Truth and Life

FROM THE AOG WEBSITE...

Washingtonpost.com goes too far

Fri, 19 Sep 2008 - 4:30 PM CST

Critically examining the faith of Republican vice-presidential nominee Sarah Palin has become a favorite pasttime of the secular media, currently slamming her for a more literal-than-comfortable interpretation of the Bible and her Pentecostal background. But a recent political cartoon posted by washingtonpost.com went beyond the realms of thought-provoking journalism to a slanderous attack of Palin, Pentecostalism, Christianity and God.

Posted online on Wednesday, September 9, the political cartoon not only reveals the cartoonist's lack of understanding of Pentecostal beliefs, but of God. According to a Gallup Poll, most Americans believe God is the Creator, but the cartoonist paints Him to be cranky, befuddled, a user of profanity and far from omniscient.

"The cartoon is despicable," states AG General Superintendent George O. Wood. "Millions of Christians today follow the example of first century Christians who prayed in other tongues. The Washington Post would not think of printing a cartoon that mocked members of the Muslim or Jewish faiths. It should be ashamed. Furthermore, Sarah Palin has to my knowledge never said she prays in other tongues. Since God is multi-lingual, I'm sure He doesn't have problems understanding any prayers - whether they are articulated in a known or unknown language. He looks for prayers that come from the heart."

Deborah Howell, the readers' representative (ombudsman) for washingtonpost.com, stated, "Speaking of overdoing it, a political cartoon by Pat Oliphant that appeared on washingtonpost.com Wednesday prompted complaints from about 350 readers who said he lampooned their faith.

"Readers were right to complain," she added. "I will deal with political cartooning in another column."
In response to questioning, Howell says that Oliphant's cartoons are automatically posted on the washingtonpost.com site, with no one editing/reviewing the material prior to its posting.

While I do not agree with everything the Assemblies of God do or don't do, they are right with this one. I do not believe for one minute though that the Washington Post's 'dot com' arm doesn't review and edit. That would be irresponsible journalism at the very least. To portray the Almighty in this fashion is, well, is there a word for it? Oh yeah, blasphemous. Stand back everyone, "dangerous lightning zone". These people must have thought that the dig on Palin was good enough to warrant the dig on God. Stupid people. Just stupid.

As always, there's scripture for it:

For the perverse are an abomination [extremely disgusting and detestable] to the Lord; but His confidential communion and secret counsel are with the [uncompromisingly] righteous (those who are upright and in right standing with Him). The curse of the Lord is in and on the house of the wicked, but He declares blessed (joyful and favored with blessings) the home of the just and consistently righteous. Though He scoffs at the scoffers and scorns the scorners, yet He gives His undeserved favor to the low [in rank], the humble, and the afflicted.

Proverbs 3:32-34 AMP

For one who speaks in an [unknown] tongue speaks not to men but to God, for no one understands or catches his meaning, because in the [Holy] Spirit he utters secret truths and hidden things [not obvious to the understanding].

1 Corinthians 14:2

First Corinthians 14 explains the gift of tongues in depth; the whys and hows, etc. I am not going to teach on it right now.