I didn’t write this, don’t know who did, found it on an anonymous blog and copied it.
Mr Rogers was a Republican.
He was a white Christian heterosexual man.
He prayed and read his Bible every day.He created a children’s TV show with taxpayer money in which he promoted his personal Christian views to a secular audience through secular media.
He studied other religions and other cultures to improve on his reach and connection. He never preached or quoted scripture–yet, we all got the message he intended for us.He appealed to President Nixon and Congress to continue to fund the creation of PBS with a persuasive speech that is one of the most studied for public speaking and PR. A gentle but powerful speaker.
While white people were pouring concrete into public pools rather than share with black neighrbors, Fred Rogers broadcast himself sharing a quiet conversation in a pool with African-American musician and co-worker, Francios Clemmons – – – a soft, unspoken act of defiance against White Supremacy.
He was the most demanded speaker on college campuses–he did not have to con his way onto campus to speak.
Every generation since the 1968 has been positively influence by Mr Rogers. Even children in the past 20 years are benefiting from his legacy at PBS –his methods and messages are STILL used in children’s programming around the world.
No one had to mandate mourning his death because we all actually felt a genuine loss when he passed away. Even grown adults, who had not watched his show for 10 years by the time he passed, felt a piece of genuine goodness leave the planet.
He never asked us to be Christian with him.
He only asked us to be his neighbor.So…
If you find that the general public is rejecting your brand of Christianity, it might because you are a horrible person beating other people over the head with your interpretation of 2,000 year old book of grace, mercy, and love.
It might be because you are a grifter looking to capitalize off “end-times” hysteria and seniors with end-of-life anxieties.
It might be cause you are a disgusting bigot trying to act superior while evading moral accountability.
It probably has nothing to do at all with you actually being a Christian.Cause we all loved Mr Rogers – – – and we need him back.