On the July 15th presentation of “Nancy Grace” on HLN, a brief comment was made concerning “religion.” Prior to that, though, a caller had referenced Ms. Grace’s children in this exchange:
GRACE: Out to the lines, to Maurice in Kentucky. Hi, dear.
MAURICE, CALLER FROM KENTUCKY: Hi, Nancy. The twins are gorgeous. They`re just gorgeous.
GRACE: You know, God heard my prayers and answered them 10,000 times over. Two children, not one, healthy, a boy and a girl. And you know, stories like this, not necessarily Michael Jackson, but his children being left behind. And this tug-of-war between all these crazy characters about raising them is very disturbing.
There would appear, from a Christian standpoint, to be nothing wrong with Ms. Grace’s statement. Later, though, a remark made somewhat offhand is troubling from a Christian view:
GRACE: Out to Stacy Brown, co-author of “Michael Jackson: The Man Behind the Mask.”
Stacy Brown, his will specifically says Katherine Jackson. Now, we all think Janet Jackson is so close to them but she actually live on the other side of the country and rarely sees them.
BROWN: Well, Nancy, you`re right. And look, Katherine has had a hand in raising her other grandchildren as well. This is not anything that`s foreign to her. I`ve seen those kids many times and those grandchildren of hers are very happy with her.
And the other thing about it is, we saw a really good thing on Sunday. The pictures of Katherine taking them to the Kingdom Hall of Jehovah`s Witnesses. They`re getting religion. Something that they probably didn`t get with their father. And that can only be a good thing.
GRACE: Yes, you know what, Stacy Brown? There`s nothing wrong with a dose of religion. With that I can agree with you.
But to you, Dr. Jeff Gardere, the point made by Amy in Georgia is that the grandmother is 79 years old. But you cannot subvert the will.
The statements made by Ms. Grace and Ms. Brown raise some red flags. “They’re getting religion.” The Christian response should be, “What religion?” Is the religion true? Or is truth not an issue? If their religion is Islam or Buddhism or Wicca or moon worship, are these all equally “good” just because they’re “religion?”
No. Truth is all that matters.
I have been unable to find out Ms. Grace’s particular beliefs – whether or not she is a Christian. Just because one prays to “God” does not mean one is a Christian. The Christian, though, if submitting to the inspired, infallible Word of God, knows there is only one truth and that truth is that salvation is through Jesus alone – all other beliefs are false and condemning.
Is it truly loving when a Christian says, “There’s nothing wrong with a “dose of religion” when that “religion” may send one to eternal damnation? How “loving” is that? Is not the proclamation of the saving truth – truth that will perhaps offend, but truth that saves – more loving than saying any old “dose of religion” is a good thing? To use an extreme example, I wonder if Ms. Grace and/or Ms. Brown would say a “dose of religion” as administered by Al Qaeda or the Taliban would be a “good thing?”
“Religion” doesn’t save anyone. “Religion” may make people feel good or warm and fuzzy or serve as a balm for whatever wounds they have, but only truth will save. My prayer that the “good thing” that Ms. Brown suggests and the “dose of religion” Ms. Grace talks about are in fact submission to the Truth. Not a false god, but the living God.
