A Prescription for Today’s Church

I found this at Town Hall, and had to share.

1. Get men who dig being rowdy back in the pulpit.

2. Could we have some sound doctrine, por favor?

3. Preach scary sermons (at least every fourth one).

4. Get rid of 99.9% of “Christian” TV.

5. Quit trying to be relevant and instead become prophetic contrarians, I’m talking contra mundus, mama!

6. Put a 10-year moratorium on “God wants you rich” sermons (yeah, that’s what we need to hear nowadays, you morons, more sermons about money, money, money!).

7. Embrace apologetics and shun shallow faith.

8. Evangelize like it’s 1999.

9. Push lazy Christians to get a life or join a Satanic Church.

10. Demand that if a Christian gets involved in the arts that their “craft” must scream excellence and not excrement.

Expansion here.

Prayers and Praise

(this occurred within my faith community - it’s not from a spam email or any other such nonsense)

 

The situation:

There’s an 11 year old young lady who is checking into a hospital in this morning for some very extensive surgery on her face. She has a mass that is growing under her left eye that is putting pressure on her eye socket. The doctor doesn’t think it is malignant, but it will require extensive surgery to remove it, (they are going in under her top lip, and up through her sinuses) and there is a great risk of excessive blood loss with the surgery, requiring transfusion.

The request:

She is carrying a “prayer pager”.  If you choose, when you pray for her and her family, you may call the pager at xxx-xxxx, press any number key, and hang up. She will be notified by the buzz that someone is praying for her, though she will not know who.

 

Her mother wrote this morning: “Keep the prayers coming - she is wearing the pager right now as we’re on the road. The kids were in awe how late the prayers came in last night and how early this morning. What a great tool to really represent your thoughts and prayers for us”.

 

I am asking you to join in keeping her and her family lifted up in prayer, and keep that little pager buzzing today!

The Result:

It’s A Miracle!! That’s what Dr. Green just told Shelley. He has never seen anything like it, there was no bleeding, her eye is back where it belongs! Our God is So Good!!!

The Lesson:

Thanks so much for praying. God has heard and answered in a powerful way!

The earnest (heartfelt, continued) prayer of a righteous man makes tremendous power available [dynamic in its working] (James 5:16b)

 

Scary Trend

It is impossible to rightly govern a nation without God and the Bible. –  George Washington

At Townhall I read an article exposing the growing antipathy toward Christianity (or at least Evangelical Christians) in our Universities.  The story goes:

Two Jewish researchers went on campus (this is not a joke) last year to see just how anti-Semitic the faculty were. Their findings? In a survey of over 6,600 college professors across the country, they found virtually no anti-Semitism. Instead, they found a distinct bias against evangelical students: More than half (53%) of college faculty view evangelical students unfavorably. Mormons are next at 33%, followed by Muslims at 22%.

Let me put this in proper perspective: In the United States of America, professors are two and a half times more likely to view evangelical Christian students unfavorably than Muslim students.

The philosophy of the school room in one generation will be the philosophy of government in the next. –  Abraham Lincoln.

The study also found that: Professors are five times more likely to be atheists than the general public: 19% vs. 4%; There are far fewer Evangelicals among the faculty than the general public: 11% vs. 33%…

If we ever forget that we are One Nation Under God, then we will be a nation gone under.  — Ronald Reagan

Nod:  Cao

Which is Offensive?

Or…which would you rather have going on in YOUR neighborhood?

Thanks to Shiva for the food for thought.

The Church and Israel

I don’t agree with EVERYTHING this gentleman has to say, but on the subject of the insidious pervasiveness of anti-Jew bias in too much of the organized Church he’s spot-on.

Do read the whole thing…he has much, much more to peruse and ponder at his site.

Nod: Solomonia

 

How is it that Christians in many denominations are OK with an anti-Jewish animus being expressed by their own churches?

[…]

Churches … have access to mainstream United States society. (The National Council of Churches, for example, often claims that it ‘represents’ fifty million Christians.) It is true that the public political statements of many churches are devoutly ignored, but they are capable of a slow, consistent, unceasing campaign that eventually filters into the common dialogue and poisons the well for any meaningful conversation or change. These create curricula for their members, presenting information from a trusted source, transforming attitudes. These indulge in publicity stunts, disgraceful worship services (that are more about political theater than anything whatsoever to do with God), and highly visible actions that gradually legitimate their peculiar agendas. Over time, when they have repeated the same statements often enough, these acquire the status of fact – no matter how incorrect or even offensive they might be, and no matter how they were originally perceived.

…The unfortunate fact is that in many cases church organizations do not confine themselves to those activist endeavors that are morally good, or even morally neutral. It is true that these organizations often do participate in what can be rightly termed good, what is probably well-intentioned, and what is potentially helpful; but so far, they have not confined themselves to those things. Instead they have supplemented the positive with the morally problematic anti-Israel / anti-Zionist approach, and with the utterly reprehensible anti-Jewish approach. The corpus of public statements, actions, and information disseminated by these church organizations is far too large to treat systematically here, but for representative instances of this activism please see “Example One: Email List Endorsed by a Mainline Denomination”, “Example Two: Study Guide”, “Example Three: Sabeel Event”. For more detailed (but far from exhaustive) examples from one denomination, see “With an Everlasting Hatred: The Case of Israel and Corruption in the PC(USA)”.

[…]

Supporting the Destruction of the Current State of Israel. …. That activist church groups support this assertion, but support the destruction of no other state in existence evidences an extraordinary anti-Israel animus.

[…]

…So far, there has been a conspicuous silence among (most of) the members of many Christian denominations. Some continue to vocally attempt to defend the indefensible. Large majorities simply continue to attend worship services, participate in their communities, observe the holidays, financially and morally provide uncritical support to factions that misuse their religion as a weapon to advance alien agendas; all the while, what can only be described as a gross evil grows up among them. This curious silence in the face of the most rank anti-Jewish statements and actions is odious across the board, but it is particularly striking as a moral failure among Christians. I say this not because that specific moral failure is unusual in history – in fact, over the last two millennia church organizations have often (though not always) led the way in terms anti-Jewish hatred. What makes it striking is the fact that it violates everything Christianity claims to be about. To the partisans: please take care how you conduct yourselves because there is a very great danger here. If the anti-Israel bias and anti-Jewish statements and actions are unintentional, move to correct them. To the unaligned members: if the leading partisan factions of various denominations insist on maintaining this, so far unrelenting, campaign of anti-Israel bias, anti-Jewish provocation, and the provision of false information others, please do not become complicit in this evil: privately correct this if possible, or publicly oppose your own leaders if you must. Christians cannot evade responsibility just because we are not in positions of power in so-called Christian organizations. When we attend, fund, affiliate with, support in any way organizations that engage in loathsome behaviors, we become guilty. Instances of official anti-Jewish animus have happened many times in the Church; and many times the members have participated or at best remained silent. It is still early in US churches – this direction can still be stopped – before it achieves the horrendous results it has so often done in the past. But if we do not stand up this now – if we do not reject the message sent from leading factions in many “Christian” denominations while it is still a minority opinion and has not yet fully developed – we will forfeit (once again) any claim to decency, morality, or Christian witness. It seems to me the time to ask: how will the future view our actions now? Will this become yet another chapter in Church history where the gulf fixed between Christian theory and Christian practice is insurmountable? Will this become yet another thing for which future Christians will have to apologize or try to make excuses? The old line that the actions of church organizations and the inactions of majorities of Christians don’t really reflect true Christianity is growing very thin. So far the silence speaks volumes.

Will Spotts

 

 

O…M…F…G!!

Over at Michelle Malkin’s, there’s an article showing that 9 Democratic members of the U.S. Congress voted against a resolution supporting Christians in this country.

Well, of course, you might say. To vote for support of Christianity would be violating the 2nd Amendment…right?

What did they object to? Here’s the text:

Recognizing the importance of Christmas and the Christian faith.

Whereas Christmas, a holiday of great significance to Americans and many other cultures and nationalities, is celebrated annually by Christians throughout the United States and the world;

Whereas there are approximately 225,000,000 Christians in the United States, making Christianity the religion of over three-fourths of the American population;

Whereas there are approximately 2,000,000,000 Christians throughout the world, making Christianity the largest religion in the world and the religion of about one-third of the world population;

Whereas Christians identify themselves as those who believe in the salvation from sin offered to them through the sacrifice of their savior, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, and who, out of gratitude for the gift of salvation, commit themselves to living their lives in accordance with the teachings of the Holy Bible;

Whereas Christians and Christianity have contributed greatly to the development of western civilization;

Whereas the United States, being founded as a constitutional republic in the traditions of western civilization, finds much in its history that points observers back to its roots in Christianity;

Whereas on December 25 of each calendar year, American Christians observe Christmas, the holiday celebrating the birth of their savior, Jesus Christ;

Whereas for Christians, Christmas is celebrated as a recognition of God’s redemption, mercy, and Grace; and

Whereas many Christians and non-Christians throughout the United States and the rest of the world, celebrate Christmas as a time to serve others: Now, therefore be it

• Resolved, That the House of Representatives–
  (1) recognizes the Christian faith as one of the great religions of the world;(2) expresses continued support for Christians in the United States and worldwide;(3) acknowledges the international religious and historical importance of Christmas and the Christian faith;

  (4) acknowledges and supports the role played by Christians and Christianity in the founding of the United States and in the formation of the western civilization;

  (5) rejects bigotry and persecution directed against Christians, both in the United States and worldwide; and

  (6) expresses its deepest respect to American Christians and Christians throughout the world.

Oh the Horror!! The Outrage!! How can we possibly extend respect to the 75% of the American population who consider themselves Christians? No–No–it’s just WRONG!! We can’t afford to recognize ANYONE based on his or her religion!!!

Note, however, that these same Dems voted FOR a resolution supporting Muslims and Ramadan - Ramadan, of course, being an Islamic holiday. What about that whole “Wall of Separation”™ again?

The nine Members voting NO were Rep. Gary Ackerman (D-NY), Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-NY), Rep. Diana DeGette (D-CO), Rep. Alcee Hastings (D-FL) (FL), Rep. Barbara Lee (D-CA), Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA), Rep. Bobby Scott (D-VA), Rep. Pete Stark (D-CA), and Rep. Lynn Woolsey (D-CA). None of the nine voted against resolutions honoring the Islamic holiday of Ramadan and the Hindu holiday of Diwali. [My emphasis - GdB]

In fact, the other two resolutions passed without ANY no votes.

There are those who say that the Christian Right is massing to create a theocracy in the United States. How many of those members of Congress who voted Yes about Ramadan and Diwali are conservative Christians? And yet, we tinfoil-hat-wearing, frothing-at-the-mouth Christians are determined to undermine the Constitution, outlaw all other religions, and force everyone to bow to Jesus?

Does ANYONE out there still have a shred of rationality?

Michelle’s got video too. See it here.

The full text of the Diwali resolution is here, the Ramadan one here.

New Blog on the Block

One that promises to be quite interesting and enlightening.

SONS OF APES AND PIGS

That’s what the Koran and Muslims call Jews and Christians.

This blog was launched in an effort to expose Islam in a logical and politically correct way. You will learn things about Islam that Muslims have been trying to hide from you in an attempt to paint it as a religion of peace and truth. We will show you that Islam is not only unconstitutional, but a grave threat to the Western world and the world as a whole.

Here’s to another group fighting the good fight. <CHEERS!>

Nod: JihadWatch.

Christian Theocracy?

Some information for those who fear that we tinfoil hat-wearing Evangelical Fundamentalists are going to shred the American fabric of culture, and who at the same time appear to endorse anything other than Christianity (except for Jooo-dism).

From Jihad Watch.

Their [Wahhabists] devotion to this “correct path” led them to despise numerous manifestations of Somali culture, despite its Islamic character. [What do you think they'd do to cultures that aren't remotely Islamic?] “These people,” Goth continued, “are out to eradicate our culture, our traditions, our songs, our poetry and our folklore dances….If we let them have their way, these prophets of ‘purity’ would soon be on a mission to destroy what has remained of our culture.” He listed several female Somali singers, warning that “the cassettes of their songs will be burned in the streets. Just remember Taliban.” Goth went on to explain that the jihadists also wanted to eliminate co-ed schools and compel Somali girls to go out only “fully shrouded with black from head to toe.”

The Wahhabi-influenced Islamic Courts Union that held power in Mogadishu for seven months in 2006 bore out Bashir Goth’s fears. It criticized indigenous Somali practices as not sufficiently Islamic. One militia commander, Mohamed Ali Aden, explained: “We’ve neglected God’s verses for so long. We want our women veiled and we want them at home. [Where are the howling feminists?] We men have to grow our beards.” [What would a law like this do for Native Americans, Hawaiians, Inuit, etc. who typically can't grow substantial beards?] The Courts forbade music (which is prohibited according to strict Islamic law), dancing and soccer within days of taking power. Women began to don Saudi dress, which covered their faces, rather than traditional Somali garb, which did not.

ICU militiamen were ready to enforce Islamic law with an iron fist: after banning all movies and television viewing, jihadists shot and killed two people who were watching a World Cup soccer match in early July. Raids in Mogadishu led to sixty arrests for the crime of movie-watching. Islamic Courts militiamen also raided a wedding reception in Mogadishu because men and women were attending the celebration together and music was playing. “We had warned the family,” explained Sheikh Iise Salad of the ICU, “not to include in their ceremony what is not allowed by the sharia law. This includes the mixing of men and women and playing music. That is why we raided and took their equipment. What was going there was un-Islamic.” In September 2006, the ICU closed down Radio Jowhar, a station in a town about fifty miles from Mogadishu, because it was playing love songs. ICU Sheikh Mohamed Mohamoud Abdirahman explained that the programming was “un-Islamic.” The station was later allowed to return to the airwaves, without music. The Islamic Courts even decreed that Muslims who did not perform the five daily prayers would be executed.

Morons like Chris Hedges want you to believe that Christians in America are going to destroy the Constitution in order to implement repressive laws against individual freedoms. We supposedly want to outlaw homosexuality, abortion, divorce, and a host of other “fun” things. When is the last time we heard of a Christian group trying to ban love songs and singing, shaving, all television and movies, and mingling of the genders at weddings, or who insist on shrouding women, or who threaten to kill those who don’t pray enough? Anyone?

Open Letter Deconstruction

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful,

And may Peace and Blessings be upon the Prophet Muhammad

 

In this opening of the letter, the signatories have already shown their hand. They use the term “God”, instead of Allah, in order to show the commonality they’re proclaiming…this may be honest, or it may be an attempt at disarming the reader. In any case, the subsequent sentence about Muhammad shows that their contention remains that Islam is superior to other beliefs.

 

In the Name of God, the Compassionate, the Merciful,

Do not contend with people of the Book except in the fairest way (The Holy Qur’an, al-Ankabut, 29:46)

 

The whole verse is (Arberry): Dispute not with the People of the Book save in the fairer manner, except for those of them that do wrong; and say, ‘We believe in what has been sent down to us, and what has been sent down to you; our God and your God is One, and to Him we have surrendered.’

 

Notice that the authors of the letter left out the rest of the verse. Who’s cherry-picking? By definition, since we are Christians rather than Muslims, we are doing wrong. And of course, this verse was abrogated by the infamous sura 9:29 (Yusuf Ali): Fight those who believe not in God nor the Last Day, nor hold that forbidden which hath been forbidden by God and His Apostle, nor acknowledge the religion of Truth, (even if they are) of the People of the Book, until they pay the Jizya with willing submission, and feel themselves subdued.

 

There is no compulsion in Religion (sura 2:256)

You mention that “according to the experts” the verse which begins, There is no compulsion in religion (al-Baqarah 2:256) is from the early period when the Prophet “was still powerless and under threat,” but this is incorrect. In factthis verse is acknowledged to belong to the period of Quranic revelation corresponding to the political and military ascendance of the young Muslim community

 

This is true, except that this is in the first of the Medinan suras, when Muhammad was still trying to ingratiate himself with the Jewish tribes. This, again, was overridden by 9:29, which is in the last (or possibly second-to-last) of the suras written.

Dhimmitude in the Church

This is an older story that I recently happened upon while checking out the website of the National Council of Churches. On their Interfaith Relations blog is this tidbit.

The 44th Annual Convocation of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) meeting at Chicago over the Labor Day weekend, honored me [Shanta Premawardhana, Associate General Secretary for Interfaith Relations, National Council of Churches USA] with the Interfaith Unity Award at the Interfaith Unity reception on Sunday, September 2. As she presented the award, Dr. Ingrid Mattson, president of ISNA [that's the Islamic Society of North America, for the uninitiated] spoke of NCC’s commitment to stand in partnership and solidarity with the Muslim community through some of the most difficult times of discrimination and prejudice they’ve faced, particularly since 9/11.

I wonder if that same Muslim community will “stand in partnership and solidarity” with the Christian churches that are suffering REAL persecution in the Islamic world?

The citation on the glass plaque reads:

“Islamic Society of North America presents Rev. Dr. Shanta Premawardhana, a fellow activist for peace, justice and reconciliation, a “Christian believer” as described in Qur’an (3:113) in recognition of his tireless contribution to advancing inter-religious dialogue and partnership, with our prayers for a continued demonstration of energy, understanding and commitment.”

Here’s Qur’an 3:113: They are not all alike. Of the People of the Scripture [Jews and Christians] there is a staunch community who recite the revelations of Allah in the night season, falling prostrate (before Him). The revelations of Allah - ayati Allahi - is literally the Qur’an. So, in the interest of making the American Muslim community feel good about the Christian Church, the intrepid Reverend Premawardhana has accepted an award that says that he recites the Qur’an. The Christian is reciting the words of the “god” who explicitly denies what is ultimately the only non-negotiable for Christians, the death and resurrection of Jesus.

He says in his acceptance speech:

Indeed there is much that Christians and Muslims don’t know about each other. Fact is, we have a great deal more in common in our religious traditions than our differences. No, we don’t need to hide our differences. They are real and we must honestly deal with them. But we have more in common.

Looking closely at the traditions of Islam, that is the Sunnah, there is VERY LITTLE in common with the traditions of Christianity as found in the early church. One commonality in the millenia of history is the violence perpetrated in the name of each calling, the difference being that Christ promoted peace while Muhammad promoted warfare.

When I greet you as sisters and brothers of faith, I must tell you, there are some Christians who object. How can I speak of non-Christians as sisters and brothers, they ask. For one very simple reason, I say. Jesus called them sisters and brothers. Its in the book!

Really? Where?

See, Jesus was out teaching and preaching, forgiving and healing, restoring people to God and to relationships with each other. His mother and brothers got so worried about him that they came looking for him. Some of his people came to Jesus and said, Rabbi (he was a rabbi, you know!) your mother and brothers are looking for you. And Jesus said something very incredulous. Pointing the people around him, he said, “Here are my mother and brothers. Whoever does the will of God is my brother, sister and mother.” [Jesus was referring to those who were following HIM!]

Whoever does the will of God? My reading of the Bible makes it clear that the will of God that he is talking about is the restoring of creation into right relationship. This what the early Jewish tradition established as the Jubilee, which Jesus said he came to proclaim. Everywhere you look in the Bible, its talking about restoring relationships: of human beings with God, human beings with each other and human beings with the world. You in this room, whatever your religious tradition, are working very hard to restore these relationships. You are doing the will of God. You are the ones upholding faith and serving humanity. You are my sisters and brothers.

[...]

Those who promote fear mongering ideologies that strengthen divisions in human relationships, I am convinced, are not doing the will of God. [Apparently Jesus, then, was not doing the will of God, since he knew his message would cause division, and said so specifically] Some of them bear the name Christian. But I must tell you, I have a hard time even thinking them as sisters and brothers. But you, who are Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Buddhist and others who work so hard to create and restore human relationships, are doing the will of God. You are my sisters and brothers.

Interesting. MY Bible says that God’s will is that we follow Jesus and receive eternal life. It says that Jesus is the restoration of relationship between Creator and created. It says that Jesus is THE way, truth, and life, and that no one gets to the Father except through the Son. While we are all brethren in the plight of humanity, we are not Brothers and Sisters (as in children of God) with those who reject Jesus.

While it is laudable that the NCC is pursuing peace with Islam, et al, it is at the same time disheartening that it is apparently doing so at the expense of the offense of the Gospel.

An Open Letter

I have my own thoughts on this “Open Letter” which I plan to publish sometime in the near future. This is from Front Page Magazine.

Islam’s Peace Offensive

By Stephen Brown and Jamie Glazov
FrontPageMagazine.com | Tuesday, October 16, 2007

In a move eerily reminiscent of the Soviet “peace offensives”, 138 leading Muslim scholars have composed a letter to Christianity’s leaders, with Pope Benedict’s name heading the list, requesting a meeting to discuss the “common essentials of our two religions.” The authors warn that “the survival of the world” is at stake if the two religions do not make peace, which, the Muslim authors believe, is possible since the basis of Islam and Christianity is “the two commandments of love.”

While it is at least admirable that these learned representatives of Islam acknowledge that their religion is at war with Christianity (since much of the Christian world is in denial), the main sticking point, the letter makes clear, is the aggressive nature of Christianity. The Muslim scholars emphasize that: “As Muslims, we say to Christians that we are not against them and that Islam is not against them - so long as they do not wage war against Muslims on account of their religion, oppress them and drive them out of their homes.”

The problem with this theme, however, is that the religious believers being oppressed and driven out of their homes in the world today are Christians, and other non-Muslims, who find themselves trapped under Muslim rule. It is not surprising that the Muslim scholars’ “peace” letter nowhere mentions the murder of Palestinian Christian Rami Ayyad, who was recently abducted, tortured and murdered in Gaza City. Six months earlier, a bomb had destroyed his Christian bookstore, the Holy Bible Society. Ayyad’s murder and the bombing of his bookstore are consistent with the pattern of barbaric violence that is being carried out by Muslims against Christians in the Gaza strip today, particularly by a jihadist group that calls itself “The Righteous Swords of Islam.”

Testimony

Not mine…perhaps that’s for another time. This is from one Abdullah Qasim. The details of why he left Islam can be found here.

At present I love the message of Lord Jesus who taught love, fraternity and peace in all his teachings. His entire message is love for humanity. Lord Christ died on the cross for the sins of humanity and was resurrected, to save the world. He never ever killed any human but only healed and saved all whereas Mohammad the prophet tortured and killed many. I would not like to even compare Lord Christ’s teachings with the Islamic nonsense of violence, looting, plundering, killing, enslaving and raping the non-believers.

I wish that my testimony could open the eyes of other Muslims, who like to live in harmony with non-Muslims, lift their heads out of the sand and quit the cult of Islam. A caveat to Muslims that are brain dead zombies: my testimony is not fake and do not deceive yourselves that no Muslim will leave Islam because Muslims are quitting Islam by scores. All westerners, liberals, leftists, rightists, media personnel, political leaders, government officials and non-Muslims, remember you are all kaffirs destined to be killed and burn forever in hell according to Islam. So please unite, stop being politically correct, help to stop the immigration flooding of Muslims to western countries and don’t be deceived by Islam. Because both types of Muslims, that is, Islamic terrorists who use jihad, bombing and explosions and so-called Muslim moderates who use deception, conversion techniques, and mass population explosions by birth and immigration to western countries, are both trying very hard to achieve the same goal, which is to fulfill Quran 8:39 that states there should be only one religion (Islam) for Allah in the whole world.

 

Therefore [because He stooped so low] God has highly exalted Him and has ^[a]freely bestowed on Him the name that is above every name, that in (at) the name of Jesus every knee ^[b]should (must) bow, in heaven and on earth and under the earth, and every tongue [^[c]frankly and openly] confess and acknowledge that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Phillipians 2:9-11)