Preachers Co-op The Gospel While Smiling

Have you ever wondered how a preacher or anyone takes an entire book of the bible [for e.g. the book of Mark] and reduces it to a few nice things about Jesus? How does Christ's life get re-duced to a "he died for your sins, believe and you go to heaven". Is this much worse than the terrorist who is told "blow your-self up and 70 virgins will be waiting for you in heaven"? Not sure if the Christians promise virgins...let's hope so!

So the Prince of Peace was foretold to bring down the haughty, the powerful and heal the poor, the blind, and the rejected! Hmm. Sounds pretty radical to me! But have you ever heard that from a church pulpit? No, no...keep politics, economics, sociology and challenges to hierarchy out of the pulpit and the platitudes of the pleasant "gospel". 

One must wonder why this man of peace was murdered as a traitor and a terrorist [to the state and religious leaders]? Certainly his constant challenging of religious authorities - who represented the State: the Romans, and the authorities in Jerusalem - might play a role. While he condemned the rich, the powerful and the purveyors of the status quo, he reached out with com-passion [feel with] to those rejected by these very authorities. He "hung out with" prostitutes, the poor, the sick, women: all forbidden by the Jewish authorities. We see similar things continue in most of the world and the three "great" religions of today! Ok, most in the West think it's ok to talk to women today - but don't give them equal pay or an equal hearing when raped or abused!

So how does all this get ignored when the preacher is supposedly "sharing" the "gospel"? In most cases, s/he is the very authority that Christ challenged in his day. S/he wants those listening to conform to society, the church, to the status quo. "Don't rock the boat" "Don't challenge" "Don't think about your sins beyond lust, speeding, yelling..." - lame excuses for sin.

Why doesn't the preacher of any religion, ideology, philosophy ask if what they are doing is loving? While this is the most important command, according to biblical writers, it is not  part of the preacher's gospel. If I drive to church, which pollutes my and my neighbour's air, wipes out the eco-system with highways, is the root of war [for oil, etc.], kills more children than anything...shouldn't people be told to bus, ride a bike or walk to church [or mosque, synagogue, work, base-ball games, etc.]. This is just one issue which, of course, as illustrated, is not limited to Christians nor religion - but it illustrates the abstraction of religion today. As religion reflects and sustains cult-u-r-e, we see the similar lack of real-i-t-y "check" in terms of climate change. How many are willing to get out of their cars, big houses, jet skiis, jet trips, etc.?

Lastly, isn't it ironic that the gospel, through a filter of PAC  [Pick and Choose] Theology, ignores the central message of Jesus. He consistently tells people to die for others: to put others first - even when it is inconvenient and uncomfortable! Yet many preachers promise "blessings" for obedience. But they fail to obey the greatest command: love thy neighbour...and this entails "sell all your possessions and give them to the poor". This is very different from the fundamentalist neighbour who lamely says "oh it's ok to have great wealth, live in luxury and self indulgence [condemned by the writer James] - as long as you share". Compare such lies with the meme in this post!

Many issues are merely touched upon here. See other blog posts for more specific details. Let us not merely preach but LIVE the gospel: loving one another!This in-volves our entire life and society. We must look at the sins of unequal income/land distribution, hierarchy, all levels of injustice, destruction of our home: the eco-system...just to name a few!

Abortion Sanctified In/By Bible

You may wonder why many Evangelicals, especially in the Southern U.S. deny a woman the right to abortion. Most are not aware of any biblical basis but just follow some leader or church dogma. Let’s look at some interesting and ignored passages that pertain to the topic. 

Numbers 5 outlines what a man is to do if he is jealous and suspicious of his wife sleeping with another man. He is to take her to a priest to be examined/tested for her purity. The priest writes curses on a scroll and then washes them off with bitter water. The woman is forced to drink this bitter water “that brings a curse, and this water will enter her and cause bitter suffering [v.24 NIV]. If the woman is guilty, the drink will cause her abdomen to swell and her “thigh waste away” [v.25 NIV – or the footnote: “she will have barrenness and a miscarrying womb” – perhaps an ideological choice to only footnote that translation]. She will be accursed among the people. 

It’s clear that a fetus has no value. What is of value here? The man! Forget the health/rights of the fetus or the woman! Considering that the man owns the woman, this should not surprise anyone. Let’s look at another scripture for further clarification.

Exodus 21 deals with laws pertaining to rights. “When men strive together, and hurt a woman with child [pregnant], so that there is a miscarriage, and yet no harm follows [to the woman], the one who hurt her [the woman] shall be fined, according as what the woman’s husband shall lay upon him, and he shall pay as the judge determines [v.22 RSV]. The fetus has no value. In this case, the woman does have value. The NIV is the only version that mistranslates the word “miscarriage” – probably for ideological reasons, again. Slaves also have little value as v.20-21 show, but we don’t have room to deal with that presently.

The above reveal the inequality of men, women and fetuses. It was a very patriarchal and authoritarian culture/religion. But this, in no way, excuses or justifies the message. Men had all the power to determine the fate of a woman and a fetus.

Today, men still want to control women’s bodies. Banning abortion doesn’t stop it – it merely makes it more unsafe for the poor who can’t afford to pay a doctor. A large number of women are dying as a result in areas of the U.S. where people have made it very difficult to get the procedure. The rich can always pay for the best medical care so they don’t resort to coat hangers and the like!

 If one says the bible is inspired by God, then that includes the verses above. It is “surprising” how some will hold tightly to a verse against homosexuality but then ignore these ones. It’s called PAC Theology: Pick and Chose Theology. Rather than being honest about the faults of their religion/ideology, most will ignore what they want or project their values onto a text. 

One solution is to see this, as all “holy texts” as CERTAIN peoples’ version of their reality at the time. Remember it is the power-full who [literally] write history – especially when it was only a few, of a certain background and class that could even write or read! Fortunately, some of us can now, being more “en-lightened” by humanistic values, condemn injustices and authoritarian ideologies/systems. 

 But if believers claim that the bible is the final authority, then they cannot simply ignore the difficult messages of these texts because they don’t fit into their ideological box.

Religion Fails The Test: Love Thy Neighbour

Jesus and many religious types tell us to love our neighbours. But I ask:

• How do we if we drive to our "place of worship"? We pollute and hurt our neighbour. Meanwhile we justify or just don't think about the damage we do. But aren't we to please the Creator in all we do? How go and sing hymns of praise while destroying what the Creator has made?
• How do we if we support the bombing of Syria or other places? Civilians, and all of creation are burned, maimed, killed. And for whom, what, and why? Lockheed Martin loves the thought of war.
• How do we if we don't let refugees come to our country? [Over 20 States in the U.S. refuse to allow any in now]. The refugees from Iraq, Afghanistan, Libya, Syria,... are fleeing a war-torn countries. And who dropped the bombs? Who murdered innocent people? The "West" did - and continues to.
• How do we if don't make changes in how we live? Many religious folks - or those "beyond religion" are hypocrites.  It's amazing how people go to Climate Change talks, protests, etc. but won't give up their self-indulgent death-stlye. They still drive, fly, live the life. Is there a difference between the self-righteous Quaker and the Fundamentalist? They both proclaim they are right and yet do not love: Meanwhile, almost 2.5 billion either don't have food or are undernourished. Climate change plays a part in this - as does unfair distribution of wealth!
• How do we if we have a cottage, second home, big house? While most of the world struggles to find shelter, many in Canada have cottages. Driving [polluting, contributing to climate change and to Wars], such people don't share with those who are poor. If they are really "good people" as they reassure them-selves that they are, why don't they ask how they can have/consume so much while others have so little? They separate justice/equality in the world from the real-it-y of their own self-indulgent and greedy life-style. Hmmm.
• How do we if we invest in corporations that harm the air, water, land, people, animals...Perhaps the question is how do we invest in corporations at all? Doesn't the Bible say you cannot love God and money? Extraction of resources for "growth" is not "green" no matter how you put it. The consequences are more death. Making solar panels, for example, require rare earth elements. They will run out.
• How do we if we support Big Ag [Agriculture]? Our neighbours, like pigs, cows, chickens, etc. are caged, imprisoned and tortured so we can have cheap food...or a few can have large profits. Feed lots along with mass numbers of maltreated animals use most of the water that is left on the earth. The manure pollutes water ways - as does runoff of pesticides. How many don't even have an idea of this when they buy meat in a grocery chain?

These are just a few areas we need to closely examine to determine if we really are loving. The New Testament says that if we do not love our brother whom we can see, we cannot love God whom we cannot see. Let our lives and our nations' policies show our brothers and sisters [all of nature] our love by our act-i-ons. See for more ideas on how to love/live right.

"God Loves Fags" Says The Homophobic's Poster.

Actually it said "God Hates Fags". And his mouth said it's abominable to God. And he quotes Leviticus.

Hm. "interesting".

This is what I call PAC Theology: Pick And Choose Theology.

He takes one verse totally out of context: linguistic, cultural, religious, political....
Lots of fun! 

Sadly, this is far too common...especially religious 'folk'. But it's found in anyone that wants to use another "source" to support whatever views they have.Even Michael Moore is know for doing this. Bad boy Mikey! And it's "more fun" when they force their ideology onto us. It is frightening how much damage this dose.

To deal with that verse even superficially reveals that the term "abominable"  is used to refer to ritual purity. And there are many rules in the Jewish Scriptures. If we are to take the bible literally, then we better not even wear clothing made of 2 materials! [Lev. 19:19]. Likewise, we better not plant 2 different seeds in a field.

Of course people will ignore these verses...explaining them away by referring to context etc. Yet with the 'gay issue', they throw their brains out the door and relish in dogmatism and pomposity.

"If anyone curses his father or mother, he must be put to death....If a man lies with a woman during her period...both of them must be cut off from their people..." Lev.20

When will people stop ignoring such verses that are just below the "key" verse.

And of course we better ignore Christ's command to sell all and give to the poor, if one wants to be a follower. Interesting that he spent his time condemning the established order, religion, social relations...And he befriended the outcasts...and was out-casted to the point of death.

The church began as a group of outcasts. They were disdained and disregarded for the poverty. And they did things like share all they had...which did attract others. How different the church is today - especially the homophobic.

 Something isn't quite right:

The Poor Suffer Most From Environmental Injury

It is the poor and working people who are most burdened by environment injury. They host the toxic dumps and incinerators and sewage plants, work in factory fumes, pay for the bottled water they can't afford, and suffer in stifling city apartments when public beaches are closed. 

Meanwhile, the wealthy can cut and run - they enrich themselves by polluting our rivers or falling our ancient timber, and then fly off to some private paradise behind a guarded driveway. 

The rest of humanity is left with contaminated and denuded landscapes. 

Astonishingly, the church, especially evangelical and fundamentalists branches, condone the above - ignoring the greatest command to love thy neighbour [and care for God's creation - which includes humans]. They proclaim wealth is fine as long as you "share". Odd that Jesus says to sell all and give to the poor to follow him...And James condemns the wealthy for their wealth and for not paying their workers....it's called greed. But it's "okay" to have a BMW, a big house, a cottage, etc. as long as you "share". Right! Let's see them really share their goods. Once again the gospel's demands are watered down - sell-able. 

At least the Pope is calling for sacrifice and change in the lives of the rich. He notes that climate change is because of human impact [of especially the rich] and, therefore, rich humans must change NOW. Let's see act-i-on now. Let's see this preached/lived from the pulpits of the church, state, factory, schools...

Above quote from The Green Bible: Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. "The River Keepers"

  

"'Christians' Are The Most Dishonest People In The World..."

Like the photo, Jesus' demands are an inversion of "worldly" values:

[By "Christian" I am referring to the" non-progressive" 'type'...ranging from nominal to evangelical to fundamentalist but primarily the latter ]
 
How do people who say the bible is the word of God and must be believed and obeyed, and, yet, continuously ignore the very tenets of their faith? Well, let’s see. Jesus told his followers to “love thy neighbor”. Hmm. So show me some “Christians” who do this – in their LIVES. The last part is key: a person’s life is about how they LIVE. Living means how they get around, what food they eat, their jobs, their investments, their words, how they treat others [including non-humans] – to name a few things. So let’s look at how North American middle class “Christians” shape up.

 

I have yet to see a “Christian” who doesn’t drive, if given a choice. So they pollute the air/land/water/soil… – which are God’s  - according to Lev. 25 “the land is mine”….Oh, oh…here come the excuses. It’s great to talk about the “benefits” of being a Christian but run from the demands. Ironically Jesus said “you must repent and believe”. That means one must change from doing harm and wrong…and do good…to be a Christian. It’s not about dogma but DO-ing right.

“Christians” murder by driving! The invasion of Iraq/Afghanistan and many more places was for oil and hegemony. This wiped out MILLIONS of people and more nonhumans. The Land was/is devastated. Is this respect/love of God’s creation and neighbor?

Lying to justify the church’s interpretation/ignoring of the bible never ends. Whenever Jesus talks about the poor…the church ignores and talks about how God loves everyone…that is, those sitting in the pews.

The bible says you can’t love God if you don’t love [feed] your neighbor whom you can see. A few set up food banks and offer dinners to the poor. But the rest don’t do a thing. Instead, they get the latest phone, go on vacation [flying: polluting to no end]…while the poor don’t have even the scraps thrown in the garbage. Shame.

“Christians” lie about abortion, evolution, wealth,…While Jesus says that one must sell all and give to the poor to be a believer, the church lies and says “as long as you give us your money, God loves you”. Not Jesus’ words but the church’s! And while the bible constantly says God is on the side of the poor and hears the cries of the labourer, the church ignores both. In fact, any talk of wealth leads to the same lame lie “as long as you share”. My neighbor who has a newly renovated, insulated, heated garage bigger than most peoples’ homes, filled with another home [one on wheels], a boat, workshop…claims he shares. Huh? It’s empty except for his possession. Love thy neighbor! He goes on his missions…and makes this well known! But he comes back to his mansion. Love or greed? And, of course, the church says nothing. Well they do say, “good job man of faith”. 

Ironically, the bible writer, James, says that faith without works is dead. Dead! How can you misinterpret this? Guess what? “Christians” do….Showing neither good works nor faith…but more lies to justify their materialism, greed and selfishness. Love? Lies!