Update XIX: Melancholy and the Infinite Napping

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Time to focus on the Crusades.

Amen, brother.  It's truly disgusting.

[Joe Biden 2020]

It's wonderful to convert innocent Muslim kids to Christianity?

Absolutely.

Why?  They practice a religion. So your group uses manipulative tactics and teaches them Muslims are evil?

We teach that Jesus is the only way to salvation.  Muhammed is dead and is powerless.  Jesus died, but rose again, and has the only power to save someone's soul from an eternity in hell.  Plus, Christianity - true Christianity - is NOT a religion.  It is a relationship with Almighty God.  Religion is man's attempt to get to God, Christianity is God coming down in human form (Jesus) and reaching out and saving mankind.

[King]

So, a religion

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

Muhammad is dead and powerless?  Clever. Disgusting but clever.   I hope they enjoy their time making these kids mind right.

[TheDeadFlagBlues]

[politicus]

Time to focus on the Crusades.

Well, why not? Christianity is on its way to be wiped out in the Middle East outside of Lebanon and Egypt. Time to fight back.

EDIT: Talking about a spiritual fight and diplomatic/economic pressure to safeguard Christian minorities here. Islam is a spiritual superpower and the main competitor to Christianity in many regions. Trying to convert Muslims is generally an honourable and worthy endeavour. Although the way Jeffs relative goes about it is a bit dodgy.

[Paul Kemp]

The Bushman continues to show us that his brand of religion is dangerous, small brained and hateful.

[Joe Biden 2020]

The Bushman continues to show us that his brand of religion is dangerous, small brained and hateful.

One thing to know about my faith.  Nothing we do is out of hate.  Everything we do is out of genuine love.  The world doesn't receive it very well, because they reject Jesus Christ, but just as the Christian God is the Author of Love, so His children are called to do everything out of a manner of love.  Those who teach and preach out of hate are not commissioned to do so by our God and they will be held to account by God when they stand before Him at the Great White Throne Judgment giving an account for the lives they were given and the opportunities they had to minister in Jesus's name in love.

[Paul Kemp]

The Bushman continues to show us that his brand of religion is dangerous, small brained and hateful.

One thing to know about my faith.  Nothing we do is out of hate.  Everything we do is out of genuine love.  The world doesn't receive it very well, because they reject Jesus Christ, but just as the Christian God is the Author of Love, so His children are called to do everything out of a manner of love.  Those who teach and preach out of hate are not commissioned to do so by our God and they will be held to account by God when they stand before Him at the Great White Throne Judgment giving an account for the lives they were given and the opportunities they had to minister in Jesus's name in love.

oh

[Oakvale]

Plus, Christianity - true Christianity - is NOT a religion.  It is a relationship with Almighty God.

Terrifying.

[Filuwaúrdjan]

I have a question for the 'Reverend' Bushie. What lessons can be drawn from the kingship of Hezekiah?

[politicus]

Plus, Christianity - true Christianity - is NOT a religion.  It is a relationship with Almighty God.

Jeff, the "Christianity is not a religion - it is a relationship with God" line is stupid and counterproductive. There is no point in inventing an alternative definition of religion (or subscribing to one) - you can claim that you believe Christianity is the only true religion, but it is a religion.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

And Christians of Bushie's ilk are dangerous.

[Starbucks Union Thug HokeyPuck]

Yup.  I wish the Clan Bushie would just become oil barons of the milkshake mindset.  They would cause a lot less harm. 

[Filuwaúrdjan]

I was raised to believe that Christianity is fundamentally about how you live your life (i.e. that you lead it according to the teachings of Jesus). I will note at this point that the Gospels are full of declamations against religious hypocrisy. How does the 'Reverend' Bushie feel about this?

[Joe Biden 2020]

I have a question for the 'Reverend' Bushie. What lessons can be drawn from the kingship of Hezekiah?

Hezekiah was a godly king.  He feared God and brought the nation of Judah back to worshipping God.  His faith was spot on.  However, he was careless with Judah's money.  He showed the king of Assyria, who had already taken Israel captive, Judah's war chest.  Babylon got word of this and eventually conquered Judah and took her captive before releasing her 70 years later.  They destroyed King Solomon's temple in the process.  Hezekiah also racked up Judah's debt, much like what Presidents Bush and Obama have done with America.  The lesson for us today is that while our faith may be spot on, we must still exercise common sense in all areas of our lives.  God calls us to be on mission for Him, but He is also a logical God.  He calls us to be responsible and frugal when we need to be responsible and frugal while at the same time giving generously.  Basically, don't show your hand to your sworn enemies.  You are asking for trouble.

Funny you should ask this, because Representative James Lankford used this exact same lesson in one of his Senatorial primary ads aimed at President Obama about his racking up our national debt.

[Paul Kemp]

Bushie, talked to your pal Jimmy Lankford recently?

[Joe Biden 2020]

I was raised to believe that Christianity is fundamentally about how you live your life (i.e. that you lead it according to the teachings of Jesus). I will note at this point that the Gospels are full of declamations against religious hypocrisy. How does the 'Reverend' Bushie feel about this?

Religious hypocrisy is a huge no-no.  Christianity is fundamentally about the grace of God caring enough for His creation even though we had sinned horribly, but sending His only Son Jesus Christ into the world, to be born of a virgin, live a perfect life, and to be rejected by mankind and also by His Father and being nailed to the cross and die the most horrible death anyone could ever imagine.  But, not only His death, but conquering death in raising from the dead three days later and ascending to Heaven to be seated at the right hand of the Father.  This grace is undeserved in every way.   This grace is not fair.  It was not fair for Jesus, a perfect man, to have to die for lowly sinners such as I.  It was not fair for me, a sinner of sinners who deserved to rot away in hell for my transgressions to be extended the olive branch of salvation just by asking for His grace to cover my sins.  That's all I had to do.  I did not have to work for it, and I could not work for it.  I could never obtain it if I had to work for it.  Nobody else could either.  Now that I am saved, I am called to live a holy life, acceptable and pleasing to God, which is my spiritual act of worship (Romans 12:1, paraphrased).  I still fall way short, but God is no longer my enemy, He is my friend.  Jesus is my advocate before God (1 John 1:9-2:1).  When God sees me, He sees me through the lens of His Son's blood, and therefore does not see my sin, although he knows full well it's there.  Jesus's blood washes me white as snow.  Grace does not give me a license to sin, but the freedom to do good things for His kingdom.  When I mess up, and I screw up royally quite often, I just confess and I am forgiven immediately.  I don't have to be "re-saved" for I can never lose my salvation now that Jesus has bought me with His blood.  His blood is all I need.  My sin debt is paid in full and forever, not by anything I have done, but all by His blood.  Sometimes, many times in fact, I am a hypocrite, and therefore I need to repent, but again, that will never keep me out of heaven again.  His blood covers my sins in the past, present, and future.

[I spent the winter writing songs about getting better]

My church once did a sermon series called "Exchanging the Bad News of Religion for the Good News of Jesus Christ"

The problem is, Bushie's church brings the former.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

The attempts of any religion to describe itself as "not a religion" are invariably pathetic.

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

They are doing a wonderful thing and nobody on the face of this planet can ever deny that.

Yes I can deny it. Snake oil salesmen.

[Lief 🗽]

Are these the same people who are going to Africa to translate the Bible despite everyone in the country they're missionarying speaking English?

[Indy Texas]

I think Bushie would make a very compelling missionary to non-Christian Africa.

He represents a religion where despite the fact that he is generally a horrible, lazy, self-centered person with zero self-discipline, despite taking financial and personal advantage of his parents and grandmother, despite engaging in gluttony and sloth and envy on a regular basis, he's still "saved" and doesn't ever have to do anything to atone for or rectify his behavior. I'd say it sounds like a pretty sweet deal compared to people asking you to blow yourself up.

[Indy Texas]

The Bushman continues to show us that his brand of religion is dangerous, small brained and hateful.

And there is ABSOLUTELY NOTHING WRONG WITH THAT. DO NOT MOCK HIS FAITH!!

[Simfan34]

Plus, Christianity - true Christianity - is NOT a religion.  It is a relationship with Almighty God.

Terrifying.

Absolutely disgusting.