I read an opinion piece in the Orlando Sentinel today by Yanis Rock Click Here that made me think of the following passage:
But the goal of our instruction is love from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith. For some men, straying from these things, have turned aside to fruitless discussion, wanting to be teachers of the Law, even though they do not understand either what they are saying or the matters about which they make confident assertions. (1 Timothy 1:5-8)
It amazes me that Mr. Rock would write with confidence about what Jesus would do when he himself is apparently ignorant of Jesus' teachings.
Astoundingly, he writes:
Well, Jesus wasn't arrogant or pompous, so he wouldn't deliver his message in such a way to exclude rather than unite. The very idea that Christianity or any other religion, for that matter, has a monopoly on morality or divinity is absolutely preposterous.
Was Jesus arrogant? No. Did He have a message that excluded? Absolutely! And did He claim a monopoly on morality or divinity? Without a doubt!
Jesus preached in public, much like the man Mr. Rock derides, and he demanded repentance of sin (Matthew 4:17, Mark 1:15, and others) and proclaimed that those who would not repent would perish (Luke 13:3 and 5).
Jesus also claimed divinity and that unbelievers would die in their sins (John 8:24). Not only that, Jesus claimed to be the only way to salvation, a clear proposition of an exclusive message (John 14:6).
The one who is preposterous is Mr. Rock. He wrote that piece using Jesus as a model in order to proclaim the opposite of what Jesus actually taught. Mr. Rock, through his utter lack of knowledge, research, and credibility, has held up a flashing neon sign that says, "I'm Ignorant!" and he doesn't even know it!
This is sad. This is tragic. In our culture, the teachings of Jesus have been reduced to a popular consensus of opinion that is the opposite of truth. Most readers, and apparently the editor of a major newspaper, have no problem accepting this ridiculous notion that Jesus taught a sweet, let's-all-have-a-group-hug kind of message that wouldn't offend anyone, when, in fact, Jesus made this amazing declaration:
Do not think that I came to bring peace on the earth; I did not come to bring peace, but a sword. For I came to set a man against his father, and a daughter against her mother, and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law; and a man’s enemies will be the members of his household. He who loves father or mother more than Me is not worthy of Me; and he who loves son or daughter more than Me is not worthy of Me. And he who does not take his cross and follow after Me is not worthy of Me. He who has found his life shall lose it, and he who has lost his life for My sake shall find it. (Matthew 10:34-39)
To those who don't believe, this is a divisive and offensive claim. Either love Jesus more than anything and be willing to die for Him, or you will die. The words of Christ cut, and they cut deeply. They expose the soul and demand repentance of sin and adherence to His teachings. There is no other option.
Mr. Rock is just one of many who believe his nonsense. It's up to real Christians to shout the real teachings of Christ from the rooftops and expose ignorance like Mr. Rock's for what it is.
4 comments:
Does Mr. Rock accept the divinity of Christ? To do so invalidates his point that Christianity has no monopoly on divinity, because Christ as God created a single path to Heaven that excludes all other possibilities. Otherwise, there was no need for Christ to be crucified. Since he claims to go to church, I can only wonder what he's being taught.
The nice, cuddly, politically correct version of Christ advanced by Mr. Rock (and many others) completely excludes the conviction, truth, morality, and sense of justice Christ was (and is) about. If anything, they use it to fend off any "judgmental" statement one might advance (homosexuality, abortion, take your pick) by saying, "Well Jesus is love, and He wouldn't judge so and so, and why are you so hung up on gays and abortion and sex when people are starving and poor?" (They always love to use the poverty card when you're debating them, don't ask me why)
I think what blew me away the most was his claim that God is the same as Allah in Islam. Christianity and Islam are very different, and I don't see how anyone who calls himself a Christian can reconcile the two faiths.
The problem is what you fail to see is that Mr. Rock was implying that Jesus wouldn't stand up on a soapbox telling everyone that they're going to hell simply for being downtown on a Saturday night. As far as his "ignorance" if Jesus' teachings you couldn't be more wrong.
Anymore, Jesus is being portrayed as a more loving, passionate Jesus than perhaps the one you, sir, grew up with. We were never taught his wrath but rather his love for all. so maybe it is you, sir, that is ignorant to the way Jesus is being protrayed nowadays.
However, to bash someone's personal opinion as to the way they see the powers of a higher being is preposterous, sir, not Mr. Rock.
Of course Jesus' message was an excluding one, but he did not yell from the streets that everyone was going to hell just for being in a certain place. And, of course he preached in public, where would he do so, on the radio? In the Jewish Synagogues? i think not. Perhaps you, sir, should take another look at Mr. Rock's article. Not looking for what minor things he's (in your eyes) mistaken, but what he's gotten correct.
-Now onto Mr. Galactic Overlord-in-Cheif. Not unlike his name could he be more pretentious.
I hate to tell you, but the politically correct, ever loving Jesus, that's how he's being portrayed in church nowadays. If you've been to a catholic mass in the past 10 years, you'd have realized that. As far as Mr. Rock's credibility and knowelge on the matter, I know for a personal fact that Mr. Rock knows what he's talking about as both he and I attend the same church, he on a more regular basis.
Mr. Anonymous,
Jesus told people they were going to hell for their behavior. Did you even read the references I provided? The street preacher wasn't preaching against their place on the street; he was preaching against the sins they were comitting there.
You, as did Mr. Rock, failed to read or reference Scripture. Your view of Jesus is the politically correct one, not the biblical one. If you are unaware of the wrath of God toward sinners, then you are unaware of God. Jesus clearly taught God's wrath, and it is you who are blind to that fact.
It is not preposterous to contradict someone's opinion. This is my blog, my place to express my opinion, so I am free to do so. I disagree strongly with Mr. Rock, so I said so. What is ridiculous is for you to come onto my blog and say that I am preposterous for expressing my opinion on my own opinion space. How absurd!
The only reason I'm leaving your post on here is for others to see how absurd people like you and Mr. Rock are. You believe in an unbiblical Jesus and cannot support your view with Scripture.
Anonymous (Ms., not Mr., as she pointed out) posted another comment in response to mine, but I deleted it, because she was apparently unable to conduct a civil debate, resorting to profanity to make her point.
Ms. Anonymous, please don't bother to post again. I'm not interested in the point of view of someone who cannot comment without evidence or civility.
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