Posted on 12/15/2006 8:08:09 PM PST by streetpreacher
Editor's note: Jay Bakker, son of former Praise The Lord leaders Jim Bakker and Tammy Faye Messner, is minister of Revolution Church and subject of a new documentary series, "One Punk Under God," on Sundance Channel. Marc Brown is a Revolution staff member.
NEW YORK (CNN) -- What the hell happened? Where did we go wrong? How was Christianity co-opted by a political party? Why are Christians supporting laws that force others to live by their standards? The answers to these questions are integral to the survival of Christianity.
While the current state of Christianity might seem normal and business-as-usual to some, most see through the judgment and hypocrisy that has permeated the church for so long. People witness this and say to themselves, "Why would I want to be a part of that?" They are turned off by Christians and eventually, to Christianity altogether. We can't even count the number of times someone has given us a weird stare or completely brushed us off when they discover we work for a church. (Watch how self-proclaimed punk preacher Jay Bakker has found his own niche in the Christian community Video)
So when did the focus of Christianity shift from the unconditional love and acceptance preached by Christ to the hate and condemnation spewed forth by certain groups today?
(Excerpt) Read more at cnn.com ...
Margot Fernandez, Tucson, Arizona:
Homosexuals are today's lepers. They are discriminated against, hated and marginalized. The Republican Party is actually seeking to take rights away from them -- rights that they have both as human beings and as American citizens. And lest we forget: Jesus and his followers ministered to lepers. Sometimes they healed them, yes, but also they simply took care of them. We should remember the words of Jesus: "Go and do thou likewise."
Sounds like Jay is going to recommend Christians join the party of homosexuals, pedophilia, and abortion.
Departure from Calvinism, that's what happened.
saw jay bakker on TV a few days ago, he has more piercings than a jungle warrior.
This guy was on Larry King tonight. Total idiot. But hey he's a Baker!
I watched the kids show on Sundance.
He loves Jesus but is very confused about his own self.
The correct title of this thread should be What the Hell happen to human nature.
God never stops loving us we choose to stop loving him at times in our lives.
Just from My opinion of the first show I really find it hard to believe the kid wrote this article, he is not that mature.
He is a good boy and is trying to grow up.
Some one started a thread on the show he has just type in Bakker as a search.
I trust in time his mixed bag of nuts will succumb to the love Christ has to offer...
They didn't. What happened is that one party (democrats) took a hard core leftist turn leaving christians with little choice plus there was a candidate in G W Bush whose story they identified with. Plus they know that much of the hate that is directed towards Bush originates because of his authentic christianity (i.e. a transformed life)
Joel and Rick are teaching from the perspective that those listening to them presumably already have a healthy fear of the Lord and know all about the existence of hell. Now what they are attempting to do is to empower Christians to go forth and make a positive impact on not only their own lives but more importantly the lives of others.
As Chrisians healthy in our walk, we don't need to be constantly reminded that we are sinners. We already know that. I believe that only the adversary would have us live our lives in guilt and depression, that way we cannot be effective Christians, and as such, no threat to him. God wants us to be effective in spreading His Word. But we need to have healthy self images and a good sense of our purpose on this ball of mud.
As for Jim Bakker, he should be a lesson to those who come after him that as a faith leader, you have to be a good steward of not only the responsibility of leadership of His flock, but also of the money that is donated to keep the ministry going, or you reap the consequences.
Seems Mizz Fernandez has been drinking the anti-Republican Kool-Aid.
The Left's dualism of the compassionate God and the judging God and "judgmental" religion is patently absurd because God is both.
Leftists are their own gods because they worship their own egos and define everything down to the lowest common denominator.
As to the earlier poster's comments about Calvinism. Calvinism and its Catholic cousin, called Jansenism, bear a strong responsibility for the apostasy we have seen since the 18th century in Western civilization.
In practice, they have overemphasized God's judging side, while underestimating his mercy, which has helped to create this dualism. The Eastern Church, by contrast, maintains a strong emphasis upon God's mercy and sovereignty.
In Christ there is great mercy. To borrow from one of our liturgies. Western Christianity is a failure.
Calvinism and Jansenism are heresies, period.
No, televangelists have no problem teaching fire and brimstone when it's towards anyone but themselves.
They only get all lovey dovey "uncoditional love" when it comes to themselves getting called out on their own transgressions of lying, cheating, stealing, and adultry.
The big problem here is hypocrisy.
The One God of Christianity *is* intolerant! These people need to recognize that fact. Too much 'ear tickling' going on in these so-called modern CINO (Christian in Name Only) churches nowadays.
Wonderful to see a wise, Biblical post on such a thread designed for rock throwing.
I don't know if you're Eastern Orthodox (I'm not) but I find myself agreeing with most of your post. In fact, I'd argue that Augustine was what the "hell" happened to Christianity...
This article is kinda funny. Any good christian will tell you that he can not be a republican because republicans are not capable of following the rules.
Thought for the decade for (damn near all) Republicans and (the you can't be free to be free) Christians:
Jesus would be able to live by the Constitution and Bill of Rights, why can't you?
Great points. Thx
But greatly effective at giving vast power to human intermediaries, who love to wield threats of Heavenly Judgment for fun and profit. ;)
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