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NBC and most other news organizations have been carrying the story about "England's top religious authority, the archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby" being "baffled" by the fact that so many---in his words--- "so-called evangelical Christians" support President Trump.
A leading American "so-called evangelical" pastor has offered to un-baffle the archbishop.
NBC News has basically regurgitated a news story that was initially published by Associated Press. Most news organizations are doing the same. The Washington Post and a long list of lesser lights across the nation are creating their own headlines while running the text of AP.
The reason? The story helps advance the narrative the news media wants to publish every day.
The "news" component is that President Trump will be making an official visit to England---will the archbishop attend?
From AP: "The most Rev. Justin Welby told ITV's 'Passion on Sunday' program that he 'really genuinely' can't comprehend why fundamentalists have provided such a strong base for Trump."
The Archbishop of Canterbury told the press, "There's two things going through my mind: Do I say what I think, or do I say what I should say? And I'm going to say what I think. No, I don't understand it. I really do not understand where that is coming from."
He noted that he has met with worse people than the President of the United States---"I spent years and years involved in conflict stuff around the world where I met people who had killed many, many people."
Will he attend the state dinner?
"I'd be unlikely to do more than shake hands with him."
The far Left, widely read Huffington Post added this to their version of the story:
"White evangelical Christians have been key part of Trump’s base, with 81 percent of them voting for him in 2016. A Fox News poll last month found 66 percent approve of the job he’s doing, far higher than the president’s overall approval rating of 38 percent."
They too are baffled. Apparently.
The irony, at least to me, can't be missed in this.
The archbishop, by his own admission, seems to be as confused in 2017 regarding biblical Christians as King George III was in 1776.
Pastor Robert Jeffress has responded to the baffled archbishop by telling the press, what he often tells his 20,000 member congregation.
He says, "I'm not sure why [Welby's] so baffled by it. Beyond reviving the economy, rebuilding the military, remaking the judiciary, President Trump is, without doubt, the most pro-religious liberty and pro-life president we've had in history."
The pastor says evangelicals at least have an audience with Trump, whereas Clinton would have considered them a political enemy.
He's right. I think we were also labeled "deplorables."
"To me," Jeffress says, "the real baffling question is why doesn't a so-called religious leader like the Archbishop of Canterbury support a pro-religious liberty and pro-life candidate like Donald Trump?"
He continues by answering his own question-- "Welby doesn't understand evangelicals because he doesn't understand the Bible."
Jeffress is right again.
Under the guidance of Archbishop Welby, the Church of England has planned a special church service for a transgender person switching genders, and just this month instructed its schools to encourage preschool children to explore multiple genders as part of its "Valuing All God's Children" directive.
The archbishop's directive explained, "This guidance helps schools to offer the Christian message of love, joy, and celebration of our humanity without exception or exclusion."
Now I'm baffled. The Bible is clear that we are not celebrating our humanity, we are celebrating Christ's divinity.
With all due respect, I agree with the archbishop. He is baffled and confused, and now he is baffling and confusing the people who still attend his state church---and even the little children they send to the state/church schools.
The take away for me is a reminder of why biblical Christians loaded into wooden boats several hundred years ago and risked their lives crossing the Atlantic---then further risked their lives trying to survive in the New World.
And why colonists left their farms, businesses, and families to fight the Revolutionary War---and defeat England, and oppression from its state church.
Religious Liberty.
The archbishop may not understand that----- but I hope and pray we always understand it. And remain informed and vigilant and prayerful.
Be Informed. Be Vigilant. Be Discerning. Be Prayerful. Be Blessed.