EPA Considers Human Experimentation

Brit Faces Six Months For Carrying Swiss Army Knife

Shepard Murder Not A "Hate Crime"

Women Object To Degrading Airport Security

Third Of Illegals Criminals

Glow Worms Honored For Contribution To War Effort

Obesity Epidemic A Big Fat Lie

Attorney General Nominee A Hispanic Supremacist

Not Your Granny’s Presbyterians

Among Christian denominations, Presbyterians have a reputation for sobriety and decorum. However, as denominations and churches try to out do one another in the rush to appear the most “authentic” and “with it”, that noble reputation might be coming to an end.

On the website of Covenant Theological Seminary of the Presbyterian Church in America is a section where websurfers can listen to audio files addressing a wide variety of issues and topics. Finding one on tattooing, I thought I’d hear a rational discourse against this popular form of personal disfigurement since Presbyterians are renowned for their skill at argumentation.

Much to my surprise, the lecturer, Margie Haack of RansomFellowship.org , gave an exposition on tattoos literally making them of little more consequence than applying makeup up or toning one’s muscles. Haack deceptively lumps all of these under the politically correct banner of “body modification“.

While doing a satisfactory job explicating the various emotional traumas tempting individuals to do something like this to their bodies, her message is woefully inadequate in extolling the shortcomings and dangers of these ghastly scribblings. No where does she even suggest tattoos might be something questionable yet eraseable (at least in the metaphysical sense) under Christ’s redeeming blood.

In fact, the only guilt trip was laid on those daring to retain the traditional Judeo-Christian reluctance to the practice. Throughout, Haack criticizes Christians leery of those branded in this fashion, likening the attitude to racial prejudice. But the last time I checked, the individual has no choice over their race; getting tattooed is a matter of personal volition.

Might most Christians raised properly or later schooled in correct deportment pull back from individuals exhibiting these markings since there might be something wrong with tattooing? After all, most of those with an affinity for this form of decoration aren’t exactly known for their reputations as upstanding members of the community.

Haack attributes these pangs of conscience to misguided middle class values. Interesting, isn’t it, how these attacks on decency always boil down to this argument.

Haack further undermines traditional Biblical teachings on this issue by equating Scriptural injunctions against the practice in question with other Old Testament legal provisions no longer observed under the dispensation or covenant of grace of the New Testament such as dietary restrictions against pork, garments of mixed fabric, and other hygienic or ceremonial matters. While some rules such as those dealing with diet have been rescinded elsewhere in the Bible, ceremonial ones fulfilled by Christ’s coming, and others specified for the particular cultural and historical setting of ancient Israel, many still serve as moral principles and commands conductive to personal health and well being.

For example, nothing much is going to happen to you if you occasionally enjoy some pork or shellfish. However, it only takes one prick of a dirty tattoo needle to get hepatitis (ask Pamela Anderson) or AIDS.

When that happens, I suppose all the pro-tattoo clergy, academics, and otherwise unproductive intellectuals will turn around and lecture all of the unenlightened clods of the middle class why it is now our Christian obligation to put more into the collection plate or have taken out in taxes to alleviate suffering that could have been prevented in the first place.

Interestingly, Mrs. Haack goes on to create the impression that somehow Christians are spiritually superior if they deface themselves with this religious graffiti. Haack justifies tattoos all in the name of Jesus since some early and medieval Christians had them.

While we must study the past or be doomed to repeat it, that does not mean it is the end all in terms of doctrine and practice. After all, if everything had been peachy keen from day one onward, there wouldn’t have been much need for a Reformation, would there?

Haack also provides example of cotemporary Christians who have exhibited their “spirituality” through being tattooed. Specifically, she mentions Jeremy Huggins whom she is careful to point out is a graduate of Covenant Seminary and whom mentions in his own lecture about blogging archived on Covenant Seminary’s webpage his enjoyment of smoking and whiskey. My haven’t we come along way; I remember back in my Christian school days you played it down if you liked “The Simpsons” for fear of running afoul of authorities.

It is revealed that Huggins has a Hebrew word emblazoned across his chest and a Greek phrase etched into his back to remind him of his reliance upon God. If that’s what it takes to jog his memory, his faith must be pretty weak.

If these inscriptions are on sections of his anatomy not normally gawked at by the church going public, then why are we even being told about them? Could be it that those like Rev. Huggins feel guilty about what they have done to themselves, and instead of seeking forgiveness, they try to drown out the shame with applause and accolades from today’s doctrinally fickle congregations?

Since these human billboards advertise their intense religious devotion, it won’t be long until those with tattoos come to be seen as more dedicated to their God than those not decorated in this manner. Eventually in much the same manner as Christians who did not care to view “The Passion” were pressed for a reason as to why they did not want to see the movie, those without tattoos will be hounded by taunts such as “Jesus was scarred for you. Don’t you love him enough to be scarred for him?”

Interestingly, this unsightly body vandalism in a sense serves as a roadmap to certain questionable trends underway within the Presbyterian Church in America. This denomination, once noted for its sticktoitiveness to propriety now, from the attitudes conveyed on their flagship seminary’s website, would rather Christian young people drink, smoke, and turn their bodies into human sketchpads than read Left Behind novels.

Much of the ministry within this denomination is targeted at the highly educated. While that is commendable since this segment is often overlooked in terms of witness, maybe Presbyterians need to worry more about winning approval of the Lord rather than that of slovenly college professors and students.

I ask you what would you rather your children do? Are you going to be so pleased with you own sense of tolerance when your daughter or son comes home having put your broadmindedness into practice?

Furthermore, why should I listen to some preacher prattle on about the “evils” of some young adult activities such as dating (as is the case in the now pervasive Josh Harris I Kissed Dating Goodbye syndrome) or as to why I ought to drop more into the collection plate when the pastor looks like a cheesy roadside advertisement for his own lack of self-discipline especially if he does not readily display a sense of repentance over such an obvious shortcoming?

It has been said youth is fleeting; the indiscretions of it are not. As such, you should not do much of anything you would not want to catch your granny or grampy doing since, try as we might to put the passage of time out of our minds, one day each of us will be one of those elderly souls that have to dispense advice to the young whether they want to hear it or not.

Copyright 2004 by Frederick Meekins

Kjos Ministries Links To Review Of Pilgrims & Puritans

My cyberspace contacts inform me Kjos Ministries has linked to the review I wrote last year of a book on the Pilgrims and Puritans.

This was quite a pleasant surprise since I have enjoyed listening to Berit Kjos speak over the years about the socialist/New Age infilitration of the nation's educational system in prepartion of the New World Order.

I guess this makes me a third or fourth tier celebrity now. Now if there was only some way to get rich off such notoriety.

Parody Of Clinton's Jenning's Interview

On-Line Audio Resources Regarding The Da Vinci Code

I have been listening to a number of online sermons lately addressing The Da Vinci Code. With the popularity of this novel and a blockbuster movie expected, Christians will need to know how to refute this somewhat esoteric and arcane subject matter. I hope you find these informative.

“The Da Vinci Code” by Norris Belcher, Church Of The Open Door, Westminster, Maryland

“Analyzing The Da Vinci Code” by Jonathan Sampson, First Baptist Church Of Park Texas

“The Da Vinci Code Code: Fact Or Fiction, Part 1” by Dr. Charles Roberts, Ballston Center Associate Reformed Church

The Da Vinci Code Code: Fact Or Fiction, Part 2” by Dr. Charles Roberts, Ballston Center Associate Reformed Church

“An Overview Of The Da Vinci Code” by Phil Fernandes, Institute of Biblical Defense

“The Fallacies of the Da Vinci Code” by Phil Fernandes, Institute of Biblical Defense

Toilet Summit Held In China

Prince Charles: "My Poop Doesn't Stink"

It has been leaked in a memo about the lack of promotion opportunities in the employ of the British royal family that Prince Charles believes those of us further down the social ladder ought not aspire to higher station in life.

According to the Prince of Wales, ""People think they can all be pop stars, high court judges, brilliant TV personalities or infinitely more competent heads of state without ever putting in the necessary work or having natural ability."

While correct that this attitude is often the result of social utopianism rampant throughout the modern school system, to put it bluntly, what did he ever do to earn his privilege other than crawl out of his mother's uterus?

UFO's Scoping Out American Defenses For Pending Attack?

Sex Slaves Of The New World Order

Pentagon Declares War On The Boy Scouts

Impromptu Barbecue Held At White House

Seventh Day Adventists Retain Fidelity To Creation Science

Iraqis Ordered To Spill Their Seed Upon The Ground

College Republicans Attacked By Terrorist Sympathizers

Bush Screws Over Conservatives Days After Elections

Air Force Considers Teleportation: Psychokinesis Among Options Studied

Migrant Workers Swilling With Disease

F.E.M.A. Prepares American Gulag

Olympic Swimmer Drinks Like A Fish

One Less Democrat To Worry About: Kook Shoots Himself Over Election Outcome

There is one less Democrat to worry about. A kook from Georgia is believed to have shot and killed himself at the World Trade Center Site in despair over President Bush's reelection victory.

While sympathies natural go out to his family, frankly, this nut got what he deserved. Is any election in this country worth taking to such an extreme?

Life here is not yet that onerous. Nor should it have been for this self-inflicted victim, who is reported to have had a decent job in a university computer lab and was engaged to be married.

Sounds to me like he had a lot to live for. Hope he thinks George Bush was worth it.

In a system such as ours, political suicide would seem to be such a pointless, wasteful act with other outlets of expression readily available to the activist citizen. Hadn't this nitwit ever heard the adage "He who fights and runs away lives to fight another day?"

Starting a blog would have been a lot less painful and possibly more persuasive.

Frankly, killing oneself over politics is about as pointless as one of Jesse Jackson or Mitch Synder's hunger strikes. Don't you want your opposition do themselves in and if done so by their own hand, they have no one to blame but themselves.

One of the dangers of liberalism has been to elevate politics to a place of centrality at the expense of other areas of life. Sometimes it's just to hard for sane, balanced people to see just how far the disturbed are willing to take it.

Copyright 2004 by Frederick Meekins

Van Gogh Assasination Forces Europeans To Take Second Look At Islam

Hispano-Nazi Front Groups Plan Conquest Of The United States

Support For Specter Over Toomey Comes Back To Bite President

Back during the primary season, President Bush backed incumbent Arlen Specter over popular Pennsylvania Representative Pat Toomey.

Now it seems this decision might come back to haunt the President as Specter is giving Bush a bunch of lip about appointing pro-life judges.

Guess Bush is now getting what he deserves and a lesson in why principle has to be more important than party.

Copyright 2004 By Frederick Meekins

Christmas Hymns Deemed To Religious For "Holiday Bazaar"