Atheistic Proselytizing

A group of eight atheistic organizations have collaborated to market atheism in New York. I won’t comment too much on this, but I will say that it’s curious how badly so-called non-religious atheists want to make proselytes. I think it reveals at least these things:

1) They believe people need to be saved from something.
2) They have a “savior.”
3) They will go to great lengths to preach their message.
4) They’re banding together as a community of “believers” (so to speak).
5) They believe their message is absolute truth.
6) They’re not satisfied with people NOT believing their message.

Religious or not? What do you think?

Our Money for Murder?

Dr. Mohler posts on Obama’s decision to federally fund (tax dollars?) the destruction of human embryos for the sake of medical advancement.

When human embryos are destroyed in the name of medical advancement, we make a deal with the Culture of Death and sacrifice embryonic human beings for the hope of medical advances. We all hope and pray for those advances, and for treatments to cure or treat intractable diseases. But there are valid alternatives to the use of human embryos.

The vulnerable human embryo is now at greater risk than ever before. And this, inevitably, means that every single human life is devalued by this decision.

It’s difficult to think of anything “advancing” – medical or otherwise – if our morals are in steep decline and our consciences in disrepair. We should heed Dr. Mohler’s call for prayer on this matter.

Jesus Instead of Indulgences

J.T.’s blog mentioned the return of indulgences in the Catholic Church. Read an article in the NYT about it here. Many questions arise from this discussion. Here are a few of my own:

1. Where is this taught in Scripture?
2. How are the good deeds of the saints anywhere close in comparison to the perfect obedience of Christ?
3. In light of #2, how are they then added to the work of Christ?
4. If the popes have the authority to open and close such a treasury, why would they not INSIST that it remain open so that access to forgiveness would always be available?
5. Justin mentions on his post that in order to be granted a plenary indulgence, one must “abandon all types of sin”. Is this not why we need Jesus in the first place? We are unable to do so!
6. What did Christ accomplish on the cross, if we’re still having to do work to remove punishment from our heads?

#1 and 6 are probably my top questions. This teaching belittles Christ and his work. Scripture puts forth Jesus instead of indulgences as our hope for escaping punishment after death for sins…let’s not add anything to that.

Humans Need Jesus

Joe Rigney has some very timely words about the sexual perversion and brutality that is ever-present in our world.

Be Courageous, Mr. President

What’s your subject?

Our friend Megan came and picked us up after our power went out. We drove around Old Louisville and downtown, documenting some of the effects of the ice storm.

As we pulled up to a stoplight, I had my window rolled down and was addressed by a man standing at a bus stop out in the cold as he saw my camera: “What’s your subject…misery?”

I brushed it off, and said something incoherent. But as I thought about it, I realized I had yet to think of those who had no place warm to go, no friends to bail them out. As I documented a winter wonderland, I was also documenting misery for many folks.

It was a good word to me to be mindful of those who are in a much different situation than I.

Conversation with a Client

I had the following conversation with a client over the phone:

Client: “Is Obama your guy?”
Me: “He’s not ‘my guy’, but since he’s in office, I will pray for him.”
Client: “Yeah, I didn’t vote for him either, but I’ll cooperate.”
Me: “Yes mam.”
Client: “You know…he’s not the Messiah.”
Me: “Mam, I couldn’t agree with you more.”
Client: “Good day.”
Me: “Have a good one.”

I found it interesting that she would have said that, specifically using that term: Messiah. I have seen shirts, stickers, and coins with a picture of Obama, along with the words “Man of Hope”. I’ll have to join the aforementioned lady, and my buddy Lee in saying that hope is not in Barack Obama. He is our president and I will genuinely, without reservations or bitterness, pray for him and his family. I want to love them well, albeit from a distance.

But only Jesus is the Man of Hope. He is the historical, Spirit-anointed Messiah. He died for those whom he loved, and was raised in victory over sin and death. He reigns, and he will come again, bringing his kingdom to its fulfillment. There is hope in no one else.

Amen. Come Lord Jesus.

New Look for New Delhi

3 million people live in the slums of New Delhi.

They may soon be 3 million people without homes or a place to go.

This post is not to ridicule or place blame on the Indian government, that’s another conversation entirely…one that I’d be unqualified to have, probably. Rather, this is a good chance for the people of Jesus to think about the possible role they may have in reaching these folks with the hope of the gospel.

Bailout Requests Gone Wild

Latest bailout request. Word on the street is they’re in such bad shape, they’re going “shirtless”.

I hope they get absolutely no money. Here’s a sickening quote: “the US government should actively support the adult industry’s survival and growth, just as it feels the need to support any other industry cherished by the American people.” While the absurdity is apparent, one should note the awful truth behind the phrase “cherished by the American people”. The porn industry is something people love to rail against while they secretly support it from their computer screens and televisions.

Before people call out Flynt and Francis for their ridiculous request, they should first analyze their own desires and actions to see if they fall into the same camp. The gospel offers hope in Jesus for every kind of addict and idolater, both those who run the porn industry and those who consume it. “Repent, and believe in the gospel.”

Intolerant Tolerance

A short word on the raucus over Obama’s invitation of Rick Warren to do the opening invocation at the president-elect’s inauguration. The author points out something very important: accusations of “intolerance” have become the method of choice for people who want to discriminate against those who disagree with them. In other words, “you are wrong if you call others wrong.” It’s impossible to think in such a way. It just doesn’t hold up.

“But it will surely send a message to those who believe in marriage, that they will be viciously attacked for expressing, or merely believing, that marriage is defined as between one man and one woman. Ms. Kolbert provides just the latest example of how the forces of ‘tolerance’ and ‘diversity’ quickly abandon their principles of ‘live and let live’ when somebody disagrees with them.”