How Bad Actors Exploit the Christian Narrative of Grace

[@jefftitterington7600]

Repentance and forgiveness do not mean an escape from consequences. In fact, they may require you to embrace those consequences and your own responsibility, especially when you have hurt other people.

[@KingoftheJuice18]

@@jefftitterington7600 Yes, the confession and repentance (if he’s really doing them) is for his own soul-it’s not something that improves his resume! He’s admitting that he’s unfit for office but, fortunately, God can still forgive him. Could he lead a church now? Of course not, but he can go to one. So too, he can still go to 4th of July picnics.

[@kingsolomon3175]

You will know them by their fruits.

[@doncamp1150]

Absolutely. God's grace is great. But we have a responsibility to choose tested and approved people for leadership especially in critical positions. I don't believe Hegseth has been tested over sufficient time to show he is worthy of the trust we must put into him in the office he seeks.

[@ApPersonaNonGrata]

This point applies for how we can recognize all clinical Narcissists when they're engaged in deflection and gaslighting/lying. My mother's the same way. She'll talk all day long about Jesus making her into a "new creation", and "forgiving her" for all the stuff she ever did ... to other people. But when pressed for details about what bad stuff she specifically was guilty of doing to others, she can't site a single example. Thus, there's nothing for her to articulate; neither for confession nor for what's different about her now. All the while, all of us kids were horrifically abused (in every way possible) for all those years. She also suffered from (confirmed) Munchausen syndrome by proxy. And my youngest sister (who is a fundamentalist Christian) is currently suffering advanced kidney failure because of it, but doesn't qualify for an organ transplant because of her other health problems.

[@KingoftheJuice18]

Maybe he is fit to be a Christian according to certain understandings, but that doesn't make him fit to be the Secretary of Defense of the United States. Sorry, MAGA, but just because you forgive him doesn't mean he's right for the job given his past character and behavior. If an illegal immigrant here says, "That was in the past, but I found Christ now"-does that mean you'll let them stay?

[@missouri6014]

but maybe he stayed in a holiday inn last night.................that must count. lol

[@KingoftheJuice18]

@@missouri6014 🤣

[@duanemiller6678]

Great point, KingoftheJuice18! The same logic should cut both ways.

[@marycorbett1744]

Keep these great videos coming!!

[@chrisgreen2013]

The same goes with the claim “I am not accountable to you, only to God!” On the contrary, on the day of judgment we will be accountable to everyone, and judged by everyone…..that is, if our eschatology permits us to understand that Christ really will be all in all. If otherwise, then of course the Christian religion would be reducible to a game in which “grace,” accountability and responsibility are all just euphemisms for whatever people want them to mean.. And the sorriest thing about such a system would be that many of the self-interested would not only be mistaken by the undiscerning masses for humble servants, but that they would even deceive themselves. If the light in such a system be darkness, how great would that darkness be?

[@ChristianCatboy]

I don't get it. ... I was trained to be devastated by guilt for every minor sin, even when there was no victim involved (other than myself). Being saved by grace doesn't give you license to shrug off assault accusations!

[@VicGeorge2K6]

It doesn't. The GOP treat grace as a license for sin, believing that God favors them above all people when it comes to His grace, when Scripture says God is no respector of persons.

[@TomHensley-g1n]

​@@VicGeorge2K6 you are ignoring that being a Christian doesn't stop you from sinning, and Christians are just men given grace and forgiveness from God and Jesus' work on the cross.

[@ChristianCatboy]

@@VicGeorge2K6 I was a die-hard Conservative Evangelical for 30 years, but I honestly did not believe that meant God held me in special favor, since I was acutely aware of my own sins, living in constant terror of judgment. I was actually kinda jealous of "sinners". They often seemed to be more at peace in their own conscience!

[@sparrowsparrow4197]

Ronald have you read " the only true God" by Eric HH Chang

[@Scottus-q8l]

A charitable explanation is that he's sinning that grace may abound. An uncharitable one is that he's making a cynical appeal to faith to restore his political fortunes. But one thing is certain: Hegseth is espousing policies which are radically at odds with the teachings of Jesus recorded in the Gospels. And this is more important than whether or not his personal faith is genuine.

[@theresemalmberg955]

But don't you know that Christians aren't perfect, just forgiven?

[@weirdwilliam8500]

They sure seem a lot less perfect than everyone else though, don’t they?

[@theresemalmberg955]

@@weirdwilliam8500 Yes but when you call them out on their bad actions, this is what they will tell you. No attempt at correcting the wrong because that would admit wrongdoing. And Christians never do that to nonbelievers. Well, some do but it's always those other Christians who aren't real Christians.

[@MrGuzmanra]

Isn't that a license to sin?

[@theresemalmberg955]

@@MrGuzmanra I suppose you could take it that way. Seems to be the go-to phrase when someone calls out bad behavior.

[@RichSmith-z3r]

Randal i always appreciate your points of view on theology & how you provide perspectives that show fundamentalist inconsistenties & bias…HOWEVER, it seems to be when comment on politics you dont seem to approach the left with same scrutiny ad you do the right. Its like you want conservatives to be wrong and contradictive in every field. Please show balance if continue to point out faults of the right…you know and I know the left is as gulity of disgusting morality as well. Thank you. Again i appreciate your theology pushback on harsh fundamentalism

[@weirdwilliam8500]

Name a left wing politician who has credible accusations of SA against them, but who was defended by the entire party and nominated for high office. Liberals have actual principles, conservatives have whatever principle happens to justify their power that day.

[@marisolmagana9644]

Chris... what?? A follower of Christ... mmm.... no I don't think so 😢😢😢😢

[@robertwheeler1158]

According to the Wikipedia article on Hegseth, he underwent a religious conversion in 2018 or 2018 (the article is a little confusing about exactly when). So how do you know that he hasn't owned up to his past behavior?

[@EnglishMike]

Even if he did, it still doesn't mean he's a fit or suitable candidate for high office. As Randal says in his video, is there any evidence at all that he has sought reconciliation or restoration for anything he's done in the past? Otherwise it's just empty rhetoric at best, or an attempt to deceive at worst. There are thousands of better qualified people Trump could nominate who have none of the baggage Hegseth has, but then, very few of them suck up to Trump enough and kiss his ring for him to consider them.

[@davidwilkins5932]

Maybe it was a politically convenient “conversion”. This is just ONE problem with political religiosity. And worst of all, Christian Nationalism has NOTHING to do with actual Christianity. It’s utterly performative and FALSE, in pursuit of worldly power, and ultimately, absolute power.

[@cr7-i3d1j]

​@@EnglishMikeWhen is it morally acceptable to terminate life in the womb?

[@StephenGrover-zc4hp]

The devil who's controlling a lot of people doesn't like it either!

[@ApPersonaNonGrata]

So ... what is your narrative of "Grace"? I phrase it that way because I'm not about to concede that there is a singular "The" Christianity for anyone to speak of. But I am curious what it means to you. I'm Gen X. I grew up around old-school Catholics, mainstream Protestants, and fringe evangelicals. As a result, for a while, I believed there "must surely be" a super-Someone approximate to those ideas. I eventually let go on that idea. At this point, I think "spirituality" can be a legitimate domain of exploration, discovery, and growth. But I don't see how that could be logically attached to the idea of a literal Super-Someone who ghost-writes religious texts, or holds "revelation"-lotteries where people who didn't even enter such a contest (ie. Saul of Tarsus) get randomly served with a "Publisher's Clearing House" pay-out of divine revelation. Is God "The Greater Ed McMahon"? In any case, as of yet, I've never heard a version of "Christian Grace" articulated which made good rational or ethical sense. As I understand it, "grace" is translated from a word that means "un-deserved kindness". To me, it seems covertly abusive to build anything on the premise that humans are all un-deserving to even exist. And then to offer them a way to BECOME worthy of the breathing, and sentience, and dignity, and love they don't deserve ... "if only" they'll align themselves with a "totally not a cult"; by submitting to random fallible men's moral-authority over their lives ... just because some randomly trusted men (in any random sect) claim (without good evidence) that they represent a "perfect" (whatever that means) super-Being. -especially when it's unavoidable that trusting any ancient story-tellers, writers, book-selectors, translators, publishers, proselytizers, and apologists ...automatically means we are elevating ALL of those men to the status of "God" by equating THEIR "say so" with what it means to hear personally from a "God", and then to actually submit to their collective authority; even without it being fully formed consent (because it's literally never fully informed consent; which really further calls-into-question that entire premise of any such "covenant" (aka "contract"). Also, why does a "God" need us to jump through irrational religious hoops ... just so he can "forgive" us for the consequences of the flaws he chose to "curse" us with in the first place?

[@tamaraescobar7211]

LOOK FOR CHANGED BEHAVIORS...NOT JUST " I RECEIVED JESUS, SO IM CLEAN NOW !!! " ... JESUS SAID: " YOU WILL KNOW THEM BY THEIR FRUITS " ALSO : " COME OUT FROM AMONGST THEM AND BE YE SEPARATE " NOT JOIN IN WITH THEM .... THESE TYPES ALWAYS TWIST GOD'S HOLY WORD AND USE IT AGAINST GOD HIMSELF... WOLVES IN SHEEPS CLOTHING.... GOD WILL NOT BE MOCKED FOR EVERYONE WILL REAP WHAT THEY'VE SOWN GALATIONS 6:7 JAMES 1:8 A DOUBLE MINDED MAN =HYPOCRITE IS UNSTABLE IN ALL HIS 👋...STAY CLEAR OF HIM/ THEM... GOD SPEAKS CLEARLY ABOUT ALL OF THIS THROUGHOUT THE OLD & NEW TESTAMENT 🙄

[@c.e.juiceflemingjrii3426]

Let's see if this will be helpful to you concerning Grace. Has your parents or grandparents or close relative or friend ever given you something that you didn't earn? Or if your a parent have you done something for your children that they didn't earn? Well that would be grace. You the giver gave something to someone out of kindness. Keeping in mind they didn't ask for it. You just did it. Well God is a Holy God and He gave everyone Grace even though He didn't have to. God didn't have anyone jump through any hoops to receive His grace. That would be works. Also He didn't curse People that's just part of the penalty of breaking His word\law. Another homely illustration. When a person breaks into your house and steals stuff from you and they are caught. What do you want to happen? Well for one you would want your things back and then have them arrested and put in jail. Well the law gives you the authority to do this. And it's up to you to get it enforced. The cruse if you will would be the breaking of the law and the consequences would be the enforcement and penalty of it. In order for it to go into action it has to be broken or a trespassing of that law. You should also, get a good understanding of the Holiness of God and what's attached to it. Justice is one of those attachments. Hope this is helpful. You mentioned some other things in your writing but I'm just going after the Grace part.

[@StephenGrover-zc4hp]

I suppose all the journalists that diss conservatives are perfect and without sins!

[@weirdwilliam8500]

If any of those journalists were nominated to run the US military, I would care if they had a criminal history. Apparently you wouldn’t care, so long as it grants you more worldly power. That’s the point.

[@sohu86x]

Randal, you are committing the "No true Scotsman" fallacy. What gives you the right to declare that his conversion narrative is false? Don't most Christians continue to sin in some way following conversion?

[@colinpurssey9875]

I think cynicism is often justified in instances like Hesgeth , or whatever his name is . Their glib professions of penitence and pious posturing are expressed only when their improprieties are publicized and thus the threat to their reputation has to be neutralized , so they feign remorse . I do however believe in genuine conscientious repentance and that moral relapses can irrespectively still occur , but in the above featured individual's case , as in many other similar ones , the proclaimed reformation is almost certainly a contrived expedient .

[@cipherklosenuf9242]

He’s describing characteristics of what he regards as an authentic Scotsman. It seems reasonable that what he describes is consistent with how many truly repentant people behave in response to a conversion experience. Meanwhile, the GOP will probably assent to whatever Trump wants. Trump is the Christ of Christian Nationalism.

[@sohu86x]

​@@cipherklosenuf9242any attempts to define an authentic Scotsman is the very definition of the fallacy.

[@kaishiden4586]

you shall not use YHWH name in vain. ie God said vote for trump, trump is president 2020.