George Barna poll shows Nazarene prophet's popularity slipping

(IMAGINATION ALERT!!!!)

After reading Pilgrim's post here, as well as this post about George Barna's growing fascination with ecumenicalism (and this follow-up), I decided to combine the two into one FICTIONAL story.

From Jerusalem Post, c. 33 AD:

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By Mariam Zecharyahu
Jerusalem (JP)--A new George Barna poll has found that the popularity of a certain Nazarene prophet, which had been growing geometrically over the first two years of his ministry, is beginning to show signs of slowing, and, in some cases, the number of people opposed to his teachings is actually greater than those who still favor his doctrines.

Yehoshua Ha'Mashiachah bar-Yusef, whose claims about being the Christ of YHVH have divided people everywhere he has gone, continues to enjoy support from the outcasts of society. But among those in power--especially among the very influential Pharisaical community--his claims to being the only begotten of YHVH Himself have brought about only scorn. As one Pharisee (who spoke to us under condition of anonymity) has said, "He is a blasphemer! I was there when he said that he and YHVH were one. What an outrage to mock the Shema like that! Only YHVH is One!" A scribe, who also wished to remain nameless, said, "The man has a lot of gall! To say what he did, that 'I AM.' Does he not know, that is a title reserved for YHVH?"

These and other such statements he has made--statements which, according to these experts in the Law and the Prophets, prove that he is claiming to be God--have been linked directly to the downturn in approval of this so-called 'prophet,' and have almost caused his death on more than one occasion. Says Barna, "I think the wheels started coming off when he first got to Jerusalem. I mean, he's not in the city even a day and he's tipping over tables, and calling moneychangers 'thieves' and so forth. He doesn't seem to be very tolerant of other people's feelings."

But it's not just his political opponents who are so critical of this son of a carpenter. One young man, a ruler in a local synagogue, shares his story of a personal encounter he had with the man who claims to be the Christ of God: "he told me I had to sell everything I had, give the money away--and follow him? That's the most ridiculous thing I have ever heard! All I could do was walk away! Guy didn't even apologize!" I spoke with Mr. Barna about this encounter the young man shared with me. He said, "I don't get this 'Jesus' fella, as the Greek-speaking Jews call him. Honestly, he comes off as being kinda arrogant. It's no wonder his numbers are dropping. If you examine his marketing technique, it's rather black-and-white. 'Follow Me or perish' is what he seems to be saying. That kind of 'take-it-or-leave-it' approach turns a lot of people off. He should have gone back to that poor boy and reassured him that God still loves him and has a plan for his life."

And in what may be a bellwether of the inevitable end of this man's public speaking career, even one of his own disciples spoke to me in confidence about his own misgivings concerning his rabbi. "We were over at this one fellow's house. Now, mind you, the guy is a Pharisee. A Pharisee! I mean, this guy has some clout with men! If we get in good with him--it solves all our financial troubles. And Rabbi not only lets some dirty harlot cry and rub her hair on his feet. Then he goes and bad-mouths the guy in his own house!" I spoke at length with this disciple, who told me of another difference of opinion he had with his rabbi. "Ok, we're at this other fellow's house. This girl comes in, busts open a flask. Not just any old flask. The thing's made of alabaster. Alabaster! You know how much that stuff sells for retail? So then what does she do? She pours spikenard all over him. I gotta tell ya, to see that much money wasted, when it could have fed the poor--I was outraged. Outraged!"

"It's sad," says Barna. "To see a man who once spoke a message of love and peace and acceptance. Now, he's gone and made enemies of the men who could really help his career. In this day and age, you gotta build consensus. And that was something I thought he was doing really well early in his career. In fact, in one poll I took, this Samaritan woman--a widow five times over--told me that he had said to her that Jews and Samaritans were going to worship together. That would have been so wonderful if he had just stopped there."

Could it be that this 'prophet' is spelling his own end? It seems to be true. "But now, he's going and saying that you have to see him to see the Father? I'm sorry, but you can't be so exclusive. You've got to be sensitive to the needs of people that are seeking a meaningful relationship with God. If he's not careful, he's gonna wind up crucified by the press--or, the Romans." Only time will tell how history regards the teachings of a man who preaches that he is only one way to God.

Mariam Zecharyahu is a fictional character, and does not work for any news outlet.

The Episcopal Church--Spiralling down, down, down

Not only do they condone women preaching in the pulpit. Not only do the consecrate an openly practicing homosexual as a priest. Now, thay don't have a problem with a woman being a priest...AND A MUSLIM!!! From the files of "I am NOT making this up!!" (from Seattle Times):

Shortly after noon on Fridays, the Rev. Ann Holmes Redding ties on a black headscarf, preparing to pray with her Muslim group on First Hill.

On Sunday mornings, Redding puts on the white collar of an Episcopal priest.

She does both, she says, because she's Christian and Muslim.

Redding, who until recently was director of faith formation at St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral, has been a priest for more than 20 years. Now she's ready to tell people that, for the last 15 months, she's also been a Muslim — drawn to the faith after an introduction to Islamic prayers left her profoundly moved.

OK, so she's confused. She's working through some "issues", or she's having a "crisis", or...whatever. It would be one thing if this was her own private thing. But it's not. Read on:

Redding's situation is highly unusual. Officials at the national Episcopal Church headquarters said they are not aware of any other instance in which a priest has also been a believer in another faith. They said it's up to the local bishop to decide whether such a priest could continue in that role.

Redding's bishop, the Rt. Rev. Vincent Warner, says he accepts Redding as an Episcopal priest and a Muslim, and that he finds the interfaith possibilities exciting. Her announcement, first made through a story in her diocese's newspaper, hasn't caused much controversy yet, he said.

Nah, why should it? As long as you're using the Bible for a martini coaster, why not just rip out the pages and use them in the...um...lavatory? I man come on folks! If the Episcopal Organization (I will NOT call them a "church") is going to piddle away Biblical authority on Christ, why not just lump yourselves with one of the biggest evils facing the world today (Islam)?

You know, if there is one person whose readings you should know, it is the apostle John. And in 2nd John 9-11, he warns us--"Whoever transgresses and does not abide in the doctrine of Christ does not have God. He who abides in the doctrine of Christ has both the Father and the Son. If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house nor greet him; for he who greets him shares in his evil deeds." Well, Ms. Redding's church decided that was one passage that they needed to cut out of their Bibles and throw away because it just wasn't, you know, relevant today. So, this is what you get:

Ironically, it was at St. Mark's that she first became drawn to Islam.

In fall 2005, a local Muslim leader gave a talk at the cathedral, then prayed before those attending. Redding was moved. As he dropped to his knees and stretched forward against the floor, it seemed to her that his whole body was involved in surrendering to God.

Then in the spring, at a St. Mark's interfaith class, another Muslim leader taught a chanted prayer and led a meditation on opening one's heart. The chanting appealed to the singer in Redding; the meditation spoke to her heart. She began saying the prayer daily.

Around that time, her mother died, and then "I was in a situation that I could not handle by any other means, other than a total surrender to God," she said.

She still doesn't know why that meant she had to become a Muslim. All she knows is "when God gives you an invitation, you don't turn it down."

In March 2006, she said her shahada — the profession of faith — testifying that there is only one God and that Mohammed is his messenger. She became a Muslim.

To me, that passage in 2nd John seems to be relevant right here. But don't tell Episcopals that. They might call you a "bigot", or some other such nonsense. This, folks, is why, when someone comes to your house (the original intent here is your church), and they do not have the truth of Christ, tell them to "Buzz off!" Don't even greet them! The King James says, "Neither bid him Godspeed." In other words, don't even say, "Have a safe trip!"

Well, you had to know this was coming:

Aside from the established sets of prayers she recites in Arabic fives times each day, Redding says her prayers are neither uniquely Islamic nor Christian. They're simply her private talks with God or Allah — she uses both names interchangeably. "It's the same person, praying to the same God."

May I take this opportunity to say...NO THEY'RE NOT!!!

Allah is a pagan moon god, who is dead, and couldn't hear you if he wanted to. Almighty GOD--YHWH, Elohim, El Shaddai, El Elyon, Jehovah--is GOD. There is none other! I've had it about up to here with these "tolerant" types who want to go around saying that the GOD of Christians and the god of Muslims are the same. THEY ARE NOT THE SAME!!!!!!!

Folks, this situation is exactly what happens when a group that calls themselves a "church" decides to throw the truth of GOD's word out the window, and embrace the world's view of "tolerance". When we want so bad for people to like us that we'll accept any whacky notion of GOD that comes along. When we allow people who are diametrically opposed to the deity of Christ, and the worship of the GOD of Abraham, Isaac and Jacob to come into our church and spout their beliefs. How many more Ann Holmes Reddings are out there?

FURTHERMORE: If this woman ever claimed to be a Christian, she SHOULD have already been fully submitted unto YHWH. If not...well, just read this staement again:

Around that time, her mother died, and then "I was in a situation that I could not handle by any other means, other than a total surrender to God," she said.

Well, if that's the case, you surrender to YHWH, not some Arabic pagan moon god. Or, as Pamela over at Atlas Shrugs says,

"...[a] religion that denies the divinity of Jesus, that persecutes Christians and that punishes apostasy to Christianity by death wherever it exerts temporal power."

That pretty much sums up Islam. Think Victoria's Secret will come out with a line of Burkas?