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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2012-09-27, Page 16PAGE 16. THE CITIZEN, THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 2012. By Rev. Dr. Peter Kugba- Nyande Duff’s United Church, Walton In the last few weeks, violent protests spread across Libya, Egypt, Tunisia and countries across the Middle East and Asia, targeting U.S. diplomatic missions. The provocation: a 14-minute trailer posted on YouTube for “Innocence of Muslims,” a low-budget film depicting the Prophet Muhammad as a degenerate, a womanizer and a pedophile. This raises very uncomfortable questions about the fine line between defending the freedom of creative expression and inciting religious hatred. While we all think the violence, the injuries and even the deaths were inexcusable, these tensions come at a time when the Muslim world feels itself under cultural siege by the United States and the West in general. What exactly is blasphemy? Merriam Webster’s Dictionary defines it as: (1) the act of insulting or showing contempt or lack of reverence for God, (2) the act of claiming the attributes of deity, (3) irreverence toward something considered sacred or inviolable. To treat something with significance is the opposite of taking something “in vain.” Names identify and instruct as to what something is. We all want good and honourable things associated with our names, because our names are reflections of who we are. All agree that a strong relationship is based upon respect. One of the most important ways to respect God is by reverencing His name. He tells us not to only obey Him, but also to hold His name as holy. The most profound ways we respect God are found in the second and third commandments. The second commandment refers to the worship we are to render to the Lord our God. It is forbidden to make any image or picture of the Deity, in any form, or for any purpose; or to worship any creature, image or picture. (Exodus 20:3-6) In the third commandment we show our love to God by honouring and obeying Him. The third commandment concerns the sanctity of God’s name. We are commanded by God to honour and respect His name: “Thou shall not take the name of the LORD thy God in vain; for the LORD will not hold him guiltless that takes his name in vain” (Exodus 20:7). “Vain” means empty, useless, false, unreal, and worthless. In short, taking God’s name in vain refers to the abuse, misuse, blasphemy, cursing, or manipulation of the Lord’s name. On another level, these commandments ban against dishonesty of speech, perjury, false promises and the breaking of our word. In order to be believed one had to call upon God to witness to the truth. Some are of the view the cover-ups and evasions going on today in the political arena and elsewhere are modern phenomena, but the problem is really as old as civilization. The idea also surfaced that if you didn’t swear by God, then you didn’t have to tell the truth. But slowly people became such liars that even that didn’t help. People felt that unless they took a certain elaborate oath they were not required to tell the truth. This third commandment has an even deeper meaning. It also warns us against the misuse of God’s power. In both the Old Covenant and the New Covenant a person’s name was thought to be an extension of their character. The word of God does not give believers enough information to make a faithful representation of Christ’s physical appearance. According to Isaiah, regarding the Saviour’s outward appearance there is nothing of beauty to delight the eye (see 53:2). In the book of Revelation there is an apocalyptic description of the exalted Lord (e.g., Rev. 1: 13-17) and the Saviour as a slain Lamb (Rev. 4:6). However, no competent scholar would regard these apocalyptic statements as literal descriptions of Christ. They are vivid prophetic visions that are intended to teach the church a rich theology regarding our Lord and His work. The apostles who spent over three years with Jesus, who knew exactly what His human face looked like, who had strong memories of His person and work, could have worked with artists to leave the church an accurate portrait of the Messiah. Yet they refused to leave the church such a portrait. Therefore, it is obvious that God does not sanction portraits of His Son. There have been several times Jesus had been depicted in ways that are annoying to Christians too. For instance, on June 26 2006, under free speech an Australian boy, 16, was stopped by police in Biggera Waters after he was spotted wearing a t-shirt which claims “Jesus is a (expletive deleted)” and depicts a nun masturbating. It is a t-shirt for English extreme metal band Cradle of Filth. On Oct. 18, 2007, an artist portrays chocolate Jesus resurrected in New York: “My Sweet Lord,” an anatomically correct milk chocolate sculpture of Jesus Christ that infuriated Catholics. Since no accurate picture of Christ can be produced by man, all pictures of the Saviour are false representations of the Son of God. Pictures of our Lord cannot sanctify because: (a) They flow from the imagination of the artist and thus are fiction; and, (b) they pervert the biblical teaching not only by robbing Him of His glory but by separating the two natures; the divine from the human. David Bauder of the Huffington Post wrote, “Whenever South Park features Muhammad in an episode, Comedy Central obscures the character with a black box; Muslims consider any physical representation of their prophet to be blasphemous.” I consider any unbiblical Worship Service & Sunday School at 11 a.m. CORNER OF DINSLEY & MILL STREETS MINISTER Rev. Gary Clark, BA, M. Div. All Welcome MUSIC DIRECTOR Floyd Herman, BA, M. Ed.OFFICE: 519-523-4224 SEPTEMBER 30 ~ Bicycles for Humanity Luncheon fundraiser OCTOBER 7 ~ Thanksgiving, Communion Sunday, You Can’t Always Get What You Want! MELVILLE PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH BRUSSELS Rev. Elwin Garland SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 30 Wheelchair accessible ~ Nursery care available 519-887-9017 10:00 am - Sunday Morning Worship - Sunday School 250 Princess St., Brussels 519-887-6388 www.bmfchurch.com Guests Welcome Jesus Is Lord! Brussels Mennonite Fellowship Worship Service 10:00 am Sunday School 11:15 am 119 John’s Ave., Auburn 519-526-1131 www.huronchapel.org Rev. Mark Royall, Sr. Pastor 9:25 a.m. Sunday School for all ages 10:30 a.m Morning Worship Service From the Minister’s StudyFreedom of expression vs. blasphemy THE CATHOLIC PARISHES OF NORTH HURON AND NORTH PERTH CORDIALLY INVITE YOU TO ATTEND HOLY MASS. OUR SUNDAY LITURGIES ARE AS FOLLOWS: Brussels: St. Ambrose Saturday 6:00 p.m. 17 Flora Street Wingham: Sacred Heart Sunday 9:00 a.m. 220 Carling Terrace Listowel: St. Joseph Sunday 11:00 a.m. 1025 Wallace Avenue N. getlivingwater.orgPastor: Ernest Dow ~ 519-523-4848 Living Water Christian Fellowship 10:30 a.m. ~ Worship & Sunday School Wingham Bible Study - Tuesdays 7:30 pm Youth Group - Tuesdays 7:30 pm (at CRC) Women At The Well - 1st & 3rd Wednesdays 7:30 pm Evangelical Missionary Church Guest preacher Dan Walker, Mitchell YFC Potluck to follow, all welcome Sunday, September 30 at 308 Blyth Rd. (NEW LOCATION!former Church of God Building) 11th Youre Invited to come worship with us Sunday, September 30 Brussels Business & Cultural Centre at 10:30 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. Sunday School for children 4 to 11 years of age at 9:30 a.m. Childcare provided for infants and preschoolers during the sermon. Coffee & cookies after the morning service For additional details please contact Pastor Andrew Versteeg 519.887.8621 Steve Klumpenhower 519.887.8651 Rick Packer 519.527.0173 You’re Invited To Join Us In Worship Hwy. 4, Blyth 519-523-4743 www.blythcrc.ca SUNDAYS Morning Service 10:00 am Evening Service 7:30 pm BLYTH CHRISTIAN REFORMED CHURCH BRUSSELS Sandra Cable, Pastor Church Office 519-887-6259 E-mail - beunitedchurch@gmail.com SUNDAY SERVICE 11:00 am Sunday School Celebrating our Christian Faith together in worship United Church Continued on page 23