Our cultural moment is a cauldron of information and celebrity worship in which the cult of personality can ferment and grow. Is Apologetics Helpful or Necessary in Evangelism? And the question that Ive gotten from some people who are close to me, who love me. Encouragement for Anglican Pastors, Downplaying the Sin of Homosexuality Wont Win the Next Generation, 9 Things You Should Know About Revivals in America, When You Dont Feel Like Having Sex with Your Spouse, The Burning Question from Asbury Isnt About Asbury, Megachurch Marriage for the Bachelor Pastor: A Story of Love that Lasts, Ordinary and Extraordinary: A Day at the Asbury Awakening, Tim Keller on the Decline and Renewal of the American Church. They loved not the things of the world, but repented of their sin and put all their hope and trust in him. Why We Should Not Redeem Deconstruction, Before You Lose Your Faith: Deconstruction and the Church, Why Progressive Christianity Cant Bring Reformation, Jen Hatmaker and the Made-to-Order Gospel. With every hit of the like button, the personalities weve subscribed to have become our authorities for truth. Ray Comfort is the Founder and CEO of Living Waters, a bestselling author, and has written more than 100 books, including, The Evidence Study Bible. Childers has recently become the go to apologist for Evangelicals who go astray having flirted with deconstruction herself but then (whew) successfully managed to pull herself back from the postmodern abyss. Augustine goes on to say that it is significant when someone of this stature converts . Of course, I had never looked at the evidence for evolution. Rhett & Link preempt their critics But the same timeworn skepticism the church has interacted with since its inception is given a fresh dose of potency when delivered to a whole new generation by cool and funny guys whove become a fixture of their childhood. Rhett and Link have grown their brand performing hilarious satirical songs and engaging in zany stunts such as duct-taping themselves together, playing wedgie-hangman, crushing glow sticks in a meat-grinder, and flinging bags of dog feces at one another's faces. No, these lads loved Jesus. Bingo! We have taught breakouts on evolution at camp and there are many good books you can read on the subject that Ill put at the end. Thats a messy situation. Theres one thing I respect about the deconstruction stories of Rhett and Link. What he learned in time was that history disconfirms pretty much every major story from the flood of Noah all the way down through the Conquest of Canaan by the Israelites, with things not much improving for the next several books. I was amazed at the providential coincidences that converged for me, personally, when I listened to these testimonies last week. They are known for their comic songs, viral commercials, skits and the daily show, Good Mythical Morning. I'm super disappointed but also not surprised. I laughed out loud when Rhett talked about engaging people on airplanes by spouting talking points from books byJosh MacDowell and Lee Strobel. Around the time I was nursing a wounded ego for being stood up by the Ricky Schroder fan club, Neil Postman made a prediction in his 1985 book, . He even says that he understands the argument that you cant have a moral law without a moral law Giver But then he says, that he just doesnt know. I never got a reply. Thats humanism in a nutshell, and I feel the same way. Giza Theme by Pixel Object, G.O.P. This implies that they are, in fact, deceiving people. Celebrity YouTubers Rhett McLaughlin and Link Neal have caused a few waves following their collective decision to abandon the Christian faith. This is the effect the gospel has, and we should expect these types of reactions. Get resources, podcast episodes, and SWO updates sent directly to your inbox. Questioning those beliefs meant friendships, family bonds, and the very fabric of their community were all threatened. Its not like God was all of the sudden blindsided by the fact that people are struggling with their sexual orientation or that some people have gender dysphoria. If you believe in him and love him, he is supposed to be the most important thing you can speak about with anyone you meet. I dont know. This is how we know what there is to know about Jesus. Once you've listened to that track a certain number of times, it's clear that you don't own it but would like to. Francis Schaeffer once wrote about the fact that Christians need to have such a commitment to the truth that if it were proven to be false we would be the first to get out of line and join the rest of the world in their destruction. With the YouTube-ification of our culture, though, consumers are connecting not with actors playing characters, but real people who allow them to peek behind the curtain of their lives. Its not like hes throwing out the baby with the bathwater, its like hes throwing out the tub and trying to keep the baby and the bathwater intact. Melanie then asks for coffee and sandwiches. In later episodes, Rhett and Link each go into depth describing what led them, ultimately, to deny their earlier faith. But I also know from experience that the work of defending the faith requires enormous amounts of self-deception, closing one eye and squinting the other to make sure things look the way theyre supposed to look. Lover of beans. Later on, Wade asks Rhett if he understands little boys, and Rhett bitterly says he does. Only the dates and names were changed. Her exact date of birth and lace of birth is currently not known yet. Im not gonna be scared of the truth. Peruse many a church website and youll find a Statement of Faith list of things you will need to believe in addition to Following Me. Rhett (a.k.a. I'm not saying that Rhett and Link walking away from the faith isn't a big deal . . Its got a destination. Right and wrong? When he identified as a Christian he said that he had to have certainty, but now he is fine not having certainty. With the help of the Holy Spirit, they became convinced that Christianity is true as they gazed deeply at Christs beauty. Charles Lincoln Neal III) have already established themselves as YouTube's grand old men and as two of the platform's most consistently . I remember my former Christian marriage therapist asking me point blank: What are you getting from this? Ill confess I havent watched a ton of their stuff, but thats mostly because I dont watch much YouTube at all. Its hard not to feel insulted by his unwillingness to accept this. stand to lose if they didnt capitulate to culture on an issue like same-sex marriage? Hopefully, they also realize these accusations are shots fired out of fearfear that one day they may wake up to find that we are making at least as much sense as they are. What does this obtain for you? I told him honestly that it could only lead to loss and pain, but that I didnt really have a choice. Because of his feelings. Gods in control. On the other hand, we need to be confident in our faith, so we need to listen to what non-Christians say about Christianity. or that could they even still call 24:12). After all, remember, we are talking about nothing. After having spent years in young adult ministry, Rhett and Link now call themselves "hopeful agnostics." Their shift away from Christianity, though, raises quite a few red flags, especially given so much of it seems to hinge on their own experiences and desire to embrace the LGBTQ community. If I wouldve found out he was a former Christian now identifying as agnostic, it would have broken my heart. And, like he says toward the end of yesterdays talk by Link, the boat is real. What was scheduled as an hour-long chapel service last Wednesday has turned into a multi-day revival at Asbury University. Its like trying on a different head just for a little while. This led to him jumping ship. Lori calls it guerrilla evangelism, and its a burden shouldered by everyone who knows Jesus. I think Postman was on to something when he wrote, WhatOrwell feared were those who would ban books. For Rhett, it started with questions relating to science, the age of the earth, and evolution. This is what Ive been teaching them. Goins-Phillips, in response, pointed out that Christianity has been around for 2,000 years and remains the worlds largest religion, so it has withstood challenges and investigations. They decided to go get vasectomies together and filmed the experience for a video . Rhett & Link are entertainers who primarily use the Internet to display their talents. Again, the jumping ship lingo isnt mine, thats from him. That was one of the hardest pills for me to swallow, too. Were So Spoiled. And it gives you community. And, in reality, hes not living that way either. And you think Los Angeles stretched How can two guys who make a living as YouTube personalities go from making possum corndogs one day to throwing 2,000 years of Christian history under the bus the next? Responding to a fan question in 2010, Rhett said that, while they were both Christian, their content is not religious. The song became the most-played country tune on the radio for six . We have to understand were not the first people to grapple with these sorts of questions, said Andros, noting Ecclesiastes 1:9, which says, There is nothing new under the sun., In one interview, Rhett argued that, if Christianity is true, it should be able to withstand investigation and inquiry.. That, though, didnt ease their concerns over how much emphasis Rhett and Link seem to be putting on their feelings. As a result, they are surprised and hurt by Christians who promptly said that they never truly were of us ( 1 John 2:19 ). Should Christians Embrace Evolution? Really good analogy. I jumped into a sea of uncertainty. To some, it smells like beauty and life; to others, it smells like death. Travis Tritt asked the question, but it seems Thomas Rhett knows the answer. Scarlett had befriended the very people who had destroyed the South. Indeed they become: From the short exposure Ive had to the spiritual journey of Rhett and Link it seems they will produce even more love, joy, peace, gentleness, and kindness that Jesus says will come from those who are following him. What I want to address is that even if Evolution were true (which I dont believe it is) there are way too many things in this world that need explanations that the Naturalistic worldview cannot answer. you? Rhett & Link, best friends since 2 nd grade, currently host one of the most popular YouTube channels on the Internet, Good Mythical Morning. Lauren Boebert And Marjorie Greene's Adult Christianity Was Never About Democracy, Anyway. Im almost sure I said those same words at some point in my journey. ", "Until we meet againhttps://www.youtube.com/wat". And furthermore, who wants to embrace uncertainty? Rhett mentions to Scarlett that he goes to New Orleans to visit a young boy who goes to school there, because Rhett is his guardian. suggestion that their moving to Los Angeles was just the slippery slope to The reason Rhett and Link's deconstruction is so important is precisely because they are not scholars and neither are most members of their audience - which is no longer limited to Christians looking for wholesome entertainment. To paraphrase: Mammy sits by the door and hears nothing, only a low humming sound--Melanie convincing Rhett to bury Bonnie. Leaving aside the irony of that accusation, I would simply say, as I always do, that certainty is the currency of fundamentalism. And when I jumped ship, I didnt jump to another boat. Its no wonder, then, that every time we turn around there is yet another, Rhett and Link have grown their brand performing hilarious satirical songs and engaging in zany stunts such as duct-taping themselves together, playing wedgie-hangman, crushing glow sticks in a meat-grinder, and flinging bags of dog feces at one anothers faces. In Book VIII, Chapter IV of Confessions, St. Augustine relates the conversion of a famed Roman rhetorician, Victorinus, whose public conversion caused great rejoicing. He further likens the endogenous retroviruses shared between humans and other ape descendants to a coffee stain that shows up in later versions of a manual, demonstrating an earlier common ancestor who must have experienced the original mutation/stain. But as both Rhett and Link recounted, there was something brewing underneath the intellectual questions. Later in Pauls ministry, however, he writes that Demas ended up loving the present world more than the things of God and walked away (2 Tim. Exvangelicals remember this compulsion well. Ray Comfort explains the reason why this happens so often with those who used to believe in Christianity. Anticipating the response he would get for opening up about all of this, Rhett addressed the No True Christian argument right off the bat: I want to emphasize how big of a deal it was to me. Both guys were raised in an environment that assumed Christianity as a part of the culture, and ultimately that did them a grave disservice. The Gospel Coalition supports the church by providing resources that are trusted and timely, winsome and wise, and centered on the gospel of Jesus Christ. Ill interact the most with Rhetts extimony as it covered the lions share of their reasons for leaving the faith. I was crushed. After abandoning a Young Earth view of the cosmos, Rhett wrestled next with the historicity of the rest of the Old Testament (the stuff about Jesus would have to wait till later). 2. While their degrees and first jobs were in engineering, funny video production ultimately became their claim to fame. And we as Christians shouldnt be surprised when this happens. Rhett led off with his intellectual doubts and Link countered with an emotional appeal. It doesnt really matter if it never reaches its destination. Certain? Over the course of a few days, social-media newsfeeds became inundated with hot takes, responses, disagreements, and praise for the comedy duo. They never talk about if it's morally wrong, but rather the person expressing who they think they are and who they think they love. As far as Christians believing in the theory of Evolution or not, there is too much to go into in this short post. Rhett seems really reluctant to talk about it, so Scarlett doesn't ask more questions. At some level, my therapist knew what everyone in his position knows: Once you start seriously considering the unthinkable about your faith, so many scary questions begin to plague you that it keeps you up at night. Role. Norman C. Nevin, Theistic Evolution Edited by J.P. Moreland, Stephen C. Meyer, Ann K. Gauger, Wayne Grudem, & Christopher Shaw. Why do Rhett and Link homeschool? the opposite is often true. As part of their healing process, they are all told to declare to the world their reasons for why being a Christian is wrong. When I listened to their journeys from belief to hopeful agnosticism I was shocked at how much this looked like a one-two punch attack against Christianity. Producer: Good Mythical Morning. With every hit of the like button, the personalities weve subscribed to have become our authorities for truth. before can enthusiastically answer, YES, Jesus never answered the thief on the cross who asked Christ to remember him when he came into his Kingdom with, This Day youll be with me in Paradisejust so long as you also believe the world was created in six days. Rhett led off with his intellectual doubts and Link countered with an emotional appeal. With the help of the Holy Spirit, they became convinced that Christianity is true as they gazed deeply at Christs beauty. Where does that come from? This is why growth is stunted, why people abandon the faith: our church is too shallow for roots to dig deep. Help train Christians to boldly share the good news of Jesus Christ in a way that clearly communicates to this secular age. Link is known to be awkwardly funny, a master of organization, the President of the Republic of Cheesistan, and prone to retching and gagging when introduced to strange or unfamiliar food. They were also Christians, former missionaries, and Campus Crusade (now, When they each recorded videos walking fans through their spiritual-deconstruction stories in February, it shot through the internet like a bolt of lightning. Both Goins-Phillips and Andros commended the comedy duo for their willingness to talk so transparently about what is sure to have been a difficult and challenging process. Rhett and Link met each other way back in Elementary school in North Carolina and they've stuck together into adulthood, at one time passing through a ministry phase as full-time staffers with. Since Rhett and Link were relatively deep into religiosity, having learned "Christianese" and the culture, it took them years to complete their pilgrimage to secularism. As I listened to them walking through their journeys I was surprised to see that we have covered much of the same terrain. And thats where Ive lived for about six years. This brings us to the salient question. Sign up to get our newsletter your inbox every day. Who do you think you are? people will say to them. Rhett and Link aren't going to church either way. My understanding of who Jesus is is not just based on my experience with him personally, but its also based on what the Bible has to say about him. Rhett and Link, extremely well-known YouTubers, recently posted videos talking about how they left the faith. But it was while still back in North Carolina that Rhetts wife, Jessie, had taken Bible courses under agnostic biblical scholarBart Ehrman, and the historical questions those studies raised continued to impact their lives. Yep. The YouTube comedy duo Rhett and Link are well-known for eating bizarre foods, making wacky music videos, and more recently, walking away from the Christian faith. It isnt the skeptics who crave constant assurances were on the right track. Its the people behind the arguments. I guess my biggest frustration with what he is saying is that he is painting the picture that if you are a Christian you are not allowed to have any doubts, but if you arent a Christian then you dont have to believe in anything. Since the release of their stories, several apologists and scholars have offered sound rebuttals to some of the claims made by Rhett in particular. Ray Comfort explains the reason why this happens so often with those who used to believe in Christianity. Not only was I taught everything I ever needed for my faith in Christ could be found in that aisle but later, sadly, that was what I went on to teach others. He was the only one for me. Rhett James McLaughlin and Charles Lincoln's hosts are known for their comedic viral videos and have gathered an estimated net worth of 30 million dollars. I read here a lot more than I comment, but Neil was ", "Then the LORD said to Hosea, Gomer conceived again and gave birth to a daughter. Neil Carter is a high school teacher, a writer, a speaker, a father of four, and a skeptic living in the Bible Belt. Please help us to continue to make our videos and movies available on YouTube free of charge. After all, when someone is conversant in apologetics and theology, knows his Bible, and can anticipate my suspicions and objections, its difficult to simply pass him off as someone who never really understood Christianity. Deconstructing from certain Statements of Faith doesnt mean you have to jettison the Christian faith altogetherin fact for many of us, its put the focus back on Jesus and the fire back in our faith! Fast forward 35 years to a day replete with a global internet and smartphones, and Postmans words ring with the chill of prophetic accuracy. Rhett and Link met each other way back in Elementary school in North Carolina and theyve stuck together into adulthood, at one time passing through a ministry phase as full-time staffers with Campus Crusade (now called Cru). Cotton Candy Randy is a Mythical character created by Rhett & Link on their daily show, Good Mythical Morning. How can two guys who make a living as YouTube personalities go from making possum corndogs one day to throwing 2,000 years of Christian history under the bus the next? Demas traded eternal hope for earthly treasure. But the same timeworn skepticism the church has interacted with since its inception is given a fresh dose of potency when delivered to a whole new generation by cool and funny guys whove become a fixture of their childhood. Do you see the problem? I hope in the future they will explore that question a bit more, as well as their differing orientations toward hopefulness for the future of our species. After all, when someone is conversant in apologetics and theology, knows his Bible, and can anticipate my suspicions and objections, its difficult to simply pass him off as someone who never really understood Christianity.
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