It's an interesting dichotomy.  As the vicious ideology of fundamentalist Islam continues to spark daily acts of violence and terror that maim and murder innocent people, the political left in this country is quick to dismiss it all as "isolated extremists" who are "acting alone."  They warn us against jumping to the conclusion that people motivated by the same beliefs and teachings might be motivated by the same beliefs and teachings.  In dealing with those whose sole objective is to kill us, the left urges calm, restraint, and a non-judgmental attitude.

But let a public figure open their mouth and embrace the two most intimidating words imaginable - Jesus Christ - and those same "tolerant" and "open-minded" liberals will lose all control of their bodily functions.

The most recent example of their hysterical response to public demonstrations of the Christian faith came when former Fox News anchor Brit Hume appeared as a guest on Fox News Sunday.  While discussing the continuing saga of Tiger Woods' moral failings, Hume was asked his opinion of the golfer's professional and personal future.  He responded: "The extent to which he can recover, seems to me, depends on his faith.  He's said to be a Buddhist.  I don't think that faith offers the kind of forgiveness and redemption that is offered by the Christian faith.  So my message to Tiger would be, ?Tiger, turn your faith to the Christian faith, and you can make a total recovery and be a great example to the world."

Frankly, that is the pretty standard, obvious position any Christian would logically take to the issue.  And, if Hume truly believes that Jesus is the only way to the Father, it is also the only loving and compassionate response he could have possibly given.  But judging by the reaction of liberal commentators across the board, you would have thought Hume had tried to light his underwear on fire and detonate hidden explosives near the Woods' home.

MSNBC's resident drama queen Keith Olbermann likened Hume's evangelistic outreach to that of Muslim jihadists.  Atlanta Journal Constitution writer Jay Bookman condemned Hume for his "pompous judgment" of a person's faith. 

Pompous judgment?  If Bookman knew anything about Hume's faith, he would know that it was forged in the fire of a great personal trauma (the suicide of his son) that puts Hume in a sympathetic position to understand the grief and pain Tiger Woods is undoubtedly experiencing.  Hume's remarks were nothing more than a sinner who had found the grace and peace of Christ himself extending that promise to another.

But that just isn't acceptable to the secular humanist crowd.  Washington Post TV critic Tom Shales suggested Hume doesn't have the authority to make such a statement about faith, "unless one believes that every Christian by mandate must proselytize."  Well, yeah, Tom.they must.  It's called the Great Commission.  And this demonstrates the real problem.

I contend that what really bothers liberals about these public expressions of Christianity is the direct result of their fundamental misunderstanding of the faith itself.  They read it as they read all other world religions: a set of traditions, customs and practices with a religious text that defines the rules of play.  And since that is all that it is, it should be properly quarantined and isolated to the "religious part" of life.

Take the remarks made by MSNBC's David Shuster (their sometimes-anchor who desperately seeks to be the next Olbermann) on the Hume situation.  He bizarrely suggested that Hume denigrated Christianity by daring to bring it up on a Sunday talk show.

"This isn't church, this isn't some sort of holy setting, this is a political talk show.  Doesn't that minimize the significance of Christianity, when you bring a discussion of Christianity into a conversation about politics?" he asked.

This is a perfect depiction of what I'm talking about.  Shuster sees it as demeaning the faith to allow it to escape its carefully defined parameters.  But anyone who understands Christianity knows it cannot be limited or segregated to particular parts of a person's being.  It is a total surrender and a complete worldview change.  It alters not just your actions and words, but your very thinking.  It is a recognition of the sovereignty of Christ, and therefore an acknowledgement that all things - political, social, cultural included - come under His final authority.