Study

I keep seeing people imploring others to not go see the new Left Behind movie. Despite their well-meant intentions, 'Thou Shalt Nots' usually result in bringing about the opposite effect. People will want to go check the movie out, simply to see what the hoopla is all about. 

Regardless of whether one decides to go watch this movie, or not -- the most important thing to do, is to study, to see if the theology of Dispensationalism that backs the Left Behind books and movies, holds any merit.

There is No Bad New in Good News

If fear is used as the impetus for a person to receive the Gospel, then it ceases to be the Gospel. Gospel, by definition, is 'good news'. 

Perfect love (God) casts out all fear. Fear is anti-God. 

It is the goodness of God that draws a person to God. 

Think about it -- which sane woman (a prospective bride) would want to live forever with an abusive, manipulative, judgmental, terrorizing, impatient, controlling, vindictive, demanding and a conditionally "loving" husband?

And yet, for years, we have inadvertently been (or was it purposeful, based on the interpretation that we chose to believe?) portraying God as the aforementioned husband - whether this portrayal is blatant or subtle.

Martyrdom

“Martyrs die because they refuse to deny the Truth, they are unwilling to force their ways upon others, and they are unwilling to fight back when fighting back would deny the Love they are trying to show those hurting them. This is how martyrdom changes things: It stands up as the witness of the One who is Truth and Love, and the One who is Truth and Love can do little else but stand up and surround them with His presence. And His presence changes things.”  

- from the book ‘Jesus Freaks: Revolutionaries'

ISIS

"One changed heart within the inner circle of leadership would forever change the direction of those hell bent on the destruction of humanity. “that’s a pipe dream” some of you might say. It is only a pipe dream inasmuch as Saul becoming Paul was a pipe dream."

- Caleb Miller

Read the rest, here.

Ferguson

This has to be one of the most potent posts from Frank Viola: 

A Jesus Response to the Race Problem & Ferguson

The Validity of the New Testament

Dr. Daniel Wallace explores the validity of the New Testament.

The best teachers...

"The best teachers are those who show you where to look, but don't tell you what to see."  

- Alexandra K. Trenfor

"It's the goal of an oppressive institution to..."

"It is the goal of an oppressive institution (religious or otherwise) to keep their participants small and immature. For once a participant desires maturity, he/she no longer wants to be "on the bottle" that they are being fed, but wants to discover truth for themselves. This is a threat to an oppressive institution that thrives on the backs of those who are too afraid to question but believe that the institution itself has all the answers."  

- Aimee Dassele

Water Bearers

"A world of water bearers, 

filled with thirst. 

Rejecting their personal flowing fountain, 

preferring to drink from public baths." 

- Larry Leake

Said Jesus, Never

"Thou shalt not use your God-given intellect", said Jesus, never.

"Thou shalt never ask questions, and if you dare question the conventions and traditions, be ye satisfied with the typical pat answers", said Jesus, never.

"Thou shalt blindly and unquestioningly believe your favorite preacher", said Jesus, never.

"Thou shalt not study for yourself", said Jesus never. 

"Thou shalt have no other gods before thee, except your tradition", said Jesus, never.

"Thou shalt never read a book aside from your Bible", said Jesus never.

"The indwelling Holy Spirit shall never guide you into all truth. Therefore, always depend on an external source to guide you", said Jesus, never.

"Start Christianity", said Jesus, never.

"Thou shalt never be bold and step out of your bubble. Always be intimidated by the voices that keep you tamed and chained to the lifeless religion", said Jesus, never.

"Judge, condemn and be vitriolic to those who don't agree with your interpretation of the truth", said Jesus, never.

"Thou shalt never follow your heart", said Jesus never.

"Allow yourselves to be bullied and shamed by people who act under the guise of "spiritual authority"", said Jesus never.

"Thou shalt keep the 10 Commandments and the 613 Laws", said Jesus, never.

"Thou shalt choose your favorite laws to police others (and play victim, when being pushed back), while conveniently ignoring the laws you can't, or choose not to keep", said Jesus, never.

"Be ye justified by keeping the Law", said Jesus, never.

"Seek ye first the kingdom of God, and also, to be self-righteous", said Jesus, never.

"Thou shalt be the Sin Police and Fruit Inspectors", said Jesus, never.

"Love thy neighbor, only if he or she belongs to your same religious tribe. Love everyone else with the sole intent of converting them to your tribe", said Jesus, never.

"Even though you will not give a stone to your child, when she asks for bread, my Father would school you through sicknesses or other negative circumstances to make you pure", said Jesus, never.

“While you walk through the valley of shadow of death, be ye fearful and obsessed about the evil", said Jesus, never.

"Build ye citadels in my name, and employ gimmicks, to lure people in", said Jesus, never.

"Freak out, at all times, for my peace, will I not leave with you", said Jesus, never.

"Ye shalt build my church", said Jesus, never.

"Be ye exclusive, for I have not come to save the world, but to condemn the non-conformists", said Jesus never.

"God so loathed the world", said Jesus, never.

"In this world you will have tribulation; be very pessimistic, for I am a weakling", said Jesus, never.

"God is love; however, minimize His love to the best of your ability. Let your words be peppered with copious amounts of ifs and buts", said Jesus, never.

"Amen, amen, I say unto to you - intimidate, control and oppress", said Jesus, never.

"I am the Truth, but I so desperately need you to defend me", said Jesus, never.