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Reporting the Truth.
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Rush Limbaugh, Who Shaped Conservative Christian Politics on the Radio, Has Died

By Bob Smietana
Rush Limbaugh
This Nov. 5, 2018, file photo shows radio personality Rush Limbaugh introducing President Donald Trump at the start of a campaign rally in Cape Girardeau, Missouri. Limbaugh, the talk radio host who became the voice of American conservatism, has died. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson, File)

Rush Limbaugh, the bombastic and popular radio host who shaped conservative politics for decades, has died.

Limbaugh, who received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2020, was 70.

Evangelist Franklin Graham, who urged his followers to pray for the radio host after he was diagnosed with advanced lung cancer in 2020, mourned Limbaugh after news of his death broke.

“My heartfelt condolences and prayers for the family of Rush Limbaugh, who passed away today after a battle with lung cancer,” he posted on Twitter today. “He was a conservative voice of reason for so many years and will be greatly missed.”

The radio show host — along with other media voices — appealed to Christian conservatives and often had more influence on the politics of evangelicals than their pastors, a reality that concerned conservative author and constitutional attorney David French.

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“They are being catechized into religious political engagement through Fox, Mark Levin, Rush Limbaugh, OAN, Breitbart, viral Facebook videos,” he said recently. “Yeah, there are pastors who stoke it, but that’s not who’s reaching the millions.”

Limbaugh was a fierce critic of Democrats and political progressives, labeling them “feminazis” and “commie libs.” He also compared the mob that stormed the U.S. Capitol in January to revolutionary war figures like Sam Adams and Thomas Paine.

Rush Limbaugh
Rush Limbaugh addresses the 2019 Student Action Summit, hosted by Turning Point USA, at the Palm Beach County Convention Center in West Palm Beach, Florida, on Dec. 21, 2019. (Photo by Gage Skidmore/Creative Commons)

Even as he championed Donald Trump’s failed reelection bid, Limbaugh turned more reflective after his diagnosis. He told Fox News last fall that his faith sustained him during his illness.

“I woke up this morning and I thanked God that I did,” he said. “I am just thrilled to be here.”

He also thanked his family for their care during his illness and said it was a blessing to be able to work with Trump to help restore the country. He also talked about how every day was a “do-over.”

“Life is the most precious thing we have and probably the thing that most people take for granted,” he said. “I really appreciate mine.”

After his diagnosis, Limbaugh also spoke about his personal faith in Jesus during that appearance, a matter he often kept private because he did not want to proselytize.

“God is a profound factor; Jesus Christ a profound factor. I have a personal relationship. I’ve not talked about it much publicly because I don’t proselytize these things,” he said.

On his show, Limbaugh was critical of atheists and other skeptics, claiming they could not be moral without God and that believers could not embrace progressive concerns.

“If you believe in God, then intellectually you cannot believe in manmade global warming,” he said in 2013. “You must be either agnostic or atheistic to believe that man controls something that he can’t create.”

Limbaugh claimed that belief in God inspired his political beliefs and said faith was a comfort during his own illness. Yet the radio show host mocked Joe Biden for speaking about his faith during the 2020 presidential election. Biden’s retelling of his turn to faith after the death of his son was “a crutch,” Limbaugh told listeners.

“It’s a crutch that liberal Democrat politicians are allowed to lean on,” he said.

Republican U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan of Ohio praised the late radio host as “an icon, patriot, and American hero” who fought for freedom and liberty. He called Limbaugh the greatest radio host ever.

“God bless his family.” Jordan said on Twitter.

In the end, Limbaugh seemed to have no regrets.

“I’m just trying to give thanks every day for all of the blessings,” Limbaugh said last fall. “I have had a blessed life. I have had so many great friends … and still do. … There’s nothing negative for me. There’s nothing I have deep regrets about because I’ve been so blessed.”

Bob Smietana is a national reporter for Religion NewBob Smietanas Service.

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54 Responses

    1. I was just about to mention something like that. Who would have thought that we would be questioning whether Ravi is in heaven, but despite Rush’s failures, I’m pretty sure he is in heaven.

  1. I’m sorry that Mr. Limbaugh has died, and my heart goes out to his family. I lost my mother to lung cancer a decade ago, and it was hard on my entire family. However, I believe that the legacy that Limbaugh left is very complicated. Calling people to a political party is not calling them to saving faith in Christ. Calling people names because you don’t agree with their opinions (even if they are misguided) does not promote the cause of love in Christ. Saying that people assaulting a legal meeting supporting a legal election in our nation’s Capitol does not promote the constitutional process he claimed to uphold.

    In these very strange times, I hope that we as Christians can begin to name our allegiances differently-not to political parties, not to candidates, but to God’s Son who had no country or political party on this earth. We are blessed in the United States to be able to participate in the political process, but that should not be what defines us. Jesus and his cause should define us, and we should be more about the souls of the lost than we are about politics. If true revival ever hits our country, we would see major changes, because our hearts would be right were God wants them.

    1. Pray for it to come this year! The Bible says if we repent of our sins then God Will come and heal our land.

      And may God give Rush’s family peace and strength in this hour.

  2. Greetings everyone,

    I can’t say that the Grandfather of the Conservative whine movement is dead and it bother me. Just because life brings changes that people are not comfortable with mean that the world has to change to fit how I feel. I never hear where he championed work on yourself and make your self a better person to meet what life give you.

    I am so tired of fear mongering masquerading as conservative Christian thought. It show to me that most Evangelicals think Christ was wrong in turning down the Devil’s offer of the world power for bowing down to him.

    It is time for Christians to demonstrate by their actions and examples that they will sacrifice worldly things to make the here and now a better place.

    The Grandfather of whine was not an example.

    Best regards,
    CJ

    1. CJ, Rush was very much about working hard and using the opportunities America gives you in order to be successful. That was a main pillar of his message.

    1. I have listened to him. And one name immediately comes to mind: Sandra Fluke.
      Not just as a woman who has had to be on birth control to treat cysts – but as a CHRISTIAN – I was horribly offended by Mr Limbaugh’s MULTIPLE mean-spirited tirades, and even more offended at how Christians and conservatives defended it. And this is just one example.

      I am in line with Linn – my heart goes out to Mr Limbaugh’s family, yet I will not let his passing or alleged deathbed confessions overshadow a complicated legacy that includes hate-filled antics and vile name calling. Just as I pray for his family, I pray for those who were the targets of Mr Limbaugh’s unkind behavior for which he was frequently unrepentant (and unChristian).

      I pray this is the start of Christians revisiting our alliances and allegiances, including the “well we are all sinners” mantra that we use to dismiss or downplay the sins of those we like, with NO regard for the impact of those sins on its targets and OUR TESTIMONY.

      May Mr. Limbaugh rest in peace, may his loved ones be comforted, and may those he frequently targeted have hearts full of forgiveness.

      1. Amen, M H, Amen.
        The extraordinarily un-Christlike way he treated others is an indelible part of his legacy, and too many Christians were fine with that because their hearts also held no love for the people he attacked.

        1. He made his living off that fact. It was his job to entertain and keep the ratings up. He did his job excellently. I, personally, could not listen to him.

        2. People have an odd view of Christlike behavior. How many of our Christian leaders are willing to be as offensive as Christ was in talking truth to power?

          “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You give a tenth of your spices–mint, dill and cummin. But you have neglected the more important matters of the law–justice, mercy and faithfulness. You should have practiced the latter, without neglecting the former.

          You blind guides! You strain out a gnat but swallow a camel.

          “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You clean the outside of the cup and dish, but inside they are full of greed and self-indulgence.

          Blind Pharisee! First clean the inside of the cup and dish, and then the outside also will be clean.

          “Woe to you, teachers of the law and Pharisees, you hypocrites! You are like whitewashed tombs, which look beautiful on the outside but on the inside are full of dead men’s bones and everything unclean.

          In the same way, on the outside you appear to people as righteous but on the inside you are full of hypocrisy and wickedness.”

      2. Sandra Fluke benefitted big time from Rush Limbaugh’s insult in response to her lobbying for government paid contraceptives. She was not on birth control for cysts. She said she new a fellow student who was.

        To be fair, Limbaugh did publicly apologize to Sandra Fluke. She rejected his apology and tried twice, unsuccessfully, to turn it into a political run at public office in CA–losing in landslides. She ended up on the cover of magazines. The insult turned her into a short-term celebrity for the Democrats and friendly media, including a lawyer award, speaking at the Democrat National Convention, the opportunity to introduce candidate Barak Obama in Denver, giving numerous TV interviews, and a chance to write an op-ed for Obama for CNN. I think things worked out quite well for her. She definitely got her “15 minutes of fame.” The insult pushed her issues and career forward and got her immortalized on Wikipedia. Definitely a blunder in every way on Rush’s part.

        Talk for three hours every day on the radio for thirty years about politics and politicians, and you will say some dumb things too.

        If you don’t believe me, google “Biden gaffes” and see the many absolutely dumb and insulting things he has said over 40 years of political life. As Biden himself said in 2018, “I am a gaffe machine.” Ranker site calls him the “Forrest Gump of the political landscape.”

        One of his most insulting gaffes was demanding that soldiers forced to come listen to him speak were not clapping in response to his lines. He got angry and said, “Clap..you stupid bastards.” It was caught live on a cell phone video by a soldier at Abu Dhabi in the Middle East. These soldiers aren’t part of the political landscape and aren’t political props. Bet he’d like to take that one back. Far as I know, no apology was ever offered.

        1. OTOH –
          My issue with Rush in the Sandra Fluke situation was his ENTIRE rant about how women who are on birth control are asking the world to pay for us to have sex. He repeated it multiple times (close to a full month) as part of his INTENTIONAL rant. And many times he lumped ALL women on birth control into a group of promiscuous, immoral women. This was no “gaffe.” It was ignorant. It was targeted and mean.Just as it was targeted and mean when Rush called a 12 year old Chelsea Clinton a dog. And targeted and mean (and racially ignorant) when he called Obama a monkey. And I can go on and on.

          Please STOP acting as if these were “gaffes.” Rush’s legacy involved a career of making mean-spirited insults to fire up his listeners, many of whom simply HATE those who disagree (but then claim to be Christian, but that’s a whole OTHER thread). Even when Rush was called out, many times he would unrepentantly double down. That is NOT the way somoene responds to a “gaffe.” That is the response of someone who meant what he said. He meant to be mean.

          I don’t care if Sandra Fluke got 15 minutes of fame or a lifetime of it. It will NEVER make Rush’s foul rant against her and women who use birth control ok. It’s unfortunate you see that as a defense of his behavior.

          The end does not justify the means…or the sin.

  3. Rush gave a voice to conservatives and revitalized am/talk radio. For that I’m grateful to him. And glad he knows Jesus.

    1. I started listening to Rush back in 1990. The Early years were meant to be entertaining and they were. He had a great ability for calling out the failings of Progressive politics and he could admonish conservatives too. There was no one his equal and sadly no one to fill his shoes. Voices are competing via podcast and it amounts to a lot of noise with a little something for everyone’s taste. He could be a little rough around the edges but he was a work in sanctification. My heart sank when I heard the news this morning.
      I pray the Lord is bringing new voices to announce something better than our polarized political differences. The time is ripe for Good News proclamation. Our country and the world needs supernatural hope, not man-made solutions that will impoverish the majority while enriching a few beyond measure. Lord – encourage and save your people.

    2. Satan and the devils “know” Jesus… the real question to consider is: did he Follow Jesus? Did he and do we exemplify the way of Jesus and the fruits of the triune God (His Spirit)… I’m not going to speculate on Rush’s final destiny – that is in God’s hands.
      But did he and his “christian” fans, demonstrate the fruits of the Spirit? I don’t care one bit whether any of them “knew” Jesus… the whole world down to the most vile athiest “knows” Jesus…

  4. So happy that someone gets to heaven by believing in Jesus. Not by how we live. Because no one is perfect. Surely not Ravi or Rush. One exception: Jesus..

    1. It’s about time for Christians to talk about Jesus Christ and the salvation He offers us through Hs death on the cross.
      Blogs which ony talk about the sins of men do nothing but put Satan and sins on center stage.
      It’s time for Evangeicals to be Evangelists of the Gospel of Jesus Christ as He commanded us.
      Stop pointing at the sins of dead men and sinners and point to your own sins! Then repent and act like a disciple of Jesus, looking only to Him Alone!

    2. Dirk, genuine faith produces genuine fruit. It’s on every page of the New Testament. Jesus says we know people by their FRUIT, not their words. In fact, in Mark 7, He gives short shrift to “lip service”.

      Every mention of sinning lives regarding Godly people is in the PAST in the New Testament:

      “when we WERE in the flesh” (Romans 7:5), “and such WERE some of you…” (1 Corinthians 6:11), “And they that are Christ’s have crucified the flesh with the affections and lusts” (Galatians 5:24), “And you hath he quickened, who WERE dead in trespasses and sins; wherein in time past ye walkED according to the course of this world, according to the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that now worketh in the children of disobedience: among whom also we all HAD our conversation in times past in the lusts of our flesh, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind; and WERE by nature the children of wrath, even as others.
      Even when we WERE dead in sins” (Ephesians 2:1-3, 5a), “ye who sometimes WERE far off” (Ephesians 2:13), “Who hath DELIVERED us from the power of darkness” (Colossians 1:13), “For we ourselves also sometimes WERE foolish, disobedient, deceived…” (Titus 3:3), “In which ye also walkED (Colossians 3:7), “who was BEFORE a blasphemer and a persecutor…(1 Timothy 1:13), “FORMER lusts” (1 Peter 1:14), “seeing ye HAVE PURIFIED your souls” (1 Peter 1:22), “For ye WERE as sheep going astray; but are now returned unto the Shepherd and Bishop of your souls” (1 Peter 2:25), “in time PAST…we walkED in lasciviousness, lusts…” (1 Peter 4:3b), “having ESCAPED the corruption that is in the world through lust” (2 Peter 1:4b, 2:20a), “he was PURGED from his old sins” (2 Peter 1:9b)

  5. The huge influence of Rush Limbaugh on American political discourse (including being bombastic, politically incorrect, insulting, and promoting conspiracy theories) probably did more than any other influence to pave the way for the Presidency of Donald Trump.
    Some here will consider that a good thing, and some of us consider it a bad thing, but I think it is undeniably true.

  6. Rob,

    Rush said:

    “Jesus is a profound factor” – Not sure how that’s gonna go over at the judgement seat.

    “If you believe in God, then intellectually you cannot believe in man made global warming” – WTF? What was he talking about? Was he a theologian too?? – lol

    A former shock jock from Pittsburgh that had no political bent & told 60 minutes – it all about the money.

    He bragged about owning numerous multi-million dollar homes & said it was no ones business.

    He condemned drug users & illegal aliens but used his illegal maid to buy him hillbilly heroin.

    All of which is fair game in an unbridled capitalist society but it’s not Christian. I would not want to stand b4 The Almighty & explain these stmts & actions!

  7. Oh & I forgot. He died & left over $500M to his 4th wife who was estranged from him. He reportedly wanted to get a divorce but died w/o a prenup leaving her all the $$.

    1. TJ James you are lying. Rush was human, like everyone else here. He was a born again believer and talked about his faith many times over his years on radio that I heard personally; the author of this article did not seem to be a listener. He and Kathryn were not estranged. Rush loved the United States, the Constitution, our flag, our military, our law enforcement and was unashamed to say that we have the greatest country on Earth because of our freedom.

      1. Cros – i’m sure he loved the US, flag, constitution, military, etc all that enabled him to make hundreds of millions of dollars – plz specifically tell me where I’ve lied?

  8. In the 90s I was busy with children, work, school and not much time or interest in politics. Started a new job in 1996 at a large corporation. I brought my lunch and ate at my desk. The man in the cubicle across from me played his radio very loud during lunch. Always the same guy who ranted and raved the whole time. I thought who is that lunatic? He sounds like Hitler.
    After some time I couldn’t listen anymore and started eating my lunch elsewhere.I had to ask someone who it was, well it was Rush Limbaugh. Anytime I had to be at my desk at that time it was always the same ugly rant.
    24 years later I happened to hear his show, same ugly rant.
    So please tell me again about this hate spewing Christian man.

  9. Again, the Bible is clear. None of us deserve heaven. Everyone of us, me included deserve an eternity separated from God. This includes the little innocent old lady who never hurt anyone to the likes of Jeffrey Dahmer, Ted Bundy, Stalin, Pol Pot, Timothy McVeigh or Ravi Zacharias or Rush Limbaugh or King David. You get to heaven by believing in Jesus. You critics of Rush Limbaugh and Ravi Zacharias need a good Bible Study and know God’s grace.

    1. Dirk, I cannot believe you’re saying this. Hitler?? Pol Pot?? Putting King David on the same line as these people?? The overwhelming pattern of David’s life was obedience and love for God.

      And David had no New Testament, no full revelation and knowledge of Jesus (and God through Jesus – John 14:27), no fullness of the Scripture and fulfillment of the Old Covenant promises, no remission of past sins (Matthew 1:21), no knowledge of the Resurrection through which Christ defeated death, Satan and sin (you cannot separate them), no Holy Spirit permanently indwelling (which was only possible post-Resurrection: John 14:16-17, Romans 8:9).

      JESUS is the ONLY standard that someone calling themselves CHRISTian has the right to examine themselves by (which verses like 2 Corinthians 13:5, 1 Peter 2:21, John 14:12 ETC, ETC) make VERY clear).

      Jesus said to judge people by their FRUIT. Paul never stops detailing the importance of FRUIT. His standard for church deacons and elders only mentions BEHAVIOR, not “what they say”.

      My prayer is that people would READ (and believe) the Bible, especially the New Testament. How many people read Romans 6 recently or had their pastor read all of it?? A lot of lies are being told by “teachers”. Jesus said the Holy Spirit should be our teacher (John 14:26). And the Holy Spirit doesn’t miss out tons of passages from the New Testament in order to push an agenda or perpetuate a convenient “sinning gospel” where Christians reflect Satan to the lost world rather than JESUS!

      Jesus Himself equates obedience with LOVE in John 14:15-23. Paul echoes that in Romans 13:8-10.

      No sensible person would look at a rebellious child who routinely disobeyed his parents and ignored them completely and state: “oh look how much he loves his parents!”

      Let’s get real. The first step towards truth and believing truth is to be honest with ourselves.
      It’s not a coincidence that that’s also the first step to GENUINE repentance, which is from the HEART. Simple mental assent (saying “I believe in you, Jesus” or “I do” to a spouse with JUST the mind) gets no-one anywhere, either in their personal relationships or their relationship with Jesus

  10. Spewing hate rhetoric does not emulate our Lord. I listened to Mr. Limbaugh just a couple of times and was quite taken aback by his language. Scripture warned us about our tongue. “Who can tame it…?”
    It takes Godly discipline to control our mouth. Scripture reminds us “we can’t bless AND curse”.
    Let us all (including me) be reminded of these sobering Words from Scripture.

  11. When I hear people grousing about Trump or Rush Limbaugh or any long running public figure who influences opinion and politics, I am reminded of the words of Teddy Roosevelt: “The Man in the Arena.”

    “It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or where the doer of deeds could have done them better. The credit belongs to the man who is actually in the arena, whose face is marred by dust and sweat and blood; who strives valiantly; who errs, who comes short again and again, because there is no effort without error and shortcoming; but who does actually strive to do the deeds; who knows great enthusiasms, the great devotions; who spends himself in a worthy cause; who at the best knows in the end the triumph of high achievement, and who at the worst, if he fails, at least fails while daring greatly, so that his place shall never be with those cold and timid souls who neither know victory nor defeat.”

    Those who enter the political foray of a democracy enter at their own risk. It is a vicious world. It is the land of visceral anger, backbiting fury, irrational arguments, self-righteousness, hypocrisy, moral land mines, crazy fund raising, traitorous double-crosses, and the lust for power. It involves poking people’s fleshly sin nature every day with the resultant ugliness that follows. It brings out the worst in most people. It is often dominated by irrational fears and prejudices, and dominated by optics over substance, and now censorship, in the red-hot digital media age. Generalized rage is often unfairly aimed at the wrong people. The Founding Fathers rightly worried most about government tyranny destroying the democracy and individua liberty, not pamphleteers whom they protected with the First Amendment (the talk radio folks of the day).

    Say what you will about Rush Limbaugh. He was an American icon, the dominant force in the radio genre he founded. For over thirty years, he had audiences bigger than NPR (competing against multiple programmers and public money support). His audience grew to over 40 million. He was the Johnny Carson of radio. He combined political commentary with entertaining humor. He resurrected AM radio which was about to die in the dust of FM. He was polite to his callers, always let them speak, and asked questions to clarify their views. When seriously interviewed, he held his own in articulating his views. He loved the country, the police (and others in serving professions) and the military–visiting the later in war torn Afghanistan. He supported these folks with philanthropy. He knew his audience. He was a friend to religious liberty. We need contrarian voices. He was one. He never held himself up as a spokesman for Christianity. He kept his faith life purposely private from his politically oriented career.

    I was disappointed today to see the outpouring of hatred and cheering at his death by Leftist celebrity figures. Many on the Left made good livings opposing his views and getting PR by calling him names. His opponents tried everything under the sun to compete against his popular voice by funding Liberal networks, promoting rival talk show hosts, trying to pressure sponsors to get him off the air, trying to re-introduce equal time rules via Congress, covering any hint of scandal in his life, calling him every nasty thing imaginable, etc. But he outlasted them all, and in terms of audience popularity and influence, what his opponents envied the most, he triumphed over all of them.

    I hope he was right with the Lord, but that’s between him and Jesus.

    1. Thanks On the Other Hand for your thoughtful post..increasingly, this site seems to have become a home for bitter, self righteous Christians with a burr under their saddle for anything tilting at all towards the right side of political issues. What was once a really good site and source for truth speaking has become a new-left Christian platform for nastiness. Julie has outed so many things that have required outing for sure. But the echo chamber here has become nauseating to that point that I have given up checking in. I figured that Rush’ death would involve a post. Sure enough. And I’m not at all surprised by the self righteous vitriol of so many left tilting contributors here.

      So I will just say it. Rush was an American original. He loved what was good about America and I love him for it. No apologies. Like you on the other hand, I also hope and pray for his eternal salvation and destiny.. His brother David is a solid believer and will surely have had an influence on him. My life and ability to articulate the intersection of my evangelical beliefs with the beauty of American ideals of freedom, liberty and self determination were enhanced by his wisdom. Period. I am grateful to the man. May we all have such an impact.

      God Bless you Rush. Rest In Peace. You will be missed

      1. Their are a lot of people who are known as “Keyboard Warriors”. I.E Jihadis. just as their are “Telephone tough guys”. So pretty sure their will be Trolls posting on what could be described as a Christian Internet site. People who will post claiming to be a Christian who are not or Christian’s who are in need of a good Bible Study. Or could be just people who get a kick out of riling up Christians in the hope that they can dissuade Christians from posting such things such as on this site. Or even overwhelming Truth that it becomes annoying to even read the comments. They can be seen though quite easily as judgemental, unforgiving and self-righteous. We know who you are!

    2. Thank you Ontheotherhand, your thoughts on Limbaugh are correct. Its nice to read a comment about Rush that is truthful and complimentary.

  12. Very mixed feelings on the guy. He (through my grandmother who was somewhat of a fan of is) got me into conservatism and politics in general. He was undoubtedly a smart guy and extremely witty and humorous. He also was, much of the time, rather buffoonish and did much to destroy any credibility he had. Rush’s personal life had a lot of checkers in it. I don’t know that we can confidently say he was saved–but he is certainly worthy of more honor than that sadistic cockroach RZ.

  13. I have no mixed feelings. The fact that there is even an article legitimizing him as someone who “shaped Conservative Christian politics” already indicates the problematic nature of conservative Christian politics. I’ve been in evangelical circles in some capacity my entire life, and I have never understand what is so “Christian” about conservative political ideology. In evangelical circles, I was always being told that “real Christians” are conservative. The problem was that I’m a first-generation American (by birth) and a Black person in this country, which also gave me ready access to Christian communities outside white evangelicalism where I saw many faithful Christians who were not nearly as obsessed with their political affiliation – in fact, many were not even eligible to vote in the US (they were permanent residents or visa holders) and not entangled in American politics, or were independent or Democratic voters. The only people who told me I “had” to be conservative politically were white Christians (and, occasionally, a person of color in the same circles). I see the reckoning right now in evangelicalism about issues of abuse, race and gender as symptoms of a larger problem, as are Limbaugh, Trump and the like. I appreciate this site for calling particularly issues of abuse out — and it serves a purpose — but unless there is a reckoning within evangelicalism on this notion of purification – and, essentially justification — by conservatism and an interrogation of the very foundation of those ideas, the problems within evangelicalism that the world is witnessing very publicly will never truly go away; the reforms will just put a nice face on them.

  14. Rush Limbaugh was a sell-out and a fraud and jumped the shark long ago. He sold out his conservative principles for Trump and got his 30 pieces of silver (correction: Presidential Medal of Freedom) from the Orange Dear Leader for it. He rightly criticized Clinton, Bush 43, and Obama about all their spending and spending plans but was strangely quiet about all of Trump’s fiscal madness. When confronted about it, he said, “No one cares about deficits anymore.” How convenient. Here is a link to Reason.com (hardly a left-wing publication) about Rush’s sellout:

    https://reason.com/2019/07/18/rush-limbaugh-abandons-fiscal-conservatism/

    His life of multiple marriages, lies, spin, etc. on his show, and his love of painkillers hardly exemplify the Christian life. The same people who called Rush a “Christian” are the same ones who thought Trump was one too and worshiped him. In fact, both them are very much cut from the same cloth.

    He died of lung cancer due to decades of heavy cigar smoking and until the very end he did not think second-hand smoke or cigars could case lung cancer. In which case, he deserves a Darwin Award nomination.

    Now before all the fake conservatives on this site complain, shall I point out that one of the tenets of conservatism is that people are responsible for their own actions. But not Rush Limbaugh and his smoking, not Trump and ANYTHING EVER. In many ways, they play victim card like a whiny proggie snowflake better that anybody else.

    Regarding his death, this quote sums it up best for me:

    “I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with a lot of pleasure.”

    Rush is one of those whose obituary I will read with a lot of pleasure.

  15. After reading the comments section I am struck with the reason why so many people have left the church body, myself included. I have never been treated as poorly and as rudely within the secular world, i.e.; work, friends, organizations, committees, etc. as I have been within the walls of a church. Christians are some of the most vile, hate filled, self righteous people I’ve ever met. And yes, I can say that because I was self sanctimonious for a while myself. We all tend to go through that as new Christians when we think we’ve “arrived” and no one else in our midst has. For the record, Rush was not a preacher. He was a sinner just like everyone of us is (yes, we are sinners despite what some may think of themselves.) Ravi was a “preacher” therefore elevating his level of responsibility to Christ on the day of judgment. A man is dead, we will all meet and be judged one day, but to throw shade on him for his opinions (that we all like to share with our inner circle) is ridiculous. The only thing that makes Rush different is that he had a microphone. I shared his conservative views and I believe the vast majority of professing Christians do because to be liberal these days is to support abortion, transgenderism, pedophilia, etc. Yes, pedophilia, folks. Check NAMBLA and the newest color they’re trying to add to the rainbow flag. The last time I checked the Bible hated all of those things. For the woke community (that is so offended by someone calling truth as they see it) let me know how it works for you when you realize the movement you support is the devil disguised as a social justice warrior. Personally, I prefer to deal with people who speak what they see as truth; popular, right, wrong, anti-establishment, it doesn’t matter, over people who say what they think sounds soothing and tickles my ears. Give me your opinion (Rush) as harsh as it may seem over the sweet, venomous poison that dripped off Ravi’s tongue. Let your yes mean yes, your no mean no, and be kind to one another for Pete’s sake. At least, as Christians, if we lived by that code we would look different from the world.

    1. I personally do not want to be known as left or right. I want to be known as a Christian who loves and worships God. That means I often reflect paradoxes (at least for people on the right). For example, I’m pro-life, but I”m also pro-immigrant, especially DACA kids/young adults who had no control over how they arrived in the United States. I vote my conscience vs. the party line, and I’m actually an independent voter. I abhor tribalism and ‘”make America great again” theology (I find that true MAGA fans can be almost cult-like in their behavior). More and more I just tell people I’m a Christian vs an evangelical because I at least get a hearing before they press the mute button. Years ago I was dependent on paratransist to get to work because I was in a wheelchair. Depending on the driver, I had 40-60 minutes of Howard Stern or Rush to listen to. I couldn’t stand either of them as they spewed hate over the airwaves, the results being seen today.

      At some points as Christians, we will need to decide if we are ______________(fill in your party of choice) or followers of Christ. I think our churches are going to become progressively emptier and diminished as so many continue to beat the drum of Republican/MAGA = Christian. I find it ironic that the same people who criticized the “snowflakes” four years ago who wrung their hands over the election of Trump now insist that the current White House occupant “stole” the election.

      Finally, I can’t say if Rush was a Christian or not. Only God knows and he is where he should be because God knows that, too. But, what I do believe is that his daily screed did a lot to bring the evangelical church where it is today, and it makes me very sad.

  16. I heard Rush on the radio once sharing what advice he’d give to someone trying to make it in talk-radio. I don’t remember the exact wording but the gist of it was “If you want to generate a following, you don’t have to be right. You have to be confident.” I was surprised he would share that little insider tip on how the sausage is made.

  17. After reading all these nasty and judgmental comments, it just sickens my soul that born again Christians are so pious. I was raised in a Christian home and became a believer at the age of five years old. Today I am fifty-three years old. As a graduate of a Christian school and a church member most of my life, I understand why the world sees Christians as hypocrites. The comments that I have read about Rush Limbaugh are disgusting. The article announces his death and all of you judgmental snakes come crawling out of the ground. So sick of Christians who think they are God’s gift to all things biblical. You all are really pathetic talking about someone like you have in the comments who has passed. You all are so busy being “right” and badmouthing American patriots. One day your American freedoms may be gone. Calling out these liberals who hate America and almighty God is the right thing to do and Rush Limbaugh was a voice that did just that everyday for thirty years.

    Rest in peace, Rush. You will be sorely missed.

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