There’s no such thing as dry cleaning… This *blow* is dry cleaning…

Younger people identify more with him partially because he’s closer to their age, I think. 

I don’t think age has anything to do with it. It’s what he stands for, and how he stands for it. Also, men like Falwell and Pat Robertson and D James Kennedy are known to the world mainly for what they’re against. Whether it’s true/accurate or not, they’re percieved to be anti-this, anti-that, which paints the church as intollerant and un-loving. Bono, on the other hand, is known for what he is for. He’s no saint and he’s not perfect, but he’s admired because he proclaims Christ, and then actually acts like Christ by standing up for the poor and the helpless and the sick.

It’s the methods that Falwell and the like used that were so disheartening to me. Billy Graham called millions to repentance, but he did it in love and with grace. It seemed to too many that when Falwell et al did it they did it with condemnation and judgement – and innaccurate judgement all to often (blaming this disaster or that disaster as God judgement upon their pet peeve sin). It seemed, far to often, that Falwell was not just hating the sin, but the sinner as well. I don’t think that’s true necessarily – but it came across that way, and he certainly mis-spoke that way numerous times. There’s a reason – whether it’s a valid and a good reason is beside the point – that the news of his death has brought, literally, celebrating in some circles today. That’s sad and unfortunate because he doesn’t deserve that. But it’s the response that he unfortuantely earned in the eyes of some who missed out on anything good and right that he might have been saying because it was drowned out by all the wrong that he was shouting even louder.

But we all have our areas of sin that we struggle with, and Bono has his, too. 

That’s beside the point. Who’s saying he’s without sin? The point is that he’s emphasizing things that matter to young people today, and in reaching out the way he is he’s personifying Christ’s love. And, in fact, we all know he’s got sins he struggles with. That actually increases his appeal, imho, because he doesn’t try and pretend otherwise. He doesn’t put on the pretense of piousness, like too many other pastors and Christian leaders do. That, in truth, is something else that today’s youth hates – hypocrisy. Double standards. Fakes. Christian leaders who pretend to be perfect and have everything together – you can’t relate to that or live up to it.

Bono’s far from perfect. But there are real, valid, relevant reasons why he’s so admired by young people today, and those reasons can teach the more seasoned Christian leaders a LOT about what’s important to youth. Smart pastors would take an accurate read, and then reach out to youth accordingly, speaking in the language that resonates with them.

because the media only shows that side of them.

Not totally true, but even if the media has a bias there they’re only working with the ammo that Falwell, etc gives them when they open their mouths incorrectly. There’s a real reason why you continually heard stupid foot-in-your-mouth statements from Falwell and Robertson, and not from Billy Graham. Because they chose to open their mouths in the first place. Graham made a conscious decision years ago to avoid politics as much as possible and stick to the Gospel. That’s why he’s so much less encumbered by baggage, and why even those who are hostile to Christianity still have so much respect for him. He didn’t put stumbling blocks in front of his Gospel message. All too often Falwell (and friends) did.

That being said, again, I have nothing but sympathy for his family, and I do believe in my heart that he loved the Lord. He’s a brother in Christ and in spite of everything I just said above I respect his motivation and the other good things that he did with his life.

Sorry. I kept commenting here because that’s where the conversation was taking place. It’s how I always reply to comments. No disrespect was intended. And please don’t quit blogging because of this!

but I don’t want to be so disrespectful as to post it all on your blog… I choose not to argue on Xanga, anyway.  I prefer to debate face to face…

A couple more points. It isn’t disrespectful to have a thread like this in someone’s comments – once you leave a comment somewhere it is open to be commented upon there. That’s how blogs work. They’re designed to be public and accessible in this manner. Free-flowing. They’re public, so it’s generally courteous to have a linear discussion in one place rather than shift it around to multiple different blogs so no one can follow it. You certainly can reply blog-to-blog if you choose, but it’s not uncommon or unrespectful in netiquette to keep it all where it originates either.

Also, I certainly don’t think this was an argument. I saw it as a discussion, and an intelligent one at that. I don’t like arguments, but I do like discussions and debate. And since we never see each other face to face, how are you supposed to have a face to face debate? It’s always more effective to discuss/debate in person, for the reasons you mention, but in some cases that is obviously not feasable or realistic – blogs are designed to work a certain way, and are good letters-type discussion. As long as you recognize that going in it should be fine. They are what they are.

Hey dude. I can’t come on Friday! I forgot I’d swapped shifts with Missy because she has family coming into town. I tried to see if there’s someone else I can move to cover my closing shift but there isn’t. Is there another day I can come to see your show????