J Walking

J Walking

Iranians loving Christian TV

posted by David Kuo | 5:05pm Saturday September 22, 2007

Interesting story – a Christian satellite channel is apparently one of the more popular channels in Iran. This stood out:

…SAT-7 [has] deliberately chosen not to tackle political issues and focuses instead on the message of hope and peace.
“I think we attract viewers in these times, because they’re looking for an alternative message. They’re tired of all the conflict and the war, and they do see opportunities for learning more about God’s love, His forgiveness, reconciliation and peace,” she stated.

Here is the central truth of Jesus’ message – it is life. It doesn’t need to be dressed up (or down) with politics. It certainly doesn’t need partisanship’s baggage. When given a chance it speaks life to people – life, love, forgiveness, reconciliation, peace.



Previous Posts

Dancing... or drinking through life
I am not even sure that I know how to do a link anymore. I'm giving it a shot though so, three readers, please forgive me if I mess this up. So Rod Dreher's sister is battling cancer. It is nasty. Their faith is extraordinary. Here's his latest post (I think) There are 8 comments on it. As I scrolle

posted 3:05:22pm Mar. 02, 2010 | read full post »

Back...
I'm back here at JWalking after a bit of time because I just want someplace to record thoughts from time to time. I doubt that many of the thoughts will be political - there are plenty upon plenty of people offering their opinions on everything political and I doubt that I have much to add that will

posted 10:44:56pm Mar. 01, 2010 | read full post »

Learning to tell a story
For the last ten months or so I've been engaged in a completely different world - the world of screenwriting. It began as a writing project - probably the 21st Century version of a yen to write the great American novel - a shot at a screenplay. I knew that I knew nothing about the art but was inspir

posted 8:01:41pm Feb. 28, 2010 | read full post »

And just one more
I have, I think, just one more round of chemo left. When I go through my pill popping regimen tomorrow morning it will be the last time for this particular round of drugs. Twenty-three rounds, it seems, is enough. What comes next? We'll go back to what we did after the surgery. We'll watch and measu

posted 11:38:45pm Nov. 18, 2008 | read full post »

A Newfie for Obama
NPR asked me to do a short memo to the president-elect. I chose to do it on the dog he should choose... and why. Check it out.

posted 12:25:10am Nov. 15, 2008 | read full post »

Advertisement
Comments read comments(8)
post a comment
SkipChurch

posted September 23, 2007 at 8:12 am


Apropos of the message in David’s post, here is a bit from my favorite Christian tract, from the 17th century (which I may have posted before! if so, sorry!):
Ye are called to peace, therefore follow it; that peace is in Christ, not in Adam in the fall. All that pretend to fight for Christ are deceived; for his kingdom is not of this world, therefore his servants do not fight. Fighters are not of Christ’s kingdom, but are without Christ’s kingdom: for his kingdom stands in peace and righteousness, but fighters are in the lust: and all that would destroy men’s lives are not of Christ’s mind, who came to save men’s lives. Christ’s kingdom is not of this world; it is peaceable: and all that are in strife are not of his kingdom. All that pretend to fight for the gospel are deceived; for the gospel is the power of God, which was before the devil or fall of man was: and the gospel of peace was before fighting was. Therefore they that pretend fighting, and talk of fighting so, are ignorant of the gospel. All that talk of fighting for Sion are in darkness: Sion needs no such helpers.
~George Fox



report abuse
 

Thinker

posted September 23, 2007 at 7:56 pm


Great quote above!!
Looking at what Walter Wink calls – “the third way of Jesus” has been a way of abandoning the ‘fight or flight’ ways of living my faith. Everytime I run into a Christian who believes we must fight for the Gospel, I recall Wink. Amazing old guy and I recommend two of his books. “the Third Way” and “Embraced by the Powers”.



report abuse
 

Donny

posted September 24, 2007 at 8:42 am


But certainly we “Christians” are not to be victims for just any reason or no reason or all. Jesus of course spoke may times about the kinds of people we should avoid, but He also spoke about defending yourself from those you cannot.
In Luke (22) Jesus advises His disciples to arm themselves for defensive reasons:
35 Then Jesus asked them, “When I sent you out to preach the Good News and you did not have money, a traveler’s bag, or extra clothing, did you need anything?”
“No,” they replied.
36 “But now,” he said, “take your money and a traveler’s bag. And if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one! 37 For the time has come for this prophecy about me to be fulfilled: ‘He was counted among the rebels.’ Yes, everything written about me by the prophets will come true.”
38 “Look, Lord,” they replied, “we have two swords among us.”
“That’s enough,” he said.
\\\\\
There are people that will harm us just because they want to rob us. And there are even worse people that want to harm us by poisonous doctrine and cunning and clever lies. Especially those lies that look like they are coming from people that claim to be Christians. Jesus warned us of these kinds of people often.
A good way to see both political parties in America. But notice that the GOP allows for individual freedom to defend yourself from both physical attackers and spiritual attackers. The Democrats deny the (real) Christians both.



report abuse
 

Doug

posted September 24, 2007 at 9:36 am


Donny, but the point of the tract Skipchurch cited, and it makes good sense to me, is when you arm yourself you’re defending yourself, not Him, or you’re fighting for your own power rather than His kingdom. The creator doesn’t need to be defended from creatures unless your scripture is Jules Verne.
Skipchurch, what kind of socialist bidding?



report abuse
 

SkipChurch

posted September 24, 2007 at 12:20 pm


The really bad stuff…like feeding the hungry, caring for the sick, educating children, and trampling on Sacred Corporate Rights in the name of justice and equality.
You know, in our great country people are free to be selfish, cruel, heartless, bigoted militaristic jacka***s. I just wish they wouldn’t wrap themselves in the cloak of Jesus of Nazareth and piously claim to be the(real) Christians.
It’s distasteful, unattractive, and false.



report abuse
 

ds0490

posted September 24, 2007 at 1:10 pm


The Bible teaches that in the end times there will be those who come and teach a false doctrine. This false doctrine will seduce even the faithful away from the true message of the Gospel.
I believe a strong case can be made that the current iteration of politicially active evangelicalism is this false doctrine, and that the lust for power that these folks have given themselves over to may well be the great falling away described in II Thessalonians 2.



report abuse
 

Doug

posted September 24, 2007 at 1:11 pm


Oh, that kind.
I was afraid you were going to make me read Oprah’s book of the month.



report abuse
 

Jillian

posted September 24, 2007 at 3:23 pm


For Donny, the story of George Fox and William Penn’s sword, and Luke 22-
http://www.qhpress.org/quakerpages/qwhp/pennswor.htm
The origins and orginal statements of the Quaker peace testimony-
http://www.quakerinfo.com/quak_pce.shtml
John 18:10-11
Then Simon Peter having a sword drew it, and smote the high priest’s servant, and cut off his right ear. The servant’s name was Malchus.
Then said Jesus unto Peter, Put up thy sword into the sheath: the cup which my Father hath given me, shall I not drink it?
Isaiah 42:1-2
Behold my servant, whom I uphold; mine elect, in whom my soul delighteth; I have put my spirit upon him: he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles.
He shall not cry, nor lift up, nor cause his voice to be heard in the street.
It takes a long education in prayer and humility to arrive at the inner serenity and conviction of spiritual reality all these things speak of and witness to. Many who preach have none of these qualities.



report abuse
 

Post a Comment

By submitting these comments, I agree to the beliefnet.com terms of service, rules of conduct and privacy policy (the "agreements"). I understand and agree that any content I post is licensed to beliefnet.com and may be used by beliefnet.com in accordance with the agreements.

Share this story


About Beliefnet

Our mission is to help people like you find, and walk, a spiritual path that will bring comfort, hope, clarity, strength, and happiness. More about Beliefnet.

Help

Media Kit

Subscribe

Legal

Copyright © Beliefnet, Inc. and/or its licensors. All rights reserved. Use of this site is subject to Terms of Service and to our Privacy Policy. Constructed by Beliefnet.

Advertisement

Report as Inappropriate

You are reporting this content because it violates the Terms of Service.

All reported content is logged for investigation.