From: conditt@tsd.arlut.utexas.edu (Paul Conditt)
Subject: TANGENT: Re: "We Will Stand" stolen by Clinton
Organization: Applied Research Laboratories, University of Texas at Austin
Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1992 16:41:42 GMT

In article <nauman.721404012@hq> nauman@Pt.hq.af.mil (Stratton D Nauman) writes:
>malee@miavx2.ham.muohio.edu writes:
>
>>In article <1992Nov4.213122.28302@cbnews.cb.att.com>, ajw@cbnews.cb.att.com (andrew.j.whitman) writes:
>
>Misc. Bible and God mocking Deleted.  It didnt need to be repeated.
>

More stuff deleted.

>
>>> Andy Whitman
>>> AT&T Bell Laboratories, Columbus, Ohio
>>> att!cblpn!ajw  or
>>> ajw@cblpn.att.com
>
>Is it Just me, Or did anyone else feel that this is the most offensive
>thing you'd seen posted on R.M.C. in a long time?  The last thing
>that I remember that upset me that much, was when the satanist posted
>here a long time ago. :)
>

Obviously it wasn't just you, since someone else posted, too.  However,
I feel that this was probably the *funniest* thing posted on r.m.c. in
a long time.  If I read Andy's prose correctly, and I do have a sense of
humor, so I think I did, he was poking fun at the way that the attitude
of many Christians seems to be that all *good* Christians are Republicans
mainly because Bush is against abortion. (see below for a good description 
of this attitude)  I admire Bush for taking such an unpopular stand, 
but does it make me a *bad* Christian because I didn't vote for him 
(I didn't vote for Clinton, either).  Does it mean that I don't care about
unborn children or the sacredness of life because I didn't vote for Bush
and because I'm not a registered Republican?

>
>>	You mock God well.  Perhaps you have neglected to remember that 
>>"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools* despise 
>>wisdom and discipline." (NIV)
>>* The Hebrew words rendered fool in Proverbs, and often eslewhere in the 
>>Old Testament, denote one who is morally deficient.
>>	Perhaps you should remember to encourage and/or correct your brother,
>>but to mock both him and God is to tear yourself from salvation.  I agree that

Hmmm, sounds like trying to be funny = going to Hell in a handbasket?
How is what Andy said any different from many bumper stickers that you
see here in God's chosen state (Texas :-))?  
"And on the eighth day, God created the Cowboys".  I'm sure a better
prose has been written about this, but I'll take a short stab at it.

"And behold, the original prophet, Tom Landry, had grown tired and advanced
in years.  And equally beholdent (great coining of a word, huh?), a new
prophet appeared, and his name is Jimmy Johnson.  Jimmy is perfect for
the job because he can now pay his players legally.  

In the first year, the prophet was unsuccessful by worldly standards, but 
God was faithful.  He allowed the owner of the prophet, Jerry Jones, to
supply more money for the prophet with which to recruit disciples.

And Jimmy recruited disciples, the chief of whom is Troy Aikman.  And
Troy hath led the other disciples well.  Now Troy hath thrown many passes.
Some of these passes hath gone for touchdowns.  And Emmit hath run for
many yards and many touchdowns.  And the Lord has seen that it is good
and is very happy that on the eighth day, He created the Cowboys - not
only America's team, but God's team."

If the above has been sacreligious, forgive me.  I happen to not see it
that way and I think the tone and content of the above is no different,
although less humorous, than Andy's.


>>this is not the best newsgroup to post about this issue.  However, we are 
>>brothers in Christ and as such we should not tear asunder the unity of the 
>>Church with hate and arrogance.

There is a very interesting discussion on power, referring to political
power going on in soc.religion.christian.  There have been some 
excellent points brought up about the abuse of power by theocratic states
throughout history.  Our goal is not to put a Christian label on this
country, but to serve and glorify God through our daily lives.  If doing
so causes this country to be viewed as Christian, then great.  If not,
then does the glory of God suffer?  I think not.


Stuff on abortion deleted - not the issue here.

Stuff on belittling, etc, deleted.

>
>Matthew, I could have *not* said it any better, So I wont try to.
>
>Thanks!
>
>Dave Nauman
>

I respect your reverence for God.  He should not be mocked, although he
is constantly by this world.  However, even God has a sense of humor, or
else he wouldn't have created Aggies (boy, I'm just full of Texas humor
today).  Your opinion is obviously different from mine and others and I
want to respect that.  But I don't think that slamming people for a little
satire in the name of reverence for God and throwing Scripture at people
to support self-righteous attitudes shows a very loving and Christ-like
attitude.  Now, these are just my opinions, so take them for what they're
worth, which is exactly what you paid for them.

Paul Conditt

Go Cowboys!