The atheists over at the Freedom From Religion Foundation aren’t ashamed to let their anti-faith message be heard loud and clear.
The Blaze has spoken with the group and heard, first-hand, just how strong-worded and offensive (to people of faith, at least) its message can be. Last night, the Fox Business Network’s Eric Bolling invited a FFRF representative onto his show to discuss the group’s anti-Christian stance.
During a dialogue with FFRF spokesperson Dan Barker (who is married to FFRF co-president Annie Laurie Gaylor), “Follow the Money” host Eric Bolling was so dumbfounded by the group’s anti-Jesus views that he ended up booting the atheist-spokesperson off of the program. Mediaite’s Colby Hall called the moment a “‘War on Christmas’ miracle!”
At the center of the discussion was a Texas nativity scene that the Madison, Wisconsin-based FFRF has been demanding be torn down immediately. During the dialogue, Barker claimed that America is not a Christian nation and that the nativity should not be present on government property. He went on to say that the nativity represents “an insult to human nature that we are all doomed and damned.”
It was this comment that commenced the uncomfortable exchange between Bolling and Barker. “Sir, I have to take exception to the way you’ve described the nativity scene. It’s not an insult. It’s certainly not an insult to me. I’m a Christian,” Bolling explained. “It is an insult, sir,” Barker countered. At this point, the interview continued, as Bolling sought to move on to another question. But it didn’t take long for Barker to, once again, push Bolling’s buttons.
“Why was Jesus born? To save us from our sins. What an insult that we are degraded, depraved human beings — that Jesus created a hell — a place or torture,” Barker quipped. “And how would you feel if you didn’t believe that… superstition?”
Bolling interrupted the insults and abruptly ended the interview. (courtesy of the BLAZE.)
My thoughts:
"A dog barks when his master is attacked. I would be a coward if I saw that God's truth is attacked and yet would remain silent." ~ John Calvin
I am thankful for anyone who is willing to stand up for their faith and the name of their Savior. And to that end I am thankful for what Eric Bolling did on his show. Dan Barker is an enemy of the Cross and he is doing everything in his power to censure Christians and silence the Gospel in our country.
However, I think Mr. Bolling may have kicked Mr. Barker off of his show because he was unable to properly defend his faith. Dan Barker's theology was mostly right, wasn't it? He said, "“...we are all doomed and damned.” and “Why was Jesus born? To save us from our sins...we are degraded, depraved human beings...Jesus created a hell — a place or torture...” All true! Of course we know that God created Hell for the rebellious angels but does He not also now send law breaking humanity there? If that is the case then why did Mr. Bolling get so offended and why did say these things were not true?1
Mr. Barker was not entirely wrong about the nativity being a message of hate, either. From his perspective it most definitely is. God does not send sin to Hell, He sends sinners there. Remember, God hates evildoers and His Gospel smells repulsive to them. No wonder Dan Barker wants these Nativity scenes taken down. Every time he drives by one it is a reminder that he has fallen short of the glory of God!
God's disposition toward the sinner:
Psalm 5:4-6 For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you. The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers. You destroy those who speak lies; the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.
The Aroma of the Gospel:
2 Corinthians 2:14-16 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life.
The Nativity, and by extension the Gospel, is life and hope to us who are called by Jesus' name, but for God-hating rebels like Dan Barker it is the message that damns. God have mercy upon him.
May we, by God's grace, be prepared to give a good and ready defense of the Gospel to everyone that asks!
[1] To be fair Mr. Bolling may have been trying to say that the Nativity does not communicate hate but love. And that is why he told Mr. Barker that what he was saying about the Nativity was not true.
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The Blaze has spoken with the group and heard, first-hand, just how strong-worded and offensive (to people of faith, at least) its message can be. Last night, the Fox Business Network’s Eric Bolling invited a FFRF representative onto his show to discuss the group’s anti-Christian stance.
During a dialogue with FFRF spokesperson Dan Barker (who is married to FFRF co-president Annie Laurie Gaylor), “Follow the Money” host Eric Bolling was so dumbfounded by the group’s anti-Jesus views that he ended up booting the atheist-spokesperson off of the program. Mediaite’s Colby Hall called the moment a “‘War on Christmas’ miracle!”
At the center of the discussion was a Texas nativity scene that the Madison, Wisconsin-based FFRF has been demanding be torn down immediately. During the dialogue, Barker claimed that America is not a Christian nation and that the nativity should not be present on government property. He went on to say that the nativity represents “an insult to human nature that we are all doomed and damned.”
It was this comment that commenced the uncomfortable exchange between Bolling and Barker. “Sir, I have to take exception to the way you’ve described the nativity scene. It’s not an insult. It’s certainly not an insult to me. I’m a Christian,” Bolling explained. “It is an insult, sir,” Barker countered. At this point, the interview continued, as Bolling sought to move on to another question. But it didn’t take long for Barker to, once again, push Bolling’s buttons.
“Why was Jesus born? To save us from our sins. What an insult that we are degraded, depraved human beings — that Jesus created a hell — a place or torture,” Barker quipped. “And how would you feel if you didn’t believe that… superstition?”
Bolling interrupted the insults and abruptly ended the interview. (courtesy of the BLAZE.)
My thoughts:
"A dog barks when his master is attacked. I would be a coward if I saw that God's truth is attacked and yet would remain silent." ~ John Calvin
I am thankful for anyone who is willing to stand up for their faith and the name of their Savior. And to that end I am thankful for what Eric Bolling did on his show. Dan Barker is an enemy of the Cross and he is doing everything in his power to censure Christians and silence the Gospel in our country.
However, I think Mr. Bolling may have kicked Mr. Barker off of his show because he was unable to properly defend his faith. Dan Barker's theology was mostly right, wasn't it? He said, "“...we are all doomed and damned.” and “Why was Jesus born? To save us from our sins...we are degraded, depraved human beings...Jesus created a hell — a place or torture...” All true! Of course we know that God created Hell for the rebellious angels but does He not also now send law breaking humanity there? If that is the case then why did Mr. Bolling get so offended and why did say these things were not true?1
Mr. Barker was not entirely wrong about the nativity being a message of hate, either. From his perspective it most definitely is. God does not send sin to Hell, He sends sinners there. Remember, God hates evildoers and His Gospel smells repulsive to them. No wonder Dan Barker wants these Nativity scenes taken down. Every time he drives by one it is a reminder that he has fallen short of the glory of God!
God's disposition toward the sinner:
Psalm 5:4-6 For you are not a God who delights in wickedness; evil may not dwell with you. The boastful shall not stand before your eyes; you hate all evildoers. You destroy those who speak lies; the LORD abhors the bloodthirsty and deceitful man.
The Aroma of the Gospel:
2 Corinthians 2:14-16 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life.
The Nativity, and by extension the Gospel, is life and hope to us who are called by Jesus' name, but for God-hating rebels like Dan Barker it is the message that damns. God have mercy upon him.
May we, by God's grace, be prepared to give a good and ready defense of the Gospel to everyone that asks!
[1] To be fair Mr. Bolling may have been trying to say that the Nativity does not communicate hate but love. And that is why he told Mr. Barker that what he was saying about the Nativity was not true.
