On the Wild Side: Liars for Jesus

Yes, Pastor Mel is at it again, his disingenuous nature oozing like malignant treacle with his latest offering.

Probably the most famous bible verse that Christians like …  no, they  positively relish quoting is John 3:16 and even if you have not been brainwashed indoctrinated into the faith you are more than likely aware of this  verse, oh yes indeedy!

John 3:16 New International Version (NIV)

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

And it is quite telling that the delightfully delirious are usually only given this verse by their Self-Appointed and Duly Authorized Yahweh Representative and then, as Pastrami Mel demonstrates, will veer off on a tangent, quote other verses, often as not not even from the same gospel, guilt trip you into believing that Yahweh loved you so much that he let those nasty horrid Jews crucify his one and only kid. And of course you helped nail him to the cross. Guilt by association. There’s a story to tell the kids at bedtime! ( and I’ll bet some kids were told this ”truth”)

But the real point of this verse is the fact you almost never get quoted the rest of John 3 , and especially not the verses that follow 16.

Here’s some more so you can see Yahweh’s ”sacrifice” in context.

¹⁶ For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him. ¹⁸ Whoever believes in him is not condemned,but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son. ¹⁹ This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil. ²⁰ Everyone who does evil hates the light, and will not come into the light for fear that their deeds will be exposed. ²¹ But whoever lives by the truth comes into the light, so that it may be seen plainly that what they have done has been done in the sight of God.

I am not interested in the poetic, flowery garbage but it is very important to understand exactly what is being told here. Some of you not-really-ever-were-Christians can add your own take.

¹⁷ For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

Easy this part. The world is already condemned – by Yahweh of course and presumably because of  the actions of humans.

So, Yahweh had condemned the earth, humans, plants, cute bunnies, and thus were  fully deserving of punishment. As everything – according to the religious ( Christian)-minded –  is in the blood, then payment in blood was due. ”Oh, I know! I’ll arrange for them to murder my kid!. That seems the best way to solve all the problems.”

Of course one might reasonably ask, why didn’t Yahweh simply wave his hands, forgive us all and  then we could be on our merry way? Has not there been enough killing, murder, mayhem , genocide? And this is just from Yahweh’s loving hand!

Apparently not. The blood lust has not been quenched at all it seems. This is glaringly evident as we read further …

¹⁸ Whoever believes in him is not condemned,but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because they have not believed in the name of God’s one and only Son.

This is the crucial verse. The one that is usually mumbled, if it is referenced at all.

So if you don’t believe in Yahweh in his Jesus disguise – his son – then you are condemned already. And Hell bound.

And what does this belief entail? Well, in a nutshell, acknowledging that Jesus is Yahweh and thus you can only be saved ( enter heaven) by acknowledging you are a dirty rotten sinner, a useless human being that has no worth unless it is through the character Jesus of Nazareth/Yahweh. Basically, unconditional belief or  you’re screwed.

This point is emphasized and hammered(sic) home by the next verse.

¹⁹ This is the verdict: Light has come into the world, but people loved darkness instead of light because their deeds were evil.

There it is. The verdict. We are doomed. The Jesus character is this ”Light” and no matter what went before, what you did or who you are, unless you believe in this character you are done for, because what you did was evil and by extension so are you.

As you can see, the rest is more of the same  gag-awful diatribe.

It is also so blatantly antisemitic. And  it doesn’t take an Einstein to recognise verses like this were pounced upon as justification for the slaughters that were to follow.

And they did follow. Blood flowed …

And still does.

Yes, people like Pastor Mel and his ilk are just wonderful, don’t you think?

Makes my skin crawl.

 

Ark.