Monday, March 30, 2015
Sunday, March 29, 2015
Saturday, March 28, 2015
Friday, March 27, 2015
Interesting how professional clergy get all excited about urban ministry yet have seen some remark that their building looks like a “country church”. What’s so wrong with a “country church”? I know must of those folks are White, but don’t they need Jesus too? Apart from massive cathedrals, “country style” churches tend to be the most photogenic.
Thursday, March 26, 2015
Wednesday, March 25, 2015
Minions from the Obama regime denounced the Israeli occupation of Palestinian lands. I am not really a proponent of secession. However, applying this logic, does Obama intend to denounce Union occupation of the Confederacy? And while we are at it, if self determination is to be elevated to the highest priority, why aren't Christian bakers allowed to determine for themselves whether or not they will bake gay wedding cakes? If the President is such an enthusiast for self determination, why does he allow interference in jurisdictions that have already settled through plebiscite the issue of gay marriage?
Homeschool Activist Insists Converts To Catholicism & Anglicanism Little Better Than Serial Killers
In his tirade, Swanson went off on how could anyone could go from the perspective that the just shall live by faith alone to one where an anathema is pronounced upon those that undermine the role of works in securing eternal salvation.
One cannot speak to the nature of the Baptist church attended by these twins in their youth, but in some of these hardline Baptist and Presbyterian churches in Swanson's orbit, often the soteriological formulations on either side of the Reformation divide have degenerated pretty much into a distinction without a difference.
Granted, this particular variety of Protestant talks an exquisite game regarding the nature of salvation as a free gift and how our works are as filthy rags.
However, from the clarifying expositions and admonitions of these pulpit homilists, it is not enough for the believer to strive for the big virtues such as loving your family, refraining from sex outside of marriage, and slipping a few dollars into the collection plate every once in a while.
According to this particular strain of Protestantism, you might not even be a Christian if you don't share particular viewpoint regarding the propriety of denying females access to education, the necessity of begetting more than five children, and the imperative of being married by 25 years of age.
Perhaps more would hold to the liberty that is claimed to be found in Christ if they were allowed to experience the liberty found in Christ rather than being forced into the spiritual slavery found under another form of legalism.
Kevin Swanson isn't even Baptist but rather Presbyterian.
So how would he like it if some fanatic Baptist raved that Presbyterianism was a slide back down into Rome's eventual embrace?
Instead of insinuating that your formerly Baptist child is one step away from being a serial killer if they become a Catholic or Anglican, perhaps Kevin Swanson will also give as much time reflecting upon what might have pushed these individuals away from a Reformed understanding of the faith in the first place.
By Frederick Meekins
Phil Robertson Enunciates One Of The Greatest Apologetic Arguments Of All Time
Tuesday, March 24, 2015
O'Reilly Plays Stupid Regarding Obama's Transformation Threats
But in the analysis of this policy under consideration, Bill O'Reilly instead decided to spoof and lampoon the President's most profound reason for making this suggestion.
“Transformative” is a euphemism invoked in support of mob rule and the socialistic redistribution of resources and property.
Instead of warning the American people as to this danger, O'Reilly wasted valuable broadcast time feigning ignorance by inquiring if “transformative” referred to some kind of “robot thing”.
O'Reilly knows full well that the “robot thing” is a Transformer.
The correspondent did, after all, make a cameo playing himself in one of those films.
This verbal obfuscation means that O'Reilly is deliberately deceptive or more profoundly dimwitted than expected.
And regarding which, to borrow a slogan from his own network, we report you decide.
By Frederick Meekins
It was said in a sermon that, if one visits a foreign country and one is identified as an American before one is identified as a Christian, there is something wrong in your life. Not necessarily. And what exactly is a distinctive Christian mode of dress? Given that the minister making the remark is explicitly Baptist, it is doubtful that this pastor would think that highly of clergy shirts, habits, vestments, or monastic robes. Secondly, it is not someone’s fault if they look American in terms of their physical appearance. Granted, Europeans often share a similar genetic ancestry with run of the mill Caucasian Americans. However, one is forced to admit that many Europeans possess a more gaunt or malnourished countenance. Just because the residents of the Old World might not be as fastidious in terms of their grooming, it does not follow that Americans are obligated to adopt similar practices of deliberate slovenliness
Monday, March 23, 2015
Ministerial Red Lights Necessary To Prevent Ghastly Church Accidents
In one of the the remarks, he observed that one hand must be on the wheel.
He expanded on that declaration by saying, “At the church house, someone has to be in charge. A leader is a necessity. The pastor is the scripturally appointed, God-anointed person to be the leader.”
Smith further clarified, “Many of our churches are sitting idle and getting nowhere because just before they put the pastor in the driver's seat, they tied his hands behind his back...So let's get real! And let's be scriptural about it! Let's get a driver who knows how to handle the vehicle and let him drive it. Amen!”
Very well then.
Let us be scriptural about the matter in compliance with Shelton Smith's admonition.
Where in the corpus of divine revelation is blind obedience to the pastor commanded?
If anything, it seems that quite the opposite might be called for.
Acts 17:11 reads, “Now the Bereans were of more noble character than the Thessalonians, for they received the message with great eagerness and examined the Scripture every day to see if what Paul said was true (NIV).”
Let's continue a bit with the driving analogies.
Despite dealing with her own doctrinal challenges as she navigates reconciling the demands of celebrity and the Christian faith, Carrey Underwood exclaimed “Jesus, take the wheel.”
How is what Shelton Smith is arguing for that much different in kind than the papal infallibility and the magisterium of the Roman Catholic Church where those in the pews are expected to keep their mouths shut if they want to be considered acceptable members?
If anything, isn't the pastor more of a tour guide than a driver that is not to be questioned or challenged?
For is not Christ or the revealed Word of God in Scripture the one theoretically driving this bus?
In the age of the child predator, the fit parent reinforces in the mind of their offspring not to get into a vehicle with someone they don't know, don't trust, or have a suspicious feeling about.
In this day where all kinds of abuse (both spiritual and physical) is taking place in a variety of churches across Christianity's vast theological spectrum, contrary to the impression given by the likes of Josh Harris in his book “Stop Dating The Church”, you as an individual created in the image of God are free to get off the bus of a particular congregation any time you want.
A minister that insists upon broad pastoral powers without teaching that these are curtailed within explicitly delineated boundaries has neglected his responsibilities in a manner not that markedly different than an intoxicated motorist as he veers into lanes in which he ought not to travel.
By Frederick Meekins
Of the seven siblings that died in a New York fire, fuss is being made that they were Orthodox Jews. Would careful delineation of their ethnic and religious backgrounds been announced if they were ordinary White Protestants? If the fire was the result of their religious practices, the incident certainly serves as a warning as to the dangers posed by a religion based upon works.
The White House held a science fair. Did President Obama stroll among the projects, bluntly reminding the young contestants that, despite their effort and hardwork, “Hey, you didn’t build that.” The purpose of the event was to highlight the role of women in science. But does the objective experimental methodology take into account whether the researcher possesses a penis or a vagina?
Saturday, March 21, 2015
Friday, March 20, 2015
The April 2014 issue of The Atlantic asked a panel whom they thought was the most influential teen in history. Harvey Cox missed what should have been a grand slam for someone that professes to be a Christian theologian. The Harvard professor went with David when the shepherd lad slew Goliath. But shouldn't this honor have been extended to Mary and perhaps even Joseph? We are, after all, approaching the Easter season.
Regarding a local arts organization, the acting director said in the community newspaper, “Our role is to serve the community and not everyone is coming into out doors.” Maybe not everyone likes the arts. Furthermore, perhaps other enjoy the arts but don't like it when these forms of expression are utilized to promote leftwing causes.
Thursday, March 19, 2015
Wednesday, March 18, 2015
Tuesday, March 17, 2015
Monday, March 16, 2015
Sunday, March 15, 2015
Saturday, March 14, 2015
Friday, March 13, 2015
Don't Complain About Immaturity & Then Interview Potty Humor Comedian
In particular, it was mentioned that, in Biblical times, an individual was considered an adult at the age of 13.
Yet in contemporary America, the adolescent period can extend into the 20's as education is completed and the young adult strives to figure out their place in the world.
Nothing was said about most being dead by the age of 40 in the era when adulthood was conferred at the age of 13.
However, don't you undermine your own argument when on the same episode you interview a longhaired comedian who proceeds to make a punchline about his bladder freezing in the Wisconsin cold?
Seems to me there is more set in Biblical stone about it being shameful for a man to have long hair then about adulthood being thrust upon thirteen year olds.
by Frederick Meekins
Why Is The White House Celebrating Iranian Pagan Rites?
Click On The Headline
What kinds of folks are unsettled by the infant sleeping in the flag as a cradle? Technically, isn’t that a violation of flag protocol? Are these folks generally anti-American or pro-American? Veterans deserve respect. However, that does not give them carte blanche to do as they please without question. The primary issue to consider is the criticism leveled anti-Veteran or pro-flag.
Thursday, March 12, 2015
A blog post at Christianity Today suggests that Evangelicals should reevaluate the moral legacy of Margaret Sanger. Rather than judge her as a founder of abortion front group Planner Parenthood, ethicists are urged to also consider the good that has accrued as a result of families not conceiving more children than they could afford. But in light of the millions that have been aborted as a result of her movement, isn't that akin to extolling Hitler for his appreciation of Germanic culture and efficient railroads.
Islamists So Mentally Deranged That Mention Of Swine Sends Them Into Psychosis
Isn’t “Dancing With The Stars” fostering heteronormative stereotypes by partnering NFL washout Michael Sam with a woman rather than a man? Interesting how those insisting upon how broadminded they are in regards to fundamental human relationships cling to bigotry and prejudice when it comes to superfluous entertainment.
Wednesday, March 11, 2015
Don't Hide Behind Piety During Totalitarianism's Rise
From the clip highlighted as the sound bite of the week, one gets the impression that articulating a defense of the gunned down editorial office's freedom of expression isn't really all that much of a priority.
After all, the ultimate concern of the church is not so much with things such as innate or constitutional liberties but rather with the proclamation of the Gospel message.
That might be true in regards to those called to the ministry in the strictest sense of that narrow vocation.
However, not everyone within the church is required to emphasize the exact same aspect of the comprehensive Christian worldview.
Given that this program is Lutheran, one would think they might be quicker to remember the wisdom of Martin Niemoller who reflected how, because he remained silent as the acolytes of totalitarianism hauled off a variety of dissidents, that there was no one left to protect him when the Fascist hordes came to take him away.
Christians don't have to applaud religiously offensive artwork.
However, when bloodthirsty savages begin murdering those that they disagree with, the believer needs to realize that it won't be long until these demoniacs gun down worshipers for little more than singing doctrinally distinctive hymns or reciting the classic creeds.
By Frederick Meekins
Tuesday, March 10, 2015
Lack Of Racial Diversity Does Not Necessarily Mean Hostility
Depending upon how the question was formulated, that might not even indicate any discernible resistance on the part of the common pewfiller.
These responses might indicate nothing more than a satisfaction with things the way that they are or that this issue is not seen as that big of a problem when compared to other issues such as a decline in overall morality.
One story regarding the conclusions of this survey observed that most White, Black, and Hispanic Southern Baptists attended churches where the majority of parishioners were of the same racial or ethnic background.
So long as they are not blatantly hostile or cruel to others different from themselves, does this really matter?
Perhaps those surveyed simply did not want to alter their basic order of service to satisfy newcomers.
For example, why should 85 year old WASPS that have enjoyed a solemn liturgy their entire lives have to put up with the more “exuberant” Black way of doing church where it is not unheard of for those gripped by a moment of spiritual ecstasy to run up and down the aisles banging on a tambourine.
As has been observed, often Baptists sleep in the pews while Pentecostals jump over them.
Should an Hispanic church that conducts its affairs in Spanish be required to alienate its congregation by switching to highly articulated English?
If Southern Baptist leaders such as Albert Mohler and Russell Moore are so troubled by this finding among Southern Baptists, do they intend to relinquish their own prestigious and highly paid positions so that these can be filled by minorities?
It has been claimed that attendance at Souther Baptist churches has declined for seven straight years.
That could be in part because of this ongoing effort to wrack the average person in the pew with overwhelming guilt for having done little more wrong that simply having been born White.
By Frederick Meekins