Plan B Forum

I remember Jesus saying "feed the hungry" and "clothe the naked". "Give them each a complete set of scripture scrolls" doesn't appear in any of the translations I possess.

Christian Evangelist Raising Money to Give Bibles to Starving, Homeless Iraqi Refugees

June 17, 2015 by Hemant Mehta

As Daesh/ISIS has taken over parts of Iraq, they’ve displaced a lot of citizens along the way. One estimate says that more than 100,000 people have left the capital of Ramadi alone to avoid the terrorist takeover.

It’s a problem that really bothers Christian evangelist and Repent America director Michael Marcavage:

Perhaps you’ve wondered how you can help make a difference in Iraq for such a dark time as this. How can you care for the oppressed and hurting? Most importantly, how can you make an eternal difference in the lives of the Iraqi people?

Yes, Michael, how can we help?

Give us the answer!

Our project, Bibles for Iraq, will focus on bringing the Scriptures to as many refugees as possible — many of whom cannot read or write and have NEVER had access as much as they do now. In America, Bibles are easily accessible, but not so much in Iraq, and especially not when you live as a refugee. And as most refugees are illiterate, imagine the compounded difficulty in ever being able to receive the Scriptures.

The last thing people these people need is a Bible. They are struggling to survive. They need shelter. Replacing their religion with another kind of fiction won’t do anything to improve their situation.

(Unless Marcavage is giving them paper to make fire with, in which case I guess he’s doing them a favor… but that’s clearly not what he has in mind.)

But leave it to Marcavage to solve the real problem here: illiteracy.

… we have an opportunity to purchase special solar-powered audio Bible devices that can reach illiterate Iraqis by bringing the people the Scriptures at the touch of a button. These audio Bibles will be uploaded with both the Old and New Testaments, programmed for dual languages — Arabic and Kurdish — and will provide many Iraqis who may never otherwise hear the gospel the opportunity to receive the power of God unto salvation.

Oh good. I was worried for a while that the Bibles might be useless.

Amazingly, Marcavage has raised more than $15,000 toward his goal of $30,000… all for items that will help nobody.

There’s a group called Action Against Hunger that’s providing these refugees with food and water. In other words, things to help the refugees in this life instead of the next one. If you’re looking to make a donation, consider giving to them.

l-o-f-ing-l

not a word about the genocidal, slavers who behead people and burn them, because of their race or religion or sect or sexuality.

you ve got your priorities about as straight as your bunched up panties.

oh no, I said scooter s panties are in a bunch! I m a homophobe, but the guys who chuck gays off the rooftops need cultural sensitivity.

puh-leeze louise

I must be one of those odd people that just takes it as a given that beheading people is wrong, and thinks it goes without saying, without having to introduce the topic into every conversation.

But since it seems to be a matter of doubt for you, and apparently you need to be reminded, I'm happy to help:

wes, beheading people is wrong

There, now you can just imagine that whatever I've posted is prefaced with that statement. It will be like our private shorthand, just for the two of us.

If that's not enough to keep it straight in your head, I'll put it in my sig line, so you'll see it every post.

Happy now?

and I ll just take it as a given that you hate Christians too, so you don t have to keep repeating it.

K? k.

No one's asking you to read a word of what I write, sweetness.

But you're just like Pavlov's little doggie, you can't resist.

Ding, ding ding, here boy!

And I realize it's easier for what passes for your brain to believe that I must hate Christians, because then you can justify not having to think, so you go right ahead. Whatever makes you feel better, sweetness, it's my dream in life to make sure you have it.

big talk from the Hatefish.

while we re are on big talk....

I thought that it was hilarious how you called Liberty a sniveling coward in an earlier thread.....

....on the internet, safe in your cozy little quilt.

that being said, I disagree with almost everything liberty says...., but that s not important right now.

woof woof

If you don't believe that lib is capable of defending himself, that's between you and him.

But since you brought it up, lib accused me of lying, publicly, and then scurried back under his rock to spread his version of the story by PM, rather than dealing with it in public. That makes him a snivelling coward, and I'm happy that you chose to give me the chance to reiterate why I labelled him as such.

But you knew that, because you were the one he chose to PM to cry on your shoulder about it.

Now I'm sorry if you guys have since had a tiff and that bonding experience wasn't enough keep you bffs forever, but that's not my problem. You guys can work on your own relationship without me.

beheading people is WRONG!!!

Yes, you and I believe that, but who are we to judge?

You and I are opposed to beheading, but that's probably just a part of our cultural upbringing...

I'm also opposed to being a cannibal, but my rejection of cannibalism, is no doubt again, a part of my cultural prejudices...

Who is to say that being a cannibal is a bad thing?

If someone else chooses to chomp down on human flesh, I certainly have no right to suggest they should refrain from that...

Heavens to Betsy, that would be judgmental...

I don't really understand the point of this thread, other than hysterical Christian bashing on the one hand and . . . well, whatever masquerades as mentation on the other. Both are quite offensive.

Christians (or to keep Big RR happy), "some" Christians believe that Jesus commanded them to (a) spread the gospel and (b) obey all his teachings. OTOH, he defended a woman who was accused of caring too much for Jesus and not enough for the poor.

It is entirely consistent with Christ's teachings to provide the gospel to people in the form of "speaking" Bibles - and if people do that they are living their faith. I'd like them to help with donations for the poor displaced people too - and perhaps they are.

Now, I understand that the provision of Bibles is an utter waste of time in the opinion of a non-believer, especially sinners proud of their sin . But to Christians - sorry, "some" Christians - eternal salvation is more important than temporal (and temporary) relief; failure to address the gospel allows people to go to the wrong place. Both forms of charity should be practiced - we are to feed the hungry, care for the widows and orphans and visit the prisoner (hmmm, not too popular that one) - as well as spread the gospel.

So far, I have helped with neither. Perhaps Scooter has.

As to the other, garbage attracts flies

hee hee hee ,

at least that got you to stop calling me sweetness, honey. believe me, I wanted no part of Liberty s back channel (hee hee hee) communications, and made that clear in an open thread, as he said I was free to do. your little lover s spat had nothing to do with me,and frankly, what he said reeked of softcore Nazism to me, as does much of what he says.

and, again, frankly speaking, I don t believe that liberty is capable of defending himself against the likes of your hatefulness, and I don t believe that you would have the balls to say half of what you say to a person s face, but feel free to spew your hate from the safety of your keyboard.

you ask, nay demand, tolerance from people who don t believe as you do, yet deny it to those who you disagree with. you are the worst sort of hypocrite . you don t want tolerance, you want power. power to shove your views down the gullet of everyone and the power to punish those who refuse to swallow it. (hee hee hee)

you want to alienate those who you disagree with, just as gay folks were alienated. you want revenge. you are a hateful vindictive little man, and you and people like you, set back the cause of gay people everywhere. people who would other wise live and let live turn, against you because of your militant "i m here and I m queer" schtick.

here s another imaginary anecdote for you cooter.

when I lived in Plymouth Ma, my wife told me what a great beach there was in P-town. so, we loaded up my bright yellow 75 ford supercab and took the kids to P-town. now I was from the land of corn, crabs and chickens, I didn t know anything about P-town. we saw a lot of gay folks, which was no big deal, we do have rehoebeth beach here after all. and the flamboyant traffic cop was very entertaining. of course my wife did not tell me that it was gay pride week and that the parade was going on that day, so I hear the sounds of a parade, turn around and there is a 6'-4" inch tranny leading the parade right at us and the kids, dressed in a G-string , six-inch heels with 4 feet of feathers standing up on his/her hat. well, I was a bit taken aback, and my wife was highly amused.

if you want to win hearts and minds, don t be the 6'- 4" tranny....

To Scooter's point, don't you think it would be more "Christian" and would probably win the thanks and admiration of the people targeted for conversion by feeding them and attending to their basic needs first. If you do that, and do it well, I bet you'd have more converts than spending 30K on bibles for those starving people.

I don't think it would be "more" Christian, no. I think both should be done. In the case of these refugees, I have done neither.

Jesus didn't come to earth to provide feeding programs or heal the sick - he came to save the sinner to eternal life. He compassionately did those other things, but they were primarily enacted "proofs' that he is who he claims to be.

Therefore, Christians who believe the Bible should follow his example - give the good news and by their good works (the kind the unbelieving world recognizes) produce "proofs' that they too are what they claim to be. (rubato had a point).

One supposes that if these particular folks had raised $30K for Bibles and $30K for food, they'd be criticized for not spending $60K on food. I don't know - and nor does anyone else - whether the contributors have in fact donated generously to other charities and fund-raisers. I expect that people of various faiths and non-religious folks are all engaged in caring for these unfortunates.

Yes, good works, exactly. Feeding the hungry and starving is good works. Didn't Jesus do the same?

well there is one passage that meant and means a lot to me. I can t quote it exactly, but, to me, the exact words are of little importance, the idea is the main thing.

worry not about your food and clothing, the father will provide these for you. does he not provide these things for the wild beasts? why would he not give them to you, his beloved children?

I found this to be true. with months of no real job or income. just handiman crap, and getting stuff cheap at auctions and having yard sales, and holly s pay, we managed to never be hungry, we kept our rental house, somehow, and we were happier than we had ever been. the word of god and our faith sustained us.

now that we are settled in and down, we live ok, we have enough and I don t worry about being hungry or homeless, even tho one month without my disability check would be devastating, I have faith that the lord will provide. we don t get any other assistance other than my disability check, tho I m sure that we would qualify for stuff.

I was devastated and I loathed myself and my inability to be the provider that I was. the word of god saved me, gave me the strength to persevere and to accept my lot. I was humbled and lifted to great heights at the same time by the word of god. I was destroyed and the word of god forgave and re-built my life.

giving out bibles in a land where they cut off your head for such things , is no small act of faith and love.

that passage also reinforced my belief that we must save the earth and its wild things that the lord gave us, to sustain us.

Guinevere wrote:Yes, good works, exactly. Feeding the hungry and starving is good works. Didn't Jesus do the same?

I'd have thought the question unnecessary. Perhaps I didn't make this clear?

Jesus didn't come to earth to provide feeding programs or heal the sick - he came to save the sinner to eternal life. He compassionately did those other things, but they were primarily enacted "proofs' that he is who he claims to be.

...and regarding his example of compassion for the poor, downtrodden, hungry etc......

Therefore, Christians who believe the Bible should follow his example - give the good news and by their good works (the kind the unbelieving world recognizes) produce "proofs' that they too are what they claim to be

The unbelieving world sees food, clothing, shelter as the only good works that matter. Believers do not see them as the only ones. Sorry - some believers.

This sneering comment pretty much says it all in terms of where the author of this article is coming from:

Replacing their religion with another kind of fiction won’t do anything to improve their situation.

Meade's right; a Christian believer is going to see both a physical and a spiritual need here. (I certainly see that) But if you don't believe in the spiritual, (like the sneering, condescending fellow who wrote the article) you don't.

People who are living in misery and hunger will be as incapable of receiving the "good news" in the gospels as people who are deaf and blind. Those who have had their minimal physical needs satisfied just might--PERHAPS!--be receptive to the message (especially if it is delivered by the same people who have already given them food and comfort). Anyone who is too blinded by their own ideology to see this simple truth will make no converts, and will deserve none.

People who are living in misery and hunger will be as incapable of receiving the "good news" in the gospels as people who are deaf and blind.

There must be some glitch on this site that needs fixing...

The people on the other side of this issue keep posting like they see Meade or myself, (or somebody) saying that Bibles should be provided instead of food or shelter; for some reason those words aren't appearing on my screen...

But surely they must be there, because they keep doing it no matter how many times it is pointed out that this is not the case...