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Rush Limbaugh was born in
Cape Girardeau, Missouri. He was
initially enamored with radio in his
elementary school days, and in the
1960's Umbaugh became a "top-40"
deejay. He later became a radio talk
show host at KFBK in Sacramento,
California. It was in 1988 that his
show went national; it is now heard
in over 500 markets nationwide.
Limbaugh also publishes the
monthly The Limbaugh Letter (with
over 275,000 subscribers) and he
has authored a # 1 New York Times
bestseller: The Way Things Ought To
Be (New York: Simon &: Schuster,
1992, 1993), which has already sold
2.5 million copies.
Mr. Limbaugh's fame and
popularity is growing. Former
President Ronald Reagan once told
Limbaugh: "You've become the
number one voice for conservatism
in our country." Pat Buchanan says
that "more than any other broad-
caster today, he [Limbaugh) has
brought converts back to values that
really matter." Oliver North tells us
that "Rush has captured the sense of
average Americans - that much of
what we see going on around us is
just plain crazy." And William].
Bennet writes: "Every-one knows
Rush Limbaugh is a national
phenomenon. But he is more than
that; he is a national resource."
How should the Christian
respond to Limbaugh? First, he is a
brash individual. To cite Time
magazine, he is "outrageous and
impudent." But he is more. He is an
egotist - a proud, arrogant man. A
few exam pies from his bestseller
follow: "who needs the media when
they've got me?" (270); "this book is
dedicated to my parents, whose love
and devotion made me the terrific
guy I am" (dedication page); "r am
probably the most polite talk show
host in Americal today" (63); and "r
am now preparing the manusclipt for
my next eagerly anticipated bestseller,
See I Told You So" (315). Mr. Limbaugh
has even given us a "lexicon of Rushian
phrases for readers who, for some
inexplicable reason, don't listen to my
program" (299). Shades of
Muhammad Ali's "I am the greatest! "?
At first glance one might think
that these are merely words said in
jest, I.e., maybe he jUst does it for
the laughs. A cursory reading of the
book, however, will reveal that this
is the real Limbaugh. He really
believes what he says about himself.
What does God think of such
arrogance. The book of Proverbs
tells us that "Everyone who is proud
in hean is an abomination to the
Lord" (16:5), and "The Lord will
destroy the house of the proud"
(15:25). Should this not be a strong
warning against associating with
such a figure? "Do not be deceived:
Bad company corrupts good morals"
(1 Corinthians 15:33).
Second, Limbaugh bumper
stickers are now available. They
read: "Rush is right." This is not
merely the opinion of others;
Limbaugh agrees. The title of his
bestseller clearly shows this: The
Way Things Ought To Be. The error
here is that he believes that he is
right simply because he says it. One
example is found in the" Advisory"
section of his book where we read:
"By the time you have purchased
this tome ... most critics will have
undoubtedly savaged it. In many
cases, their reviews will have been
written before the book was
published. How do I know this?
Because I do" (xiii). Another
example has to do with the issue of
women in combat. Says Limbaugh:
"I just don't believe that we have to
subject women to the horrors and
rigors of war" (202). Then there is
the matter of when life begins - he
writes: "I believe life begins at
conception. It can begin nowhere
else" (56). Limbaugh has spoken; so
let it be written; so let it be done.
The foundation of all of his belief
seems to be himself. And whereas
those who agree with him are called
"Dittoheads" (they "ditto" what he
says), those who disagree are
referred to as "nutsos" or "whackos."
A man like Limbaugh, says
Solomon, ''has no delight in
understanding, but in expressing his
own heart" (Proverbs 18:2). It is,
however, especially concerning
when the Daily Nebraskan refers to
--------------JI-___________ --I his bestseller as "the Bible of modern
/Jr. Crampton Is Pastor of Covenant Presbyterian Church In Forest, MS. conservatism."
Marcb, 1994 l' THE COUNSEL of Cbalcedon t 27
Limbaugh is a stauch
conservative, and, interestingly,
what he says is often correct.
Frequently "Rush is right." The
question that needs to be addressed,
however, is: How does one know if
and when "Rush is right?" It is an
epistemological issue.
The Christian believes that what
makes something right or wrong is
Scripture. God is truth itself; what
He thinks is true simply
because He thinks it.
earthly creature capable of rational
thought" (05). But why, Mr.
Limbaugh, must we still admit this?
If the Bible is the inspired Word of
God, the only source of truth, then
apart from Scripture no one has the
right to declare that man is "the only
earthly creature capable of rational .
thought." In fact, there are a number
of scieotists to<\ay who believe that
dolphins and porpoises are rational
subject to amendment, modification,
or rescission by maIl" (3). Funher,
in his chapter "Religion and America:
l1ley Do Go Together, he '
acknowledges that "America was
founded as a Judeo-Christian
country' (278), and that the Ten
Commandments give us
fundamental definitions of "right
and wrong" (280). But Limbaugh
nowhere proclaims that the only
And He has given us a
written revelation of
some of His thoughts in
the Bible: the mind of
Christ (1 Corinthians
2:16). The Bible, not
Limbaugh, has a
monopoly on truth.
When Umbaugh's
statements conform with
Scripture, he is right. He
is not right, however,
because he says so, but
because Scripture says
so. What Limbaugh
believes often conforms
"fhe Chrie;tian believe,;; that what make6
true God is the Triune
God Jehovah, who holds
all men accountable for ,
their every thought, word,
and deed. Nor does he
aCknowledge that "there is
no other name under
heaven given among inen
by which we inust be
saved" tban that of Jesus
Chtist (Acts 4:12). Rather,
he advocates that sChool
childreo should be
allowed to "commune
with their Creator,
whoever they deem Him
to be or however they
e;omething right or wrong Ie; Scripture.
God i6 truth iteelf; what He thinke; ie true
e;imply becau6e He thinke it. And He hae;
given ue a written revelation of e;ome of
Hie; thoughte in the Bible: the mind of
Chriet. fhe Bible, not Limbaugh, hae a
monopoly on truth. When Llmbaugh'6
atatemente conform with Scripture, he la
right. He ie; not rfght, however; beoauae he
eaya ao, but bec;auae Scripture aaye ao."
to Scripture, but sadly he does not
believe it because of Scripture.
Rush Limbaugh does not despise
the Bible, as do his liberal
counterparts. In fact, he manifests a
certain reverence for Scripture. He
speaks of the "Judea-ChriStian God
who inspired Genesis" (265). He
believes that "the Bible teaches that .
God created man in His own image
and that He placed him on this earth
in a position superior to all other
creatures, and gave him dominion
over animals and natUre. God did
not create other animals in His own
image" (105). But then he rums
around and denies the all sufficiency
of Scripture by saying: "Even if you
reject the Bible as the Word of God
- even if you believe in evolution
and disbelieve iIi creation - you
must still admit that man is the only
beings. Without an infallible source
of truth, it is impossible to know
who or what is capable of rational
thought. Science, Mr. Limbaugh,
deals with theory, not truth.
The Bible teaChes us to be wary
of those who quote the Scriptures,
and even believe the passages they
quote, who theo by their actions
deny the teachings of Scripture.
James has warned us that even the
demons believe a number of the
propositional statements of the
Bible, "and tremble" at their
rejecrion of that whiCh is taught
therein (James 2:19).
Third, Mr. Limbaugh considers
himself to be a religious man. He
believes that "there is one God ...
that our morality emanates from our
Divine Creator, whose laws are not
28 THE COUNSEL of ChaIcedon March, 1994
choose to communicate
with Him" (282) . .
Fourth, although Mr. Limbaugh
denies that he is a prophet (312), he
certainly considers himself to be
able to accurately forecast the future.
At one point in his book he writes:
" [Y] au bad better stan listening to
me. I'm right about the homeless.
And I'll be proven right about the
ozone hole and global warming. It
may take four or five years, but I'm
convinced The Media will slowly
and reluctantly come around to my
way of thinking, kicking and
screaming all the way. That's Why
the Rush Limbaugh Show is on the
cutting edge of sodetal evolution"
(277). Not only is this statement
banefully egotistical, it is also
prophetic in nature. Rush Limbaugh
is able to tell us what the future will
bring.
Then again, looking toward the
future, in the "Aftelword" of his
book Umbaugh declares: "We are
winning." When confronted with the
mournful conclusion that "America
is never going to be as great as it
once was," Umbaugh answers,
"Nonsense ... the liberal extremists are
probably on their last legs .. .1 am
convinced that the most impOltant
thing conservatives have to do to
win is just keep saying no to the
left. .. So don't give up. Be confident.
This cOUntry has not run out of
opponunity ... This is a never-ending
battle, and if you want to follow the
chronicling of their demise and learn
about the people who are helping
make America great again, I can
think of no better way than for you
to tune in to my radiO and TV
shows" (306-310).
In other words, Umbaugh has
declared that the liberalism that has
dominated the thinking of this
country for so long is going to lose.
How do we know it?, because
Umbaugh, "the Dr. of Democracy"
(312), has decreed it. What is the
solution? Conservatism! And where
can it be best learned about? The
Rush Limbaugh show! And there
are thousands of people hanging on
his evelY word.
In Deuteronomy 13: 1-3 we are
warned about any prophet who
"gives you a sign or a wonder, and
the sign or the wonder comes to
pass, of which he spoke to you,
saying, 'Let us go aJter other gods
which you have not known, and let us
serve them.'" Says the Lord, 'You shall
not listen to the words oj that
prophet..jor the Lord your God is
testing you to know whether you love
the Lord your God with all your heart
and with all your soul."
Now if Limbaugh is at least
somewhat of a self-proclaimed
prophet, which appears to be the
case, and his prophetic victory
comes true, how many people will
"go after the other gods," such as
Umbaugh and his conservative
coterie, and "serve them?" This is the
stuff that cults (or dictators) are
made out of. Either way, Rush
Umbaugh is potentially a dangerous
man. (Some of his fans are already
pushing to endorse him for
President. Others are telling their
children that they too need to follow
Rush, because "Rush is right.")
Fifth, there are many people in
this country who fall into the
categOlY of "America worshippers,"
those who believe that America must
be restored to its "pristine purity" (a
purity which it never enjoyed) at aU
costs. All too many equate being
American (or being conservative)
with being a Christian. Some
churches even go so far as to place
an American flag in the sanctuary.
Even some of our founding fore-
fathers fell into the error of believing
America to be the New Israel.
Although Mr. Umbaugh does not
go this far, he comes precariously
close(205-214). Even while
pointing out the current problems in
this country, he believes that the
USA is "the greatest nation in the
history of the world" (3). God, of
course, is not of this belief. God
chose Israel to be His covenant
nation: "For you [Israel) are a holy
people to the Lord your God; the Lord
your God has chosen you to be a people
Jor Himself, a special treasure above all
the peoples 011 the Jace oj the earth"
(Deuteronomy 7:6). Israel is the only
nation in the histOlY of the world
that God entered into covenant with,
and there will never be another-
the USA included. America is not
and never has been "one nation
under God." That status was
reserved for Israel.
In Matthew 2l:43,]esus declared
that the kingdom would be removed
from the theocratic nation of Israel
and given to the church (compare 1
Peter 2:9). With the destruction of
the Temple in A.D. 70,Jesus' words
were fulfilled; the theocratic nation
was abolished. There is no longer
any chosen nation - the USA
included.
Lamentably, Limbaugh is among
those who vinually deify Ronald
Reagan. He, like others, longs for a
return to the marvelous 80's when
Reagan was king, and (practically)
all was right with the USA (68-74,
287-90). He holds Reagan in the
highest esteem. Writes Limbaugh, he
is "My hero" (304). Further,
Umbaugh tells us "how imponant I
deem Ronald Reagan to have been in
shaping the future course of this
nation, and indeed the world. He is
a man to whom we Americans owe a
debt that we will never be able to
repay" (288). Funhermore, he says:
"I've long thought that America is a
great country ... because people have
been free to do things on their own.
Still, you need someone to inspire,
and to make people feel good about
themselves to really get the country
moving in the right direction.
Ronald Reagan did that. There's no
one like him around right now"
(291). This is strong language, at
least bordering on apotheosis.
Conclusion
Rush Limbaugh is a staunch
conservative. What he says is
frequently right. For that we can be
thankful. But he is never right for
the right reason: Because the Word
of God says so. He is just another
conservative, who as Solomon tells
us: '71as 110 delight il1 understanding,
but in expressing his own heart"
(Proverbs 18:2). Great care must be
exercised in reading or listening to
Limbaugh's pontifications. Jesus said
it this way: "Take heed what you hear.
With the same measure you use, it will
be measured to you" (Mark 4:24).Q
March, 1994 THE COUNSEL of Chalce!1on f- 29