Progressive Times reports that newsrooms across the country were flooded Monday morning with a press release about a number of sermons preached on Sunday and debates about “free speech” following the assassination of Charlie Kirk. The release appears to have been issued by a person named Jesus who, according to initial reports, sometimes goes by “Son of God,” “Son of Man,” and “Christ.” He claims that at one time he was believed to be the “Image of God.” A report from Progressive Times below contains more about this breaking story.
In case readers have not heard, the release appears to have been written sometime in the 1st century A.D. (The release insisted that CE not be used). This is odd since it was apparently directed at a current event.
The release is part of the following transcription of comments by a panel of experts pulled together by Ima Dunfore of Progressive Times. For those who have had their head in the clouds, Progressive Times acquired The Eschatology Network’s unsuspecting subscribers in a recent hostile takeover. The chief concern was what Jesus’s words meant and whether his ideology poses a threat to free speech in America.
While the panelists’ views varied, all seemed to agree that the release’s statement was reminiscent of a previous one by Jesus in which he called certain religious leaders “snakes,” and “white-washed sepulchers.” Unconfirmed reports indicate that Amos, an uneducated spokesperson for Jesus’s “shadow” organization, called a certain group of women in Palestine “cows.”
I want to thank each of you for coming and lending your expertise. I think we all agree that the future of free speech hangs in the balance, and this threatening press release has sent shockwaves through both political parties, policy and political organizations on both sides of the aisle, and the podcast and X universe.
For our listeners and readers who might not be familiar with the terse and offensive release, it simply said:
Brood of vipers! How can you, being evil, speak good things? For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart brings forth good things, and an evil man out of the evil treasure brings forth evil things. But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned."
The words “Matthew 12:34-37 NKJV” followed the text, but we’ve been unable to decode the contact information in order to speak with Matthew about having Jesus on the show.
Let’s begin by turning to Hebrew scholar Paul Silas for his thoughts.
Makes perfect sense to me. According to the Hebrew Bible, God speaks words and things come into existence. “Speaking” is the word the Hebrews used to describe the supernatural power of the one, true divine being, and thus, you might say all things, including human beings we are made of “words.” My apostolic colleague John said the “Word became flesh,” so speaking and words are part of what throughout the Bible we would associate with being made in the image of God.
Therefore, using words to destroy and tear down that image in another person instead of words seasoned with grace and truth for edification would be contrary to the kinds of persons we are supposed to be. Of course, those who use their words that way are not just harming the other person, but themselves, since they are contrary to their human nature. So, on judgment day we will show up in whatever deformed state of being we have become by our words.
Of course, these are metaphysical and ontological concepts that have gone out of style. However, Christians believe all of nature, including us, is pointing to a greater and higher unseen reality, namely, the indivisible God, though many seem to talk more like empiricists.
As a scientist, I believe a connection between words, metaphysics and ontology are preposterous. As a scientist and descendant of the renowned philosopher, Worldly Wiseman, everyone who has watched my programming knows we are made of “star stuff.” Of course, I say that metaphorically. Words are mere waves or particles, and by the time of any assumed judgment day, they would have become unintelligible due to dissipation. People should say what they want as long as its empirically true. And what is true, Mr. Silas, is that you’re an idiot.
Well, spirit-filled people believe in free speech but the speech that’s best needs to be so free that it is unintelligible to ourselves and others. The fact that no one knows what we’re saying is empirical proof to folks like Mr. Pagan that the Spirit of God is in us.
That’s nonsense, Maddux! God’s words were so intelligible that Moses and the prophets were able to write them down. We have a dogma against your kind of speech and a rule that says we should watch our mouths because that’s the law. Haven’t you read the law? Moses had the people take “him who had cursed, and stoned him with stones. So the children of Israel did as the LORD commanded Moses.” Leviticus 24:23 NKJV. Go read it.
And, in any event, speech is never free because God is sovereign over our mouths. Didn’t you read the story of Balaam!
If Amos can be a spokesperson for Jesus, then Jesus is not someone I want preaching to me. Give me Beth More. And, Jesus words must be understood in terms of critical race theory anyway, so it’s what semites and white people say that is at issue.
Political violence is what you get among those who haven’t chosen to make themselves one of God’s covenant people. Talk that leads to violence and division doesn’t happen within the true church of God. We want religion and government to be separate for that every reason. It corrupts our morals.
Hey, John, glad to hear you talking about being in the true church! But, beyond that, I’d rather not say anything. I’ve not heard from the Pope yet.
I reject Jesus’s words altogether. I’m not part of any “brood of vipers.” Every intelligent, educated person knows that science has proved we came from apes, not snakes.
And the six of you are nuts! What Jesus said was not only unscientific, but emotionally disturbing, shaming, and guilt producing. That kind of language has no place in a free society.
I agree with Tom. As a woman whose preferred pronouns are her, her, and her, I believe anyone even remotely associated with a person who calls women “cows” is inhuman. Only real humans can have free speech. That kind of “speech” is a danger to real free speech.
I make my living off pointed words, and these are pretty pointed. So, get Jesus on my show, and I’ll rip him one. He’s obviously never read the First Amendment. That’s the law.
I agree with Tom and Barbra. The psychological damage resulting from words like this on a society built on free speech could cause a verbal paralysis pandemic. Until Dr. Pagan and his scientific colleagues discover a vaccine against such a condition, this kind of news should not be reported. I don’t think we should even be here, but the opportunity to be back in the news was too much to pass up.
It appears that Mr. Silas has taken violently ill. So, we need to conclude. But we will keep you up-to-date. This controversy won’t die down until, as they say, the cows come home.
My personal conclusion is that an inability to think in terms of metaphysics and ontology kept all but Mr. Silas from understanding who Jesus is and what he was saying. As Herman Bavinck wrote, Christianity “is dead” without metaphysical considerations because, after all, God’s being is invisible.
Without metaphysical and ontological considerations, everything now seems dependent on power, and that means political solutions; everything is viewed in terms of politics. We’ve all become like Carl Pagan in that sense.
But, if our words will condemn us, we need a savior. I need a savior because I’ve said words I would not want repeated before God; unfortunately He’s already heard all our words since it is in Him “we live and move and have our being.” (Acts 17:28, NKJV)
But what mere man could serve as our spokesman and mediator before God? He would have to give an account for his own words to God.
That person is Jesus who is the Christ, anointed as such by God the Father, because He is also His Son. This same Jesus who spoke such uncomfortable words, also speaks comfortable one to us.
"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls” (Matthew 11:28-29, NKJV). “[C]ome to me that ye might have life” (John 5:40, NKJV).
