Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Prophecy Fail
Just a sidenote: Timothy LaHaye's doctorate is a Doctor of Ministry from Western Seminary and Beverly Lahaye's is an honorary degree from Liberty University.
Friday, July 16, 2010
Administrator's Note: Picking on Glenn Beck
Although no one has mentioned it to me, the preponderance of Glenn Beck on this blog may be of some inquiry. I thought it would be helpful to explain why the Fox News celebrity appears on here so often.
Glenn Beck has set himself up as a sort of teacher and historian for America. Recently, however, he has also set himself up as a theologian and even a prophet. Were Beck a nobody, even a lowly radio host, I would not see it appropriate to detail his every theological transgression. Beck is not, however, a nobody. He is listened to by thousands upon thousands of Americans, many of whom claim to be Christian. If I subscribed to the same level of alarmism and fear-mongering as Beck, I would here say something about how dangerous he is. I think it's better to expose his ridiculousness to people who would otherwise not hear him and be aware of the kind of horrible theology that is being pumped into the minds of Beck's audience, as they are everywhere.
Glenn Beck has set himself up as a sort of teacher and historian for America. Recently, however, he has also set himself up as a theologian and even a prophet. Were Beck a nobody, even a lowly radio host, I would not see it appropriate to detail his every theological transgression. Beck is not, however, a nobody. He is listened to by thousands upon thousands of Americans, many of whom claim to be Christian. If I subscribed to the same level of alarmism and fear-mongering as Beck, I would here say something about how dangerous he is. I think it's better to expose his ridiculousness to people who would otherwise not hear him and be aware of the kind of horrible theology that is being pumped into the minds of Beck's audience, as they are everywhere.
Liberation Theology Fail
The video clip is really long--and I understand not being able to stomach Beck for that long--so I'm pasting some salient points from the clip.
We are living in dangerous times and unless you understand what people are saying and why they are saying it and how they arrived there, then too many Americans are going to be fooled.
We start with James Cone. He's one of the founding fathers of liberation theology. Liberation theology is a brand of Christianity based on the liberation of the oppressed from unjust economic, political or social conditions. It centers around the idea that people are in one of two categories: the oppressor and the oppressed. Poverty, according to this theology, is caused because the poor are "victims of others."
---
This is kind of complex, because Jesus did identify with the victims. But Jesus wasn't a victim, he was a conqueror. Jesus conquered death. He chose to give his life. Jesus didn't come back from the dead and make the Jews pay for what they did. That would have been an abomination.
---
Got it? The only way you can be saved according to this theology, if you are the oppressor, is to give back what you took through reparations. Step down from that job you "took" from someone else. Give back that money you "took" from someone else.
Do you notice anything that's missing here? Well, for one thing, merit. And when it comes to salvation, how about the concept of grace? Saved by grace. You cannot earn your way into Heaven. There is no deed, no random act of kindness, no amount of money to spread around to others that earns you a trip to heaven. It's by God's grace alone that you are saved. Now, that doesn't mean you aren't supposed to do works and deeds — "faith without works is dead." Our work is a demonstration of our faith.
But right now I just want to show you how liberation theology has completely perverted Christianity and teaching something radically different. For example, Cone himself has argued that the Bible is insufficient to know what social justice is and that you need Marxism to understand what Christianity means. I think I speak for most Christians when I say, God's word is sufficient for me; you can 86 the Marx — thank, but no thanks.
-Glenn Beck, July 13, 2010: http://www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/198/42891/
(thanks to Patrick C.)
We are living in dangerous times and unless you understand what people are saying and why they are saying it and how they arrived there, then too many Americans are going to be fooled.
We start with James Cone. He's one of the founding fathers of liberation theology. Liberation theology is a brand of Christianity based on the liberation of the oppressed from unjust economic, political or social conditions. It centers around the idea that people are in one of two categories: the oppressor and the oppressed. Poverty, according to this theology, is caused because the poor are "victims of others."
---
This is kind of complex, because Jesus did identify with the victims. But Jesus wasn't a victim, he was a conqueror. Jesus conquered death. He chose to give his life. Jesus didn't come back from the dead and make the Jews pay for what they did. That would have been an abomination.
---
Got it? The only way you can be saved according to this theology, if you are the oppressor, is to give back what you took through reparations. Step down from that job you "took" from someone else. Give back that money you "took" from someone else.
Do you notice anything that's missing here? Well, for one thing, merit. And when it comes to salvation, how about the concept of grace? Saved by grace. You cannot earn your way into Heaven. There is no deed, no random act of kindness, no amount of money to spread around to others that earns you a trip to heaven. It's by God's grace alone that you are saved. Now, that doesn't mean you aren't supposed to do works and deeds — "faith without works is dead." Our work is a demonstration of our faith.
But right now I just want to show you how liberation theology has completely perverted Christianity and teaching something radically different. For example, Cone himself has argued that the Bible is insufficient to know what social justice is and that you need Marxism to understand what Christianity means. I think I speak for most Christians when I say, God's word is sufficient for me; you can 86 the Marx — thank, but no thanks.
-Glenn Beck, July 13, 2010: http://www.glennbeck.com/content/articles/article/198/42891/
(thanks to Patrick C.)
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Geez, Micah.
"All of her idols will be smashed, all of her earnings will be burned with fire and all of her images I will make desolate." Micah 1:7
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Pastor Fail 2.0
Get Holy
Our Lady of Fatima Parish - Michigan Center, MI - Fr. Jeffrey Robideau, Pastor
My Opinion - in case you wanted to know
My Opinion on
The Health Care Bill and Socialism
5-19-2010
My own Bishop, Most Rev. Earl Boyea, sent a letter to many people in this diocese on Health Care. It was actually written by the MCC, a political arm of the Bishops in Michigan. On the back were quotes from Popes, Documents and the Catechism where they state the many natural basic rights each human has endowed by God. It also refers to our social dimension. Certainly God made us to be social beings and so the common good needs to come into play as well.
In listing the points MCC quotes, I will try to divide them into the human rights that an individual has and the more social rights that a society (corporate man) has.
Human rights listed are: life, food, clothing, shelter, rest, education, the right to establish a family, medical care, work, transportation, freedom of communication and expression, information and protection of religious freedom
Social rights listed are: the organization of the State’s powers, a sound juridical system, the protection of the environment, commitment to peace, necessary social services and essential services and access to culture.
Now I do not know if I have these all in the right category, nor do I know if both categories are of the same dignity, but I will say both are important and I would not want to be deprived of any of these rights.
My problem is this. Throughout the debate on healthcare, I heard little to nothing from the Bishops about socialism. I heard a lot about the immigrants and abortion problems with the bill. The problem is even if Washington corrected these problems, the health care bill still could not be accepted by the Church because it is still socialism. Socialism is defined by the Church as being intrinsic evil and so never morally allowed. This is not a political issue for us, but a moral issue. The Bishops had the right to speak out and they did nothing. They cowered behind 501c(3).
Yes, these rights listed are rights, but what does that mean? Scripture speaks of at least one of these rights when it says, “Let him who does not work not eat.” This assumes an able body capable of work. In other words, one must secure his rights through morally acceptable means. For this reason, a man has the human right to work and make money so as to secure his other rights.
For those unable to work, Scripture speaks of charity not taxes. Helping neighbor through taxes is not charity. It is not a free gift to help, but is taken form us at a much higher rate than if we helped the person ourselves. Scripture also talks about the widow and the orphan and our duty, to help them. As for the Good Samaritan, he freely gave medical attention to that man, no one taxed him.
What of taxes too? Give unto Caesar, yes. This is part of being a society and so taxes are a good thing. But taxes are different here then that referred to by Jesus. Caesar controlled everything, he was a god, and so the money bore his inscription. In the United States, the people own the country, it is our money, not the government’s. Even the government belongs to us and it is to serve us. One of the good things about our government is that it is a republic and not a democracy. This way Washington is able to make decision that we the people do not like but is what is best. This assumes that they are not going to do what is evil, like not follow the Constitution and take us toward socialism.
We are not talking about a law that governs what side of the street we drive on. Left, right, I don’t care. It does not affect my faith. It is good government to pick a side for the good of the society and our ability to get from point A to point B safely.
The health care bill and how it is funded is different than the question of what side of the street to drive. This law touches upon very religious concerns. And as we know the government is not allowed to impose a religion on us. They are trying to impose secular humanism on us.
What is just is that all should have ACCESS to health care. In other words, if one has the means to obtain health care then they should not be denied health care (no discrimination).
The Church says that other things are rights, like housing. Are we to give everyone a house? Transportation is a right, do we give everyone a new car? You see the slippery slope to full-scale socialism.
I put the call out for all Christians to seek justice, but a responsible justice where each is required to do his part to obtain his rights. And then let charity reign in each of our hearts to care locally and personally for those in need. This is a Capitalism at it’s best. And by the way – the Church has said that there is nothing immoral about capitalism, but only gives the caution to be responsible and charitable.
Our Lady of Fatima Parish - Michigan Center, MI - Fr. Jeffrey Robideau, Pastor
My Opinion - in case you wanted to know
My Opinion on
The Health Care Bill and Socialism
5-19-2010
My own Bishop, Most Rev. Earl Boyea, sent a letter to many people in this diocese on Health Care. It was actually written by the MCC, a political arm of the Bishops in Michigan. On the back were quotes from Popes, Documents and the Catechism where they state the many natural basic rights each human has endowed by God. It also refers to our social dimension. Certainly God made us to be social beings and so the common good needs to come into play as well.
In listing the points MCC quotes, I will try to divide them into the human rights that an individual has and the more social rights that a society (corporate man) has.
Human rights listed are: life, food, clothing, shelter, rest, education, the right to establish a family, medical care, work, transportation, freedom of communication and expression, information and protection of religious freedom
Social rights listed are: the organization of the State’s powers, a sound juridical system, the protection of the environment, commitment to peace, necessary social services and essential services and access to culture.
Now I do not know if I have these all in the right category, nor do I know if both categories are of the same dignity, but I will say both are important and I would not want to be deprived of any of these rights.
My problem is this. Throughout the debate on healthcare, I heard little to nothing from the Bishops about socialism. I heard a lot about the immigrants and abortion problems with the bill. The problem is even if Washington corrected these problems, the health care bill still could not be accepted by the Church because it is still socialism. Socialism is defined by the Church as being intrinsic evil and so never morally allowed. This is not a political issue for us, but a moral issue. The Bishops had the right to speak out and they did nothing. They cowered behind 501c(3).
Yes, these rights listed are rights, but what does that mean? Scripture speaks of at least one of these rights when it says, “Let him who does not work not eat.” This assumes an able body capable of work. In other words, one must secure his rights through morally acceptable means. For this reason, a man has the human right to work and make money so as to secure his other rights.
For those unable to work, Scripture speaks of charity not taxes. Helping neighbor through taxes is not charity. It is not a free gift to help, but is taken form us at a much higher rate than if we helped the person ourselves. Scripture also talks about the widow and the orphan and our duty, to help them. As for the Good Samaritan, he freely gave medical attention to that man, no one taxed him.
What of taxes too? Give unto Caesar, yes. This is part of being a society and so taxes are a good thing. But taxes are different here then that referred to by Jesus. Caesar controlled everything, he was a god, and so the money bore his inscription. In the United States, the people own the country, it is our money, not the government’s. Even the government belongs to us and it is to serve us. One of the good things about our government is that it is a republic and not a democracy. This way Washington is able to make decision that we the people do not like but is what is best. This assumes that they are not going to do what is evil, like not follow the Constitution and take us toward socialism.
We are not talking about a law that governs what side of the street we drive on. Left, right, I don’t care. It does not affect my faith. It is good government to pick a side for the good of the society and our ability to get from point A to point B safely.
The health care bill and how it is funded is different than the question of what side of the street to drive. This law touches upon very religious concerns. And as we know the government is not allowed to impose a religion on us. They are trying to impose secular humanism on us.
What is just is that all should have ACCESS to health care. In other words, if one has the means to obtain health care then they should not be denied health care (no discrimination).
The Church says that other things are rights, like housing. Are we to give everyone a house? Transportation is a right, do we give everyone a new car? You see the slippery slope to full-scale socialism.
I put the call out for all Christians to seek justice, but a responsible justice where each is required to do his part to obtain his rights. And then let charity reign in each of our hearts to care locally and personally for those in need. This is a Capitalism at it’s best. And by the way – the Church has said that there is nothing immoral about capitalism, but only gives the caution to be responsible and charitable.
(thanks to Hallie B.)
Monday, May 31, 2010
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Monday, April 19, 2010
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