Is This Blasphemy - Washington Post?

[A_PoMo]

I think someone like T.F. Tenney would have written a more judicious and effective letter. I'd be curious to see the difference in tone, style, and substance in his letter compared to jj's.

As I re-read this letter I am reminded of W's cowboy response to 9-11. And look at the terrific international relations we have as a result. I remember an elder of mine expressed regret at W's tactic. Me, I said "To Hades w/'em! Kill 'em all and let God sort 'em out!" and was a little dismayed at my elder's non-partisan opinion. I think most of Americans can now see the wisdom of my elder's position.

Restraint and a measured response is better than an emotional one.

[Michael Phelps]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

His first sentence started out on defense mode. That is not professional.

Not to be rude to anyone here, and PO, please forgive me for springboarding off of your post - but, doesn't anyone find themselves upset by Oliphant's cartoon? Did Oliphant think of professionalism when he penned this garbage?

And, when a man posts a passionate letter of rebuttal against something he holds dear, we want to analyze his letter??????

Folks, I adjure you to go back to the letters in red in the back half of your Bibles and tell me how many times Jesus was "professional" when dealing with the Pharisees and critics of the truth?

Tell me how many times the Apostles worried about "professionalism" when rebuking the Sanhedrin and critics of the Apostolic doctrine?

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by A_PoMo

As taught in Carnegie's book?

Yes! It works pretty well. I don't use it enough, obviously.

[A_PoMo]

Originally Posted by Michael Phelps

Not to be rude to anyone here, and PO, please forgive me for springboarding off of your post - but, doesn't anyone find themselves upset by Oliphant's cartoon? Did Oliphant think of professionalism when he penned this garbage?

And, when a man posts a passionate letter of rebuttal against something he holds dear, we want to analyze his letter??????

Folks, I adjure you to go back to the letters in red in the back half of your Bibles and tell me how many times Jesus was "professional" when dealing with the Pharisees and critics of the truth?

The difference is that Pharisees and Sadducees were not unbelievers. Jesus responded in anger toward hypocrisy, and that's an in-house religious affair. When dealing with those outside of the faith community the NT is clear, that we are to be kind, gentle, and meek. The red letters tell us that in the beatitudes and it was Jesus who said to turn the other cheek and forgive infinitly.

I am not all that upset about Oliphant's cartoon. I think it's offensive, yes. Blashemous, no. But it's typical and Jesus told us to expect the same sort of treatment that he got and to handle it the way he did. I doubt he would have written his kind of letter.

"passionate" is synonomous with emotion. When people publish stuff like this they are trying to elicit an emotional response from people they perceive to be their enemies. If we choose to respond in a measured, gentle, and inclusive way it ruins their game plan and removes the power of their weapon. It's the way of Christ when dealing with unbelieving enemies. Otherwise we're just solidifying their position and re-drawing the battle lines. Not a smart option, imo, as it perpetuates the whole us vs. them mentality which is anathema to evangelism.

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by Michael Phelps

Folks, I adjure you to go back to the letters in red in the back half of your Bibles and tell me how many times Jesus was "professional" when dealing with the Pharisees and critics of the truth?

Your analogy is off, Michael. Jesus was stringent with religious hypocrites, but relatively gentle with sinners.

Tell me how many times the Apostles worried about "professionalism" when rebuking the Sanhedrin and critics of the Apostolic doctrine?

Is Pat Oliphant a fellow Christian? If so, then the criticism is more warranted. If the Washington Post professes to embrace or appreciate religion, then the criticism is more warranted. Otherwise, they (the Post and all it's counterparts and contributors) should be spoken to as if they are ultimately potential converts. Not as if they are offensive Pharisees.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by Michael Phelps

Not to be rude to anyone here, and PO, please forgive me for springboarding off of your post - but, doesn't anyone find themselves upset by Oliphant's cartoon? Did Oliphant think of professionalism when he penned this garbage?

And, when a man posts a passionate letter of rebuttal against something he holds dear, we want to analyze his letter??????

Folks, I adjure you to go back to the letters in red in the back half of your Bibles and tell me how many times Jesus was "professional" when dealing with the Pharisees and critics of the truth?

Tell me how many times the Apostles worried about "professionalism" when rebuking the Sanhedrin and critics of the Apostolic doctrine?

How can we become angry at a person who obviously, for whatever reason, doesn't know God on a personal basis that we do having His Spirit dwelling in us? I can't get mad at the Cartoonist for that.

I can write a letter beginning, "Dear Sir, While I believe in Freedom of Speech as dictated by our Constitution.......

Wise as serpents and gentle as doves. Jesus CAN respond to people in any vein that He wants. He has the "ultimate" knowledge of a heart.

Think of the woman at the well. He didn't come against her with anger. He knew she was unhappy and didn't really want to be this way in her life.

That is the difference in His response to her and the Sandedrin. Apparently, He knew enough about them to know they didn't care to receive what the Bible prophesied.

The woman at the well ran to the city to say, "It is him that we have been waiting for!!!!!"

Big difference in the heart and response to that heart. We are not God.

I think the letters would put the Cartoonist on defense mode against Christians if we are not careful.

Just my opinion, of course.

[MissBrattified]

Originally Posted by A_PoMo

The difference is that Pharisees and Sadducees were not unbelievers. Jesus responded in anger toward hypocrisy, and that's an in-house religious affair. When dealing with those outside of the faith community the NT is clear, that we are to be kind, gentle, and meek. The red letters tell us that in the beatitudes and it was Jesus who said to turn the other cheek and forgive infinitly.

I am not all that upset about Oliphant's cartoon. I think it's offensive, yes. Blashemous, no. But it's typical and Jesus told us to expect the same sort of treatment that he got and to handle it the way he did. I doubt he would have written his kind of letter.

"passionate" is synonomous with emotion. When people publish stuff like this they are trying to elicit an emotional response from people they perceive to be their enemies. If we choose to respond in a measured, gentle, and inclusive way it ruins their game plan and removes the power of their weapon. It's the way of Christ when dealing with unbelieving enemies. Otherwise we're just solidifying their position and re-drawing the battle lines. Not a smart option, imo.

LOL...[nearly] DUPLICATE (triplicate?) POST ALERT!!!!!! I'll just finish my coffee, go paint a stripe on my hall wall, and leave you and PO to it. Obviously we're on the same wave length on this one. I think.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by MissBrattified

LOL...[nearly] DUPLICATE (triplicate?) POST ALERT!!!!!! I'll just finish my coffee, go paint a stripe on my hall wall, and leave you and PO to it. Obviously we're on the same wave length on this one. I think.

Michael in the hotseat!!!!!

I thought we would never get him there!!

[Michael Phelps]

Originally Posted by A_PoMo

The difference is that Pharisees and Sadducees were not unbelievers. Jesus responded in anger toward hypocrisy, and that's an in-house religious affair. When dealing with those outside of the faith community the NT is clear, that we are to be kind, gentle, and meek. The red letters tell us that in the beatitudes and it was Jesus who said to turn the other cheek and forgive infinitly.

I am not all that upset about Oliphant's cartoon. I think it's offensive, yes. Blashemous, no. But it's typical and Jesus told us to expect the same sort of treatment that he got and to handle it the way he did. I doubt he would have written his kind of letter.

"passionate" is synonomous with emotion. When people publish stuff like this they are trying to elicit an emotional response from people they perceive to be their enemies. If we choose to respond in a measured, gentle, and inclusive way it ruins their game plan and removes the power of their weapon. It's the way of Christ when dealing with unbelieving enemies. Otherwise we're just solidifying their position and re-drawing the battle lines. Not a smart option, imo.

Well, I totally disagree. How do you know what Oliphant's beliefs are? We're assuming he/she is an unbeliever, we have no way to know that.

And, I suppose all the moneychangers in the temple who incurred the wrath of Jesus were believers? They were entrepeneurs, did Jesus deal mildly with them?

There is a major difference when you're defending truth. Now, if you want to argue whether or not the cartoon was offensive, that's a matter of personal opinion. If you want to argue whether or not God needs defending, that's another issue.

However Jerry Jones felt that this was an issue worthy of his response, and the fact that we are picking apart his letter, which was not childish, or insulting, is just a sad thing to me.

[Michael Phelps]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

How can we become angry at a person who obviously, for whatever reason, doesn't know God on a personal basis that we do having His Spirit dwelling in us? I can't get mad at the Cartoonist for that.

I can write a letter beginning, "Dear Sir, While I believe in Freedom of Speech as dictated by our Constitution.......

Wise as serpents and gentle as doves. Jesus CAN respond to people in any vein that He wants. He has the "ultimate" knowledge of a heart.

Think of the woman at the well. He didn't come against her with anger. He knew she was unhappy and didn't really want to be this way in her life.

That is the difference in His response to her and the Sandedrin. Apparently, He knew enough about them to know they didn't care to receive what the Bible prophesied.

The woman at the well ran to the city to say, "It is him that we have been waiting for!!!!!"

Big difference in the heart and response to that heart. We are not God.

I think the letters would put the Cartoonist on defense mode against Christians if we are not careful.

Just my opinion, of course.

Read my response to PoMo.

Then, we can all get back to the business of tearing each other apart over the amount of steps it takes to be saved.