So... how long did it take after noticing that I had been named as the new editor of Next Wave to call me a heretic?
About 3, maybe 4 seconds.
Sheesh...
God bless you crazy, loony Slice fanatics. May God truly open your eyes to the truth:
"Since God chose you to be the holy people he loves, you must clothe yourselves with tenderhearted mercy, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience."
Actually, may God open my eyes to that truth as well...
(Personal note: Mom, whatever you do, do not click that link, and do not under any circumstances leave a comment!! Seriously! :)
Bob,
Okay, everyone raise your hand who thinks it's surprising that SOL labels Bob a heretic... :)
It fits their typical pattern; if they can't argue Scripturally with you, they just write venomous false accusations and block you from commenting. Nothing new under the sun, there!
Hey, but I LOL'd your use of SOL in the title. Okay, everyone raise your hand that gets what the "other definition" of the acronym S.O.L. is...
Posted by: robbymac | October 10, 2006 at 10:07 AM
I always find it amazing how hateful these people can be. Not to mention most of their comments made little or no sense.
Posted by: aaron | October 10, 2006 at 10:15 AM
Well, I still think you shouldn't give them free pub, but I realized something today. I used to be bothered by a lot of what SOL (and yes, robbymac, that is quite funny) says, but today they just gave me a hearty chuckle. (I haven't been over there in quite some time, but was intrigued by your post.) The funniest thing ever was Ken saying you have an ego the size of Emergent...that's too funny. Judge, jury and arbiter of all things orthodox says you have a huge ego..LOL.
Posted by: brian | October 10, 2006 at 10:17 AM
I'm sorry but I had to post this gem from the comments.
"Why is it that reading what these men write is like trying to find the one red jelly bean in a jar full of yellow ones while being forced to wear a light-tight mask over my eyes?"
Posted by: aaron | October 10, 2006 at 10:41 AM
Oh dear. This is not good. I too believe in penal subsitution. Am I on the same page as the our angry friends at Slice? Good Lord I hope not.
Congrats on being called a heretic by SOL! Your credibility just increased 10-fold.
Posted by: FTM | October 10, 2006 at 10:58 AM
Hey guys, just me careful not to fall into the same name-calling that was happening over there. Remember, we're all brothers and sisters in Christ here (as far as I can tell). No matter which of us is right, we are called to bless those who rail against us, not make fun of them.
BTW-Thanks bob for your response over there. I still don't get how they misread you, but thanks for bringing some clarity of your views.
Posted by: David M | October 10, 2006 at 04:20 PM
Here's what I posted on Slice. If I post to respond to anything again, I may just post the same thing. My comments are moderated, so I doubt this will even see the light of day over there.
QUOTE:
This posting and most of the comments thereafter are a perfect microcosm of this website. It is very difficult to argue with this kind of logic:
"I know what the scripture says and how to interpret portions that others disagree about or struggle with. God has told ME clearly what is right and wrong. The Holy Spirit has revealed to ME what is truth and heresy. Anyone who disagrees with ME (because God has told ME these things) is therefore in disagreement with God.
"No one has a more revealed, truthful perspective than ME, and if anyone disagrees with ME then they are obviously disagreeing with God. Knowledge of Truth is only obtained through methods I know about and agree with and if I disagree with your methods, it must be because God disagrees with them. God's logic is perfectly understandable to me; it has become my own logic.
"God spoke to certain historical men clearly and completely, but He does not speak to other men clearly or completely today, unless they are men whose perspectives agree with ME. I read the Bible literally except where God has revealed deeper meaning to ME.
"If you are a person with whom I generally disagree or if you are associated with another person or movement whom I have already deemed to be heretical, then I will examine your statements and tell you what you mean, even if my interpretation was not your intended meaning. If we disagree, I will not give you an opportunity to answer questions, but instead I will immediately begin proclaiming your heresy from the highest rooftops. I know what you mean better than even you know what you mean, because God has revealed this all to ME.
"If you and I disagree, I am obviously right because I know God better than you know God. I know God's nature, methods, and Spirit better than you know those things. God has given ME and those who agree with ME the ultimate discernment to pronounce Truth and denounce heresy. I will quote Scripture and tell everyone if God has shown me your interpretation of the same Scripture is incorrect.
"I will make generalizations about people and groups because God has revealed to ME their true natures. I will see the motives of people's hearts just as God sees those motives, and I will tell everyone what I see. Perhaps you do not even know your own secret motives or deceptions, but I can see them and I will reveal them to you because God has revealed them to ME.
"I will be the champion of the faith and preserve the traditions that God has shown ME to be correct.
"Do not disagree with anything I have said, because the Bible is MY final authority and if you argue with ME, you are disregarding the Bible's authority and are, therefore, a heretic.
"You are obviously not correct about any of the things upon which we disagree, but I AM."
[ASIDE: Is this not the ultimate pride? If I hold these inflexible views, do they not place me in violation of Commandment #1? Perhaps having no other God before God does not include the God of SELF, when I proclaim that my own understanding, logic, and truth are those of God himself?]
"If you post something on my website which disagrees with ME or anyone with whom I agree, I will delete it as God has labeled it a dissention among our bretheren."
I guess we'll see how long this stays posted.
Posted by: Seanno | October 10, 2006 at 05:21 PM
sorry. didn't realize it was so long. didn't mean to comment-jack your blog. :) love ya, man.
Posted by: Seanno | October 10, 2006 at 05:23 PM
first time here.
I've never been able to have a cogent discussion with the Slicers. Questions are never directly answered. There is no such thing as genuine dialogue there. But I think they are proud of that.
I liked your editorial. I'd hate to see you waste your time and energy on trying to rebut the cult of slice. But we all get caught up in in watching train wrecks. I admit I go there all too often.
Oh, if only they could see that most of what they damn is better than the hatred that brews in their hearts minute after minute as they salivate waiting for the next comment to come through.
But I suppose I'm not perfect either.
Posted by: steve d | October 10, 2006 at 07:24 PM
Seanno, your comment did make it through, which at least tells us that the moderator is open to discussion. Loved the satire, and I think it was a little too true. Cept now, I can't find Bob's response anywhere, and the discussion has been closed.
I started to rebut another topic, when I just felt a check to leave it alone. I think it was the McLaren in canada one. Just felt like, from what I've heard from him, he wouldn't waste his time defending his character on Slice, and I probably shouldn't either.
I think I'm just gonna leave that site alone, unless my parishoner who directed me there the first time brings up a specific article. And even at that, I think I'm gonna leave me voice out, unless I really do have a chance to influence them. I'll let God lead on that one.
Bob, thanks for trying. : ) On the plus side, it did make me curious about your zine now!
Posted by: David M | October 11, 2006 at 07:10 AM
Yes, I have concluded that the same demographic that is drawn to supermarket tabloids is also drawn to Slice of Hysteria. And for the same reason: self-righteous (out)rage & sensationalism sells.
And you get the same quality of journalistic integrity & ethics, too!
Posted by: robbymac | October 11, 2006 at 08:13 AM
I didn't even see this "comment" to me until just now. Aren't you proud of me? I read all of it, wondered who the heck they were talking about, prayed for them, and then posted a few mild comments on the forum, for my own sake, promising never to read that crap again.
So, I think I did very well. don't you agree?
Posted by: jane | October 11, 2006 at 08:22 AM
Yes! Thanks mom
:)
Posted by: bob | October 11, 2006 at 08:24 AM
Hey Bob. This is my first comment. I play drums with Paul Ramey, so I know of you by way of him and Justin. I didn't even know there was this kind of bitterness at the Emerging Church. It's kind of hard to believe. I went on some of the blogs and sites linked from this post, and it's insane.
I don't get it. It's pretty offensive, as I don't feel like I embody the characterizations they made about the Emerging Church. Last time I checked, I didn't think I believed that all roads lead to God. This type of heated response is all really new to me.
I just don't get it. How is such criticms helpful?
Posted by: Matt | October 11, 2006 at 09:34 AM
You know, the greatest part is that it's considered "Big News!"
Posted by: jason | October 11, 2006 at 11:46 AM
Hey matt- thaks for the comment- yeah... It's not helpful. It's just pharasaic rock throwing under the guise of "Contending for the faith".
Posted by: bob | October 11, 2006 at 04:12 PM
And now I see they're screaming "heretic" at Len Hjalmarsson. I live about a mile from Len's place, and our families hang out fairly regularly. "Heretic" just doesn't apply to Len, but that doesn't stop the fertile (and fertilized) imaginations of the paranoid & hysterical.
Posted by: robbymac | October 12, 2006 at 01:20 PM
I can't even read that crap. Every time I do it screws up my sense of proportion. I just deleted an entire comment (thankfully I hadn't hit "post") because I realized that it would fit right at home over there.
I pray that we who find ourselves in their line of fire (either directly or by implication) would find the grace to offer forgiveness and humility where it will likely never be returned. (And that's first and foremost a thought directed at myself.)
Posted by: ScottB | October 13, 2006 at 05:02 PM