Sincere or self-serving, the disgraced comedian’s case shows how the church became a culture war frontier

The women whom Russell Brand raped and sexually assaulted have for weeks endured the ordeal of a heavily publicised trial. Throughout, Brand held online prayer meetings with followers. Does he feel Christian sympathy for those women?

Only Brand, in the deepest recesses of his conscience, can know.

The answer would be the best indicator of whether the disgraced comic, actor and born-again Christian has worn his newfound faith as a cloak in an effort to deflect and distract from the seriousness of the allegations against him. Or whether his conversion is a profound and sincere one – a spiritual crutch he may need in the coming years.

Whatever the truth, Brand’s case demonstrates how Christianity has become a frontier in the culture wars along which battle lines are now drawn on all kinds of ethical, political and even legal issues.

…

    • prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone
      11·
      2 days ago

      The whole second paragraph?

      But specifically, the very last sentence.

      Christians are pretty explicitly taught to never have judgement about whether or not another Christian’s faith is genuine. That’s a big no no

      • ReluctantMuskrat@lemmy.world
        7·
        2 days ago

        This couldn’t be more incorrect but what a lot of Christians that don’t actually read the Bible think.

        The Bible says believers are specifically supposed to call out others that claim to be Christians if their actions suggest otherwise. Believers are NOT to be judgmental of unbelievers, but very much call out those in the church.

        Matthew 18:15-17 (ESV) If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault, between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have gained your brother. But if he does not listen, take one or two others along with you, that every charge may be established by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If he refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church. And if he refuses to listen even to the church, let him be to you as a Gentile and a tax collector.

        1 Corinthians 5:11-12 (ESV) But now I am writing to you not to associate with anyone who bears the name of brother if he is guilty of sexual immorality or greed, or is an idolater, reviler, drunkard, or swindler—not even to eat with such a one. For what have I to do with judging outsiders? Is it not those inside the church whom you are to judge?

        Titus 1:13 (ESV) This testimony is true. Therefore rebuke them sharply, that they may be sound in the faith,

        Titus 2:15 (ESV) Declare these things; exhort and rebuke with all authority. Let no one disregard you.

        2 Timothy 4:2 (ESV) Preach the word; be ready in season and out of season; reprove, rebuke, and exhort, with complete patience and teaching.

        There are many more.

        Note, in the Bible Jesus only lacked sympathy and showed anger for two kinds of sinners: self-righteous hypocrites and those who used the church to enrich themselves.

        • prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone
          1·
          1 day ago

          It’s almost as if the entire thing is full of contradictions and you can find verses to justify nearly anything.

          First that came to my mind is the famous Matthew 7:

          “Do not judge, or you too will be judged. 2 For in the same way you judge others, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.

          3 “Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye? 4 How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me take the speck out of your eye,’ when all the time there is a plank in your own eye? 5 You hypocrite, first take the plank out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to remove the speck from your brother’s eye.

          I was going to list a couple more verses that tell you not to judge others, but there’s literally too many so here:

          https://www.openbible.info/topics/judging_other_christians

          Here’s like 40+ examples for you.

          • ReluctantMuskrat@lemmy.world
            2·
            1 day ago

            I mean you’re the one calling out someone else and saying the Bible is very explicit about not judging, not me. I shared it says the exact opposite when it comes to dealing with others who claim to be believers, which is true. Now you’re saying it’s full of contradictions… that’s fine too, but that’s certainly not what you first said about this particular subject.

            You seem mad that I pointed out what you first said was a common misconception often said by those that haven’t actually read the book. Still true.

        • Maeve@kbin.earth
          21·
          2 days ago

          It’s both. Humans are complex beings.

          To put it another way, love is unconditional, access to me is not.

          • ReluctantMuskrat@lemmy.world
            6·
            2 days ago

            Prole said a couple comments above:

            Very unchristian of you to judge another person like that. You holy book is very explicit about what you just did.

            That statement couldn’t be farther from the truth and I provided citations. A Christian is in fact supposed to judge another believers behavior and call it out when it’s bad, and to separate from them when they are unrepentant. They are supposed to be kind in doing so but nonetheless supposed to call them out.

            There’s even more instruction and warnings to watch out for those that use Christ’s name to further their own evil while pretending to be righteous. Jesus was quite direct and harsh in his confrontation with such people.

            • prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone
              1·
              1 day ago

              Gotta love when Christians pretend there isn’t like 3000+ sects of their religion. They’re always the correct one somehow though.

              Your Bible is full of contradictions. But the overarching message of “humans don’t judge others, god does” is very very clear.

              https://www.openbible.info/topics/judging_other_christians

              There’s like 40+ verses for you but I already know it won’t be enough.

              • ReluctantMuskrat@lemmy.world
                1·
                1 day ago

                I mean you said…

                Christians are pretty explicitly taught to never have judgement about whether or not another Christian’s faith is genuine. That’s a big no no

                …not me 🙂

                Consider the subject full of contradictions or more nuanced than simply “don’t judge anyone” like you suggested. What you first said was very inaccurate and a common misconception regardless.

            • Maeve@kbin.earth
              1·
              2 days ago

              I’m saying it’s not either or (I think in programing language it’s called XOR). im not sure how I could have been more clear than “both.”