UPDATED: It's All "Their" Fault...Until Malm, Thiel and Meredith are on the receiving end and then it is a "Test" from their god.

For many years now the American religious scene has been filled with one outrageous comment after another by men who claim to have an inside track with their god.  

Every time there is a hurricane, flood, tornado, earthquake or some other natural disaster the god-haunted men start running off at the mouth about how their god is punishing the country for the sins of all the gay people out there.  From James Dobson to Pat Robertson, Tony Perkins, to Bob Thiel, James Malm and Rod Meredith, the list goes on.

Robertson has claimed that the 1994 Northridge earthquake here in LA was the result of the gays.  

Hurricane Bonnie was the result of Disney World allowing "Gay Days" at the resort.  Leading up in the days ahead of the hurricane Robertson claimed it was heading directly to Florida because of Disney.  It bypassed Florida and hit Hampton Roads, the area that Pat Robertson is based. 

 Joni Jacobs claimed that the repeal of "don't ask, don't tell" was the root cause of the Japan earthquake and tsunami of 2011 that killed close to 16,000 people. Japan suffered and tens of thousands died because of President Obama.

Then there was Jerry Falwell who made this statement after the World Trade Center attacks in 2001.

 "I really believe that the pagans and the abortionists, and the feminists, and the gays and the lesbians who are actively trying to make that an alternative lifestyle, the ACLU, People for the American Way, all of them who have tried to secularized America. I point the finger in their face and say, 'you helped this happen.'"

Then there was Michael Margave who claimed Hurricane Katrina happened to New Orleans because of the gays.  Jumping on that band wagon was one of the biggest theological liars in the country, John Haggee.  He claimed that Katrina happened because of a gay pride parade in New Orleans the prior week.  

In 2012 Pam Olsen claimed that the US was being hit by horrendous tornadoes, earthquakes floods an fires because of marriage equality.

Susanne Atanus claimed that gays are causing autism and dementia in children and older adults.  

Rick Santorum blamed the 2008 economic collapse on the gays.

Then there are the Armstrongite "ministers" who claim they have a direct line with their god and can cast about all kinds of accusations and speculations.  Even though every single one of these men have been proven to be liars, there are still find a few out there that get turned on by their predictions.   

For decades Rod Meredith has been on an anti-gay rampage.  Something set him off early in life that leads him to continually run off at the mouth in every single letter, article and broadcast   Maybe part of that reason is because his idol, Herbert Armstrong, mentioned decades ago that he found Meredith to be rather effeminate at times.  Having to work over time to buff up his body he started boxing and has never let any of us ever forget he was a 'golden gloves" champ.  Over compensate much?  He is filled with so much hate that it is unbelievable at times and makes him look extremely foolish.

Then there is Bob Thiel and James Malm,  These two run off at the mouth anytime they can about the gays causing one disaster after another.  Their eyes glaze over at the thought of their god punishing gays in the lake of fire or thrown into a concentration camp somewhere the Midwest or Canada.

These "men" had better be careful as to what they wish for.  Case in point...

MOTHER NATURE HOMOSEXUALS, OF COURSE!

Tony Perkins who has been a voracious antigay spokesman, who has said that his God sends floods to punish people, just had his home flooded out in the Alabama.   Now that he is on the receiving end it is a "test."  When it is not happening to them it is a punishment from their god to the wicked.  But once they are part of the disaster, it is a test from God to make their faith stronger.

Saying that the flooding in Louisiana was of “Biblical proportions,” Perkins described to guest host Ken Klukowski how he and his family had to take a canoe to escape from their home. Perkins added that he, his wife and their five children will have to live in a camper for six months while their house is being rebuilt. The duo also discussed the idea that god brings trials and tribulations to the faithful to make their faith stronger. That is not an uncommon idea, and many Christians will point to the Biblical story of Job as evidence that sometimes god does rotten stuff to (allegedly) good people. But the notion, advanced by Perkins and others in the past, that natural disasters are punishment for evil-doers, never enters into the conversation.

Is that what Thiel will say when an earthquake devastates his home in Arroyo Grande, CA at some time in the future?  Is it punishment from his god or a test to see how faithful he is?   What about Rod Meredith?  What will he say when a hurricane or some other disaster causes havoc in Charlotte?  Is it a punishment from God at how they mistreat members or is it a test from their god to see how loyal and faithful they are?

This is why no one pays any attention to these delusional men any more.  Decades of outright lies, false prophecies and idiotic bible interpretaions being made against others while their own lives and churches are cesspools of depravity, make their comments invalid.  None of these clowns will ever have a forceful message or a message of warning to the world at large.  Even their god mocks them!

If I were these men I would learn to keep my mouth shut because their track record has already been 100% wrong.  Scapegoats are always needed in order for the self-righteous to feel superior.

UPDATE: Tony Perkins responds to claims:

BATON ROUGE, LA – Family Research Council President Tony Perkins released the following statement today responding to the fallacious internet reports regarding causes of natural disasters.

“Deceptive claims are being circulated on the internet that put words in my mouth about God’s role in natural disasters and what causes them.  Those claims are inaccurate.  What I have said, which I repeated yesterday in a sermon at Greenwell Springs Baptist Church, is that I don’t know what was behind this flood or any other natural disaster. However, as a follower of Jesus Christ, I believe the Bible which makes clear that God is sovereign over the elements of nature and can and does use them for His purposes.

“He also allows those same elements to be used as a means of testing our faith and devotion to Him. Is this a test of our faith or a chastisement from God?   I don’t have that answer.  Regardless of what’s behind natural disasters, our response should be the same – we are to be on our faces before God, giving thanks in everything, and placing ourselves in total dependence on Him. We know that in walking in obedience to Him, God will never leave nor forsake those who search for Him and walk with Him. As we cry out to God, we must also reach out to our fellow citizens who are hurting and need help.  We can do this with hope and confidence because God’s Word also tells us that ‘in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.’

“The flood has brought together this community as never before as we are learning to depend more on each other and on God. We are thankful for the volunteers and resources that are beginning to arrive from across the country which are so vital to the relief effort as we look toward rebuilding.  We are very grateful for Samaritan’s Purse which arrived at our church within 48 hours of my call for assistance to begin helping the members of this community.  Please join us in prayer that God would use the Church to minister to this community in a powerful way,” concluded Perkins.

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Bible Quiz

Proof Texting One's Way to Truth

I'm sure we all recall many a sermon and sermonette on just HOW the Bible is to be studied and understood.

Isaiah 28: 

9Whom shall he teach knowledge? and whom shall he make to understand doctrine? them that are weaned from the milk, and drawn from the breasts.

10For precept must be on precept, precept on precept; line on line, line on line; here a little, and there a little:

11For with stammering lips and another tongue will he speak to this people

As a result, sermons tended and still do tend towards marathon races through the Bible, hopping from  one similar scripture to another, weaving a tale of continuity leading to foregone conclusions.  It's how and why one can say you can prove anything you want with this method of Bible study and sermon presentation. 

 I often ended up with long lists of scriptures for notes, with no commentary on how or why they were all connected.  In fact, they mostly weren't really connected or if they were I had lost the why they were long ago.  It made throwing old "sermon notes" easy.  They made no sense twenty minutes after the sermon and I have to say I never went back a second time to read my notes.  In hindsight I took notes because I was supposed to.  I also marked Bible's margins up with correlating scriptures to go to to explain, clarify or prove the previous one was on the right path to truth.  It was more difficult for me to create "inspired margins" with my tiny marking pen during sermons because, growing up Presbyterian, marking a Bible was a bound for Hell offense.  It took me a few weeks but then soon had one of the best inspired margined up Bibles on campus.  

Full Circle in the Portland Library

I have figured out, however, how to study Mystery of the Ages

Let's take a look at what Isaiah 28 really means and it has NOTHING to do with how to study the Bible and the next time it comes up, you'll be armed for a nice rebuttal.

New International Version

Woe to the Leaders of Ephraim and Judah

1Woe to that wreath, the pride of Ephraim’s drunkards,

to the fading flower, his glorious beauty,

set on the head of a fertile valley—

to that city, the pride of those laid low by wine!

2See, the Lord has one who is powerful and strong.

Like a hailstorm and a destructive wind,

like a driving rain and a flooding downpour,

he will throw it forcefully to the ground.

3That wreath, the pride of Ephraim’s drunkards,

will be trampled underfoot.

4That fading flower, his glorious beauty,

set on the head of a fertile valley,

will be like figs ripe before harvest—

as soon as people see them and take them in hand,

they swallow them.

Translation:  YHVH is really angry with the Tribe of Ephraim

5In that day the Lord Almighty

will be a glorious crown,

a beautiful wreath

for the remnant of his people.

6He will be a spirit of justice

to the one who sits in judgment,

a source of strength

to those who turn back the battle at the gate.

Translation:  But not forever and it will all work out someday

7And these also stagger from wine

and reel from beer:

Priests and prophets stagger from beer

and are befuddled with wine;

they reel from beer,

they stagger when seeing visions,

they stumble when rendering decisions.

8All the tables are covered with vomit

and there is not a spot without filth.

Translation:  Your Priests are a bunch of beer guzzling, wine chugging dolts who can't think, see drunken visions, muck up decisions and puke all over the place too often.

9“Who is it he is trying to teach?

To whom is he explaining his message?

To children weaned from their milk,

to those just taken from the breast?

Translation:  Who are these guys trying to kid. Who do they think they are teaching...mere babies and children?

10For it is:

Do this, do that,

a rule for this, a rule for that^a ;

a little here, a little there.”

Translation: For these drunks say, do this, do that, follow this rule, follow that rule, a little bit of this, a little bit of that...blah blah blah blah blah....

11Very well then, with foreign lips and strange tongues

God will speak to this people,

12to whom he said,

“This is the resting place, let the weary rest”;

and, “This is the place of repose”—

but they would not listen.

13So then, the word of the Lord to them will become:

Do this, do that,

a rule for this, a rule for that;

a little here, a little there—

Translation:  Fine, that's the way you want it? It could have been nice and you could have rest, but if this is the way you want it. You want to talk strange and babble at the people?  Then I'll send some folks your way that will talk strange and babble to you.  I can play "blah blah blah blah blah" with you just as you play it with the people.

so that as they go they will fall backward;"

Translation:  So you'll fall flat on your asses and it will hurt as you are caught and taken away.

No magic formula on how to study the Bible here!  So next time you hear "for it is line upon line, precept upon precept, here a little, there a little" quoted  as the way to find the hidden mysteries and doctrines of the Bible, realize the minister is quoting beer sodden, wine loopy, table puking priests who can't make their own words make sense to the people and thus God will repay them unkindly in kind with his own version of "So you want blah blah blah blah blah...?  Well here it comes in the form of an equally strange speaking foreign  people  that are going to sweep you away.

Now...let's all take our hymnals and rise....