12.15.2008

Think for Yourself Already!

For the umpteen-millionth time, the world is going to end. So says Leeland Freeborn, known as the Parowan Prophet in Utah.

Freeborn predicts that major riots will prevent Obama from taking office. The old Soviet guard will take advantage of the disturbances and launch nuclear missiles, killing over 100 million people in the US.

The nuclear destruction will be the "Lord's wrath."

Here, my dear readers, is where I blow a ballistic gasket.

I'm not talking about the prophecy. I'm talking about the "Lord's wrath" statement.

Why? Because this is the sort of irrational, illogical conclusion that results from swallowing whole someone else's interpretation of God. This is the same dogmatic, literal, dead-letter interpretation of religion that resulted in planes crashing into the World Trade Center and Pentagon!

You can fill libraries with prophecies that have come true and many more that didn't. Prophesies are only warnings of would 'could' happen. You can take the gamble and ignore them and hope external factors won't fall into place, or you can proactively intervene. Even hearing a prophecy could be enough to divert the prediction. In the end, a prophecy is no different than any other forecast, outlook or projection. Would you call a weatherman a prophet?

My impatience, indignation and ire comes from a lifetime of witnessing people proclaiming "God's wrath," "a vengeful God" and even "a forgiving God" instead of placing the responsibility where it belongs: with themselves.

Look within, confront your gigantic leaps of faith and find the answers to your questions, because you will have questions as soon as you start to think. No one can define God for you. You have to do it yourself. Do it!

7 comments:

  1. The mainstream media lumps and tries to portray all Christians into this category, and those who don't want to know any better - think for themselves - follow along like sheep.

    The God of wrath is in the Old Testament. When Jesus came, it changed everything.

    In the Old Testament, if a prophet gave a false prophecy, the Law says to stone him to death. Many like Freeborn don't teach this, but rather, pick and choose what favors him. He will live another day to give more false prophecies.

    ReplyDelete
  2. Wow, how did you do that, Paul? I just now hit the publish button!

    Yes, sheep. Bah.

    ReplyDelete
  3. Okay, some times I get to read a post that makes me just cry for the ignorance of the topic. Imagine for one second we all take your words to heart, and for own selves.... come to God.
    Why come out swinging, speaking for God? I fear these people will have a very shocking visitation at the end of their lives, I for one never want to be facing the Lord and have to defend myself against such utter disregard for his commandments......... LOVE EACH OTHER.
    thanks for a really great post.

    ReplyDelete
  4. Lisa, I don't think it's a thing of "coming to God." I think it's more like realizing that God is everything; unconditionally, irrefutably, infinitely everything.

    Thanks for stopping by!

    ReplyDelete
  5. That guy's a nut. You know how Andy would call Barney Fife a nut? Like that. That's how I'm referring to Freeborn.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi Pam! This is the first I've heard of him. Is he a kook?

    ReplyDelete
  7. Hello, You are right about placing the responsibilities where they belong. Many have ingored their part in everyday life. They have become lazy thinking I am not being paid enough to do this job. So, they do not do it the right way. Therefore when something happens Oh it is the wrath of God that caused this. God does forgive, but if you have commited a crime and there is human punishment to follow then you need to except the fact that it is your doing not GOD. Ruth

    ReplyDelete