Why I Don't Read The Matt Walsh Blog Anymore

My Facebook is often filled with people sharing Matt Walsh's blog posts so a few months ago I decided I'd join the party and read his blog. Since I'm pretty outspoken and blunt, I figured Matt and I would have tons to agree about as well as an opportunity for me to learn from someone many others I know deem to be someone worthy of learning from. I was right. And I was wrong. 

I usually like the topics that Matt writes about but think his delivery is extremely polarizing and, more often than not, designed to get a rise more than actually create debate for people to try and understand one another. The funny thing is, Matt often uses that point to criticize someone who writes to him and uses aggressive tactics.

For me, I think one reason the church is failing so badly at reaching the lost is because many stand and scream at them about how bad they are and refuse to simply ask..."How are you?" "What do you need?" or, like the post Matt wrote to his daughter a few weeks ago, "I think you're beautiful", which was precious and encouraging. When's the last time we told someone lost, "I know someone who thinks you're so beautiful He died of his Love for you. Can I serve you and tell you about Him?" I don't think we (or Matt Walsh) will ever bring someone to Christ and the love He offers by writing excellent content (that sometimes make us laugh and often makes us feel "right") without also showing them Christ.

When Christ told the women at the well all her sins, she didn't leave feeling less than or bad or like a...well, whore, even though her entire village said that's exactly what she was! She left feeling loved, understood and cared for to the degree that she couldn't wait to reach her village and tell them all about this wonderful man who knew all her sin and didn't make her feel like dirt under his shoe (even though she really was dirt under HIS sandal!).

Rarely do I see a post by Matt that makes me think Christ would be glorified and seen as....For God so LOVED the world, that he gave his only begotten Son. Most of his posts make me think that Christians are jerks who always think they're right and make me feel like a loser for not being as perfect as they think they are and I AM a follower of Jesus Christ. What about someone who doesn't know Christ? What lost person would want to be a part of a group of people who laugh at their hurt, mock their shame and think it's cool to sarcastically make points at their expense? (come to think of it...what sane person would want to be a part of that kind of constant judgment and pressure to seem perfect?!)

I often wonder how someone lost, hurting, alone, abused, abusing, etc...feels. Christ ate with those people. He ministered to those people. He didn't often break bread with people that thought they already had it all figured out (which were primarily the "religious" people of His day!!). I'd love to see someone with Matt's readership reach the people who will live apart from Christ forever simply because they didn't know...KNOW...that Christ loves them. He loves them where they are, just like they are. I don't want to be the Pharisee who stands around asking Christ's followers, "Why are you eating with THOSE people?  They're a bunch of sinners!"  Newsflash: I once was lost, but now I'm found. I was THOSE people and sometimes, to my shame, I occasionally still am. I find myself on my knees so many mornings repenting, praying and seeking God's face because I need Him. Because without Him, I am still "those people".

"The Pharisee stood up and prayed about himself: God, I thank you that I am not like the other men- robbers, evildoers, adulterers- or even like this tax collector".  Luke 18:11

Matt's great at sensationalizing and making me feel like I'm right, but I'm not called to be "right". I am called to seek the face of the only One who has ever been "right" and to bring glory to God.  I'm called to love God and love my neighbor as I love myself. Matt's blog rarely feels like love to me. His blog doesn't reflect the Christ of the Bible who ate with the worst sinners of His time or washed the disciples feet or loved the world enough to die for it. His blog doesn't reflect the Son of God who died without sin so that I could be made new. His blog doesn't remind me that Christ loves me fully, even when I'm not very loveable. And had Matt's blog been what I'd run into when I was struggling and alone and bitter and hurt...who can say how long I would have run from my Savior who loves me?  I'm not saying we can't tell someone of their sin in "love", but it's awfully important that we actually love them FIRST. 

"If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that? And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even the pagans do that?"  Matt. 5:46-47.

Update:  I actually wrote part of this post as a reply to a sweet friend on Facebook.  Since then, Matt has posted his response to Robin Williams' death and I am even more thankful that I have removed him from my reading list.

He Who Promised is Faithful

For those of you reading this, I must preface it by saying that it will make more sense if  you've read my previous post, "For My Brother...", which you can read here. 

I was caught off guard at the incredible response to the post that I wrote for my brother.  The only people that I shared that letter with is a group of women who share at least two things with me:  homeschooling and a love of Christ. I shared it only in a closed loop Yahoo group that you must be accepted into by a moderator.  No one can read our posts outside of that group. I knew that they would pray, and keep my family in their thoughts.  I also knew that they would love me, regardless of the words that I needed to say.  It's a wonderful thing to know I have that, by the way, and I'm so grateful that I do.

One of those sweet ladies, Roxanne, attached that post to her Facebook wall because she has a heart for the hurting, and an understanding that some things just need to be shared. I was unaware she'd shared until two days later when God began to work and use His power to reach people who needed to hear. Within 6 days that post had been reshared at least 15 times, and by at least 8 people who I have never met or spoken with. My sister, Kathy, had seen Roxanne's post because my name was tagged in it, and she shared as well.  I received a large number of emails from people who I have never spoken with, and many of them shared their heart wrenching stories with me.

This is the story of a faithful God, who works in ways that we cannot begin to fathom.

On Wednesday, January 4th, I spoke to my Pastor, Mark Williams, about my brother.  He was lying in a hospital and I had not seen him in almost 18 months.  I did not want to see him. I wanted to "reason" with God and frankly, that reads as I wanted to argue with God. I felt God nudging my heart to visit my brother, extend forgiveness, ask for it in return, tell him that I love him and allow God to work. I didn't want to respond. The flesh is a wicked thing, isn't it?  Being the godly man that he is, Pastor Mark told me God didn't ask if I'd like to forgive my brother, he lovingly reminded me that my forgiveness is tied to my willingness to forgive.(Lk 6:37) He urged me to do what God was requiring of me, and reminded me that obedience is honored in God's house. My heart responded to that.  I love Jesus, and I know He loves me. He loved me before I loved Him and He loves me while knowing I am nothing without Him.  But, I still didn't want to go.

I visited my brother on Saturday, January, 7th. That's right...I had waited three more days before I entered that hospital room. I'm so thankful that God didn't have Ken's date of departure on His kingdom calendar before those three days were up! I am so thankful that God's time, and heart, was patient with me. And here's where the miracles began to pour in...He is so much more patient with us that He has to be!

I wrote that post for my brother on January, 10th...the day he died.  By January the 13th, I had received more emails on Facebook about that post than anything I'd ever written.  Hands down. It had been shared over and over and over...many times by people I had never met.  One of them was from a man in Clinton, S.C., who oversees a Christian rehabilitation center for men.  The pastor of his church read my letter to those men and his congregation. He was so precious and humble in his email.  He, like myself, was awed at the power of God's grace and intervention.  

I received emails from people who simply wanted to send their condolences and I received emails from people I didn't know, but who were also living out my story.

And then, I received this email from a godly lady named, Susie.  I've known Susie, and her husband Earl, since I was in high school, but Susie had seen my post on someone else's Facebook page and didn't even know what it was about until she read the entire blog.  Here's the email that Susie sent to me:

 Kristi, 
 I just wanted to tell you I am so sorry to hear about your brother. I just read your blog about Ken and I just had to tell you... My girls play in a band with Thomas Mossburg. We were at Brookview Nursing Home in Gaffney playing Christmas songs for the residents & a man in a wheelchair had a nurse push him over to Earl & me & he started talking to us. He told us he was from Chesnee. We told him that we were from Chesnee too so he kept talking. This was on Dec. 16th & I'm not sure how it was brought up but, he told us that he had just gotten saved the day before & Earl told him how important it was to be saved & live for the Lord. He said it sure is(with a big smile on his face) & then he teared up. He told us how he hadn't lived right. But, that he was saved & how good it felt. It took me reading what you wrote about your brother to realize that the man we were talking to was your brother. I thought this might be some comfort to you and your family.
Susie


How AWESOME is our God?!  My brother was an addict by the time I was three and I have never seen him healthy and whole.  I WILL see him in heaven and Christ makes all things new.  I am genuinely overwhelmed at the thought of seeing Ken happy and free. God is good...


What's just as incredible about Susie's email, that she could NOT have known, is this:  My brother's birthday was December 15th.  Re-read Susie's email now...she spoke with him on December 16th.  My brother was born on December 15th, 56 years ago...and he was also Born Again on December 15th in 2011.  God had allowed us to know that my brother was saved.  God had allowed us the comfort of knowing that Ken is with Him, and has used my brother to reach so many others.  Ken's life has blessed others.  A life filled with addiction, self-loathing, selfishness and hurt has been used by God to bless others and reach them. My heart toward Ken was filled with bitterness, hurt and self-absorption, but had been used by God to bless and reach others. Through Ken, and a simple blog post, God has shown Himself and His willingness to reach out to us.  He is FAITHFUL!

I couldn't begin to describe all that's happened in the last few days from that post, but I can say with absolute faith that if you believe that anything in your life is bigger than God...you're wrong.  He is willing to forgive and heal you.  If you've believed that somehow, anything you've done is bigger than God's ability to forgive...Can I just lovingly say that, thankfully, you're wrong?  He loves you right where you are.  Seek Him and you'll find Him.  Ask Christ to come into your heart, because He's willing.  He's already died for every sin you've ever committed, and you're not going to suddenly surprise Him now.

And for those of you out there like me...stubborn and argumentative, but your heart genuinely loves Christ...God honors obedience, too.  He didn't ask that you love everything he asks of you.  He's never written anywhere in His Word that you have to do cartwheels when he commands something of you.  What he DID say is that He's faithful, and He sees.  What He did say is that those that love Him hear His voice and walk in His ways.  If there's something...anything...in your life that God has been urging you to do, but you have hardened your heart to His voice, please let Him work.  It's for your good, and His glory.  He deserves it and what's more, He's so generous with His children that He blesses you for your obedience.

Frankly, writing some of this has been hard...very hard.  I LOVE to talk, but I really dislike sharing personal things about myself with people I don't know very well.  I am, essentially, I very private person who rarely shares very personal things, even with people who do know me well.  But, God asked something of me, and I responded.  His graciousness needed to be shared because it's really that incredible.  So I'll say it one more time:  If there's something that God has been laying on your heart, and you know it's what He's asking of you...go do it.  Seeing Him in action is worth any pride that must be laid aside.
  
"Let us hold unswerving to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful." 
Hebrews 10:23