It is so common, so predictable that whenever the silliness or insanity of one pastor or another is discovered (surprise!), some defender-of-the-Faith will declare that this person and his followers are not really Christians. I’ve heard fervent Muslims and Jews say the same thing about their co-religionists and the claim in Islam is frequently used as an excuse for murder.
It strikes me that one cannot say that Parsely and Haggee are not Christians. Not any more than one can say that Clinton or Bush or Obama are not Americans just because we don’t agree with them.
Christians would LIKE to believe that following Christ is a cure for stupidity, venality, lust, greed and bad hair. Since following Jesus makes you a good person, if you’re an obvious tool, then you can’t be a Christian. They cannot concede that some Christians are simply stupid, evil, barbaric assholes because that would mean the magic doesn’t work. That would mean that you can’t buy personal transformation. Jenny Craig won’t make us thin, Yale won’t make us smart, Chanel won’t make us pretty, an SUV won’t give us a big dick and Jesus doesn’t make us better: We’ve still got to do the work ourselves.
fp
June 18, 2008 at 8:01 pm
it was just this attitude that caused me to seek spiritual fufilment in the tao. ya never hear about the taoists engaging in purges, intercine warfare, or name calling. i have met christians that TRULY walk the walk and are an inspiration to me but i also realize that these people are the rare diamonds in a sea of shit. whenever i witness this behaviour now i have to ask myself: what would winnie the pooh do? oh bother!