Westboro Baptist Church is coming to town, to dispense hate in the name of God.
The Family and other groups aligned with Joel’s Army (no relation) advocate, in Uganda for now, imprisoning, if not worse, homosexuals.
Congregations choose to hid child molestation because it might ‘hurt the name of the church.’
The Far Right, the Middle Right, the Left, and the Far Left use religion in various ways, in this country that would be Christianity of some sort, to build or maintain political power.
I wonder, when do we stand up and attempt to stop them? Is it our duty to stop the misuse of the name of Christ?
Joel L. Watts holds a Masters of Arts from United Theological Seminary with a focus in literary and rhetorical criticism of the New Testament. His interests include exploring the role of mimesis in human civilization, specifically in the study of religion and media, as well as science fiction and the way in which it has allowed mythology to be explored in light of scientific discoveries of the past century. He is the author of Mimetic Criticism of the Gospel of Mark: Introduction and Commentary (Wipf and Stock, 2013) and a co-editor and contributor to From Fear to Faith: Stories of Hitting Spiritual Walls (Energion, 2013).
Website: → Unsettled Christianity
Connect
We have learnt in the UK, that even the KKK have distanced themselves
http://blog.newhumanist.org.uk/2010/04/ku-klux-klan-distances-itself-from.html
You know, Stuart, that’s bad when the KKK calls you a bigot. Thanks for sharing, that was a bright spot in my day.
We have learnt in the UK, that even the KKK have distanced themselves
http://blog.newhumanist.org.uk/2010/04/ku-klux-klan-distances-itself-from.html
You know, Stuart, that’s bad when the KKK calls you a bigot. Thanks for sharing, that was a bright spot in my day.
It is our duty, absolutely.
However, we must be careful not to co-opt their tactics.
The second part to this is not only should we stand up to them, but we must counter their influence and the perception of Christianity they give the world.
Like I heard once before….”they will know us by our love”.
What about tough love? Like with a baseball bat
Maybe as a prop…haha!
Okay, so you are saying if I use a baseball bat to show tough love, it is okay if I use it to prop someone’s head up with?
Sorry to inject an unrelated thought, but I just gotta know. How do you make that wicked crazy smiley face. It could be so useful.
If you promise not to tell anyway, Mitchell, you find the list: http://codex.wordpress.org/Using_Smilies
It is our duty, absolutely.
However, we must be careful not to co-opt their tactics.
The second part to this is not only should we stand up to them, but we must counter their influence and the perception of Christianity they give the world.
Like I heard once before….”they will know us by our love”.
What about tough love? Like with a baseball bat
Maybe as a prop…haha!
Okay, so you are saying if I use a baseball bat to show tough love, it is okay if I use it to prop someone’s head up with?
Sorry to inject an unrelated thought, but I just gotta know. How do you make that wicked crazy smiley face. It could be so useful.
If you promise not to tell anyway, Mitchell, you find the list: http://codex.wordpress.org/Using_Smilies
The problem is who’s “we”? Are not some who comment on this blog, themselves..”Left”?
Do what?
By We, I mean Christians who know the Love of Christ. Not right nor left, but Christian.
What does being ‘Left’ have to do with anything?
But Joel,
You wrote, “Far Right, the Middle Right, the Left, and the Far Left.” I guess we all fall somewhere in there? You know that even though I am not an American, I would perhaps fall in the Middle Right.
In my opinion, some are at least mild Left who comment here.
Fr. Robert, do you use the Christian religion and the name of Christ to spew hate and to either make a political gain or keep a political position? If not, then no, you don’t fall into any of the things which I listed.
Joel,
We all have bias, and even some hatred, Christians or not. If we think we do not, we are deceiving ourselves!
Fr. Robert, I really have no idea what you are getting at, if you are only attempting to argue because you saw the word Left or not, but you are missing the entire point of the post, either on purpose or accident.
Frankly, I don’t care.
The point of the post is not about politics, but about the fact that the Church, our Faith, the name of the Lord is regularly misused to spew hate, to cause hateful and evil things. If this is something you are okay with, meaning that you are passively in favor of, then so be it, but come out and say it.
No Joel,
I am not saying that ay all, but sadly sometimes Christians, even real one’s, must choose between a lesser evil in this fallen world. As Jesus said, he “hated” the “deeds” of the Nicolaitans! (Rev. 2:6). So Chrisians can and most “hate” evil and sin, but first that which is in themselves!
sorry my typos, I am fighting a chest cold and the meds
Types? Wait, I mean, Typoes? You are talking to the King og Typoies, with or without medication
So then you find that it is okay to abide by what people like Westboro Baptist Church is doing, what some of the RCC priests say about protecting the Mother Church, and what others do in the name of God?
I don’t find this reasonable whatsoever. I don’t find it reasonable to meet them with their same tactics. I don’t intend to show up with a sign which reads ‘God hates WBC and will kill your children.’ But, there must be something to do which counters the abuse of the name of God and Christ which goes on with groups like these.
Joel,
Don’t put words into my mouth. I just don’t like political blogs, and the use of Right, Left, etc. Christians can say no to evil with their life and light, and don’t really need to get caught in the political traps in every area. What ever happened to the weekly prayer meeting in the Christian Churches?
Not trying too, Fr. Robert. This was not a political statement, but I cannot accuse a Far Right group of doing it and not call attention a Far Left group.
The bible speaks about God’s house being called a house of prayer, and yet? No, you are right. Imagine a weekly prayer meeting.
Joel,
I was thinking about the fact that in Acts 12 when Peter was in prison, the saints prayed for him, rather than protesting outside the jail. And of course God set him free. I know a big miracle, but you get my point perhaps. And I agree with WK’s post.
Now that, Fr. Robert, I agree with!
Joel,
Yes, if the Church would BE Church more often, in faith, hope and love! Perhaps God would hear more, and show Himself,..”Our Father who is in heaven”! All power & glory!
The problem is who’s “we”? Are not some who comment on this blog, themselves..”Left”?
Do what?
By We, I mean Christians who know the Love of Christ. Not right nor left, but Christian.
What does being ‘Left’ have to do with anything?
But Joel,
You wrote, “Far Right, the Middle Right, the Left, and the Far Left.” I guess we all fall somewhere in there? You know that even though I am not an American, I would perhaps fall in the Middle Right.
In my opinion, some are at least mild Left who comment here.
Fr. Robert, do you use the Christian religion and the name of Christ to spew hate and to either make a political gain or keep a political position? If not, then no, you don’t fall into any of the things which I listed.
Joel,
We all have bias, and even some hatred, Christians or not. If we think we do not, we are deceiving ourselves!
Fr. Robert, I really have no idea what you are getting at, if you are only attempting to argue because you saw the word Left or not, but you are missing the entire point of the post, either on purpose or accident.
Frankly, I don’t care.
The point of the post is not about politics, but about the fact that the Church, our Faith, the name of the Lord is regularly misused to spew hate, to cause hateful and evil things. If this is something you are okay with, meaning that you are passively in favor of, then so be it, but come out and say it.
No Joel,
I am not saying that ay all, but sadly sometimes Christians, even real one’s, must choose between a lesser evil in this fallen world. As Jesus said, he “hated” the “deeds” of the Nicolaitans! (Rev. 2:6). So Chrisians can and most “hate” evil and sin, but first that which is in themselves!
sorry my typos, I am fighting a chest cold and the meds
Types? Wait, I mean, Typoes? You are talking to the King og Typoies, with or without medication
So then you find that it is okay to abide by what people like Westboro Baptist Church is doing, what some of the RCC priests say about protecting the Mother Church, and what others do in the name of God?
I don’t find this reasonable whatsoever. I don’t find it reasonable to meet them with their same tactics. I don’t intend to show up with a sign which reads ‘God hates WBC and will kill your children.’ But, there must be something to do which counters the abuse of the name of God and Christ which goes on with groups like these.
Joel,
Don’t put words into my mouth. I just don’t like political blogs, and the use of Right, Left, etc. Christians can say no to evil with their life and light, and don’t really need to get caught in the political traps in every area. What ever happened to the weekly prayer meeting in the Christian Churches?
Not trying too, Fr. Robert. This was not a political statement, but I cannot accuse a Far Right group of doing it and not call attention a Far Left group.
The bible speaks about God’s house being called a house of prayer, and yet? No, you are right. Imagine a weekly prayer meeting.
Joel,
I was thinking about the fact that in Acts 12 when Peter was in prison, the saints prayed for him, rather than protesting outside the jail. And of course God set him free. I know a big miracle, but you get my point perhaps. And I agree with WK’s post.
Now that, Fr. Robert, I agree with!
Joel,
Yes, if the Church would BE Church more often, in faith, hope and love! Perhaps God would hear more, and show Himself,..”Our Father who is in heaven”! All power & glory!
Yes and no.
The most important thing for us to do is present the truth. Presenting the truth is different than responding to the lies.
Sometimes we do need to respond to the lies, but we absolutely should not allow the lies to dominate the discussion.
Otherwise we become no better than, for example, the recent declaration that the cornerstones of Christianity are opposing abortion, gay marriage, and such.
Christianity isn’t about rebuking Glenn Beck or Joel Osteen. It might be something we have to do along the way, but our real function is to go out and make disciples, teaching them about Jesus.
We should do our darnedest to make sure that we’re telling the truth, not just calling out the liars.
Yes and no.
The most important thing for us to do is present the truth. Presenting the truth is different than responding to the lies.
Sometimes we do need to respond to the lies, but we absolutely should not allow the lies to dominate the discussion.
Otherwise we become no better than, for example, the recent declaration that the cornerstones of Christianity are opposing abortion, gay marriage, and such.
Christianity isn’t about rebuking Glenn Beck or Joel Osteen. It might be something we have to do along the way, but our real function is to go out and make disciples, teaching them about Jesus.
We should do our darnedest to make sure that we’re telling the truth, not just calling out the liars.
But, there must be something to do which counters the abuse of the name of God and Christ which goes on with groups like these.
You are doing it already brother, by blogging and Twittering your disgust and revoltion and defending the Lord’s reputation from these people.
You have already done exceedingly far more than if you had simply turned physically up with a plackard.
But, there must be something to do which counters the abuse of the name of God and Christ which goes on with groups like these.
You are doing it already brother, by blogging and Twittering your disgust and revoltion and defending the Lord’s reputation from these people.
You have already done exceedingly far more than if you had simply turned physically up with a plackard.
Should We Do Something When People Misuse Christianity #tcot #atheism #god- http://tinyurl.com/yeoznjk
RT @PolycarpTCOJC: Should We Do Something When People Misuse Christianity #tcot #atheism #god- http://tinyurl.com/yeoznjk
RT @csalafia: RT @PolycarpTCOJC: Should We Do Something When People Misuse Christianity #tcot #atheism #god- http://tinyurl.com/yeoznjk
A way to do something –
A way to do something –