It May Be Hostility, But It’s Wrapped in a Warm Blanket of Disdain

And that, in the words of Forrest Gump, is all that I’m going to say about that.  I could no more watch something so debased as a political ‘debate’ moderated by a self aggrandizing ‘pastor’ than I could watch Todd Bentley parade around the stage and utter blasphemous nonsense about visions and visitations.  I have a low tolerance for gunk.

This Is One Terrific Book

And by ‘this’ I mean Margaret Barker’s ‘Temple Themes in Christian Worship‘. Don’t fret, I’m not going to review it just now- I simply wanted to mention it because I’ve been reading it since it came in the mail a week or so ago. I love it.

It’s classic Barker, chocked full of meticulously organized material interwoven in a readable and gripping narrative. She does a fantastic job of showing the adoption of ‘Temple’ themes by Christianity and- though I don’t know if intentionally (I’ve not finished it yet)- shows just how ‘Jewish’ Christianity really is.

I commend it to your attention. Just in case you’ve got some disposable income and are looking for something to read that will hold your ADHD / ADD affected mind.

Scott’s ‘Worst Preacher Ever’ Contest

Scott’s series on the worst preacher ever is moving ahead with great grandeur. As one would, naturally, expect. I’ve been voting for the entries in each round but I have to prognosticate a bit: I think when all is said and done Todd Bentley will be the ‘winner’ (loser) of the Worst Preacher Ever contest. But, you have a vote- so join in the fun.

It’s Hard to Take the High Ground, When You’ve Done a Bit of Invading Yourself…

The Bush Administration really can’t be too critical of Russia at the moment what with our own involvement in foreign escapades and ‘regime change’.

I have to confess that I cannot discern the cause of Russia’s invasion of Georgia. I suppose it’s rooted in some long time rivalry and mutual contempt among leaders (sort of like Bush’s disdain for Hussein). I can say, though, that Bush et al aren’t in any position to criticize. When you’ve walked down the path of invasion it’s a tad hypocritical to name-call someone else who does the same thing. And perhaps Russia is quite right to point out that fact.

Nonetheless, from a theological point of view, both ‘invasions’ are unjustifiable, do not fall within the purview of ‘just war theory’, and hence cannot be supported by Christian theologians. Russia should withdraw immediately, and thoroughly (as must the US from Iraq- after all, it’s what the people of Iraq want too). The insanity of war, however, leads men to imagine that evil is good and so without doubt neither Russia or the US will do the right thing and leave their victims of invasion in peace.

A Couple of Schlatter-ian Gems

Das Kreuz ist die Verneinung der Macht.

And

Der Sinn des Gebets ist, daß wir Gott ehren.

Todd Bentley: Deluded False Teacher

There really is no doubt that Bentley is delusional.  Anyone claiming to have gone to heaven to talk to Jesus and Paul and, of course, angels, is not to be believed.  And I know Peter Kirk will rejoin, ‘well, Paul made the same claim- having had visions of the third heaven which he relates in his letter to the Corinthians.  So was he delusional too?’

No Peter, Paul was not a nutbag.  But, Peter, Todd Bentley is no Apostle Paul!  He’s not even worthy to wash Paul’s toes.

Religion News Blog notes

A number of rival conservative Christian radio hosts, apocalypticists and charismatics have attacked the Canadian preacher for, among other things, claiming to have gone to heaven and met and talked with angels, Jesus and the apostle Paul.  Those critics have called his ministry “demonic,” “occult,” “deceitful” and “plain silly.”

Silly isn’t the word I would use.  I would use the word deceptive and intentionally so.  I bet every time he finishes one of his ’services’ he slithers back to his hotel room and giggles to his pudgy self about how stupid his followers truly are.  Even his wife can’t take his deception anymore.

His large Abbotsford office, called Fresh Fire Ministries, acknowledged Monday on its website that Bentley and his wife, Shonnah, who have three children, have separated. His wife and children have returned to Canada.

A woman of sense doubtless.

Bentley also announced he will end his Florida revival, called The Outpouring, on Aug. 23.

Hold on now Toddy Poo.  If the revival is really of God, as you and your psychotic sycophants have claimed, then isn’t it really up to God to pull the plug on it?  Isn’t it arrogance of the highest order to say you will bring the ‘revival’ (which never was a true revival anyway but just another example of mass delusion) to an end?

Bentley’s ending his mass delusion in Florida (where the sun has baked the brains of his audience thereby making them extremely gullible and susceptible to falsehood) so he can take his show on the road to the UK.  Unfortunately for him, the UK doesn’t want him.

London’s Express on Sunday started a campaign last month to keep the Canadian revivalist out of Great Britain and, as of this week, Fresh Fire Ministries “postponed” a planned gathering in Birmingham, England.

Still think the guy’s legit?  You have been blinded by the lie.  [h.t. Antonio].

Lest We Forget…

Today marks the anniversary of the birth of Adolf Schaltter- in 1852.  Schlatter was, for his rather conservative bent, nonetheless a very good exegete.  But he wasn’t simply an exegete.  He was a theologian and historian as well and published numerous volumes on all those subjects.

Lest we forget…