LaVrai – The Truth

Thanks to a tweet from PhilCooke, I came across this awful classified ad apparently from the folks who manage the Holy Land Experience in Orlando, Fla. As we read in the ad, found on Craigslist.org, the folks at the Holy Land are “DESPERATELY seeking 3 actors to play Jesus NOW.” The ad then goes on to list the requirement for physically portraying our LORD and SAVIOR: “It would be good to have the general look of Jesus – beard – grow one or wear one, long hair or get extensions, taller – to create the look once hired.”

This Holy Land Experience ad brings up an issue that has always bothered me — how does anyone know what Jesus the Christ looks like? Has someone gone to Heaven and taken HIS photo or done a sketch? I’m really curious. Is there a description of HIS so-called beard, long hair and height in the Holy Bible that I cannot see? Who came up with this idea that Jesus Christ was some tall, strapping fellow with fair skin, beautiful long hair and a beard? The book of Isaiah actually makes the LORD sound like a pretty plain-looking man (source).

I assume the Jewish men of those times may have worn beards (as some sects of Judaism call for today) — but other than that, how can anyone dare apply such physical traits to Messiah Jesus as this Holy Land ad does when HIS biographers gave no physical description (as found in the Gospels)?

Here we have a popular icon that has become an idol in the mainstream. People actually fight and destroy relationships over what Jesus “looks” like — the stereotypical blond-hair, blue-eyed white male. I have a pretty good idea where this imagery comes from… why are folks still clinging to it?

Would the Holy Land Experience hire a black, Asian or a Middle Eastern man to portray Jesus Christ to the masses? I don’t necessarily agree with the Holy Land (and I have never visited), but was no one conflicted when they sat down and decided what Jesus the Christ should look like?

Here’s a previous related article on what Jesus actually looks like – ‘Do You Look Like Jesus?’

Pope Benedict XVI recently wrapped up his visit to the Holy Land, reports the Catholic News Agency. He commented on his trip, in which he rubbed shoulders with Muslims, those of the Jewish faith, Christians and Mary worshipers, in an address at St. Peter’s Basilica. He thanked GOD for Jerusalem and called on folks of different faiths to try and live peaceably… we don’t all have to believe the exact same things to respect one’s neighbor. But then. Read the rest of this entry »

I hope the title of this post expresses the foolishness inherent with such non-Biblical claims as the following.

(Source: ebiblefellowship)

Matthew 24:36 “But of that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, but My Father only.

37 But as the days of Noah were, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be. 38 For as in the days before the flood, they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noah entered the ark, 39 and did not know until the flood came and took them all away, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be.

40 Then two men will be in the field: one will be taken and the other left. 41 Two women will be grinding at the mill: one will be taken and the other left. 42 Watch therefore, for you do not know what hour your Lord is coming. 43 But know this, that if the master of the house had known what hour the thief would come, he would have watched and not allowed his house to be broken into. 44 Therefore you also be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.

Anyone teaching doctrine that contradicts the Word of the LIVING GOD is either a liar or deceived.

For reference, here’s the original Greek term used for “hour,” as mentioned four times by our LORD and SAVIOR Jesus Christ:

Strong’s Number: 5610

Original Word: w&ra

Word Origin: apparently a primary word

Transliterated Word: Hora

Phonetic Spelling: ho’-rah

Parts of Speech: Noun Feminine

Definition:

1. a certain definite time or season fixed by natural law and returning with the revolving year
1. of the seasons of the year, spring, summer, autumn, winter
2. the daytime (bounded by the rising and setting of the sun), a day
3. a twelfth part of the day-time, an hour, (the twelve hours of the day are reckoned from the rising to the setting of the sun)
4. any definite time, point of time, moment

The prosperity “gospel” teaches that God wants to bless HIS people in every way. There’s nothing very wrong with that, for it is quite true (it is HIS desire to give us the Kingdom, Luke 12:29-34). The problem is when one type of blessing gets superimposed over another and essentially takes precedent in a believer’s life — and among the prosperity pimps, money’s the bottom line. And sadly, money is their god and they teach others (usually desperate, just-getting-by people) to worship money as well. If you call yourself a preacher and claim you’ve got the degrees to back it up… then you clearly know what you do and the price you have to pay (Matthew 23:14). You may have once truly known the Word but the deceitfulness of riches has choked the Word out of your heart.

Does GOD want you to be poor? …Perhaps. Jesus Christ said the poor will be with us always, and GOD the FATHER instructed the Hebrews (and us) to never close our hand to the poor. Does GOD want you to be rich? Yes, this wealth, however, is not measured in dollars, cars and homes. Jesus Christ said not to chase mammon, that is, worldly possessions and status, but to pray and trust the FATHER to provide our daily bread (Matthew 6:25-34).

Here is an 11-minute clip from ESPN’s recent program on athletes (who make too much a lot of money) and evangelists who preach prosperity like their lives depend on it. In Outside the Lines’ “Televangelists And Athletes” reporter John Barr takes a look at Creflo Dollar, T.D. Jakes, Joyce Meyer and Randy White (who used to be number one in bringing the athletes into church, according to Barr, and says he couldn’t have purchased his current church without sizable donations tithes and offerings from athletes). Read the rest of this entry »

UPDATE (04/22/09): Full video with commentary here.

I can’t help but be skeptical, especially after reading this piece on ESPN’s Web site and looking at the preview video clips they have posted. The sports network will be airing a package Sunday morning about the prosperity doctrine and athletes, and it appears they talk with Randy and Paula White and Creflo Dollar, among others. Here’s an excerpt of their story and a video clip of what viewers can expect. Please watch the video clip. Read the rest of this entry »