Mohler, Mandela, and Pragmatism

**UPDATE at the end of the article, which puts an even sharper edge on Mohler's call to being thankful for the "needed" Mandela**

Al Mohler compromises further, this time with historical figures like Nelson Mandela. He seems to justify and acceptance of Mandela the  marxist and terrorist by using other examples of former terrorists-cum-prime ministers like Begin for some better work. And to lower it even more, he labels George Washington as a likely terrorist of his day and say we don't have a problem with what Washington did (I do believe that is how the Post-Modern socialists are teaching early American  history these days---has he bought into that view?). That's situational ethics ("well others have done it and no one had a problem with it") as if that's legitimate with Mandela. To equate Mandela with Washington is astoundingly ridiculous. He's trying to equalize the two in order to accept the bad part of Mandela (violence and sexual immorality--Washington wasn't either) so that he can accept the "good" part of Mandela. I believe in academia that would be considered a logical fallacy. Bringing in other historical figures without just dealing with the one man is to cloud the issue at best.

Mohler admits the sexual immorality and violence of Mandela (as well as another example he uses--MLK's sexual immorality, although MLK was non-violent) but hey, they were "necessary" and we ought to be thankful? Even if their work was temporary (not to mention secular)? 

I'm astounded that a teacher would be so ignorant of OT history--the real history that God shows to us and from HIS perspective which is reality, and the way in which HE Deals with men and leaders in particular who go down to Egypt for help instead of to God. Pragmatism is consistently rejected in Scripture. God's way is not the pragmatic way b/c His way is above our's; His is revealed, not discovered.

Saying  that an immoral godless man is "historically necessary" and thus we should be thankful for such men, is to say that the ends justify the means.To be consistent, Mohler would  have to say that of Hitler and Nero but he doesn't go there.  Such a phrase is not the same as saying it was God's plan to use an evil man for HIS purposes b/c we understand that they are evil and that its GOD'S purpose that is good and will happen, not a man-centered temporary political win. When we say God ordained that such a leader would do such an evil thing, we recognize that such an evil man was not good in anyway and we see that God punishes that evil man for his evil deeds. 

Often, a political "gain" (by a "lesser evil") is to the spiritual loss of a nation.

Throughout Scripture we are told to long for righteous and just leaders, not be thankful for immoral ones.

Isa 31:1  Woe to those who go down to Egypt for help and rely on horses, who trust in chariots

because they are many and in horsemen because they are very strong, but do not look to the Holy

One of Israel or consult the LORD!2  And yet he is wise and brings disaster; he does not call back his

words, but will arise against the house of the evildoers and against the helpers of those who work

iniquity. 

Jeremiah 17:5, “Thus says the Lord, ‘Cursed is the man who trusts in mankind and makes flesh his strength and whose heart turns away from the Lord.’” 

Pro 14:34  Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a disgrace to any people. 

I've grown tired of the "balance" perpetrated by so many Christian leaders. Such "balance" always--and I do mean always---claims that a man or a book or what have you---is both good and bad, and that such a view is "fair" and honorable and noble. Therefore they say we should take the good and ignore the bad. Such a view also refuses to stay on the side of Truth wholeheartedly.

Where in Scripture are we to praise and applaud godless wicked men?  Why do Christian leaders praise such men for their "courage" when they themselves lack the courage to stand against such immoral leaders? 

Cowardice (painted as "fair and balanced") is the new valor.

***UPDATE***

Rush Limbaugh made some notes the other day on his show and shared quotes of Mandela and his love for Communism and hatred of the US:

So let me just remind you that Nelson Mandela loved Fidel Castro.  He loved Cuba.  In fact, I will read to you a quote from Mandela.  "Long live the Cuban revolution," he said, "long live comrade Fidel Castro.  Cuban internationalists have done so much for African independence, African freedom, African justice.  We admire the sacrifices of the Cuban people in maintaining their independence and sovereignty in the face of a vicious imperialist campaign designed to destroy the advances of the Cuban revolution.  We, too, want to control our destiny.  There can be no surrender.  It is a case of freedom or death.  The Cuban revolution has been a source of inspiration to all freedom-loving people."  Mandela said that back in 1991.  That was on the 38th anniversary of the start of the Cuban revolution, Friday, July 26th, 1991. 

... When Mandela speaks here of the "Cuban internationalists who have done so much for African independence and freedom and justice, and we admire the sacrifices of Cuban people in maintaining their independence and sovereignty in the face of a vicious imperialist campaign designed to destroy the revolution," he can only be talking about the United States of America there...

Here's a Nelson Mandela quote on the United States.  "If there is a country that has committed unspeakable atrocities in the world, it is the United States of America.  They don't care for human beings."  Nelson Mandela, who is being honored this week with a week-long memorial service.  "If there is a country that has committed unspeakable atrocities in the world, it is the United States of America.  They don't care for human beings." 

Want to hear more?  "People of Asia and Africa have seen through the slanderous campaign conducted by the USA against the socialist countries.  They know that their independence is threatened not by any of the countries in the socialist camp, but by the USA, who has surrounded their continent with military bases.  The communist bogey is an American stunt to distract the attention of the people of Africa from the real issue facing them, namely American imperialism."  And so Nelson Mandela was no different than anybody else on the left anywhere in the world.  America was imperialist, and it was imposing itself, and it was opposing communism as a stunt.  

Nelson Mandela came from the African National Congress, which was communist and Soviet sponsored, and Reagan and a number of American leaders in the eighties said so, and that was unforgivable, and it was in that context that Mandela was speaking.  Communist bogey.  An American stunt to distract the attention of the people of Africa.  So Mandela was saying, "Look, the people of America, American leadership is trying to tell us to beware of the communists taking over our country.  But it's not the communists that are the problem, it's America that is the problem."  And then he goes and hails the Castro brothers.  Here's more Mandela on Cuba:  "There's one place where Fidel Castro's Cuba stands out head and shoulders above the rest, and that is in its love for human rights and liberty."  What are we to do with this?  This week we have to let it go.  That's it. 

End quote.