A case of tragic pizza
I have recently come across a group of folks on Twitter calling themselves the “Outlaw Preachers”. A rather interesting name, given the connotations of the word “outlaw”. But I’m coming to find out that the name fits.
For those who aren’t aware of this group, they are a collection of self-described preachers who are into taking a “new look” or have a “different take” on God, His Grand Plan, His Will, and His Messiah, and just about everything else about Christianity. As you might expect, they also seem to have a diminishing view of Sola Scriptura – the belief that God’s Revelation to Mankind is found in the Holy Bible alone and that it is our sole spiritual authority.
These “preachers” are the new stormtroopers on what has been rightly described by others in the actual Christian community as the “War on Evangelical Christianity”. They are aiding — and in some cases taking the lead — in the insidious attempt to morph traditional Christianity into Emergent Christianity – a faith that is to be nothing but collection of gray areas which allows one to fully explore their inner self and to see God in new and enlightening ways.
Because, you see, the Bible and traditional “Church” just isn’t doing it for these folks. Apparently, God taking the time to put His Words to parchment isn’t all that important in these modern times.
As you might expect, these new means of exploration rarely have a thing to do with the Christ of Holy Scripture, redemption, repentance of sins, Man’s fallen, craven nature, or the very real location known as Hell.
For the most part, the “outlaws” I have “twitted” with come across as arrogant, self-absorbed, instantly defensive, and in one particular case, terribly deficient in language comprehension. Below is a recent twitter conversation between myself and an individual calling themselves tragic_pizza:
My initial foray into the ecumenical wasteland – 2 Timothy 3:16-17 – Scripture is the Risen Christ’s revelation to ALL OF US. Read it, believe it, follow it. ALL OF IT #outlawpreachers
tragic_pizza’s reply – @j146 So you go to church on Saturday, do you? #outlawpreachers
@tragic_pizza No, I read the Bible and believe EVERY WORD GOD HAS SAID. I don’t just pick and choose Col 2:16 #outlawpreachers
t_p’s reply – @j146 If that’s true, you worship on Saturday, never eat pork or shellfish, never wear clothing of 2 different fabrics. I could go on…
@tragic_pizza Have U bothered to read the NT? We are free in Christ. #outlawpreachers not modern day prophets. God doesn’t change. Repent.
t_p’s reply – @j146 Oh! I see! Only ****some*** of the Bible is valid. Thanks for clearing that up for me.
@tragic_pizza Context. U seem to have issues w/ it. RU reading the replies? RU a Judaizer? Read Gal., Col. & Rom..1-liners prove nothing.
As you can clearly see, not much of these conversation really makes a lot of sense. But it actually serves tragic_pizza quite well. Notice how Mr/Mrs/Ms tragic_pizza never bothers to answer or address anything I’m twitting? He/she successfully avoids answering and instead is able to stay on the offense (the safe abode of the desperate or befuddled). It’s hard to answer questions when you spend all your time citing Moses!
Unfortunately, this is a pretty typical case. You could actually make a pretty solid argument that this person is not even reading the responses, and is, instead, just throwing out the tired old “Are you following the Laws of Moses” sideshow to deflect from the real truths.
For the record, Colossians 2:16 reads:
Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath [days]:
That’s a pretty good explanation to tragic_pizza’s rather baffling response to my noting of 2 Timothy 3:16-17. But it is very telling at the same time. Why would one’s response to Scripture clearly defending Sola Scriptura incite such a response?
All scripture [is] given by inspiration of God, and [is] profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, throughly furnished unto all good works. — 2 Timothy 3:16-17
Because tragic_pizza, like most of these “outlaw preachers”, have to decimate The Holy Bible as the only Word of God and diminish — if not outright destroy — its sole authority to further their own agendas, perceptions, and doctrines. They desire to scratch as many itching ears as possible, all under the guise of God’s Love and Grace.
Now, in the interest of fairness, I don’t know if tragic_pizza is calling him or herself a preacher or not. I can only hope and pray they are not. I’ve met many others over the years who are always looking for ways to justify that which God has called sin. Almost to a person, they use the “Laws of Moses” defense when questioned or challenged.
I’m convinced most of these so-called preachers are not preachers at all. They’re just the latest in a long line of people who have no use for the actual Words of God, and are instead, more concerned with their own words, and in turn, the god they have crafted after their own image.
God bless and keep you all.
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Christ is the one and only Savior of all Mankind. Repent and believe in Him and you shall be saved.
tragic_pizza Says:
That’s real cute. For the record, I probably believe the Scriptures as much if not more than you.
What I am pointing out, what I disagree with, is tiny-minded people like you who decide it’s Godly to belittle, denigrate, nitpick, and fight. You have ****one**** *****issue***** which bothers you, and it’s people who dare to think that God loves everyone, even people who don’t think or act or love like you have decided they must. Though I know this comment will not live long on this poorly-worded and self-righteous blog, I want you to know that it is childish and unChristlike to post attacks and then gloat about how you won’t engage in discussion. To quote you, “Repent.”
Posted on September 22nd, 2009 at 11:26 pm
John 14:6 Says:
Unfortunately, you are making an idol out of God’s Grace. God’s loving of each of us does not mean that God’s Justice or Judgement is eliminated. We are all under the penalties of our sins. Yes, God loves us, but that does not mean our sins are any less severe.
Read 1 Corinthians 6:9
Posted on September 22nd, 2009 at 11:43 pm
tragic_pizza Says:
I would accuse you of making an idol out of the “sin” of homosexuality, if not an idol of the Bible.
You do not know me. You do not know what kind of person I am. You do not, in fact, know what I believe. You ****assume*** you know me because I am associated with a Twitter hashtag. You ****assume**** much, and most likely incorrectly, but I am no longer particularly interested in disabusing you of your most dearly-held and loved misconceptions.
Posted on September 23rd, 2009 at 3:01 am
John 14:6 Says:
Homosexuality is a sin, my friend. Just like all the others (and many more) that the Apostle Paul lists in Cor 6:9 (among many other places). I am pointing out your glaring error in regards to the Holy Word of God. God had these words commissioned, remember that. Not me, not you, not anyone. That includes your be-all book of The Acts – which is where you are trying to draw your justification for looting and pillaging the Holy Scripture to fit into your own ideals and views of “what God really meant”.
The Creator of the Universe wanted these words put to parchment. So for you to come along 1,900 years later and have the hubris to think they have changed is, well, ridiculous. The ant seeks to tell the elephant where to walk or what to eat. Such arrogance. Such pride. Such blasphemy!
You can personally think whatever in this world you want. That is your right here on this planet as a human being. And I would defend that right. But one thing you can’t do is re-interpret, re-imagine, or re-create the Words of Holy God. They are His very revelation of Himself to all of us. You do not find God/Christ in any other collection of words. Period. We are not God, we know only what God has revealed to us, and it is all written down for us in Scripture and Scripture alone, i.e. Sola Scriptura.
If you do not stand by these words, or if you think these words are wrong, or if you perhaps believe as one of your own, Jay Bakker, that God told him that homosexuality is no longer a sin, then you are in error. You are wrong. And you are in rebellion to the very God you claim to serve as a “part-time preacher”.
I love people enough to tell them they are in their sins. We are ALL in our sins. It is not the Love of Christ to enable people and to tell them that “God said this or that was a sin, but now He’s changed His Mind” or “God spoke to me and said, ‘Forget this, I didn’t mean it’.” That is the very definition of deception. You Outlaw Preachers are so full of your own views and your own revelations about God. Notice the words that keeps appearing there? “Your own”, “you”. That’s the bottom line – it’s all about you and what you are doing.
And does Christ himself tells us to avoid the very appearance of evil? To watch who we associate ourselves with? If you claim this collection of modern day blasphemers as your companions, then you are just as guilty as they. And I rebuke you all. I am under no Christian obligation to support or respect any doctrine, belief, or theology when it contradicts Scripture. This is very serious, and I make no game of God nor His Words. God Himself has exalted His Words:
You tell me I make an idol of the Bible, I tell you the Bible is the very Word of God. Each stroke was by His Design. The Creator has exalted His Words, and as His Creation, it is only right that we do the same. All I care about is what Father God has said, what He has commanded, and what He has declared right and wrong. All you and your merry band of outlaws care about is how you can interpret what God has said so it fits into the way you want things to be. Or how you can massage the Scripture so they scratch as many ears as possible. You do not stand on the Words, you try to morph the Words.
You are a deceiver, you are all deceivers.
This will be the last of this chain. I will speak no more with you about this. When a person puts quotes around the word “sin” as you did, the point is crystal clear. I suggest from now on you put quotes around “God”, “Christ”, and “Bible”, because at the end of the day, that’s the way you feel about them, too.
God have mercy on your rebellious souls.
Posted on September 23rd, 2009 at 8:14 am