Saturday, September 24, 2022

D.L. Gardner: Is Jesus' Name Offensive?

Jesus. There. I said it. Out loud. Did I offend anyone? 

Last week the Pew Research Center released a report subtitled, “If recent trends in religious switching continue, Christians could make up less than half of the U.S. population within a few decades.”


According to a Gallup report last December, “Fifty years ago, in 1971, 90% of U.S. adults identified with a Christian religion, 6% were non-Christian or another religion, and 4% did not have a religious preference.” Last week’s Pew report said, “Since the 1990s, large numbers of Americans have left Christianity to join the growing ranks of U.S. adults who describe their religious identity as atheist, agnostic or ‘nothing in particular.’”


Pew estimates only 64% of Americans identified as Christian in 2020, with 30% identifying as religiously unaffiliated which many pollsters call religious “nones.” All of these polls measure only how people identify themselves religiously, but rarely include any qualifiers such as beliefs about the Bible, God, or Jesus. 


Sunday morning Franklin Graham was asked for his take on these numbers. He noted the obvious that generations had failed to pass on their faith to younger generations, but also that American culture had shifted from talking about Jesus to talking about God. It’s still ok to talk about God, but not to talk about Jesus because talking about Jesus is offensive to many people. 


Remember when we were warned not to discuss politics or religion in polite company? Nowadays everybody is talking about politics, but anybody who talks about politics and Jesus is likely labeled a radical MAGA extremist along with a few other words like white supremacist, racist, and semi-fascist. 


Interestingly, the Washington Post, New York Times, and other woke news sources have carried op-eds recently explaining why Christians and Evangelicals in particular should not support Donald Trump. None of the authors claim to be an Evangelical, but they have plenty to explain why Evangelicals are violating their own faith by supporting Trump. 


Needless to say, there are a lot of flavors of Christianity, and the debates arguing what is Christian and what is not Christian will continue until Jesus returns and straightens us all out. After all, those who identify as Christians and those who don’t can all tell stories about good Christians and bad Christians. They just don’t want to talk about Jesus.


Speaking of Jesus’ return, op-ed writers have noted some Evangelicals supporting Trump have salted their reasoning with eschatological rhetoric about signs that Jesus is coming soon. By the way, the Bible says Jesus’ return will be preceded by the blowing of trumpets, and this coming weekend is the Jewish festival of Rosh Hashanah or the Feast of Trumpets. Just sayin’. 


Matthew 24 records an interesting conversation between Jesus and His disciples. (3) Jesus’ disciples asked, “Tell us, when will these things be, and what will be the sign of Your coming, and of the end of the age?” Jesus’ answer included: “you will be hated by all nations on account of My name;” “many false prophets will arise, and will mislead many;” and, “because lawlessness is increased, most people’s love will grow cold.”


It’s safe to say we will all see Jesus when He returns, even those who are offended by His name and his followers. Daniel L. Gardner is a syndicated columnist who lives in Starkville, MS. You may contact him at PJandMe2@gmail.com.

10 comments:

Krusatyr said...

It's always been tasteless to shoutingly extort Jesus name with a severe warning of apocalypse and eternal perdition in a redneck "Jay'zuss" accent, emphasis 1st syllable, whilst holding a brownbagged bottle, in an intersection, with bucket adjacent for contributions toward the next bottle.

It's far worse for leftists to abuse His name to bless their socialist dependency scams. Is it any wonder so many keep their sacred love of Jesus private?

Anonymous said...

Or could it be that the politicizing of religion has appalled more than a few people.
To some of us, the words and deeds of " religious leaders" are not consistent with the teachings of Jesus which we still embrace. We also still believe in The Ten Commandments and The Golden Rule.
"Bearing false witness" mean "lying" to us.
Nor do we believe that forgiveness of sins is instanteous but is related to acknowledgement, atonement, and going "forth to sin no more"....at least not the same one over and over again.
We also don't believe in being " puffed up".
Men have bastardized religion to use it for personal gain...pretty sure Jesus' only displays of anger was toward those who profited but lost their souls in doing so.

Anonymous said...

Is the crank from Starkpatch a pharisee? Or does he just worship them?

Discuss.

Anonymous said...

Define pharisee?

Anonymous said...

12:42 is a doofus and wouldn't know a Pharisee from an Essene if his life depended on it.

Friend of Jesus said...

Jesus would object to his name being used to support your agenda.

Anonymous said...

Moving to mississippi is an eye opener , People talk like they are JC's biggest friend and get to tell everyone else what to do ....
They love to pray on the street corner...
complete BS and has not helped this state one bit .
keep sky daddy happy and do what republicans say (not what they do )

Anonymous said...

Maybe you should try "sky daddy" as you call him. Here you are in Mississippi, a place you don't seem to like. You don't appear to be doing too great.

Anonymous said...

@8:22
Careful that your don’t cut yourself on that edge while tipping your fedora!

Edit: Thanks for the reddit gold, kind stranger!

Anonymous said...

@9:52 I like it here , i have a great job (that i got 2x the $ to move here )
they had Show me the $ before i would move.
see you can make mississippi's short comings pay off .
I thank Sky Daddy every day :)



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Trollfest '07 was such a success that Jackson Jambalaya will once again host Trollfest '09. Catch this great event which will leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Othor Cain and his band, The Black Power Structure headline the night while Sonjay Poontang returns for an encore performance. Former Frank Melton bodyguard Marcus Wright makes his premier appearance at Trollfest singing "I'm a Sweet Transvestite" from "The Rocky Horror Picture Show." Kamikaze will sing his new hit, “How I sold out to da Man.” Robbie Bell again performs: “Mamas, don't let your babies grow up to be Bells” and “Any friend of Ed Peters is a friend of mine”. After the show, Ms. Bell will autograph copies of her mug shot photos. In a salute to “Dancing with the Stars”, Ms. Bell and Hinds County District Attorney Robert Smith will dance the Wango Tango.

Wrestling returns, except this time it will be a Battle Royal with Othor Cain, Ben Allen, Kim Wade, Haley Fisackerly, Alan Lange, and “Big Cat” Donna Ladd all in the ring at the same time. The Battle Royal will be in a steel cage, no time limit, no referee, and the losers must leave town. Marshand Crisler will be the honorary referee (as it gives him a title without actually having to do anything).


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Donna Ladd of The Jackson Free Press will give several classes on learning how to write. Smearing, writing without factchecking, and reporting only one side of a story will be covered. A donation to pay their taxes will be accepted and she will be signing copies of their former federal tax liens. Ms. Ladd will give a dramatic reading of her two award-winning essays (They received The Jackson Free Press "Best Of" awards.) "Why everything is always about me" and "Why I cover murders better than anyone else in Jackson".

In the spirit of helping those who are less fortunate, Trollfest '09 adopts a cause for which a portion of the proceeds and donations will be donated: Keeping Frank Melton in his home. The “Keep Frank Melton From Being Homeless” booth will sell chances for five dollars to pin the tail on the jackass. John Reeves has graciously volunteered to be the jackass for this honorable excursion into saving Frank's ass. What's an ass between two friends after all? If Mr. Reeves is unable to um, perform, Speaker Billy McCoy has also volunteered as when the word “jackass” was mentioned he immediately ran as fast as he could to sign up.


In order to help clean up the legal profession, Adam Kilgore of the Mississippi Bar will be giving away free, round-trip plane tickets to the North Pole where they keep their bar complaint forms (which are NOT available online). If you don't want to go to the North Pole, you can enjoy Brant Brantley's (of the Mississippi Commission on Judicial Performance) free guided tours of the quicksand field over by High Street where all complaints against judges disappear. If for some reason you are unable to control yourself, never fear; Judge Houston Patton will operate his jail where no lawyers are needed or allowed as you just sit there for minutes... hours.... months...years until he decides he is tired of you sitting in his jail. Do not think Judge Patton is a bad judge however as he plans to serve free Mad Dog 20/20 to all inmates.

Trollfest '09 is a pet-friendly event as well. Feel free to bring your dog with you and do not worry if your pet gets hungry, as employees of the Jackson Zoo will be on hand to provide some of their animals as food when it gets to be feeding time for your little loved one.

Relax at the Fox News Tent. Since there are only three blonde reporters in Jackson (being blonde is a requirement for working at Fox News), Megan and Kathryn from WAPT and Wendy from WLBT will be on loan to Fox. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both and a torn-up Obama yard sign will entitle you to free drinks served by Megan, Wendy, and Kathryn. Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required. Just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '09 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.


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Jackson Jambalaya is the home of Trollfest '07. Catch this great event which promises to leave NE Jackson & Fondren in flames. Sonjay Poontang and his band headline the night with a special steel cage, no time limit "loser must leave town" bout between Alan Lange and "Big Cat"Donna Ladd following afterwards. Kamikaze will perform his new song F*** Bush, he's still a _____. Did I mention there was no referee? Dr. Heddy Matthias and Lori Gregory will face off in the undercard dueling with dangling participles and other um, devices. Robbie Bell will perform Her two latest songs: My Best Friends are in the Media and Mama's, Don't Let Your Babies Grow up to be George Bell. Sid Salter of The Clarion-Ledger will host "Pin the Tail on the Trial Lawyer", sponsored by State Farm.

There will be a hugging booth where in exchange for your young son, Frank Melton will give you a loooong hug. Trollfest will have a dunking booth where Muhammed the terrorist will curse you to Allah as you try to hit a target that will drop him into a vat of pig grease. However, in the true spirit of Separate But Equal, Don Imus and someone from NE Jackson will also sit in the dunking booth for an equal amount of time. Tom Head will give a reading for two hours on why he can't figure out who the hell he is. Cliff Cargill will give lessons with his .80 caliber desert eagle, using Frank Melton photos as targets. Tackleberry will be on hand for an autograph session. KIM Waaaaaade will be passing out free titles and deeds to crackhouses formerly owned by The Wood Street Players.

If you get tired come relax at the Fox News Tent. To gain admittance to the VIP section, bring either your Republican Party ID card or a Rebel Flag. Bringing both will entitle you to free drinks.Get your tickets now. Since this is an event for trolls, no ID is required, just bring the hate. Bring the family, Trollfest '07 is for EVERYONE!!!

This is definitely a Beaver production.

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