those speakers.

But how do you handle someone you believe to be a Christians\ that is pro-abortion? That's a tough one for me.
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I think I would have more of a problem were we speaking specifically of the seminary.
 
Wesley Briggman

Wesley Briggman

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JonC said:
I think you may have confused inviting a speaker as constituting an endorsement. Do you know of any liberals Liberty University has actually endorsed?[/QUOT
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I do equate a university inviting a commencement speaker with their act of endorsing.

Definition of ENDORSE
2a : to approve openly endorse an idea; especially : to express support or approval of publicly and definitely...[/QUOTE]

Professing Christian Liberal: Mark Driscoll; Glenn Beck; Mitt Romney: Ted Kennedy

Thank you for your interest in my post.
 
JonC

JonC

Moderator
Moderator
Calminian said:
Not sure I follow. expand a little.
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I understand a university inviting people who they feel have made an impact in the world, who may inspire people, or maybe even challenge them. There are no religious requirements to attend the university. But if this were a commencement speaker for the seminary alone I believe they should choose someone relevant in that context.
 
JonC

JonC

Moderator
Moderator
Wesley Briggman said:
Professing Christian Liberal: Mark Driscoll; Glenn Beck; Mitt Romney: Ted Kennedy

Thank you for your interest in my post.
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You are welcome. I've enjoyed several of your posts.

That said, Liberity University did not endorse Driscoll, Kennedy, Romney, or Beck.

Definition of ENDORSE
2a : to approve openly endorse an idea; especially : to express support or approval of publicly and definitely...

The university does not publicly, definitely and openly approve or express support for the ideas of those men.
 
rsr

rsr

<b> 7,000 posts club</b>
Moderator
I admit I'm surprised, but pleased. Falwell Jr. has gone all in for Trump. Perhaps Jimmy's recent statements about Trump played a part. Maybe not.

Maybe the fact that he's one of only three Baptist presidents, and he's not getting any younger, is justification.

Carter, as president, was not particularly liberal. Out of office is another thing.

Maybe Liberty thought he might have something to say of interest.

I remember that the CEO of Exxon was the speaker at my graduation. Not particularly popular on my campus. But when he walked to the podium and acknowledged that we weren't there to listen to him and kept his comments to 10 minutes or less, he was a hero.

Sometimes we make too much of these things. People are there to celebrate their children's graduation and really don't care about what the "speakers" have to say.

At a graduation of one of my children I generally agreed with the speaker but was irritated that she went on and on and on and delayed the ceremony.
 
JonC

JonC

Moderator
Moderator
Wesley Briggman said:
Since you say so. You speak with authority.
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Thank you. It has to do with the definition of "endorse", but I can't take credit (that was the Webster definition you provided). The university doesn't endorse it's commencement speakers any more than any other university's invitation could constitute an endorsement.

It also concerns my familiarity with LU. I transferred there as an undergraduate and stuck around for seminary. It’s been awhile, but I still occasionally give to the school and keep up with what the university itself endorses.

Ultimately the question is whether a learning institution is obligated to choose a speaker that meets the ideologies of that school. Should a secular law school exclude experts in their field if that person is a Christian and may not express its secular values? If they did, we’d rightly cry discrimination. Were we speaking of the seminary, then it'd be a different story.
 
supersoldier71

supersoldier71

Active Member
Calminian said:
And how do you do that while ignoring the biggest genocide in all of human history? 60 millions murdered babies. How doe you keep your testimony while sharing the Gospel?

Hi, I'm supersoldier71. I know there's a lot of murdering going right now, but I just ignore it and worry about my personal holiness. Let me tell you about Jesus and how he's made me into a better person.

I mean I'm sorry, I just don't see how we do this as Christians. We lose our testimony we lose everything. If you're not fighting evil, you're not achieving personal holiness and you're not a good witness for Christ.
Click to expand...
First: personal holiness is OUR own personal witness. Not me telling you or you telling me how to be holy, but each of us with the inspired Word of God and our regenerated consciences striving to serve our Lord. This is not affected by what others do.

Second: I didn't not say that we shouldn't utilize whatever means available to counter abortion. What I said was that by maintaining our personal holiness and preaching the Gospel, we then make disciples and thus the world changes, because there are more people who, through the inspired word of God and their own regenerated consciences, seek to please our Lord.

But as Christ told us, we must first ensure that we have addressed whatever planks may be hindering our own vision of our personal sins. Thus my emphasis on establishing and maintaining personal holiness.

And never ever expect lost people to act like saved people.
 
Jerome

Jerome

Well-Known Member
Site Supporter
Wesley Briggman said:
"Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders...a visit that surprised many people who wouldn’t have expected the school to invite someone with Sanders’ political views"

I agree.
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Why would you be surprised? Remember when the school put out the welcome mat for Senator Ted Kennedy:

20090826_TKennedyatLBC.jpg
 
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Jerome

Jerome

Well-Known Member
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Falwell Sr. even had a liberal Democrat candidate speak AT THE CHURCH!

207onrm.jpg
 
thatbrian

thatbrian

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Calminian said:
I don't do twitter myself, but check his often. It's a way to get the news directly from him. I think his tweets are 99% fantastic. Only a few have fallen short, IMO.
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If that's your opinion, we are on two different planets.

Trump lacks diplomacy and he's an insecure and immature blowhard. I still like most of his policies but he is an embarrassment as a president.
 
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