In case you’ve been asleep this week, here’s a summary of the absurdity.
On the Feb. 12 episode of Big Brother, Omarosa Newman, former White House staffer, pontificated about immigration and impeachment. While chatting, she felt it her obligation to warn America that the only thing worse than having Trump as president would be having Vice-President Pence in his place. Why? Because Pence is a committed Christian who believes his relationship with Christ includes regular conversations.
For Omarosa, that’s creepy. “He’s extreme,” she scoffed. “I’m Christian. I love Jesus, but he thinks Jesus tells him to say things.”
Before her comments had cooled, on Feb. 13 the ladies of The View seized the chance to vilify Trump and his team. Especially Joy Behar, who couldn’t get her mind around the idea that a relationship with Christ included conversations, so she offered that Pence was out of his mind. And, by extension, that Christianity is a mental illness. “It’s one thing to talk to Jesus. It’s another thing when Jesus talks to you. That’s called mental illness — if I’m not correct — hearing voices.”
Of course, Behar’s comments have been widely ridiculed in the press and online. And rightly so. Commentators have pointed out her hypocrisy–No comments from Behar when Oprah told 60 Minutes that she was not running for president in 2020 because God had not told her to. And, as nearly everyone in the media knows, had Pence been a Muslim his faith would be off limits for ridicule or judgment.
So, yes, her comments are insulting and appalling. But not surprising. Or, at least, they shouldn’t be.
We have become accustomed to living in a nation that was founded on biblical principles, and which for the most part has been friendly to Christianity. That’s what our Founders intended.
But we have also become comfortable. Because we have lived under the umbrella of Constitutional protections of our faith, we have also adopted the unbiblical misconception that the world would accept Christianity as normal. And that the way we think and talk would never be criticized or maligned, nor would it be regarded as abnormal.
But consider that Jesus’ own family thought he was suffering from messianic delusions and came to rescue Him from his own madness (Mark 3:21). And the religious leaders who heard Him teach interpreted it as demon possession (Mark 3:22).
And remember that conversation between Paul and Festus? Paul spent two years under house arrest in Caesarea where the governor thought his testimony was so entertaining he would parade Paul out at parties and let him talk about Jesus. So, when a government official named Festus came to town, Paul was brought out and he faithfully recounted his testimony. A testimony which, by the way, included a conversation with Jesus.
Festus was so shocked by what Paul said, he interrupted and shouted, “You’re out of your mind, Paul! Too much study is driving you mad” (Acts 26:24).
So what exactly is normal for a Christian? How will we be perceived if we are faithful to Christ and our faith?
We should, and must, defend and protect our right to exercise our faith. And we should correct cultural misconceptions and respond to public ridicule.
But make no mistake. There is a difference between protection and acceptance. The fact is, Christianity isn’t normal and if we seek widespread acceptance of Christianity we will inevitably cave to the culture. Faithful disciples will be ridiculed, and maybe called crazy. It is unnerving, insulting, appalling, and even frightening.
But, it’s expected if we are faithful followers of Christ.