In the last few weeks, I have received a few interesting comments regarding my posts on Tucker Carlson’s interview of country star John Rich. At least one person claimed that I took Rich’s words as a personal attack and that I have become offended. Other comments say that I am “dissect[ing] their words and tear[ing] them apart,” or that I am “calling out one person for his opinion,” and that by doing this I am helping to divide the church. I have been told to remember that we are all flawed and subject to mistakes before criticizing anyone else. One commenter even claimed that “the Holy Spirit will provide the discernment required for that person to wade thru the lies, mistakes, misinterpretations, misrepresentations and so on,” if God’s word is received with an open heart, and therefore I should not find fault with John Rich for his message. What I have not yet received is anyone offering any substantive response to any of the points I made in the previous posts.
Today, I would like to offer my final word on the interview. While this is intended to be my last bit of analysis of the interview, it will not be comprehensive or even that detailed. It is not my intention to point out the numerous other factual, biblical, and theological errors Rich made throughout the nearly 2-hour discussion. Instead, I would just like to point out a couple of biblical principles that seem relevant and ought to weigh heavily on all our minds before we engage in public speaking, especially about God’s word. (This includes all forms of public comment whether spoken or written and applies to pastors and country music stars alike.)
Teachers and Accountability
The first principle is that teaching God’s word demands close scrutiny and accountability. Jesus’ brother wrote, “Not many should become teachers, my brothers, because you know that we will receive a stricter judgment. For we all stumble in many ways. If anyone does not stumble in what he says, he is mature, able also to control the whole body” (Jas. 3:1-2).
When it comes to God’s word, we should be wary about becoming a teacher.
It can be tempting to want to be a teacher rather than a student, to sit as the expert in the room rather than a novice. But when it comes to God’s word, we should be wary about becoming a teacher. Throughout the interview, Carlson repeatedly confesses his lack of knowledge of the subjects and positions himself firmly in the place of the learner. This, he explains, is why he bought a Bible without study notes from Amazon last year and began reading it so he could learn the Scriptures without any interference. It is a little ironic, then, when he asks Rich to explain the Bible to him, a request which the country singer is only too willing to grant. But what comes along with taking the mantle of being a Bible teacher? James says it is a stricter judgment, presumably than those who are merely learners and do not sit in the position of biblical instructor.
There are at least a couple of implications from this. First, by volunteering to become Tucker Carlson’s Bible teacher, Rich is bringing on himself a stricter standard of judgment than he would otherwise be expected to meet. He will stand before the Lord Jesus someday to be judged for what he has said, and he ought to expect to have his words examined for consistency and accuracy. This verse ought to inspire a measure of reverential fear when sitting behind Tucker’s studio microphone to teach him the Scriptures. Second, by examining his words and comparing them to the truth, we may help him and others practice self-judgment and avoid being judged by the Lord.
Paul advocates for self-judgment in 1 Corinthians 11:31-32, “If we were properly judging ourselves, we would not be judged, but when we are judged by the Lord, we are disciplined, so that we may not be condemned with the world.” And he specifically assigns elders in the church with the responsibility of examining and confronting error, so that those who teach may be sound in the faith. Paul tells Titus to appoint elders in Crete who are, “…holding to the faithful message as taught, so that he will be able both to encourage with sound teaching and to refute those who contradict it” (Titus 1:9). He says much the same to Timothy about his ministry in Ephesus: “The Lord’s servant must not quarrel, but must be gentle to everyone, able to teach, and patient, instructing his opponents with gentleness. Perhaps God will grant them repentance leading them to the knowledge of the truth” (2 Tim. 2:24-25). While some may have a pugilistic spirit and enjoy going on the attack, a truly qualified elder will examine and correct error out of necessity and a desire to obey his Master. It is in this vein that I have undertaken to compare John Rich’s words with those of Scripture. My desire is not notoriety or a feeling of smug superiority but to guide others away from error and into truth.
The Wisdom or Folly of Words
But some have said that my critiques amount to dissecting words and tearing them apart, or that Rich was merely expressing his opinion, and for that, he should not be judged. Everyone makes mistakes, they say, so who are we to pass judgment? To this, I respond that James acknowledges this fact, that we all make mistakes. In fact, he says that the tongue is untameable and unruly, full of deadly poison (Jas. 3:8) and able to set one’s whole life on fire, like a spark can set an entire forest ablaze (v.5-6). Yes, we all make mistakes, and yes, we are all free to hold and express our opinions—the advent of social makes this easier now than ever—but this should make us more cautious rather than less. It certainly does not exempt our opinions or offhand remarks from examination and censure. Remember what Jesus said about idle words: “I tell you that on the day of judgment people will have to account for every careless word they speak. For by your words you will be acquitted, and by your words you will be condemned” (Matthew 12:36-37).
A subject-matter expert would, I think, exercise greater care before making sweeping statements about Christian pastors and opposing theological positions.
Consider Solomon’s astute observation: “When there are many words, sin is unavoidable, but the one who controls his lips is prudent” (Proverbs 10:19). James says something similar, when he writes, “My dear brothers and sisters, understand this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger” (1:19). These verses ought to give each of us pause before speaking, sending that message, or posting on social media. In fact, I think we should consider whether it is wise to engage in a discussion like the interview between Tucker and Rich. Sit just about anyone down for nearly 2 hours of unscripted conversation streamed live to the world, and you’re asking for trouble. Even if one is an expert on the subject being discussed, there is a high likelihood that he will misspeak or shade the truth according to his personal biases. As James said, “we all stumble in many ways.” A subject-matter expert would, I think, exercise greater care than did John Rich in making sweeping statements about Christian pastors and opposing theological positions. While I do not think it is sinful for a Christian to engage in a long-form podcast interview such as this, for many, it is very unwise, because they do not seem to give enough thought to the greater judgment to which all biblical teachers will be held.
Trying Not to Be a Hypocrite
Now, one more question needs to be addressed. Someone might respond to me and say, “Aren’t you teaching the Bible and writing a lot of words when you post these critiques? What makes you exempt from the same criticism?” To which I say that yes, I am one of the teachers that James is talking about, and I do indeed expect to be judged by that higher standard when I stand before my Lord. I also recognize that my words both here and from the pulpit are subject to examination and correction by my fellow Christians. In fact, I welcome the pushback when it is sincere, and I consider it even when it is not. It is always with a measure of fear and trembling that I engage in teaching God’s word, whether in my formal capacity as a pastor or informally as a follower of Jesus. My hope is that, rather than shying away from criticism or dismissing other’s concerns as so much divisiveness or nitpicking, we would receive correction and learn to become better, more careful communicators of the Scriptures.
To my knowledge there doesn’t seem to be hardly anybody addressing John Rich’s erroneous beliefs that he shared on the Tucker Carlson video, so I appreciated your “Unpacking John Rich and Tucker Carlson’s Discussion…”. The below is my long version, as well as a short version, that I posted to the comments section to the song video. I would appreciate your thoughts on the below.
(Short Version)
1 Thessalonians 4 verses 16 and 17
“For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord”.
1 Thessalonians 1 verse 10
“And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come”.
Revelation 3 verse 10
“Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth”.
Amos 5 verse 18
“Woe unto you that desire the Day of the Lord! to what end is it for you? the Day of the Lord is darkness, and not light. As if a man did flee from a lion, and a bear met him; or went into the house, and leaned his hand on the wall, and a serpent bit him”.
Repent and believe on the Lord “now” and you will be caught up when Christ comes in the air for His Church and meets them in the clouds. Therefore, you will not have to go through the Day of the Lord, which begins with seven years of tribulation/God’s wrath being poured out upon the whole world.
John 3 verse 16
“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life”.
Romans 6 verse 23 “For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord”.
Romans 1 verse 9-10
“That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved. For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation”.
(Long Version)
BEWARE, JOHN RICH! and to all truly Born-Again Believers…REJOICE! To all that have ears to hear, the Truth always sets us free!
To the glory of God, this song may be used by Him and the Lord, via the means of fear (Jude 1 verse 23) in order to influence some unto repentance/salvation, that He is calling to be part of His Church, but my knowing your theology behind it, claiming in your Tucker Carlson interview that all present day born again believers are going to go through the tribulation, is a blatant lie and does a grave injustice to Christ and the Word of God, as well as to all true believers. Your saying Matthew 24 applies to Christians all over the world is just not true. Jesus was talking only to His “Jewish disciples”, as there was, and is, no Church in Matthew 24, because Christ had not yet gone to the Cross. So when you twist the words in Matthew 24 to say otherwise, about whom “you say” Christ was talking to, I was reminded of Genesis 3 verse1, where Satan was putting doubt into the minds of Adam and Eve when he said, “…hath God said, Ye shall not eat of every tree of the garden?”. Satan went all out in tempting them to doubt God’s Words, and at the same time was calling God a liar, for God had already told them that they could eat from every tree, except the tree of the knowledge of good and evil (Genesis 2 verse 17).
True Bible believing, born-again Christians are awaiting the blessed hope of His appearing, that is quoted in Titus 2 verse 13, which speaks to the blessed hope, when they will be caught up to meet Christ, in the clouds (1 Thessalonians 4:17), at the rapture, on the Day of Christ. And His feet “do not touch the ground”, as your songs says, at that time, only at His Second Coming, on the earth, which is at the end of the tribulation, that’s when His feet touch the ground, as well as the feet of His Church that returns with Him, that seven years earlier was raptured, had been “caught up”, harpazo/Greek, snatched away/take to oneself (1 Thessalonians 4 verses16-17). The “Day of the Lord” is not the same as the “Day of Christ” (KJV/NKJV are correct, but Day of Christ has been wrongly changed to Day of the Lord in all corrupt modern translation Bibles), and according to Amos 5 verse 18, woe unto them that desire the Day of the Lord. The Day of the Lord is judgement on all the wicked, unrighteous and unbelieving, plus the calling forth of those who will come to believe during the seven year tribulation, the 144,000 elect Jews as well as “a great multitude which no man could number” (Revelation 7 verse 9) .
True born-again Christians have already been judged in Christ, during the Church dispensation, from the time of the Cross until the rapture takes place. They are/have been justified before God, by faith, and are/were imputed with the righteousness of Christ at the moment they are/were born again. The only thing they will be judged for is their rewards …what they did with what they were given (2 Corinthians 5:10). All believers have been sealed by the Holy Spirit as a guarantee of this “fact” (Ephesians 1 verses 13-14). No one (not even ourselves) nor anything else will be able to pluck us out of God’s hand, nor separate us from the love of God and our right standing with Him, through faith in Christ, and Christ alone. Our salvation is a done deal. Once truly saved, always saved. Evidently, and unfortunately, you do not believe these reassuring and comforting scriptures.
Your “over emphasis” on Christians needing a physical life/death experience (that you tout as really important for making Christians obedient and humble) is wrong. God is not asking for physical life/death experiences from us, even though he has orchestrated some to experience this, he is instead looking for “death to self”, death to our wills and agendas and for us to “die daily”. God is the author and finisher of our faith. He knows that the inward spiritual death unto Him is far more important than any physical life/death experience. But you use this to substantiate your belief that Christians have to go through the tribulation and suffer, just like the disciples did, and ask, are we any better? Again, there is no Church in Matthew 24, nor in the tribulation.
Your stating in the Tucker interview that the idea of a so-called “secret rapture” didn’t come about until 1830, when it popped into the head of John Darby. You are wrong and your erroneous belief is debunked by 1 Thessalonians 1:10 “And to wait for his Son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead, even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath to come”, 1 Thessalonians 4 verses 16 and 17 “For the Lord himself shall descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in the air: and so shall we ever be with the Lord”, and Revelation 3 verse10 “Because thou hast kept the word of my patience, I also will keep thee from the hour of temptation, which shall come upon all the world, to try them that dwell upon the earth”. All these scriptures are Biblical proof that the Church will not go through the tribulation. Those in today’s dead churches will, any unsaved, but no born-again believer is going to have to face the wrath of God during the tribulation. Note that in 1 Thessalonians 1 verse 10, it says “…even Jesus, which delivered us from the wrath of God to come”. It does not say “…even Jesus, which will deliver us as we go through the wrath of God (the seven-year tribulation) that is to come”.
Your interpretation of 2 Thessalonians 2 is terribly invalid. You said in the interview, that in the tribulation “God will send them (and you include Christians in the “them”) strong delusions and many will fall to the lies”, using 2 Thessalonians 2verse 11… “And for this reason God will send them strong delusion, that they should believe the lie”. And again, you say that this is all due to the fact Christians believe in the false doctrine of the rapture, that if it doesn’t happen, they will say “This looks/sounds good”, that they will willingly put out their hand for the mark, as you show in the video by putting out your arm forward. To the contrary, the “them” in 2 Thessalonians 2 verse 11 are those God addresses in the previous verse, 10, “in them that perish; because they received not the love of the truth, that they might be saved”. John Rich, by applying these verses to the Church (in the tribulation) show you obviously do not understand these verses of the Bible, but use them in order to support your false teaching.
Bottomline, by your false teachings, you are promoting fear and doubt into believers minds concerning if there really is a rapture, doubt that it may not be true, and fear and that they may have to go through the tribulation , and may fall sway to delusions during the tribulation, so much so that they may take the mark of the beast, and their names, therefore, be taken out of the Book of Life. (according to the Book of Revelation, half the the world population will die in two judgements alone – now how is that comforting words, in regards to 2 Thessalonians 2 verses 15-17). Again, the Church will not be here during the tribulation, PERIOD.
By your words, not God’s, you may be robbing Christians of hope and joy, of their hope of the coming rapture and their joy because of that blessed hope. Unfortunately, you may influence some, but only those who don’t know any better, and shame on you for that. Repent. And please do not remove this post, people need to be able to have the whole truth and be able to read the included scriptures, some of which you failed to mention in your Tucker Carlson interview.
“Through thy precepts I get understanding: therefore I hate every false way”. Psalms 119 verse104
I have listed my husband’s website with my response
Teresa,
Thanks for your comment. I intentionally did not respond to Rich’s post-trib rapture view, even though I believe it is in error. I wanted to focus on his factual errors and misrepresentations rather than on our sincere doctrinal differences.