A Must Read: "An Evangelical responds to Sanders' speech at Liberty U"

[kristopher]

Last edited Mon Jan 25, 2016, 05:37 PM - Edit history (1)

An Evangelical pastoral counselor and Liberty University graduate posted a short sermon about Bernie Sanders' speech at Liberty University to reddit yesterday:

Bernie is the voice of Justice crying out in the desert. Evangelicals like me are convicted by his message. (audio, a little under 17 minutes)
https://clyp.it/eusxalwe

https://www.reddit.com/r/SandersForPresident/comments/3kx57b/im_an_alumni_of_liberty_u_bernie_is_the_voice_of/

He was convicting the Christian leaders and the religious leaders in that university, and calling us out for being complicit in the abandonment of those who suffer, the least of these, and siding with the powerful and rich, the masters of this world. And he was convicting us and calling us out, and we scorned him, and we stared him down; and, with sour faces, we thought, "Who is this wacko, and why do all these people seem to follow him, seem to like him – this wild-haired Jew, crying out from the wilderness of the political left, in his hoarse voice?"

When I heard Bernie speaking in that way, when I saw that guy on stage at Liberty University, I saw John the Baptist...crying out to the religious leaders, the Pharisees of his day, calling them corrupt and complicit with those who have all the power and all the money and all the wealth, and abandoning the people that God loves, that God cares about...

As I heard Bernie Sanders crying out to the religious leaders at Liberty University, in his hoarse voice, with his wild hair – this Jew – and he proclaimed justice over us, he called us to account, for being complicit with those who are wealthy and those who are powerful, and for abandoning the poor, the least of these, who Jesus said he had come to bring good news to. And in that moment something occurred to me. As I saw Bernie Sanders up there, as I watched him, I realized Bernie Sanders for president is good news for the poor. Bernie Sanders for president is Good News for the poor. Bernie Sanders is gospel for the poor. And Jesus said "I have come to bring gospel" – good news – "to the poor."

And lightning hit my heart at that moment. And I realized that we are evangelical Christians. We believe the Bible. We believe in Jesus. We absolutely shun those who would attempt to find nuance and twisted and tortured interpretations of scripture that they would use to master all other broader interpretations, to find some kind of big message that they want to flout. We absolutely scorn such things, and yet somehow we commit to the mental gymnastics necessary that allows us to abandon the least of these, to abandon the poor, to abandon the immigrants, to abandon those who are in prison.

I listened to Bernie Sanders as he said he wanted to welcome the immigrants and give them dignity...

http://m.dailykos.com/story/2015/9/16/1421659/-An-Evangelical-responds-to-Sanders-speech-at-Liberty-U

[Locrian]

1. wow - nt

[guillaumeb]

2. Liberty U is more concerned with arming the students. eom

[kristopher]

4. Apparently one person isn't.

[wendylaroux]

3. yes wow,

more people evolving.it's a good thing.

[kristopher]

9. It's a very good thing.

Could we possibly turn the tide on the cynical manipulation of good people of faith? These are very powerful words.

And lightning hit my heart at that moment. And I realized that we are evangelical Christians. We believe the Bible. We believe in Jesus. We absolutely shun those who would attempt to find nuance and twisted and tortured interpretations of scripture that they would use to master all other broader interpretations, to find some kind of big message that they want to flout. We absolutely scorn such things, and yet somehow we commit to the mental gymnastics necessary that allows us to abandon the least of these, to abandon the poor, to abandon the immigrants, to abandon those who are in prison.

[wendylaroux]

11. you absolutely have to bring everyone together,

not only for the sake of the country,but for the sake of all

the people down the line,long after we are gone.

[jillan]

5. Wow! This further shows that Bernie can find common ground with anyone.

He had no problem going there and facing the people that do not support liberals. Not only did he do it, he made a connection.

[kristopher]

6. I think it* might be an "emperor has no clothes" moment for many evangelicals.

*It = hearing Bernie's message.

[wendylaroux]

7. when you just want the best for ordinary people,

it is kinda hard to argue with that.More candidates should do stuff like this.

I am pretty sure Bernie got to alot more people than just this guy.

[kristopher]

8. Of course he did.

And I'll bet a lot of the Rs in those gerrymandered Congressional districts are going to react the same way when they hear what he wants for this country.

Someone just wrote this in another one of those "No, We Can't" threads that have become so popular, saying Bernie's msg is about "what might be done if the United States underwent radical change" - as if that finishes the discussion. Well, I don't believe for one second that sentiment is anything other than a starting point for the work we have ahead of us, because as a wonderful man once said, "Yes, We Can".

[kristopher]

12. No, that doesn't quite accomplish your goal

But, bless your little old bitty heart, it's probably the best you can do,

[BlueJazz]

15. Hey, I'm a Physicist not a writer.

[kristopher]

24. ???

I missed all but one of the deleted posts...

[BlueJazz]

25. Oh...I lambasted the preacher at Liberty U..then posted my response for someone else to you and then

...made it worse because...ah...I'm going back to bed and hide..

[kristopher]

26. LOL. It happens.

Well, not exactly a laugh, more like a chuckle actually.

[wendylaroux]

13. You don't know other people's past nightmares. Be kind to them.

[wendylaroux]

17. why did you say what you did to the poster?

[BlueJazz]

20. Obviously to everyone, I'm a complete idiot

Note to self: Read the WHOLE post.

[wendylaroux]

22. I do that all the time,

I am not real good at being an internet person.

[Uncle Joe]

16. Kicked and recommended for enlightening the people.

Thanks for the thread, kristopher.

[CharlotteVale]

19. This is the third different item I've seen just today about somebody

who you'd think would be the last person to say anything nice about Bernie who said something sincerely positive.

[TIME TO PANIC]

21. Bernie has crossover appeal and will do surprisingly well in the south.

[beam me up scottie]

23. Reach one teach one.

Many DUers are former fundies, they were raised by the same kind of parents who send their kids to Liberty U.

If they were able to break out of the cycle of hatred and brainwashing so can the kids Bernie spoke to.

[Sheepshank]

27. right up until they think about abortion rights...then their true Republican colors shine

Evangelicals will not vote en masse for any Democrat. Period.

[kristopher]

29. That's possible, but the comments in the OP address that kind of thinking

I realized that we are evangelical Christians. We believe the Bible. We believe in Jesus. We absolutely shun those who would attempt to find nuance and twisted and tortured interpretations of scripture that they would use to master all other broader interpretations, to find some kind of big message that they want to flout. We absolutely scorn such things, and yet somehow we commit to the mental gymnastics necessary that allows us to abandon the least of these, to abandon the poor, to abandon the immigrants, to abandon those who are in prison.

Bernie doesn't have to reach every evangelical to have a profound impact on the composition of the electorate.

[immoderate]

28. Anything you want can be biblical.

--imm