In the News

Orlando Shooting

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A few weeks ago, I reviewed the book How Would Jesus Vote?: Do Your Political Views Really Align With The Bible?

One of the chapters he covers in the book relates to gun control. I think this is an important issue that many Christians don’t adequately consider. Many people hold the second amendment (well, parts of it) sacrosanct, almost to level (or often above) that of the Bible itself. We really need to consider how far we want to take this. Even now after over 100 people were shot, barely six months after 14 people were shot, and of course not too long since 20 first graders were shot, among other shootings, we can still barely even debate the value of semi-automatic weapons.

I’ve seen numerous politicians and talk-radio personalities say that just because someone is on a terrorist watch list, is being investigated by the FBI, or is on a no-fly list, does not mean that person should have their right to high-powered, high-capacity firearms curtailed, even a little bit. This is terrifying to me. In about 10 minutes one man over the weekend was able to kill 50 people and shoot another 50 or so more. How can we be alright with this? About three and a half years ago 20 first graders were killed plus six adults. Let me repeat that, 20 first graders. Children in first grade. Gun laws have only gotten looser since then.

Obviously, the Bible say nothing about guns. Ask yourself, though, if you reading of the Bible, if your understanding of Jesus and his teachings, really mean you are will to live with the tragedies. We will accept this as a way of life? As a nation we are will to sit through the news every six months or so and watch another story about another mass shooting? Are we really willing to continue to live with 20 dead first graders, or 100 shot, 50 dead in one night, just so people like this guy have the right to do whatever it was he had originally planned to do here?:

By this all people will know…

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By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another. – John 13:35

Jesus said that the second greatest command was to love your neighbor as yourself. Between this and the command to love God, all other commandments would be accomplished. He goes on to tell us who our neighbor is, through the story of the ‘Good Samaritan’. For those whom are unaware, it’s everyone.

With that in mind, I’m not sure what these guys thought they were going to accomplish, or rather, how they thought this could glorify God. Look, even if you think Muslims are the worst thing ever, some great evil, and the greatest threat in the world, this doesn’t accomplish anything. Paul, in Romans, tells us that we do not overcome evil with evil, but with good.

Two guys playing army (or marines) like we did when we were kids, pretending to be tough from far away, while calling for violence and death, does not accomplish good, and most certainly does not overcome evil.

As American’s they have the right to hold the ‘protest’ and to say what they said. We have a legal guarantee to assemble and speak freely. However, one of these guys is a pastor, so presumably, he does this in the name of a ‘Christian.’ That’s what bothers me as a Christian, that they would hold this rally in the name of God, without following his commands.

Luckily, no one showed up. The news yesterday morning in Atlanta was one of concern. You have a few guys urging other people to show up armed and angry. This was disconcerting to police and citizens who worked in the area. In the end, it was just two guys interested in hearing themselves talk, standing alone in front of numerous media.

 

Remember those in Prison

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I was watching the replay of John Oliver’s Last Week Tonight about prisons and I started getting angry. Obviously, the stories he shows would make anyone angry and, well, sad, embarrassed, etc., but it made me angry thing about the general response from Christians. First of all, I never remember hearing about visitation of prisoners growing up. But worst of all, in the same was we don’t like the camel through the needle, we like to down play our commands to visit those in prison. I have heard it argued that these verses refer to something different. In the Ancient Near East, it was mostly debtors in prison and the only way they could get food would be if family or friends delivered it to them. Now, that could quite possibly be true (though there are many people in jail because they cannot otherwise pay their fines) but does it really matter? Aren’t we using that as an excuse to ignore? As Oliver rightly points out, it is easy to not care because these people are quite literally criminals. If you were a Christian Dictator, is this how you would have prisons?

Metal Friday with no Music

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So, I’ve been away for a while. Work projects, kids, and other miscellaneous outernet activities preoccupied me for bit and then I honestly just forgot about this blog. That is, until recently, when I saw this: Tim Lambesis admits he is an athiest.

This is something Mrs. MMT and I discuss fairly often. We are always frustrated when we see the icthus on business cards or up a sign for, say, a cleaning company. I personally do not believe there is a “Christian” way to cut the grass. There is no salvation I can obtain from a printing company. Now, most of these people probably just are deep/sincere believers and they want to signal that. However, me being as cynical as I am, I usually assume it is just a marketing ploy. It really kind of bothers me; I will often purposely choose another service when it comes to this.

I guess what irritates me so much about this, is that is seems to come from a place of separatism. Look, I know we are supposed to be “in this world” but not “of this world”, but I don’t think you are compromising your beliefs if you don’t put a cross on your sign for your car wash. Alternatively, you could imagine some people may decide to patronize another proprietor, solely because you do this. Now, this does have the benefit of smug self-righteousness, but as we are IN this world, those people are exactly the ones we need to be in contact with.

Sorry for the saddest Metal Friday so far, but he is/was in a metal band, so there you go. Music will be back next Friday, or not, you can never know.

In the News

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In uncertain things, liberty; in everything, compassion: Her.Meneutics says we can agree to disagree on Ordination of Women; while the Association of Roman Catholic Women Priests says the newly revealed Frescos of the Catacombs of Priscilla show female priest.

This is a topic I am admittedly unsure of. One the one hand the original Greek is pretty clear (though, even that is disputed) to me, but on the other hand I’m a big believer in trying to understand the text in the original meaning (also disputed).

In my mind, I do differentiate between preaching and authority. I don’t find as much evidence to disallow female preachers as I do not permitting them to become Elders or have ruling authority. Maybe I’ll try to go into further detail in a later post.

Speaking of controversial: The United Methodist Church found Frank Schaefer guilty of officiating a same-sex wedding; which isn’t surprising as he never denied it. Along with a suspension of 30 days he was told that if he cannot up hold the Book of Discipline he would need to surrender his credentials. It will be interesting to see his actions in the future as he as stated he is not a LGBT advocate. Church members interviewed were torn on the reverend.

One seems worse than the other: One is your reminder that it is truly criminal to be a Christian in some parts of the world. Please pray for our brothers and sisters around the world.

The other is your reminder that some people either don’t like Christians or like messing with them. I really do not think this is an issue we should get worked up about. They quote the pastor who found/tweeted the incident as wondering if Costco would do this to a Koran. My guess would be no, because they probably don’t sell Korans.

And some people really dislike Christians and have made a living messing with them: Bill Maher is right here, there aren’t atheist marching in the streets to attach Christians and Christmas in the US can barely be considered a religious holiday considering what it has become.

 

In the News

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Probably not getting enough attention right now: Evangelicals still hopeful for immigration reform despite Speaker Boehner’s announcement yesterday.

For the win: Pope Francis won the internet.

‘Tis the Season: The Archbishop of Canterbury reminds us to be mindful of rampant consumerism this Christmas.

Pastors’ Kids: A new study from Barna says that while only 7% of pastors’ kids are not Christians (9% for Millennials), 33% percent are no longer active in church. The article did not state whether this was in line with Millenials or not. Reasons stated for these kids leaving included unrealistic expectations of the children and a failure for them to make religion their own. Somewhat unsurprisingly, Evangelicals where more likely than mainline to still be involved.

Another reminder: There are worse things than Target calling it a holiday tree.