Author: Texas Gospel

A Kentucky man is suing to be able to have “IM GOD” on his license plate.

Published on by Texas Gospel1 Comment

JUSTICE

Ben Hart, an atheist, told WXIX he wants license plates that say “IM GOD.” He told the TV station he wants them as part of his effort to spread his political and philosophical message that faith is susceptible to individualized interpretation. The Freedom from Religion Foundation and later the American Civil Liberties Union of Kentucky responded on Hart’s behalf and argued that Kentucky had violated free speech.

The idea that license plates should be considered personal speech is not universal among atheist organizations, and in some cases changes depending on the message of the plate in question. In 2009, the group Americans United for Separation of Church and State fought to remove “I BELIEVE” as an option for license plates, according to The Telegraph. The same group in 2016 fought to help a driver in New Jersey in his legal battle to get license plates that say 8THEIST according to the group’s website.

It is doubtful Heart’s legal team will use his argument that faith is susceptible to individualized interpretation. Previous court decisions and opinions of the court disagree with Heart’s reasoning. The latest case was decided last week when a federal Judge in D.C. ruled against an effort to remove the rainbow flag from two congressional office buildings.  The plaintiffs in that case wanted the flags removed citing a personal belief that the flags were religious in nature.  It is more likely his attorneys will argue that license plates constitute free speech of individuals.

If Heart’s Kentucky case were to end up before the Supreme Court, it could open the door to Christians who have been denied Bible verses and other messages for use on license plates.

Pastor more concerned for teens than building after vandals make repeat visit to SC church

Published on by Texas GospelLeave a comment

2018-04-05 Church vandalism in North Carolina

Surveillance video caught images of two vandals who damaged the building of Lake Bowen Baptist Church in South Carolina on Thursday.  The video shows what appears to be two teens making marking the walls with lewd messages and damaging church property, according to a report from WSPA Television.

WYFF television reported the same church had vandalism on Monday from a pair believed to be the same two.  Knives were thrown into a wall on Monday.  Police are comparing fingerprints from the knives with fingerprints collected on Thursday to verify it is the same two vandals, according to WYFF television.

Pastor Brad Atkins says the vandals caught on video are not church members.  He told Fox Carolina his main concern is young boys engaging in this kind of criminal activity.

VIDEO: Stephen Colbert says a scripture shared by a person handing out Bibles transformed his life

Published on by Texas GospelLeave a comment

Late-night talk show host Stephen Colbert said in a recent television interview that a scripture completely changed his life while he was having what he referred to as a serious crisis of faith.

Colbert said Matthew 6:27 was shared with him by a person handing out Gideon Bibles in Chicago.

China pulls Bibles from online bookstores

Published on by Texas Gospel2 Comments

2018-04-04 No Bible Sales

China this week announced it is restricting the sale of Bibles from online bookstores as part of a policy it says will protect religious freedom.

A report published by the Australian Broadcasting Company says a paper released by the government, titled China’s Policies and Practices on Protecting Freedom of Religious Belief, says Chinese religious communities, “should adhere to the direction of localizing the religion, practice the core values of socialism, develop and expand the fine Chinese tradition and actively explore the religious thought which accords with China’s national circumstances.”

Bibles began disappearing from online bookstores as the statement was released.

William Nee, a China researcher at Amnesty International re-tweeted a government notice saying as of March 30, Bibles are banned from sale on Taoboa, Dangdang, the Chinese version of Amazon and others.

UCA News, a catholic publication, reports that the Chinese government white paper on religion is the first issued in over 21 years.  It says the ban of on-line sales has been in place, but is now being enforced.  Bibles can only be sold in churches licensed to sell them.

Facebook: Image of Jesus on the cross too shocking for advertisement

Published on by Texas GospelLeave a comment

2018-04-03 rejected ad

An advertisement campaign for The Franciscan University of Steubenville’s MA Theology and MA Catechetics programs has been rejected by Facebook.  The reason given by the social media site?  An image of Jesus on the cross is shocking, sensational and has excessive violent content.

The image at issue features the San Damiano Cross with a crucified Jesus.  Facebook sent the university a notice that says, “”Your image, video thumbnail or video can’t contain shocking, sensational, or excessively violent content.”

The university released the following statement on its website:

The San Damiano Cross.  Jesus in glory, reigning from his cruciform throne. This is what the monitors at Facebook consider excessively violent, sensational, and shocking.

And indeed, the Crucifixion of Christ was all of those things. It was the most sensational action in history: man executed his God.

It was shocking, yes: God deigned to take on flesh and was “obedient unto death, even death on a cross.” (Philippians 2:8)

And it was certainly excessively violent: a man scourged to within an inch of his life, nailed naked to a cross and left to die, all the hate of all the sin in the world poured out its wrath upon his humanity.

“but we preach Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews, an absurdity to Gentiles. But to those who are called, both Jew and Gentile, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.” (1 Corinthians 1:23-24)

As Father Mike Schmitz points out in today’s #ShareJesus message, it was not the nails that held Jesus to the cross: he was God, he could have descended from the Cross at any moment. No, it was love that kept him there. Love for you and for me, that we might not be eternally condemned for our sins but might have life eternal with him and his Father in heaven.

This is sensational, this is shocking. This is only possible because of the excessive violence that he endured for us.

“He was despised and rejected of men.” It was ever thus and will ever be, for those who do not see with the eyes of faith, and love with a love unquenchable.

Facebook later said a spam detection tool was responsible for the ads rejection.