Who said this, Jesus or Obama?

A majority of US adults wrongly believe that a Bible verse on caring for the poor and the oppressed was first coined by celebrities, politicians or other prominent figures including President Barack Obama, Oprah Winfrey, Bono and Angelina Jolie.

Only 13 per cent of Americans surveyed for the American Bible Society were able to correctly credit the Bible as the source of Proverbs 31:8-9, the Contemporary English Version of which states: “You must defend those who are helpless and have no hope. Be fair and give justice to the poor and homeless.”

Fifty-four per cent, meanwhile, credited the passage to other sources, with President Obama cited as the most likely author by Americans (16 per cent). Behind Obama, the Dalai Lama was cited as the most likely author by survey participants (nine per cent), followed by Martin Luther King Jr (eight per cent), Oprah Winfrey (four per cent), and U2 frontman Bono (three per cent).

Other findings of the Harris Interactive survey included the percentage of adults claiming to be familiar with the Bible (80 per cent) and the percentage adults who think the Bible offers the most teachings on heaven, hell, adultery, pride or jealousy (46 per cent).

The survey also found that one in four men (23 per cent) do not think it is their responsibility to help the poor though there are more teachings on poverty and justice than on heaven, hell, adultery, pride or jealousy.

-adapted from Joshua A Goldberg, Christian Post

Reimbursement for Prayers

I don't know what you believe about the healing attributes of prayer.

I don't know what you think about compensating professional ministers.

I don't know where you side with the current debate over healthcare reform.

But I do hope, dear reader, that you agree with me that the Christian Scientists have crossed a line. They are are pushing a proposal that would help patients pay their ministers for prayers of healing by having insurers reimburse the $20 to $40 cost.

Yep, that is right. They pray for you and then bill your insurance (or the Government, if the public option goes through) and get a check at the end of the month.

Church as business. Once again, Jesus weeps.

Thanks to faithful reader, Rocky, who pointed out this Washington Post article.

Can Christians say the F Word?

A tattooed blogger from Portland, Oregon named Pam had the audacity to suggest in her blog that sometimes Christians may need to need emote a curse word in order to really get to the core of their cause.

Authenticity has become a well-worn word. And also transparency, realness, honesty, and the almighty F bomb...F*ck. Yes. Just about every angsty, disaffected Christ follower I meet ends up reaching deep down into their vocabulary bag as they search for the right words to describe their divorce from traditional church. The F word, apparently, is just the right word to say outloud with emotive force what has been pent up and brewing for years, and even decades, for some folks.

The F word has unwittingly become the rebel yell for those men and women who find themselves at odds with church culture. Outlaws and sailors need to make room for disillusioned Jesus Freaks to grab an F bomb and hurl it at the stained-glass. windows

Are you serious, Pam? Do you really think that a writer who was truly full of the Holy Spirit would be so angry at religiosity that they would hurl an offensive comment to someone else? It's not like the Apostle Paul ever got so angry at the legalists that he told them to go cut off their balls. Oh wait...

Well it's not like Jesus ever got so mad that in the temple that he ever through a tantrum, yelling at people and throwing their belongings around. Oh wait...

Crap. Maybe we sometimes forget what actually makes Jesus upset.

Where Jesus would live if not for Heaven

The Squirrel just found him a new neighborhood full of nuts!

Wii Pray - Play Now To Earn Grace Points

Now I know what to get my Catholic friends for Christmas.



Click here to go to the Mass We Pray website.

No Application, No Attendance at Mel Gibson's Church

Mel Gibson has a church about as weird as Tom Cruise. In order to attend you must fill out an application so that your name can appear on the invitation and security list. Most churches try to get as many people into their sanctuary as they can. But apparently Holy Family Chapel delights in keeping any unholy riffraff out.

This JoS vote will go to "hype" as we think Mel is thinking just a bit too high of himself in this matter. Just because you directed Jesus in a film doesn't mean you get to call the shots as to who is in the Kingdom.

Only one word for you, Mel, "FREEDOM!"

[link to the application]

Best quotes of the week from Carrie Prejean

From a conversation with Christianity Today. The Squirrel's comments follow each quote.

• “I have hairdressers who are gay. I live in California.”
  
  Aren't you just the tolerant one?
  
  
• “I know I've impacted other people, especially my generation. I think my generation is apathetic.”
  
  And most of your generation thinks you’re pathetic.
  
  
• “I don't see anywhere in the Bible where it says you shouldn't get breast implants.”
  
  The Bible apparently doesn’t say anything about sex tapes or sexting either.
  
  
• “If people want to judge me and say that I'm not a good person because of something I did when I was young, that's their problem.”
  
  [Crickets chirping]

• "We as Christians need to stick together and realize that the Enemy is powerful, and that there are so many people out there who will try and destroy good people. It's a crazy world, that's all I can say."
  
  Crazy is as crazy does.

• “Hopefully mothers can hear my story and check their daughters' cell phones and Facebook pages.”
  
  Would better policing have stopped your bad behavior, Carrie? There has got to be more to learn from your story than that.

Since Carrie, like the Saturday Night Live Church Lady, blames Satan (the enemy) for the opposition she has faced, we will give him the vote for this JoS entry.