The title ‘Pastor’ does not imbue your opinions with extra spiritual importance.

You can be wrong about stuff…

…Even if you’ve preached at Liberty University!

There are some philosophical problems with your blog.

I want to discuss them with you.

But I don’t want my method to become the topic of conversation.

You said:

“I am diametrically opposed (you should be, too) to criticizing members of the body of Christ in public forums, so I can’t give names of those attacking Jerry Falwell, Jr.’s announcement, which is more troubling by far than voting for “X,” no matter who “X” is.”

Well, I am diametrically opposed (you should be, too) to not holding each other personally responsible for stuff we say in public forums.

It’s a bit silly for a high-profile, mega-church pastor to expect his publicly expressed opinions to be privately rebutted.

I’m also opposed to potentially setting up ‘straw men’ to enhance my own position.

Soooooo…

…I’m linking to your article so my response will be in context.

I’ve got a couple of problems with your article.

(Not with you!  …your article.)

You said:

“As a pastor, I don’t endorse candidates…My point is that I don’t think pastors should be endorsing any particular candidate, so they don’t alienate the members of the congregation who see these non-eternal issues differently. “

How do you know which issues are non-eternal?

I’m not a pastor, but I can build a case for some political issues being of profound, eternal significance.

Like, you know, it’s legal to murder unborn people….

And why not endorse candidates?

You endorse other things, don’t you?

…marriage?

…generosity?

…loyalty?

…Christian doctrine?

Why is politics such a sacred topic that you refuse to comment?

 

Refusing to endorse candidates is a cop-out.

Are you going to vote?

Do you have reasons for voting for a particular candidate?

What’s wrong with telling your congregation those reasons?

Offering your insight and wisdom…

Isn’t that kind of a ‘Pastor’s’ job?!!

Of course, this is right.

…you proved it when you said:

“That’s why I was so encouraged to see Jerry Falwell, Jr., (not a pastor) state publicly and without apology his intent to vote for Donald Trump.”

So you won’t endorse a candidate…

…but you’ll endorse Jerry Falwell, Jr. endorsing Donald Trump.

Smooth.

I might have let you slide if you had stopped talking right there.

But you didn’t.

“I read an article recently…It describes a Cornell University study which directly correlates a person’s skill level with their ability to accurately assess their true skill level in that area. In other words, people who are good at something are also good at knowing whether they are good at it….Jerry Falwell, Jr. is effectively building and managing a multi-billion dollar organization, and for that reason he is, according to this study, in a much better place than the average person to assess who is capable of being an effective President of the USA.”

Wow.

A shame that we average people get to vote, isn’t it?

Cornell University should publish another study so I understand what to do with the dilemma this first study creates:

George Soros and Warren Buffett have also built multi-billion dollar organizations and they are not voting for Trump.

Maybe I should ask my pastor what he thinks?

It was, however, this condescending rhetoric that forced my response:

“The fact is that the study referenced above indicates that not only are most of us not capable of discerning the person most able to help our country, but the more sure we are of our ability to make the best choice, the less likely we actually are able.  Further, the study—linked now three times —reveals that any reader unable to assess the soundness of my logic in this post won’t know they are unable and in fact, will feel quite sure that they are. So there!”

I’m not a billionaire, so I probably have this wrong…

…but it seems like you’re saying…

…my thought that you are wrong confirms that you are right.

Pretty slick!

Really! My hat’s off to you!

But I wonder…

If your congregation is able to “assess the soundness of [your] logic”…

…Why don’t you endorse candidates?

Your sheep ought to embrace any proclamation you utter!

The more dubious they are…

…the more certain it is that you’re correct!

I bet I know the problem.

There are some average people in your flock.

That’s it, isn’t it?

These folks can’t get with the program.

People like me who question what you’re saying…

…even though you’ve preached at Liberty University.

My problem with you is not that you endorsed Donald Trump.

My problem is you’re trying to convince me that your subterfuge is a kind of moral high ground.