Bernie Sanders’s Liberty University speech, annotated

“You are a school which, as all of us in our own way, tries to understand the meaning of morality. What does is mean to live a moral life?”

Discussion

12 “So whatever you wish that others would do to you, do also to them, for this is the Law and the Prophets.

13 “Enter by the narrow gate. For the gate is wide and the way is easy [1] that leads to destruction, and those who enter by it are many.14 For the gate is narrow and the way is hard that leads to life, and those who find it are few.

A Tree and Its Fruit

15 “Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. 16 You will recognize them by their fruits. Are grapes gathered from thornbushes, or figs from thistles? 17 So, every healthy tree bears good fruit, but the diseased tree bears bad fruit.18 A healthy tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a diseased tree bear good fruit. 19 Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. 20 Thus you will recognize them by their fruits.

I Never Knew You

21 “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven.22 On that day many will say to me, ‘Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many mighty works in your name?’ 23 And then will I declare to them, ‘I never knew you; depart from me, you workers of lawlessness.’

“You know, that ranting, old loon makes a lot of sense. I think I’ll go organize a worker’s collective at my part-time, on-campus job–before I quit my job, of course. Next, I’ll join the nearest Occupy protest–I’ve always wanted to sleep in a gutter and not bathe for two weeks. Those capitalist pig one-percenters really must learn their place! Hmmm……I wonder if the school’s library has any books by Noam Chomsky on the shelves?………..”

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(Well, maybe nobody at Liberty actually said this……..) =)

At the risk of sounding like a fundamentalist, I’m having trouble remembering all the times in the OT when the Israelites had foreign leaders in to address the good people of Jerusalem. Seems like anytime the Jews were “open-minded” and listened to those opposed God, they ran into trouble. Not that they should serve as an example or we could learn anything from the OT, mind you, because you all are probably much smarter than them due to the academic diversity that’s apparently the new standard.

It’s not enough for students to be exposed to a humanistic worldview on their own, schools who claim to be “Christian” now need to ensure that if there are any who still haven’t been infected, they are obliged to place it front and center so that it has maximum impact, front and center, because, ya know, the wisdom of the world is so much more powerful and effective than the message of the cross.

After having said all that, I’m still having trouble for some reason picturing Jehoshaphat having Ahab down to Jerusalem to give a speech espousing his debased worldview. Probably due to that funny mentalist Paul who thought we could learn something from the OT. I should pay more attention to you guys…

Thanks to you, KD, I realize I’ve made a big mistake when I’ve taught my “Exploring Other Faiths” class at our church, where we go to the Hindu temple, Buddhist temple, Catholic basilica, Jewish synagogue, and Islamic mosque to hear them each tell us first person what they believe.

What’s really strange, though, is that I have yet to have any of my students convert to one of those religions. In fact, they’ve all said they’ve been strengthened in their own faith and more informed about how to reach out to people of other faiths. Weird, huh?

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Greg Long, Ed.D. (SBTS)

Pastor of Adult Ministries
Grace Church, Des Moines, IA

Adjunct Instructor
School of Divinity
Liberty University

I’m not sure why the concept is difficult… I mean, if I were running a school, would I have Sanders in to speak? Doesn’t feel likely. But an academic institution exists to give students experiences they would not have on their own. You are supposed to be exposed to ideas you disagree with, people you disagree with, etc.

And there is no substitute for in-person interaction w/people you disagree with. You can read American left ideas anywhere, but it’s not like talking with and listening to someone who holds to these convictions—especially someone well informed and mature who holds to them.

  1. It’s far more interesting… but you have to be interested in people and ideas to benefit from that.
  2. It’s more sympathetic… real human beings hold these ideas—not just the caricatures (or maybe straw men) that are so commonly erected by those who disagree with them (often from a vast distance)
  3. It’s more empowering… I’ve tried to make this point before and it’s still hard to articulate to my own satisfaction. Maybe I’ve said it well enough. Another go: there is never anything to lose from genuinely understanding and deeply understanding ideas we disagree with, and there is much to gain. Counterarguments against misunderstood positions miss their mark, even if only slightly (but usually widely). When we don’t understand the motives involved, unsympathetic pushback tends to win no one—and is least effective when aimed at those who stand the most to gain from it (usually third parties)

I guess I do have to qualify in one way… If effort to understand faulty views isn’t accompanied by (a) a strong commitment to truth and/or (b) an adequate understand of the truth, understanding can lead to confusion. But there is never any growing in your thinking or your apologia without taking that risk.

As for me, there are few things I’ve found more interesting than a thoughtful, humane, well-informed person who disagrees with me in substantial ways, especially if they’ve got arguments I haven’t heard before.

OK, long post but back to the topic… I have serious doubts that political speeches by candidates is the best way to achieve what I’ve described. Much better as panel discussions, small groups, or one-on-one conversation.

Views expressed are always my own and not my employer's, my church's, my family's, my neighbors', or my pets'. The house plants have authorized me to speak for them, however, and they always agree with me.

I should have seen that coming. The infallible Word of Pragmatism has been introduced to the discussion.

I was apparently under the misguided assumption that we should rely on Scriptural commands, principles and examples with regard to conducting ourselves. I forgot that human experience is a much more sound guide. If it works, it must be right!

How foolish of me.

“O wise Galatians! Great job giving the Judaizers your full attention! Now you’ll be able to make an educated decision about Christ and the law.” ~ Galatians 3:1 (NPV)

[KD Merrill]

I should have seen that coming. The infallible Word of Pragmatism has been introduced to the discussion.

I was apparently under the misguided assumption that we should rely on Scriptural commands, principles and examples with regard to conducting ourselves. I forgot that human experience is a much more sound guide. If it works, it must be right!

How foolish of me.

“O wise Galatians! Great job giving the Judaizers your full attention! Now you’ll be able to make an educated decision about Christ and the law.” ~ Galatians 3:1 (NPV)

If we are going to look at “Scriptural commands, principles and examples,” then wouldn’t sending kids off to a Bible College be a pragmatic thing in the first place? We have Biblical principles of teaching the younger generation, but the examples are within the family or the church, not some far-flung school that you need to pay for.

So it’s a bad thing to do something that is intended to get people to think through their beliefs and be strengthened in their faith? You would rather they not do those things? Color me confused.

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Greg Long, Ed.D. (SBTS)

Pastor of Adult Ministries
Grace Church, Des Moines, IA

Adjunct Instructor
School of Divinity
Liberty University

The Bible is quite plain about our giving audience to evil thinkers. “What communion has light with darkness? What fellowship has righteousness with unrighteousness? What concord has Christ with Belial? What part has he that believes with an infidel?” That pretty well spells it out. Our Christian youth don’t need to be subjected to the falsehood and nonsense of ungodly, liberal thinking men and women. Evil thinking has a certain appeal that those weak in the faith do not easily detect. They can find out all they need to know by reading and researching.

Falwell was wrong to invite Kennedy to speak. Liberty has consistently exposed impressionable students to false teachers. Jerry Falwell did it in the beginning years to gain the notoriety of a school that he bragged would one day compete in sports with the Big 10. Accreditation was the god of Liberty along with many other schools, and they wanted to be recognized by the secular world on a par with other universities. This will be their eventual undoing, I fear.

[Greg Long]

So it’s a bad thing to do something that is intended to get people to think through their beliefs and be strengthened in their faith? You would rather they not do those things? Color me confused.

Did I say that? Did I even imply that? C’mon, Greg. That’s just a thoughtless, knee-jerk response.

Of course, Christians need to be ready to give an answer for the reason of the hope that lies within us. They need to be so acquainted with the truth that they can spot a counterfeit a mile away. They need to have the dangers of other false religions/worldviews pointed out by mature, experienced Godly believers so that they can avoid being caught up by them (as Paul did with the Galatians, as John did with his audience). Do you argue that as the Biblical model?

My answer was simply in kind to your original sarcastic posts.

Are you saying that you are certain that Sanders speech was not evaluated by professors at liberty in classes, helping students think through what he said from a biblical worldview?

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Greg Long, Ed.D. (SBTS)

Pastor of Adult Ministries
Grace Church, Des Moines, IA

Adjunct Instructor
School of Divinity
Liberty University

[Kevin Miller]

KD Merrill wrote:

I should have seen that coming. The infallible Word of Pragmatism has been introduced to the discussion.

I was apparently under the misguided assumption that we should rely on Scriptural commands, principles and examples with regard to conducting ourselves. I forgot that human experience is a much more sound guide. If it works, it must be right!

How foolish of me.

“O wise Galatians! Great job giving the Judaizers your full attention! Now you’ll be able to make an educated decision about Christ and the law.” ~ Galatians 3:1 (NPV)

If we are going to look at “Scriptural commands, principles and examples,” then wouldn’t sending kids off to a Bible College be a pragmatic thing in the first place? We have Biblical principles of teaching the younger generation, but the examples are within the family or the church, not some far-flung school that you need to pay for.

By no means would I argue that the Biblical primary teaching role belongs in the home and church. Having said that, there appears to be some Scriptural precedent for other means of education, i.e. the schools of the prophets in the OT. Wouldn’t you agree?

[Greg Long]

My answer was simply in kind to your original sarcastic posts.

LOL. No. No, it really wasn’t. There’s a big difference between the two. One of them directly addressed the argument put forth by some within this thread, while the other invented a straw man to conveniently ignore the counterpoint. One of them is grounded in Biblical precedent, the other in pragmatism.

[Greg Long]

Are you saying that you are certain that Sanders speech was not evaluated by professors at liberty in classes, helping students think through what he said from a biblical worldview?

No. Did you see that at all in my posts? I’m saying that Sanders shouldn’t have been invited there to spew forth his humanistic dogma.

OK, everyone, lay down your spears and shovels. Please give Sanballat and Tobiah your rapt attention and afterward, your elders will help point out the flaws in their speech,” said Nehemiah never.