Disengaging from Reality

Christian Love

CBN (Christian Broadcasting Network - courtesy of Pat Robertson) carried a "devotion" the other day by one Dianne Matthews. Ms. Matthews wrote we should love each other because Jesus told people they should "love each other" (John 13:34), and that "we" should "love our enemies and do good to those who hate us" (Luke 6:27).

Furthermore, Ms. Matthews points out, in John 13:36, Jesus says that by loving "one another" we show we are following him.

She ends her little devotion this way: "Maybe we should use February 14 to reach out to those who don't come to mind when we think of valentines."

Sounds good. But what does she mean by "reach out"? If she means we should accept people for what they are, care about them, allow them to be different than we are without judging them, listen to them, see them as persons of worth, respect them, ensure that they're rights are protected...then maybe we can take her seriously.

I don't think that's it.

I think "Ms. Matthews is full of pious platitudes!"

Would someone writing on Pat Robertson's Website encourage you to "reach out" to homosexuals, pro-choice folks, Democrats, socialists, main-line Christians, Jews who don't want to become Christians, Muslims, porn stars, evolutionists, atheists, etc.?

Ain't gonna happen, is it? What you do find at CBN and other Christian right sites is a lot of judgment and condemnation aimed at the very people mentioned above. And that, of course, violates another of Jesus' "commands," as noted by Charles Barkley below.


Charles Barkley's Opinion

Charles Barkley's opinion probably has exactly the value that you want to attach to it. But here's what he said. He's supporting Barack Obama for president.

"I've got great respect for Sen. McCain, great respect, but I don't like the way Republicans have taken this country. Every time I hear the word 'conservative,' it makes me sick to my stomach, because they're really just fake Christians, as I call them. That's all they are.

"I think they want to be judge and jury. Like, I'm for gay marriage. It's none of my business if gay people want to get married. I'm pro-choice. And I think these Christians, first of all, they're not supposed to judge other people. But they're the most hypocritical judge of people we have in the country. And it bugs the hell out of me. They act like they're Christians. They're not forgiving at all."

Do you think Ms. Matthews would "reach out" to Mr. Barkley?


Preaching by pestering at Daytona Beach

Our small-town paper carried several interesting articles today. One of them describes the Central Florida Raceway Ministry, part of the Halifax Baptist Association, "a regional consortium of 34 Southern Baptist churches."

Most newspapers would not find this newsworthy, but we've got so many ultra-right Christians in this town that our paper feels it has to pander to them by publishing this kind of dreck on a weekly basis.

This racetrack ministry has been hanging around the Daytona 500 for 20 years. They're back and busy at this Daytona 500, too. Ronnie Barton, pastor of First Baptist Church of South Daytona did some preaching to a few folks last Sunday in a 20-by-20-foot tent on the grounds of the Daytona International Speedway.

Barton, wanting to be "relevant," tried to relate his message to the race, and told his listeners they need to "finish the race." He suggested that "As Christians, we have to finish the race. We're already going to have the victory, aren't we? Since our victory is not going to be here on Earth, we have to run the race that is set before us in this world, and we need to finish strong."

I don't have a clue what he's talking about. Sounds Southern Baptisty, though. And don't the Muslims believe the same stuff about victory in some other world?

There are a number of folks involved in this ministry. They hand out coffee and donuts and cookies and cards with Bible quotations. They go from camper to camper trying to sell their brand of religion and invite people to their church.

They sound almost as pesky as those Jehovah's Witnesses! Leave me to the race in peace!


Sex, Sex, Sex

That's what a Tampa (FL) church is selling. It's the Relevant Church (I kid you not) which meets at the Italian Club. I'm serious!

Anyway, a committee (all male!) came up with the idea of what they call a "30-Day Sex Challenge," the purpose of which is to help people "improve their relationships and rediscover themselves."

Here's how it works: If you're single, you refrain from sex for 30 days. If you're married, you have sex every day. (Please note that most of the members of this "church" are in their 20s and 30s.)

You might find out more about this at the church's blog:

You may not want to find our more, of course.


Why Florida is so backward

We've mentioned how the study of evolution in Florida is often ignored by schools and teachers even though it is mandated to be taught by the Department of Education.

The St. Petersburg Times conducted a survey about evolution and other education-related issues to 750 registered voters Feb. 6-10. I'm not sure of its validity, but it is supposed to have a margin of error of plus or minus 4 percentage points.

The surveyors extrapolated that only 22 percent of Floridians want public schools to teach "an evolution-only curriculum, while 50 percent want only faith-based theories such as creationism or intelligent design."

Consider that in light of the fact that there are absolutely no recognized scientists in the world that disbelieve in evolution! None! Scientist and creationist are contradictory terms! As a marine biologist from the University of South Florida noted, "[Evolution's] strength as a scientific theory matches that of the theory of gravitation, atomic theory and the germ theory."

Nineteen percent of Floridians reject evolution because they believe it is not consistent with Biblical teachings.

One of those is a former Florida legislator, now executive director of the Christian Coalition of Florida, Dennis Baxley. Baxley says flat out that the marine biologist is "in error." Well, Baxley should know, great scientist that he is. I'm just kidding. Actually, he's an undertaker.

This survey shows several things: We have done a horrible job of teaching science in our schools. We have not responded adequately and fully to the misguided criticisms of evolution. We have allowed Christian conservatives to gain enough credibility to negatively influence scientific debate and scientific truth.

It really shouldn't surprise anyone that Florida consistently finds itself on the bottom of the barrell when it comes to educational achievement.


God is Sovereign

Mark Creech is a "reverend," and executive director of the Christian Action League of North Carolina, Inc.

In a recent article, called "Don't forget -- God is sovereign in the political process," he discusses the conservative reaction to John McCain, referring to Rush Limbaugh and James Dobson, both of which have expressed outrage that McCain might head up the 2008 Republican presidential ticket.

Creech thinks Huckabee should be their man. "...I ... believe evangelicals have had a great opportunity in Mike Huckabee," he said.

But never mind. God is sovereign. Conservatives must remember that. God rules the political process. "Have we become more focused on the process than on the God who controls it?" he asks. "Granted, we must diligently seek to influence the culture for righteousness sake. Nevertheless, evangelicals are not sailing the ship politic and never were. There is but one Captain -- the Lord -- and He raises to power whomever he wills. Infighting and laying blame is (sic) counterproductive to advancing the kingdom."

Does that mean we blame God for Bush? But notice the growing concern here for the splintering fracture occurring among the ultra-right Christian movement.

But then this theologically-challenged clown says this is not a time to withdraw. He wants the right-wingers to vote for McCain. "Only a straining of the facts makes John McCain equal to or worse than the godless direction a Clinton or Obama ticket would take the nation. Such would not only imperil the social agenda of conservative evangelicals."

Wow! What kind of crap is this? Is this what Ms. Matthews meant about "reaching out"? Clinton and Obama are both Christians. How could Creech say they would take the nation in a "godless direction?"

Creech ends this screed by making this statement: "God is sovereign over everything and ultimately His will cannot be defeated."

One wonders how someone can get so disengaged from reality. The Jesus mythologies are now over 2,000 years old. It has been hell on wheels ever since and much of that hell has been caused by Jesus' lovers. What exactly, one wonders, would Creech say was God's will? Or has nothing happened in 2,000 years that could fall into that category?

Was the Romanization of the church by Constantine God's will? Was the persecution of the Jews throughout the history of the church God's will? Were the Crusades God's will? Was the Spanish Inquisition God's will. Was the Reformation God's will? Was the Council of Trent God's will? Was Luther's book against the Jews God's will? Was WWI God's will? Was the Holocaust God's will? Was Richard Nixon God's will? Was Reagan part of God's plan? (Maybe God works better when a prez is asleep!). Clinton must have been the will of God 'cause the country did so well under his administration.

Obviously, Creech believes it is God's will that McCain, tainted though he may be, be elected president.

How can Creech claim God is sovereign when his will seldom, or never, gets accomplished?

And if, God forbid, it is God's will that McCain be prez, let's hope that God's will is thwarted big-time!