More Interesting Links . . .

This will do wonders for American foreign policy and Middle East peace (ugh).  John Hagee led several hundred evangelicals (actually, self-professed "Christian Zionists") through the streets of Jerusalem, waving flags and chanting, "we love you, Israel," "Israel is not alone" and "God bless Israel."  Who says your eschatology doesn't have practical implications?  Click here: US Evangelicals March Through Jerusalem

The latest fixture of western civilization that upsets Muslims--life insurance.   I guess with all the suicide bombers, its probably hard for some of them get a decent rate.  A whole life policy is probably out of the question.   Click here: Health Insurance illegal: Islamic body- Insurance news-Insurance-Personal Finance-The Economic Times 

Speaking of Muslim outrage, Islamic interest in the al-Madhi (the Islamic messiah) is continuing to ramp up.  Islamic apocalyptism mirrors, in many ways, the likes of evangelical prophecy pundits.   The al-Madhi is going to bring global peace through a universal caliphate.   Of course, John Hagee and his merry band of Christian Zionists marching through Jerusalem does nothing to inflame this.  Click here: Pajamas Media » Blog Archive » Will Iraq Stoke Flames of Islamic Messianism?

I'll bet this is not the answer to Tony Campolo's question from a couple of years back, "what would Jesus drive?"  Where does Marc find these things? Click here: You Supply the Caption #85 - purgatorio

Finally, this resource looks promising.  Seyoon Kim (the New Testament scholar) is writing a response to N. T. Wright's stuff on Paul and empire.  Didn't take long for Wright's theology of justification based upon "a whole life lived," to focus on ethics, and the perceived evils of US foreign policy.  (h.t. Lee Irons).  Click here: Amazon.com: Christ and Caesar: The Gospel and the Roman Empire in the Writings of Paul and Luke: Seyoon Kim: Books  

Comments

[Echo_ohcE]

Don't worry, I'm sure the Muslims care even less about what Hagee's doing than we do.

[RubeRad]

Muslims and life insurance: reminds me of one of my favorite moments from the Simpsons, when Flanders' house was destroyed, and he couldn't replace it because "home insurance is a form of gambling"!

[LLOYD]

I sell both life and health insurance. Neither life or health insurance is needed if you have enough money to cover these potential, respective losses. However, should a person not have sufficient funds, (most of us)insurance creates an immediate estate to cover these potential losses.

In the case of a practicing Muslim, his application for life insurance would be submitted to the insurance company's underwriting dept. If the underwriting dept. detects any terrorist activity in his or her history, the application for insurance would be declined.

If the Muslim gets approved for life insurance, and he decides to kill himself for his god "Allah", there is a stipulation in the policy called a "suicide clause", which states that the insurance proceeds to his or her beneficiary are uncontested by the insurance company after a specified amount of time - usually two years.

For certain, Muslims and other groups that practice this lifestyle cause all of our rates to increase.

[BRing]

Commenting on the Hagee story:

"It's all very nice," said David Yom-Tov, another shopkeeper, "until Jesus comes back again." - I love it. I laughed out loud when I read this

[Martin]

In regards to the article about Hagee:

The question that came to my mind when I read this article was "Can I have assurance of my salvation if I do not support Israel"? I thought salvation was by grace alone, through faith alone, in Christ alone, in the scriptures alone, all to the glory of God alone.

I support Israel in the sense that I think that any nation that is being terrorized and the people mistreated should be joined to fight against the wicked nation, but I do not believe that the current state of Israel is bringing glory to God because they are rejecting the One sent to deliver them! In other words may we support all nations that are being oppressed and pray that through showing our desire and actions for justice, love, and mercy, the people would come to trust in the Prophet, the only High Priest, and King of Kings; Jesus Christ.

[Ivan]

Dr.Hagee, I need your help; I just don't get it.
Since you want me to be like Jesus, then why should I be unconditionally supporting Israel?
If you want me to support Israel as Christ did, then why did he declare such horrible woes on Israel for rejecting the Messiah?

When the disciples asked Jesus if he was now going to restore the kingdom to Israel, Jesus replied, Israel? We are goin' global men!

Thus did not Paul in wrapping up Galatians address those who were the true people of God as "the Israel of God?"

Isn't Paul's argument in Romans 4, that Abraham is the father of all of us who believe whether we have been circumcised or not?
And that therefore Abraham is now the father of many nations..."so shall your off-spring be".