Hey Salty Lady

Baylor Bears, Magnolia Wares, & Tastefully Done Apostasy Part II

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I posted this week, not even posted…gave 22 words to the controversy surrounding Magnolia’s new show, Frontier. Essentially, I said, “Given the silence over Target, this should not be surprising.”  And here we are, hundreds of comments later, with enough alarmingly bad theology in the responses to warrant a full post.
FULL DISCLOSURE: Below is every post I have ever made about Magnolia. And yes, my first one absolutely was sent directly to Magnolia and to the Gaines as a fan/friend and not just shouted into the ether.

May 2023: Hearth and Hell in a Handbasket

June 2023: Magnolia Offers New Line of Crickets at Target

August 2023: Hearth and Hell Update

Here is why I am sharing these. I want you to see how absent they are of personal attack or vitriol. I want you to see that I have communicated Believer to Believer, pleading for courage.

Y’all, I am in Texas.

I have mutual friends with Chip and Joanna Gaines. I am amazed by the life and empire that the Lord has allowed them to create. It’s a marvel that should encourage everyone to pursue their dreams and allow God to use you. I am rooting for them. They seem lovely, and I bet they are a delight at tailgates.

But friends, you can be lovely and wrong.

I know this because I have been this (maybe not that lovely, but wrong for sure).

 

You can be stylish, sophisticated, down-to-earth, compassionate, etc. and wrong.

Lovely personality and folksy morality in ZERO WAYS equates to theological accuracy.

Even more staggering to many in the brethren–incorrect theology in the Body of professing and confessing Christians can and SHOULD be pointed out faithfully, firmly, and graciously. This is actually the primary function of koinonia, fellowship and community that is centered on Christ, glorifying to the Father and edifying to His children. This is what we do as siblings, we encourage, correct, defend, and speak truth.

 

Let’s do so now. Here are some of the statements I saw this week worthy of clarification.

“They’re staying neutral to protect their livelihood, their brand, their company. Target probably makes them a significant amount of income.”

Fine. But we as Christians are NOT called to “stay neutral to protect our livelihood, brand, company…income…” Or even life. My God, someone tell Tyndale and Timothy they didn’t have to die.

 

This reveals a low view of God and a high view of self. God provides. Not me. What I have, He has generously allowed. What I do not have, He has generously and wisely kept from. Period.  Y’all this is the easy yoke of being HIS CHILD, an heir…a dependent of a good and giving Father. Stop striving. I hope this is a relief to you, your job is not to provide. It is to obey.

“Therefore, do not be anxious, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the Gentiles seek after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you.” Matthew 6:31-33  (See also: Matthew 6:24, Philippians 4:19, Hebrews 13:5-6)
Jesus is talking to His followers. God knows you have needs. No matter, obedience NOT HUSTLE…seeking the kingdom comes first. You are neither master nor employee of the Most High God.
In Matthew, the Gentiles worry about these things…not the family.  We obey and trust. AND WE DO NOT TAKE THE SPOILS. It’s even better news than this because our generous God made a way for the Gentiles too.
The reader’s comment seems logical, even wise in the world. Gotta go along to get along. But it DOES NOT reconcile with Scripture. It simply does not. And this is the part the church misses. We can’t even conceive of a reality where the commands of Christ to “sell everything, give up everything, leave your family, put down your nets…to come follow me….” would be literal.
“Surely, Jesus wouldn’t mean I have to give up…” Friend–He means exactly that.
Salty Lady is an expert in this area. You give up everything and follow the Lord or you don’t. There is not almost obedience here.
“Remember Lot’s wife! Whoever tries to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life will preserve it.” Luke 17:32
Love your life, lose your life. Neutrality is not a Biblical, God-honoring option. Anything other than running in His direction is running towards death.
If Christ is sufficient, we lay it ALL down.
If Christ is sufficient WE DO NOT SELF-PRESERVE. We trust Him as we lose the job, the money, the influence, friends, comfort, reputation, safety, etc. There is income and influence that I will never have because I say the things I say. There is belonging that will not be mine and rejection that may be…for me…for you…for those who actually BELIEVE and ACT LIKE IT. What glorious good that we get to participate in lack or suffering to identify with Christ!
Christ is sufficient and worthy or He is not. There is no neutral. There is no “I will follow Jesus exactly as far as I can afford to.”

 

“They are just being kind to others as the church should, as Jesus would. You can be accepting without approving.”

Fabulous. What a relief. Where exactly is the line between acceptance and approval?

Do you really think the same-sex couple was brought onto the show for disapproval of any kind to expressed to them? The Hanna-Riggs Husbands are influencers and activists. They have clearly stated their purposes for exposure are to normalize same-sex couples and same-sex families.  Furthermore, they responded to an add that featured a same-sex couple. Magnolia wasn’t duped into liking these guys, they were seeking them. And they chose them…bold, attractive, advocates. Y’all tolerance and acceptance left the barndominum years ago. These guys will have a show on Magnolia.

Friends, this is basic stuff. Jesus 101. If you think Christ came for mere earthly compassion, you have missed the point. He came for salvation unto THE HOLY GOD. He saves and He sanctifies. Unless you are the thief on the cross, accepting Christ with your last breath…you have not been excused from the second part, where we respond in obedience, allowing the power of the Holy Spirit to conform us into Christ’s image.

These are earthly versus eternal issues.

It’s not about Target or TV. Do you know why Jesus came or not? He did not surrender His crown just so we could feel accepted on earth.

Many in the Church think there is nothing worse than earthly scorn or poverty. Hell disagrees, friend.

 

“You’re being selective about sin…”

Fine. Let’s say that I am. Read these two posts and tell me how many words I spent addressing Frontier Husbands or LGBTQIA+ students at Baylor. 52.

The other 2200 words? For Baylor and Magnolia.

Which sin do you think I think is more grievous? Christians leading other Christians astray.

 

Millstones, baby. Millstones, Chip. You took to X to accuse and arrogantly scold the Church for recognizing inconsistency and sin and being willing to say as much, even if some said it poorly. Dangerous ground, brother.

“This is why people are leaving the church.”

Maybe. But anyone who is supposed to be in the Church cannot be kept from it. Think on that a minute.

 

Read Acts. The Church was bold and accompanied by Holy Spirit authority. And BELIEVERS were drawn by the Lord. We should be outstanding witnesses wooing the lost. But I think that more are leaving the Church because we have peddled a false Gospel that feels empty in reality to people who would have rejected it in truth.

Why take up a cross and sacrifice anything to follow a Savior, I don’t really need because I have no sin that needs saving from? What with all this inclusion and acceptance.

 

 

 

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