No, this is not the plot-line in another F-Grade “christian” movie script, and when the penny drops on “who the Gehenna” the referents are in this quickly absorbing blog-line, one must confess that this is not the next riveting, although it could be that painful, in the, don’t tell me their fiction, Left-Behind Series… Mmmm!

Although, this could be the first in the series of… The Left Behinders fight Right Back… to the Front!  Surely, such a title will bring the masses back… This is a Protestant thing, so no offense or any other projectile intended to the “Truthers!”

I am known for obscuring the plain and simple, but where’s the fun in understanding all that you read?

The point of this posturing, posing as a piece of posting prose, is pretty straight forward, so I will lift the curtain, call the announcer, cause it’s time to get it on, cause these two don’t get along…

Our story begins in the genteel backdrops of God Save Their Gracious Queen, England, with the first protagonist, one Stephen Sizer, doing his thing as an Anglican Priest.  Now there are many Anglican Priests in the “old dart,” but what makes this one more well-known, is that he does not sound like he is a fan of the nation of Israel, nor does he jump up and down with glee (at Vee, but we will get to that later) at some of the ways that the said nation of Israel interacts with the Palestinian people in the Middle East, nor does he view any theological support by those “crazy” Fundamentalists… and I mean, crazy, as being too-legit-to-quit! He has been rather vocal about this opposition on both blog and print, and has been known to travel the world stating such things from every sea to shining sea… God Bless America!

Suddenly, the good guy, or is he the bad guy… Oooh, the blog thickens… Anyway, the other protaganist, enters the blogosphere… one Seismic Shock, who with a bit jiggery pokkery with the header of his blog, sends a message that he believes something smells with Stephen’s… Theology>Praxology… and he, assumptions at this point people, the HE decides that HE is the HE to point out to the other HE, that what he is offering is not as it should be.

Therefore, in plain language, Seismic Shock has started a blog (some time ago now) where he has pointed out areas of disagreement with Sizer’s context, and such has not been appreciated… Maybe bad publicity is not good publicity, after all.

Well, what was chatter in a corner of the blogging world has now become stereophonic, as a result of a decision by Sizer and another individual, one Anthony McRoy, a theologian teaching in Wales, who can never beat us again Boyo… in Rugby, for all you heathen folk!

You see, these individuals decided to inform the authorities… Yes, the local Constabulary, the Bobbies… Okay, call them the Police.  Anyway, they informed this body of governmental authority that this man’s blogging thoughts and opinions were bugging their beat, which meant they had a beef-y Botham with him, meaning his blogging views were persona non grata, and should be silenced.  I mean that sounds fair enough… No?

Therefore, to cut a long story short (and you can read all the details), they, the Police, payed him a visit, encouraged him to shut down the blog where this material resided, and left forthwith!

End of Story?

Well, Sizer and McRoy are probably wishing so…

You can read about this account from the man himself, who has now introduced himself as Joseph Weissman HERE!

Well, the blogosphere also heard about this, and I mean the blogosphere, with the BBC, and the story even swimming across the pond, as the atheists also joined the intra-theistinian par-tae!

I could be here for minutes hyper-linking all these sites, and we know in the cyber-space world, such would seem like days.  Therefore, you can visit HERE and HERE, where all the linking has been done for you (well, up to a given point)!  However, one of these reads, a good read that I will highlight is found HERE!

Now my tongue has been a resident alien in my cheek as I offer these pronouncements, although call it cultural, a blogging “haka” of sorts, as I am an All Black… supporter!  However, there is much to this story that deserves your thoughtful investigation, and to be honest, your opinion on the theological merits of Christian Support of Israel is really down the list when it comes to this issue!

Oh yeah, I should also point out that I am a dirty Zionist, and if you mean, I mean… I mean by this, a love for the nation of Israel, and a biblically grounded belief that there is indeed a warranted reality for the future of this nation in the unfolding present in God’s plan, then I am guilty as charged.  You might think this is some Ghetto Theology, but such may not sound so palatable, this side of 1945, anyway!  If you would like to read my rantings on this nation, in the context of recent-ish Gaza… pick your descriptive title, then go HERE!  P.S., I have family in the Police, or is that, Police in the family, so don’t get any big ideas!

While one could leave this digression at this point, let me state some possible trajectories of thinking, well, at least my thinking on this issue…

Firstly, I could go to the Freedom of Speech issue, and other details that relate to the avenues that Sizer could have pursued if he had a legitimate legal issue with Seismic’s Shocks (I have read many of his posts, and while they were Frank, I did not think they were personal attacks), such a reality for Weissman should be a thoughtful concern for all bloggers expressing their freedom in speech.

However, let me also go here.  THIS SOUNDS LIKE CHRISTIANS GONE WILD (Thanks Mark Driscoll), Corinthian style.  Couldn’t they have just have gone to Weissman, duked it out, burnt Seismic at the stake, or called a holy convocation against the Joe… Oh, yeah, that might have looked, you know, all ungodly-like, so we’ll just call the cops on him. One can not ascribe motive, but it hardly seems presumptive to affirm that they wanted to shut him up, and remove the fitting shoe, and one does not need to be a canon theologian to wonder why, when you read the connecting dots of the Shock.

Who knows, maybe they tried to meet with Joe, and he may have responded, “No, I am of Jacob” (Start reading 1 Cor.), but such a move seems to indicate which team has dropped the ball.  Also, as one who has read Sizer’s “opinions,” the force of which are not backward, it seems somehow inconsistent to call someone out for taking the opposing position on this issue.  I know the term “tolerance” has been given a post-modern bum-rap, but surely such a context is where the classical definition is worth its definition in the weight of Gold, particularly when you are expecting people who disagree with you to put up with yours Mr Sizer!

Secondly, I understand what it is like to get all hot and bothered on certain issues, and there are theological issues to burn a bridge over, and there are also issues that one needs to build a bridge over, and then walk on it and get over it!  I have been know to feel impassioned on subjects in this present context, but I am also becoming aware that when such happens, it is a sign that I need to remember to keep the main thing the main thing, and that speaking the truth in love, presupposes there is also a category for error, which means I need to first and foremost watch my doctrine and way of life.

This does not mean that these things should not be apart of our dialogue, discussions, debates, and even the odd diatribe (sinner!), as we need to be always reforming, however, when it results in calling the cops on a brother, the Gospel is being impugned, and such is no man’s debtor, and I fear that we are missing the mark!

You see, whether you are Pre-Mill or A-Mill, such will not be the issue when you stand before a holy God!  The issue will be with His Son, Yeshua HaMashiach… the Jew!  Such should illuminate a very good question.  If such is true, should not one’s presentation of one’s view of Israel be reflective of this reality?!  There is a finger pointing in a given direction, which…

Thirdly, should encourage us to think through how we interact in a Christian context with those whom we disagree with, particularly on those matters that are generally referred to as being areas that sit below the Gospel surface!  While you may want to call the cops on the Charismaniacs, when the Snakes are brought forth, Mr Cessationist, such would be as absurd as…

In closing, I noted that someone near my neck of the woods has also been payed a cyber visit by My Sizer.  This is someone who has also disagreed with his expression of his views on Israel.  In the linked article by Calvin Smith, he notes these words, sent to another blogger, Vee, from the heathen land, Australia.

The following is the content of this message…

Dear Vee

You must take a little more care who you brand as anti-Semitic otherwise you too will be receiving a caution from the police as the young former student of Leeds did recently. One more reference to me and you will be reported.

Blessings Stephen

You will have to judge whether the shoe fits in this interaction, but such a note does seem a little warped!

If such an interaction does interest you, I encourage you to view the sources, and even though Weissman’s original site was deleted, the cached version is still on-line, so the incriminating posting can still be sought (for example, HERE)!

However, let me leave you with these words from the linked post of yours truly, which were penned by Thomas Friedman in The New York Times, where he said…

Criticizing Israel is not anti-Semitic, and saying so is vital.  But singling out Israel for opprobrium and international sanctions – out of proportion to any other party in the Middle East – is anti-Semitic and not saying so is dishonest.

If such is a reasonable statement, which is singling out Israel, out of proportion to any other party, and if such is definitive, then the shoes must fall where they will!

When all is said and done, the Gospel is not pigeon-holed by any present nation, which is filled with fallen individuals under the Sun, as it groans in its present disposition (Rom. 8:19-22) awaiting that Day.

Such a present reality should give Evangelicals pause with any Cart Blanche support for any present people group, whether they be from Jerusalem, Judea, and Samaria, and even to the ends of the earth!

For the Fame of His Name

Man of Spin