Updated July 10, 2006 (first published in O Timothy magazine, Volume 10, Issue 4, 1993) (David Cloud, Fundamental Baptist Information Service, P.O. Box 610368, Port Huron, MI 48061, 866-295-4143, fbns@wayoflife.org; for instructions about subscribing and unsubscribing or changing addresses, see the information paragraph at the end of the article) –

Rush Limbaugh is the most popular radio talk show host in America. He blasted onto the national scene in 1988, and within just a few years his three-hour daily broadcast was blanketing America. By 1993 he was heard on more than 650 radio stations and was listened to by more than 20 million people. His 1992 book The Way Things Ought to Be was on the New York Times bestseller list for several months and was the fastest-selling hardcover non-fiction book in history to that time. His second book did almost as well. His monthly newsletter has more than 370,000 subscribers. By 1992, he was making $12 million per year (Paul Colford, The Rush Limbaugh Story, p. 263). Limbaugh is popular! Politically he is a conservative Republican. He is witty; he is informative. His program has even spun off its own unique vocabulary, including feminazi (extreme feminists), environmentalist wacko (extreme environmentalists), and dittohead (a Rush Limbaugh fan).

I have listened to Rush Limbaugh on and off since 1991 and have become increasingly disturbed about his influence on Christians. Let me hasten to say that in a strictly secular, political sense, I believe his influence has been positive. It is easy for Bible-believing Christians to love Rush Limbaugh. He is taking a stand for many conservative moral values and for constitutional law in the midst of a dominant news media largely dedicated to socialism, feminism, homosexual rights, and other destructive philosophies. There is no doubt that Rush Limbaugh is exercising a broad influence in America. Columnist Joseph Sobran said in a 1993 article, “You can’t ride to work or take your car in for repairs without hearing that distinctive Limbaugh sound. They play it in garages, taxis, offices. ... in an hour of Limbaugh you get more common sense, not to mention humor, than in an average week of The New York Times.” This was true then, and if anything, it is even truer today. Limbaugh has helped many see the error of socialism. He has pointed out extremism in the feminist and environmental movements. He is against abortion on demand and euthanasia and homosexual rights. He is for prayer in schools and creationism and punishment of criminals.

From a conservative political standpoint, Limbaugh has many fine points. What I am warning about in this article is his overall influence on Christians in fundamentalist churches.

I first found Rush Limbaugh on the radio while traveling to church meetings across the country in 1991. I discovered that listening to Rush was a great way to pass the long miles. The man is witty, entertaining, and politically astute. He is a breath of fresh air compared to the dominant liberal media.

We lived on an island north of Seattle, Washington, in those days, and prior to the time that Rush’s radio program began to be broadcast on a Seattle station in about 1991, there was literally nothing available on the news media in that part of the country except liberal humanistic junk. That was true of the news in the western Washington newspapers as well as on television and radio. Conservatives simply did not have a voice in the mainstream. Rush changed that across the country, not only through his own program, but by opening the way for a slew of other politically conservative media personalities who have advanced prominently in the media. Since the late 1990s, the Internet has provided even more power for conservative voices, but Rush Limbaugh was the one who first opened the doors for conservatives into the mainstream of the news media.

As I have listened to Rush, though, I have become increasingly worried about his influence in the lives of Christians. Other men have expressed similar thoughts to me. I know that Limbaugh is widely listened to by fundamentalists in every part of the land. It’s rare, in fact, that I meet a pastor who does not listen to Limbaugh on a regular basis, and large portions of the congregations listen to him as well. Consider with me the following reflections about Rush Limbaugh’s influence on God’s people.

BAD FRUIT

I am concerned about the worldliness that his program stirs up. When I listen to Limbaugh very often, I find myself enjoying the very same rock music that I rejected as sensual and destructive 26 years ago when I was first saved.

I find myself angry, bitter, and resentful toward my government leaders--the very leaders God tells me to honor and pray for.

I find myself becoming temporal-minded rather than eternity-minded. I begin to feel hopeless and frustrated regarding the future, when in reality I should be looking for Christ every day and should be filled with hope because of the promises of God in Jesus Christ. This world is not my home; I’m just passing through! My true citizenship is in Glory.

I find myself fretting about the possible financial repercussions of the liberal democratic fiscal policies. But did not John the Baptist tell the people to be “content with your wages”? Did not Paul say, “Having food and raiment let us be therewith content”? Doesn’t Heb. 13:5 tell us to “be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee”? Did not the Lord Jesus Christ say, “Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? (For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you?” (Mat. 6:31-33). I believe God is telling me not to act like the unsaved regarding money and security in this world. I am to work hard and trust God to take care of me now and in the future. I am to witness to this unbelieving world by my faith in God.

NO LONGER A DITTO-HEAD

I have listened less and less to Limbaugh as time has passed, even before we moved back overseas as missionaries. There was a time when I first discovered Limbaugh that I felt disappointed when I missed his program. I was almost a “ditto-head.” But I have found that as time has passed and as I have meditated upon the fruit of Limbaugh’s “ministry” in my life, my desire to listen to him has decreased, my enjoyment of him has diminished, and my disgust at his perversions has increased. I know that it is very important what I listen to. What I put into my mind will have a great impact upon my spiritual life. And believe me, I know that I need all the help I can get!

I believe this is a matter that every Christian must decide for himself, and I am not trying to lay down a law for everyone to follow. I don’t think it is wrong to listen to unsaved men and to learn from them. We do this in many areas of life (1 Cor. 5:10). The great difference between listening to Limbaugh, though, and listening to someone like William Buckley or George Will is Limbaugh’s entertainment savvy. The fact that he is worldly and indecent and blasphemous and very entertaining at the same time makes him more dangerous than others we might listen to for political purposes.

THE TIME FACTOR

There is also the time factor. Limbaugh is on for three hours a day, five days a week. That is a total of fifteen hours one spends with the man if you listen to him everyday. That is a lot of time to spend listening to one person, particularly a lost person. “Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners” (1 Cor. 15:33). That is a lot of time that could be spent doing things more constructive, even if one is in an automobile. For example, that is 15 hours a week that could be spent listening to good Bible preaching or listening to the Bible itself on tape or memorizing Scripture verses or praying.

Let me summarize the reasons I am convinced Christians should beware of becoming dittoheads. Each point is followed by appropriate Scriptures.

1. LIMBAUGH USES INDECENT LANGUAGE AND ENTERTAINS INDECENT TOPICS.

“Whoso is partner with a thief hateth his own soul: he heareth cursing, and bewrayeth it not” (Prov. 29:24).

“His mouth is full of cursing and deceit and fraud: under his tongue is mischief and vanity” (Ps. 10:7).

“... let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. ... And have no fellowship with the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather reprove them” (Eph. 5:3-11).

“Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things” (Phil. 4:8).

“... out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh” (Matt. 12:34).

“Bewray” in Prov. 29:24 is translated “expose” in Is. 16:3 and “denounce” in Deut. 30:18. God says it is wrong to listen to indecent language and not speak out against it. This is a good standard for all television shows, movies, radio programs. We should not listen to cursing, blasphemy, and vanity. Rather, we should fill our minds with pure things, because whatever we put in our hearts will come out in our lives.

Limbaugh calls himself and his views “the epitome of morality and virtue,” but that is far from true. Since his standard for morality and virtue is not the Bible alone, he falls miles short of the same. He is not the epitome of marital virtue, because he has been thrice married and thrice divorced. On June 11, 2004, he announced that he and his third wife had “mutually decided to end their marriage of ten years.” He is not the epitome of ecclesiastical virtue, because he is not a faithful member of a Bible-believing church. He is not the epitome of virtue in daily living, because he fills his mind with wicked rock & roll music and drinks and smokes and abuses drugs (he underwent drug rehabilitation in November 2003) and uses indecent speech and shares bawdy jokes and does many other things that are condemned by God’s Word. He has given interviews to two pornographic magazines, Playboy and Penthouse; and when challenged about the propriety of accepting the Playboy interview he cursed and said, “----, go buy it anyway and hide it from your kids.” He also suggested that the Lord Jesus Christ would have given Playboy an interview.

2. LIMBAUGH TAKES THE NAME OF THE LORD IN VAIN.

“Thou shalt not take the name of the Lord thy God in vain; for the Lord will not hold him guiltless that taketh his name in vain” (Ex. 20:7).

“And ye shall not swear by my name falsely, neither shalt thou profane the name of thy God: I am the Lord” (Lev. 19:12).

I cannot respect a man who disrespects God. Pastor Jerry Matson wisely observes: “My dearly beloved brethren, we must be careful concerning whom we follow. If your pastor were to use curse words from the pulpit would you be shocked? Would you follow his leadership? God says that He will not hold anyone guiltless who takes His holy name in vain. Our Lord said that ‘out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.’ Can bitter water and sweet come from the same fountain? We are not to follow vile men. Mr. Limbaugh regularly uses profanity over the air and in his writings.”

3. LIMBAUGH STIRS UP ANGER, STRIVING, AND DISRESPECT TOWARD GOD-ORDAINED GOVERNMENT.

“Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever therefore resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God: and they that resist shall receive to themselves damnation. For rulers are not a terror to good works, but to the evil. Wilt thou then not be afraid of the power? do that which is good, and thou shalt have praise of the same. For he is the minister of God to thee for good. But if thou do that which is evil, be afraid; for he beareth not the sword in vain: for he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doeth evil. Wherefore ye must needs be subject, not only for wrath, but also for conscience sake. For this cause pay ye tribute also: for they are God’s ministers, attending continually upon this very thing. Render therefore to all their dues: tribute to whom tribute is due; custom to whom custom; fear to whom fear; honour to whom honour” (Rom. 13:1-7).

“Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men. ... Honour all men. Love the brotherhood. Fear God. Honour the king. ... For even hereunto were ye called: because Christ also suffered for us, leaving us an example, that ye should follow his steps” (1 Pet. 2:13-21).

“Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work. To speak evil of no man, to be no brawlers, but gentle, shewing all meekness unto all men” (Titus 3:1-2).

“Thou shalt not revile the gods, nor curse the ruler of thy people” (Ex. 22:28).

“Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice” (Eph. 4:31).

“And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth; and that they may recover themselves out of the snare of the devil, who are taken captive by him at his will” (2 Tim. 2:24- 26).

4. LIMBAUGH USES WICKED ROCK MUSIC.

“Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever” (1 Jn. 2:15-17).

“Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. Do ye think that the scripture saith in vain, The spirit that dwelleth in us lusteth to envy?” (James 4:4-5).

“Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom; teaching and admonishing one another in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing with grace in your hearts to the Lord” (Col. 3:16).

“And be not drunk with wine, wherein is excess; but be filled with the Spirit; Speaking to yourselves in psalms and hymns and spiritual songs, singing and making melody in your heart to the Lord; giving thanks always for all things unto God and the Father in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ” (Eph. 5:18-19).

Listening to Rush’s music can have a negative effect on the spiritual life. One who listens to the full three-hour Limbaugh program will hear a lot of rock music and it is impossible that this will not negatively affect us. Listening to Rush’s music can also act like “chum” to re-ignite old carnal tastes. Further, it seems deeply inconsistent to tell our children not to listen to rock music when we listen to hours of it a week on Rush’s program.

5. LIMBAUGH DOES NOT UNDERSTAND THE ROOT PROBLEM WITH AMERICA’S ILLS, WHICH ARE SPIRITUAL AND MORAL RATHER THAN POLITICAL, AND THIS WORLDLY-MINDED THINKING CAN RUB OFF ON THE LISTENERS.

“For both prophet and priest are profane; yea, in my house have I found their wickedness, saith the Lord. ... for from the prophets of Jerusalem is profaneness gone forth into all the land” (Jer. 23:11,15b).

“Ah sinful nation, a people laden with iniquity, a seed of evildoers, children that are corrupters: they have forsaken the Lord, they have provoked the Holy One of Israel unto anger, they are gone away backward” (Isa. 1:4).

“In the year that king Uzziah died I saw also the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up, and his train filled the temple” (Isa. 6:1).

Jeremiah 23:15 says the profaneness that had gone throughout Israel had proceeded from the prophets. This is certainly true for North America. Our ills stem from the apostasy and carnality in the churches. This has filled the land with wickedness. North America has no fear of God because its preachers are profane. How many churches preach hell hot and heaven sweet in today? How many churches preach that the old Authorized English Bible is the perfect Word of God as it was held to be through the centuries? How many proclaim all its doctrines without compromise and apology? How many churches preach the pure gospel of the grace of Christ? How many pulpits, rather, are filled with rationalists and adulterers and divorcees and evolutionists and drunkards and pedophiles and positive-thinkers and ecumaniacs and psychologists and feminists and politicians and cowards and people-pleasers?

The Christian’s primary business is to preach the Word of God to the ends of the earth and to be ready for Christ’s return. Bible prophecy tells us not to expect to see pleasant things happening in this world as the age draws to a close. We are not going to stop the “mystery of iniquity” which is at work in this world (2 Thess. 2:6-8). The political scene is being prepared for the coming of the Antichrist. North America is part of this unsaved, cursed world, and is moving right along with this program. Like Isaiah, we must turn our eyes away from the kings of this world and see “the Lord sitting upon a throne, HIGH AND LIFTED UP...” (Isa. 6:1). Praise His name! He sitteth King forever, and we are His and He is ours! “If ye then be risen with Christ, seek those things which are above, where Christ sitteth on the right hand of God. Set your affection on things above, not on things on the earth. For ye are dead, and your life is hid with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, shall appear, then shall ye also appear with him in glory” (Col. 3:1-4).

6. LIMBAUGH MAKES BLASPHEMOUS CLAIMS.

He probably thinks it is all in fun, but I believe it is blasphemous to make the claims that Limbaugh makes. His program announcer calls Limbaugh “your guiding light in times of despair.” The light of the world, though, is Jesus Christ, the eternal Son of God. Limbaugh often calls himself the “all seeing, all knowing, all feeling MahaRushy.” That is blasphemy. There is only One Person who is all seeing and all knowing, and that is Almighty God. The only One who is touched with the feelings of our infirmity is the Lord Jesus Christ. It is blasphemous to make claims, even in jest, that can rightfully be made only by God Himself. Jesus Christ warned that men will give account for every single word they speak. “But I say unto you, That every idle word that men shall speak, they shall give account thereof in the day of judgment” (Matt. 12:36).

7. LIMBAUGH DESPISES FUNDAMENTALIST, BIBLE-BELIEVING CHRISTIANS.

“He that heareth you heareth me; and he that despiseth you despiseth me; and he that despiseth me despiseth him that sent me” (Lk. 10:16).

I have heard him mock those who have called and attempted to straighten him out about his language and his perversions, who have asked him for the sake of the children who listen to stop such things. He refuses to do this. Though Rush Limbaugh professes to be a Christian, his ultimate authority is not God and the Bible but his own human reasoning, and that is idolatry. On December 21, 2000, Limbaugh stated that he received many e-mails from listeners inquiring whether he is saved or born again and warning that he should not say or do certain things if he is truly saved. He said, “It infuriates me.” In dissociating himself from the “religious right,” he said further that though he is conservative he is not particularly religious.

On August 4, 2005, Limbaugh said that homosexuality is not a moral issue because homosexuality is not a choice. He said that “conservatives” do not care what people do behind closed doors. This is a blatant denial of the Bible’s teaching both on homosexuality and morality in general. God’s laws against adultery and fornication are in effect regardless of whether the sin is public or private, and homosexuality is labeled a moral perversion in Romans 1.

8. LIMBAUGH’S CHRISTIAN FAITH IS HERETICAL

Rush Limbaugh professes Christianity, but like most professing Christians today, his faith is not based upon the Bible. In an interview with The Door magazine in 1993, Limbaugh testified that “Jesus holds the answers to all of the everyday problems that you face,” but he made it plain that he was not referring to a Christ who is Almighty God and who provided the blood atonement to save wicked, undone sinners from eternal Hell. Limbaugh described for The Door his liberal Methodist upbringing and explained that his father, who deeply influenced his thinking, studied the Bible but did not believe in Hell or the book of Revelation.

“The ‘gospel’ that Rush Limbaugh preaches is heavy on the societal implications of religion and light on a theology of personal redemption. … The message Limbaugh presents is theologically incomplete. He trumpets the role religion has played in the shaping of our nation’s founding documents and history. He notes that belief in God is important. But teaching that America’s founders were religious and that one should believe in God will not get at the core of the human problem. Important as our religious roots and belief in God are, standing alone they are insufficient to remedy man’s malady. The fundamental issue of human sin must be dealt with on an individual basis by repentance for sin and acceptance of salvation through Jesus Christ the Lord” (Daniel Evearitt, Rush Limbaugh and the Bible, 1993, p. 59).

Limbaugh’s “35 Undeniable Truths of Life,” which he frequently quotes and which he has published in his newsletter, are not based upon the Bible but upon his own reason and observation. Basing one’s life upon such things is like building a house upon the sand rather than upon the Rock of Jesus Christ and His eternal Word, the Holy Scriptures.

Returning to his microphone on November 17, 2003, after a five week absence for drug addiction treatment, Rush said he felt he had been “reborn at age 50.” It is sad that instead of experiencing the temporal “rebirth” of psychological reformation, he did not experience the eternal rebirth of salvation through acknowledgement of his sinful state and faith in the blood of Jesus Christ.

America’s desperate need is not for radio entertainers and not even for conservative politicians but for preachers who walk in the fear of God and who will proclaim the Word of God without compromise and fear of man. The root of America’s ills is the apostasy of her churches, and Rush Limbaugh only mirrors that frightful apostasy.