Friday, June 22, 2012

To Republicans, You Matter Only to the Extent You Matter to the Bottom Line

“Republicans approve of the American farmer —but they are willing to help him go broke. They stand four-square for the American home —but not for housing. They are strong for labor —but they are stronger for restricting labor’s rights. They favor minimum wage —the smaller the minimum wage, the better. They endorse educational opportunity for all —but they won’t spend money for teachers or for schools. They think modern medical care and hospitals are fine —for people who can afford them. They consider electrical power a great blessing —but only when the private power companies get their rake-off. They think American standard of living is a fine thing —so long as it doesn’t spread to all the people. And they admire the Government of the United States so much that they would like to buy it.” —Harry S. Truman

Monday, June 18, 2012

True Meaning of "Christian"

Have come to the conclusion after much thought (tend to be slow that way) that "Christian" is intended to be a synonym for "generous" and "Christianity" a synonym for "generosity" in keeping with Matt 25.

We are told to be content with enough for today, told not to accumulate treasure here on earth, and to give to those who need.

Thursday, June 14, 2012

Let not God speak with us, lest we die.

Republican Christians are like the Israelies when Moses came down from the mount (Exodus 20:18_21).  They were afraid so they asked that God not speak to them directly, but rather He speak to Moses who could tell them what He said.

For all their talk about the Bible, Republicans rarely read it outside of proof texts and printed "Bible studies" and, rather, expect their preachers to read the Bible and tell them what it says.  Unfortunately, too many of these preachers have been hirelings  with an agenda and have twisted the message to their profit and their flock's loss.

Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Atheism

Chart of the Day: God Is Dead—To Millennials, Anyway | Mother Jones

The Spanish Inquisition created contemporary atheism, the Christian Right (sic) is creating the next generation of atheists.

Monday, June 11, 2012

"Bless and do not curse"

I always say the same prayer for everyone I meet, friend or foe, especially foe (Matt. 5:44):

"Father, bless _____ with his/her deepest need in the Name of Jesus of Nazareth."

Try it some time.

Picking and choosing

Faith, Politics and the Undocumented: Can the Bible Inform the Illegal Immigration Debate? - The Huffington Post

So-called Christians in Bible-belt states are quick to refer to Leviticus when seeking to pass laws forbidding gays from marrying, but are even faster to ignore it when dealing with "illegal immigrants" (a status unheard of in the Bible).

But the stranger that dwelleth with you shall be unto you as one born among you, and thou shalt love him as thyself; for ye were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God.-Leviticus 19:34

Sunday, June 10, 2012

The Root of All Evil

Conservative Christianity is primarily the teaching that Jesus taught that the "root of all evil" (1Tim. 6:10) was a virtue.

Wealth is a test that few pass, which is why it is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle than for a wealthy person to be saved. And why the wealthy man (and anyone) was advised to give his wealth to the poor (Matt 19:21).

Love of money finds its ultimate expression in American capitalism. Which is why the first church chose Socialism (Acts 2:44). See also: SOCIALISM...What is it? IS IT CHRISTIAN ? SHOULD THE CHURCH TAKE ANY INTEREST IN IT? By REV. J. E. SCOTT http://songbookz-wilderness.blogspot.com/2010/02/socialismwhat-is-it-is-it-christian.html?m=0

Through such teaching and others that are the exact opposite of what Jesus taught, Conservative Christianity can be identified as not Christian but belonging to the spirit of "antichrist" (1John 4:3). Indeed, I believe Conservative Religion to be the "false prophet" serving Antichrist (Rev 16:12-14).

Saturday, June 9, 2012

Two Laws

Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind. This is the first and great commandment. And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets." (Matthew 22:34-40 KJV)

A hundred years before Jesus, Rabbi Hillel said the same thing. Hillel was asked if he could teach the Law while standing on one foot, so he raised one foot and said, "Love God with all your heart, mind and soul, and love your neighbor as yourself. The rest is commentary.

The Law was written similar to the way law codes are written now: there are really two laws:
1. Love God
2. Love Neighbor

Beneath those laws are 10 sub-sections:
A. No idols
B. Do not murder, etc.

And beneath those are specific laws intended as examples of what love God & neighbor look like (Col 2:16-17).

Jesus "fulfilled" the Law, which is not the same as ended just as "inspired" does not mean God dictated the Bible to human secretaries who transcribed it inerrantly.  The two laws will never end until love ends (1 Cor 13:8) - but what love means changes as culture changes so that it might not be necessary to get our neighbors ox out of a ditch (Ex 23:4-5), but he might need us to help pull his car out.

Friday, June 8, 2012

Everyone wants to go to heaven but no one wants to die to get there

See How Quickly "Stand Your Ground" Spread Nationwide | Mother Jones

While we certainly have a right to defend ourselves, doing so is completely incompatible with Christianity if you define Christianity as following the teachings of Jesus Christ who told us to bless our enemies, turn the other cheek, and give up our cloak if demanded.  Arming ourselves betrays our lack of faith as we are placing our trust in ourselves, guns and "stand your ground laws" instead of God Almighty.

God alone is our protector, avenger, and, should we be killed,  has arranged an eternity better than anything this life has to offer.

FoxNotNews Doubles Down on Ignoramce

Eric Bolling: ‘Every terrorist on American soil has been a Muslim’ | The Raw Story

Just one of the reason FoxNotNews viewers are more ignorant than even those who don't watch the news at all.  Only 6% of terrorist acts in America have been committed by Muslims - 8% by Jews - most by "leftist" groups in Puerto Rico and the rest by far right conservatives like the Oklahoma City bomber, the KKK, Tea Party (new name for the John Birch Society), Neo-NAZIs, and various conservative "Christian militias."