This video is so genius. You HAVE to watch it!

Sometimes you just have to give credit where credit is due

As always with Benny Hinn, watch with extreme caution.

How Can you Choose a Good Religion? A review of the August 1, 2009 Watchtower

I didn't believe it until I saw it

Surely, western nations aren't banning respectful, public, moderated dialogues on important issues concerning religion? Think again. I was absolutely blown away by this. If you are a thinking individual who actually cares about your freedom of speech, then you must watch this video. I was honestly laughing out loud (I should have been crying) at the complete and total absurdity of the U.N. "hate speech policy" defender. This is unbelievable. It really is time to wake our nation up and encourage interaction on the public square. Too many are becoming apathetic in the name of "political correctness." And if we keep burying our heads in the sand, you can watch our freedom get flushed right down the toilet. Please pray for our leaders, that we not lose our most precious freedoms.

You can watch the video HERE.

I just don't understand postmodernism.

PRODUCER'S NOTES

For those critics who read this video as an ‘attack’, or commentary on one specific religious/political/ideological group, a message: look deeper. For those who accuse this video of using a ‘broad brush’ to condemn one entire population: stories do not have to represent EVERY single experience of growing up — but may resonate with many people who HAVE experienced what’s depicted.

Strange isn’t it — some people have such a problem with the fact that these things do actually happen to some children: children from whatever religious/political/ideological background.

I’ve had literally 100s of messages saying, ‘This was/is exactly my experience too!’ — but maybe they’re all ‘wrong’, is that it? Well, just in case they aren’t, this video stands for them.

When I watched this video, I certainly sympathized with a lot of what was said. Not that my parents were like this or anything, but I knew people growing up with similar experiences. Whenever I hear about these situations of, "Don't question!!!" I get a knot in my stomach. It truly repulses me when someone will approach anyone with this type of attitude. With that said, I wanted to make it clear that I agree with this portion of the video.

However, while the "producer's notes" may make qualifications, actions speak louder than words. In the video, the child formed the most screwed up perception of the "manuel" possible. The parents claimed that he simply wasn't reading the manuel correctly, but the child swore he was doing exactly what it said.

Here's problem #1. While the producers were not explicitly suggesting that the manuel was symbolic of the Bible, I have a personal suspicion that this was, in fact, the case. Why? Well, the church service, the pastor; the whole thing was a characteristic of what I could only imagine as being "fundamentalist" Christianity. Again, this is just my personal opinion. Nonetheless, whatever their intent was, it is undeniable that people have this view of the Bible; that the Bible isn't the inspired, inerrant, Word of God. Instead, it is a collection of human writings written over a span of thousands of years, and like any other similar human work, would contain inaccuracies. Thus, the Bible is a big contradictory mish-mash and no one can figure out what it really means. Thus, neither the child or the parent's were "right" because there is no "right." But this view assumes what it is trying to prove; that because people come to different conclusions, neither can be right. But I refuse to hold to this postmodernistic notion, as I believe that the Bible can be read and correctly understood. Thus, when people do come to wrong interpretations, I can tell them, "you've read it wrong." Unfortunately, postmodernism doesn't grasp such a notion.

Problem #2. While I can sympathize with the characterization of those people who angrily disagreed with the child's new shelf, I wasn't satisfied with the general message. That is, the video seemed to be discouraging a "you're wrong" attitude. Thus, the two girls were wrong for telling the child that his shelf was wrong. Did they go about it the wrong way? Yes, they did. "Turn or burn" is not an accurate presentation of the Gospel. But there is absolutely nothing wrong with telling someone that their views are wrong. Can we do this with love and compassion? Absolutely, depending on the context. But we can also do it in a firm manner.

Problem #3. When the child's eyes were "opened," he noticed the beauty in diversity. Unfortunately, the portrayal was along the lines of, "I have my truth and you have your truth." Do I see beauty in diversity? Not if one's beliefs will end in judgment! I see nothing beautiful in a Catholic bowing before statues and uttering blasphemies to Mary. It is wrong. There is simply no other way to say it. However, I don't approach the Catholic screaming "turn or burn." Instead, I respectfully show him the errors in his beliefs and what the truth is.

Again, i'm not saying all this to demean the experience of those who grew up in such unfortunate circumstances. I simply wanted to point out that there is another and better way to represent such experiences.

Some thoughts on postmodern America

Sorry my blogs have been a been scarce as of late. There have been lots of things on my mind that I want to write about, but my internet access has been pretty limited. But I saw something recently that got me thinking about the religious state of our country. At the House of Blues in San Diego, California was a large sign which read "Unity in Diversity." Surrounding these words were various religious symbols. Some might think that this was simply a statement of "why can't we all just get along?" Of course, I agree with this. No one should be killing or fighting anyone because of their religious differences, and we should all be able to believe whatever we want. But is this the only thing that the sign was portraying? I don't think so.

You see, in postmodern America, there is no one absolute truth. God can be found in whatever religion you choose. It doesn't matter if its Jesus or Muhammad; both will lead you to God because there is no "one" right way. Though the ancients thought differently, truth is progressive. What may be true for you may not be true for them. Who are you to say that your religion is the only way? This is the thinking of postmodern America. And sadly, it it seeping into modern "evangelicalism."

How are we, as Christians, supposed to counteract this way of thinking? By pointing out the errors of postmodernism. First, we have to establish the exclusive claims of Christianity. Jesus believed there was only one way when he claimed,

"I am the way, the truth, and the life. And on one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6)

If no one can come to the Father except through Jesus, then one must believe in Jesus to be saved. Once this is pointed out, you will notice the response from the postmodernist to be something like, "even if Jesus claimed this, he still isn't the only way. There are many ways to God."

Here's how I respond to this pluralistic way of thinking.

CLAIM: There is no one right way to God. All religions lead to God.

ERROR: This claim is exclusive in and of itself. They claim that the "one right way to God" is by following any religion. So the claim is self-refuting. Logically, you can't claim "there is no one right way to God" and then say, "following any religion will lead you to God." It is like being absolutely sure that there is no absolute truth.

As postmodernism pervades our culture, it is imperative that Christians be able to not only counteract their claims, but to clearly and effectively share the gospel of Jesus Christ.