AFA: Jesus Wanted Firefighters To Let That House Burn

[meegbear]

Bryan Fischer at the American Family Association’s blog has heard about this situation with the family that didn’t pay their $75 annual fee to be rescued from dying in a house fire, and he has thankfully decided for us What Would Jesus Have Done. Jesus would have shown compassion, right? Haha, no, do you think Jesus was a fag or something? This post is, in all seriousness, entitled “Firefighters did the Christian thing in letting house burn to the ground.” Oh, right, of course.

By the way, you have to highlight the text to see any of this, because apparently the AFA doesn’t understand you shouldn’t put black text on a black background.

The fire department did the right and Christian thing. The right thing, by the way, is also the Christian thing, because there can be no difference between the two. The right thing to do will always be the Christian thing to do, and the Christian thing to do will always be the right thing to do.

This is truly an amazing statement. But more importantly: Everybody gets a slave! You get a slave! You get a slave! You get a slave! We all gets slaves! The Christian Bible says it’s right, so you must get a slave!

In this case, critics of the fire department are confused both about right and wrong and about Christianity. And it is because they have fallen prey to a weakened, feminized version of Christianity that is only about softer virtues such as compassion and not in any part about the muscular Christian virtues of individual responsibility and accountability.

<snip>

http://wonkette.com/425195/afa-jesus-wanted-firefighters-to-let-that-house-to-burn

[Blue Owl]

1. Supply Side Jesus Doesn't Save

:(

[Hassin Bin Sober]

22. He invests! (In rigged sure things)

[leftstreet]

2. I can't believe how many assclowns are using this story to get media time

Jeez

And 99.9% of them don't even know any details

[and-justice-for-all]

3. Because Jeebus like privatization??!!

:shrug:

[Amerigo Vespucci]

4. And then there are the comments...

...at the article's main link (http://action.afa.net/Blogs/BlogPost.aspx?id=2147499026)

10/6/2010 1:23:45 PM
Your argument assumes that, if one person chooses to behave irresponsibly and the mature, responsible, intelligent, compassionate people of the world help him, then, suddenly, those people will become stupid and think that it's OK if we all make the same mistakes that the first guy did.

10/6/2010 1:05:18 PM
If secularist means caring for your neighbor as you would yourself, then sign me up.

10/6/2010 12:50:35 PM
Yeah, Jesus would have let the place burn. You're a moron.

10/6/2010 12:48:49 PM
Mr. Fischer; I think you are Rightly Insane in trying to propose WWJD and quoting Mr. Cranick Have you interviewed both? BTW, this FD has made exceptions to this no-fee rule before.

10/6/2010 12:46:20 PM
Somehow, I get the feeling Jesus preached charity a lot more frequently than he preached "it's your own fault, suck it up." But no, I guess not. I must be thinking of Mohammad, or one of those other crazies. As a side note, I like the feminine/masculine comparisons going on in this piece. I bet you feel real manly right now, Broseph.

10/6/2010 12:36:51 PM
Bryan, I believe you are the one that has adopted a worldview that is in fact not Christian but rather is American. I wish you would simply admit you love America more than you love Jesus Christ and stop using the name of Jesus Christ to push your distorted view of Christianity. Read the Sermon on the Mount, read the parable of the Good Samaritan, read James 1:27. Your interpretation of the parable of the ten virgins is wrong at best and blasphemous at worst.

10/6/2010 11:29:42 AM
Pardon me Bryan but wouldn't the christian thing to have done was turn the other cheek and put out the fire. You know love thy neighbor as they love themselves and your god. I mean they could have easily saved this person's property and prevented damage to his neighbors. But I think you're right Bryan they did act just like a christian.

[joeybee12]

12. I love it...The Sermon on the Mount was apparently, "It's your own damn fault!

Suck it up!"

[AspenRose]

29. That's beautiful.

:applause:

[Renew Deal]

5. Someday Jesus is going to straighten these creeps out.

Or maybe God will do it himself.

[Lyric]

6. Typical. They're so afraid that their politico-religious worldview might be wrong

that the desperately try to rationalize even the most IMMORAL shit imaginable, if it might help to reinforce their support for conservative politics.

[sinkingfeeling]

7. Now that is funny! LOL Here comes Rambo Jesus again!

[pnorman]

24. "Rambo Jesus",

bare-chested, with an assault rifle over one shoulder and a chip on the other!

[Yeshuah Ben Joseph]

8. Oh, for Dad's sake!

Where do these idiots come from? They sure as Hell do not speak for Me or My Dad.

Firefighters did the Christian thing?? Have these idiots ever read My teachings at all?

Seriously, I think its time to break out a plague of locusts or something. What's the address for these morans?

[guitar man]

9. you don't know their address?

dude,I thought you knew everything!! :rofl:

[mmonk]

10. This Jesus fella sure is mean. Is he related to Rush Limbaugh?

[Yeshuah Ben Joseph]

15. Please....

I'd rather get crucified again, than be related to him. :rofl:

[mmonk]

23. Jesus de Limbaugh III was the person I was talking about.

Who were they talking about?:)

[joeybee12]

11. So apparently concern for your fellow man makes Baby Jesus cry?

Wonder which gospel that's in?

[nadinbrzezinski]

13. That's supply side jesus

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AK7gI5lMB7M

Not Jesus of Nazareth...

Two competing visions.

[Roy Rolling]

14. Jesus Wasn't a Socialist--or was he?

A reprise of "Privatize Fire Departments" is in order: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bb8qG76L9jE

[StandingInLeftField]

16. Where are the mainstream Christian leaders?

Why aren't they denouncing these perversions of Christ's messages? I'm sure they MUST do it from their own pulpits.....don't they?


Organized religion.


What a racket.

[AspenRose]

30. Can you name some "mainstream" Christian leaders?

Probably not, because the crazies suck up all the oxygen (and media airtime).

When you say "mainstream," do you mean the religious right? Because they'd probably agree with the AFA.

If you mean "mainstream" as in mainstream denominations (Episcopal, Methodist, Presbyterian, etc.), please advise me as to how often you hear from them in the media. It's usually when there's a controversy going on within their denomination, not during inter-denominational left/right fighting. Believe it or not,that's not sexy enough to warrant media attention. So if you *genuinely* want to know what they think about something, go to their organizational website. Or ask a pastor of that denomination.

Folks at this site have a habit of going directly to the conservative religious crazies to see what they'll say, so that's what gets the most attention and comment. Seldom do folks go to the rational side to see their response, if there is one. With that in mind, it's perfectly understandable how people would think this side speaks for all sides being represented.

But I thought progressives were better than that, and liked to investigate both sides of an issue and use critical thinking before passing judgment - unless, of course, they want to use the situation to bolster up their own personal prejudices. Critical thinking and fairness usually goes out the window then.

Why is it people here expect liberal Christians to hold a national press conference every time the religious right does or says something? For some very important issues (civil/gay rights, immigration, etc.), I understand the necessity of doing that. In THIS SPECIFIC INSTANCE, however, what would this accomplish, exactly? Perhaps these "mainstream" Christian leaders haven't spoken up because they have more important things to do than jump every time the religious right does something stupid. Like help the homeless, fight poverty, advocate for illegal immigrants, etc.

And if you're worried about media image or what other people will think of the church, somehow I have a feeling that anything these "mainstream" Christians did would not pass muster with the majority of people here. If they don't say anything, they're accused of not caring and being "a racket." If they DO say something, they're interfering with decisions made by local government - separation of church and state. Can't win either way.

It would have made much more sense (and been more honest) if you'd just said you didn't like Christians or organized religion and left it at that. You're entitled to that opinion, and I personally would have had more respect for that position.

[StandingInLeftField]

35. Thank you Ms. AspenRose for your thoughtful reply.

Believe it or not, that is the most resonable reply I have received yet to any of my comments from someone with more than a 10,000 post-count. I am truly sorry that I have lowered your opinion of me, even though my post's question was really a rhetorical one. Do we have an emoticon for "rhetorical question"?

As a lifelong "doubting" Lutheran I certainly do not consider the xristian rite (sorry but I will not do them the honor of correctly spelling their "title") to be mainstream anything.

I agree that we seldom hear from, or about, the various traditional Protestant sects (and only rarely from some of the more socially-conscious Catholic clergy and laity) when it comes to defending their beliefs and doctrines. As you say, only an outright schism makes the evening news. I think the turn towards Ecumenicalism - a long-overdue course correction, in my opinion - in the 1970's tended to make the various denominations shy about criticism, not only of other faiths, but also about others within the Christian family. However, it appears on the face of it that the majority of individuals and groups most vociferously calling out the xristian rite are "doubters", agnostics, or atheists (see http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=214x261271 .) I realize this is a sweeping generalization, but as they say, "perception is 9/10s..."

I took you up on your suggestion to go directly to the source, which in this case were the various websites of the major national Protestant denominations. In a somewhat cursory inspection of the first pages of their sites, only the United Methodist Church in America ( http://www.umc.org/site/c.lwL4KnN1LtH/b.1353935/k.4713/Our_mission_is_to_make_disciples_of_Jesus_Christ_for_the_transformation_of_the_world.htm ) had a front page article dealing with today's political and social realities. To whit, an excerpt from an article by the Rev. Gilbert H. Caldwell, Jr.:

"Time for the Church to Speak

United Methodist pastor and author Kent D. Moorehead’s words resonate with me: "There is a new world being born before our very eyes. There is no such thing as a Buddhist sky, a Muslim moon, a Jewish ocean, or a Christian Earth. God is not the exclusive property of any one faith.”

If religion and the state affirm the human equality and right to equal justice of all people—persons born to Republicans and Democrats, liberals and conservatives, fundamentalists and atheists, those of every faith and non-faith tradition—we also should be able to engage in the mop-up work of dealing with the residuals of the other “isms.”

Many persons have an intellectual and insightful depth that I lack; yet they remain silent on today's issues. I fear that our religious and other institutions are becoming “a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal” (1 Corinthians 13:1). Thus, here I am, one of the old men who “dreams, dreams” (Joel 2:28), who writes with the hope that the church and the institutions of all faith traditions would lead rather than follow.

http://www.umc.org/site/apps/nlnet/content3.aspx?c=lwL4KnN1LtH&b=5259669&ct=8740821"

Granted, all the other sites featured the good works of their organization prominently displayed, works such as feeding the poor, tending the sick, caring for the homeless...you know, things Jesus charged us to do, to "be about my Father's business." However, nowhere did I see anything remotely critical of the perversions of the xristian rite.

I'm neither worried about the media image of Christianity, nor what people outside the Faith think of the Church. However, it does concern me that there is a rather large percentage of people who consider themselves "Christian" and "Right" and know for certain that God is on their side, that, in my opinion, are neither "Christian" nor "Right" (as in "correct".) It also concerns me that those who are in a position to comment or criticize and perhaps even make the evening news while doing so, have so far remained silent.

So, I am going to take another stab at my original comment -

Xrazy xristian rite
What a racket they have going
The birds fell silent

Peace

edited for spelling and clarity

[AspenRose]

36. I too, appreciate your response

and since I am a Methodist, will direct you to the "peace and justice" arm of the UMC

http://www.umc-gbcs.org/

They just won a fight waged against them by the Coalition for United Methodist Accountability (CUMA). CUMA consists of three conservative groups: Good News, the Institute on Religion & Democracy (funded by right-wingers), and the Confessing Movement. CUMA wanted to pick a fight with the GBCS because of their activity in "liberal" issues, and claimed the GBCS didn't have claim to where they are currently located (prime real estate near Capitol Hill and the Supreme Court, I might add) because United Methodist Building funds were not being properly used. Their argument involved funds given in the early 20th century (that's right, a hundred years ago) to construct the United Methodist Building on Capitol Hill - and the judge ruled in favor of GBCS. So they preoccupied the GBCS's time, energy and resources fighting an unnecessary fight that they ended up losing anyhow.

In light of these ridiculous kinds of activities, it might make more sense why you don't "hear" from mainstream denominations. One of the reasons is because they're involved with their own battles, fighting encroachment from within.


You might be aware that the Confessing Movement is an organized conservative attack on the mainstream denominations - Presbyterians and Lutherans have Confessing Movements too. They are funded by right-wing idealogues and infiltrating mainstream churches. It makes me mad when people broad-brush Christians as "the problem" when the progressive Christians are being attacked too.

[StandingInLeftField]

37. Thank you so much AspenRose for that incredible link.

Amazing what actions are being taken within the Methodist Church, both positive and negative. I'm sure in the end the positive will win the day.

I'm ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America.) Even though it has "Evangelical" in it's name, the ELCA is the progressive sect within Lutheranism. The Missouri and Wisconsin Evangelical Synods are quite fundemental. In the ELCA we have the ELCF (Evangelical Lutheran Confessing Fellowship.) They were instrumental in assuring defeat of a resolution at our last national convention to allow openly gay clergy. I'm afraid we're going the way of the Episcopal Church on the issue of homosexuality. It's truly a pity.

[AspenRose]

38. I share your frustration with our church's stand on gay rights as well.

We just keep fighting the good fight. :hi:

[struggle4progress]

17. AFA is a gaggle of nitwits

[arbusto_baboso]

18. I hope Fischer likes eternity in Hell.

Because unless the god he believes in doesn't exist (which is actually my bet), then Hell is exactly where that AFA fucknugget is going...

[stopbush]

19. On the contrary, Jesus told his followers not to worry about tomorrow.

That god would provide for all things.

Seems to me that such an admonition would apply to fire insurance as well.

[Jkid]

20. AFA confirmed for American Social Darwinists

[66 dmhlt]

21. Hey Bryan - Go With Both!

In Bryan's article (which you have to highlight to even view because these assholes are so dumb they don't even know not to put black font on a black background), he said:

I am either confused about what is right or confused about Christianity, or both.

Definitely GO WITH BOTH!

[Kievan Rus]

25. If I didn't know any better, I'd swear it was from the Onion

What's really scary is these nutballs actually believe what they say.

Guess their Bibles don't have Matthew 25:40 in them.

[WeekendWarrior]

26. Don't be so hard on the guy

Firefighters DID do the Christian thing, which as history shows us, is not pretty.

[TexasObserver]

27. It's his own ... personal ... Jesus.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DNrbiZoKQLU

[liberalhistorian]

28. I'm a Christian and what utter, complete, total,

pure unadulterated HORSESHIT. I'll say it again. It's utter, complete, total, pure unadulterated HORSESHIT. Not only would Jesus not have supported this, he would have been the first in line with a hose and water to try to put it out. He would NEVER have put the almighty dollar before the needs of human beings, PERIOD. And God does not want us to do that, either.

What fucking bullshit. I'm so sick of these nutballs hijacking Christianity.

[AspenRose]

31. +1000

They just scream the loudest, get the most attention; and consequently everyone else thinks that's all of Christendom, unfortunately.

[hendo]

32. Aww, but i want a slave ;)

and just to cover my a**
:sarcasm:

[BlancheSplanchnik]

33. fallen prey to a weakened, feminized version of Christianity....

that is only about softer virtues such as compassion and not in any part about the muscular Christian virtues of individual responsibility and accountability....

Holy fucking shit.

Well, now we know that the muscular virtues of individual interests above other, weaker, softer concerns isRight. We know it's Right, because the Right says it's RIght, and what is declared to be Right by the Right can never be not-Right!

:crazy:


Arrrrghhh!!!! COMPULSORY CRITICAL THINKING CLASSES FOR ALL, NOW

[pipi_k]

34. Really? I would have thought they'd blame Satan...

God, Jesus, Satan...

they're all doing shit, and it's getting so hard to figure out who's responsible for what these days...

[TexasObserver]

39. Yes, the extreme Christian right, Beck and the Tea Party all agree.

That letting the house burn down was the right thing to do.