love your enemies...

Here's a cartoon inspired by an evening spent with MT, Michael Hardin, Jim Robertson and others, discussing mimetic theory, non-violent atonement and other such things.

Does this fit with what you read and see of Jesus in the New Testament? If we are to love our enemies and do good to those who persecute us, wouldn't our heavenly Father do the same, but a zillion times more completely?

breakfast not included

Ludicrous, isn't it? The idea that someone would choose to go to heaven just because of thinking that they would get breakfast there and not in hell? It reminds me of choosing Holiday Inn where a complimentary hot breakfast is often included instead of staying somewhere else....

But that's what part of the chorus suggests in the Newsboys' "Breakfast" song::

May this song remind you

That they don't serve breakfast in hell.

The song in general is complete silliness, but even silliness can send a deeper message, and I have often wondered how a friend invited to a concert with a Christian would feel about the song.

And then I wonder about using hell fire and brimstone as a way of converting people. That's why I first said yes to Jesus, and it took a lot of years to realize that God is good and that He really loved me.

gospel according to bell

This cartoon isn't really about Rob Bell, though it takes elements of what he said and shows how some members of the public might perceive his message.

It's more about the illogical ways that people think. For example, from what he is saying, it would seem that the man in the picture has or had the idea that even though hell does not exist, that homosexuals are still going there. Of course, this is not really logical -- if hell doesn't exist, no one can go there. But old prejudices die hard, as does black and white thinking and "us and them" thinking.

For example, in response to Rob Bell's recent comments about same-sex marriage, one reader made this comment:

"You're either Christian or gay. Can't be both." Hmm. This would be contradicted by the many LGBT people who are vibrant followers of Jesus.

"Homosexuals aren't going to heaven." Really? I thought Jesus opened the way for all to enter....

"You cannot change God's mind." What buzzbird is really saying here, is that they are set in their ways and won't change their mind. We already know that God "changes his mind" (example).

"You cannot change the bible truths." One thing is for sure, that we often can't agree on what those truths are and which apply today or not.

What do you think?

be careful little mouth (what you say)

Oops. This unfortunate ending could have been avoided by loving one's neighbour, don'tcha think?