Comments on: Miller on Bush: We Like Him Because We Created Him

By: Geof F. Morris

Geof F. Morris — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 20:01:58 +0000

If Don Miller starts writing about NASA, I’ll be all up in his grill.

By: bryan

bryan — Wed, 07 Jun 2006 13:58:15 +0000

i know this horse is beaten, dead, and rotting, but i appreciated the comments. i think Don should be free to “write the truth as he sees it”, even if it is about politics, chess, or NASA. Having had a bit of interaction with him, including dinner at Cracker Barrel, i can also say with confidence that he doesnt put his opinion on a pedestal. the problem arises when folks who appreciate his ability to write, place that writing ability on a pedestal (where it might belong) and along with it place ALL of his opinions on a pedestal (where even he would say that they dont belong). we see this all the time with political rants from actors and actresses. so should Don stop expressing his opinions because others will place them on a pedestal? i dont think so. it does make me glad that noone puts my thoughts on a pedestal, i’ll say that.

By: Imperfect Mirror

Imperfect Mirror — Mon, 15 May 2006 02:11:57 +0000

The Value of Celebrity

Mark Traphagen, a friend and brother in Christ, recently addressed Don Miller’s highly political take on George W. Bush. [Full disclosure: I am the technical support behind [donmillerfans.net], and I’ve ended up as the administrator of the…

By: Geof F. Morris

Geof F. Morris — Mon, 15 May 2006 01:50:28 +0000

I was about to reply, and then I read Mark’s bit. I think the error only comes when society gives folks’ opinions any more weight than our own. Were Mark to suddenly express his opinions on, oh, NASA’s Vision for Space Exploration, I’d evaluate them appropriately: as those of an interested layman who doesn’t have any real background to comment. [I say that as an oh-so-snooty aerospace engineer who does have just enough of a background to comment; I probably look the bigger fool by doing so.]

If there is any extra special value to be placed on Miller’s political diatribes above my own, it is that Miller’s voice reaches a little farther than mine does in expressing the sentiment that we evangelicals are not necessarily in lock-step with the Administration [even if I did vote Bush a second term].

By: mike

mike — Mon, 15 May 2006 01:36:23 +0000

“In the end, youâ€™ve got to write the truth as you see it”

Do we? I guess this was my original question. Just because someone writes one or two good books, doesn’t mean he should continue writing everything that comes into his head. I think this is more about our culture than Donald Miller. Celebrities feel free to comment on anything and everything, and I think it’s irresponsible as they have great influence but little expertise. James tells us that few should aspire to be teachers and we should be careful of what our tongue (or keyboard) do.

As for the Jesus card: he had a divinely-appointed mission to do the Kingdom-bringing ministry that God was bringing about and centering on Christ. Miller is joining the long line of “intellectuals” who are repeated the *exact same* arguements as Bush’s political opponents. Remember my original statement about Wright, Yoder, etal. Make political statements; being Kingdom-centered is very political. It’s just sad to see Donald Miller and other emerging authors become the equal-and-opposite force to the Religious Right.

By: Mark Traphagen

Mark Traphagen — Mon, 15 May 2006 00:29:30 +0000

All too true, Mike. But in the end, what can we do about it? Tell Don Miller not to express political opinions because the religious right will turn on him? Tell Wright he can’t expound what he thinks about justification because it makes some in the PCA nervous? Hardly the right solution. In the end, you’ve got to write the truth as you see it and trust that God uses it where it can be used. Jesus didn’t worry about being politically correct with the Jewish power structure so he could get on their radio talk shows.

By: mike

mike — Mon, 15 May 2006 00:23:11 +0000

No, I don’t think you guys put too much stock in him, but there is a crowd of folks who do (e.g., my sister-in-law and her collegiate peers), and I think one ought to be very careful about what puts into print. Some great writers (esp. theological) are easily marginalized by audiences who really need to read them because of shabby comments made on a totally different topic.

Case in point: I just finished Wright’s Simply Christian, which is a phenomenal book. I think it can help pastors, campus ministers et al, reach out to the postmodern generation of students with the true gospel (as opposed to rock music, etc). Unfortunately, I fear that many in my own denomination (PCA) won’t consider it because of what Wright has said (or hasn’t said) about Justification.

By: Geof F. Morris

Geof F. Morris — Sun, 14 May 2006 22:35:22 +0000

What’s this “we”? That was all Joe Bassett!

By: Mark Traphagen

Mark Traphagen — Sun, 14 May 2006 21:55:53 +0000

Wow, Geof. I just went over to look at the comments from Don’s post. I expected there to be a lot, but you were right…there are a lot of scraped-up knuckles out there today!

By: Mark Traphagen

Mark Traphagen — Sun, 14 May 2006 21:44:52 +0000

Actually, as I remember it Geof, we broke a bottle of ketchup over a napkin at that Denny’s!

Ditto to all your comments.