t’s Honestly Like Some in Media Have Never Even Heard of Christianity
by peterheck
What happened on MSNBC yesterday really shouldn’t come as a shock to anyone, but it still felt surreal watching it.
I’m not sure why it surprises me anymore, but the remarkable paucity of even a basic grasp on rudimentary Christianity in the halls of major American media these days is simply breathtaking. And while that certainly includes print media it is often most visible and noteworthy on broadcast and cable news outlets.
The first interview I ever did with CNN I remember the reporter asking me off camera to explain what a “born again Christian” was before he referred to me as one on air. And it was around that time I remember watching Chris Matthews seem blown away when interviewing then-Congressman Mike Pence and finding out our now-Vice President might actually think the book of Genesis was reliable history.
So really what happened on MSNBC yesterday shouldn’t come as a real shock, but it still felt surreal watching it.
Discussing President Trump’s appointment of former CNBC host Larry Kudlow to be his economic adviser, two MSNBC reporters seemed to find perplexing humor in Kudlow’s referring to God’s will for his life:
“If you noticed when Larry Kudlow spoke on CNBC yesterday, he ended by saying, ‘However things work out, it will be God’s will,’” [Reporter Stephanie] Ruhle said on MSNBC Thursday.
“That’s an interesting way to uh, talk about being the national economic adviser to the president,” Ruhle continued. “God’s will?”
Later, Ruhle brought up Kudlow’s statement again while talking about the differences between his economic beliefs and that of the president.
“This is the challenge for Larry Kudlow because in the position he’s in now,” she said, “he has to stand there and represent real data.”
“Right, but the fear is he may stand there and represent the president in the face of real data,” said co-host Ali Velshi.
“Well, as Larry Kudlow says, ‘It’s God’s will,’” Ruhle added, raising her mug.
What isolation and complete detachment from even a layman’s understanding of Christianity it must take to be bewildered by this phrase. Seeking and submitting to the will of God is basic Christian doctrine. It’s what Jesus Himself prayed for in the Garden of Gethsemane. In fact, it’s precisely what Jesus taught us to pray for in what is popularly referred to as “the Lord’s Prayer.”
What Kudlow is obviously saying is that he recognizes these particular circumstances are out of his control, and he’s fine with that. This is a door that has opened to him, and he apparently attributes that to God. If the door closes, He will attribute that to God. If he is given the opportunity to serve a president, he will have no control over whether or not he can later return to CNBC. He’s putting that all in God’s hands. Is Stephanie Ruhle actually unaware this is the language and perspective most every Christian in existence uses?
This is a level of detachment from Christianity that actually takes effort. Perhaps someone could tell her that her obliviousness to the concept of God’s will is far more embarrassing than Larry Kudlow’s submission to it.
themaven.net
Kudlow could have said it in Arabic (Inshallah) and the media folks wouldn't have uttered a word, except perhaps something nice about the "religion of peace." |
