Thoughts from Pastor Tim - November 11

Dear Church Family –

Getting reliable news in our information age is a challenge.  Tucker Carlson has been a respected conservative political commentator.  His show, Tucker Carlson Tonight, on Fox News has been one of

the highest rated cable news shows in American history. 

But lately Tucker Carlson has taken a troubling turn.  World magazine reports that Carlson has noticeably softened toward Islam and has even retracted some former statements against Islam.  He has lately questioned whether Hamas is “truly villainous,” and has mocked the idea that Sharia law is bad.  Reportedly, Carlson has dismissed the description of Hamas as “Islamic Terrorists,” saying, rather, that they are “more like a political organization.”

And then there was Nick Fuentes.  Carlson recently featured Nick Fuentes on his show.  Nick Fuentes is a Jew-hating, Charlie Kirk-hating, fan of Hitler and Stalin. 

As A.S. Ibrahim wrote for World magazine, “To use a podcast to toss out careless, provocative remarks is not only reckless, it risks misleading millions at a moment when truth is needed most.”

The more we steep ourselves in the truth of the Bible, and surround ourselves with like-minded believers, the more we will be able to spot and dismiss untruths and faulty thinking.  Who we allow to influence us, and who our culture accepts as influencers, is a great concern.  We become like what we consistently give attention to. 

“Be sober-minded; be watchful. Your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. Resist him, firm in your faith…” (1 Peter 5:8-9 ESV)

“We destroy arguments and every lofty opinion raised against the knowledge of God, and take every thought captive to obey Christ…” (2 Cor 10:5-6 ESV) 

Recently, Judith and I have been reading together from Strength for the Journey, by Joe Stowell.  In the reading for November 9^th he said,

“The world around us is full of attractive thoughts that are in the end devastating.  It really isn’t good to do whatever you want to do.  Nor is it good to think that sin and evil should be tolerated in the name of cultural propriety.  Nor is success measured in wealth and status.  Since we live by our definitions, we’d better have them straight (2 Cor 10:1-5).”

I suspect that Tucker Carlson has succumbed to a temptation that I have also observed in some Christian talk show hosts and authors, and Christian thought leaders—the temptation to always be “edgy” and “outside the box” and “provocative;” the temptation to have something new and alarming every day.  If you build your popularity on “being provocative” then you have to keep “being provocative,” even when that leads you astray. 

Sometimes the truth is not “edgy,” it’s being faithful.  Sometimes the truth is “inside the box.”

Thank you for your love for truth, and your stand for righteousness, even when that isn’t popular or “edgy.”  You’re a blessing! – Pastor Tim