joyfulchristian

You've got to be kidding me.

I personally find the idea of Obama as President quite disconcerting, but not because I think he's the anti-Christ.

To all you nuts out there who think you're doing some great service by making up scary notions about Obama being a Muslim, please CUT IT OUT. The truth is scare enough. We don't need fiction and you're not helping anything.

Here's one reason not to spend time worrying about relics and "holy" sites

You don't have to spend time fighting over them and generally bringing Christianity into ill-repute.

Assuming, for the sake of argument, that the Church of the Holy Sepulchre really is the site of the burial of Christ, what difference can that possibly make in your life? It makes none in mine, and despite how vitally important the death, burial, and resurrection is to me, I can't imagine fighting over things like this.

But is it the same God

Via the InstaPundit I found this rant by Bloodthirsty Liberal against Al Sharpton.  It seems Al Sharpton questioned Mitt Romney's belief in God and is now trying to say it never happened.  Sharpton originally said:

“As for the one Mormon running for office, those who really believe in God will defeat him anyways, so don’t worry about that; that’s a temporary situation,” Sharpton said Monday during a debate with Hitchens at the New York Public Library’s Beaux-Arts headquarters.

He now says:

“What I said was that we would defeat him, meaning as a Republican,” Sharpton said. “A Mormon, by definition, believes in God. They don’t believe in God the way I do, but by definition, they believe in God.”

The idea that Sharpton wasn't saying that Romney didn't believe in God is laughable. He clearly did. What I want to address is something else entirely. I have no qualms with Romney, as a Mormon, being elected President. I know of nothing about Mormonism that cause me to believe his religion would be a problem in the presidency. That being said, I would not agree that Mormons believe in God.

Mormons definitely believe in a god. If you ask them will certainly tell you that they worship the God of the Bible.  However, I've studied with Mormons and I've read good sections of the book of Mormon. It's been a good long while so I don't remember the specifics, but I do know that I didn't recognize the god I found there. When I compare what I read there to what I find in the Bible, there just not the same.

I have seen some people argue that "clearly" Christians and Muslims worship the same deity because they're both monotheistic.  However, the god of the Koran, while identified as the same god, does not behave like the God of the Bible and I would not describe them as worshiping the same God that I worship either.

I'm sure that a lot of people would blast me for this and if I was more widely read there would be a good chance of a hate storm.  That would be in error.  This is not a slam against either of these religions.  I simply don't see my God when I look in their scriptures.

Consider an example. I believe in Dad.  I know other people who also believe in Dad.  Yet when I describe my father and they describe theirs, it doesn't sound like the same person. We may call him the same thing, but it's not the same person.

Now obviously this analogy isn't perfect.  This goes one step further. Not only is the god they describe not the same as the God I describe, but I don't believe their god exists.

I'd like to try to flesh this out, but I'm not all here right now.

Cosmic treason and the nature of sin

I have no knowledge of the people involved, but Joe Carter has an excellent post on the nature of sin:

What is truly amazing is how patient and forbearing God has been throughout history in light of our continued betrayal. Look, for example, at the examples in the Old Testament. Those who refuse to recognize God’s holiness often complain that Jehovah is cruel and vindictive. In truth, God’s dealings with humanity in the OT are an example of a God who is maddeningly patient and merciful.

The punishment for sin is death—complete physical and spiritual death. Yet over and over God foregos enacting his righteous judgment (justice) and treats mankind with mercy (nonjustice). It is a sign of our skewed perspective that we are shocked when we read about God slaying the wicked. What should surprise us is that God isn’t infinitely just, continually slaying all wicked sinners.

Which  is why I'm glad God answers the prayer, "God, be merciful to me, a sinner!" Otherwise, all would be lost for everyone.

Joe quotes RC Sproul who compares sin, even minor sin, to treason against God. I don't have the time to look it up, but CS Lewis made a similar comparison. He explained that sin is an act of civil war against the Almighty. That is why you can't expect God to take you back without repentance. Repentance is the act of laying down your arms and surrendering to God. Asking God to take you back without repenting is, essentially, asking him to take you back without, you know, actually going back. (While taking pot shots at him to boot.)

Complete departure

There have been enough disturbing trends in the Anglican world to make me wonder if the Episcopal church could even be loosely considered "Christian", but if this story isn't overblown it may be time to start asking this question about the broader Anglican Union":

The Church of England has broken with tradition dogma by calling for doctors to be allowed to let sick newborn babies die.

Christians have long argued that life should preserved at all costs - but a bishop representing the national church has now sparked controversy by arguing that there are occasions when it is compassionate to leave a severely disabled child to die.

And the Bishop of Southwark, Tom Butler, who is the vice chair of the Church of England's Mission and Public Affairs Council, has also argued that the high financial cost of keeping desperately ill babies alive should be a factor in life or death decisions.

Unbelievable.  What part of "Thou shall not kill" did they not understand?

As if I needed more evidence

I think it's safe to assume that that the Anglican Communion has jumped the shark.

But now the 23rd Psalm, undoubtedly the best-known and best-loved in the English language, has had a makeover.

In a new version published by the Church of England, the words: "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil" are replaced by: "Even if a full-scale violent confrontation breaks out I will not be afraid, Lord." The new version shares with the traditional one the opening line "The Lord is my shepherd", but the psalmist goes on: "He lets me see a country of justice and peace and directs me towards this land" and that His "shepherd's power and love protect me" - instead of "thy rod and thy staff they comfort me".

Apparently the idea of the sanctity of the scriptures is foreign to them.

(Link via Tim Blair.)

Bizarre

This is something you don't hear about every day:

IN THE shadow of Mount Olympus the toga-clad worshippers sway to the beating of a drum as the bearded man leading the ceremony throws a pinch of grain into a torch, then circles his hand above the flames.

While the group, dressed in yellow, red and blue robes, may appear to be taking part in some bewildering historical re-enactment, they are members a growing pagan movement dedicated to resurrecting the religion and way of life of ancient Greece.

The pagans have gathered in a meadow near the sacred mountain where their ancestors believed the gods lived and held court to perform a naming ceremony for a nine-month-old boy, Nikoforos Xanthopoulos.

Apparently this group has been around for 15-20 years. And just why do they want to be pagans?

"We want to take the world view, concepts, ideas, religion and values of the ancient Greeks, the founders of western civilisation, and adapt them to today," Olympios explained. "The Greek way is to establish a scientific society. Christianity today is hostile to science."

Let me get this straight: They think that worshipping gods who are supposed to live on this mountain is more in tune with science than Christianity, even though the gods can be proven not to actually be on the mountain?

Not to worry, they've got that covered:

Buschbeck explained that Hellenes do not worship the pantheon of 12 gods as deities. Rather, each god represents a natural phenomena or human value.

So they don't actually believe in the Greek gods at all. This sounds more like a philosophy than a religion. Or maybe it's something else entirely:

The movement appeals to many different tastes: for some it provides an intellectually satisfying philosophy, for others an antidote to the Greek Church’s political power, New Age reverence for the ancient or something exotic for the curiosity-seeker.

However, the movement has also attracted a small number of more sinister followers; right-wing nationalists who believe their anti-Semitic views are reflected in its rejection of the Judeo-Christian religion.

[...]

The Hellenes still mourn the end of their civilisation in the 4th Century AD, when Christians representing the new official religion of the Roman Empire began destroying their temples, statues and libraries.

"The Greek Orthodox Christian Church is still at the scene of the crime," said Vlassis Rassias, a human resources manager at a bank, who writes books about ancient Greek history. The 44-year-old is indignant that the Greek Orthodox Church today builds new churches at every site where an ancient temple is uncovered.

This sounds less like a religion or a philosophy and more like a way to rebel against the Greek Orthodox church in such a way as to make yourself out as a victim. Beats me what the point of doing that would be though.

Well, at least someone understands

Some Episcopal dioceses actually don't want their denomination endorsing sin! There's a crazy thought!

Unfortunately, some people have trouble understanding this:

Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10 nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.

Here's something that I don't understand: It seems to me that if you don't, at a minimum, believe to Bible to be historically and theologically accurate, that there is no point in professing Christianity; why do people continue to claim to be Christians and at the same time refuse to accept the biblical teachings on sin?

Now there's a ringing endorsement

Now this right here should be enough to convince any rational person not to vote for Howard Dean:

Jimmy Carter says he sees a little of himself in insurgent Democratic White House candidate Howard Dean.

[sarcasm]Just what we need, another Jimmy Carter![/sarcasm}

Persecuted atheists?

I came across this story just now and it struck me as a little strange:

A quick scroll through the Real Yellow Pages shows that Memphis has 1,692 churches, synagogues, mosques and temples.

If you're of a religious bent, it's certainly not hard to find a place to pray here.

But if you're an atheist, life in a city often tabbed as the buckle of the Bible Belt can be difficult.

"It permeates the culture," said 36-year-old Craig Wiggins, a doctoral candidate at the University of Memphis. "It's sort of ingrained in the way people think and their attitudes."

[...]

"I ride the bus, and you get this: 'Have a blessed day.' There's always somebody on the bus talking religion. I have people asking me, 'Have you heard the good news?' " 45-year-old actor Michael Conway said. "It can get annoying."

Religion, the Christian religion, is everywhere, they said.

Three giant crosses stand along Interstate 40. Billboards or store marquees advertise religious messages. Jesus bumper stickers or fish symbols decorate cars.

Crosses dangle from necks. Churchgoers legally park on two lanes of Poplar Avenue during Sunday services. Writers automatically capitalize "God," "He" and "Him" in this newspaper.

Paul Neuwirth was particularly incensed at the oath he was asked to recite for jury duty, which included a religious reference.

"Everyone else said, 'I do,' except me," the 48-year-old casino dealer said. "I said, 'No.' Everyone froze." He was eventually dismissed from the jury pool.

[...]

"Say you want to go to the supermarket on Sunday morning and get your ribs, charcoal and beer, and make it home before kickoff at 11 a.m. You can't do it, because they don't sell beer until noon," Conway said. "Any law that treats Sunday differently than any other day is state religion and is unconstitutional."

After 9/11, several local atheists said they felt even more ostracized because religion was such an overwhelming part of the response to the terrorist attacks.

"Most all the ceremonies that went on after that were religious in nature. Services and memorials were held at church," Wiggins said. "You can't be included in that process."

Added Len Cleavelin, 46: "Everything was religious-oriented, and the very source of the attacks was religion."

What really confused me though was when I tried to figure out what the impetus of this story was, especilly after I read this last part:

Getting people to talk about their lack of belief wasn't easy, though. Several people declined to discuss their beliefs in a public forum.

And for Conway, Wiggins and others, deciding to reveal that they don't share what many consider their most cherished beliefs caused some trepidation.

"It's probably more acceptable to be gay in Memphis than to be an atheist," the 39-year-old Maynard said. "We are relegated to noncitizen status."

As far as I can tell, stories like this generally start when the author starts hearing complaints and decides that there might be a good human interest story to write. Apparently that's not what happened hear; in fact, the author makes a point of telling us that it was very difficult to find atheists willing to complain to him.

So why, I wonder, did he decide to write the story in the first place?

The tomb of Zacharias?

Here is an interesting story courtesy of Theosebes:

Inscription discovery links Jerusalem tomb to Jesus

JERUSALEM: For centuries passers-by have thrown rocks at an ornate tomb in Jerusalem's Kidron Valley, reviled as the traditional burial place of the biblical King David's villainous son Absalom.

But in one of those strange twists unique to the Holy Land - where tombs can post-date by a millennium those believed buried there - an inscription found on the crypt now points to it belonging not to Absalom but rather John the Baptist's father, Zacharias, and maybe even James, who some Christians regard as the brother of Jesus.

It is speculated that Simeon my have also been buried there. That is based partially on ancient tradition. Tradition or no, it seems very odd that these three men would have all been buried together unless their bodies were moved at some point. Still, it's an interesting story.