Comments on: Weekly Links: The Fed’s Coup, Life for Hoarding, and More http://zealfortruth.org/2008/04/weekly-links-the-feds-coup-life-for-hoarding-and-more/ Thu, 20 Nov 2008 15:50:35 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.1.3 By: Jew http://zealfortruth.org/2008/04/weekly-links-the-feds-coup-life-for-hoarding-and-more/#comment-5918 Jew Fri, 04 Apr 2008 16:00:31 +0000 http://zealfortruth.org/2008/04/weekly-links-the-feds-coup-life-for-hoarding-and-more/#comment-5918 I want to comment on the statement by the citizen who put up the religious statue: "<i>I have chosen to put up a statue of the Flying Spaghetti Monster to represent the discourse between people of all different beliefs. ... it is meant to open up discussion and provoke thought.</i>" Flying Spaghetti Monster is not about discourse, discussion, and thought. It was invented by atheists as a tool to insult, antagonize, and belittle people who believe in God. The US Constitution protects their right to free speech, and that extends to insults such as this statue. But come on! Nobody believes this is about discussion and discourse. FSM is insulting, and it's doubly insulting to claim that it's intended to foster "positive dialogue" in the community. I hope the local Christians will not take the bait. I hope they'll ignore this insult, as Jesus commands in Matthew 5:39. I want to comment on the statement by the citizen who put up the religious statue: “I have chosen to put up a statue of the Flying Spaghetti Monster to represent the discourse between people of all different beliefs. … it is meant to open up discussion and provoke thought.”

Flying Spaghetti Monster is not about discourse, discussion, and thought. It was invented by atheists as a tool to insult, antagonize, and belittle people who believe in God. The US Constitution protects their right to free speech, and that extends to insults such as this statue. But come on! Nobody believes this is about discussion and discourse. FSM is insulting, and it’s doubly insulting to claim that it’s intended to foster “positive dialogue” in the community.

I hope the local Christians will not take the bait. I hope they’ll ignore this insult, as Jesus commands in Matthew 5:39.

]]> By: Chris A http://zealfortruth.org/2008/04/weekly-links-the-feds-coup-life-for-hoarding-and-more/#comment-5923 Chris A Fri, 04 Apr 2008 17:04:31 +0000 http://zealfortruth.org/2008/04/weekly-links-the-feds-coup-life-for-hoarding-and-more/#comment-5923 Regarding that link to Kiwi's perspective on context, I thought it was excellent. I couldn't agree more. I see Paul's approach to evangelism as very much aware of culture, but he was intent on communicating an uncompromising Gospel. This really goes back to the basics of language and communication. We speak the same language to understand one another. The message doesn't change just the language or mode of communication. I think the following passage expresses Paul's understanding of how the message of Christ was tailored to different cultures. 21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks[b] foolishness, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men. (1 Corinthians 1:21-25) Note that both philosophic world views, the Greek-wisdom view and the Hebrew-power view, were potentially stumbling blocks to receiving Christ. However, whether one adhered to one world view or the other, Christ fulfilled the expectation of either philosophic viewpoint to those who believed. He was power the Jews and wisdom to the Greeks. Regarding that link to Kiwi’s perspective on context, I thought it was excellent. I couldn’t agree more. I see Paul’s approach to evangelism as very much aware of culture, but he was intent on communicating an uncompromising Gospel. This really goes back to the basics of language and communication. We speak the same language to understand one another. The message doesn’t change just the language or mode of communication. I think the following passage expresses Paul’s understanding of how the message of Christ was tailored to different cultures.

21 For since, in the wisdom of God, the world through wisdom did not know God, it pleased God through the foolishness of the message preached to save those who believe. 22 For Jews request a sign, and Greeks seek after wisdom; 23 but we preach Christ crucified, to the Jews a stumbling block and to the Greeks[b] foolishness, 24 but to those who are called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25 Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men, and the weakness of God is stronger than men.
(1 Corinthians 1:21-25)

Note that both philosophic world views, the Greek-wisdom view and the Hebrew-power view, were potentially stumbling blocks to receiving Christ. However, whether one adhered to one world view or the other, Christ fulfilled the expectation of either philosophic viewpoint to those who believed. He was power the Jews and wisdom to the Greeks.

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