Evangelical Realism

We’ve been looking at the flaws and fallacies of Bible-based Christianity, and I want to continue with a slight variation of that theme by looking at the idea of a “Statement of Faith” as the defining doctrinal standard for a ministry or church. More traditional denominations often refer to such statements as their “creed,” though it has become fashionable among Protestants to avoid that term on the grounds that it sounds too much like some kind of Catholic extra-biblical dogma. Protestant statements of faith, however, are no less extra-biblical, and are essentially the same thing: a loyalty oath promising to defend what uninspired men think the true definition of Christianity ought to be.

Since we’re in the neighborhood anyway, let’s look at the Statement of Faith found at the Christian Apologetics Ministries web site. It’s a fairly typical conservative Protestant statement, with a few quirks, and it does a good job of demonstrating some of the many ways Christians put their faith in men, under the guise of putting their faith in God.

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Our old friend Anthony Horvath has figured out that if he does not link to this blog, it won’t generate a pingback that might tip me off that he’s talking about me again. That’s not too surprising, since he’s once again distorting the facts in order to contrive some kind of pretext for accusing me.

Now compare that with an exchange I had recently with an atheist who, because I granted him superhero status and the title “Hyperbole Boy” has concluded that there is no better example of a Christian being unloving, for, after all (and he cites passages), Jesus was so nice. This sort of disproportionate response to what I said is exactly why I gave him the name “Hyperbole Boy.”

This post makes it back on the front page of his blog, which might prove confusing for some of his readers, since there’s no obvious link from the front page to the post where he called me “Hyperbole Boy.” Nor is there any link to the article where I listed some appropriate Bible verses–not surprisingly, since in that post I never came anywhere near claiming that there was “no better example [than Mr. Horvath] of a Christian being unloving.” (Speaking of “Hyperbole Boy”!) I merely highlighted the contrast between the supernaturally-enabled loving and inspired response recommended by the New Testament, and the rather lame attempt at name-calling which was the sole substance of Mr. Horvath’s reply. Nor did I mention anything at all about Jesus being nice. Mr. Horvath just put that there to provide a segue into the argument that Jesus could be just as abusive at times, and even more so.

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I guess it’s no use trying to trying to “trick” Anthony Horvath into posting any actual apologetics on the main, front-page blog of the “Christian Apologetics Ministries.” He’d rather amuse himself by pretending that he succeeded in offending me with his–I guess you’d have to call it name-calling. Meanwhile, it seems I touched a nerve by my survey of what the Bible teaches on how Christians should respond to this kind of so-called “persecution.”

If this is what he’s got to stoop to to show a lack of charity on my part, why, I think in order to demonstrate charity you’d have to hold his hand and kiss it ever so gently and never raise your voice… not even a little. And butter his toast for him. Without even being asked!

The “aw, poor me” card again. That mean old professor is just so demanding. Quoting the Bible to Christians? How could anyone stoop so low?

It’s another stealth post, so you’ll have to click the link above to get to it (if you really want to).

Meanwhile, since I’m not afraid to tackle substantive issues on my blog, let me post a follow-up to my post on why Bible-based Christianity can’t work. It’s not just because Christians get offended whenever anybody stoops so low as to quote it to them.

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Gosh, it seems like it was just the other day that Anthony Horvath was telling us how much he was enjoying our discussion, and boasting about having me “on the ropes.” Now it appears that he’s changing his tune (again). In the new version, I’m not a participant on the losing end of a lively and enjoyable discussion, I’m supposed to be a stalker. And this post is so juicy, he’s put it in a special category so that it does not show up on his front page.

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