Mocking Truth (2006-2008)
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December 2008
The Green Bible: "The Green Bible will equip and encourage you to see God's vision for creation and help you engage in the work of healing and sustaining it. [Don't believe it! Our sovereign Creator is in charge-- not finite humans!] This first Bible of its kind includes inspirational essays from key leaders such as N. T. Wright, Barbara Brown Taylor, Brian McLaren... Pope John Paul II, and Wendell Berry....
"'The future of our fragile, beautiful planet home is in our hands. [No, it's not! It's in God's hands! He enables us to do His will if we follow Him.]
"Review [of this book]: "'There has never been a more important time for a resource like The Green Bible.' -- Carl Pope, executive director, Sierra Club
"'This is exactly what the Church needs at this critical time.' -- Richard Cizik, vice president for Governmental Affairs, National Association of Evangelicals.... 'Desmond Tutu writes the Foreword to this landmark new edition of the Bible. He concludes with this powerful affirmation: "It is possible to have a new kind of world, a world where there will be more compassion, more gentleness, more caring, more laughter, more joy for all of God's creation, because that is God's dream. And God says, 'Help me, help me, help me realize my dream.'" See God's plan for the care of His creation
November 2008
The Princess Diana Bible site: (Warning: this is not a good site!) "...Revision Studios will publish a pro gay translation of The Bible to be called The Princess Diana Bible. 'There is solid evidence that Adam and Eve were both women,' says Mitchell. [That's absurd!] ... Mitchell claims the gay Bible is divinely inspired.... In Biblical times homosexual relationships were so commonplace that no one gave it a second thought. [God destroyed Sodom and Gommorah for such rebellion against His guidelines] According to Mitchell, 'There are 116 versions of the Bible, why is any of them better than ours?'"
October 2008
The next five links deal with a corrupt new "Bible." Apparently, the symbol shown on its cover represents the ("spiritual" but not "religious" ) designer behind this unholy project. The dot in the center of the symbol represents some kind of universal Mind or "God," not our holy Lord.
Angelina Jolie, Bono and Nelson Mandela feature in Vogue-style Bible: "Instead of following the usual Bible format - lots of words but somewhat lacking in celebrity portraits - Swedish ad man Dag Soderberg has decided to repackage it in the style of Vogue. Passages are written out in a magazine-style format and accompanied by striking images. Jolie's picture is included alongside Mahatma Gandhi, Nelson Mandela and U2 frontman Bono, to illustrate the importance of doing good deeds.... Soderberg insists he is not particularly religious, explaining that his motivation is to make the Bible more accessible." See Mocking God and His Guidelines and the next two links:The Book: "Illuminated World seeks to introduce today’s audience to a revolutionary contemporary Bible, one that encourages dialogue and is culturally relevant, accessible and easily digestible for any reader regardless of religious, economic, racial or social background. We have no religious agenda nor do we support a specific faith."
Dag Söderberg: "Dag Söderberg is a spiritual but not particularly religious individual...."
The Book: A sexy coffee table Bible to show off your historical savoir-faire: "The first project Illuminated World took on was a sexy, glossy magazine format version of the formerly-holy Bible, with shots of Angelina Jolie, monks on fire, polar bears and brand-name beverages. The 'illuminators“, partnered with The American Bible Society, offer 'to introduce today’s audience to a…contemporary Bible'... a well-designed, sexy Bible..."
Disinformation: "This fall will see the US release of Bible Illuminated: The Book, an illustrated Bible outfitted with provocative photography. Take, for example, Revelation, which features a photo of a man on fire."
August 2008
'Altar Boyz' brings the gospel to San Jose Stage: "Fans embrace spoof of boy band that sings for salvation. ... The Christian boy-band spoof has converted legions of devotees, dubbed Altarholics, who started worshiping with the 2005 off-Broadway debut of this cheeky show.... A hit from Chicago to Korea, 'Altar Boyz' counts the coveted 'tween' demographic among its hard-core followers.'... 'The music is all parody, of course," says Greg MacKellan... .'but I think it works pretty well as contemporary theater music. There are real melodies and extremely sharp and witty lyrics. The central concept is pretty irresistible.'"
Obama ridicules the Bible: Youtube Video
July 2008
The Church Has Become A Circus... Literally: "Methodist Pastor Jim Lavender [is] riding an elephant during an outdoor church service. Lutheran Pastor Rick Hartmann... attempts to justify dressing like a clown to lead communion by stating that 'clown' means 'clod' (buffoon), and God used a clod (of dirt) to make man.... He claims we are to be 'fools' for Christ. Therefore, we should put on face paint and honk horns during worship....
"Here is a picture of some Episcopalian priests holding up the elements for Clown Communion in New York City.... How does a grown man conclude with a straight face, 'I think it would be a good idea to dress like Wiggles for church?'" See The Holiness of God
May 2008
See Re-Inventing the ChurchElecting to Be Open, A Christian Writing Festival Invites Nonbelievers: "Yes, the festival workshops and lectures over the years have been given mostly by Christian editors, authors and publishers... But less likely invitees, too, have been paid to speak to the faithful. ...past keynote speakers have included critically acclaimed writers who oppose Christianity or who argue that it is merely as helpful as other faiths. Another keynote speaker last month was Yann Martel, the author of 'Life of Pi,' whose protagonist practices three religions: Christianity, Hinduism and Islam....
"'It's important to look at artists who have seriously engaged faith, though maybe even rejected it, so that we can better understand how faith functions and how story functions,' said Donald R. Hettinga, a professor of English and co-chairman of the festival. 'This doesn't weaken or threaten our faith.'...
"'...it also seems to me that the festival organizers have begun to favor those who doubt more than those who believe,' [said Professor de Rosset]....
"Admiration for Mr. Martel 'puts me in a hard place,' Ms. Venhuizen said. 'What do I believe? Can I be a Protestant Reformed and believe the message of the book? It makes you wonder: What is truth? Doubt? Belief?' She paused. 'In any case, what Mr. Martel does for me is open up the world.'...
"'To me, imagination is the key to morality,' Mr. Chabon said at one of last month's sessions. 'If you can't imagine what it is to live in someone else's head, then you're more likely to hurt them.'"
Is Earth our Mother? "Watching the [1990 Earth Day church celebration], I wondered if the Creator Himself would have been welcome. At one point, the members of the youth group stepped forward to present their offerings: 'I bring to our Mother, the Earth, the gift of a new beginning…' 'I bring to our Mother , the Earth, the birth of a new consciousness.' 'I bring to our Mother, the Earth, the gift of immortality that you may live forever cherished by your beloved children.'... The congregation responded to this strange ritual with a standing ovation. Did these people know whom they worshiped? Had environmental concern swung church doors wide open to paganism? Could this really be happening in a supposedly conservative church?"
April 2008
These excerpts below are vital to understanding the growing assaults on Biblical faith and freedom. The global vision of spiritual solidarity calls for the eradication of Biblical absolutes, which hinders their vision of inter-faith pluralism. UN leaders, bankers, presidents and other globalist elitists are determined to succeed. Remember, this is spiritual war, and the enemy's darts are aimed at churches and children around the world. Only God can lead us in His victory.
Granger Community Church: Where Van Halen Leads the Worship: "When the character of God, as described in His eternal Word, is ignored in worship and a new god is erected that not only tolerates sinful flesh but celebrates it, you have a false church. Granger Community Church used Van Halen [his songs include "Runnin' with the Devil"] in their worship on March 1 and 2 to set up a sermon entitled, 'Tight Like Spandex'. They have posted the video on their website under the 'I Love the 80’s' series on this page. ...this is worshiping a golden calf in Christ’s name, blaspheming the most high God and defiling His name with the filth of this world."
The program is full of silly jokes and crude entertainment and the pastor mocks all the old precious hymns as "bar songs." See
Popular Music with Pagan Roots
February 2008
New 'Bible' says Christ born of gorilla, not virgin: "A new, lavishly illustrated book --described by its marketer as a 'postmodern' edition of the Bible -- takes Darwin's theory of evolution as gospel.... According to Ruth Rimm, Bronx school teacher and book artist, her version of the Scriptures... 'explores the emergence of a new global spirituality that mixes the best of each wisdom tradition with the latest findings in psychology, quantum physics, neuroscience, and linguistics.' It is a 'Bible for skeptics, seekers, and people of different faiths.'"
This perversion of God's Word is very disturbing but, in light of today's heresies and Biblical illiteracy, it's not surprising. See A Twist of Faith and Deut 8:10-20
The Bible as Graphic Novel, With a Samurai Stranger Called Christ: "Mr. Akinsiku says his Son of God is 'a samurai stranger who’s come to town, in silhouette,' here to shake things up in a new, much-abridged version of the Bible rooted in manga, the Japanese form of graphic novels [or comic books]. “We present things in a very brazen way,” said Mr. Akinsiku, who hopes to become an Anglican priest... 'Christ is a hard guy, seeking revolution and revolt, a tough guy.'...
"The medium shapes the message. Manga often focuses on action and epic. Much of the Bible, as a result, ends up on the cutting room floor, and what remains is darker. 'It is the end of the Word as we know it, and the end of a certain cultural idea of the Scriptures as a book...” Timothy Beal, professor of religion... said of the reworking of the Bible in new forms, including manga. 'It opens up new ways of understanding Scripture and ends up breaking the idols a bit.'
"...the archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Rev. Rowan Williams, is quoted as saying, 'It will convey the shock and freshness of the Bible in a unique way.'... Christian thinkers have tried to make the Bible accessible for centuries, scholars said." See Biblical versus Cultural Christianity
Heaven Help Us: Stars Expound On Scripture: "...'Pocket Canons' [are] individual books of the Bible reprinted with introductions by various cultural luminaries. As Canongate's publisher, Jamie Byng, said: 'The Bible's daunting length only added to its inaccessibility.' Still, he fretted about his decision. 'However we jazzed the Good Book up, would anyone actually buy such editions?'
"...the Pocket Canons sold more than 900,000 copies. They were followed up, in 2005, by 'Revelations: Personal Responses to the Books of the Bible,' a collection of the introductions written for the Pocket Canons....The contributors to 'Revelations,' who are described as 'scholars, writers, religious figures' and -- without irony -- 'highly influential people,' are a diverse group. Readers are treated to the rock star Bono's spiritual musings on the book of Psalms, in which he claims that David performing music for King Saul is similar in spirit to the Spice Girls performing for Prince Charles. 'David was a star,' Bono assures us, 'the Elvis of the bible.'... The Dalai Lama, reading the New Testament book of James, compares Buddhist and Christian teachings about charity. ...
"By contrast, Antonio Monda's 'Do You Believe?: Conversations on God and Religion' ... tackles the question of belief directly.... Here we discover the motivation behind Ms. Fonda's decision to convert to Christianity: 'Christ was the first feminist, and because of that I've learned from his teaching to call myself a Christian feminist.' Ms. Fonda informs us that the early Christians were 'seekers rather than believers' and that her faith is 'not a matter of traditions and dogmas but, rather, a spiritual experience.'"
November 2007
Senate Panel Probes 6 Top Televangelists: "Sen. Charles Grassley of Iowa, the ranking Republican on the Senate Finance Committee, is investigating six prominent televangelist ministries for possible financial misconduct. ...the Iowa Republican is trying to determine whether or not these ministries are improperly using their tax-exempt status as churches to shield lavish lifestyles. The six ministries identified as being under investigation by the committee are led by: Paula White, Joyce Meyer, Creflo Dollar, Eddie Long, Kenneth Copeland and Benny Hinn. Three of the six - Benny Hinn, Kenneth Copeland and Creflo Dollar - also sit on the Board of Regents for the Oral Roberts University." See Mocking God and His Guidelines
October 2007
Emerging Church Confusion -- What Does it Really Mean? "The emerging church is fundamentally mystical as can easily be seen by the leaders who feed the emerging movement a steady diet of contemplative spirituality.
Leonard Sweet, one of the emerging church movement's most prolific leaders explains the role of mysticism in the emerging church:Mysticism, once cast to the sidelines of the Christian tradition, is now situated in postmodernist culture near the center.... In the words of one of the greatest theologians of the twentieth century, Jesuit philosopher of religion/dogmatist Karl Rahner, 'The Christian of tomorrow will be a mystic, one who has experienced something, or he will be nothing." [Mysticism] is metaphysics arrived at through mind-body experiences. Mysticism begins in experience; it ends in theology." See Basis for our faith"
God Made Flesh, Then Plastic: "A growing phalanx of religious action figures -- including Adam, Eve, Daniel, Job, Esther, Goliath, Samson and Jesus -- offer a tweaking reminder that despite Heathendom's best efforts, the faith-based marketplace is forever expanding.... To no one's surprise, other faiths are getting in on the action. A company named Kridana, which says it consulted 'with Indian parents across the globe,' will begin shipping figures representing Shri Hanuman and Lord Rama this November. 'Just in time for the [Hindu] holidays...." The Cross of Christ Feared, banned, trivialized... yet Triumphant
August 2007
Change name of God to Allah, says bishop: '"Allah is a very beautiful word for God. Shouldn't we all say that from now on we will call God Allah?' Bishop Tiny Muskens said.... 'God doesn't care what we call him.'" See Knowing God and Tolerance as a Tool for TransformationFaith-based toys to hit US stores: "Instead of Spiderman or Bratz dolls, children in the US could soon be clutching a talking Jesus toy, a bearded Moses or a muscle-bound figure of Goliath. ... Wal-Mart, the biggest toy retailer in the US, will for the first time stock a full line of faith-based toys.... The market is notoriously hard to crack, with every child wanting what their friends at school have and high-profile brands like Transformers and Spiderman dominating marketing. So will the 12in (30cm) Jesus doll quoting scripture or the 3in (8cm) figure of Daniel in the lion's den open up children's imaginations - and their parents' wallets?"
Do you wonder if this Jesus figure will be tossed in the toy box with all the other fantasy action figures -- or will it be revered as just another idol representing a power-giving deity? See Marketing "Christianity"
High School Musical as Bible Study Material? "Well, it was just a matter of time until some evangelical publisher figured out there was gold in pushing High School Musical as deep spiritual material for young girls. Just in time for the release of High School Musical 2 on the Disney Channel comes a book from Bethany House to teach girls spiritual truths from the movie. The author, Steve Russo, especially likes the song lyrics on the show. Click here to see how spiritually deep High School Musical really is. ...(Bear in mind that the co-author of this book is Russo’s 11-year-old little girl.)" See Teachers who mislead the flock
A first hand account of Palau’s Nebraska carnival: "Tens of thousands of people gathered for the fun and frolics, the face painting, the motocross, the BMX shows, the skateboarders, the rock and roll acts, etc." See Training Teens to Twist the Truth
July 2007
Biblical faith never brought unity between the Church and the corrupt world. It only united those who were joined to Christ through the cross. See Biblical SeparationThe Deadly Virus of Celebrity Christianity: "We’ve moved beyond the red carpets, limousines and entourages of the 1990s.... One friend of mine in Texas recently inquired to see if a prominent preacher could speak at her conference. The minister’s assistant faxed back a list of requirements that had to be met in order to book a speaking engagement. The demands included: * a five-figure honorarium * a $10,000 gasoline deposit for the private plane * a manicurist and hairstylist...* a suite in a five-star hotel * a luxury car....
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I don’t know whom to blame more for it: The narcissistic minister who craves the attention, or the spiritually naive crowds who place these arrogant people on their shaky pedestals. All I know is that God is grieved by all of this shameful carnality." [J. Lee Grady, 7-27-07] See Mocking God and His Guidelines
Obama to UCC: Faith Has Been 'Hijacked': "Obama told a church convention Saturday that some right-wing U.S. evangelical leaders have exploited and politicized religious beliefs in an effort to sow division. 'Somehow, somewhere along the way, faith stopped being used to bring us together and faith started being used to drive us apart.... Faith got hijacked, partly because of the so-called leaders of the Christian Right, all too eager to exploit what divides us,' the Illinois senator said."
March 2007
The Earth Charter's Unholy Ark: This counterfeit ark may look like the Old Testament Ark of the Covenant, but its message is totally opposite! "A wooden chest with carrying rods on each side, it brings to mind the Israelites forty-year journey from slavery in Egypt to freedom in the promised land. Back then, God was teaching His precious people to understand His holiness and their need for uncompromising purity before Him.... Nothing profane or unholy could touch God's sacred ark, for it signified His glorious presence among His people....
"It all makes sense! In a world that hates Biblical absolutes and loves its own illusions of unity and peace apart from God, symbolic art becomes a powerful tool for change. For 'image and form have the power to transform consciousness,' explains Sally Linder...."
See Idols and unholy gods
January 2007
Marketing "Christianity"Friends of God (Making a spectacle of Christianity! This is so sad! ): "'Friends of God: A Road Trip with Alexandra Pelosi,' has [Alexandra Pelosi, daughter of new Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi] traversing the nation to visit with evangelicals, from Jerry Falwell and scandalized Ted Haggard to people who spread the gospel by wrestling and operating Bible-themed miniature golf courses.... The questions, rather than being confrontational, are inoffensive or, at best (or worst), gently mocking." See Biblical versus Cultural Christianity
Divine Mysteries: "...why do so many of these men and women of the cloth find themselves exploring the seedy underbelly of society?... The entry of ordained women into real-life parish ministry has placed lots of women clerics in mysteries as well. ... Seven Sisters college presidents Jill Ker Conway and Elizabeth Kennan... created a college-chaplain sleuth named Rosemary Stubbs. Of course, such characters would have been unthinkable a generation ago. Now, as women outnumber men at many mainline seminaries and the new presiding bishop of the Episcopal Church is a woman, it's only natural ...
"Christian apologist J.I. Packer once observed that mysteries 'would never have existed without the Christian gospel." [Yes they would! Myths and mysteries have existed in pagan cultures around the world that never heard the gospel!] See
December 2006
A Cardboard Christ: "The cardboard Jesus is an exercise in living their faith and 'taking Jesus Christ with them everywhere,' said the Rev. Steve McElroy. Earlier this year, McElroy had talked to about 20 middle school and high school students in his church about the challenge in living as a Christian. The discussion became more real when the pastor showed up with the cardboard cutout and asked the youth group if they would take Jesus with them any time they were together. 'It's one thing taking Jesus around local places. It's more difficult to be a public Christian when you're hauling him through the mall crowded with shoppers,' Pastor McElroy said.
"...obviously their pastor doesn't take the Son of God or His Word too seriously. 'Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth. Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them..." - Exodus 20:4-5...
"What part of 'Thou shalt not' is so hard for today's pastor to grasp? And who says we are we to take Jesus anywhere? Did He not command us to follow Him - which begs the question: Who is in control of the relationship here? 'Jesus unto his disciples, If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me." - Matthew 16:24 ....
"While martyrs are persecuted, imprisoned, tortured and killed around the world for faithfully proclaiming the Gospel and refusing to deny Jesus Christ as their Lord and Savior, this is what Christians are courageously promoting and defending here in America and other affluent areas of the world: Jesus Dolls, cardboard Christs, Nativity Scenes, Christmas Trees and the right to hear 'Merry Christmas' instead of 'Happy Holidays' from the cashier at Wal-Mart." See Mocking God and His Guidelines
The Parent Hood - How technology and social progress are turning procreation into self-actualization: "...a report was unveiled in New York on 'The Revolution in Parenthood,' the growing phenomenon of the deliberate creation of children without a mother and a father.... Leibovitz is apparently in the vanguard of this revolution, and Newsweek is eagerly mainstreaming it....
* In Spain, new legislation eliminates the words 'mother' and 'father' from birth certificates, replacing them with the terms 'Progenitor A' and 'Progenitor B.'
* Scientists in several countries 'are experimenting with the DNA in eggs and sperm in nearly unimaginable ways, raising the specter of children born with one or three genetic parents, or two same-sex parents.'"
November 2006
All I want for Christmas is my Jesus doll: "The Marine Reserve's Toys For Tots Program just rejected 4000 talking Jesus dolls donated by a company called One2Believe... that were destined to be distributed to needy children this Christmas. The reason? It is a 'government entity' and they don't want to offend any Jewish or Muslim families that might have a problem with Jesus. Well, how about the Christian families that might be offended by a Jesus doll?" See Marketing "Christianity"
One Night with the King: " The film is adapted from the book of Esther by way of the novel Hadassah: One Night with the King, written by Pentecostal preacher Tommy Tenney and published by Christian publisher Bethany House. The novel... swoonily romanticizes Xerxes and Esther’s relationship, while turning Haman into a virtual forerunner of Hitler.... From Esther’s opening salutation... to her lamenting the corruption of the word 'intimacy' as a 'prudish euphemism' for sex, the novel’s contemporary sensibilities are stamped on every page.... Though the novel takes significant liberties with the biblical story, the film departs further still.
"The canonical story opens with the defiance of Xerxes’s previous queen, Vashti, who refuses the king’s summons to appear at a feast where he wants to show off her beauty to his guests. The book of Esther explicitly draws out the potentially subversive implications of this act: What if other women, hearing of this, likewise refuse to obey their husbands?...This event is all but unrecognizable in the film, in which Vashti’s refusal to appear is construed as an act of political resistance against her husband’s war with Greece..." See
Don't Be Deceived! and the next link:Entertainment. "Sneaky" Preaching: "There is a new "Christian" movie out "One Night with the King" about the true story of Esther. It is based on Tommy Tenney's book at godchasers.net. The opening paragraph about the story from the movie site says, "an epic motion picture set in an imaginative world of adventure, intrigue and romance..."
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But, how can the story be described as being set in an imaginative world if it is based on Scripture which is true and historical? I noticed the book is touted as a fiction novel. Which is it, Mr. Tenney? See Movie Magic & Unconscious Learning and God's unchanging Word
September 2006
Left Behind Game Raises Unanswered Questions: "Left Behind: Eternal Forces, which is made for PCs and includes options such as choosing which side to fight on, has received some criticism due to its approach to depicting the apocalyptic battle between good and evil. The producer walked me through the game, but because some of my questions included ethics he suggested that I also talk with the Public Relations manager for LBG.... When I bumped into her as she was escorting Tim LaHaye and Jerry Jenkins to an appointment, she happily agreed to be interviewed and even contacted me after the show to expedite the Q&A.
..."Several weeks passed.... I'm still waiting. ... Though the questions seemed reasonable to me as I submitted them, maybe I'm such an old fuddy-duddy that I don't understand the way things work anymore.... Meanwhile, the questions are below." See Role-Playing Games & Popular Occultism
Police Shut Down Church Rock Concert: "The church youth music nights, called New Age Cabaret, includes bands like Drown Retarded Children and Clitorture (which has a lovely song called 'Why Won't Jesus Die'.... For obvious reasons, neighbors were just plain fed up with the church music nights. Colleen Ryan said, 'You've got a herd of kids standing out there with spikes and studs and what look like prison tattoos,' she told the paper. 'We are trying to promote the city as a good place to live in and raise children in.'" See Depravity
August 2006
Madonna Offends in Rome, Amends in Africa: "Being raised on a cross with a crown of thorns like a modern Christ is absurd,' Leone said. 'Doing it in the cradle of Christianity comes close to blasphemy.'...
"Courting controversy, particularly the religious kind, is a bit of a pastime for the Kabbalah convert.... The Queen of Pop has announced plans to raise at least $3 million to aid orphans in Malawi, with the money going toward a care center, as well as improved economic, food and health programs for the area.... Madonna is also financing a $1 million documentary about the region's orphans, and has met with President Bill Clinton and other prominent officials about bringing low-cost medicine to the region." See Temptation? I create my own values
Mystery - Seeing with the Heart in an Age of Literalism: "Both science and religion are infected by literal-mindedness. It's a disease, which afflicts atheists as much as it does believers. To be unable to think and feel metaphorically, poetically and mythically is a serious defect in modern consciousness, which often leads to violence. So, literalism in religion and science (or better scientism) needs to be taken very seriously because it cripples the soul....
"My passion is the recovery of religion (and Christianity in particular) as a work of the imagination, a work of art. It seems to me that this provides an antidote to both rigid and unthinking literalism in both science and religion."
See God's eternal, unchanging Word and From Gnostic Roots to Occult Revival
July 2006
"'It is a weaving of word of the Bible and the word of Africa.... We used a lot of African proverbs, a lot of African folk lore and a lot of Africa illustrations and African songs,said.... Mr Adeyemo said the word of God has always been contextualised and gave the example of St Paul's writings in the Bible. 'When Paul was writing to the Jewish people, he used a lot of Jewish culture and their customs and traditions.'"Bible gets African interpretation: "The first Bible commentary written exclusively by African theologians has been launched in Kenya. Written by 70 contributors from 25 countries, the Africa Bible Commentary aims to explain the Bible from an African perspective.... Published by the Evangelical publisher Zondervan [Rick Warren's publisher], The Africa Bible Commentary gives a section-by-section interpretation of the gospel....
Of course! Jesus was Jewish. He often quoted from the Old Testament to show how His ministry, death and resurrection were the fulfillment of God's earlier promises to the Jewish people. But the pagan heritage of Africa (as well as the idolatry of pre-Christian Europe where I grew up) involved the kinds of worship and ritual magic that God warned His people to shun. Those customs would destroy, not deliver, His people. See 2 Timothy 4:3-4 and God's eternal, unchanging Word
June 2006
Phelps sparks speech debate: "States are rushing to limit when and where people may protest at funerals - all because of a small fundamentalist Kansas church whose members picket soldiers’ burials, arguing that Americans are dying for a country that harbors homosexuals.... Legislation is being considered in at least 14 states, and several of the bills are moving quickly....
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The church has about 75 members, most of them belonging to the extended family of Westboro Baptist’s pastor, Fred Phelps. The church is an independent congregation that preaches a literal reading of the Bible."No! These demonstrators do not represent fundamental Christianity or Biblical teaching. Instead, they demonstrate a hateful variation of cultural Christianity -- a mockery of truth whether it errs on the side of angry legalism or feel-good sentiments. Jesus calls us to speak the truth in love, thus drawing people to Him, not kicking them away. Yet, the media attention Phelps has received will surely fuel hostility toward all Christians who lovingly share the gospel. See The Enemy of The People and Homeland Security links Homeschoolers to Terrorists
May 2006
Episcopalians Reject Gay Candidates: "...about 700 voters representing clergy and laity chose Mark Handley Andrus, a violin-playing, yoga-practicing father of two.... Andrus... will be succeeding Bishop William E. Swing [founder of United Religions (URI)].... Three [other candidates]... live openly with same-sex partners...
"Since the election in 2003 by the New Hampshire diocese of V. Gene Robinson, the first openly gay bishop in Anglican history, conservative Anglicans have urged the Episcopal Church of the United States to stop even considering the election of gay bishops.... Andrus pledged to continue the diocese's liberal traditions, saying that 'your vote today remains a vote for inclusion and communion.' The voters erupted in a deafening applause." See Temptation? I create my own values!
April 2006
Holy Humor Sunday Draws Resurrection Laughs: "Clowns acted as ushers and greeted people at the doors.... Pastor Robert M. Thompson dressed-up as a medieval jester, and his staff as clowns. The theme for the service was taken from the Apostle Paul referring to himself and the early Christians as 'fools for Christ's sake.' (1 Cor. 4:10). ...
"A sign outside the Maplewood (MO) Christian Church announced: 'If you must sleep in on Sunday, sleep in here.' Sleeping bags on the back pews invited people to reserve a few minutes for naps during the service.'"
What a sad distortion of Biblical truth! Paul's words warn us that our Christian faith may look foolish to a world that despises His Word. Yet, we are committed to follow His way, not the foolish ways of the world!
New 'Ten Commandments' to Stir Hornet's Nest Says Naveen: "ABC's upcoming miniseries of 'The Ten Commandments' promises to push quite a few buttons.... 'What was unusual about the way we did this version of 'The Ten Commandments' was we treated Moses like he was a lunatic. If somebody came and told you today, 'I've just been talking to a burning bush,' you would try and have him put into a hospital, wouldn't you?' And as if that's not enough to convince us this isn't Charleton Heston's reverent 'Ten Commandments,' he adds, ' I think what we've done is question the nature of religious dogma..." See The Ten Commandments
February 2006
Is new AOL IM slogan marketing blasphemy: "...when Millar saw the company's new slogan, he was shocked and disgusted.... America Online is now acting like God – using what some consider to be His very name in a marketing pitch for e-mail, voice chat, video chat, instant messaging, text messaging and other forms of communication. AIM's new slogan is 'I AM.'...
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'I AM' is the English translation of YaHWeH, the self-proclaimed name of God. 'He is the Creator and Savior of the world,' explains Millar. 'He alone is to be worshipped. To take His name in vain, or use as a common thing is blasphemy, a vulgar sin of offense. Perhaps you have not read the Third Commandment, since they have removed it from so many public monuments in the last decade. But breaking it as a means of marketing your products offends the mind of everyone who worships Him."
January 2006
-- [UK] Scientist compares Moses to Hitler, calls New Testament 'sado-masochistic doctrine': "Controversial scientist and evolutionist Richard Dawkins... calls religion a 'virus' and faith-based education 'child abuse'.... Dawkins... warns his audience of the influence of 'Christian fascism' and 'an American Taliban.'...I"In part two [of the TV series], 'The Virus of Faith,' Dawkins attacks the teaching of religion to children, calling it child abuse. 'Innocent children are being saddled with demonstrable falsehoods,' he says. 'It's time to question the abuse of childhood innocence with superstitious ideas of hellfire and damnation.... 'Sectarian religious schools,' Dawkins asserts, have been 'deeply damaging' to generations of children." See Justifying Mind Control
The mocking of Christianity in popular culture continues: "Thankfully, advertisers have fled in droves from airing commercials on 'The Book of Daniel.' After calls by the American Family Association and the Illinois Family Institute, several major companies have stopped sponsoring the show." See Depravity
The New Video Games That Let You 'Blow Up Stuff' . . . for God: "Those of you who didn't appreciate the Narnia movie, will probably not like the new Narnia computer game very much.... It's one of the many computer games that are being targeted at Christian kids. One such game works like a traditional 'first-person shooter', but instead of firing bullets and lasers into soldiers or aliens, players use a variety of spiritual weapons, such as balls of holy energy, to slay Satan's minions and free possessed members of a Christian flock in ancient Rome. The game's Web site offers the challenge: 'Show them nothing can overcome the power of the Holy Spirit.'" See Toying with Death
Did Jesus exist? Italian court to decide: "An Italian court is tackling Jesus -- and whether the Roman Catholic Church may be breaking the law by teaching that he existed 2,000 years ago.... 'Cascioli says Righi, and by extension the whole Church, broke two Italian laws. The first is 'Abuso di Credulita Popolare' (Abuse of Popular Belief) meant to protect people against being swindled or conned." See Human Foolishness
Prove Christ exists, judge orders priest: "Signor Cascioli, author of a book called The Fable of Christ, began legal proceedings against Father Righi three years ago after the priest denounced Signor Cascioli in the parish newsletter for questioning Christ’s historical existence....
"Signor Cascioli’s contention — echoed in numerous atheist books and internet sites — is that there was no reliable evidence that Jesus lived and died in 1st-century Palestine apart from the Gospel accounts, which Christians took on faith. There is therefore no basis for Christianity, he claims." But he is wrong! See The GOSPEL - Planned and Promised from the beginning of time
Find previous links on this topic at
Mocking Truth - 1 (2003-2004) or go to Recent Links