Posted on 07/08/2012 5:44:53 PM PDT by Alex Murphy
THAT troublemaker Jesus has been in the news again.
His recognisable bearded face was reportedly seen outside a Chinese restaurant in Pakistan, on a bathroom wall in Texas, in a pair of rolled-up socks in Britain and, of course, in yet another grilled cheese sandwich.
And Jesus was thrown out of his home town of Nazareth again this week. The mayor had Christian posters on walls removed on grounds that proselytising was illegal.
Ironically, ultra-Orthodox Jews routinely post their beliefs in similar posters.
The gospel of Mark reveals that Jesus was not any more welcome in that area when he walked the planet 2000 or so years ago.
Jesus remarked to his disciples: "A prophet is not without honour, except in his own country."
There were geopolitical rumblings in the Son of God's reputed birthplace, now the Church of the Nativity in the West Bank city of Bethlehem.
UNESCO approved a Palestinian bid to place the church on world heritage listings, joining structures including the Taj Mahal, Timbuktu and Easter Island.
The move was opposed by Israel and the US on the grounds that it would be an affirmation of Palestinian sovereignty over the site.
About 10 years ago, Palestinian gunmen barricaded themselves inside the Church of the Nativity and waged a five-week battle with the surrounding Israeli tanks and soldiers.
The place was much more peaceful when it was just a stable.
In North Carolina, a police department ordered its chaplains to stop including Jesus in their prayers at official ceremonies.
Terry Sartain, a police chaplain for seven years, said he got the news shortly before he was to give the invocation at a promotions ceremony.
When told not to use Jesus in his prayer, he asked to be excused.
"Jesus is all I've got for a blessing," Sartain said. "I don't want to jam my beliefs down anybody's throat. But I won't deny Jesus."
Meanwhile, a new British reality show began the warts-and-all search for Jesus - well, a person to play Jesus in an upcoming production of Jesus Christ Superstar.
More than 10,000, including two women, turned up to be judged by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Spice Girl Melanie C and Jason Donovan.
The women were eliminated when producers deemed the possible choice of a female Jesus as too controversial.
About the same time, US pastor Fitz Johnson urged Christians to get Jesus out of the church.
"We have become comfortable in our churches. We are more comfortable with our Christian friends, engaging in our Christian activities and living our Christian lifestyles, that we do not want to come out of the comfort zone, our churches.
"And, if we happen to be placed outside of that zone, we find ourselves uncomfortable. So consequently, what we have done, in my opinion, is trapped Christ inside the churches."
Jesus hates dead religion, according to Eric Metaxis, author of a book of the same name. Faith and religion are not the same thing, he wrote. Sometimes they are bitter enemies,
He said: "Modern culture offers us comfort, distraction, even piety to keep us from a living faith in the God of the universe."
His advice was sound: Avoid all the baloney.
His recognisable bearded face was reportedly seen outside a Chinese restaurant in Pakistan, on a bathroom wall in Texas, in a pair of rolled-up socks in Britain and, of course, in yet another grilled cheese sandwich.
And Jesus was thrown out of his home town of Nazareth again this week. The mayor had Christian posters on walls removed on grounds that proselytising was illegal.
The trouble with Jesus is he is either God or he is not..
No half way measures.. one way or the other..
Quite a problem to the seeker of answers..
Simple and profound..
As Jesus said, no prophet is accepted in his home country.
God / Jesus gave each free will here on earth to accept or not. The end is comming fast, Yes for you , me. 80 - 85 years for most and your face to face.
Never mind the small stuff, your appointment has been set, you will be on time. Please forgive, ask forgivness... clean up your act.. your going to meet the creator of everything, and you. Look your best.
good sermon... simple and cogent...
It seems while our God will sent His only begotten beloved Son back into the world to reign in power and great glory; The enemies are doing in vain all they can to demean the person and name of Jesus and Christ.
But Acts 5:30-31 says: “The God of our fathers raised up Jesus, whom ye slew and hanged on a tree. Him hath God exalted with His right hand to be a Prince and a Saviour, for to give repentance to Israel, and forgiveness of Sins.”
King David and the Apostle Paul wrote: “The LORD said unto my Lord, Sit thou at my right hand until I make thine enemies thy footstool.”(Psalm 110:1)
“And being found in fashion as a man, He humbled Himself, and became obedient unto death, even the death of the cross. Wherefore God also hath highly exalted Him, and given Him a name which is above every name.” (Philippians 2:8-9)
God forbid that you and I obey the world and not obey God and our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ!
The trouble with Jesus is he is either God or he is not.
***I didn’t expect to see someone ‘get it’ so quickly on this thread. Good work.
Oh no, not this jesus crap again.
Or as C.S. Lewis put it: liar, lunatic, or Lord.
The first two options, of course, fall apart.
He is Lord and God.
People still resist Him.
Oh yes
Thanks. Needed that.
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