Much talk has been given in attack or in defense of Ann Coulture, and as always I am astounded that Christians are among the first to stand to her defense. Recently I read a blog labeled “Christianity” entitled, “How to Piss Off a Liberal.” Perhaps this is just me, but I think somewhere there is an inconsistancy.
In these days following Coulture’s use of a gay slur, I have heard a consistent defense of her statements from the Christian Community, “It’s not as if she actually killed a gay person” and “it’s only words” being among them. Such Ridiculous statements accomplish nothing but minimizing the severity of Coulture’s statements, and aligning Christ with such ignorant, childish remarks.
The alliance between Ann Coulture and the church is long standing. This past summer I went on a mission trip and was sickened to see more than one copy of Coulture’s book “Godless” floating around the bus, even being read by church leadership. Perhaps they were decieved by Ann’s own use of Romans 1:25-26 to open the book. Clearly Coulture never used scripture to filter her hateful, sarcastic, and arrogant tone that followed.
Couture is a confessing Christian and I do not have the authority to question her salvation. I do, however, have the responsibility of questioning Christians that praise, admire, or support a person that descibes her role in society as “I’m a Christian first and a mean-spirited, bigoted conservative second, and don’t you forget.” In one of her townhall.com articles Ann described the gospel in the following terms, “Jesus’ distinctive message is: ’People are sinful and need to be redeemed, and this is your lucky day because I’ m here to redeem you even if you don’t deserve it, and I have to get the crap kicked out of me to do it.’” She continues however to say that liberals have it wrong in saying that the message of Jesus is “be nice to people.” Perhaps if Ann would try actually following the example and teachings of Christ she would understand that “being nice to people” is a large part of the gospel as well.
Ann Coulture once said, “Christianity fuels everything I write…” If this is the case why does she insist on using dialogue that describes Muslims as “smell[ing] bad,” “camal jockeys, and “towelheads,” as opposed to genuinely being concerned for their eternal souls. Why does she insist on jokingly using language offensive to the homosexual community as opposed to being deeply burdened for these people as follow sinners, loving them just a thousands of conservative Christians do?
My call to the church is this: do not support this woman’s words, actions, or literature. Join me in disassiociating her deffensive and hateful methodology from our message. Truth is important, that is why we cannot allow it to be tainted or distorted by individuals such as Ann Coulture. This is my plea to conservative Christians… from a fellow conservative Chrisitian.
dbmp505 Said:
on March 6, 2007 at 8:27 pm
wow I never even knew Ann Coulture claimed to be a Christian. I have to agree with your thoughts on Ann and her ideas.
“I’m a Christian first and a mean-spirited, bigoted conservative second, and don’t you forget.” – if that quote is legit then that is so sad. Extreme Right Wing Christianity has no idea how irrelevant they are to our culture.
abyssalleviathin Said:
on March 6, 2007 at 8:57 pm
I agree, except I’m a liberal so you know I’m not a big fan of Miss Coulter
Chicagogal Said:
on March 24, 2008 at 5:47 pm
I disagree with your view of Ann Coulture. She in no was is “mean spirited”, hateful or bigoted in any way. I’m so fed up with those ridiculous liberal words used to scare off the light of truth. She’s angry with the so much that’s going on in the world and has every right to be. Sure she could probably tone it down a bit. But I for one love her Sarcasim. It’s the only way to stay sane in a world that suddenly thinks evil is good and good is evil. As far a the last paragraph “Join me in disassiociating her deffensive and hateful methodology from our message. Truth is important, that is why we cannot allow it to be tainted or distorted by individuals such as Ann Coulture.” You’ve got to be kidding. She’s all about the truth and taints nothing. She’s not a preacher in the pulpit like so called “Rev” Jerimiah Wright. Talk about a racist bigoted hateful person. Where’s the ACLU the (Anti-Christ Liberals Union) now? Why aren’t they threatening to take away that so called “churches” tax expemt status??? As a Christian we’re taught to Hate the sin but love the sinner. If she’s against homosexuality that’s OK. Sure it may not be kind to call people names but black people say the “N” word to each other every day. I honestly think Christians are fed up and they are getting very irriated like Ann is, and perhaps not always using the best language possible. I certainly understand her anger. As far a Jesus being “always kind” please read Matt. 23 where he calls the Pharises, hypocrytes and a brood of vipers. White wahsed tombs etc. Even Jesus got fed up. Sure there are hypocrites in every circle. But don’t pick on Ann first. There are plenty of wacky liberals ahead of her. But don’t get me stared.
Kelley Said:
on March 24, 2008 at 6:38 pm
Chicagogal,
First, I would like to clear up some misconceptions you stated about my blog. I would like to say that I am, by no means, a liberal. I have never voted for a democrat in either a local or national election. I am a registered republican and vote accordingly, although I do not see what my political affiliation has to do with the validity of my statements. I am also a conservative evangelical Christian serving in the ministry.
As far as the words “mean spirited, hateful, and bigot,” perhaps you misunderstood my article. I am not calling Ann those words. That statement came directly from Ann in an online article she wrote. Those “ridiculous liberal words” were used by Ann to describe herself. You can find the article at townhall.com.
Also, I believe it is 100% ok for her to be against homosexuality. I said that I do not think it is Ok for her to use a gay slur to demean a man that is not even a homosexual to begin with. Never once in my article did I state that I have a problem with individuals that disagree with homosexuality. I myself believe that the Bible teaches it to be sin.
Finally I never said that Jesus was “always kind.” I know there were numerous times that he confronted the religious authorities in anger. I believe if you re-read my article you will find that I never stated this to be the case.
To address your comment, I do not understand why you are so eager to defend this woman. She may at times speak truth, but she absolutely is tainting it by using offensive language. You say that we should hate the sin and love the sinner. I fully agree. But how is it possible to love a person when you are calling him a “fag” or a “Camel Jockey,” words that Ann uses frequently? Those comments are not directed towards the sin but towards the person. Jesus said in Matthew 5:22 that anyone that even calls his brother a “fool” is in danger of hell fire. Jesus also said the second greatest commanded is to love you neighbor as yourself, and the use of such insulting words is by no stretch of the imagination loving.
You are right that many Christians are frustrated by today’s society. This frustration, however, by no means gives them a right to say whatever they want. Ephesians 4:29 says, “Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. “ It is possible to confront someone’s sin in a way that builds the individual up and introduces him or her to grace. Ann just simply refuses to do so.
Thanks for your comment,
Stephanie
Molly Said:
on March 26, 2008 at 11:26 pm
So question: do you believe by posting on the web for everyone to see that you want everyone to disassociate with Ann Culture because you believe what she says to be harsh and offensive is an example of Eph. 4:29 or Matt. 5:22? You are basically asking people to not support her because she says “mean” things about people by saying mean things about her. You might say that it isn’t mean because you feel what you are saying is truth, but someone like me, a very conservative Christian believes her to be right on, on a lot of issues saying things I wish I had the audience that she has to say it too. Don’t get me wrong, I love people who have an opinion and voice their concerns (obviously here I am typing my opinion to someone whom I have never met). I just found it ironic that you did the same thing you questioned Ms. Coulter about.
I understand how she uses strong words to get her point across. Do you think that if she just wrote soft and sweet that she would be getting so much attention? No, she’d be just like the rest of us writing nice letters to our local government asking them pretty please to change their minds about some issue that usually ends up going the way of the liberal.
Also, sin in and of itself is offensive and being confronted with it is even more so to most people. Ever try to tell a good friend she is sinning or had someone tell you that you are? God tells us to lift each other up and one way to do that is to let a Christian friend know when they are not leading the life they want to live (i.e. wanting to follow Jesus’ example but then choosing to be gay).
I don’t know this little comment keeps getting longer and I will stop before this turns into a novel! Just wanted to know if you notice the irony in your blog…
Molly
Kelley Said:
on March 27, 2008 at 1:48 pm
Molly,
You are wrong in assuming that I would excuse my actions because I’m speaking truth. I differentiate my comments from hers by pointing out that the issue I had in my post to begin with isn’t Ann Coulture’s opinion on various issues, but her use of name calling. I too am a conservative Christian (even though recently I have to defend myself as one just because I have a problem with Ann Coulture) and agree with a great many of the things that Coulture says. I have a huge problem with her derrogatory name calling. That, in my eyes, is the difference between my comment and hers. I think there would be irony in the situation if I called her an idiot or a *witch* for saying the things she does. But I didn’t. I qouted from her own articles that can be found at townhall.com and pointed out the problems with those comments. If she would do the same without the use of derrogitory comments and racial slurs, I never would have made these comments. I have a great deal of a respect for many conservative commentators that don’t use words like “fag,” for example Alan Hunt or Herman Caine. Those two men confront sin everyday in front of a very large audience without once ever resorting to name calling.
Yes sometimes it is offensive to confront others with sin. But there is a big difference between confonting someone in love and calling him or her a “towel head.” I don’t think the word “fag” would ever come out of Jesus’ mouth, and he is the ultimate confronter of sin. Regardless of whatever sin Coulture confronts, I also believe it is sin for us excuse her offensive language and therefore am trying to confront the issue (without calling Ms. Coulture a cheap name).
Kelley Said:
on March 27, 2008 at 1:52 pm
Because these two comments have been made over a year after my original blog let me clear up some confusion. This blog was posted after Ann Coulture called John Edwards a “fag,” not a homosexual person. In the two earlier comments I believe you both made the assumption that she was confronting a gay person with her words. I realize I didn’t clarify this point in my blog. It is because at the time it was a headline news story and I didn’t anticipate revisting the issue over a year later.
If there is any further interest in the specific story, Southern Baptist Seminary president Al Moler wrote a far better article than mine in criticism of Coulter along the same time I did (there is a link to his blogs on my blog roll). Along with Coulture’s inappropriate use of words, in his article he pointed out that while he in no way supports Edward’s politics it is ridiculous to attack him in such a way considering his role in supporting his wife in the premature death of a child and her on-going battle with breast cancer.
I believe reading the blog in light of its context changes its meaning at least to some degree.
Aaron Said:
on April 11, 2008 at 6:50 pm
Kelley,
There is a huge chasm between Ann Coulter and true Christianity and you have accurately pointed out her method-based flaws. I think the best way to really encapsulate the question is by considering the presence of the Holy Spirit. I mean, I just don’t see it in her, and I say that as a humble, confessing Christian. She IS mean-spirited and bigoted, she IS preoccupied with the cult of Ann Coulter and she seems about as close to Jesus as the wingnuts who run Westboro Baptist church.
By the way, isn’t using the term “liberal” a really cheap way of criticising a Christian who just ain’t quite as Pharisaic as the fringe fundamentalists would like?
Nice blog.
A
Sean Said:
on May 7, 2009 at 11:53 pm
Well, I must say I understand where you are coming from; however, she is much more closely aligned with the gospel than are those she is speaking of. We all have a different way of expressing ourselves and one can hear the frustration coming out in her words. I would say to you that you should spend a little more time asking how is Rev Wright a Christian when preaching all that hate?? He is at a whole different level than Ann is when it comes to fronting as a Christian and being a horrible example of Christianity. At least her values are in line; although she may be at a different place with her walk in Christ with regards to kindness.