But that doesn't mean no Richard (of RBB) because... please welcome Mr Bass Bagging himself, Richard (of RBB)!
[cheering and whistling]
Richard (of RBB): Thanks everyone and thanks Bin, it's great to be here.
Bin Hire: Great to have you here! Unfortunately Angry Jesus was unable to make it this morning but he recommended our next guest. Please give a big hand to Aiden Tozer!
[clapping]
Aiden Tozer: Thank y'all, it's great to be back on Earth and thanks to my friend Angry Jesus for making my return possible.
Bin Hire: Aiden, we've read a bit of your writing on one of our local blogs but there's a lot about you that most of our readers don't know. Maybe you could update us a bit.
Aiden Tozer: Sure Bin. I was born in 1897 and worked as an American Christian pastor, preacher, author, magazine editor, and spiritual mentor. I come from La Jose, Pennsylvania, and converted to Christianity as a teenager. I'm really a self educated man, but I was given two honorary doctoral degrees. A bloody heart attack got me in the end. That would be my only complaint with God - he should have told us in the good book not to eat too much deep fried food.
So what do you do Richard (of RBB)?
Richard (of RBB): I run a bass bagging site, much like Bin's.
Aiden Tozer: When viewed from the perspective of eternity, the most critical need of this hour may well be that the Church should be brought back from her long Babylonian captivity and
the name of God be glorified in her again as of old.
the name of God be glorified in her again as of old.
Bin Hire: Sorry, I didn't quite get that.
Aiden Tozer: Looking at the big picture, the Church on Earth needs to be freed up a bit but people really need to glorify God - more in the old way, as I sort of did.
Bin Hire: Oh, okay.
Aiden Tozer: But the God we must see is not the utilitarian God who is having such a run of
popularity today, whose chief claim to men’s attention is His ability to bring them
success in their various undertakings and who for that reason is being cajoled and
flattered by everyone who wants a favor.
popularity today, whose chief claim to men’s attention is His ability to bring them
success in their various undertakings and who for that reason is being cajoled and
flattered by everyone who wants a favor.
Richard (of RBB): Are you saying that religion is getting a bit shallow?
Aiden Tozer: Yes. But remember that knowledge of such a Being cannot be gained by study alone. It comes by a wisdom the natural man knows nothing of, neither can know, because it is spiritually discerned. To know God is at once the easiest and the most difficult thing in the world. It is easy
because the knowledge is not won by hard mental toil, but is something freely given. As
sunlight falls free on the open field, so the knowledge of the holy God is a free gift to
men who are open to receive it. Except that if you don't accept it, you're going to burn in Hell for eternity.
because the knowledge is not won by hard mental toil, but is something freely given. As
sunlight falls free on the open field, so the knowledge of the holy God is a free gift to
men who are open to receive it. Except that if you don't accept it, you're going to burn in Hell for eternity.
Bin Hire: So what's Heaven like?
Aiden Tozer: Well Bin, being in the presence of such a Being, no pun intended, would be like a bassist talking to their favourite bass player. Knowledge of the Holy Spirit of discipline will flee deceit, and remove from thoughts that are without understanding, and will not abide when unrighteousness cometh in. This same thought is found in various sayings throughout the inspired Scriptures, the best known probably being the words of Angry Jesus, “Blessed are the pure in heart: for they shall see Dad.”Richard (of RBB): Well, you obviously made it Aiden. Are there any celestial virgins in Heaven?
Aiden Tozer: The sex thing doesn't really happen up there but to stand in the glow of the Supreme Being is a bit like having a bonk.
Bin Hire: Is the Supreme Being a man or a lady?
Aiden Tozer: Are you asking if God the Father has a tackle? We must practice the art of long and loving meditation upon the majesty of God. This will take some effort, for the concept of majesty has all but disappeared from the human race. The focal point of man’s interest is now himself. Humanism in its various forms has displaced theology as the key to the understanding of life. When the
nineteenth-century poet Swinburne wrote, “Glory to Man in the highest! for man is the
master of things,” he gave to the modern world its new Te Deum. All this must be
reversed by a deliberate act of the will and kept so by a patient effort of the mind.
God is a Person and can be known in increasing degrees of intimate acquaintance as we
prepare our hearts for the wonder. Yes, I suppose he has a tackle. Otherwise he's be God the Mother or God the Eunuch.
Richard (of RBB): Good point Aiden.
Bin Hire: Well, I guess we'd better wrap it up there. Thanks to my two guests and have a safe trip back to Heaven Aiden.
Aiden Tozer: Thanks.
Richard (of RBB): Thanks for hosting the show Bin.
* the bass bagging site with a touch of Bahrain
Oh I just remembered something I meant to say. Every man lives by faith, the nonbeliever as well as the saint; the one by faith in natural
ReplyDeletelaws and the other by faith in God. Every man throughout his entire life constantly
accepts without understanding. The most learned sage can be reduced to silence with
one simple question, “What?” The answer to that question lies forever in the abyss of
unknowing beyond any man’s ability to discover. “God understandeth the way thereof,
and he knoweth the place thereof” but mortal man never.
Aiden
Thanks again for having me.
Non probs Aiden. I've got to say that your use of the word 'faith' is a bit misleading. The huge leap to accept a Christian God is a little unlike the way one accepts the so called natural laws. The use of the word 'laws' tends to support my thoughts here. A natural law would be something like the sun rising and setting, or the four seasons in a year. These things can be proven scientifically and really don't require a leap of faith. I would suggest that you might be wise to make your writing less flowery. Say what you mean to say. Amibuity is not the friend of reason or proff.
ReplyDeleteNice to have you on the show.
Bin
Okay Aiden, explain the law of causality so that I know what it is and how it works.
ReplyDeleteAh, yes, you're talking about the laws of 'cause and effect'. To try and prove the existence of a 'Christian deity' under this set of principles is a nonsense. I hope things are all good up there in Heaven.
ReplyDeleteRegards,
Bin
Bin, you make a good point.
ReplyDeleteHello Badi. No I was not trying to use the law of causality to prove God; because that WOULD be a nonsense. In your world every material effect must have an adequate antecedent cause. This law is fundamental and number one in the universe.
ReplyDeleteThis law obviously does not apply in heaven or to god that is why he could create the universe from nothing. Scientists however struggle to explain the beginnings because they must suspend the law of causality to fit their paradigms.
Hope this helps.
Aiden.
Hi Aiden. Those are big words but what are you actually saying? You assume that the Christian god can just make things out of nothing, but where is your proof? Please don't say 'The Bible'. Of course there is none. Any idea about how the Universe got there is a THEORY. The scientists certainly don't know. Maybe we should ask Angry Jesus?
ReplyDeleteBin
"Oops, you've got me there."
ReplyDeleteYep, Angry Jesus makes most people rethink pretty fast. No one wants to debate with AJ!
ReplyDelete