pastor regrets not assaulting John Bolton

[FireDragon76]

Conservative pastor says Jesus would have "beat the crap" out of John Bolton

I'm astonished at the kind of "Christian spiritual advisors" that hang around Donald Trump.

On second thought... no, I'm not.

 

[iluvatar5150]

Conservative pastor says Jesus would have "beat the crap" out of John Bolton

I'm astonished at the kind of "Christian spiritual advisors" that hang around Donald Trump.

On second thought... no, I'm not.

I’m glad some of this kookier Christian stuff is becoming more visible.

 

[JackRT]

The base are totally blind to the kind of person Trump is and how he is trying to change the nation. He thinks and attempts to behave as though he was an absolute monarch and, if he is unchallenged in this, the nation will be changed forever.

 

[Halbhh]

I’m glad some of this kookier Christian stuff is becoming more visible.

Do you mean as in contrast or to help contrast/separate as compared to actual Christianity? To help people get it that's not at all Christianity?

Well, for that realization, among the non-Christians out there, the tens of millions or hundred million or whatever, they might need to have at least a little bit of information about actual Christianity, so as to be able to realize the contrast! Otherwise they will just say 'wow, I didn't know Christianity was like that....now I know!' (or some large portion would perhaps).

I don't think only a few would reason that way. Not just a million or 5.

 

[A Realist]

I’m glad some of this kookier Christian stuff is becoming more visible.

Unfortunately, Rodney Howard-Browne is just the tip of that kooky iceberg.

 

[JosephZ]

One things for certain, Trump becoming president has made it easier for us to make a distinction between the wheat and the chaff within the American Church.

 

[durangodawood]

Conservative pastor says Jesus would have "beat the crap" out of John Bolton

I'm astonished at the kind of "Christian spiritual advisors" that hang around Donald Trump.

On second thought... no, I'm not.

Not some random nut.

This guy has actually been in the White House to "lay hands on" Trump.

 

[JackRT]

This guy has actually been in the White House to "lay hands on" Trump.

If he lays hands on me I'd need to be decontaminated.

 

[Brightmoon]

Do you mean as in contrast or to help contrast/separate as compared to actual Christianity? To help people get it that's not at all Christianity?

Well, for that realization, among the non-Christians out there, the tens of millions or hundred million or whatever, they might need to have at least a little bit of information about actual Christianity, so as to be able to realize the contrast! Otherwise they will just say 'wow, I didn't know Christianity was like that....now I know!' (or some large portion would perhaps).

I don't think only a few would reason that way. Not just a million or 5.

. Sometimes you don’t realize you’ve got cancer until the lump gets big enough to feel. These types of toxic religious idiots need to be stopped as 1 they are driving people away from the faith because of their bad example 2 they do cause a lot of harm .

 

[A Realist]

. Sometimes you don’t realize you’ve got cancer until the lump gets big enough to feel. These types of toxic religious idiots need to be stopped as 1 they are driving people away from the faith because of their bad example 2 they do cause a lot of harm .

...and he's in the WH pigsty getting slopped with the rest of 'em.

 

[thecolorsblend]

they do cause a lot of harm .

What harm? And upon whom?

 

[iluvatar5150]

Do you mean as in contrast or to help contrast/separate as compared to actual Christianity? To help people get it that's not at all Christianity?

I think Christianity (at least in the US, probably elsewhere, too), particularly fundamental/evangelical Protestantism, has, for a long time, welcomed into its fold all manner of kooks, cranks, quacks, and charlatans. For the most part, these folks have managed to stay mostly outside of the greater public consciousness despite having huge followings within the evangelical community. Fundamentalism built for itself this parallel culture almost entirely separate from the mainstream and it seems to me that both people inside it and outside it were content to keep them separate. We've long passed the point where the influence of these kooks is limited to their own flocks; their influence and harm extend well outside of their groups via their ability to wield persuasive power over the people within their groups and the influence those insiders have on the rest of society. I think Christianity needs to purge itself of these kooks - both for its own sake and for the sake of the population at large; and I don't think that purging can happen without significant outside pressure shining a light on just how nutty and wrong so many of them are.

 

[FireDragon76]

What harm? And upon whom?

You don't think advocating violence against potential whistleblowers is inherently harmful?

 

[FireDragon76]

I think Christianity (at least in the US, probably elsewhere, too), particularly fundamental/evangelical Protestantism, has, for a long time, welcomed into its fold all manner of kooks, cranks, quacks, and charlatans.

Yeah, that was my perception, too.

Even my own pastor, who was in a denomination considered part of the "mainline", had some kookishness going on.

I don't think the "kook" factor is healthy at all.

 

[FireDragon76]

I love how the media politely call these guys "conservative pastors".

Let's just call them for what they are, "kooks". The Rev. Timothy Keller is a conservative pastor. Howard-Browne is a kook.

 

[2PhiloVoid]

I think Christianity (at least in the US, probably elsewhere, too), particularly fundamental/evangelical Protestantism, has, for a long time, welcomed into its fold all manner of kooks, cranks, quacks, and charlatans. For the most part, these folks have managed to stay mostly outside of the greater public consciousness despite having huge followings within the evangelical community. Fundamentalism built for itself this parallel culture almost entirely separate from the mainstream and it seems to me that both people inside it and outside it were content to keep them separate. We've long passed the point where the influence of these kooks is limited to their own flocks; their influence and harm extend well outside of their groups via their ability to wield persuasive power over the people within their groups and the influence those insiders have on the rest of society. I think Christianity needs to purge itself of these kooks - both for its own sake and for the sake of the population at large; and I don't think that purging can happen without significant outside pressure shining a light on just how nutty and wrong so many of them are.

Purging is probably rather a strong measure ... It kind of sounds like---oh, I don't know, pulling weeds among the wheat. We'd better be careful with that!

However, I do second the motion that if a Christian walks like a duck (like Rodney Howard-Browne), quacks like a duck (which Rodney Howard-Browne's form of spiritually definitely does, literally), then it's probably safe to say that that particular evangelical pastor isn't everything he's quacked up to be ...

(Yes, yes. I know. I won't even get a drum roll for that one! ... )

 

[Halbhh]

I think Christianity (at least in the US, probably elsewhere, too), particularly fundamental/evangelical Protestantism, has, for a long time, welcomed into its fold all manner of kooks, cranks, quacks, and charlatans. For the most part, these folks have managed to stay mostly outside of the greater public consciousness despite having huge followings within the evangelical community. Fundamentalism built for itself this parallel culture almost entirely separate from the mainstream and it seems to me that both people inside it and outside it were content to keep them separate. We've long passed the point where the influence of these kooks is limited to their own flocks; their influence and harm extend well outside of their groups via their ability to wield persuasive power over the people within their groups and the influence those insiders have on the rest of society. I think Christianity needs to purge itself of these kooks - both for its own sake and for the sake of the population at large; and I don't think that purging can happen without significant outside pressure shining a light on just how nutty and wrong so many of them are.

Perhaps you'd like what this well respected organization is doing (below). I'm not in a 'evangelical' church, but in a Lutheran church (though that's only a label), but I think we can all look over and see the light shining here and there, in other places. Especially when it's the Light.

Since you may have seen the initial article, now famous, here's the interesting followup:

The Flag in the Whirlwind: An Update from CT’s President

 

[FireDragon76]

Perhaps you'd like what this well respected organization is doing (below). I'm not in a 'evangelical' church, but in a Lutheran church (though that's only a label), but I think we can all look over and see the light shining here and there, in other places. Especially when it's the Light.

Since you may have seen the initial article, now famous, here's the interesting followup:

The Flag in the Whirlwind: An Update from CT’s President

As Tim Keller has pointed out recently, in parts of the US Evangelicalism is more of a folk religion and being "born again" is just fulfilling a cultural expectation. Which means the label "Evangelical" has become somewhat meaningless.

 

[JackRT]

I think we can all look over and see the light shining here and there, in other places. Especially when it's the Light.

That is so true! The "Light" can shine anywhere ---- the most Christlike person I have ever personally met was a Hindu.

 

[Kenny'sID]

I'm astonished at the kind of "Christian spiritual advisors" that hang around Donald Trump.

That's because Trump is bad as is anyone he knows. lol.

Give me a break.