by Chris Doyle | Dec 11, 2015
Greetings!
I begin this week’s Doyle’s Half Dozen with a couple of probing topics. Let me preface myself before I begin my subjects of curiosity. If you have not read me before, or not familiar with my views on cultural issues, I do hold a more conservative perspective, and of course, based on the philosophy and intention of WordSlingers website, I do intend to share a Christian worldview.
In these first two topics, I am presenting more objectivity and, due to some realizations that I have had just in the last few days, aspects that I believe are happening among the common public. So here we go!
- Trump’s stump doesn’t bump
The Teflon trait of Donald Trump remains resilient. This man has been heavily ridiculed over and over and OVER again. He can criticize people in a disrespectful manner and stay a favorite. He can look foolish, and the needle doesn’t slide.
Even now, the poll favorite among GOP presidential candidates is getting stronger and gaining more support, even though he was widely taken to the verbal woodshed by many commentators and respected analysts after his comments on not allowing any Muslims into the country. His comments were earlier this week; the criticism came a day later, yet Trump is still a Republican frontrunner.
How is this happening? Though I don’t support the reasons, they cannot be denied. Trump connects with the fears and concerns of the common public, and the common public doesn’t believe any other candidate, GOP or Democrat. What happened in San Bernardino, Calif. last week triggered a response of fear and concern nationwide. No other GOP candidate is speaking on the tragedy or on terrorism as boldly as Trump is; no Democrat presidential candidate appears willing to even say the word “terrorism,” nor will they offer a reasonable solution.
Let me be clear, as I said in the opening, this is a probing perspective. I do not support Trump. I can list many concerns I have about his campaign. But it currently appears that he is the only candidate who is resonating among many Americans and is more sensible than the candidates and government leaders who claim this current issue of terrorism can be resolved through controlling guns or the climate.
- Christians, communicate cautiously
My second probe involves my many friends who emphatically favor Syrian refugees coming to the United States. I committed a whole DHD on this topic a couple of weeks ago.
I won’t reiterate all that I said in that blog, but I have noticed just in the last few days that fear has heightened, and these fears and concerns are not irrational. It seems like there is an hourly update about the couple who shot and killed the Christmas party participants in San Bernardino, and fear across the country gets greater with every report.
As I said in that previous DHD, I am willing to sacrifice myself but not willing to sacrifice others. I believe it is best to be sensible, to be both compassionate and cautious. Right now, though, I favor an approach of caution more while letting the emphasis of compassion be demonstrated through actions instead of words.
- Falwell finds firearms favorable
Last week, Jerry Falwell, Jr., president of Liberty University, spoke during convocation, and his speech went viral, as he strongly encouraged LU students to pursue a conceal and carry license while he himself was carrying a gun in his back pocket. He also was under great scrutiny for saying if more good people had concealed carry licenses “we could end those Muslims.”
First of all, those who are responding with an emphasis of Islamophobia, Jerry, Jr. did not emphasize all Muslim people. Listening or reading to the whole text of his speech, it is clear he was referring to those who were specifically involved in the Paris and California attacks.
Secondly, this is a reflection of what is happening nationwide. Gun sales are up in the last week, especially in San Bernardino, so those who promote a view of gun control are not being heard and won’t be taken seriously until something happens among our nation’s leadership that can provide a greater sense of protection and safety.
This is neither a message of promoting nor preventing guns; this is an observation of the fear people are experiencing. If you are one who favors gun control, you better think long and hard on how you can be convincing during this time in our country. And if you are one is who promoting the 2nd amendment and encouraging gun possession, be sure you do so properly with conceal and carry licensing and gun training.
It also was reported that Falwell is going to remove the gun-free zone policy in the LU dorms. As a Liberty alum, this is a far cry from the days when they didn’t allow students to have TVs in the dorms.
- Fred Phelps’ family member flees flock
Check out Trevin Wax’s column from this week on Megan Phelps-Roper disassociating herself from the controversial Westboro Church in Kansas. Wax shares how the granddaughter of the church’s founder, Fred Phelps, was convinced to leave the church after reading tweets from people whom this church condemned and publicly, hatefully rebuked.
Social media does have a negative influence, but I was encouraged to see that the most popular source of communication had a positive influence.
And I love this quote from Wax: “We are never merely dealing with ideas in the abstract; we debate people who put forth these ideas. Our reasoning and debating should always be rigorous, but our posture toward those who disagree with us should be one of persuasion – where we are arguing towards the truth, following arguments and not succumbing to quarrels.”
- The faithful few at OKC, Trinity
I wrote the cover story for the Dec. 17 Baptist Messenger on Trinity Baptist Church in Oklahoma City having a “Grand Re-opening” of its worship center. The special service happened Dec. 6, and I was impressed with this historic sanctuary’s makeover after it was damaged by an ice storm in 2009, causing it to be unusable for almost six years.
One thing that stood out to me from the service was the group of 30 church members who were identified as “the remnant.” Three years ago, this was all that existed of Trinity’s congregation, as the church was founded in 1911 and saw its membership reach 2,000 or so in the 1970s and 80s.
This small but faithful crew voted in 2012 to keep the church going instead of disbanding. Three years later, they are nearing 150 in regular attendance, and God has blessed them with the restoration of their beautiful sanctuary.
There is a special place in my heart for church members who remain faithful to a church during struggling years. To the members of the Trinity “remnant,” consider this my offering of a verbal hug.
- Thunder are thundering
A quick comment about the Oklahoma City Thunder, the squad has been playing extremely well in their last two outings. I am not at the point yet to say they have “turned the corner,” but they have displayed great team play and have looked much MUCH better than previous weeks.
Health, staying the course of a team-oriented attack and a little improvement on perimeter defense are the keys to being successful down the stretch. Keep on, keeping on, Thunder!
by Chris Doyle | Dec 4, 2015
Greetings!
It’s been a busy week and the beginning of a busy, but fun, month. As I’m writing this, I just got home from a work Christmas banquet. It was a great time visiting with many great people of whom I have the privilege of sharing ministry work.
As of this month, I have been working with the Baptist General Convention of Oklahoma for three years, but it seems like I just started this job. One of the many blessings I have with this position is being able to share my weekly dozen of topics with you. Let’s get to it!
- Good thoughts on prayer by Russell Moore
If you haven’t seen it by now, the New York Daily News featured on its cover the headline “God Isn’t Fixing This,” referring to the tragic shooting in San Bernardino, Calif. The best response to this ignorant conclusion came from Russell Moore in his piece “What we lose when we prayer shame politicians after a mass shooting” that was featured in the Washington Post.
Moore gives many pondering points for different philosophical stripes. He is quick to point out the flippancy that is perceived when political leaders mention prayer. He appears to show objectivity in regards to discussing gun control.
But what he does express emphatically is the importance of prayer. “If you shame away the most human aspects of public life — such as the call to pray for one another — you will find this situation worsening, not getting better,” Moore said.
Both the religious and non-religious can benefit from reading Moore’s article. One of the best suggestions he offers is for everyone to be willing to show support, even empathy, of those who are affected by tragedy and not get caught up in “an immediate search for who is to blame for holding the wrong opinions.”
- Is it wrong to be sensible?
The San Bernardino shooting is causing some head scratching responses. I think Ben Shapiro’s tweet provides a provoking conclusion – “Radical Muslims shoot people — nothing to do with Islam. Christians pray for shooting victims — their Christianity is the problem.”
Political Correctness and hypersensitivity have gone to ridiculous heights. Media members have engrained in their practices to not report any possibilities of terrorist action being affiliated with Radical Muslims that they must conclude what happened in California HAD to be workplace violence.
To be clear, I am not one to blanket all Muslims. Stacy Neuschaefer’s blog “I used to be afraid of Muslims” presents a perspective I support. However, it’s one thing to express kindness, a willingness to be understanding, and another thing to intentionally be naïve and foolish, such as to not report questionable activity of a neighbor because of fear of being called a racist.
There’s just so much craziness going on that people do not know the difference between being sensible and being hateful. In my DHD two weeks ago, I covered the Syrian refugee issue. Many of the points I made then could be applied to this situation, but one in particular would be is the importance of demonstrating both compassion and caution, if not for one’s own sake then for the sake of others.
- “White Privilege” is not worth discussing
Facebook continues to show a trending of a news commentator talking about “White Privilege.” I don’t want to get into details because they are ridiculous. Let me just give a simple suggestion – change the subject.
Anything that involves so-called privilege because of race is just divisive, and no good can come from it. Demonstrate kindness to everybody. Treat everybody fairly and with respect because this is a reflection of who you are.
- Disaster Relief does it right
Next week, I have a story in the Baptist Messenger about a man who was one of many who received the blessings from Oklahoma Baptist Disaster Relief. Darrell Hadley, an Oklahoma City resident who is 80 years old, was out in his yard cleaning up the results of the ice storm that hit the state last weekend. One of DR’s chain saw teams answered a call from Hadley’s next-door neighbor.
When a team member saw Hadley, who was recovering from hand surgery, cutting up tree limbs, he told Hadley to put down his saw because they were going to clean up his yard for him.
“Dear Lord, the angels have come down!” Hadley exclaimed. He said it would have taken him more than two weeks to clean up his yard of all the tree limbs, and the DR team had it cleaned up in less than three hours.
By the way, DR needs more volunteers, even untrained volunteers, to help haul tree limbs and debris.
Sam Porter, DR director, said they have received more than 1,000 requests from families needing assistance. There are 15 chain saw teams working this weekend and next week, but Porter said “We need hundreds of volunteers immediately to just move limbs to the curb not requiring any chain saw work or heavy equipment.”
If you are a leader of a youth group, or a Sunday School class or just can volunteer yourself, show up at FBC Yukon, 15 S. 6th Street, this weekend, or email oksbdr@gmail.com to let them know you are interested in volunteering. Be sure to have work gloves and work boots.
- One of my favorite people – Willa Ruth Garlow
If you have never met Willa Ruth Garlow, you have missed out on how much of a blessing this lady is. She was visiting my church last Wednesday to do a presentation of Lottie Moon, the famed missionary to China.
I saw her out in a hallway and went up to greet her. “Do you remember me?” I asked her.
“Well no, Mr. Doyle, I don’t remember you!” she responded, and we both laughed.
This dynamic woman is an excellent spokesperson. I’ve seen Willa Ruth give dramatic presentations, and people of all ages can’t help but be engrossed as she talks.
This is a picture of Willa Ruth, sharing the story of Lottie Moon with children, with Angela Lee, her granddaughter, portraying Lottie Moon.
- An intriguing list of books
Tony Reinke offers his top 15 non-fiction Christian books of 2015. This is a great list, and I’m glad he features Moore’s book Onward and gives it high regards.
If you have an interest in Christian authors, you may enjoy perusing this list as well. One book that caught my attention is Os Guinness’ book Fool’s Talk: Recovering the Art of Christian Persuasion.
Reinke writes “We are all apologists now, says Guinness, and he’s right. Thanks to social media, particularly Facebook, each of us can speak to a larger immediate audience than any generation in history. This is a book to help all of us learn the important skill of Christian persuasion inside a pantheon of political conversations.”
This book may be on my Christmas list.
by Chris Doyle | Nov 27, 2015
Greetings and Happy post-Thanksgiving!
I hope you have been able to enjoy the time off with family and friends and have been able to pause and offer thanks. Thanksgiving Day is the only holiday that literally reflects a response in its name. Though eating, family time and shopping are the most popular activities, may there also be an emphasis to sincerely thank God for who He is, what He has done and will continue to do.
“All of these things are for your benefit. And as God’s grace brings more and more people to Christ, there will be great thanksgiving, and God will receive more and more glory.” (II Cor. 4:15).
This week’s DHD include topics involving shared posts or articles I found directly that were challenging or fascinating. I hope you enjoy!
- Bravo Mr. President!
Dr. Everett Piper is the president of Oklahoma Wesleyan University. An out-of-state friend shared a blog that Piper posted that needs to be read by a wider margin.
“This is Not a Daycare. It’s a University!” is an excellent response Piper offers directly to a student, but his message is one that college students across the country should learn. Too much proclaimed “victimization” and self-absorption is running rampant, and for the sake of maturity and sensibility, this trend needs to stop, especially on college campuses.
I applaud Piper for speaking the truth, helping this student recognize the importance of a conscience and be willing to accept godly instruction. May others learn this lesson as well.
- Convicting Information on Women Facing an Abortion
Baptist Press released a report this week that convicted me. The article is titled “Abortion, women’s views of church focus of study,” and I’m glad such a study was done.
According to the article, Lifeway Research discovered that 75 percent of the women surveyed said the church had no influence on their decision to have an abortion and 64 percent believed the church would gossip about them instead of offer them support.
What this article tells me is the abortion crisis could be diminished if the church demonstrates more grace and support. If you’re a reader who gets bogged down by reading statistics, then just focus on the following takeaway from the article, which was a major conviction point for me:
“For most women with an unwanted pregnancy, if nobody is willing to say, ‘We’re going to help you through this,’ it’s hard for them to rationally say they should keep the child.”
Would you like to help with this? Contact me, and I’ll be happy to tell you about Hope Pregnancy Center or help you connect with a pregnancy center near you.
- Another study involving two celebrities
Trevin Wax shared an article by Dustin Messer titled “The Foolishness of Stephen Colbert.” The article expounds on Colbert, a professing Catholic, interviewing Bill Maher, a professing atheist.
There are some fascinating conclusions from this piece, as it also links to the interview. You should watch this conversation and see why Messer states “the exchange should be studied by the church which finds herself in a similarly awkward, tense cultural moment.”
Whether Colbert was serious or not, it was great to see him invite Maher back to the church. I’m glad he brought up Pascal’s wager. I’m glad, as Messer points out, that Colbert offer to go the route of love instead of peace. I also liked Messer’s comment “it’s clear that neither Maher nor Colbert are likely to pick up a coexist sticker…”
Please understand, this isn’t an endorsement for Colbert but rather a provision of a case study for Christians to watch and be encouraged to engage in respectful exchanges with unbelievers and share the Gospel.
- Good assessment on presidential candidates
A friend shared Joel C. Rosenberg’s blog that gives Rosenberg’s takeaways from a GOP presidential candidate debate in Iowa. This was great read for me. I have similar conclusions to Rosenberg’s.
I also enjoyed reading his piece titled “America needs a Josiah.” This is a great Bible study and applicable for how Christians should consider to elect as next U.S. President. Here’s a great snippet from the article, “I’m going to pray for wisdom and clarity and discernment and see if a true Josiah emerges over the next few months. I hope you will do the same.”
- Early assessment on the Thunder
Kevin Durant returned this week after missing some games due to a hamstring injury. The former NBA MVP came back when it started to look rather bleak for the Oklahoma City Thunder. The squad had an embarrassingly poor performance at home against the Knicks last week.
Since that loss, the Thunder have won three in a row and look to make it four tonight against Detroit, with former Thunder guard Reggie Jackson coming to OKC.
I am not totally convinced the Thunder have completely turned the corner after that poor stint. Overall, the team’s start to the season was surprisingly poor, but other than the Golden State Warriors, most teams that were projected to do well this season have started poorly.
I am starting to believe the coaching adjustment has been a factor, but I think the change has the potential to make greater strides later in the season. Though they have struggled, the Thunder have demonstrated willingness to allow other players to be involved in late game possessions. The team also has not been as predictable and has shown willingness to field different lineups at different times of the game. Both traits could benefit at the end of season and playoff time.
So be patient, Thunder fans. I’m trying to do the same.
- A great gift for Falls Creek
It was reported earlier this week that a $500,000 gift was made to the Falls Creek building campaign. Falls Creek Conference Center has made many renovations and is involved in multiple construction projects, and the majority of this new look will be completed next year, allowing for great facilities and housing to be enjoyed by those attending retreats and summer camps.
The building campaign is projected to be completed in 2017, the centennial year of Falls Creek, but with this announcement of a half-million dollar gift, the campaign may reach its goal of almost $5 million much earlier, as approximately $300,000 is all that is left to raise.
This is a sign of God’s provisions and His blessing of the great work for the Kingdom that is happening every year at Falls Creek.
by Chris Doyle | Nov 20, 2015
Greetings friends,
I am following a similar pattern to last week’s DHD – one overall topic with six aspects. This time it is on the Syrian refugee issue – because I KNOW you haven’t read enough commentary on it.
I am troubled, friends. I really am. Thousands upon thousands of Syrian natives are displaced, frightened and in great need of care and in greater need of the Gospel.
There are also international security threats, real threats. Undisclosed terrorists have made it known they intend to attack and kill many more people, and they demonstrated in Paris just a week ago how serious their intentions are.
I can understand how the threats may not seem real or how someone could be numb to this horrible intention, thousands of miles away, as I look outside my office window with the sun shining on this November afternoon and cars just drive by, like a normal weekday scenario.
I can also relate to my friends who want to do anything and everything to help those in time of need and go with a headstrong desire to care for the multitude of needy expatriates no matter the cost.
Good points also are made by people I respect who realize America is on unsteady grounds and believe a full passage way for this populous group could put our country even further in dire straits.
So what is the solution? How can good, honest, faithful Christians on both sides of this conundrum come to an agreement and do what truly is according to God’s will?
I will share six thoughts with you about the refugee issue. Six perspectives that I have derived after I spent time in pause, prayer and parsing what others have shared.
- I am willing to give myself but not willing to give others
I have been known to do some bold things in my past. A funny story that my friends have enjoyed involves the time I picked up a hitchhiker on my way home from Virginia, as a college student. Not only did I give the hitchhiker a ride, I allowed him to drive my car while I took a nap. Pretty crazy huh?
I would not have trouble going out of my way to help someone, and I have. I don’t have difficulties talking to people I don’t know. I have struck up many conversations with strangers and even provided them support in some situations.
I read a piece from a Christian millennial who said they “don’t get it” when it comes to people’s hesitancy to help the Syrian refugees. The writer said they “don’t get” why Christians don’t want to be like the famous missionary Jim Elliott who was killed by natives in South America.
I can’t answer for everybody regarding the writer’s inquiry, but for me, I would be willing to take the same approach Jim Elliott took. But I don’t believe Jim Elliott’s desire involved sacrificing other people.
I sincerely believe there are multitudes of Syrians who only desire refuge. I also believe the possibilities are great there are wolves among these sheep, and they desire to do great harm. They would want to harm your children, other people in your life and other people you do not know.
I do not intend to belittle your ambition to help the hurting. I have a similar desire, but I want to help while also not abetting harm.
- Protecting others in other lands
Sometime in the future, Lord willing, I am going on a trip. That is all I can share. I have to be vague about this trip for a reason. In fact, somebody who knows about this particular trip might even be nervous reading my vague description because the trip is not to be discussed on social media. It may be possible that I have to remove this from my DHD. If you are able to read this, you were blessed.
So why am I not allowed to share the details of this trip? Would it be because we are ashamed of the people who live where I am going? Are we just going for the sites and don’t care about the people?
Or how about this? What if I believe the people who told me that I am not supposed to talk about this trip ARE being discriminatory? Perhaps I thought I should tell you every single detail in order for you to pray for what I will be doing? After all, you also care about helping people right? And if God wants me to go on this trip, it shouldn’t matter what I tell you. He is going to make it all possible, right?
Yes, I am being silly. But just as the millennial Christian I mentioned earlier offered a snarky perspective of Christians believing of the refugees “We don’t want ya’ll. Have a nice life where you are. We’ll send you some food…” yadda yadda yadda, I think it is only fair to consider my folly in making a point.
There are missionaries in difficult situations. They are where they are because of other work they are doing, but ultimately, they are there to share the Gospel of Jesus Christ where it is not openly permitted to do so. Revealing them and their mission would hinder their work and would put them in danger.
So then, if such is to be handled discreetly and in a reasonable manner in order to not hinder the work of a missionary in another land, why is it so difficult to believe a similar cautious approach would need to be observed here in our country?
- Sensible, more than safe
Once again, I turn to the millennial Christian who writes wanting a response:
“Open up a Bible and make a convincing argument that Jesus wants us all to be safe more than he wants us to reach the lost and help the hurting.”
I may not be able to meet this entire request. Perhaps Jesus does not want us to be “safe,” as the writer debates, but I do know He wants us to be sensible. Jesus said to “be wary as snakes” (Matt. 10:16) which would mean we are not to be vulnerable or gullible, but rather be prudent.
Jesus also advised His disciples to protect themselves, even with weapons (Luke 22:36). I’d say that would be an argument for their safety.
Jesus does want us to reach the lost and help the hurting. Keep in mind, though, Jesus did avoid the crowds at times and took time to be by himself. Again, this is a demonstration of sensibility. He even avoided an angry mob when they tried to throw him off a cliff (Luke 4:29-30). Would this speak to His desire for safety?
The point I am trying to make, more than argue with a Christian young adult, is Jesus demonstrated both compassion and caution during His earthly ministry. We can apply both with how to handle Syrian refugees.
- Proper communication
A point I would make to those who favor a more cautious approach with the Syrian refugees is be sensitive in how you communicate about them, as well as with those who favor a view different from yours. I lean greatly on Russell Moore’s counsel who recently said:
“We can have prudential discussions and disagreements about how to maintain security. What we cannot do is to demagogue the issue, as many politicians are doing right now. An entire generation of those fleeing genocide will be asking if there is an alternative to the toxic religion they’ve seen. Will they hear evangelicals saying ‘Jesus loves you’ or ‘Who then is my neighbor?’ There are massive implications for both answers.”
I also would say I found Mike Huckabee’s remark inappropriate when he said in the aftermath of the Paris attacks that we need to “wake up and smell the falafel.”
Words do matter. How you communicate reveals what is in your heart. Make the effort to speak respectfully to all people, even those of whom you disagree.
- Be the Church, no matter
The quote I shared from Russell Moore is found in a good report from Baptist Press titled “Syrian refugees: balancing compassion & security.”
The BP story also offers remarks from other Southern Baptist leaders, but a key point I got from the story is the Church should take on this issue differently than the government.
More than one said it is the government’s duty to protect American citizens. It is the duty of the Church to show compassion and offer care.
Never turn down the opportunity to share the love of Christ. Serve that person who comes to you be they citizen or immigrant, refugee or vagrant. We may be cautious because the thought of thousands of refugees coming can be overwhelming, but once they are here, serve them, love them and share the Gospel with them.
- Trust God through it all
God is in control. “The steps of a man are established by the Lord, and He delights in his way” (Ps. 37:23).
God is not surprised by this refugee issue. He knows how this will play out. He also desires our prayers for these refugees. He wants us to cry out to Him our concerns and fears of the possible threats.
And whether the Syrians overtake the country or they all convert to Christianity, God’s will shall prevail. Be confident that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are called to His purpose (Rom. 8:28).
by Chris Doyle | Nov 13, 2015
Greetings!
I’m focusing on one overall topic this week, with six aspects. If you are tired of the presidential debates, this DHD may not be for you. However, I have a fascination with the debates. They showcase who we are to consider to be the next leader of our country.
Debates also have historical value. Many significant moments have happened during past presidential debates, especially the televised ones. From Kennedy choosing to wear makeup, and Nixon not, to Reagan’s “There you go again” line, to Dan Quayle being “no Jack Kennedy,” in the 1988 V.P. debate – there isn’t a shortage of election trivia generated from past debates.
This week, I am sharing the six significant aspects I got from watching the four Republican debates and the one Democratic debate. Obviously, with more opportunities come more content, so yes, there will be more commentary on the GOP events.
- Rubio rises repeatedly
This may surprise you, but before the first GOP debate, I was not a major Marco Rubio supporter. I liked him well enough, but I had skepticism due to his limited experience and lack of executive-level involvement.
Sen. Rubio has knocked it out of the park every single time. He has not claimed a bad grade in any of the debates, and from what I have personally observed, as well as from other political pundits commentary, Rubio is the only candidate who can claim such unanimous high marks with all of the debates combined.
Ted Cruz has graded well lately. Carly Fiorina has some good results. Donald Trump has done well with many viewers, but not all. And though Ben Carson doesn’t seem to be near the top of the overall debate rankings, he has had moments to shine. Carson is the best in solo media interviews though.
The fascinating thing is, no governor in the race looks good. All Republican candidates with gubernatorial experience have struggled. The only ones who look promising at this point are either senators or political outsiders.
- Interruption corruption
Every single candidate has flopped when they chime in on another candidate’s question. This applies to both Democrat and GOP debates. John Kasich and Rand Paul are the worst. I don’t know who is advising them on debate strategy, but interrupting and taking on candidate directly is a weak tactic. It simply doesn’t work, and in fact, it backfires. The attacked candidate appears more favorable.
One of the most significant debate moments happened when Jeb Bush criticized Rubio in the CNBC debate. Some have said this moment alone may have sank Jeb’s battleship.
- Poor performance can lead to early departure
Scott Walker was a candidate I wanted to like. Long before the debates occurred, he actually was a poll leader. However, along with Trump entering the race, Walker’s uninspiring debate performance led to him dropping out.
He is not the only one. Dem. candidates Jim Webb and Lincoln Chaffee were totally awful.
- Moderator mishaps
There has been a long standing criticism of the mainstream media, especially among conservatives. Some past criticisms may have lacked objectivity, but for the past decade, the liberal fangs of media members have been largely exposed, and news personalities have treated Republicans in a heavy-handed fashion.
Such has been the case in the Republican debates moderated by CNN and CNBC. The CNN Democratic debate, though, was more like a love-fest. “Which enemy are you most proud of?”
CNBC moderators were definitely out to make Republicans look bad by asking very pointed questions. Even then, they provoked some candidates to shine, especially Rubio and Cruz.
I will be curious to see how future moderators perform. After what CNBC did, it would be hard to do worse.
- Polls not always driven by debate performance
As I have said before, Ben Carson does not rank among the best debaters in the presidential race. He is a current leader in the polls in spite of his debate deliveries. Yes, he has scored some good marks, especially in the last two debates, but he has gotten bad marks as well.
But Carson is not a speaker who comes up with the “cute quotes.” He doesn’t speak in slogans. He is excellent at delivering speeches, and he handles critics in an excellent fashion.
I have disagreements with Dr. Carson on certain policies, but on most social issues, I am impressed with where he stands. And apparently many others are impressed because his poll numbers do not reflect how he does in debates.
- Party divide
With four GOP debates and only one debate for Democrats, it may seem slighted for those considering to vote Democrat. However, here is one thing I know for sure, regardless of the number of debates. There is no middle ground.
Pick any political issue to discuss — economy, healthcare, foreign affairs, military, immigration, abortion, Planned Parenthood, marriage, racial issues, religious liberty… From what was revealed from the debates, Republicans appear to be extremely on one side, and the Democrats are extremely on the opposite.
If you consider yourself a moderate on the issues, you may have a tough decision. This is why I believe voters need to be informed. What issues are important to you? Why are they important? Do you base your views according to Biblical teachings? If not, then what is your basis?
Is there someone you trust to help you with questions you may have about the issues? I encourage you to find such a person who is wise, and find good books by respectable Christian authors who speak on the important issues and explain why they are important.
“The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you” (Phil. 4:9).
Politics may not be very important to you, but politics are instrumental in shaping our culture.
