Letter to State Rep. Daniel (Tennessee)

State Representative of Tennessee, Martin Daniel became well-known this past week for tweets questioning the character of Muhammed Ali who Daniel preferred to reference as Cassius Clay. 

Based on his Twitter Profile, I am sure Rep. Daniel feels his comments are supportive of the United States and the Constitution. 

Rep. Daniel also has inferred that he feels threatened as a Christian, as signaled by this tweet that came out soon after…

I can’t comment greatly on things out of my expertise but I will comment on someone who is denouncing another human being… on the day after his death, nonetheless.    

If #ChristianityIsUnderAttack, I hope so. …with comments degrading another human being, then it absolutely should be.  That brand of Christianity should be under attack.  And it is.  By me. 

Rep. Martin, if you want to start speaking about Christianity, let’s do it.  First off, Christianity should be under attack (but not in the way you reference it).  That’s the history of it.  According to Matthew 24:9, Jesus said we would be persecuted and Paul stated the same in 2 Timothy 3:12. 

Through persecution, the Gospel prospers and expands its influence.  The history of persecution isn’t one where people feebly tweet that they are under attack.  No, they were burned at the stake.  They were eaten by lions.  And they continue to get their heads cut off to this day.  (God bless the martyrs.)

And the Gospel continued to spread. 

Why did it spread? 

They didn’t attack back.  They served their enemies.  They loved those that persecuted them.  They did this in accordance with Jesus’ words in Matthew 5:44. Their hope was not in this world… but their HOPE was for THOSE still in the world. 

Rep. Daniel, if #ChristianityIsUnderAttack, that’s a good thing.  Not something that needs to be thrown out as a way of attracting attention, but as all the more reason to love those around you.  To speak kindly.  To uplift those with your words.  To speak life. 

Rep. Daniel, thank you for serving your state and our country.  For sacrificing time from your family, for supporting our troops and nation, and for defending our constitution.  I can see that you are passionate about all of the above, and for that, our country and its representatives are fortunate to have someone like yourself serving it.    

As a representative of Jesus Christ… I would encourage you Rep. Daniel, myself, and each of us to be encouragers of one another, and of humanity.  I would encourage apologies and encourage forgiveness.  In that, bridges are built and hope is breathed.  Love is powerful.  Apologies are powerful.  Forgiveness is powerful.  And for that, we all benefit.