The Bathwater.

Malevolent forces in our society are using the insights of Progressive Christianity to destroy the Church.

By reinforcing doubts about traditional doctrines they are concluding that it's all bullshit and there's no God.

But this is throwing out the baby with the bathwater.

What Progressive Christianity is trying to do is rescue the baby from the bathwater.

So, by challenging certain traditional teachings, we seek to reinforce our intuitive image of God as wholly benevolent, merciful, and forgiving.

God is Love.

As Jesus taught us.

So do not listen to those who mock and despise the Church.

And do not listen to negative Orthodox doctrines.

God is good.

And His Love is sure. 

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Revisions.

Despite the fact that Fundamentalists say that the Bible is all literally true there is evidence that the prophets' image of God evolves with time.

There are several revisions to the Law and earlier understandings of God.

".....visiting the iniquity of the parents upon the children and the children's children to the third generation."  Exodus 34:7 (NRSV)

"What do you mean by repeating this proverb concerning the land of Israel, 'The parents have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set on edge.'  As I live, says the Lord God, this proverb shall no more be used by you in Israel.  Know that all lives are mine; the lives of the parents as well as the life of the child is mine; it is only the person who sins that should die."  Ezekiel 18:2-4 (NRSV) 

This is a revision by the prophet Ezekiel of the earlier Law of Moses.

And Jesus does likewise:

"'You have heard that it was said, "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth."  But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer.'"  Matthew 5:38,39 (NRSV)

"'You have heard that it was said, "You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy."  But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.'"  Matthew 5:43,44 (NRSV)

So there is Biblical evidence that some of the words put into the mouth of God by earlier prophets are mistaken.

How can the inspired word of God be mistaken? 

The understanding of primitive prophets is limited to the knowledge and worldview of the time.

The revelation is reflected in the understanding of the prophet.

It is clear that Jesus revised the understanding of earlier prophets.

And Jesus' words take precedence over earlier and later interpretations.

So it is clear.

God is non-violent, merciful, and forgiving.

[Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission.  All rights reserved.]

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Trinity.

We are members of an Eternal Trinity:

I - You - God.

The soul in me recognizes the soul on you as part of God.

I, through my love, bring the love of God to you.

Love God and love your neighbor.

Love even your enemies.

And you will be a Child of the Living God.

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Jesus' Teachings.

"Thus says the Lord God: Ah, you shepherds of Israel who have been feeding yourselves!  Should not the shepherds feed the sheep?  You eat the fat, you clothe yourselves with the wool, you slaughter the fatlings, but you do not feed the sheep.  You have not strengthened the weak, you have not healed the sick, you have not bound up the wounded, you have not brought back the strayed, you have not sought the lost, but with force and harshness you have ruled them."  Ezekiel 34:2-4 (NRSV) 

This passage from Ezekiel where God criticizes the shepherds of Israel contains not only the seeds of Jesus criticism of the Pharisees but the source of many of his teachings.

Healing the sick, The Parable of the Good Samaritan, The Parable of the Prodigal Son, The Lost Coin, The Lost Sheep, "Feed my sheep" and more.....

Much of Jesus' teaching derives from the Old Testament.

In fact one Jewish scholar claimed that Jesus said nothing new - it was all in the Old Testament. 

This may be true.

   

But Jesus brought a new perspective to the Old Testament writings.

[Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission.  All rights reserved.]

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Snakes!

The devil is a snake!

Photo Credit: Getty Images.

The House of God.

In church we spoke the words:

Here is a place of refuge.  Welcome

   this is the House of God.

Here is a place of belonging.  Welcome

   this is the House of God.  

Come and rest.  Welcome

   this is the House of God.

These are lovely words but do they reflect the reality?

Refuge, belonging, and rest are aspects of a loving God but are they what we experience in church? 

All too often Church people are intolerant, ignorant, prejudiced, racist, homophobic, sexist, abusive, intimidating, and hateful.

They may put up a front of friendly amicability but underneath they can be spiteful and threatening.

So your experience of church may not match the words that they mouth during the services.

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Michelangelo.

All bodybuilders aspire to the beauty of Michelangelo.

This beauty is close to God.

And Michelangelo was gay.

This is a way for us to Heaven.

All bodybuilders and their admirers can contemplate the spiritual creations of Michelangelo.

The depictions of angels and saints.

This blesses our homosexuality and our love.

And it leads directly to God.

Photo Credit: Fernando Noronha.

Corporal Punishment.

Generation X insists that God smacks us.

Despite the fact that there is no evidence whatsoever that God acts in this way they still insist on corporal punishment.

This would appear to be reactionary.

It is a rejection of the Baby-Boomers' non-violent Liberalism.

But God's nature is Love.

He does not punish us.

And He does not judge us.

Generation X is wrong! 

God does not smite us.

God loves us.

And Love is non-violent.

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Climate Change.

I was moved by the address of 16 year-old Swedish climate activist Greta Thunberg to the United Nations.

Its come to this!

Children appealing to our politicians.

Of course something should have been done in the 1990s (and that was late).

But the right-wing governments voted in by Generation X refused to act and in fact actively opposed action on climate change.

This was supported by the corporate-controlled media.

Climate change denial flooded the Internet.

Consequently nothing was done.

There is only one reason why climate change has not been acted upon.

Money!

The big corporations and billionaires don't want to pay for environmental protection measures.

It's as simple as that.

So the only possible solution is to vote out the right-wing governments who are obstructing action on climate change.

And vote for politicians who make a commitment to legislating measures to slow and eventually reverse the damage done to our environment.

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In the Court of the Crimson King.

The Crimson King is Satan!

Photo Credit: Reddit.

Fashion.

Stars are obsessed with fashion and glamour.

They seduce us with their beautiful images.

But these images are purely cosmetic.

They hide the evil and malice beneath.

So don't take everything you see at face value.

And don't follow superficial fashions.

They may not be as harmless as you think.

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Youth Culture.

After 40 years of Generation X we are about to see a change.

Generation X wanted money, they hated ideals, they hated unions, and they hated religion; they were politically conservative, homophobic, and their god was the devil.

But we are now seeing the emergence of the next generation - the Millennials - who are politically active, left-wing, gay friendly, green, and tolerant.

Pete Buttigieg says that the influences in our world are tectonic.

We are about to experience an earthquake.

The social zeitgeist is changing because it is based on youth culture.

Photo Credit: Millennials.

Family.

Most people will value their own family, care for them, and love and protect them.

But they will not extend this love to others outside of their family.

They will compete and attack and even sabotage others.

Perhaps this is an instinctive thing.

But when we establish a relationship with God we begin to see that all others are God's children.

God's family includes everyone.

And not just Christians either.

We are all brothers and sisters.

And God Himself is our Father.

Photo Credit: HuffPost.

How Did They Do It?

90% of the world's people want something done about climate  change.

90% of the world's people want something done about corporate tax evasion.

90% of the world's people want peace.

So how did governments who denied climate change, cut corporate taxes, and waged war keep getting elected?

The answer is that they controlled people's thinking.

This was done through corporate owned media and their Satanic allies in the popular culture.

The media controlled our conscious perceptions and Satanism controlled our unconscious perceptions.

They then conducted negative campaigns about the left's handling of money and hate campaigns that worked on our fears and prejudices to get elected.

Most of this was lies.

Joseph Goebbels said: "If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it, people will eventually come to believe it."

And this is what they did.

But you will not be able to understand it unless you realize that our rock music and entertainment are riddled with covert Satanism.

It's Fascism + The Beast.

I know you don't believe me.

But this is how they did it.

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The Feel-Good Factor.

Some people, when they hear the Good News of God's Love, are seduced by the feel-good factor.

The beautiful words and concepts that God has given us inspire feelings of goodness and love.

But it is no use merely bathing in this atmosphere of goodwill.

We must put God's words into action.

We must not merely mouth God's Words of Love we must act them out.

This is the litmus test.

Are we doing it?

Or are we just saying it?

Because after we have got the preaching right there remains the acting out of our faith.

So do not get hooked on the feel-good factor.

We must put our words into action.

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