Satire Und Theology: March 2016

Thursday, March 31, 2016

Supposed Pictures From Heaven & Matthew 23-24

Engaging Post

Russell Norman Murray

http://newssa.co.za/…/mboro-go-heaven-hes-got-pictures-pro…/ Quote: 'The pictures will be made available to the public on his Facebook page later next week and can now only be accessed through a R5000 pledge.'

No $urprise. Matthew 23 and Matthew 24. What he will be able to back up and document is the pursuit of cash. ‪#‎Heaven‬ ‪#‎Mathew23‬ ‪#‎Matthew24‬

11 people reached

South Africa: trekearth

April 18, 2016 Edit

I have had to edit some of the original post because the website article was removed at source.

March 31

The embarrassing Facebook promotional text, usually viewed only by website administrator is included for satirical content, and because it is problematic to edit Facebook HTML format and maintain presentable Blogger HTML format.

This brief article is an extension of the pasted Facebook Personal Blog post. The first link is now at the time of posting available, but was unavailable when I began my last edit.

Considering the online sources, I am in no way verifying that the story is for certain non-fiction, but I document that websites are sharing the story.

It would not surprise me if this kind of story was entirely fictional. But I am finite with limited knowledge and so this is a disclaimer.

Two additional links

VenasNews March 31

Cited

'Mr. Nkuna, a spokesperson of the church confirmed that the incident happened at around 10:30 am, and the entire church witnessed as the controversial Pastor ascended to heaven.

“The prophet did go to heaven during the service, and he came back later that day. While there, he took pictures using his Samsung Galaxy S5 so he can show them to the people on earth if they do not believe he was captured to heaven. The pictures will be made available to the public on his Facebook page later next week and can now only be accessed through a R5000 pledge.'

Buzz Uganda March 31

Cited

'Now those who wish to see the photos of Prophet Mboro in heaven, chances are now made wider for you as you have to choose whether to sure you pay ZAR5000 (South African Rand 5000, which is around UGX 1.1 Million or $334) and get yourself a copy of Prophet Mboro in Heaven or to wait next week on his Facebook page'

The field: trekearth

Matthew 23 New American Standard Version (NASB)

From Matthew 23 and in regard to Pharisaism, without claiming to know motives, but based on actions, from my perspective, verses that particularly relate to the 'pastor' in this story,.

Again, I am not verifying the story as non-fiction.

'5 But they do all their deeds to be noticed by men;' '

'6 They love the place of honor at banquets'

'7 (b) and being called Rabbi by men'

'10 Do not be called [b]leaders; for One is your Leader, that is, Christ.

'11 But the greatest among you shall be your servant.'

A religious leader and his associates committing publicised, sensationalistic, supposedly supernatural deeds to be noticed by people. These religious leaders committing these deeds to be given honour among the local African observers. As well, committing these actions to be called a leader (s) among the people.

There are financial considerations from being noticed, honoured and being held up as a leader (s), There is money to made from public pledges to view the supposed heaven pictures. Financial considerations documented in the story from more than one source.

Where is the servant attitude in asking for pledges from followers in order that these followers can see supposed pictures of heaven? Contrasted by the 'pastor' and associates pledging to serve the congregation with reasonable Biblical doctrines and theology.

In Matthew 23, Jesus Christ called the Pharisees 'blind guides' which would apply to a religious teacher and his associates that blindly and deceptively lead a congregation with false, hyper-speculative teaching and theology.

Matthew 24 New American Standard Version

'23 Then if anyone says to you, ‘Behold, here is the [l]Christ,’ or ‘[m]There He is,’ do not believe him. 24 For false Christs and false prophets will arise and will [n]show great [o]signs and wonders, so as to mislead, if possible, even the [p]elect. 25 Behold, I have told you in advance. 26 So if they say to you, ‘Behold, He is in the wilderness,’ do not go out, or, ‘Behold, He is in the inner rooms,’ do not believe them.'

A false teacher and his associates seeking to mislead with supposed signs and wonders is relevant from this story.

Monday, March 28, 2016

Brief Discussion On Disappointment With God

Vancouver 2015

This story was mentioned in a sermon, I attended, Sunday morning. This is a brief and very non-exhaustive discussion. I relate to Richard's frustration with God, but my conclusions are different.

Amazon

December 7, 2005: By Erik Olson

Cited:

'Years ago, Philip Yancey was contacted by a young theology student named Richard. One of his professors had encouraged Richard to expand an exemplary paper about Job into a book. Mr. Yancey was impressed with the draft, and even agreed to write the forward for publication. But by the time it reached the publishers, Richard had lost his faith. He no longer believed what he'd written. "Disappointment With God" was born out of several frank conversations between Mr. Yancey and Richard about the nature of suffering and what God should be doing about it.'

Despite Richard's prayers and service to God, his life had come unglued. His fiancée dumped him, a job fell through, his health declined, and so on. Richard felt betrayed, and finally broke from God.'

End quotations

With Richard, 'a job fell through'. I can relate to this situation as an academic that has also studied the problem of suffering and is not presently employed in academia or related. I am progressing with professional employment advisement and have volunteered at a local megachurch.

'His fiancée dumped him.' On Sunday it was mentioned that Richard's fiancée (paraphrased) would not discuss the issue and 'burned the bridge'. This contributed to his eventual loss of faith and break from God. Perhaps, if his fiancée would have openly and thoroughly discussed her reasons, this would have been less painful for Richard? Perhaps he would have accepted it?

A 'burning bridges' approach creates the possibility of what I label 'rejection remorse', that is rejection done in haste where the rejecting person or group (A) has significant doubts and regrets in regard to rejecting (B). Working in corporate security, at a trillion dollar corporation, I have learned that terminated employees are not informed by corporate representatives, but by a hired third party (C) that escorts the terminated employee from the building. I reason this is done to alleviate corporate fears of a potential confrontation, but also eliminates the possibility of employer/terminated employee discussion where the employer may be influenced by reason and evidence to reconsider the position taken. I was informed of one episode where an angry terminated employee returned to the building with his/her lawyer and were secretly rushed into a side room where employees could not witness the scene. Could this have been handled more optimally with employer/employee discussion earlier?

Similar fears lead to lack of discussion in many personal issues of the heart as well.

Is this not the case in many religion, worldview and political discussions?

I have often stated that a person is not significantly objective, unless willing to change a position if led to that conclusion by rational reason and evidence.

My former pastor stated (paraphrased): A person has few regrets in his/her twenties and thirties, a person has some regrets in his/her forties and fifties and a person has many regrets in his/her sixties.

Provided (A) and/or (B) is not highly irrational and/or confrontational is not a rational reasonable 'bridge-building' approach and conclusion to issues more optimal?

Richard's 'health declined, and so on.' During my studies I suffered with sleep apnea, my condition now greatly improved through surgery and treatment. I also had several eye surgeries to make me supposedly 'more beautiful', and more importantly improve my vision in my less than optimal eye.

'Richard felt betrayed, and finally broke from God.' My position is God has sovereign, providential control of existence and reality as documented through prophets, apostles and scribes in Scriptural religious history. Romans 8:26-30 is an important passage with the idea (28) that God causes all things to work for good for those who love God, called according to his purpose and (29) those he foreknew and predestined to become conformed to the image of Christ.

Within my compatibilistic position, God remains perfectly good in his permissible and perfect wills. Calvin writes that God’s motives remain pure in the simultaneous willing of human actions that are sinful and evil. Calvin (1543)(1996: 37-40).

I conclude

It is a logical and reasonable presentation that God is true based on religious history in Scripture. Therefore, if this is accepted, God's infinite and perfect nature and promises to those in Christ, including everlasting life in a perfected realm, would not change regardless of suffering and the level of that suffering in this present fallen and imperfect realm.

The very significant problem of suffering does remain practically in this realm for all of humanity.

CALVIN, JOHN (1539)(1998) The Institutes of the Christian Religion, Book IV, Translated by Henry Beveridge, Grand Rapids, The Christian Classic Ethereal Library, Wheaton College. http://www.ccel.org/ccel/calvin/institutes.html

CALVIN, JOHN (1543)(1996) The Bondage and Liberation of the Will, Translated by G.I. Davies, Grand Rapids, Baker Book House. <

Thursday, March 24, 2016

Bleach v Coca-Cola & Bleach v Vinegar

Barcelona: Google+: It just has that chemical warfare kind of look...

Bleach v Coca-Cola

I agree, quote: 'Of course don't drink this'.

Considering the era, I should state:

Do not let anything or anyone consume this liquid. Do not even mention the term 'drink'.

In this case, Coke is not it.

Bleach v Vinegar

Within homecaring work for a relative, when cleaning, I have further empirically discovered that bleach with a strong and in my opinion, offensive odour, is a very effective cleaner and whitener in many contexts.

I also use vinegar as a cleaner. Vinegar like bleach can be used to clean clothes. But common sense has informed me (thankfully) not to mix vinegar and bleach.

I digest vinegar in the food context where many North Americans would use ketchup.

When visiting the United States, that has many fine restaurants, a complaint I have is that many establishments do not even carry vinegar. At least one restaurant employee seemed baffled at the intellectual concept of vinegar. As if 'vinegar' was a major academic discipline such as science, philosophy and religious studies and I had entered this academic twilight zone.

But I digress...

Chemistry About

From

Anne Marie Helmenstine, Ph.D., Our Chemistry Expert

Cited

'Mixing bleach and vinegar is a bad idea. Toxic chlorine gas is released, which essentially serves as a way to wage chemical warfare on yourself. '

Cited

'Don't poison yourself!'

Cited

'It's far safer for you to buy fresh bleach than to risk releasing a chemical weapon on yourself by mixing bleach with another chemical. You can use bleach and vinegar for cleaning, just make sure you rinse before switching products.'

Quote

'a way to wage chemical warfare on yourself.'

'to risk releasing a chemical weapon on yourself by mixing bleach with another chemical.'

Self-induced terrorism?