The Cult of Intellectual Dishonesty

Start by reading this.


Then, please tell me, do you have any doubt, whatsoever, the message she's conveying? Aside from the (most likely unwitting) use of Loaded Language (another element in the Lifton model of Thought Reform), is anyone actually struggling to understand the message conveyed by statements like these?...

“Jesus is all you need”.

True or false?

The statement is true.  But if the statement is used to suggest Christ’s disciples have no obligation to live out the gospel in real life (or to attack those who advocate that living out) it becomes a lie.

This is almost a kissing cousin to the whole Kevin Swanson "Faithville, Worksville, Farmville, Frontierville" nonsense that made me want to light myself on fire a couple of months back.


The statement is simply true, Kelly. It doesn't need qualifiers.


Faith and works (which, the implication of this article suggests are wrapped up in a lifestyle) aren't 50-50 equals in an equation of Christianity. Works are ONLY a by-product and fruit of faith. Works have no role, whatsoever, in anyone's salvation. Christ did all of the necessary work. Works as a fruit of faith aren't exemplified by patriarchy, submissive, obedient wives, rigid gender roles, homeschooling, courtship, grinding wheat and making homemade bread, quiverfulls, cloth diapers, home-childbirth, no secular college, stay-at-home daughters, denim jumpers, and the like. While Kelly may not partake in all of these things, she most certainly IS suggesting that the lifestyle that encompasses these things is necessary for "Jesus is all you need" to not be a lie. To suggest anything otherwise is foolishness.


The bible has an entirely different take on what the fruit of faith looks like...from the book of James...

Pure and genuine religion in the sight of God the Father means caring for orphans and widows in their distress and refusing to let the world corrupt you....What good is it, dear brothers and sisters, if you say you have faith but don’t show it by your actions? Can that kind of faith save anyone? Suppose you see a brother or sister who has no food or clothing, and you say, “Good-bye and have a good day; stay warm and eat well”—but then you don’t give that person any food or clothing. What good does that do?

These verses lead up to the "faith without works is dead" passage. Note the fact that the world doesn't corrupt you without you allowing it to - i.e., the importance of self-control. And also note the lack of the patriarchal/quiverfull lifestyle mentioned.


Here's some more from the mouth of Christ Himself...

For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you didn’t give me a drink. I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in prison, and you didn’t visit me.’

There are numerous passages in the Book of the Secrets of Enoch which display God's heart as to what our lives should stress. Most of them deal with justice, honesty, and helping those who need help - widows, orphans, the outcasts of society. The sad fact of the matter is, there are a lot of non-Christians doing a better job of living out the life of Christ than many of us are. They don't get hung up on form and formula.


Kelly goes on...

If you suggest, for example, that God has laid out an order to family life, that God has something specific to say about marriage roles, if you are, in obedience to Scripture, teaching others to love their husbands and children and manage their homes,  you will probably be labeled as a “family worshiper” instead of a “Jesus worshiper”.

You will even likely be accused of being in a cult.

Cause now you’ve gone to meddlin’.  Yep, you’re a bona fide ”false prophet”.

(Never mind the fact that marriage is THE VERY PICTURE of the gospel; one would think that makes family a pretty important issue for the follower of Christ to get right.

Never mind the fact that failure to “teach these things” could result in blasphemy of God’s Word.  Nope, we better just stick to “Jesus is all you need”, and stay away from all that other stuff in the Bible.

If you suggest that God says “children are a blessing”, you are probably a “child worshiper”.  Why do you keep losing focus???

Presuppose much? Did Christ place such an unbalanced emphasis on marriage, family, and the womb? What has she specifically implied here? Patriarchy (and all of it's nasty little fingers), a woman's biblical role as a home-maker, quiverfull, and the like, are all essential elements to real salvation. She's said it without technically saying it (an art the patrios have mastered) so that she can deny having taken such a legalistic position, something she goes on to do in the comment string. We know what you meant, Kelly. *wink*

The Jesus I follow is gracious and merciful to those who LOVE Him, who demonstrate that love by obedience.

It's the little add ons like this one that mark the line between faith and legalism. Jesus is gracious and merciful even when we DON'T demonstrate obedience, not just when we do. Jesus extends His grace and mercy even to those who DON'T love Him. In fact, it was that group of people He sought out the MOST while here. Our love doesn't make us worthy of His grace and mercy. Our obedience doesn't make us worthy of His grace and mercy. Our performance as dutiful Christians doesn't make us worthy of His grace and mercy. That's what makes His grace and mercy so GREAT. It has nothing to do with your performance, but everything to do with His.


Any of you who read there, please use your minds and discern what's really said, because there's much more being said without being said than Kelly will ever admit.