Comics For The Spiritually Inclined

To be enlightened even further, visit Ray Comfort’s Blog

Freedom From Toxic Beliefs

College gals have much to be concerned about. Some were concerned about grades, others about which party they would attend. Still others were concerned about maintaining integrity in a party hearty environment. But I was also concerned about not wearing pants, dying my hair, or using make-up. That brings me to an article from AOL News about the “fashion sense” of polygamist wives. I’ve always wondered why they wore prairie dresses, the same hairstyle, and no make-up. They apparently dress so plainly to avoid competition. If all of the women look alike, there would be no reason for a man to favor one wife over the other. In turn, there would be no jealousy. I personally do not believe that rivalry would cease to exist due to how the women look, but it is the claim of the sect nonetheless. But you know something, their reasons for intentionally looking unattractive were quite different from what I experienced attending a strict pentecostal church.

When I first became a born-again christian, I was a part of a church which taught that pants were off limits for women. Deuteronomy 22:5 was the scripture in question:

5 A woman must not wear men’s clothing, nor a man wear women’s clothing, for the LORD your God detests anyone who does this. (NIV–BibleGateway.com)

So there you have it. Because of someone’s interpretation of this passage, I once believed that I would go to hell if I wore pants. But it didn’t stop there. My former church also taught that women should not wear make-up or dye their hair. Christians from other denominations and “new Pentecostals” would try to get me to relax about certain issues. It wasn’t until much later that I saw the light.

So what was the straw that broke the camels back? Well, there was one young lady in the church who decided to wear her hair natural (”unstraightened”), another set of young ladies decided to wear braids. Alas, the pastor (who is black btw) declared that in order to be a Godly woman, you must straighten your hair and stay away from braids. In other words, you must appear more white. It was then that I found out that people were not allowed to wear afros in my denomination during the 70’s. After hearing such things, I said, “enough of this crap.” Eventually, I left that church and moved onto one a bit more sensible.

My wardrobe today consists mostly of pants. Many people tell me that my jeans can be a bit too form-fitting so I try not to go to extremes. I also wear my nails long with bold polish at times. As for make-up, I use it occasionally depending on where I’m going. Now for the all important hair. My hair in it’s natural state is similar to Scary Spice. If the mood strikes, I wear it as such but most of the time, it is blowed straight. As trivial as it may seem to some, I am no longer concerned with wearing braids and will likely get it done again soon. Since humidity is upon us here in NY, my hair gets a bit frizzy. In other words, the relaxer won’t hold up.

Will I go out with a plunging neckline or see through clothing? Absolutely not! But, I am no longer worried about my eternal soul because of what I’m wearing.

Truly Blind Faith

I can remember way back when I was about 14, I needed to have corrective surgery. My then pastor told me that I had a choice. I could believe God to heal me or I could go to the doctor. Being “forced” to feel that I had to make such a choice was a bit traumatic. Admittedly, I did not have the faith my pastor possessed and ended up having the very sucessful surgery…THANK GOD! It was only years later that I learned I didn’t have to have that kind of faith in order to please God. With that said, how are we supposed to handle those types of situations? Why on earth do some people believe that medical professionals and God are mutually exclusive? Eleven year-old Madeline Neumann died as a result of such a doctrine. The poor girl had a treatable condition known as diabetic ketoacidosis. Yes, it was treatable. Instead, her parents decided that her treatment would come via prayer alone. Her parents are quoted in the article and I have to say, it provides a glimpse into the psyche of the doctrine:

“We stayed fast in prayer then. We believed that she would recover. We saw signs that to us, it looked like she was recovering.”

The young girl did not recover, but died anyway. Some may desperately argue that she was in fact healed (waiting, oh waiting for someone to bring in Isaiah 53:5 in attempt to refute my claim that it’s a false doctrine). That would be stretching things a mile more than they should be. There is no healing when you succumb to a disease. I’m not going to sit here and bash the parents since they were victims of a false doctrine as I was. But, they could have used what’s called Godly wisdom. Yes, God does give us good old plain common sense. But too many of us are looking for some spectacular sign. I can only hope that this doctrine and experience does not cause them to lose faith altogether. That’s where our firm foundations come in. These losses, as horrible as they are, can and should be used as learning experiences.

The Christian Right In America Cannot Be Compared With Muslim Extremists

It never ceases to amaze me when the radical left draw “parallels” between America’s Christian Right and Islamofascists. Ayaan Hirsi Ali so eloquently explains that the dynamics of religion in the west are much more humane that what exists in the Middle East. Those living in nations with Christian influences are free to trash religion, promote and distribute degrading entertainment, have abortions, speak out against leadership, and in some cases, burn flags without the fear of prison or even death. That escapes Canadian documentary filmmaker, Avi Lewis.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=08EYqwyns-k&hl=en]

According to Mr. Lewis, the people of the United States are under just as much oppression and strife as those living in the Muslim world. How can he or anyone else come to such a conclusion? Are things perfect here? No, they aren’t. But to believe that our country (or Canada) is in any way shape or form similar to a society under Islamic law is almost blatantly dishonest.

Newsflash! Jesus Is Not God’s Only Begotten Son…

…that is, according to Larry Huch and Paula White He’s not.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xfoGpHrAt2k&hl=en]

Don’t get me wrong, I still like Paula White, but this is more than outrageous. No, she didn’t actually make the comment, but she nodded her head in agreement. Also, she reduced Christ down to being only the “first fruit.” Allow me to ask…what the heck?

For more interesting videos, check out: bezel333

You’ll Find Many Prohibtions In The Bible, But You’ll Never Find, “Thou Shalt Not Marry An Unbeliever”

If you’re a Christian, I’m sure you heard that to marry someone who isn’t saved is being unequally yoked. That doctrine is often connected with 2 Corinthians 6:14:

14Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?

But if you read the entire passage, marriage is not discussed…not even once. It is one of those passages where well-meaning Christians make assumptions or add in their opinions. Here is another example:

Deuteronomy 22

5The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman’s garment: for all that do so are abomination unto the LORD thy God.

The passage above is often used as a prohibition against women wearing pants. How can anyone claim that it’s adding to the word of God to teach that women should not wear pants and not also make the same claim against the long standing (and I’ll say erroneous belief) that a believer should not marry an unbeliever? Below is another example:

Psalm 1

1Blessed is the man that walketh not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor standeth in the way of sinners, nor sitteth in the seat of the scornful.

I have heard the above verse used as a prohibition against Christians attending night clubs and/or movies (focus on “stand in the way of sinners). The adding never ends. For a long time, I believed that it was a sin to marry an unbeliever. I must admit it was during a time when I would take one verse and hang an entire doctrine upon it. Bad idea. Needless to say, I no longer believe it is a sin. Take a look at another verse:

1 Corinthians 7

12But to the rest speak I, not the Lord: If any brother hath a wife that believeth not, and she be pleased to dwell with him, let him not put her away.

13And the woman which hath an husband that believeth not, and if he be pleased to dwell with her, let her not leave him.

14For the unbelieving husband is sanctified by the wife, and the unbelieving wife is sanctified by the husband: else were your children unclean; but now are they holy.

There you have it. It is important to note that no where does the passage state that this applies to those who married their spouses before becoming believers…it simply addresses believers married to unbelievers. Therefore, marrying an unsaved person is not a sin nor does it mean your marriage will not be blessed.

BUT, is it a good idea? We cannot deny that conflicts may arise out of such unions. It is desirable for born-again Christians to marry other born-agains. Could I honestly see myself marrying an atheist or a Muslim? Absolutely not. Is one sinning by doing so…there is no biblical evidence that they are. Why teach such a thing? In a nutshell, the issue for me is not encouraging Christians to marry other Christians. I’d encourage the same. What I do have a problem with is declaring something sinful when it isn’t a sin at all.

Here is an interesting article on the subject. I do not endorse the entire site.

Does God Want Everyone To Be Saved Or Not?

There are some people I wish would just go to hell. A guy who could not take no for an answer finally told me to go to hell after I demanded he stop contacting me. We all have told someone to go to hell at least once. God, who is unlike me, doesn’t want that according to the bible. I’ll try not to make no comments about the passages…just read.

1 Timothy 2

Instructions on Worship

1I urge, then, first of all, that requests, prayers, intercession and thanksgiving be made for everyone— 2for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness. 3This is good, and pleases God our Savior, 4who wants all men to be saved and to come to a knowledge of the truth. 5For there is one God and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, 6who gave himself as a ransom for all men—the testimony given in its proper time. 7And for this purpose I was appointed a herald and an apostle—I am telling the truth, I am not lying—and a teacher of the true faith to the Gentiles.

Hebrews 2:9 (New International Version)

But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because he suffered death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

Matthew 28:18-20

18Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. 19Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in^[a] the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, 20and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age

This is an interesting paper on the subject.

What Do You Mean It’s A Part Of God’s Plan?

Below is a very interesting video by GodIsImaginary about the erroneous belief that anything and everything is a part of God’s plan. The video asserts that God’s plan is impossible and even ridiculous. Well, there is one correct point. If we claim that everything is God’s plan, we are essentially saying that abortion, child molestation, murder, and all sin is God ordained. Of course that’s crazy, but so is calling everything a part of the plan of God.

 
Human beings always have and always will continue to do as they please whether a deity likes it or not. Unfortunately, that includes the evil we commit. So if we have cancer, become rich, obese, educated, or are stuck in an elevator, it is simply life happening rather than a divine plan. How we conduct ourselves during life has more to do with God than life’s various events.

On a sidenote, the video claims that it is meant to help believers. Which believers? Born-agains or your average everyday theist? If it’s the former, the creators of the clip are chasing a wild goose.

Is John Marks Ready For The Rapture?

Salon.com contributor Louis Bayard interviewed a former born-again Christian, John Marks, about his 60 Minutes segment exploring fundamentalist Christianity in America. During an interview with a Christian couple, Marks was faced with a question that brought back memories and fears of his life as an active believer: Are you ready for the Rapture? I’d say that he first has to believe in the Rapture in order to be ready for it. That’s for another post.

In the article, Mr. Marks explains the tragic situation that led him out of Christianity. It was an interview with a Bosnian refugee that nailed the coffin containing his faith:

I sat across from this old man, and he told me that he’d been driven out of his village, that his next-door neighbor had been murdered in front of his eyes, that he and his wife had nothing, that they didn’t know what would happen to them. But he had this one hope, which was that his sons were alive. They had been taken off a bus and taken to a labor camp in northern Bosnia, and when the war was over, [the old man believed] he and his wife would be reunited with their sons, and they would all leave and everything would be fine. And then the interpreter leaned over and whispered in my ear, “I happen to know that this man’s sons are dead.”

This is actually something that I myself witnessed within Christian circles. It’s called futile faith. That is, holding on to a false hope. When such a person finally grasps reality, it is a huge shock that sometimes irretrievably shatters that person’s faith. In fairness, Marks appeared to be a victim of the “everything good must happen to good people” mentality. It is that mentality that shatters faith rather than faith itself.

Mr. Marks made another important point:

“I don’t see America outgrowing its faith.”

Of course not. But what is it about faith or theism in general that makes it such a powerful force in the world? The answer to that question is pivotal to the question regarding the existence of God.

Jesus Died So That We Can Have Peace And Prosperity!

According to Creflo Dollar that is. Of all the things I’ve heard him preach, that is the most vile and disgusting. I don’t claim to be perfect but I know that Jesus died so that our sins could be forgiven, not for our wealth or lack thereof. Take a look and pay close attention when you get to about 2:10 into the video.

[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cz4nR29Ym3s&rel=1]

Do these preachers not see the harm they are doing to the body? They are one step away from stating it’s a sin to be working class. I bet they’d go on to claim it’s the unpardonable sin to be poor.

It is certainly not wrong to have luxuries in life…hey I’ve got a number of expensive handbags and other things. But to preach it as gospel is more than disgusting.

For more interesting videos, click here. I should add that I do not endorse all of the viewpoints expressed in all of the videos.

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