Ann Coulter
By Matt Perman
In response to Ann Coulter’s article on the ebola doctor, “Ebola doc’s condition downgraded to idiotic,” one person on Facebook said “If you remain a fan of Ann Coulter after reading this, you are as pathetic as she is.”
I understand his strong reaction, and disagree very much with her article, but the fact that she was willing to state her views so clearly serves one vital purpose: it forces us to think hard about what the Scriptures teach and helps us refine our understanding of the truth.
Coulter argues that those who go off to the developing world to serve Christ forget “that the first rule of life on a riverbank is that any good that one attempts downstream is quickly overtaken by what happens upstream.” Hence, “if Dr. Brantly had practiced at Cedars-Sinai hospital in Los Angeles and turned one single Hollywood power-broker to Christ, he would have done more good for the entire world than anything he could accomplish in a century spent in Liberia.”
Further, “your country is like your family. We’re supposed to take care of our own first….Right there in Texas, near where Dr. Brantly left his wife and children to fly to Liberia and get Ebola, is one of the poorest counties in the nation, Zavala County — where he wouldn’t have risked making his wife a widow and his children fatherless.”
I think the best summary of Coulter’s point was made by a person on Facebook, who wrote: “Our neighbors start with those closest to us.”
Is that true?
Read more at http://whatsbestnext.com/2014/08/how-should-we-respond-to-ann-coulters-insensitive-article-on-the-ebola-doctor/
11 Comments. Leave new
It would be great if we could ignore her comments. From a Biblical Christian viewpoint, her comments are nonsense. However, the proper response is to clearly understand the grace of Christ, and the call of Christ to bring the gospel to the whole world and to be ready to defend that call, both to the world and to other Christians who don’t understand that call.
I suppose that if we were muslims we’d put out a fatwa on her, but as we are Christians we’ll pray for her (as well as for the muslims).
‘Ann Coulter net worth: Columnist, pundit, and self-described polemicist Ann Coulter has a net worth of $8.5 million. In addition to her net worth, her name rings with infamy across America thanks to her penchant for controversial statements. After graduating law school while working as a clerk, Coulter’s star as a writer began its climb with the publication of her first book: High Crimes and Misdemeanors: The Case Against Bill Clinton. Published in 1998, the book argued for the impeachment of then-president Bill Clinton. In addition to her career as an author, Coulter has a weekly syndicated column that’s known for regularly drumming up controversy.’
Why would we need the pious-sounding platitudes uttered by the man referred to as pope francis, when we have the words of the Lord Jesus Christ and the inspired writings of the Holy Scripture, to tell us how we should relate to the poor and the sick? The Lord has already spoken. Francis should begin offering for sale all the trillions of dollars worth of earthly treasures held by his church, which are under his supreme control, and use the proceeds to fight world hunger. The irony of a man in control of virtually unlimited, outrageous and untold wealth, telling ordinary people to sacrifice to help the worldwide poor, is mind-boggling.
Francis has less credibility than Coulter. I don’t recall her claiming to be a Christian authority. She is expressing her opinion. She has no authority. Francis does (according to him, the same authority that God has).
The idea that our first duty is to the poor and sick nearest to us, in our own families, fellow believers, the church, then once that’s handled, people we come across in our daily lives….is this unbiblical? If so, please direct me to scripture. Should they be ignored or passed over in favor of people in some distant land, most of whom are not within the Body of Christ? The Good Samaritan was going about his normal life, tending to his own business. and in the course of those activities came upon a man in dire need, a helpless crime victim, whom he helped even though from a different ethnic group. He didn’t pass by and say, let me go on a long trip to Asia Minor and help the poor up there, instead of this man who’s right in front of me in my own area of operation. The rich and pious Jews were condemned by the Lord for failing to provide for their own parents but donating to charity. The early church donated to support the poor believers in Judea, not the unbelieving poor, of which there were many more than in the church. Those who sold their property donated the proceeds to support the believing poor (often poor due to sickness) and the widows and orphans of the church who had no support. They were already believers, they were not given support or treatment in hopes that they would become believers. Jesus said we should assist the poor and sick brethren.
Are you aware that many non-Christians, especially in third world countries, consider the good works (medical treatment, food handouts, and the rest of the physical, temporal assistance done by missionaries and Christian workers), to be akin to bribing their people into saying they’ve become Christians, because the people know they have to play along to keep getting benefits? Is it possible there is some truth in this?
Pray for Ann and the Muslims who seek to evangelize this world. Pray that the word of God goes out in power as it will, and many will come to a saving knowledge of Christ through HIS Blood.
From a Biblical Christian viewpoint, her comments are nonsense. However, the proper response is to clearly understand the grace of Christ, and the call of Christ to bring the gospel to the whole world and to be ready to defend that call, both to the world and to other Christians who don’t understand that call.
Not all of her words are nonsense, and she is not afraid to call a liberal liberal if she thinks that same person is a danger to this nation and self. Too many Bible Believing Christians are timid not wanting to offend which I can understand, but at the same time we Bible Believing Christians are offended by so many dissing true Christianity and the name of Christ. I call this Christophobia, and our answer is Preach the Word and Pray, apply the great commission found in Matthew 28:18-20, so we can live Holy lives not afraid or ashamed of who we are in Christ.
I suppose that if we were muslims we’d put out a fatwa on her, but as we are Christians we’ll pray for her (as well as for the muslims).
The Power of Prayer, and living Holy can do wonders in the name of Christ.
The Phillipians gave to Paul’s ministry to spread the gospel (Phil 4:15-20), Jesus himself was not content in simply helping those where he was, but he desired to go to the next towns, that he may preach there also. Mark 1:38. Jesus gave explicit commands to preach the gospel to all nations in Matthew 28:18 – 20, and in Acts 1:8, as well as other locations. So, to make the claim that is biblical simply to care for those around you is wrong. However, it isn’t unbiblical to care for people around you, and to share Christ with those you are in contact with. I would also say that if yoiu aren’t called to go to Africa, then you don’t have to go. It is true that some of the offerings, like the one in 2 Corinthians 8 had to do with meeting the needs of fellow believers, Christian help in Scripture and in Christian tradition is not limited solely to fellow believers, nor is it limited to fellow believers in a local environment. Your example of the good Samaritan makes that point, even though you meant it as opposite. You are correct that we can’t ignore those around us and just feel better by giving money overseas, but that really wasn’t Ann Coulter’s point.
If you are conservative, there is much she says you can agree with. I was talking about the referenced article.
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Doug, I don’t think you understood my prior comment. The subject was contributing to the care of the poor and sick (with money or services), not preaching the gospel to all nations. It’s not only the poor and sick who need to hear the gospel preached. Or do you equate feeding the poor or giving medical treatment to the sick with telling them about the Lord Jesus Christ, his atoning death, burial resurrection and the salvation he provides to those who believe in Him alone to forgive their sins and give them the gift of eternal life? They are two different undertakings. Jesus said that the believers are his brethren, and that when we feed, clothe, treat sickness and visit in prison, the least of his brethren (believers in need, oppressed), we are in effect doing it for Him. Yes, of course, that would include believers in other nations.
What I have pointed out does not preclude providing assistance to those in other countries, including non-believers. It’s a question of priority.
As for Christian tradition, it may inform us, but it is not equivalent to the inspired teachings of scripture and is not reliable nor an authority, unless such tradition comports with scripture. So often tradition departs, adds to or imports human notions into scriptural teachings.