How should we treat our non-Christian friends?
Should we advocate violence against anyone that offers us drugs or alcohol?
Should we show our zeal for God by punching our friends in the face because they are not believers?
Well, what if I preach that message to a crowd of thousands while accompanied by rock music and pyrotechnics. Does that make it ok?
12 comments:
Did Ron seriously advocate punching drug using friends in the face?!!??! Wow. I’m starting to seriously question his sanity. I mean, before I thought he was a little crazy, mostly misguided… but maybe he’s crossed the line into “needs professional help” crazy.
October 18, 2010 9:11 AM
mouse said…
I thought that you were talking about Westboro Baptist Church. Now that I think about it Teen Mania is of exactly the same ilk. Westboro Baptist Church is essentially where Battle Cry has been headed for a while now. Great point RA.
Mouse
October 18, 2010 10:49 AM
Anonymous said…
Before making any judgement on this I would like to see this in context and view the source material
October 18, 2010 12:49 PM
Maurice Moss said…
I don’t think I’ve ever interpreted anything Ron has said as advocating violence against non-believers.
Having said that, in answer to the question of how we should reat our non-Christian friends, I disagree with Teen Mania in that I believe that, as Christians, we should not expect non-Christians to act like Christians, or to follow a Christian code of conduct. We shouldn’t be surprised when a non-Christian bold-faced commits grievous sins. They are not bound by Christian law, and therefore we can’t — and shouldn’t — hold them to Christian law. That’s a big reason why I don’t think homosexual marriage should be illegal. But that’s another discussion for another time.
I’ve heard Dave argue that Christian law keeps people alive more, and therefore Christians should enact laws requiring adherence to Christian law so that more people will be alive for us to evangelize to. I don’t think he realizes that he is asking for theocracy.
October 18, 2010 1:08 PM
Candor said…
Get out! Ron said what? Is there video for this? I would love to see it.
October 18, 2010 2:13 PM
Mifune said…
I know you’re entitled to your opinions, Mouse, but…equating TM with Westboro Baptist is, IMO, the kind of hyperbole that is not helpful to anyone. They’re not Westboro Baptist. They’re not going to be Westboro Baptist. Westboro Baptist is Westboro Baptist. Teenmania is Teenmania.
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As retarded as this video is, I cannot believe that you truly think this is advocating violence against non-Christians. It’s a dumb video that is taking the story of Josiah and attempting to put some of it into a modern context. It’s very tongue in cheek. It’s main failure is that it doesn’t do a good job at communicating that story and unpacking the principles and concepts that are to be found in the story of Josiah. I don’t think the video really adds anything of value to any discussion, but I hardly think it’s worthy of being held up as a ringing endorsement of violence against non-Christians…
It’s indicative of some widely-held (and, IMO, deeply flawed) stances and opinions that occur throughout the greater western evangelical community, maybe. That would be a valid discussion – what’s wrong with the focus on throwing away secular music, associating cigarettes with immoral living, a focus on hyperbole when the plain truth will suffice, etc etc.
Are there problems with the content of this video? Yes. Does it advocate violence against non-Christians? Ehhhh… I’m sorry, but I just feel like posts like this dilute the legitimate complaints and concerns raised in other places here (i.e. ESOAL and, most recently, Raven’s Story).
Please don’t take this as an attack – it’s just that posts like this (1) don’t really help anything, and (2) will be used as ammunition to dismiss legitimate claims.
October 18, 2010 2:30 PM
Anonymous said…
Based on the comments it looks like some people are able to see the video, but all I’m getting is javascript errors.
If I can’t see it, I’m sure there are others that can’t either (like Candor?).
October 18, 2010 2:38 PM
Recovering Alumni said…
I haven’t posted the video yet – that will come tomorrow. I just wanted to get discussion going first.
October 18, 2010 2:50 PM
Anonymous said…
I can’t see it either but I saw it on the forum. I would disagree with Mifune though. I do think it TOTALLY advocates violence against non-believers. Obviously being 23 years old I’m going to look at that video and think, ‘wow. that’s dumb.’ but really, in the context of everything he did and said and preached (you can watch it on the forums if you can’t see it here.) was like, ‘get hyped, get physical and do something about this.) then the kid punches his friend in the face!
It’s definitely promoting that, that is ok.
October 18, 2010 2:50 PM
Recovering Alumni said…
You people are spilling the beans already, lol!
The question for this topic is – How should we treat non-Christians?
@Maurice – Great thoughts.
October 18, 2010 2:51 PM
Anonymous said…
Oh. just saw RA’s comment. I guess my mind is tainted. I’ve already seen the video. 🙂
No it’s obviously not ok to punch your non-believing friends in the face if they try to get you to smoke pot.
But I do believe T.M. promotes that. ‘Stay away from anything that makes you do bad things by being very passionate. Do be around anyone who disagrees with you.’ it’s like learning to rely on what your leadership tells you as opposed to being able to stand up for yourself no matter what situation you’re in. … I think.
October 18, 2010 2:55 PM
shouldcareless said…
I’m not a a huge fan of sermons, but I do love what Peter Heitt says. If you can handle the first 5 minutes of the sermon part, I think it’s a perfect description of how, as Christians, we wrongly blame ourselves and everyone else for being “blind”. You don’t punch someone because they are blind. You love them and help them cross to safety, or you just stay out of their way. But you never blame them for their blindness.
http://www.tsdowntown.com/profiles/blog/list?q=blame
October 18, 2010 3:43 PM