Sunday, November 25, 2012

The Antichrist

John who traditionally wrote the Gospel, 3 Epistles, & Revelation is the only biblical writer to use the word "antichrist" and did not use it in the book of Revelation at all.

John identified Antichrist as a spirit who was already present at the time. The word itself (anti), in the Greek, meant "against" as it does in English, but also meant "instead of" or a "substitute for."

We see this spirit for the 1st time when the Israelites forced Aaron to make the Golden Calf (Ba'al) and he called it "Yahweh" and in modern times when Conservative "Christians" call Mammon, "Jesus."

We see antichrist at work when people claiming to be Christians (Christ-like) substitute teachings of prosperity, selfishness, & easy believeism for counting the cost and picking up the cross of self-sacrifice to live in imitation of Jesus.

The spirit of antichrist is not necessarily "the Beast" of Revelation. As to the "rapture," that is a new doctrine dating back to the 1830s and John Darby and not part of traditional Christianity.

Saturday, November 24, 2012

Merry Christmas!

On the one hand, there's nothing Christian in the origins of Christ's Mass (where the name came from), it was an attempt to put a Jesus Halloween mask on a pagan holiday in the same way that the Conservative Jesus is simply Mammon dressed in a Jesus mask.

Jesus never celebrated his birthday, it wasn't Jewish or Christian custom to celebrate birthdays until after 400 AD.

I once asked God why he allows pagan holidays to be celebrated in his name. He answered, "You know what you know, but don't hurt my children." If took months for him to impress on me that, "There will be no pop quiz on doctrine at the Judgement Seat." It isn't what you know that matters, it's what you do.

And Christmas brings out the best in some people and the worse in others. It brings out the greed in some, and provides others an opportunity for their charitable hearts to find expression. So, I say, for those who use the season to feed the poor, comfort the sick, quench the thirsty, visit the imprisoned (Matt 25:31-46), Merry Christmas! And may THAT spirit of Christmas last throughout the year.

Thursday, November 22, 2012

The Good News

As Republicans come out of the Fox News, Glenn Beck, and Rush Limbaugh fog of propaganda, they have been discovering that America really doesn't like them very much. America has rejected the racism, misogyny,  and greed that has become synonymous with Conservatism. While, I don't pretend to offer any advice to secular Republicans (if there are any), I do know how Conservative Christians can appeal to more people.

And that is simply to start living the teachings of Jesus Himself as expounded in the verses of the Bible that appear in Red (1Cor 2:1-5). Abortion existed well before the New Testament, but Jesus never mentioned it. Considering the time, the Centurion's "servant" was probably his gay lover, but Jesus never condemned him. When Paul preached to the Pagans on Mars hill, he didn't claim their religion bred terrorists.

The Good News of Christianity is not preached by picketing abortion clinics, it's not preached by collecting signatures to prevent gays from marrying. The Good News of Christianity is the person, life, and teaching of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, and Him crucified.

Saturday, November 17, 2012

Sick, sick, sick...

I am glad restaurant owners are coming out in their hatred of their workers and refusal to provide healthcare FOR FOOD SERVICE WORKERS...because you just know these same owners (Applebees, Denny's, Jimmy Johns, Papa Johns, Olive Garden, etc.) would gladly give us ecoli while laughing all the way to the bank to save a few pennies and besides, I'd rather know where to avoid having my lunch served by someone carrying the next pandemic.

Matthew 7:2-5

A Liberal/Progressive Christian is actually more obsessed with sin than  a Conservative, the difference being is the Liberal is obsessed with his own while the Conservative is obsessed with the sins of others.

MATTHEW 7:2-5 CEV

God will be as hard on you as you are on others! He will treat you exactly as you treat them.
   You can see the speck in your friend's eye, but you don't notice the log in your own eye.  How can you say, “My friend, let me take the speck out of your eye,” when you don't see the log in your own eye?  You're nothing but show-offs! First, take the log out of your own eye; then you can see how to take the speck out of your friend's eye.