Jay Bakker, son of Jim Bakker, is the pastor of a church in NYC: http://www.revolutionnyc.com/. Apparently, the “revolution” is emerging all over CNN and the media:
“Churchgoers” wear apparel to further their “testimony” throughout the week with t-shirts such as: “Men's Religion Kills Skeleton Shirt printed on Black Apparel”.
Like typical emerging revolutionaries, they garnish their beliefs with words of wisdom from Henry Nouwen on this site. But, would this quote from Nouwen concern them?
"Today I personally believe that while Jesus came to open the door to God's house, all human beings can walk through that door, whether they know about Jesus or not. Today I see it as my call to help every person claim his or her own way to God." (Sabbatical Journey, Henry Nouwen).
If it weren’t for such a revolution of universalism the lost punks could be at some rock concert outside of church. Now, they get to come to church for all of the punk pleasures of “Christianity”!
I don’t mean to be a punk about it.
Please consider this quote from A.W. Tozer:
“Christ is courted with a familiarity that reveals a total ignorance of Who He is. It is not the reverent intimacy of the adoring saint, but the impotent familiarity of the carnal lover.” [Source: “The Erotic vs. the Spiritual” in Born After Midnight, 37-38. It was originally published in 1959 then reprinted in 1989 by Christian Publications in Camp Hill, PA; also see Why I Left the Contemporary Christian Music Movement, Dan Lucarini, Evangelical Press.]
We are told to “put on the new man which was created according to God in true righteousness and holiness” (Ephesians 4:17-24). As Christians, the character of our God is pure, so we are never saved to live the life of “punks”, engaging in practices such as homosexuality! (Romans 1; 1 Corinthians 6: 9-11). His seed abides in us (1 John 3:9), and we are made pure in Jesus to renounce the hidden things of the punk world with an appetite for LIGHT and not darkness, hymns which glorify Jesus in worship and not the flesh, clean dress and clean living instead of dressing akin to Satanists in black with themes of death. (1 John 1:7; 2 Thessalonians 3:6-7; 2 Corinthians 4:2).
“Do not quench the Spirit.” (1 Thessalonians 5:19)
“For you were formerly darkness, but now you are light in the Lord; walk as children of light.” (Ephesians 5:8)
Now, that would really be a “new kind of Christian” for a punk!
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Jay Bakker is more "politically correct" than "punk"
Posted On: 01/11/07 11:09:09 PM
Age 47, MO
Let's face it. CNN and the other MSM mavens are giving attention to Jay Bakker because he endorses the homosexual agenda. BTW, Jay's mother, Tammy Faye, was also a "darling" of some radical homosexuals. OTOH, the Jesus People USA in inner-city Chicago displayed a radical appearance, and they made some mistakes, but they stood against abortion and homosexual behavior. That may explain why I never heard of CNN doing a positive report about JPUSA. (Incidentally, JPUSA exposed fraudulent wolves in sheep clothing such as Mike Warnke, Lauren Stratford, Jack Chick, and Bob Larson.) Click here to reply to this post
Re: Neither of you get it right
Posted On: 01/10/07 01:09:21 PM
Age 58, SC
After reading both Dwayna Litz and Jay Bakker, I can truthfully say that NEITHER sound very much like Jesus, or even Paul for that matter. However, if you ask me which one comes the closest, I would have to say Mr. Bakker, by leaps and bounds. Dear Mrs. Litz, wherever in the Bible do you see condemnation, self-righteousness, and hypocrisy listed among spiritual fruits. Please remove the log from your own eye before commenting on the spot in others. Jesus had a lot to say, but naming
homosexuality as the only sin, was not one of them. Neither did he do a whole lot of
condemning based on how his hearers were dressed. Click here to reply to this post
Re: Re: Neither of you get it right
Posted On: 01/10/07 09:45:10 PM
Age 63, OH
Brother Jesus never once condoned a single sin. He preached against sin; every single one of them. This included lust: He said better to gouge out your eye than spend eternity in hell. How many people did He preach to then say go and sin no more. Anyone that says any sin is OK is not following Him. We are not called to judge peoples heart but we are called to judge their behavior. -- Lou Click here to reply to this post
Re: Doesn't understand the nature of God!
Posted On: 01/10/07 08:20:02 AM
Age 38, FL
He may rely on mystics for his theology, which is why he totally misunderstands the nature of God. He also says in the article:
"God loves us for who we are," contends Jay, explaining that it comes down to "grace": "God's love for all people, and his unconditional love.
"God isn't counting our sins against us. Yeah, we'll have to pay the consequences; life has consequences. But God isn't keeping a record. 'You better watch out, you better not cry' -- that's not God. That's Santa Claus!"
Not only does Bakker have a faulty view of God, but I found no mention of Jesus anywhere in his comments. The emergent church/contemplatives focus on "god" (an idolatrous version)and rarely talk about Jesus, except as a lovable little fuzzball or a good-friend-type figure who just wants to love everyone. They totally leave out the concept of sin and judgment--for it is appointed unto to men to die once, and after that the judgment. Click here to reply to this post
Re: "punk" vs satanism
Posted On: 01/10/07 07:55:46 AM
Age 24, MO
While you raise valid points regarding accountability for sin with these types of pastors, I question the wisdom and relevance of the "dressing as Satanists" comment. There are many cultures and styles that aren't based theologically on Satanism. Johnny Cash, a committed Christian, was also "the man in black." The Church of Satan doesn't have a punk or metal band for their music, they have a classical orchestra. To suggest someone wearing all black is dressing as a Satanist is baseless. There are likely many members of the church of Satan dressing in fine business suits, just as there are many Christian youth who may dress in black. It's not relevant to theology whatsoever. Click here to reply to this post
Re: Re:
Posted On: 01/10/07 09:52:54 PM
Age 63, OH
Certainly black is Ok ; I wear a lot of it. But the scriptures clearly command us NOT to tattoo or pierce or cut our bodies. If you look at history a lot of heathen societies covered themselves with tattoos.-- Lou Click here to reply to this post
correction
Posted On: 03/23/07 11:44:29 AM
Age 26, IL
I'm sorry I posted the wrong verse reference to the afore mentioned feedback.
Humbling.... God has a great way of doing that.
Leviticus 19 is the chapter that I was referring. Click here to reply to this post
Re: Re: Re:
Posted On: 03/23/07 11:28:08 AM
Age 26, IL
Those of you who are stuck on the tattoo portion need to resolve that with the rest of Isaiah 44.
Any of you men shave your sideburns?
Are you certain that when you eat fruit you are not eating from a tree that is less than three years old?
Oh... and when was the last time you made a guilt offering by sacrificing a ram? Click here to reply to this post
Re: Popular Beliefs of This Age
Posted On: 01/10/07 03:56:34 AM
Age 26, KT
Hi Dwayna,
I cringe when so called "Christians" phone in on radio shows and make some ver ignorant unbiblical statements. They are breaking the second commandment in making a god to their own liking. When broadcasters like CNN promotes such a movement it makes you think...
Cheers,
Daniel Click here to reply to this post
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