Mr. Rogers might have been even nicer than you thought

Mental Floss ^ | May 23, 2007 | Mangesh Hattikudur

[Antoninus]

Why? It said Mr. Rogers said God loves you the way you are. I can easily imagine fundamentalists popping a vein over that.

Sure. Because it's inane. Does anyone think God loved Stalin "just the way he was"? Or Josef Mengele? Or Ted Bundy?

God loves every person. But if you chose to define "the way you are" by slaughering millions of people, or killing individuals for fun, or sodomizing people, it's sick to think that God is going to accept and tolerate that.

Like much that went wrong with this country in the 1960s, religious leaders like Mr. Rogers found that it was too hard to actually preach the Gospel--that might ruin your career, get you hurt or even killed. It's much easier to just be "nice" to everyone.

It's worth remembering, Jesus wasn't "nice"....

[WackySam]

Your what ???

Observant.

[ViLaLuz]

“God loves you just the way you are.”

Yes, this is true. God loves the sinner, but hates the sin. That’s why Jesus loves people enough to have the guts to say to them, “Go and sin no more.”

[potlatch]

You are absolutely right, potlatch.

Thank you D.C., it is so nice to have a friend agree with you - and tell you so!!

[dixiechick2000]

I know just exactly what you mean.

Thank you for being my friend.

[potlatch]

DITTO, for sure!!

[dixiechick2000]

Thank you!

Nitey nite!

[Zack Nguyen]

Oh, I don’t know that telling homosexuals that God “loves them just the way they are” is necessarily unorthodox. It depends on the spirit in which it is offered. “While we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.” God does love those that have fallen into the sin of homosexuality. He wants to save them and unburden them of it.

[Zack Nguyen]

Why? It said Mr. Rogers said God loves you the way you are. I can easily imagine fundamentalists popping a vein over that.

The author has made an assumption that, at this time, we do not know if he can prove. Just because you can "easily imagine" it doesn't mean that the author has no burden of proof. I, too, would like to see where fundamentalists denounced Mr. Rogers. If they did it should be easy to find on the internet.

[Moonman62]

I, too, would like to see where fundamentalists denounced Mr. Rogers. If they did it should be easy to find on the internet.

Just go a few posts up the thread.

[-YYZ-]

He was a true class act, the kind you don’t see too many of in the entertainment business. I didn’t grow up with him, as I’m Canadian and we didn’t have cable or live close enough to the US to receive PBS off the air. It’s clear, however, that he was a much-loved part of many, many people’s childhood. He worked in Canada with a man who did a somewhat similar show, “Mr. Dressup” - Ernie Coombs - or more precisely, Mr. Coombs worked with and learned from him.

[Zack Nguyen]

I don’t understand. Do you mean some of the comments here? The author, I think, was making reference to past criticisms of Mr. Rogers, maybe even public ones. (The author really should have been more specific.)

[FormerLib]

...if you think about the commandments and what we've done in our lives...

If you are unrepentant, that is correct but the Christian has better options available.

[FormerLib]

God does love those that have fallen into the sin of homosexuality. He wants to save them and unburden them of it.

However, the "God loves me just the way I am" is frequently used by homosexuals who claim to be Christians but refuse to repent of their sexual immorality. That's not how Christ explained it when He taught "Go and sin no more."

[Mannaggia l'America]

But when the crowd spotted Rogers, they all simultaneously burst into song, chanting “It’s a wonderful day in the neighborhood.”

Not to be nitpickey, but that should be "It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood"...

[Grizzled Bear]

Why? It said Mr. Rogers said God loves you the way you are. I can easily imagine fundamentalists popping a vein over that.

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So your “imaginings” trump proof? Sorry but your “imaginings” aren’t good enough for me.

[Grizzled Bear]

He Saved Both Public Television and the VCR

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Every man is entitled to a few mistakes so I’ll give him a pass for PBS.

[Grizzled Bear]

Barney with two girls!!! Who does he think he is, a Kennedy???!!!

[Dick Vomer]

If you are unrepentant, that is correct but the Christian has better options available.

you see that's the problem...

am I sorry for the things I've done? yes

have I said so to the offended or injured person? sometimes yes, others no. (if they're dead it's hard to do, long story)

Have I "atoned" for the sin? I've tried by living my life and trying to help and care for people.

If placed in the same situation, would I repeat the sin?

In combat or in some other form of actions in areas of operations, presented with similar circumstances.... I know myself, yes I probably would do the same d#mn things again.

Now there's the rub. I've avoided the temptations as much as possible. Never put myself in situations where I could be tempted but it happens, women, booze, etc..... I'm older and not a soldier and the violence isn't a job description. But underneath my temperament hasn't changed and I fear that if placed in a confrontation or if someone or something were to hurt my family I would not be able to turn the cheek, accept God's will and I pray that I'm never given the full measure of God's test. The one that says "God knows your limits and will never give you more of a burden than you can bear with his support and faith in him." .......

Christians may have options, but to be truly repentant you have to change, you can't be the same old person...... you do need to be "born" again as a person of Christ. People like myself who need to, find it the hardest to change. We are weak and pathetic Christians in name only but afraid of what giving it all up would mean and if God truly would be there to help us.

I was reading the posts of some of the guys that know the Bible and how certain they are of what is what and who is going to heaven and who the bad people are.......

I've been around awhile and I can pretty much tell you that there are very few really "good" people and even those that are "good" could hide a secret inside that only God and themselves are aware of. so whose to know?

I realize it's off topic but thanks for letting me "rant".