Well said. Thanks guys, keep up the good work.

Is that guy still wearing that silly tie?

I agree, but I also find it ironic that many of the people going off on Carlson don’t show the same attitude of grace towards him as they do Michael Vick. Shouldn’t he be afforded the same attitude of grace (while of course not agreeing with his sentiments) as well?

Vicks “second chance” at NFL football had nothing to do with forgiveness. He was hired to make money for his team with his athletic skills. Look at Pete Rose, he bet on a professional baseball game and was barred from baseball for life. If he had been in the prime of his career instead of retired, he would have been back in baseball. It is all about the money for professional sports, nothing to do with forgiveness or repentance.

Well said, as usual. I think there is some truth in your assessment that “he just wanted to be outrageous and capture headlines.” Or ratings? It is an interesting commentary on the church and on society when there seems to be so severe a role reversal. Why is it that so many people who are not openly associated with Christianity seem to have little problem offering grace and forgiveness when those of us that should most understand the concept of grace, and most understand what Jesus did for us all, have the opposite tendency. That is, we do judge first, only later, if ever, do we come back around to extending grace. Are we fearful that grace is finite? Are we fearful that if we offer too much to too many there won’t be enough for ourselves?

Two things here. First the statements made by Tucker are pure shock value. It’s embarrassing this man gets a platform so speak on and throw around ridiculous statements such as the ones he made. Sure he may be recalling them now but it’s time for believers to sound educated and rational for a change. I’m so tired of people such as Tucker claiming he’s a Christian and in the same breath make a claim that completely contradicts the teachings he just claimed. Secondly, Right now our country is at war, in a recession, struggling with our identity, I think it’s time President Obama started addressing the matters of his presidency and stopped trying to be a celebrity. Allow Chris Berman, or Tom Jackson or Stuart Scott to comment on Michael Vick not the President of the United States. C’mon Man!

I hear what you’re saying & I thought about that too. However, taking on Vick was a risk b/c everyone vilified him. People wanted to burn him at the stake, so it was a big risk. However, we don’t know the motives of the Eagles for taking him on & regardless of what they are, Vick is getting a second chance.

totally agree jay…its tempting to unleash a lot of anger and judgment on Tucker in this situation…but grace for the grace killers too.

great questions kevin! definitely something for all of us to think about

good points dustin…i do think Tucker’s statement is shocking(shock value)…but i also believe it represents a viewpoint that we see expressed in culture/christianity in different extremes…he just said it bluntly and outrageously…probably for attention but his ideas on second chances i believe represent a lot of peoples ideas on grace.

Well, you can’t “fervently” believe in second chances and want to see someone executed for what Vick did. Tucker was obviously going for ratings.

I may cause a stir here, but I believe grace and second chances are two different things. Grace is unmerited favor, freely given to all. It is shown by giving the benefit of the doubt and compassion for mistakes. I believe second chances are a transaction. Forgiveness and trust for repentance. Repentance is owning your junk. You have to own it and deal with it (usually with consequences) before you receive a second chance. Otherwise you perpetuate victimville.

I believe in consequences but I don’t believe in punishment (Rom 8:1). Vick deserves a second chance in terms of being forgiven not “just because” but because 1) He repented. We don’t know if it was a true “change in thinking” but it’s not our place to make the determination. 2) He paid the consequence. His jail sentence wasn’t punishment. It was consequence of breaking the law. Punishment would be an eye for an eye.

He gets grace freely. He shouldn’t be condemned for his errors. He should be loved and encouraged to make the change in his heart which leads to repentance. He doesn’t deserve judgement and disgust, he should receive compassion. That’s grace…freely given. But if there is no change in his heart or ownership of the wrongs (Luke 17:3-4), it is irresponsible to give him a second chance. That makes him a detriment to himself and others.

When you came to Central Christian Church recently you mentioned searching Google for “Why are Christians so…?” I noticed when I did it for other religions that Christians were the only ones to come back with all negatives. If we cannot have faith in God and our fellow Christians to find grace and redemption in Christ, how can we expect others to follow the way? Faith is not easy, as we see in the Bible often. Temptation surrounds us and many succumb. We must be ready to help lift the fallen to truly “love your neighbor”.

While I do think Tucker was a little harsh on Vick during that segment (which I watched live), I do think it’s important for us to realize that everything is held together by God’s grace (Colossians 1:17) and there will be a period of divine judgment for those who don’t worship God at the end (in the book of Revelation). Grace is infinite for those in God’s family, but for those outside? The story looks a little different.

What does that mean for us humans? After all, we are made in God’s image. Is there an appropriate time for us to make judgments on criminals? Anyone who reads through Leviticus and Deuteronomy will say yes. In Genesis 2 God gave us authority over the earth, to be good stewards. What about when someone is a terrible steward that abuses what God gave us?

I think it’s easy for people to demonize Tucker’s position, but what about for the criminal who rapes and kills a child? How about a man like Ted Bundy? He was in need of Jesus just as much as Vick or any of us is. Does the same logic apply? What’s your stance on second chances for him, a man who was very active in his church?

Obviously we all get a second chance in Jesus, and the story of grace is one that every Christian should be overjoyed to tell others. But you can’t neglect certain parts of Scriptures like Acts 5 where Ananias and his wife were killed on the spot for lying. Where was their second chance?

You may point out Bundy’s absolutely wretched track record of murderous rapes deserving a ‘stop button’, but the fact is what he did was sin. It may have been much worse than the average person’s sin, but the fact of the matter is that sin is what separates us from God. It’s disgusting and we all do it multiple times every day. Are we much different than Bundy, then? How many second chances do we get?

I personally feel that there is a point where we, as God’s steward’s of this planet, must make decisions regarding those who are bad stewards and criminals. When we don’t make a choice about them, then we let them make choices that turn God’s creation into poor victims (like Vick’s dogs), and then inevitably what kinds of stewards are we? I do not think Vick deserves the death sentence at all, but a mere few years in prison? I think that deserves more like 10-15 years at least. Also, what I found ridiculous was Obama’s praising of Vick. I think Obama is more of a celebrity than a president because of his lack of experience, but hopefully those who voted for him will choose more carefully next time.

Anyways, second chances are costly. It cost God His only Son. That’s why we need to take it seriously when we make assumptions about who absolutely deserves grace and second chances and who doesn’t. We can’t understand God completely, and He gives out grace completely. Therefore, if we can’t fully understand the source of grace we need to be careful not to become Pharisees over our position over something we don’t fully comprehend. Sorry for the long rant, but thanks for reading!

@Tony Alicea
You just hit the nail on the head!!! Thank you for pointing out those differences and stating why Vick does deserve a 2nd chance.

We all make mistakes and it is amazing to me how quick we are to point the finger to make ourselves either look better or feel better. I feel bad for Tucker! He seems like a very confused Christian who doesn’t understand Jesus and what he stood for. Jesus is the King of 2nd chances and grace…and God asks us to be like him. Jesus didn’t see a difference between a tax collector or prostitute or beggar or shepherd…he only saw people for their need of grace and second chances.

The idea that a human should be put to death for killing an animal is disgusting. Anyone who would beleive that in their heart is a perversion of humanity and a threat to all people. Animals are animals and humans are humans and should never be forsaken for the life of an animal.

Mike went to prison for killing animals rightfully so. Anyone that can harm a living thing for fun is potentially a threat to other people and thats why he deserved to go to prison. Not because of the pain and suffereing of a d@mn dog but the potential of him hurting people. I don’t give a d@mn about those dogs.

Mike needed a wake up call and that’s what he got.

Tucker’s frame of mind is a cancer. It lowers human worth to that of animals. Its not Christian and its not right.

If I had to choose between M Vick and Tucker I’d much rather see Tucker catch the needle or the fumes from the Chamber than Vick. Vick then and now seems more human that Tucker.

What’s sad to me is how many comments throw the disgust and insults back at Tucker. We can’t have it both ways; championing the cause of grace on this planet and then turning around to insult those who we disagree with. Eventually your calls for change are cancelled out by your refusal to do so yourself.

Our planet doesn’t need more stagnancy. It needs people dedicated to cause worth fighting for.

The very minute you begin to publicly tally the mistakes of others is the same moment where you need to check your ego and humble yourself again.