The Kleberg County commissioners on Monday unanimously designated “heaven-o” as the county’s official greeting. The reason: “hello” contains the word “hell.”
“When you go to school and church, they tell you ‘hell’ is negative and ‘heaven’ is positive,’” said the 56-year-old Leonso Canales Jr., who owns the Kingsville Flea Market. “I think it’s time that we set a new precedent, to tell our kids that we are positive adults.”
The new salutation, according to the county resolution, is a “symbol of peace, friendship and welcome” in this “age of anxiety.”
A former Southern Baptist Convention officer who on June 2 called the death of abortion provider George Tiller an answer to prayer said later in the day he is also praying “imprecatory prayer” against President Obama.
Wiley Drake, pastor of First Southern Baptist Church in Buena Park, Calif., and former running mate of American Independent Party presidential candidate Alan Keyes, said June 2 on Fox News Radio he didn’t understand why people were upset with his comments quoted by Associated Baptist Press from a webcast of his daily radio talk show.
“Imprecatory prayer is agreeing with God, and if people don’t like that, they need to talk to God,” Drake told syndicated talk-show host Alan Colmes. “God said it, I didn’t. I was just agreeing with God.”
Asked if there are others for whom Drake is praying “imprecatory prayer,” Drake hesitated before answering that there are several. “The usurper that is in the White House is one, B. Hussein Obama,” he said.
It’s crazy I know. It’s also not representative of all Southern Baptists. But here’s where I think this kind of poor use of Scripture originates. A lot of fundamentalist Christians believe that Scripture should be interpreted literally–hence the Creation Museum. This mindset is encouraged by Baptist leadership. Those who drafted the Baptist Faith and Message (the guidepost for Southern Baptists) in 2000 set the stage for this insane Biblical interpretation. Don’t think it’s crazy? Then why shouldn’t Christians delight in the bashing of babies on rocks (Psalm 137) or stone disobedient children (Deuteronomy 21:18) or force rapists to marry their victims (Deuteronomy 22:28-29)?
In the 1963 version of the Baptist Faith and Message, this type of interpretation was discouraged by including this phrase in the section on Scripture: “The criterion by which the Bible is to be interpreted is Jesus Christ.”
You see, Jesus called us to love our enemies in Matthew 5:43-46. “You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor[h] and hate your enemy.’ But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous. If you love those who love you, what reward will you get?”
That’s a far cry from Wiley Drake’s prayer! Baptist leadership involved in the drafting of the 1963 version believed that the Sermon on the Mount was a key to understanding how one should act. However, in the 2000 version of the Baptist Faith and Message, this phrase is omitted. Thus, the Wiley Drakes of the Baptist world are free to find any section of Scripture and follow it literally without reflecting on Jesus’ message. It’s pretty darn scary and one reason so many Christians can endorse torture.
Lately I’ve been very depressed about how my Christian brothers and sisters have endorsed behavior Christ would have scorned. It’s time for us who believe the ultimate message of Christ was one of God’s call to love and grace to take a stand against those who fail to follow Christ’s command to love our enemies and serve others and see others as persons loved by God rather than objects of our hatred. Sure, it’s tough to do. It’s downright Un-American. Christians need to realize that following Jesus makes us Un-American sometimes. It puts us in the minority on some things. That’s OK!
Way to go Christianity Today! You’ve made Christians so proud! BTW, I ran across this video about progressive Christianity. It seems a little closer to the one who was described as a friend to sinners.
“It is right to struggle against an unjust economic system that does not uphold the priority of the human being over capital and land.”-John Paul II
Sen. Ed Murray, a Democrat from New Orleans, asked Governor Bobby Jindal why he supported spending $50 million dollars on a chicken processing plant in Farmerville Louisiana, but also seeks to close the New Orleans Adolescent Hospital, an Uptown mental health facility. Jindal’s response was that his focus is on private-sector job growth, while reducing the size of government.
This move by Jindal demonstrates that his Republican ideology is in direct conflict with Catholic social teaching and what my grandmother used to call common sense. It’s the same evil mindset that puts the welfare of businesses over the welfare of people. What kind of people? Children struggling with depression and mental illness. Yet Christians are too blinded by Fox News propaganda to care about the “least of these.”
It sometimes saddens me, but it mostly angers me that Christians have traded an ideology of love for neighbor for an ideology of capitalism. Sure, rail against Socialism! That way, you don’t have to care for the widows and orphans that Jesus called you to care for!
Wake up Christians! Stop being brainwashed by trite, Fox News talking points and read the Gospels!
Acts 2:42-47
They devoted themselves to the apostles’ teaching and to the fellowship, to the breaking of bread and to prayer. Everyone was filled with awe, and many wonders and miraculous signs were done by the apostles. All the believers were together and had everything in common. Selling their possessions and goods, they gave to anyone as he had need. Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts, praising God and enjoying the favor of all the people. And the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved.
It truly would be a miracle if more Christians were concerned with the needs of others rather than throwing tea parties to complain about being overtaxed! God help me. God help us all!
The Algiers Riverfest is one of those hidden treasures. Not too hot usually. Not too crowded. Easy to get to. Great music. Great food. Good friends. Here are a few pics:
Here’s a picture of me getting spanked in front of the Cathedral on Mardi Gras Day 2008 by Loki and Maitri. They’re leaving New Orleans. You can read about it here and here.
Adrastos has a very good post about them as well. I don’t know either of them very well, but through reading their blogs and a few brief times I spent with them I grew to regard them as friends.
It hurts when good folks leave New Orleans. I pray that their journeys will be meaningful and full of joy. Next time you’re in town, stop by and whip my butt. Take care my friends.
Over the years I’ve felt the need to rebuke several of my Baptist Brethren (Not surprisingly, no Baptist Sistren) because of their bad behavior. I’ve tried to do so in love, but have sometimes failed.
You are an example of class my friend. If my atheist buddy can be so civil, why can’t my Baptist Brethren? Guess that’s why I’ve been known to hang around atheists, I learn a lot from them. What a privilege to have a friend like you Adrastos!
