Forgiving Newt

[John Reece]

The conclusion of an article in The American Thinker:

Newt Gingrich has had his share of pain and loss. And failure. In a way that most Americans will never experience. His errors cost him two marriages. He's paid the price in his personal life. Many times over. His personal failings have been widely publicized, editorialized, and embellished. Most of us cannot imagine the level of pain and humiliation involved when one's personal and private failures are made public and laid bare for all to see. Newt has lived it. And, by all appearances, he's a better man today because of it. Smarter. More insightful. And wiser. Pretty good traits for a president to have.
As human beings we all share the same, inherent defect. We are not perfect. We all sin. With that in mind and for those who may feel that Newt Gingrich is not qualified to be president, based solely on his personal failings, a word from a very wise man. "He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone..."

If God, against whom all sin is committed, can forgive Newt Gingrich, maybe America can and should, too.

[Soyeong]

Newt Gingrich has had his share of pain and loss. And failure. In a way that most Americans will never experience. His errors cost him two marriages. He's paid the price in his personal life. Many times over. His personal failings have been widely publicized, editorialized, and embellished. Most of us cannot imagine the level of pain and humiliation involved when one's personal and private failures are made public and laid bare for all to see. Newt has lived it

Yes, he's gone through pain, but should sympathize with pain that he has brought on himself?

And, by all appearances, he's a better man today because of it. Smarter. More insightful. And wiser. Pretty good traits for a president to have.

In what way?

As human beings we all share the same, inherent defect. We are not perfect. We all sin. With that in mind and for those who may feel that Newt Gingrich is not qualified to be president, based solely on his personal failings, a word from a very wise man. "He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone..."

If God, against whom all sin is committed, can forgive Newt Gingrich, maybe America can and should, too.

Can you not see how this verse is completely misused?

[Sparko]

The conclusion of an article in The American Thinker:

Newt Gingrich has had his share of pain and loss. And failure. In a way that most Americans will never experience. His errors cost him two marriages. He's paid the price in his personal life. Many times over. His personal failings have been widely publicized, editorialized, and embellished. Most of us cannot imagine the level of pain and humiliation involved when one's personal and private failures are made public and laid bare for all to see. Newt has lived it. And, by all appearances, he's a better man today because of it. Smarter. More insightful. And wiser. Pretty good traits for a president to have.
As human beings we all share the same, inherent defect. We are not perfect. We all sin. With that in mind and for those who may feel that Newt Gingrich is not qualified to be president, based solely on his personal failings, a word from a very wise man. "He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone..."

If God, against whom all sin is committed, can forgive Newt Gingrich, maybe America can and should, too.

Not having followed his life, was he a Christian when he cheated on his wives?

The article seems to suggest he was not...

"But, according to Newt, he's changed. He's older. Wiser. A grandfather now. And he's answered every question about his past with grace and dignity while openly acknowledging his failures. He's found a relationship with God. And has sought God's forgiveness."

[Sparko]

hmm according to wikipedia, Newt was pretty much always a baptist, and converted to catholicism in 2009. So he was a Christian while having his affairs, and unless he has stated something a bit stronger elsewhere, doesn't sound all that repentant about it...

from wiki:

Six months after the divorce from Battley was final, Gingrich wed Marianne Ginther in 1981.[140][141][142][143] In the mid-1990s, Gingrich began an affair with House of Representatives staffer Callista Bisek, who is 23 years his junior. They continued their affair during the Lewinsky scandal, when Gingrich became a leader of the investigation of President Clinton for perjury and obstruction of justice in connection with his alleged affairs.[3] In 2000, Gingrich married Bisek shortly after his divorce from second wife Ginther. He and Callista currently live in McLean, Virginia.[144] In a 2011 interview with David Brody of the Christian Broadcasting Network Gingrich addressed his past infidelities by saying, "There's no question at times in my life, partially driven by how passionately I felt about this country, that I worked too hard and things happened in my life that were not appropriate."[142][143]
A Southern Baptist since graduate school, Gingrich converted to Catholicism, Bisek's faith, on March 29, 2009.[145] He said "over the course of several years, I gradually became Catholic and then decided one day to accept the faith I had already come to embrace." The moment when he decided to officially become a Catholic was when he saw Pope Benedict XVI on his visit to the United States in 2008: "Catching a glimpse of Pope Benedict that day, I was struck by the happiness and peacefulness he exuded. The joyful and radiating presence of the Holy Father was a moment of confirmation about the many things I had been thinking and experiencing for several years."

[Mountain Man]

If God, against whom all sin is committed, can forgive Newt Gingrich, maybe America can and should, too.

I've always thought this was a pretty lame rationalization, and it doesn't necessarily lead to the author's conclusion. For example, I can forgive someone for stealing from me, but I'm still going to keep an eye on my wallet whenever they're around. My forgiveness does not equal their reform.

I want to see Obama out of office as much as anybody, but I really hate that we're being forced into another "lesser of two evils" situation.

[Darth Executor]

The conclusion of an article in The American Thinker:

Newt Gingrich has had his share of pain and loss. And failure. In a way that most Americans will never experience. His errors cost him two marriages. He's paid the price in his personal life. Many times over. His personal failings have been widely publicized, editorialized, and embellished. Most of us cannot imagine the level of pain and humiliation involved when one's personal and private failures are made public and laid bare for all to see. Newt has lived it. And, by all appearances, he's a better man today because of it. Smarter. More insightful. And wiser. Pretty good traits for a president to have.
As human beings we all share the same, inherent defect. We are not perfect. We all sin. With that in mind and for those who may feel that Newt Gingrich is not qualified to be president, based solely on his personal failings, a word from a very wise man. "He who is without sin among you, let him be the first to throw a stone..."

If God, against whom all sin is committed, can forgive Newt Gingrich, maybe America can and should, too.

Forgiveness for what? Newt's offenses were against his wives, not us. What the author is asking us isn't to forgive Newt, it's to ignore the fact that he's proven himself to be a dishonest, hypocritical dirtbag. Furthermore, he married the woman he cheated on his wife with. Twice. It's like robbing a bank, saying you're sorry, then keeping the money you stole. If he was truly repentant he would have broken up with the person he was having an affair with at the very least.

[Sparko]

Forgiveness for what? Newt's offenses were against his wives, not us. What the author is asking us isn't to forgive Newt, it's to ignore the fact that he's proven himself to be a dishonest, hypocritical dirtbag. Furthermore, he married the woman he cheated on his wife with. Twice. It's like robbing a bank, saying you're sorry, then keeping the money you stole. If he was truly repentant he would have broken up with the person he was having an affair with at the very least.

Crap! I agree with Darth Executor AGAIN! I may have to go in for psychiatric treatment or something.

[Darth Executor]

Then boost my amen count you stingy ruffian.

[Littlejoe]

I can forgive Newt his indiscretions and personal failings, but forgiveness doesn't entail unearned trust. The office of POTUS, IMO, requires a lot of trust of the person assuming the role...I'm not sure enough that Newt has earned that much trust...at least he hasn't from me....

[Littlejoe]

I've always thought this was a pretty lame rationalization, and it doesn't necessarily lead to the author's conclusion. For example, I can forgive someone for stealing from me, but I'm still going to keep an eye on my wallet whenever they're around. My forgiveness does not equal their reform.

I want to see Obama out of office as much as anybody, but I really hate that we're being forced into another "lesser of two evils" situation.

Or the evil of two "lessers"

[Sparko]

What is especially disturbing to me is that Newt was having an affair during the same time he and the other republicans were going after Clinton for having an affair. This shows a lack of repentance and blatant hypocrisy.

[Cow Poke]

hmm according to wikipedia, Newt was pretty much always a baptist, and converted to catholicism in 2009. So he was a Christian while having his affairs, and unless he has stated something a bit stronger elsewhere, doesn't sound all that repentant about it...

I think you and I both know you can be a "baptist" without being a Christian. Baptist Churches are filled with them. Unfortunately, in many Baptist Churches, all it takes is "going forward" and "filling out the card". I've known men who have "joined the Church" to keep peace at home, cause that's what momma wanted. Especially when kids are involved.

I, too, would like to know if there was a point in Newt's life AFTER his indiscretions at which he turned to God in a meaningful way.

[Sparko]

I think you and I both know you can be a "baptist" without being a Christian. Baptist Churches are filled with them. Unfortunately, in many Baptist Churches, all it takes is "going forward" and "filling out the card". I've known men who have "joined the Church" to keep peace at home, cause that's what momma wanted. Especially when kids are involved.

I, too, would like to know if there was a point in Newt's life AFTER his indiscretions at which he turned to God in a meaningful way.

exactly. because otherwise WE become the hypocrites for supporting one adulterer while condemning another one (Clinton) - and as far as I know, Clinton claims to be a Christian also, but that didn't stop him from cheating.

[Cow Poke]

exactly. because otherwise WE become the hypocrites for supporting one adulterer while condemning another one (Clinton) - and as far as I know, Clinton claims to be a Christian also, but that didn't stop him from cheating.

Yeah, and as a Pastor, I was always a little annoyed at the men who would suddenly become "faithful" in church attendance, and maybe even join the choir, so they could say in their newspaper ad "Bob Johnson running for City Council, long time member of Beno Baptist Church, Choir Member, Sunday School Teacher.... blah blah blah"... but when they're NOT running for office, you never see them.

We had one woman, however, who was a Justice of the Peace, who was faithful in EVERYTHING we did, was ALWAYS generous when we had a mission cause or need, actually SERVED in positions, sang in the choir, worked in our missions organizations and other efforts, including taking her turn in the nursery, etc ----- and she NEVER put her Church affiliation in her political adverts.

[themuzicman]

What is especially disturbing to me is that Newt was having an affair during the same time he and the other republicans were going after Clinton for having an affair. This shows a lack of repentance and blatant hypocrisy.

Actually, it doesn't. The republicans were investigating Clinton for having lied under oath in a civil case. You're starting to sound like the liberals of the 1990s in attacking him about this. Perhaps you should review your history.

I'm really torn about Newt. On one hand, he has had affairs and been divorced and his conversion Catholicism isn't solid evidence of reform in that respect.

OTOH, Newt is both the smartest and strongest leader among the republican candidates, as was demonstrated when he lead the republican revolution via the contract with America, and led as speaker of the house to the first balanced budget since 1969, not mention the neutering of President Clinton on a policy and legislative sense, forcing him to sign welfare reform, and accepting budget cuts that Clinton didn't really want. During his time as speaker, he had the attention of the American people and made (IMHO) some of the most significant legislative progress that a conservative has made in a very long time. (And then we went with a Romney style establishment republican as President, and threw it all away.)

So, my preference would be to have a candidate with Newt's intelligence, experience and leadership ability without the marriage problems. But that candidate isn't running. And we seriously need a conservative leader in the White House.