Carrie Prejean Miss California - when Christians Stumble

Everyone has heard the news by now: Miss California, Carrie Prejean, was ridiculed and insulted publicly by homosexual activist Perez Hilton following the Miss USA Pageant in April for answering his agenda-driven question with her honest opinion. While she was already drawing harsh criticism from her detractors over her Miss USA Pageant answer about gay marriage, some risqué photos began appearing on the web of Carrie Prejean in various stages of topless undress, from photos of her wearing pink underwear to photos of her in a vest that left little to the imagination. It appears Prejean intended her small vest to partially cover her breasts in public photos for the Bliss photo shoot, but her carelessness in keeping her breasts covered between poses allowed an unscrupulous photographer to capitalize on photos snapped between posed shots. The resulting scandal may have cost Miss California some of her support in the Christian community.

Carrie Prejean Mocked for Topless Photos

I am personally disgusted by the provocative photographs Carrie Prejean allowed to be taken. However, while I find the Bliss photos and pink-panty pictures of Prejean in very poor taste, I am even more disturbed by the huge amount of hate-mongering and name calling the gay activists and other liberals have gleefully heaped on this young woman. Prejean's detractors have not only rightfully criticized her for her terrible judgment in posing for the photos, but they have savagely ridiculed the 22-year-old Miss California and done their best to destroy Carrie Prejean's credibility. Isn't that what they call "hate-speech?"

Carrie Prejean's Ridiculed for Her Opinion

In today's brave new world, if someone like Carrie Prejean simply voices an opinion that she doesn't believe in gay marriage because she is a Christian, that immediately makes her judgmental, divisive, with a personal agenda to bring religion into the Miss USA Pageant. Never mind that it was Perez Hilton who brought the issue up at the pageant and asked Carrie Prejean to tell him what she thought on national television. Hilton hasn't been blamed for the incident -- Carrie Prejean has -- and she has become gossip-fodder because of it.

Miss California's Topless Photos an Excuse for Intolerance

The topless photos - those are Carrie Prejean's own fault. She should have known better in both instances. But her attackers are not really attacking her for the photos which are not much worse that a "Sports Illustrated" magazine cover. The topless photos of Carrie Prejean are merely an excuse for the carnage. The real issue is -- they didn't like what Prejean said and didn't want to allow her the freedom to answer an opinion question with her opinion.

Differing without Attacking

When I see young Christian women like Carrie Prejean and Miley Cyrus posing in underwear and scanty clothing, I cringe. I don't think it's OK for Christians to pose topless or semi topless. However, I can say that without attacking Carrie and Miley, just like Carrie Prejean said she thought marriage should be between a man and a woman without attacking anyone. She voiced her opinion because she was asked. Then the photos came out, and her fate was sealed... or was it?

When Christians Stumble

When a Christian stumbles -- and mark my word ALL Christians stumble -- somehow the Left always uses it to try to attack our faith, our beliefs and our lives. Heaven forbid someone should try to walk in the Christian faith today, but made mistakes a few years back. Everyone knows if you drank in college, you can't possibly be a Christian today. If you posed for a photo shoot and the wind or a shifting your position opened your top, two years later you can't possibly be sincere about your faith.

As for what happens when Christians stumble, that question has been asked before:

What if I stumble, what if I fall?
What if I lose my step and I make fools of us all?
Will the love continue when my walk becomes a crawl?
What if I stumble, and what if I fall?
-- "What If I Stumble" by Christian artists DC Talk

The answer is that the world can and will mock us when we stumble, our friends may turn away, and we may find ourselves alone, flat on the ground, but we don't have to stay there.

We fall down but we get up. For a saint is just a sinner who fell down and got up.
"We Fall Down" - by Christian artist Donnie McClurkin

There's No "Gotcha" Here

As Christians we already KNOW we stumble. It's like the new Burger King commercial. There's no "gotcha" here. We know we are sinners - we stumble and we fall down. The difference is, when a Christian stumbles, it's open season from those who disagree with us. Thankfully, it is not the media pundits, talk-show hosts, or special interest groups whose opinion matters in the final analysis.

Christians Fall Down But We Get Up Again

So for Miss California Carrie Prejean and all the rest of us miserable flawed Christian sinners, what if we stumble, what if we fall? We suffer; we are embarrassed; we face the consequences; and we turn for comfort and forgiveness to the One who picks us up and puts us back on the path. After all, His is the only judgment which matters.

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