mea cul·pa noun Latin, through my fault
a formal acknowledgment of fault or error
On Wednesday’s program I was speaking with Joe Carter from the Evangelical Outpost (who himself is in no way implicated in what follows) about the Michigan Primary and specifically Mike Huckabee’s campaign rally in Warren, Michigan the evening before. Joe and I were talking about how the media and people who are outside the mainstream of the church sometimes do not understand the language of Mike Huckabee, to which I responded:
“That meeting in Warren (Michigan), his big rally ending his long day campaigning throughout Michigan the day before the primary, it had a feel of a revival service, quite honestly. I’m an evangelical pastor and I love Jesus with my whole heart and I agree with the governor when he said on my program on Monday that his “neck is red, his collar is blue, and his Bible is black.” I get all that. But you know what, even I was cringing a bit when they bring out a guy from Christians for Life (or something like that) in Michigan, somebody that split off from the Right to Life of Michigan, and they present Governor Huckabee with a certificate, their Life Achievement Award, or something, and this is a no name organization. And then another guy gets up (to introduce Luther Elliss) who quotes scripture after scripture after scripture, and basically says, you know, we need Mike Huckabee as the appointed Theologian-in-Chief, and I’m cringing at this. I mean, I’m just saying why, with national media on the platform behind me filming all this, would Governor Huckabee tolerate these kind of yahoos introducing him.”
First of all, I want to make it clear that I was not referring to Luther Elliss as the one who was quoting scripture after scripture, etc., but rather to the person who was introducing Luther Elliss. Nor did I mean to infer that Luther Elliss is “a yahoo.” Luther Elliss is a godly man, a great Christian leader in our community, and in no way did I intend to impugn his reputation. Upon listening to the audio, however, I can certainly see how anyone hearing it could certainly interpret that I was referring to Luther. I deeply regret that and I offer my sincerest and deepest apologies to Luther Elliss.
Secondly, while I do believe the speeches of the two gentleman prior to Luther contributed to a revival atmosphere, it was inappropriate for me as a Christian minister to call them yahoos or to in any way impugn their characters. I wish to also clarify that at no time did either of these men refer to Governor Huckabee as “Theologian-in-Chief.” That was merely my paraphrase of the sense of their speeches that Christians should be voting for no one else but a Christian. I sincerely apologize to those two men, as well.
And finally, I apologize to my audience who I know expects better of me. No excuses. Just a plain and simple mea culpa and the hope that you will find the grace to forgive me.
Glenn, that is an interesting post regarding Huckabee and your regrets. I have been saying all along that there is more to Huckabee than meets the eye. He has a very tainted past as has been reported on several occations(push polling, his pardoning of inmates who should not have been, etc). I have learned sometime back that those in politics that seem to use Jesus as a platform are the ones that I need to look out for. I voted for Ron Paul, not because he wears Jesus on his sleeve, but because he is honest to a fault. He has a long history of being honest with his votes in congress and other issues. I have no regrets….
Well said all and a good example for all of us. In light of soooo many ungracious (how would Jesus say it?) comments, I wonder how some will support the eventual Republican nominee if Huckabee isn’t nominated?
Rabbi
As I was contemplating your comments again I recalled when I on a previous day stated I vote for Jesus Christ and Pixelmaster shot back that he was not on the ballot.
Quite to the contrary!
As to both our “less than stellar minds”
Let this mind be in you, (us) which was also in Christ Jesus:
Thanks again, “to whom shall we go”?
If in this life only we have hope in Christ, we are of all men most miserable.
This election, this country, this world, and this sinner is all about “more about Jesus would I know”
You have said it all.
Well said Rabbi!
Thus our need of the Savior!
Man of Sorrows! what a name
For the Son of God, who came
Ruined sinners to reclaim.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Bearing shame and scoffing rude,
In my place condemned He stood;
Sealed my pardon with His blood.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Guilty, vile, and helpless we;
Spotless Lamb of God was He;
“Full atonement!” can it be?
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Lifted up was He to die;
“It is finished!” was His cry;
Now in Heav’n exalted high.
Hallelujah! What a Savior!
Paul,
Guts, character, and humility.
My Own Mea Culpa
I appreciate Paul Edwards. It requires conviction to take a stand and it requires humility to admit wrong.
I don’t pretend to attain to Paul’s or anybody’s courage or humility, but there have been things in my life that I have had to repent of, mistakes made that I had to own up to, and opinions which, upon a little reflection, were either uninformed, misinformed or hastily arrived at – the result of vanity.
The single greatest act of repentance in my life was turning from the unbelief in Jesus of my (Jewish) upbringing, and acknowledging His Lordship in my life. It was also the best deal I ever got – eternal life, the complete forgiveness of my sins, and a new intimacy with the One who spoke the cosmos into being.
It helps put my latest mistake in perspective.
I voted in the Michigan primary for Mike Huckabee. Wait – don’t jump to hasty conclusions. I am not using the God and Culture Blog to advocate for Mitt, John, Rudy, Fred or even Duncan (is he still even running?). I regard it to have been a mistake as Mike has begun using ungodly “strategems” to advance his campaign. I was uncomfortable a few weeks ago when he called a press conference in order to run the negative ad he really wasn’t running. I chalked it up to necessary political shrewdness, and let it slide.
I should have heeded the nudging of the Holy Spirit.
Mr. Huckabee has continued to take the low road, more recently taking pot shots at Mr’s. McCain (the really crude remarks about the Confederate flag) and Thompson (something about Metamucil). I expect this kind of thing in an election cycle, but not from one who has built his platform on being a Christian leader.
So who am I for?
Jesus Christ (we call Him Messiah Yeshua in Bloomfield Hills). As to who I trust to lead this great country, in my less-than-stellar mind the jury is still out. But I have hope beyond this election, beyond this country, beyond this world.
You?