30 thoughts on “God’s Humble Servant”

  1. I really hate these religious idiots. They believe God is their magical puppet.

    That’s why Jesus said, “I never knew you, you workers of lawlessness.”

  2. I don’t know what God wants any more than anyone else does, but if I were to guess it would probably go something like, “You kids play nice, don’t make so much noise, and as I am My witness do NOT make Me come out there!”

  3. I have limited sympathy for Seoul if it gets hit by chemical weapons. The reason is I’ve been there and seen the wonderful underground shopping concourses they have throughout the downtown and commercial area. Basically, its the area under the streets (but about 10 feet down), and those are wide streets. They are used as shopping malls, and connect to the basement levels of the buildings.

    What you notice while walking around them is that they *used to* have curtain-type (plastic sheeting) doors that could be pulled across all access points, plus overhead air ducting (similar to what you see in any bunker built to be chem proof; for positive pressurization). What they did was, when they refinished the floor, took out the lower tracks for the barriers. They also removed the scrubbers from the air intake system. In other words, they intentionally decommissioned this massive shelter system (which contains things like grocery stores, so it’s very well stocked), and they did it for political reasons.

    Stupidity of that magnitude is on par with the “god wants” moron. (I often wonder if God gets tired of nitwits telling him what he wants.).

    1. Pat Robertson famously called for the assassination of Hugo Chavez https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/nation/2005-08-22-robertson-_x.htm

      I certainly felt that a man preaching the teachings of Christ (my Kingdom is not of this world) was acting pretty worldly to call for this “hit.” On the other hand, the Reverend Robertson proved himself a prophet with respect to the escalating misery of the Venezuelan people in the aftermath of the misrule of Mr. Chavez that continues in Chavez’ name.

      I agree that it is outside the portfolio of a preacher to call upon taking anyone’s life, no matter how bad they are. But I do think that a preacher can have an Old Testament prophet’s role in telling us that a particular person is very bad indeed, and Mr. Chavez was regarded as your “typical Latin-American neighbor’s friendly dictator by some” for too long.

        1. How is that so?

          That Mr. Kim is a “malignant” nuclear-armed tyrant whereas the late Mr. Chavez was a “benign” tyrant who only made things miserable for his own people along with a few chumps who “believed” Peak Oil and invested in his oil industry?

          That North Korea is an utterly totalitarian state whereas Venezuela is only halfway between that point and the late-stage Obama Administration?

          But then again, Mr. Kim different from Mr. Chavez in degree but what about different in kind? North Korea has nuclear weapons that deter anyone from overthrowing him, but he will never have a first strike-capable arsenal or even anything remotely approaching that, so the minute he inflicts mass casualties on us, North Korea will be utterly destroyed?

          Even so,

    2. I have limited sympathy for Seoul if it gets hit by chemical weapons.

      This is the first I’ve heard of chemical weapons even being the issue. The artillery will do enough damage in and of itself.

      1. Maybe that is why South Korea relaxed its chemical defenses? In the belief that it would not make any difference.

  4. In the case of an artillery strike the safest place is probably the subway. As for preachers and their visions or whatever this is something that precedes Christian beliefs. The Greeks had the Sibyl for example. I have my own suspicions on how the phenomenon works but it’s not that different from a psychadelic trance really. It makes you do mental connections you wouldn’t do otherwise (which does not necessarily mean they are valid though).

  5. It also helpful to realize that people are often pawns in a bigger game. Each has responsibility for his own actions but those are limited by that of others. Not all, but many, are innocents.

    Still, the level of stupidity is awesome.

    1. Site filter didn’t allow a repost. Maybe with this heading, it will.

      A couple of citations.

      From The Hobbit:

      “Then the prophecies of the old songs have turned out to be true, after a fashion!” said Bilbo.
      “Of course!” said Gandalf. “And why should not they prove true? Surely you don’t disbelieve the prophecies, because you had a hand in bringing them about yourself? You don’t really suppose, do you, that all your adventures and escapes were managed by mere luck, just for your sole benefit? You are a very fine person, Mr. Baggins, and I am very fond of you; but you are only quite a little fellow in a wide world after all!”

      A popular parable:

      A man was trapped in his house during a flood. He began praying to God to rescue him. He had a vision in his head of God’s hand reaching down from heaven and lifting him to safety. The water started to rise in his house. His neighbour urged him to leave and offered him a ride to safety. The man yelled back, “I am waiting for God to save me.” The neighbour drove off in his pick-up truck.

      The man continued to pray and hold on to his vision. As the water began rising in his house, he had to climb up to the roof. A boat came by with some people heading for safe ground. They yelled at the man to grab a rope they were ready to throw and take him to safety. He told them that he was waiting for God to save him. They shook their heads and moved on.

      The man continued to pray, believing with all his heart that he would be saved by God. The flood waters continued to rise. A helicopter flew by and a voice came over a loudspeaker offering to lower a ladder and take him off the roof. The man waved the helicopter away, shouting back that he was waiting for God to save him. The helicopter left. The flooding water came over the roof and caught him up and swept him away. He drowned.

      When he reached heaven and asked, “God, why did you not save me? I believed in you with all my heart. Why did you let me drown?” God replied, “I sent you a pick-up truck, a boat and a helicopter and you refused all of them. What else could I possibly do for you?”

      The Lord works in mysterious ways.

  6. For me (an atheist) the defining message of Yeshue ben Joseph, the jewish rabbi was:

    “THE EIGHT BEATITUDES OF JESUS

    “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

    Blessed are they who mourn,
    for they shall be comforted.

    Blessed are the meek,
    for they shall inherit the earth.

    Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
    for they shall be satisfied.

    Blessed are the merciful,
    for they shall obtain mercy.

    Blessed are the pure of heart,
    for they shall see God.

    Blessed are the peacemakers,
    for they shall be called children of God.

    Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.”

    Gospel of St. Matthew 5:3-10″
    http://jesuschristsavior.net/Beatitudes.html

    this “follower” of jesus seems to miss the whole point.

    1. That just says that if you persevere in your faith despite worldly obstacles, that you will find relief in heaven. It doesn’t really speak to the potential of nuclear war unless you take it to mean that Christians must martyr themselves silently.

      I am not sure why atheists always like to quote scripture. They rarely understand it and generally use it as some sort of superiority power play. How is an atheist quoting scripture and telling everyone they are evil not a religious act? Why would an atheist take it upon themselves to regulate who is and isn’t a good Christian?

      1. Where did I mention evil?

        Why can not an atheist study religion? Why can not an atheist make observations that some christians are also making? IDENTICAL observations?

        The reason atheists seem to quote scripture so much is 99 times out of a 100 they have actually READ scripture.. and STUDIED scripture, taken religious studies courses at the university level and studied Textual Criticism. But the bottom line is .. I am allowed an opinion.

        1. Where did I mention evil?

          Correct, you just played the, “You aren’t a good Christian card.” As if you have the moral authority to make that distinction.

          The reason atheists seem to quote scripture so much is 99 times out of a 100 they have actually READ scripture.

          No, 99% of the time it is to cherry pick something to use, usually incorrectly, to attack someone as not being a good Christian. It is a pretty bogus line of attack but it is the main one used.

          and STUDIED scripture, taken religious studies courses at the university level and studied Textual Criticism.

          This means not much to me. What kind of agenda do these classes have? I have studied religion too and not just western religion but religion through time and cultures. A student would know the meaning of what you quoted, which bears no relevance to what the preacher said.

          One thing that I have noticed is that while some older atheists have arrived at their belief through considered thought, many atheists today hold their beliefs absent thought. They view themselves as more highly evolved and enlightened humans while not recognizing their own magical thinking or how their views create a superiority complex that they claim to hate so much in religions.

      2. Wodun, while an atheist doesn’t define what is christian they are certainly capable of seeing hypocrisy (even though most people tend to be blind to their own hypocrisy.)

        Where ambiguity exists (everywhere?) it takes a really humble person to search beyond their existing biases.

        Most people are uncomfortable with confrontation, but without it we learn almost nothing.

        That’s what I liked about Breitbart. He’d mix with the crowds head on. He is so missed and died too young.

        1. Everyone is a hypocrite on something. But the old, “You are a bad Christian and I am better than you.” shtick is a common trope.

          I am fine with people arguing positions on different issues but most times when an atheist quotes scripture, it isn’t to argue a position but to bring in something they don’t believe in to silence someone on a usually unrelated point. It is all very disingenuous.

          Similar example. Non-religious person insults someone. Religious person responds in kind. Non-religious person says, “That’s not very Christian of you.”

          1. it isn’t to argue a position but to bring in something they don’t believe in to silence someone

            It’s true that’s fairly common where winning arguments is the game rather than giving a hoot about understanding. My perceptiveness isn’t very high these days so I would defer to you on that. I’m often impressed by how perceptive and to the point you are.

            OTOH, this is one of the places where I like to give a generous amount of benefit of the doubt because the word is alive and exerts power. Blind squirrel that I am I might offer a valuable acorn.

      3. Christians must martyr themselves silently.

        Sometimes… but that statement has two parts. When Stephen was stoned he was not silent. He gave a witness.

        “God’s kingdom is no part of the world.” is often misunderstood because world has ambiguous meaning. World could be understood in the sense of ungodly men, which would then allow for “this govt. is not part of that govt.” even though both are on the earth. With the additional understanding that a govt. based in heaven can have its scope include earth.

        So we may recuse ourselves from involvement in nuclear war even to death. That’s a personal decision.

        1. So we may recuse ourselves from involvement in nuclear war even to death. That’s a personal decision.

          It is one thing for an individual to decide that and another for an atheist to require a Christian have that pov because it suits the atheist’s current ideological desires. If a Christian’s beliefs can’t be twisted to support the atheist’s ideology, then they will attack the religion. There is no real respect for religion here other than how it can be used at a given moment.

          The quoting of scripture isn’t out of belief in that scripture but just to disingenuously manipulate someone.

          I prefer to have arguments made in good faith out in the open. I dislike religious people quoting scripture to support a political policy just as much as I dislike atheists quoting scripture to support a policy. At least one is honestly and openly grounded in actual beliefs though.

          1. I prefer to have arguments made in good faith out in the open.

            You’re a straight shooter in a world full of anglers. I was just cautioning that people can sometimes surprise you in having motivations you don’t expect or discovering new motivations when not expected.

            I will agree that if you play the odds… However, even if the odds are really low, gaining a brother is so worth it.

            Forgive me please.

    2. For me [Vlad] the defining message…

      A perfect example of my other comment. We all do this and it’s certainly valid to try to boil things down to their essence.

      It includes a danger to be wary of. Understanding is a many layered onion. The beatitudes (which I believe is a Catholic phrase?) is a summary of much deeper thoughts. The danger is believing the outer layer is understood without searching deeper.

      “The meek shall inherit the earth” is a very old promise that has not yet occurred (obviously.) But it’s not simply a pleasant thought either. It’s a literal promise backed up by Isaiah 55:11…

      …my word that goes out from my mouth: It will not return to me empty [without result] but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. Where to God, 1000 years is but a watch (4 hrs) in the night. Night is almost over.

      An atheist doesn’t know this as a person of integrity [God] inspiring the writer [not God] sharing a firmly established promise.

      It’s the same with the other seven, the most profound being the theme of the bible: man’s reconciliation with God by means of a governmental structure (found both in the beatitudes and the ‘our father’ prayer.)

      We need to develop a God’s eye view (even for atheists.)

  7. I don’t like people acting this way anymore than I do when AGW alarmists try and manipulate religious people into falling in line.

  8. OK when we go to the source material, the preacher didn’t say God wants Trump to take out NK.

    In the case of North Korea, God has given Trump authority to take out Kim Jong Un.”

    Saying Trump has the authority, regardless of where you think that authority comes from, isn’t the same as an order from God.

    Many of our founders thought that our rights were endowed by our creator but there was nothing divine about our leaders. However, the constitution does give Trump the authority to act on NK.

    After TDB slyly twists the man’s words to go after his religious beliefs, they then criticize him for saying the Mormon religion is a cult. I’d wager the author doesn’t have a high opinion of Mormons or any other Christian denomination.

  9. Can’t God just smite Fat Boy himself? What does he need Trump for?

    That’s a great question because it grows on ya. It’s related to a bigger issue central to the bible.

    Why didn’t God just wipe Satan out at the start? Nowhere in the bible will you find Satan claiming God does not have the power to do it. There is an answer, but I’ve said enough.

    1. Yes, its the shallow, “Why would a just God allow suffering in the world.” Even in the absence of religion, some people don’t understand the human condition. But then again, some people hate humanity and what it means to be a human existing in nature.

      1. We could certainly reduce (or increase) suffering with our own actions. But Satan is the ultimate fat boy so if he’s not smiting, the reasoning goes, he doesn’t exist.

        It’s not really concern about suffering but proving that God doesn’t exist. But smiting couldn’t just end with Satan. He made accusations that would still exist after he’d be gone including some that require his existence to disprove.

        We always just glimpse a part of the story, but are so willing to believe we understand it all… and everyone else is just a gullible fool.

        Which gives us some clue into why God values humility so much?

        A gullible person is not a christian because otherwise let your reasonableness be know to all wouldn’t apply.

        Or as Rand might remind me, “It is better to not speak and be thought a fool, then to open your mouth and remove all doubt!” 😉

        I was never very good with that one.

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