Who is that at the left? That is Marduke. Marduke the Moon God. Just thought you might be interested from the previous post on tithing. Markduke might have a banner hanging in the Pastor's Conference, I'm not sure.Enough of the serious talk on tithing.
But let me summarize our tithing discussion:
It ain't in da book.
I've looked. And so has John MacArthur.
Instead, give as you purpose in your heart, not under compulsion. Give 1%, 5%, 10% or 20%. Give it to your church, or spread it around. The church is not an Old Testament storehouse, and the pastors are not Levitial priests. You are the temple, the "church" is not your local church and its buildings and employees, it is the body of Christian believers everywhere. You are free in Christ. It is wonderful to be free in Christ, and know that you do NOT have to meet a 10% demand as a requirement to receive blessings from God.
But do give as the Lord leads you, do it cheerfully, sacrificially, and don't let mega church pastors guilt you into a percentage. Don't let them twist scripture to convince you the Bible says something that is not there. Take care of your family first. Don't cut your family and their needs short, don't go into debt, and don't sacrifice your financial future to meet the demands of a bully preacher who says you are disobedient if you don't give him 10%.
If preachers would just preach the truth that I've just shared with you, I predict their giving would INCREASE. Stop the bellyaching and the scriptural gymnastics, pastors, and people might dig deeper.
And by all means: definitley discount any arguments made to support a 10% storehouse tithe that include a mention of ancient tithing to "Marduke the Moon God."
And speaking of Marduke the Moon God, time for a new, light-hearted post in advance of the Pastor's Conference.
Below is the audio of a satirical skit of a ficticious seeker-friendly podcaster, "Stanley Andy" who summarizes the entertainment line-up at this year's mega church Easter services. My favorite part is when Stanley talks about the plans at Perry Noble's church. Too funny!
Chris Rosebrough does some very good satire on his radio show, and this is an example of that.
Enjoy.
Thank you Watchdog. I love the summary. You are SPOT ON!
ReplyDeleteMega Churchs can go to Marduke, the Moon God, for their filthy lucre.
And readers...I forgot to mention...the animal at the feet of Marduke is "Skippy", who is his tithing enforcer.
ReplyDeleteYou see, if the ancient Babylonians didn't submit their 10% tithe to Marduke, Skippy would be released and would ravage their fields and destroy their crops for disobeying Marduke on the tithe. Skippy would cry "You're robbing Marduke, you're robbing Marduke".
So you Christians who don't tithe, do you really think that God is not going to take the 10% anyway through calamity? If you're robbing God today, just as in the days of Marduke the Moon God, you can bet your britches God Almighty is going to take the 10% from you anyways!
Is Satire Biblical?
ReplyDeleteIs ridiculing Pastors Godly?
I know you love to blast tithers...do you feel that criticism is your spirtual gift?
Is it funny to hate?
Is it cool to downgrade Godly Men?
Do you sleep good at night?
Is Satire Biblical?
ReplyDeleteThe Bible does not speak about satire. We should not shout where the Bible is silent.
"Is ridiculing Pastors Godly?"
Here we go with the man worship again.
Is trumping up charges on a church member so that you can kick him out for daring to disagree with you Godly?
"I know you love to blast tithers...do you feel that criticism is your spirtual gift?"
You love to blast WD. Is criticism your spiritual gift?
Is it funny to hate?
Lighten up cupcake. You have the culture's definition of hate not the Bible's. Hate is not defined at disagreeing with your pastor. No, I'm serious, Google it.
"Is it cool to downgrade Godly Men?"
Is it cool to call a brother a "sociopath" when being interviewed by a reporter.
Do you sleep good at night?
The correct word here is "well" not "good." Unless you are quoting Larry the Cable Guy.
Git R Done!
While I am loving your posts Watchdog, I can't believe you support Chris Rosebrough. His hate-filled rhetoric is the reason that actual rational, concerned Christians (like you) get labeled as seditious. Keep up the good work!
ReplyDeletePathetic what churches do...and pathetic that this is posted here. Satire does not become the intent of this blog...I turned the piece off after a minute.
ReplyDelete"Is Satire Biblical?"
ReplyDeleteThe sacredsandwich is hysterical
"Is ridiculing Pastors Godly?"
The 'untouchables'.
"I know you love to blast tithers...do you feel that criticism is your spirtual gift?"
This one prefers nice false teaching
"Is it funny to hate?"
Who defines hate?
"Is it cool to downgrade Godly Men?"
There is no such thing as a 'godly man or womam. If they think they are then they usually aren't.
"Do you sleep good at night?"
Depends on the weather.
It's pastors who get up on stages and berate real people in the pews that should have trouble sleeping at night-but they don't.
ReplyDeleteI cannot imagine going before an audience and trying to guilt them into giving me money. What kind of lack of conscience does that take?
I couldn't do it. Especially standing there as an obviously wealthy person already.
How do they sleep at night?
I mean, can you picture yourself yelling at your pastor? Why not? He yells at you and insults you. Would you do that to him sitting there?
Lynn
Is Satire Biblical?
ReplyDeleteWell, I didn't watch the video and don't know how far Mr. Rosenberg took it. I would suggest that in general, it would be better to ask if satire is unbiblical.
I'm having a hard time concluding that satire, per se, would be unbiblical. The scripture is rife with instances of God and His prophets using sarcasm to make their points, that's for sure. Satire seems to me to be but a somewhat more theatrical variant of sarcasm.
What would be more important to me would be whether satire was being used to drive home a valid point or whether it was just being used for the sake of meanness.
Is ridiculing Pastors Godly?
Not to pick nits, but this seems to me to beg a rather important question--namely, that it is the pastor himself, rather than some position he has taken, which is being ridiculed.
I would say that if a pastor says something ridiculous, he is in danger of attracting ridicule, and I'm not sure that he is not at least partly to blame. This should not be an excuse for mean-spiritedness, but on the other hand, if someone says something funny, you really can't blame people for laughing.
I would also say that in the post which drew this comment, I'm not altogether sure that anything in it could be legitimately construed as ridicule, so I have to wonder where that came from.
I have also noted--elsewhere, not necessarily here, I haven't been reading this blog all that long--that often people respond to legitimate criticism by claiming that they have been ridiculed. Perhaps that is not the case here. I don't know.
I know you love to blast tithers...
Again, haven't been reading this blog that long, but I have not noted any "blasting" of tithers. I have noticed some pretty strong criticism of teaching as regards tithing, as well as some very strong remarks to the effect that some people who teach tithing are doing nothing more than preying on the gullible. I have not gotten the sense that this is being said about all people who teach tithing, let alone tithers.
do you feel that criticism is your spirtual gift?
You know, sometimes it's all in the way something is phrased. To ask whether criticism is one's spiritual gift sounds pretty bad, but rebuking unscriptural positions with scriptural arguments wouldn't be anything to be ashamed of.
Is it funny to hate?
Begging the question. I have not detected any hate here, at least not in what I've read. Some anger, perhaps. But not hate.
Is it cool to downgrade Godly Men?
Again, begging the question. It appears that not everyone would necessarily consider the men in question, let alone what they are preaching in the pulpit, godly.
Just my two cents. Probably shouldn't have intruded on the conversation.
Anon 4:58, here is my personal response to your post:
ReplyDeleteIs Satire Biblical? Gee, I don't know. Perhaps you should ask baptist pastors if using alliteration in sermon outlines is biblical. How about metaphors, are those endorsed in scripture? How about hyperbole, and onomatopoeia? I'm also checking to see if blue socks on Wednesday during months that start with "J" is biblical. Oops, I'm being sarcastic, which may not be allowed in scripture either. :)
Seriously, though, I do not blast tithers. In fact, it is the mega pastors we discuss here like Brunson and Young and Gaines who do the blasting. They blast non-tithers and accuse them of stealing from God, and tell them that their life will be a wreck at the hands of God for not forking 10%. I don't blast tithers, I criticize pastors who misuse the bible to blast their congregants who don't tihte. No satire or sarcasm.
No, it is not funny to hate. Hate is not funny. Why do you ask? Am I a "hater".
What is a "Godly Man"?
Yes, I sleep wonderfully at night, ever since I have a new matress it is absolutely wonderful. Thank you.
I wanna see Prince Poppycock! :-)
ReplyDeleteI wanna see Prince Poppycock!
ReplyDeleteHere ya go.
Chris Rosebrough is a racist and an apostate. YOU giving him a platform puts YOU in the same category.
ReplyDelete"By their fruits, YOU will know them".
IF YOU hang out with drunks and quote drunks and laugh at drunks....maybe YOU are drunk!!
It is a shame it has come to this...maybe next week YOU will be quoting the Book of Mormon and taking up money to build the 9/11 Mosque.
This is off the HOOK!!!!
I've listened to Chris R for over a year, and read most of his writings. He absolutely is not a racist, so I don't know at all where you're coming from. If you would please stop making blind accusations, and give some facts to back up your accusations, that would be great.
ReplyDeleteAnon 10:56,
ReplyDeleteWhy does it cause you such anger thinking of apostates, racists, and drunks? Aren't they people too, just like you?
It makes me think that many Christians can't handle having their beliefs discussed in the real world. What if somebody thinks differently than they do? Oh my goodness, what if someone thinks their beliefs are silly and DARES to say so. They become enraged!
Not all of course react like this. But I've experienced this angry reaction from me just simply questioning the Bible. From that, I received angry replies in all caps and with lots of exclamation marks. Those things do not enhance your argument-quite the opposite effect occurs.
Apostates are the same people they always were; they've just shed some former beliefs. Many drunks are wonderful people. Now, racists, I admit, are hard to love. They're just showing their ignorance for all the world to see.
Lynn
those people down at that 1st baptist church don't much seem to like the homeless if i'm judging from don redmons letter to the editor this morning. he doesn't want them in that "state of the art" library downtown there. he wants them to stay in their place. does that make those people at 1st baptist racist?
ReplyDeleteyes i am trying to stir it up on the redmon front because i've heard him say some appalling things this week and it seems to get worse at every take. racist? listen to him and then you decide.
those people down at that 1st baptist church don't much seem to like the homeless if i'm judging from don redmons letter to the editor this morning. he doesn't want them in that "state of the art" library downtown there. he wants them to stay in their place. does that make those people at 1st baptist racist?
ReplyDeleteyes i am trying to stir it up on the redmon front because i've heard him say some appalling things this week and it seems to get worse at every take. racist? listen to him and then you decide.
Anon - I disagree. It is not make Redman a "racist" to express his views about what the city should do with the homeless. His op ed piece in the Times Union makes perfect sense.
ReplyDeleteLibraries are not places for the homeless to hang out. Does that make me a racist too?
Now we can discuss whether churches are doing enough to help the homeless, but that is another issue.
But Redman is right. I've been downtown, and Hemming Plaza is not a pleasant place to be for the average citizen.
I was appalled by the initial news report, but after thinking about it and reading Redman's piece today, I agree with Redman.
Thank you for starting my day off with a laugh. I am surprised by the comment regarding satire and Godliness. Satire is an awesome way to point out flaws in an over the top manner. Once the laughing stops, the contemplation begins. Alice in Wonderland was a satire of the British leadership. Pride and Prejudice was a marvelous poke at the British upper echelon and their societal mores. There is a reason that satire is found in all cultures in all times.
ReplyDeletePerhaps there are some out there who were not educated in the finer art of laughing at oneself and one's institutions. We take ourselves oh so seriously and forget that we are fallible people who serve an infallible God. The ability to laugh at ourselves is one way that we show we get it.
Keep up the good work, Dog.
My library (I don't live in Florida) has a few homeless people hanging around the entrance and the bench inside. At first I felt disapproval inside myself, then started thinking it thru. I thought-what if I was a homeless person? Would I want to sit down inside on this bench out of the weather? Would I want to use this handy bathroom right inside the entrance? Of course I would. So I thought I should try to feel compassion rather than my knee-jerk distaste.
ReplyDeleteNone of them are bothering me in anyway. They're just sitting there or standing around. I do admit that I never use those particular bathrooms now. I go to the ones at the further end of the library.
I think it helps to walk a mile in another's shoes.
If you were homeless, would you go into a library to get out of the weather or use the bathroom?
Loved the Stanley Andy "podcast."
ReplyDeleteAll the guys mentioned take themselves far too seriously. In the process of trying to be non-traditionlists / non-conformists, they have created their own genre that can now be parodied.
"yes i am trying to stir it up on the redmon front because i've heard him say some appalling things this week and it seems to get worse at every take. racist? listen to him and then you decide."
ReplyDeleteSince when did homelessness become an issue about race? I've seen homeless people of every tribe and nation.
"Chris Rosebrough is a racist and an apostate. YOU giving him a platform puts YOU in the same category."
ReplyDeleteYOU are a bomb-throwing nut job.
"By their fruits, YOU will know them".
That would make YOU a green persimmon. Very bitter.
"IF YOU hang out with drunks and quote drunks and laugh at drunks....maybe YOU are drunk!!"
If YOU make statements like this, you must be smoking something.
"It is a shame it has come to this...maybe next week YOU will be quoting the Book of Mormon and taking up money to build the 9/11 Mosque."
There is medication YOU can take that will get rid of most of the voices in your head.
"This is off the HOOK!!!!"
YOU are a KOOK!!!!
Why do some of you critize the homeless? What would you do if you were homeless and COLD? Have you no compassion? If you don't like the homeless trying to get warm in a building that tax payers paid for, then help them!!! Since when is a building more important than a human life? Have you seen todays unemployment figures. How long before maybe some of you "snobs" are looking for food and a warm spot out of the cold? No I don't agree with Mr. Redmon or you either WD on this one. And yes I have used my "storehouse" tithe (and more) to help others keep afloat financially, buy food and pay the ENORMOUES JEA bills (for those that can afford JEA at all). Walk awhile in homeless shoes, if they have shoes, then tell me what you would do to eat and stay warm. I assume you are critizing the homeless from a nice warm spot,at least you have a computer. A homeless person can't respond or defend himself from a warm spot with a computer. He would have to sell the computer for FOOD! Keep in mind some of these people served in the military in the past...protecting YOU. Some have had productive lives and paid taxes in the past. But maybe they don't matter to some, because they don't have 10% of anything to give these churches that are supposed to preach about the compassion of the Lord.
ReplyDeleteJesus fed the hungry...remember the 5,000, healed the sick and lame. And countless other miracles He performed. And the greates Gift of all...He died on the Cross to to provide forgiveness for sick sinful man WHO COULDN'T SAVE HIMSELF. And you critize the homeless for trying to keep warm. I feel sorry for you. Plus the city has put millions in a football stadium that would have gone a long way to help hungry and homeless. The Bible says the poor you will have with you always...it doesn't say ignore them. A little kindness might go a long way to witness to a lost person. If that is important to anyone any more. Isn't it odd that the last person Jesus helped when He was on the Cross, was a THIEF who couldn't help himself and had nothing!!!
One of my relatives was at a gas station putting gas in the car, saw a homeless person sitting on the station curb not asking anyone for anything..just sitting. My relative went to a drive thru and bought the man a hot meal, came back to the station and gave it to him. He said to my relative "God bless you".
ReplyDeleteAnother relative saw a homeless person sitting on a curb in a grocery store parking lot. My other relative gave him food. He said to that relative of mine "God bless you".
God bless you...not God will get you if you don't fork over 10% of your income. I don't hear God bless you much in some churches today. In many lives today God gives Mercy not money.
The animal occupying Mar duke looks as if scales are attached. Dose the odd symbolism indicate you must bring my gold and silver to be weighed and if the amount is correct you will be attacked by Skippy.
ReplyDeleteAnon - you are correct about the scales. And "scales" has a double meaning as well.
ReplyDeleteObviously, if Marduke weighs your giving on his scales of tithing justice, and are found wanting, then Skippy will come after you. Thus, just as today, if you giving is measured against the pastor's, I mean God's scales of tithing justice, and your giving is found wanting, then God will get you. Your marriage will suffer, your kids - in fact you're just a common thief.
Readers, there is so much more in the symbols of Marduke the Moon God's dress that speaks to our modern culture on tithing to God. Can you see it? Any ideas?
HISTORY: Remember Prime Minister Gladstone in England during the 1800"s (Victorian Era)? At night he would walk thru the streets of London finding down and out "ladies of the evening". He would offer them to come to his home where he and his wife would serve them hot meals, and witness to them of the love of Jesus. He would offer to help them get out of sin and get their lives straight. Always showing them compassion and salvation through Jesus. This was the Prime Minister of England and his wife. Where is our compassion? How far removed we are from what Jesus wants us to be. Makes us look pitiful doesn't it.
ReplyDeleteJesus is the answer. He said come unto me all you that labour and are heavy laden and I will give you rest. You won't find it from the church nor will you find it from the government. We are to be His disciples and duplicate His actions to the best of our respective abilities. We arn't anywhere close. The church has failed and has become more and more like the world and it appears it is unwilling to change. It now concerns itself with revenue streams and marketing techniques whereby market share is the chief goal to be obtained. The fact that the preacher spends very few hours studying the Bible (or gets the sermons off the internet) is of little or no importance to most of the membership in almost all denominations. Tickling the ears does not feed the soul.
ReplyDelete"Why do some of you critize the homeless?"
ReplyDeleteMany deserve to be criticized. The Bible teaches that if you won't work you shouldn't eat. Ted Williams comes to mind. He was "discovered" on the streets of Ohio. Flown to Hollywood. Treated like a celebrity. Given good paying jobs. Offered free rehab (after they found out that he had been lying about being sober). And how did he respond? He bolted out of rehab against doctor's orders and will probably return to the miserable life he was living before. Why would anyone sane person not be critical of those decisions?
"What would you do if you were homeless and COLD?"
ReplyDeleteI would get a job and then buy a coat. The reason that I am not homeless is because I make good decisions, am not addicted to any substance, and don't have mental disabilities. Your question is moot.
After the government decided to de-institutionalize the mentally unbalanced, they were turned loose on the public in the name of compassion.
The liberal notion that the homeless are just "down on their luck" is misguided. The vast majority have mental and/or addiction issues.
"Have you no compassion?"
ReplyDeleteYour definition of compassion comes from the culture. You are endorsing enabling not compassion.
"If you don't like the homeless trying to get warm in a building that tax payers paid for, then help them!!!"
ReplyDeleteYou can't help someone who doesn't want to help themselves. Your false premise is that anyone can be helped.
The church has failed and has become more and more like the world and it appears it is unwilling to change.
ReplyDeleteThe church has the right to wear their deception mask. fools will not see the truth. this could even be gods plan.
"Since when is a building more important than a human life?"
ReplyDeleteSo, why isn't your church letting homeless people stay inside the building?
"Have you seen todays unemployment figures."
ReplyDeleteYes, over 9 out of 10 are working.
"How long before maybe some of you "snobs" are looking for food and a warm spot out of the cold?"
ReplyDeleteAgain you have bought into the liberal notion of "fate" and "luck."
Christians trust in God.
"yes I have used my "storehouse" tithe (and more) to help others keep afloat financially"
ReplyDeleteYou mean that you didn't bring your tithe into the storehouse as the OT commands? Oh my. Steve and Mac teach: "10%, no exceptions, undesignated."
Are you calling these men of God liars?
"But maybe they don't matter to some, because they don't have 10% of anything to give these churches that are supposed to preach about the compassion of the Lord."
ReplyDeleteAccording to Steve and Mac they should still be tithing. It's "10%, no exceptions, undesignated!"
"Jesus fed the hungry...remember the 5,000, healed the sick and lame."
ReplyDeleteThey were hungry because they had been listening to him preach for days not because they were homeless. Come on dude. Context Context Context!
"Plus the city has put millions in a football stadium that would have gone a long way to help hungry and homeless."
ReplyDeleteMore bad logic from the culture. Google the word "investment" at some point. You might learn a valuable lesson. You invest, you make a profit, and then you have more money to spend. That's kind of how the nation was built.
How about if we take every penny in the nation and give it to the homeless. Would that solve the problem?
"How long before maybe some of you "snobs" are looking for food and a warm spot out of the cold?"
ReplyDeleteAgain you have bought into the liberal notion of "fate" and "luck."
Christians trust in God.
____________________________________
No homeless people are Christians? Surely some of them are. Why isn't God taking better care of them?
Could it be that if you have a job or good mental health or relatives or friends, you don't need to trust God all that much?
Why not try giving up all those things and see exactly how God helps you.
Lynn
In conclusion, your post (like most of them) is full of judgement for others and boasting for yourself.
ReplyDeleteFull of heat with almost no light. Lots of screaming and exclamation points but nothing of value to contribute.
You label anyone who disagrees with your pastor a liar and yet you disagree with him yourself at times.
You used to post under the name Ben and criticized those who posted anonymously. Now you post anonymously.
You have zero ability to interpret scripture in context and are totally dependent on your pastor to do it for you. If your pastor can't or doesn't choose to, you are left in the dark. That is why we are commanded in scripture to do so.
You are incredibly naive on the homeless issue. It is obvious that you have spent very little time with them.
"No homeless people are Christians? Surely some of them are. Why isn't God taking better care of them?"
ReplyDeleteI am not able to judge another man's heart. That is God's job.
God doesn't force people to make good decisions. He offers us the gift of free will.
If he didn't then you would complain that he is heavy handed.
Can't have it both ways.
"Could it be that if you have a job or good mental health or relatives or friends, you don't need to trust God all that much?"
ReplyDeleteIt might seem that way, but it is not. We all trust in God for every breath we take. Life is a gift from him.
As the Bible says, this life is but a vapor. Eternity begins just afterwards.
"Why not try giving up all those things and see exactly how God helps you."
ReplyDeleteGoogle Sister Teresa.
She is living in a mansion in heaven today.
"Why not try giving up all those things and see exactly how God helps you."
ReplyDeleteWhy not use those things for his glory?
IF YOU hang out with drunks and quote drunks and laugh at drunks....maybe YOU are drunk!!
ReplyDeleteHmmm. I agree that the company you keep can certainly influence one's behavior. But over all, that's a silly statement. My Bible tells me that Jesus hung out with GASP Tax Collects, Adulterers, Prostitutes, liars, etc.
Just some food for thought. Be blessed.
Dr, Brunson is Marduke your god? There is a posibility that you might not be aware of it.
ReplyDelete"IF YOU hang out with drunks and quote drunks and laugh at drunks....maybe YOU are drunk!!"
ReplyDeleteDNFTT
You who have made negative comments about having compassion for the down and out. Not everyone is addicted, lazy or generally unsalvageable. Some do use excuses but most don't. Keep in mind the inability to "find" jobs today. Obviously some of you have never had to suffer want in your life. Your cruel condemnation and lack of compassion may one day come back to haunt you. None of us have any guarantees of our future prosperity. Plus, it may be hard for you to justify your harshness in judging others worthless, when you face the Lord and try to explain it to Him. Would you be one that would not give them a glass of cold water. Your angry response to previous remarks is unnecessary. I am an extremely conservative person. I just see reality and I see suffering. Keep in mind that profit oriented investment and a dispassionate attitude to those of lesser advantages does not show forth mercy. Which we all need but don't deserve. Circumstances can take us where we don't want to go. But, there by the Grace of God go we.
ReplyDelete"You who have made negative comments about having compassion for the down and out. Not everyone is addicted, lazy or generally unsalvageable."
ReplyDeleteHere is the exact quote:
"The vast majority have mental and/or addiction issues."
You who are misrepresenting my comments. Stop using straw man arguments.
This comment is not negative unless you consider the truth to be negative. They are born out by all research done on this group.
In order to solve the problem, you have to be able to deal with reality.
"Some do use excuses but most don't."
ReplyDeleteHow did you come to this conclusion?
"Keep in mind the inability to "find" jobs today."
ReplyDeleteHow were over 90% able to find jobs?
"Obviously some of you have never had to suffer want in your life."
ReplyDeleteIf this were true (how could you possibly know), how would that affect the truth about the homeless situation?
The truth is not based on feelings it is based on facts.
"Your cruel condemnation and lack of compassion may one day come back to haunt you."
ReplyDeleteAgain, your definition of condemnation and compassion comes from the culture not from the Bible.
You can't reject truth because it hurts your feelings.
"None of us have any guarantees of our future prosperity."
ReplyDeleteAnd how does that affect the homeless problem. It sounds like you are saying that I should ignore the truth because one day I might end up in the same situation. Actually the opposite is true. If I ended up in that situation, I would want someone to try to really help me solve my problems. Not enable me.
"Plus, it may be hard for you to justify your harshness in judging others worthless, when you face the Lord and try to explain it to Him."
ReplyDeleteIt might be harder for you to explain why you didn't try to actually solve the problem instead of enabling a destructive lifestyle by tossing a few bucks at them to make yourself feel better.
God usually prefers truth to self-delusion.
"Would you be one that would not give them a glass of cold water."
ReplyDeleteI would give him a glass of living water not a temporary solution.
"Your angry response to previous remarks is unnecessary."
ReplyDeleteIf I were angry I would be using tons of capital letters and exclamation marks like anonymous Ben.
"I am an extremely conservative person. I just see reality and I see suffering."
ReplyDeleteThen you need to start acting like one. It is very obvious that the liberal culture is affecting your thinking.
Compassion is not giving a man a fish. It is teaching a man to fish for himself. Feeling good about yourself doesn't solve any problems. Those philosophies come straight from the liberal culture.
"Keep in mind that profit oriented investment and a dispassionate attitude to those of lesser advantages does not show forth mercy."
ReplyDeleteAgain this comes right from the liberal playbook. America has the richest and most privileged homeless in the world. Go over to Africa and see how people live in a country where "profit oriented investment" isn't practiced.
If you are going to believe in starry-eyed liberal philosophies, please don't call yourself a conservative.
"Circumstances can take us where we don't want to go. But, there by the Grace of God go we."
ReplyDeleteSounds good but not based in reality. Do some study on the subject and stop going by your emotions.
By the way, you never did answer my question as to why your church isn't letting the homeless live in their building. Seems just as logical as letting them stay in the library.
Compassion is not giving a man a fish. It is teaching a man to fish for himself. Feeling good about yourself doesn't solve any problems. Those philosophies come straight from the liberal culture.
ReplyDeletehummanity is giving a man a fish when he needs that fish to eat and stay alive. I hope you are a human.Giving one something to eat is not liberal. Compassion is going fishing with someone to teach that person how to live. Do you have compasion for humanity. Or are you self centered like so many people a FBCJ.
What is really your goal?
ReplyDeleteTo tear down FBC Jax?
To give Mac heartburn?
To be an irritant to the Body of Christ?
To be a critic of those who try to win people to Christ and a judge and jury to those who don't do it your way?
This Blog is being used...and so was Judas.
When does it end? When does the hatred stop?
As soon as my Computer got to this Blog, my house begin to smell like Sulphur.
I think I am going to go outside, hate gives me a headache.
As soon as my Computer got to this Blog, my house begin to smell like Sulphur.
ReplyDelete-perhaps a little like skippy-
Anon the hater said:
ReplyDelete"As soon as my Computer got to this Blog, my house begin to smell like Sulphur."
Really? Did you feel a little pitchfork on your hind end too?
It is posts like yours that actually let me know there is so much more to do and blog about. Thanks for the encouragement, brother.
Hmmm. Fascinating turn in the conversation.
ReplyDeleteYou know, one of the people I've known longest, a fellow I went to high school with, shared an apartment with for about a year or so, spent--oh, I think about five years living in a tent in the woods, just barely within the Houston city limits.
It's really kind of an interesting story. Y'see, he's brilliant, academically brilliant, but never quite completed college (not throwing stones, I never did, either).
He never worked well with others, but he did stay regularly employed. Always had jobs that pretty much minimized his contact with other human beings. Never got married, never had kids. Eventually, even though he never made a huge amount of money, he had a nice, big SUV, a small gun collection, about 10 K in the bank, and a humongous limit on his credit card.
Then, just about Y2K, he got fired from the last job he had. I don't remember why, I just remember that his attitude at the time was, "I'm pretty well set for the short term, I believe I'm going to take a month off."
I thought that was a horrible idea. You take 31 days off, and it becomes really easy to say to yourself on the 32nd morning, "What's another day?" and so on. Eventually, he wound up living with his dad, and a couple of years later, his dad--a widower--remarried and, as you might imagine, the new wife did not particularly cotton to her perpetually unemployed (and not seriously looking for work) stepson hanging around the house all the time--and eventually, the inevitable happened and my friend had to leave. Spent several years living in a tent, hidden by the trees, riding the bus to and from the libraries, where he hung out all day waiting for computer time.
Right now, he's out in Arizona. A couple of relatives are providing him food and a place to stay in return for him taking care of his 100-year-old grandmother. There are no promises after she inevitably passes on.
To my mind, he's a perfect example of how people can become homeless. He didn't have to be. But as he got progressively more used to not having to do what someone else told him to do for eight hours a day, he got more and more willing to pretend to himself that he'd look for work tomorrow.
And it's more than just being unemployed. That, by itself, just doesn't lead to homelessness. To become homeless, you must also alienate your relatives and friends, maybe even your parents, to the point where they don't want you living with them.
Of course, there will be exceptions. There must be. But my friend's story is, I suspect, fairly typical, except that he does not abuse drugs or alcohol.
Homeless people in general are homeless, I think, because they just would rather do that than make the effort to get along in society. Ain't no helpin' that.
And to answer the inevitable question, yes, more than once I have told him I'd let him at least pitch his tent in my backyard and use the facilities and so forth. But he knows he'd have to behave himself and spend a minimum of forty hours a week seriously looking for work, so you can imagine that he'll never take me up on it.
Why don't you Anonymous' make up an identity? It would be much easier to follow the comments. I find myself not wanting to read several anon's comments in a row. It's too hard to figure out if they are from the same person. Come on, help us out a little!
ReplyDeleteDr Who is now on the job WD,
ReplyDeleteAnonymous January 27, 2011 9:06 PM U said...
What is really your goal?
To tear down FBC Jax?
To give Mac heartburn?
To be an irritant to the Body of Christ?
To be a critic of those who try to win people to Christ and a judge and jury to those who don't do it your way?
This Blog is being used...and so was Judas.
When does it end? When does the hatred stop?
As soon as my Computer got to this Blog, my house begin to smell like Sulphur.
I think I am going to go outside, hate gives me a headache.
...................................
Dr Who's analysis and prescription;
Stop reading blogs and go take a baby aspirin. If this does not work in one week, call me back for another appointment.
Now that will be $125.00 please -
WD, please collect this mans payment.
Sounds like someone within the Baptist Mafia, an Everson, or one of their disciples to me.
"hummanity is giving a man a fish when he needs that fish to eat and stay alive. I hope you are a human.Giving one something to eat is not liberal. Compassion is going fishing with someone to teach that person how to live. Do you have compasion for humanity. Or are you self centered like so many people a FBCJ."
ReplyDeleteYou are endorsing a temporary solution to a permanent problem. Ted Williams was making $30 an hour begging for handouts on the streets of Ohio. That buys lots of cheeseburgers. His problems run much deeper than food. Your definition of compassion is flawed.
I don't attend FBCJ, try not to be self-centered (although all of us are at times), but I am a good steward of God's resources and thus can not and will not take your unbiblical advice.
Man of the West,
ReplyDeletePosting your friend's story was very helpful to me. I think it illustrates that people make decisions many times based on what they want or don't want to do.
I have a couple of somewhat eccentric uncles. Very smart men. Both very capable carpenters. But they have their odd ways or ways of thinking, so they don't live their lives like most other middle class people. I was shocked to see that one had let part of his teeth go black! Quite disturbing to me. Yet he had the money to go to a dentist but simply valued other things more, or didn't really care how he looked or some reason or reasons why he didn't do what most people would do. And he had a loving wife who probably certainly did wish he'd get his teeth fixed.
Everybody's different and not everybody wants to be helped to be different than they are.
Someone said why not let the homeless hang out in the church. I think that's a good idea. Why not do that? I know a church near me serves lunch to the homeless five days a week. I think that's a good thing. It's a Methodist church though. I think the Baptists care more about "winning souls." Good luck with that.
Lynn
Try not to be self-centered (although all of us are at times), but I am a good steward of God's resources and thus can not and will not take your unbiblical advice.
ReplyDeleteIt is good you try not to be self-centered. Hope you are a good steward of god's resources. Also, nobody is asking you to take somebody’s advice. The only advice one should be following is the bible. And yes there always has been abuse.
Also, nobody is asking you to take somebody’s advice.
ReplyDeleteThe "advice" is the cultural definition of compassion as it relates to homelessness.
I'll stick with the biblical definition.
The "advice" is the cultural definition of compassion as it relates to homelessness.
ReplyDeleteThis makes no sence, what is the biblical definition?
The "advice" is the cultural definition of compassion as it relates to homelessness.
ReplyDeleteI'll stick with the biblical definition.
January 28, 2011 10:40 AM
Such as Jesus said he had no where to lay his head?
"This makes no sence, what is the biblical definition?"
ReplyDeleteRead the Gospels and learn.
"Such as Jesus said he had no where to lay his head?"
ReplyDeleteHere's another person who can't interpret scripture in context.
This was spoken by Christ about himself.