JESUS TODAY (in a post Measure 36 world)
Posted on January 31st, 2005 by Reformed Pope into the Scriptures, Biblical Parody categoryJohn 8:1-11 (NIV)
But Jesus went to the Mount of Olives. [2] At dawn he appeared again in the temple courts, where all the people gathered around him, and he sat down to teach them. [3] The teachers of the law and the Pharisees brought in a woman caught in adultery. They made her stand before the group [4] and said to Jesus, "Teacher, this woman was caught in the act of adultery. [5] In the Law Moses commanded us to stone such women. Now what do you say?" [6] They were using this question as a trap, in order to have a basis for accusing him.
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the ground with his finger. [7] When they kept on questioning him, he straightened up and said to them, "If any one of you is without sin, let him be the first to throw a stone at her." [8] Again he stooped down and wrote on the ground.
[9] At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the woman still standing there. [10] Jesus straightened up and asked her, "Woman, where are they? Has no one condemned you?"
[11] "No one, sir," she said.
"Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."
I would like to translate this into a modern day story. Lets pretend that Jesus was here on earth living with us today and he was faced with another sexual sin.
But Jesus went to the Butte of Rocky. At dawn he appeared again in the former temple where all the people gathered around him, and He sat down to teach them. Then the pastors and elders brought to Him a man caught in homosexuality. They made him stand before the group and said to Jesus, “Teacher, this man was caught in the act of homosexuality and would like to marry his sinful partner. Now Measure 36 has been designed to keep this man from redefining marriage.” “Will you vote yes on Measure 36?” They were using this question for political gain, in order to pass the measure.
But Jesus bent down and started to write on the new and updated carpet. When they kept on questioning Him, He straightened up and said to them, “He who is with out sin among you, let him vote yes first.” And again He stooped down and wrote on the carpet. At this, those who heard began to go away one at a time, the older ones first, until only Jesus was left, with the man still standing there. Jesus straightened up and asked him, “Man, where are they? Has no one voted against you?” “No one, sir” he said. “Then neither do I vote against you,” Jesus declared. “Go now and leave your life of sin.”
It is important to note that when Jesus was confronted with this sinner, he did not condemn her, but he also did not condone the sin. He said "Then neither do I condemn you, go now and leave your life of sin." This is grace in its truest form. Here was a woman who was caught in a sinful and immoral act. According to the law she should have been stoned. Her death would have been justified, however Jesus bestowed His grace upon her life. Can you see the parallel to what He has done for you in your life?
Homosexuality is a sin, that should not be denied. I believe that homosexuals are sinful humans, but I also believe that Johnpaul Morton is a sinful human. Do I deserve more grace, because the sins that I have committed are more socially acceptable? No, I deserve hell just as much as the homosexual does. The difference is that God has revealed his grace to me and now I believe in the work and the cross and that has freed me from the penalty of death. The poor homosexual hasn’t had that revelation yet; but don’t think that God can’t forgive their sins the same way he forgave ours.
The problem that I see with today’s church is that they have flipped Christ’s example around. Jesus spent his time on earth rebuking the church and loving sinners. Today’s church spends it’s time rebuking sinners and loving itself. Why are we trying to make the world a more “Christian” place?
Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place." John 18:36
God has blessed us with grace to cover our sins, but this doesn’t give us a free pass to sin whenever we want. God is calling us to treat the worldly man with love, just has He treated the adulterous woman. We simply can not allow pride to get in the way of the cross.
"Then neither do I condemn you," Jesus declared. "Go now and leave your life of sin."
Disclaimer:
I do not approve of homosexuality or gay marriage, in fact from a political standpoint I support the Defense of Marriage Coalition. My main complaint is that this political battle was brought inside the church and turned into a church vs. gays battle. Jesus won people over with love and compassion not by lobbying against them politically. I simply wish that we would treat people with the same love and compassion Christ showed us.
Romans 5:8
But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were yet sinners, Christ died for us.
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January 31st, 2005 at 9:57 am
Hey did Bobby know you were using him as a example?
January 31st, 2005 at 10:18 am
Jesus writing on the new carpet, that’s classic.
January 31st, 2005 at 7:16 pm
Right on the mark. This message needs to be read and understood by the people being used in the church for its new agenda. Check out a great new book that probably will stand as the ultimate textbook for this sad situation in the Christian church in this generation. It is called “God’s Politics”, written by Jim Wallis. You can order it and buy it through bookstores, online, and it is reviewed on the back page of the 1-30-05 Sunday Oregonian Arts section under the book reviews. As far as the review goes, it sounds like it might be the book we’ve been waiting for. But, we can still write our own small pamphlets and books in hope of helping those out of this modern day theocratic heretical Christianity that we see so much of today. Your Measure 36 post is an unbelievably important message to a body of people who have to start thinking for themselves again; and not willfully handing over their minds to “church leaders” in the name of submitting to authority. Filter it through The Cross and The Gospel, don’t be afraid to study the Bible and be moved and affected by what you read. It very often does not coincide with what most of these Republican political bloc, prosperity preaching, mammon loving churches are trying to get you to believe.
January 31st, 2005 at 10:10 pm
Dawn??!! The only persons you will see at dawn are an occasional maintenance crew member or the security guard in the official white truck. And definitely no-one would be allowed to write on the carpet!!
February 1st, 2005 at 8:29 am
YOU’RE SMART AS YOU ARE PRETTY!
WOW! You’re trying to be funny… and as much as I think that is cute. You are unbeleivably naive. The only funny thing is that you used only “some” truth in this latest post - then you surrounded it with total bullshit. Which just makes you a really effective liar.
You should be pretty damn happy church’s are steppin’ in to push conservative agendas. Johnpaul - you are a conservative - lets remember that. These days most Americans are disinterested with politics - they don’t understand the repercussions of certain decisions. (Refer to AcTeon T4 - Nazi Germany - which lead to the Holocaust.) In most cases church’s stay out of the political arena too much - especially the CBC. Maybe set up a classroom instead of speaking it from the pulpit - but however it needs to be done - Christians should be involved in politics - God knows the Muslims are. These muslims are much more dedicated than Christians - and in most cases - Christians are just as radical and damaging. The point is the church doesn’t do enough - and as a result this appears to be a waged war against gays.
If you would read - open a history book - not the outdated books that you read in your private school. I would encourage you and your brother and your little cronies who support and hang on to your every word - to read what the fore-fathers wrote about marriage. Read it! What does it say - regarding population control - family - etc. Pick up a book - please.
In saying that - voting - is not a judgement in the sense of your “funny” little story about jesus. And please stop with the hippy bullshit about loving everyone - and winning everyone with love.
From your quote, “I simply wish that we would treat people with the same love and compassion Christ showed us.”
That idealist position gets us so much farther away from accomplishing anything. I wish people were informed. I wish people didn’t spew bullshit for the sake of trying to be clever. I wish people wouldn’t rather boycott a church as opposed to gay marriage. But they do.
As much as you hate that church - they succeeded in sheltering you and your mind - you are a by-product whether you like it or not. Just a malfunctioning one - in their (CBC’s) eyes.
February 1st, 2005 at 9:11 am
Who wants to bet that last comment was written by Lars Larson?
February 1st, 2005 at 11:42 am
I keed… I keed… that’s not really Lars.
Seriously though, I would like to dissect this person’s comment one argument at a time.
-”You’re as smart as you are pretty!”-
Thank you very much. That is an awfully nice thing to say.
-”These days most Americans are disinterested with politics - they don’t understand the repercussions of certain decisions.”-
If that’s true, then why did the 2004 Presidential Election produce the largest turnout in 20 years. I think Americans are actually very interested in politics.
-”Christians should be involved in politics - God knows the Muslims are.”-
Name me two practicing Musmlims who are legislators on either the state or federal level. You can’t. Trust me, I know. But there are hundreds of Representatives and Senators who are Christians.
-”I would encourage you and your brother and your little cronies who support and hang on to your every word - to read what the fore-fathers wrote about marriage. Read it! What does it say - regarding population control - family - etc.”-
Allow me to introduce you to the Supreme Court of the United States. It is that branch of government that determines what the Constitution (our forfathers) say. I suggest you read fewer history books and start reading more newspapers.
-”And please stop with the hippy bullshit about loving everyone - and winning everyone with love.”-
Uh, no, cause its not “hippy bullshit” its Christ’s message.
-”As much as you hate that church - they succeeded in sheltering you and your mind - you are a by-product whether you like it or not. Just a malfunctioning one - in their (CBC’s) eyes.”-
I don’t understand this last sentence. You’re not making any sense. I suggest you learn how to write clearly before you post another comment.
February 1st, 2005 at 12:54 pm
Thank you Justin for not responding to all of my arguments - and thank you for the arguments you did respond to - the way you did. First, I should say to you that I’m not interested in having a pissing contest with you - thats equal to having a sparring match with a child. No thanks - however - since you were confused about some things. So allow me to clarify. First off, I’m glad that you think you are “pretty.” To respond to two of your answers sylmutaneously - if you read a newspaper or a news poll - it would show overwhelmingly that americans are disinterested with POLITICS. No one said how the turnout for the election was - which is still just about half the US anyway. It is easy to vote for a president - its one or the other. What I’m talking about are issues. Do you know that right now that a bill is sitting in the house - for national ID cards. Most people do not know this. Most people would rather watch American Idol than the nightly news. This is FACT… if you want to look at the network numbers. More people can name the names of all the Simpsons characters than the elected officials in their own county. This is the difference from what you preach and what I say… I’m not playing armchair-theology or armchair-politics - unfortunetly you base your decisions and beleifs on opinions… and not to facts. I am not an opportunist that makes a website knocking a church down (by the way - a church I don’t agree with as well.) You quote scriptures -what does the Bible say about knocking HIS church? Now back to your comments - Muslims. I’m not sure if you know this but - the middle east has alot to do with politics. Have you ever heard of that one guy… whats his name? Oh’ thats right - Bin Laden. Yeah… I’d say that he has had a great deal to do with American and world politics. If this current message is confusing you - please re-read my prior comment. Thank you for pointing out that their are Christian senators etc. That was nice of you. Steve Minnis.
For all your bullshit - I can’t beleive your remark about - stopping reading history books - dude… you are dumb as rocks. Yeah, I want to get my reporting from Dan Rather or Viacom - or FOX - or CNN - previously owned by Ted Turner - a fucking lunatic who once had an agenda to ban religion.
You hippy bullshit comment…. yeah…that was good!
I will try to spell the last comment out for you.
You are sheltered - the way you think - the way you base your decisions.
This is partly due to the fact that you were raised in CBC & CBC school - hence a byproduct. Now… here you are bashing their church…. which makes you a malfunctioning by-product - in CBC’s eyes - Because - they see it as you are being in their favorite word (rebellious) - you are not living the sheltered life they would have liked for you. But…but you are. You’re still sheltered… I honestly don’t say that as a verbal jab to you or JP. But you are. Like I said in a post a week or so ago. Grow up… use this passion that you both have for something else productive. There is a cycle that happens - which I touched on before. I’ll use an Oregon example. Back in the day in Oregon… Beaver hats became very popular… everyone had to have a fucking beaver hat… well, soon enough people started boycotting. Protesting…. chaining themselves to Beavers traps… all this. None of that worked. Because it never has and never will. Its a cycle that has been proven - useless. This is what you are doing. Now with the Beaver hat - it was the fashion designer who said - hey… this hat is “cooler”. Until everyone had to go and get that hat. Again, I’m not going to sit on your blog site and trash you. This wasn’t my goal. However, I wish you would put up some facts. Most of all… like I said… you should take this energy, passion, anger… whatever it is and use it to DO SOMETHING. ANYTHING other than bitch. Everyone has something to bitch about… but nothing to say. Go and fuckin’ say something.
Job
February 1st, 2005 at 1:07 pm
Is this Anthony again?
I think you have some interesting thoughts, its a shame you can’t write. Perhaps a Temple Christian education would have done you some good.
February 1st, 2005 at 1:21 pm
I feel I am a bit late in writing this post, but I shall put it up anyway. This is in response to Job’s first comment not his second.
Here’s what I think:
I’m not sure exactly what you are trying to say, except bullshit which you said 3 times. So ok, my cute story about Jesus was bullshit. Was Jesus’ cute story about the adulterous woman garbage also? (Notice the use of the word garbage, Maybe, I’ll take a class on History and you can take one on the English language.)
You claim that I use only “some” truth in this post but fail to point out which part wasn’t true. Please re-read my post and comment appropriately.
You want me to remember that I am a conservative? Don’t you think you are being a little presumptuous? I can’t ever remember being very conservative with much of anything in my life.
Here is the best part of your rant. “…they don’t understand the repercussions of certain decisions. (Refer to AcTeon T4 - Nazi Germany - which lead to the Holocaust.)”
Please explain how a few men getting married is going to lead to the Holocaust. Perhaps you should put your guns away and come out of your cave, because guess what; the gays aren’t after you.
Now, I want to make this very clear so I am going to write in large, bold letters,
CHRISTIANS SHOULD BE IN POLITICS, BUT THE CHURCH SHOULD NOT.
That’s right, CHRISTIANS SHOULD BE IN POLITICS, BUT THE CHURCH SHOULD NOT. That is my opinion.
How can you possibly think that loving people is “hippy bullshit”? That hippy you are talking about happens to be Jesus, and that bullshit you are talking about happens to be the Bible.
Your problem (and the problem of many mega churches) is that you take Christianity/The Bible and try to push it through your agenda. What you should do is take your agenda and filter it through Bible.
And so once again, to avoid anymore confusion I would like to state my position on Christians and politics:
CHRISTIANS SHOULD BE IN POLITICS, BUT THE CHURCH SHOULD NOT.
February 1st, 2005 at 1:25 pm
As far as your second comment goes, I would like to quote…….well, you actually
“…and your little cronies who support and hang on to your every word…”
Would that make you a cronie?????
Try not to take it personally Job, we just happen to be good at what we do.
February 1st, 2005 at 1:28 pm
Careful Job
You are in danger of jumping completely off the bitterness scale.
…7…8…9…9.2…watch out!!!!!
February 1st, 2005 at 2:00 pm
JPM & JM… I notice that you won’t respond to my second comment. But I will respond to your last comment for the last time… regarding “cronies.” I heard about this website through a freind. That person said - she heard about this website…but not yet had gone to see. She heard that this was a legitimate website - about the “money machine” that Bible Temple was. So I took a look… obviously this blog is not legit. Oh’ fuckin’ well. Yes, I’ll have to work on that English language thing - please keep up the stupid jabs - instead of responding. For all your true “cronies” show them how smart you are - without trying to be funny. I’m calling you out - to say something - without trying to be soooo unbeleivably funny and witty and clever. In all your responses to me… you haven’t said anything - just…I should have gotten a BT/CBC education from Ms. Coleman. I would like to call JPM out and ask what agenda do I have that you so eloquently pointed out. I love your response about the 1939 Nazi Germany and related it to gays out of context. Again, clever, witty funny. You’re as funny as Carrot-Top. I’m sure all of your thoughts and opinions that you so cleverly point out will go down in history as great. You will be the next Confucious… better yet… Jesus. I’m so happy that you have greeted and treated me the way you tell & think the church should treat people. LIke Jesus. That’s the hippy bullshit I’m talking about. All idealism. That is the difference between Jesus and you - he was bold - and stood up - lived - and died for his cause. You are simply an idealist. Well so long guys… say hi to Ms. Callahan & Mr. Walker for me. You can call me Job, Lars, Anthony, Heather Meachim… whatever you want sweetheart.
Lars, Anthony, H. Meachim.
February 1st, 2005 at 2:44 pm
whatever…
February 1st, 2005 at 3:11 pm
I am having the time of my life.
February 1st, 2005 at 3:52 pm
Okay… okay, I think I’ve got it…
Tim Barron? Is that you?
Just tell me yes or no.
February 1st, 2005 at 4:21 pm
That is embarressing.
No.
Mr. Menopausal - Tim Barron?. The guy in and and out of the church for years.
Sorry, Justine… no dice.
Later,
Tim Barron
February 1st, 2005 at 4:55 pm
I for one don’t care who you are. I’m just glad that you are a faithful reader of the blog. Keep on checking back to the site I am really looking forward to getting 20,000 hits.
February 1st, 2005 at 7:18 pm
“Disclaimer:
I do not approve of homosexuality or gay marriage, in fact from a political standpoint I support the Defense of Marriage Coalition. My main complaint is that this political battle was brought inside the church and turned into a church vs. gays battle…” Just in case anonymous missed this portion of your post, I’ll help you reiterate it.
Okay, okay, that’s enough, this guy has just surpassed Lucifer on the bittermeter! I’m sure CBC welcomes him, who shall remain anonymous, with open arms in the fight for their “cause”. Since when did Jesus come to earth to stand up and die for His cause, and since when did His cause become that of judgement or indictment?! WE are His cause, not the right wing agenda! That “hippy bullshit”, that you so kindly refer to, is the ONLY thing standing between you and eternal hellfire, and from the sounds of it you haven’t taken to heart any of Jesus’ teachings and are still living a life apart from Christ. Just call me an idealist and you can keep whatever it is you’re holding on to.
February 1st, 2005 at 7:28 pm
Remember dear friends. It is “i” before “e” except after “c”. Just want to make necessary corrections for further benefits to future readers who may forget their spelling rules. Thank you.
February 1st, 2005 at 7:35 pm
Wow now you guys are giving english lessons too,
this sight just gets better and better.
February 1st, 2005 at 7:42 pm
Whew! Mr. Anonymous needs to learn about the separation of church and hate. This type of situation only adds more fuel to the folks who believe that the right-wing agenda adopted by the evangelical mega-churches and such; is truly one of hate; once you get by the sound bites and buzz words. Yes indeed, I hope what he is holding onto is eventually broken by the blood and passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, and he can find the peace and love that is waiting for him through His redeeming blood and sacrifice. I’ll be praying for you.
February 1st, 2005 at 9:18 pm
Dear Fedup: That’s “site”, not “sight”!!
I’ll skip my tutoring fee for now.
February 1st, 2005 at 9:45 pm
Thanks
February 2nd, 2005 at 7:40 am
Alright, we’ve regrouped, talked it over and we have a new guess… (fingers crossed)
“Luke Bettis” for the steal…
(Yes, I watch a little too much family fued.)