The "religious Left" is at it again.The National Council of Churches (NCC) is praising absolute evil, Mahmoud Ahmadinejad.Is there a positive word to say about him? Perhaps that God loves him in spite of himself.Nonetheless, I think it is time the "religious Left" take off their clerical collars and come back to reality.They represent many people of faith and while many NCC leaders and participants are leaning very liberal, there are still good people in their churches who stick around to make a difference. They should protest with righteous indignation.
Very recently a delegation from the NCC praised Ahmadinejad as a pious person and a witty man."He comes across as a very religious man," said their Associate General Secretary for Interfaith Relations.J. Daryl Byler, Director of the Mennonite Central Committee Washington Office described Ahmadinejad as having a measured tone, sounding reasonable and having a witty personality.
Byer sent a letter to President Bush stating that he wished he would meet with the Iranian leader, calling Ahmadinejad "bright and engaging." Byler went on, "Like you, he is a religious man, Mr. President. I believe you would enjoy one another's company. Your conversation could signal a positive change in a relationship severed more than 25 years ago."Shades of Mike Wallace, I know. He's a man we can do business with.
So just what are some of the characteristics this NCC outfit must admire:
*He sponsors some of the world's worst terror groups by giving them money, weapons, training, and spiritual justification.
*He has harbored some of the world's worst terrorists, giving them shelter, protecting them from retaliation, including many from al-Qaida.
*He has motivated many to kill innocent Americans, Israelis, and others in the most despicable means.
*He kills Americans in Iraq by shipping arms, terrorists, and money to the war zone. He destabilizes the fragile Iraqi government, encourages the killing of Christians, Kurds, and Muslims who don't agree with him.
*He leads a regime that has lied about its nuclear plans for years.
*He cries "death to America" and says Israel should be wiped off the map.And, he denies the Holocaust even though he is trying to create another one.
*He is a mad man driven by messianic visions and expectations. It is up to him--Mahmoud Ahmadinejad--to bring in the Muslim Mahdi messiah, and then it's really duck soup for the rest of the world.It would even be fatal to the National Council of Churches in spite of their acclaim of him.
So do the National Council of Churches’ reps think maybe he will convert to Christianity?Miracles still do happen. But Ahmadinejad believes all must convert to Islam starting with George W. Bush.But the NCC is among the crowd who thinks we can do business with a nuclear Iran, and we can all get along.If we treat the guy right, things will be fine. Remember, he is "very religious" just like the NCC. So what if it’s a different faith. It’s more “religiosity.”
The NCC delegation included leaders from the Mennonite, Quaker, United Methodist, Baptist, Episcopal, and Catholic churches. I think they need to do a reality check. There are some outfits you don't do business with and this is one rogue regime that leads the pack.We are not dealing with a man with a full deck. Ahmadinejad's comments while on U.S. soil recently should have sent a message loud and clear to outfits like the NCC that holding hands with a man like this could lead to unbelievable consequences. Trusting his word could be fatal to nations, not just individuals.The entire Middle East could go up in flames. An oil crisis the likes of which no nation has yet seen could erupt, and Israel could be devastated by Iranian missiles at any time.
But remember, Israel is just "the little Satan."When outfits like the National Council of Churches praise a guy who calls their own country "the great Satan," you know strong delusion is running amok.
I suggest rather than doing a "Minnesota-nice" job on Ahmadinejad, the NCC reps share the gospel with him and tell him he needs a Savior, not a Mahdi.
"Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil; who substitute darkness for light and light for darkness...”(Isa. 5:20).
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Hey! Wake up! What is going on with those who are representing your churches? I am stunned to hear that Christian leaders can think of Iranian president Ahmadinejad to be anything but arrogant and many other adjectives not nice. But look at his face. For me, it is not the truth that I see in his eyes. It is not the truth that I hear from his mouth. How is it possible that some of your christian brothers praise this man? I saw him speak at Columbia University, read many of his speeches at the United Nations sessions. I think he is someone we should be afraid of. His goal is nothing less than conquering the world (with the nuclear)for Islam and preparing the throne for the Mahdi/Messiah/Savior. Of course, this Mahdi is not the Lord Jesus Christ. In the Revelation, it is written that when Israel and the world will ask for "Peace and security", it will happen. Haven't you noticed that "Islam" means Peace? I just hope and pray that the real followers of Christ won't be hypnotized or seduced by this man of evil. Click here to reply to this post
Evil is a word that should be avoided whenever possible. It is not defined in this article, and may be undefineable. It is a code word for certain people that means to the user "You should hate this because I hate it." and to the reader/listener "I will hate this because I am supposed to agree with this user." There is no thought involved at either end of the exchange. This is a powerful and urgent discussion that deserves adequate definition, meaning verbiage every reader will understand. As it stands, this article is raw and inflamatory vitriol without meaning or substantiation. It reads like a lawsuit, not an analysis of a situation or even an essay of advocacy. Click here to reply to this post
Re: CALLING EVIL GOOD AGAIN
Posted On: 10/04/07 11:42:17 AM
Age 62, WA
With all due respect George calling this article a "hate article" is inaccurate and labeling it as such causes you to join the long line of those who would like to see Christianity and yes, God Himself, not to mention free speech and freedom of religion removed from our daily lives here in America.
In reading the article I didn't see any "hate" there but a genuine desire to understand why the NCC would promote and praise a man who has vowed to wipe us all off the face of the earth. I've read President Ahmadinijad's letters to President Bush and to the American people and I think until you have read those words straight from the man's own mind and pen you cannot possibly understand what true hate is. Yes, it is wrong to call evil good but the NCC has done just that. So, are we to blindly agree with the NCC or are we to remain silent on the subject so that we are not accused of writing hate articles?
I think we Christians have done both for far too long and it's time we took a stand, not only for what we believe in, but more importantly, it's time we took a stand for Jesus. After all, He took the cross for us. Click here to reply to this post
Pray for Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's Conversion
Posted On: 10/04/07 11:08:05 AM
Age 21, MO
I am going to pray for a massive Saul to Paul type conversion of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. What a powerful testimony to our Great God. Saul was a massive persecutor of the church and wanted every single person that claimed Christ to be killed. Much like Mahmoud Ahmadinejad wants with everyone who doesn't claim Allah is God and Muhammad is his prophet. Yet God chose Paul as the primary instrument to bring the gospel to the gentiles. What if God did the same with Mahmoud Ahmadinejad towards Muslims. I am going to intercede and plead mercy to God for the soul of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. I ask all of you to join me in this. Make it a massive church wide plea to the Father. Don't relent until Mahmoud Ahmadinejad comes to the saving knowledge of Jesus Christ. Click here to reply to this post
Re: CALLING EVIL GOOD AGAIN
Posted On: 10/04/07 10:20:41 AM
Age 48, MI
Religous, appears to mean devoted to higher power and devoted 100% to whatever you believe that higher power wants. Totally a man made concept, in my opinion.
As a born again christian, I have from when I first received Jesus's sacrifice for my sins, refused to be religious. I believe Jesus was not religious and specifically condemned the religious order when he was here on earth. Religion just appears to me to be another attempt by man to permote his own self justification. Religion has always been big business, that is why so many religious people seem to not believe anything in the Bible but what parts agree with their woorld view and their drive to make a ransom off the poor and ignorant. Jesus from my understanding did not come to earth to die for our sins to make us religious. He came so we could have a personal relationship with our creator.
Religion leads to such things as worshiping man, man's interpretations, it exhaults man's version of events and belief over God's word, and leads to sincere belief in doctrines of demons and devils.
There will be a lot of sincere religious people in hell.
I believe we were told not to encourage anyone with a false doctrine, as then were would be partakers in their deception, which will turn and lead many from the simple trust of the Gospel.
It was a very clever trick of the Devil to create a religion such as Islam, that has at its very core belief the murder and hatred of anyone who does not believe their creed. Especially, the apple of God's eye, the Jewish people.
THere will never be peace between christians and Jewish people and Islam. Islam at its core is the belief in the devils attempt to blind people to the truth and destroy anyone who has received God's blessing.
As for protecting the Jewish people from murders, it all comes down to the question first asked of Cain to God-am I my brother's keeper? THe answer then, as now is yes. Unfortunately, in this we are destined to utterly fail, as all the world is predicted to turn its back again on God's chosen people. Woe to our country as we continue with religous people leading our country into pushing the Isreali people to divide the land that belongs to God and that he gave to the Jewish people as an inheratance forever.
If you believe who Jesus said he was and you believe his love message as set out in God's word, you cannot in any fashion support and encourage those who believe their demon god is telling them to destry the apple of God's eye. In fact we have a duty to vigourously oppose them at everyturn. Our leaders may proclaim Islam as a religion of peace, but it does not change the fact that Islam's main goal is to kill all Jews and Infidels and is directly opposed to God's opinion as set forth in his word. Whether or not they are religious is not the point. The point is where are the people being led to follow a doctrine of demons going to spend eternity? It is our commission to show them God's only way to have eternial life through his son, not say such other demon inspired things as there are many ways to heaven, there is not. Click here to reply to this post
Re: CALLING EVIL GOOD AGAIN
Posted On: 10/04/07 09:32:49 AM
Age 48, CA
The ultimate act of calling evil good are you neocons claiming we need to bomb them into our godless ways. Craig, Foley, Gingrich, and many other rightwing leaders are proof that the religious right are the same godless perverts as the godless left. They only pay lip service to Christian values. And now yoiu want to bomb them into our godless ways?
Before you scream about "Thoise evil Muslims"
Our own gangs shoot more of us
Our own drug dealers poison more of us
Our own aborion clinics kill more of our babies.
Our own sexual imorality infests more of us than any of the guns, chemical weapons, or biological weapons any of "Those evil Muslims' Might have. Our own godlessness / hypocrasy is a bigger threat to us than anybody from the outside. Click here to reply to this post
Re: CALLING EVIL GOOD AGAIN
Posted On: 10/04/07 09:11:55 AM
Age 59, SC
One of your best ever articles. Sorry if people don't like your "tone" when you don't make nice, but there is much about the sin and snares of this fallen world that isn't nice. Seductively evil men acting upon Satanic delusions and temptations to seek their own advancement are not nice. The Bible commands us to face up to deceit, bring it to light, and call Satan by name. Speaking the truth in love is still involves speaking the truth and the truth is often offensive to those who wish to live in a warm fuzzy world of half-truth. Jesus spoke the truth without concerns about being politically correct or offending the deluded, so you are following closely in His footsteps. As we said in the sixties. Right on, girl, tell it like it is--Isaiah did, and as a result we are warned, whether we care to listen, or not. Click here to reply to this post
Re: CALLING EVIL GOOD AGAIN
Posted On: 10/03/07 11:35:08 PM
Age 70, MO
Jan Markell Is right on track,these people don`t want to convert us,they want to destroy us.This man makes Hitler look like a boy scout.How could any group of people that call them selfs christans trust this man?I will ans.my own question.They aren`t really christans.They just have a form of religion,but they don`t know or follow God`s word.God have mercy on all of us if they have their way in this matter.If their spirit agreed with God`s Spirit,they would know better.
Yours in Christ,
Berry Cecil. Click here to reply to this post
Re: CALLING EVIL GOOD AGAIN
Posted On: 10/03/07 10:19:50 PM
Age 51, IA
The tone of the article, and the tone of the posted response, are both unnecessarily vitriolic. It is possible to have a reasoned discussion about geopolitics and the Christian viewpoint without name-calling. It is evil to call evil good, and a greater evil to equate religiousity and Christianity. These are valid points. It is true that it is insane to believe lies, but it is usually unprofitable to speak in those terms, as they are unnecessarily personally offensive. Let's return to the land of civilized discourse while sticking to our principles. Click here to reply to this post
Re: Re: CALLING EVIL GOOD AGAIN
Posted On: 10/04/07 09:19:29 AM
Age 47, MO
Sir:
I want to take issue with your quote: "It is true that it is insane to believe lies, but it is usually unprofitable to speak in those terms, as they are unnecessarily personally offensive."
Since sin is pride in ourselves and scriptures are personally offensive, I don't understand what you think a civil discourse will accomplish. I think this may come from a view of love that is to accept and tolerate everything, to offend no one, and to live a placid comotose self centered life.
Friend, faith requires risk and risk requires action. Therefore, real love is to be obedient to Christ's call to GO, SPEAK, PREACH in season and out.
To die to self is to not care how the truth is perceived but rather to be faithful to preach it- BOLDLY so that it does cut thru to marrow! John Click here to reply to this post
