On American Gnosticism (in Evangelicalism)- iMonk

Here's another quote from this article from Michael Spencer AKA Internet Monk from a few years back.

…what is called American Christianity is actually some sort of American Gnosticism, a religion of direct human experience with God that has no need of the Bible, the Gospel or Christ and the Cross in the classically Christian sense. We are apparently such basically cool people, that we can get in touch with God our little ol’ selves if we just tune in the right way. Today, we have a Bible that is described as a “love letter,” a Gospel of manipulated and self-generated feelings and experiences (complete with band), and a Christ who is a whispy, feminized, dispenser of hugs and life management principles and no-cost/no discipleship salvation. Of course, this is the appropriate religion for people whose only actual concerns are feeling good about themselves and having it all without feeling guilty. Sinners seeking a remedy for the righteous wrath of God need not look into modern Christianity for any help.

Yikes!!

I think his points would be better suited if he were to expand on them and I leave it to you to read the full article, but this quote, sadly, does seem to outline some of the problems I have observed and read about...The God of the Bible and the Jesus of the Bible is so much bigger than what we see in evangelicalism these days. What do you think?

DB

Nanny of the Month- June

I know it's a little late, but here is Reason TV's Nanny of the month for June. Pretty silly.



D.B.

Museum of Idolatry

Here is a new, to me, site that deals with some of the silliness and copycat behavior the church does with reagard to the culture. The site is www.alittleleaven.com

This post is one that explains why he is doing the site. Sometimes he can be a bit sarcastic, sometimes over the top, but it does not take away from the often troubling trends and "products" Christians put out there. Be sure to check it out. He answers a few questions on his motivation:

What has become of the Christian Church in America?
Answer: Too much of it has decided to mimic the world. Too much of it has stopped preaching about man’s sin and need for a savior. After all, that message is boring, passe and irrelevant to unbelievers. These new seeker sensitive, purpose-driven, willow creek wannabes have discarded expository Biblical teaching and have replaced it with man-centered, self-help pep talks that are appealing to the world around them. This was foretold in God's word nearly 2000 years ago by the Apostle Paul.

"For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear." 2 Timothy 4:3

Think of this site as a Museum of Idolatry.

This site is a collection of the crazy and worldy things that occur when the church decides to satisfy itching ears rather than faithfully preach Christ Crucified.

This site is a collection of the worldy insanity that is being passed off as church today.

This site is not positive. This site is not politically correct and it is not seeker-sensitive.

"Let no one deceive you with empty words, for because of these things the wrath of God comes upon the sons of disobedience. Therefore do not become partners with them; for at one time you were darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Walk as children of light (for the fruit of light is found in all that is good and right and true), and try to discern what is pleasing to the Lord. Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them." - Ephesians 5:6-10

At times this site also makes fun of the idolatrous things that we're exposing. If that makes you uncomfortable, please consider the examples given to us in the Bible of Godly men making fun of those who follow after idols and false religion. The example set for us by Elijah on Mt. Carmel is one of our favorites.

"And at noon Elijah mocked them, saying, “Cry aloud, for he is a god. Either he is musing, or he is relieving himself, or he is on a journey, or perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened.” 1 Kings 18:27

We hope you find our collection eye-opening and we pray that it will spur you into action and cause you to consider what you can do to change things.

We believe that change begins with getting back to having the message of Christ Crucified for sinners as the center and substance of all of our preaching.

"And I, when I came to you, brothers,did not come proclaiming to you the testimony of God with lofty speech or wisdom. For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified." - 1 Corinthians 2:1-2

"Now I would remind you, brothers, of the gospel I preached to you, which you received, in which you stand, and by which you are being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you—unless you believed in vain.
For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures - 1 Corinthians 15:1-4

---Is it okay for Christians to be able to laugh at ourselves and to examine the silliness that takes away from the real message of Christ crucified? Or should we just pretend everything is okay?

Straight No Chaser Sings An A Capella Medley of TGIF Theme Songs

Great- If you haven't heard these guys, you must check it out. Follow the link for the TGIF songs. Full House, Family Matters. Good stuff.

Straight No Chaser Sings An A Capella Medley of TGIF Theme Songs

They have a great one (that was sadly way overplayed this last Christmas) on the 12 Days of Christmas.

FOXNews.com - Michigan 6-Year-Old Suspended From School for Making Gun With Hand

I have been working in education for more than five years now and it is amazing to me some of the silly things the "educated" folks do. I'm sorry. But a hand making a gun shape and pointing it at another does not mean this kid is any more likely to shoot them for real.

D.

FOXNews.com - Michigan 6-Year-Old Suspended From School for Making Gun With Hand

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Holy Ghost Hokey Pokey

I am sorry. I don't even know what to say with this. This was apparantly at a revival and part of the service was singing the Hokey Pokey and then folks giving testimonies after they "put their left/right leg in"...

Can God heal anyway he wants? I am sure He can...This just seems ridiculous. I would pray that these folks get grounded in the Bible and not simply seek these emotional experiences. It kind of makes me sick. Where is the Biblical grounding?

As one of the commenters points out, "the video is simply great evidence that the lack of real faith in what is broadly called “evangelicalism” is wide-spread, and that hi-jinx like this have replaced liturgy, preaching, prayer, fasting, confession (both credal and personal sin), and humility."

We need to get back to seeking Christ and His fulness and not the Hokey Pokey. How far have we come that this passes as acceptable expression of the Christian experience or church service? There seems to be more to Christ than the Hokey Pokey.

By the way: You don't need to watch the whole thing to get the gist of it.

Your thoughts?

Hypocrite

Thought this was...funny.

You Have A Question, Little Billy? Hang on, Let Me Consult My Handy-Dandy Portable Teleprompter.

FOXNews.com - Lady Gaga

I'm sorry, but this lady is foolish.

FOXNews.com - Grammy Awards Red Carpet Style - Slide 2 of 38

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Jack Bauer Interrogates Santa Claus

While this is late, here is a funny little clip for all the 24 fans out there. Be warned there is at least 1 NSFW word. I may be posting a little more in the next few days, since I am taking a Facebook "Vacation" for a couple weeks (Maybe a month...if I can handle it. :-) ) Happy New Year!

Video: Apple's New Revolutionary Laptop

From the Onion. This was kind of funny. Maybe not so much if you are not a geek. :-) It's about 2:30. Enjoy.


Apple Introduces Revolutionary New Laptop With No Keyboard

Humor: Halloween Nightmare

When Democrats attack.

Video: I'm Not Here To Make Friends

Anyone who has watched any reality shows will understand this. It is about 3:20 worth of folks not on the show to make friends. Pleas eto enjoy.

Faith: Atheists Sue President Over National Prayer Day

It has been said that if you don't believe in something, you will fall for anything. Also, the Bible says that the fool has said in his heart, there is no God. here is a good example of some of the foolish things that can happen.

MADISON, Wis. — The nation's largest group of atheists and agnostics is suing President Bush, the governor of Wisconsin and other officials over the federal law designating a National Day of Prayer.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation sued Friday in U.S. district court, arguing that the president's mandated proclamations calling on Americans to pray violates a constitutional ban on government officials endorsing religion.

The day of prayer, held each year on the first Thursday of May, creates a "hostile environment for nonbelievers, who are made to feel as if they are political outsiders," the lawsuit said.

The national proclamation issued this year asked God's blessings on our country and called for Americans to observe the day with appropriate programs, ceremonies and activities.

Wisconsin Gov. Jim Doyle is named in the suit because he is one of 50 governors who issued proclamations calling for the prayer day. The foundation is based in Madison.

Shirley Dobson, chairwoman of the National Day of Prayer Task Force, and White House press secretary Dana Perino also are named.

The foundation has filed numerous lawsuits in recent years, including one rejected by the U.S. Supreme Court last year that attacked President Bush's faith-based initiative.

The White House and Doyle spokesman Lee Sensenbrenner had no comment on the lawsuit. A message seeking comment from the task force was not returned Friday.

Matt Damon Speaks About Governor Palin

---In the spirit of silly celebrity comments, here is Matt Damon. Below the video are the Hot Air comments from their blog post. Also, the comment about dinosaurs and if she banned books...a simple google search to snopes.com or factcheck.org would have cleared that up. Dennis Prager said it well when he suggested that celebrities stick to entertainment. They are enjoyable as celebrities, but say silly things when talking politics.



We cannot afford the possibility of an Alaska hockey mom with no experience having to face down Vladimir Putin, which is why we must elect an Illinois suburban dad with no experience who’ll definitely and immediately have to face him down. Who’s already embarrassed himself with the weakness of his response to Putin’s incursion into Georgia.

The odds he gives for McCain surviving his first term are also off, of course. Exit question: He sneers that Palin was picked for “political purposes” and nothing more. Remind me again, which important policy proposals landed trial lawyer turned first-term senator John Edwards on the national ticket four years ago? And whom did Matt Damon endorse at the time?

Hatred From the Celebrity Left

Chevy Chase said Monday he wants Tina Fey to go "even harder" on Republican vice presidential nominee Sarah Palin than she did in her "Saturday Night Live" skit this past weekend ... and that he wants Fey to "decimate" her.

"I thought it was extraordinary how well she played her and much she looked like her. I'd just like her — personally I felt we didn't need the Hillary stuff — I'd like her to go even harder," the former "SNL" star told MSNBC's "Morning Joe" show. Click here for the whole story and link to the Chase interview.

---He did not seem to be joking. But this is not surprising coming from the Left, since the Right thinks their opponenets are wrong, whereas many on the Left think their opponents are evil. What do you think?

D.

More Silly Celebrity Political Silliness

Lindsay Lohan and her all-but-confirmed girlfriend Samantha Ronson are the latest Hollywood celebrities to take aim at Republican vice presidential hopeful Gov. Sarah Palin, bashing the candidate on homosexuality and other issues Sunday on Lohan's MySpace blog.

"I really cannot bite my tongue anymore when it comes to Sarah Palin," Lohan writes, urging people to vote for Sen. Barack Obama. "Is it a sin to be gay? Should it be a sin to be straight? Or to use birth control? Or to have sex before marriage? Or even to have a child out of wedlock?"

Lohan included a portion of an Associated Press story stating that Palin's Wasilla, Alaska, church was promoting a conference that promises to convert gays into heterosexuals through the power of prayer.

"Is our country so divided that the Republicans' best hope is a narrow minded, media obsessed homophobe?" she asks.

Lohan also blasts Palin on abortion (Palin is pro-life).

"Women have come a long way in the fight to have the choice over what we do with our bodies ... and it's frightening to see that a woman in 2008 would negate all of that," she writes.

---I don't think it is YOUR body that gets killed by an abortion, but that is a topic for another day.

Lohan also urges Palin to know her place — "Don't pose for anymore tabloid covers, you're not a celebrity" — and even quotes Pamela Anderson:

"In the words of Pamela Anderson, 'She can suck it,'' she writes

---Just because we can say whatever we like (because of freedom of speech), sometimes we should show some restraint. This goes double for some celebrities.

D.

Thanks Pam

Yeah, this matters a lot...Pamela Anderson's opinion of VP candidate, Sarah Palin. Care to guess who has more class?

Animal rights activist Pamela Anderson is clearly not a fan of Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin.

The former "Baywatch" babe was asked by an E! reporter if she she'd seen the photo of Palin, a proud hunter, with an animal fur in the background.

"I can't stand her," Anderson replied after rolling her eyes. "She can suck it!"

Human Pole Position

Here it is. Enjoy! These folks had wayyy too much time on their hands. But I still am glad. :-)

Video: The obligatory “hippies mourn dead trees with primal screams” clip

Thanks to Hot Air for this one. Um...yeah, they are just trees. That is all I can say. Watch the clip. Only 1:45.