Thread by @moritheil

Watching a lot of people flip out at @BrianNiemeier without understanding the issues involved.

Here's the skinny.

1. Brian is known for a controversial test when people act like pundits on what Christianity is or isn't. He asks them to publicly confess faith in Christ.

@BrianNiemeier 2. This is to see if they have skin in the game, because there have been, over the last few hundred years especially, a LOT of bad-faith attempts to redefine or redirect Christianity to serve someone's immediate political goals.

@BrianNiemeier 3. The controversy: the term he uses when he informs someone that he has no desire to continue discussing his faith with someone who comes in bad faith is "witch."

Outside of rural Africa or Indonesia, where you can still be killed for it, "witch" is not really pejorative now.

@BrianNiemeier 4. That said, of course his use of it is not flattering, but most people don't like being lied to, so in context it's a response to an attempt to decieve him by pretending to an authority or interest that the person does not have.

@BrianNiemeier 5. In the supernatural sense, that could be said to be what a witch does, as viewed from the traditional Christian perspective: they are like unlicensed traffickers of spirits. They may have ability, but not legitimacy.

It's kind of like a back alley doctor.

@BrianNiemeier 6. People flipping out about it is telling.

If one were indifferent or proud of being a witch, would one be totally upset about the label? On the other hand, if one has a sense of guilt or feels like maybe they indeed do not have authority, then Brian is right.

Take the L.

@BrianNiemeier 7. Irony.

I have yet to see Brian yell about hellfire and damnation. He just says something like "Witch! Blocked."

I have seen many people say that he is going to hell, for asking this question. Think about that word choice.

Modern #politics is basically a religion.