Black and white or colour-blind?

Must we be tolerant towards the intolerant?

A non-Christian gay friend of mine has asked me to sign a petition to ban F Graham from speaking in the UK, because of the latter's supposed hatred of LGBTQ folks. Needless to say, I declined because I do seek to live by the golden rule (Matthew 7:12)! By that kind of egological thinking (if thinking is the right word), one would have to ban, or, re-write the Bible (I’ll leave that to the spineless archbishop of Canterbury), or burn the Qur’an. Neither seems right to me, and, I trust, so say all of us!

Perhaps someone could prosecute ‘Eminem’, or help him develop a better grasp of the English language, as long as it is not from Shakespeare, with my apologies to Alastair Stewart, of course! Eminem’s lyrics ARE offensive, but I can choose not to listen to him! The same applies to so many other things in life, including people like Greta or Donald or Jeremy, not to mention my own name! 

Some people must surely be tired of hearing so much about history (why not herstory?); and ladybirds, what’s that all about?! MPs giving maiden speeches, how offensive is that?! Manchester! Who ever invented that name?! Tremendous trifles to be fought over! What could matter more? Where is my Newspeak dictionary?

I profoundly disagree with many friends, and often with myself, but that does not mean I hate others or myself! I certainly disagree with much that Franklin Graham stands for, but reading 'The cancellation of Franklin Graham’s tour events is a seminal moment for the UK' has sent shivers down my spine. The author has a point, and we all need to be alert and should not be afraid to stand up against bullies, ecclesiastical ones included! 

I have to remind myself again and again that it is indeed 2020 and not 1984! But by the sound of it, it looks more like January 1933, and we all know what happened to the voice of dissent! 

1933, 1948, or 2019?

This disturbing video on transgenderism has provoked numerous reactions. I had to remind myself that it is, indeed, 2019 and not 1933, or 1984, and that we do live in a democracy, if the politicians, who keep on lecturing to us on tolerance, can be trusted! I must, of course, immediately apologise to anyone who may choose to be offended, especially those with low blood pressure, but freedom of speech means freedom of speech. As I was born to talk (I think I got that from my mother!), I just cannot help it! I am, after all, a very human being, though normality may not come into it, but I have not consulted my Newspeak Dictionary! As yet I have not said anything significant - just saying, in case anyone wonders about me having misspoken! Indeed, for a change, I will let someone more intelligent have the penultimate word, enter D Robertson! Meanwhile, I am waiting for a response from the Scottish Education Secretary, who, as yet, has not replied! Not sure whether he will have the final say, though! So many voices are clamouring for attention! What's wrong with egological anythingism? Only bigots, like that young man, must keep their thoughts private!   

I'd better not translate Heine, or I might end up with a teacher trained by the thought police!

Amber is now off-colour!

So A Rudd got it in the neck again - this time not from me, but from D Abbott! But Amber Rudd apologises over 'coloured woman' comment! I hope she will also offer an apology to me, as she went on to say that "no one should suffer abuse because of their race or gender." Well, as far as I know there only is one human race which I was born into, but she may well live on a different planet altogether - if only! 

As to D Abbott, I am not allowed to say that someone is calling the kettle black - it might amount to a white lie! But D Abbott is allowed to say that "-'‘white people love playing divide and rule.’' And her past remarks about the Miliband brothers - "the clash of the Miliband" - are somewhat offensive: “If you’re 44 and your 40-year-old brother is running against you, it can’t be all sweetness and light. There’s always rivalry between siblings, let alone in a leadership race. They’re both quite grown-up, but as a mother, I think there’s something not quite right about it. We’re selecting from one of the narrowest [Jewish?!] genepools in history [brackets mine]. (Source click here)” D Abbott perhaps mis-spoke - again, as did H Clinton, so why not A Rudd?

I note that UK passport photographs must be "in colour on plain white photographic paper", which presumably means that black is not a colour! An application form for a job in Parliament asks for 'other skin colour'. 

I do have a vested interest in all this as I am a non-coloured person. Come to think of it, most politicians do raise my BP, thus changing my skin colour to amber red! Blame it on my choleric genes, or the dark side of my nature! On top of that, I am actually colour-blind - literally!

But now I think it's time for a black coffee - no, let's change that to coffee without milk! Now where is my copy of Chesterton's "Tremendous Trifles"? Perhaps there is no 1984 edition! May be, I could ask Gordon Ramsay for a copy! 

Playing the Wilde Card!

17 June 2018

Watching this clip has left me asking the question as to who might receive the accolade for being the most popular person among that small-minded coterie.

I had been stupidly wrong about Andrew Marr, who I thought was such a jolly good fellow! But it isn’t the first time that the BBC has mocked Christians, and I am sure there is more to come! I should have known better!

Childish naivety, of course, is better than old-age cynicism, if I may excuse myself for being trapped in the wrong body with apologies to Peter Pan! We all know that sarcasm is the lowest form of wit, but Marr just wants to be, well, plain Marr! Thankfully, his Feuerbachian god is not my God! 

Oscar Wilde is dead, and one would not wish to speak ill of the living who seem spiritually dead (not that I am tarring all hypocrites – a well-known Greek synonym for ‘actors’ - with the same brush), or those who are no longer with us in body. 

Comparing Wilde to a “gay Christ” (so A Marr, though hardly original!) or viewing him as “better than Christ” (so Rupert Everett) is sheer fantasy (Christ was not a demi-god and the New Testament portrays Him as sinless), and most certainly a touch ridiculous, to put it mildly! At least Wilde was not linked to Muhammad, or it might have … okay, I’ll stop right here! And never mind the Beatles – who certainly were more popular than, well, Oscar, or Andrew Marr, or Everett rolled together into one! Not sure where that leaves this humble writer!

Oscar Wilde was wild by nature, but I do not for a moment think that he would have elevated himself above the Saviour of the world, judging by his (however misguided) admiration as vividly depicted in his ‘De Profundis.’ He was a fallen creature, and he fell mightily – very sadly!   

I care little for all the pretentiously sophisticated mockery one sees on the BBC these days. They tell me that little things amuse little minds. All the scorning has helped in strengthening my faith in the most hated man that has ever lived. And we are not talking about uncle Oscar now! We are talking about the importance of being earnest!

Dietrich Bonhoeffer put it well, if I may be allowed to quote him out of context: “Those of us who have learned to discern the power and nature of the world and of our own particular evil in the cross of Jesus Christ and who, in that same cross, deeply trust in the unending love of God for this world will surely not be so very surprised and shocked by certain expressions of this worldliness.”

The whole sorry saga has left me neither shocked nor surprised, but rather somewhat bored! Now why did I have to watch that clip in the first place?! Well, my BP is up again! I am alive! At least it’s out of my system! I am sure that Oscar would have liked some straight talking!

My vision of Christ has not been marred (pardon the pun, Mr. Marr), and I have not gone wild.

Perhaps it’s time to read and study the Gospel accounts again, just as Oscar Wilde did in his Oxford days! All of us may be in for a nasty shock or a pleasant surprise! Anyone who wishes to be compared to Jesus needs their head sorted and remember that he is ‘wholly other’, ‘the man for others.’ He is no Oscar Wilde, but superior in every respect! Dangerously so!     

Money, money, is not funny in a rich man's world. Aha! (from Abba - papa)

"Pope Francis has said that the true meaning of Christmas is being drowned out by materialism" (BBC, 2016). Now what is all that glittering stuff in the background, part of the richest institution on earth?
It reminds me of the following account: Dominic continued to preach and to debate where he could, and in 1215 he founded an order of preachers, who were to live in poverty, and devote themselves to studying philosophy and theology and to combatting false doctrine by logical argument rather than by the use of force. He was convinced that a major obstacle to the conversion of heretics was the material wealth of some of the clergy, which made plausible the accusation that they were concerned for their purses and not for the glory of God, and made workers indisposed to hear them. He therefore determined that the brothers of his order should live lives of poverty and simplicity, being no better off materially than those they sought to convert. When he was in Rome, seeking authorization for his order from the Pope, the Pope gave him a tour of the treasures of the Vatican, and remarked complacently (referring to Acts 3:6), "Peter can no longer say, 'Silver and gold have I none.'" Dominic turned and looked straight at the Pope, and said, "No, and neither can he say, 'Rise and walk.'" 

And how did the papacy accrue so much wealth in the first place in its shameful history?!

Lucas Cranach

May be it's time to read what happened all those years ago, in Mark's Gospel: And they came to Jerusalem. And he entered the temple and began to drive out those who sold and those who bought in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold pigeons. And he would not allow anyone to carry anything through the temple. And he was teaching them and saying to them, “Is it not written, ‘My house shall be called a house of prayer for all the nations’? But you have made it a den of robbers.” And the chief priests and the scribes heard it and were seeking a way to destroy him, for they feared him, because gall the crowd was astonished at his teaching. (ESV).
I don't suppose Jesus is all that popular in the Vatican! 
But let Jesus have the last word: " “You lack one thing: go, sell all that you have and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven; and come, follow me.”", Mark 10 in loc. (ESV)

Who is my neighbour?

Forgetting about Brexit for a moment, my emotions have been stirred on reading this account about a young man who was assaulted for being openly homosexual. The attack was despicable, illustrating that weaklings usually hunt in packs. By way of contrast, Brian’s response was commendable and courageous. 

I wish that Bible-believing Christians could muster some courage to stand up for what the Bible teaches about human sexuality, and loving one’s neighbour, and social justice, and human dignity! 

Being a Bible-believing Christian these days, will, of course, attract greater opposition than Blair Wilson could ever imagine. I could easily prove this by stating my view on LGBT issues!

Martin Niemoeller speaks with an authentic voice. I would not want it to be said of me that I did not speak out about Blair Wilson as if piety was more important than solidarity!