"just Keep Turning Up"

[Rhia]

So it's a little past 8 this morning, on Wednesday, and I'm awake - which is odd for me because as a college student, I should be sleeping in the week before my classes start.

 

Anyway, I'm sure everyone in some way is familiar with early morning tv - well, I was flipping, and came across a concert which I soon discovered to be an episode of Hillsong TV (big Christian praise movement from Australia). I kept it on just to see what they were telling those my age. Now I'm angry.

 

This guy is up in front of an audience in a large, stadium-style church, everything is modern, and everyone that the camera touches on briefly is beautiul, blonde, and very surfer-looking; just pretty people in general. The asshole on the stage on the other hand is an ugly fucker who is repeating over and over: "the reason you will never get the miracle in your life is because you stop turning up - you just need to keep turning up!"

 

HOW FUCKING LAME OF A BRAINWASHING TACTIC IS THAT?!?!?!?!?!??! Have they gone so low on excuses that the only one they can think of for such a multinational, big-business worship corporation to keep a handle on their demographic is just to tell them to "just keep turning up"?!?

 

This guy is really a fucker, telling the kids that the reason they're not turning up is because of their "dark side", and that they need to die to themselves in order to get rid of it. Here's a few sniplets that I've caught - this is not a direct quote, seeing as I took them in pieces as I was hearing/typing, but he did say them, and they were in the context of dying to oneself as Jesus died.

 

"When Jesus was faced with injustice He did not say a word! He [Jesus] died justifying himself - one of the keys to life is understanding how to die to oneself. Just die to your side of the Spirit."

 

Updating as I write, now the guy is saying that people who act like they've woken up on the wrong side of the bed will just give up - because supposedly having any anger and irritation opens you up to "building walls, alienation, being cut off - until you just stop turning up". This guy is just a huge joke.

 

The only part of this that really makes me happy is that this is only on in the very early morning. They may be trying to reach the school-age kids, but I know when I was in high school I didn't even have time in the morning to turn on anything but the news; so I doubt that a ton of kids are being sucked into this crap.

 

There NEEDS to be some sort of exposé on this group - and their manipulation of high-school and college age students; 'cause if one is going to advertise something, the product needs to come through. It's false advertising to show a high-schooler (or anyone for that matter) this happy, glorious, modern, and pretty life where all one does is sit around, read "the Word", and go to crazy-looking, mosh-pit worship services - where everyone is on this high; when in fact after a bit the high wears down, or you can't just seem to find your "fix" anymore for one reason or another - and then the pain, the doubt, and everything else follow in reality.

 

Where's the fucking M for mature label on these shows?!

[R. S. Martin]

Sounds like the most recent version of: Your prayers didn't get answered because you're not sincere enough, don't have enough faith, etc. It's always your fault; can't be god's just because it can't.

[Lerato]

"When Jesus was faced with injustice He did not say a word! He [Jesus] died justifying himself - one of the keys to life is understanding how to die to oneself. Just die to your side of the Spirit."

 

Hmm to my recollection he was hanging on the cross saying "My God, My God why have you forsaken me?".

[angel.white]

The asshole on the stage on the other hand is an ugly fucker who is repeating over and over: "the reason you will never get the miracle in your life is because you stop turning up - you just need to keep turning up!"

This is some sound logic here. "the reason you will NEVER get a miracle in your life IS BECAUSE you stop turning up" so if not turning up is the cause of us not getting miracles, and we NEVER get miracles, then it is a guarantee that we will not turn up. Thats pretty deep, what was his solution again? Oh yeah, "you just need to keep turning up!"

 

Christians are truely like sheep. They can be hearded. They are the most gossipy, nosey, even childish people I have ever run into.

Well, it was jboy himself who set the criteria for getting into heaven:

 

Matthew 18:2-3 He called a little child and had him stand among them. 3And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

 

Wait, whats that? How do I get into heaven? If I'm not childish I can NEVER get to heaven Why didn't John 3:16 tell me that?! CRAP! Now I know what I was doing wrong all those years, guess I have to give xianity another shot

 

 

*walks away muttering "thats my toy, thats my toy"*

[GraphicsGuy]

I hear you, Rhia. When are these assholes going to shutup and not just listen, but UNDERSTAND that life just does not fit into their nice, neat little box? They say that Xianity doesn't promise a life free of pain and troubles, but what is the point of "turning up" if it's not to improve whatever your current situation is?

 

If Xianity made absolutely NO promises except eternal life, how many people currently attending would keep "turning up?" My guess is that most would quit because the promises always turn up empty. The only reason things happen when people "turn to god" is because they change their attitudes and tactics, not because of any miracle on god's part.

[Grandpa Harley]

The asshole on the stage on the other hand is an ugly fucker who is repeating over and over: "the reason you will never get the miracle in your life is because you stop turning up - you just need to keep turning up!"

This is some sound logic here. "the reason you will NEVER get a miracle in your life IS BECAUSE you stop turning up" so if not turning up is the cause of us not getting miracles, and we NEVER get miracles, then it is a guarantee that we will not turn up. Thats pretty deep, what was his solution again? Oh yeah, "you just need to keep turning up!"

 

Christians are truely like sheep. They can be hearded. They are the most gossipy, nosey, even childish people I have ever run into.

Well, it was jboy himself who set the criteria for getting into heaven:

 

Matthew 18:2-3 He called a little child and had him stand among them. 3And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven.

 

Wait, whats that? How do I get into heaven? If I'm not childish I can NEVER get to heaven Why didn't John 3:16 tell me that?! CRAP! Now I know what I was doing wrong all those years, guess I have to give xianity another shot

 

 

*walks away muttering "thats my toy, thats my toy"*

 

DO do have some dire warnings in John 3:18... but they don mention that on a recruitment drive...

[RIPw4]

Perhaps I am slow but WTF does "turning up" mean?

[angel.white]

Perhaps I am slow but WTF does "turning up" mean?

I took it to mean attending church. Could be wrong, but the logic is invalid regardless.

[R. S. Martin]

Perhaps I am slow but WTF does "turning up" mean?

I took it to mean attending church. Could be wrong, but the logic is invalid regardless.

 

That's what I think it means in this context. However, after reading it so often in this thread I am strongly reminded of turning up the thermostat when getting home on a cold winter night. That would mean "turning up the heat." "Turning up the volume" would be another meaning. "Turning up missing" is another. We "turn up" and fail to "turn up" an awful lot in this day and age of meetings and hectic schedules.

 

Do we ever hit the ceiling? Do we ever turn down? Hey yes we sure do!

 

We "turn down" a job offer or an opportunity for advancement that does not seem in our best interests. We "turn down" the burner when the meat is cooking. We "turn down" the highway to get where we want to go. We "turn down" the volume because it bothers the neighbours or other family members. Our "turning downs" seem to equal our "turning ups."

 

And that ugly bastard in that movie--he/she must have still been turning up. Must have been boosting their own faith by preaching to the choir. We apostates have simply chosen not to waste any more years turning up for hopeless miracles that never happen when you need them. We're turning down the greatest offer in history because it's just that--the greatest offer and it can afford to be great because there's nothing behind it. Turning up the heat and lies will only produce more heat and lies.

[מה טבו]

Off topic, but:

 

John 18:23 "If I said something wrong," Jesus replied, "testify as to what is wrong. But if I spoke the truth, why did you strike me?"

 

Sounds like a protest to me.

 

John 18:31Pilate said, "Take him yourselves and judge him by your own law." "But we have no right to execute anyone," the Jews objected.

 

Even the NT talks about stonings during the time of Josh. If he had in fact claimed that he was divine offspring openly, there certainly would have been more than the 2 witnesses required for execution by the Sanhedrin.

 

He then proceeds in all of the NT accounts to defend himself before Pilate. Knowing that the Romans would execute anyone who attempted a political uprising, Josh claims that:

 

John 18:36Jesus said, "My kingdom is not of this world. If it were, my servants would fight to prevent my arrest by the Jews. But now my kingdom is from another place."

 

Again, this is a protest. He is attempting to avoid his execution - hardly a lamb being led to the slaughter.

 

It's also interesting that according to the account in Luke, at least one of his "servants" was quite willing to fight:

 

10Then Simon Peter, who had a sword, drew it and struck the high priest's servant, cutting off his right ear. (The servant's name was Malchus.)

 

11Jesus commanded Peter, "Put your sword away! Shall I not drink the cup the Father has given me?"

 

Given his later testimony before Pilate, it stands to reason that Josh saw that his small band of followers attempting to start a fight would do more harm than good.

 

Furthermore, this account of the aqueduct riots by Josephus portrays a very different Pilate than the cowering figure described in the NT.

 

Josh also claims that he never attempted to conceal his teachings:

 

John 18:20"I have spoken openly to the world," Jesus replied. "I always taught in synagogues or at the temple, where all the Jews come together. I said nothing in secret. 21Why question me? Ask those who heard me. Surely they know what I said."

 

This directly contradicts other accounts:

 

John 7:3Jesus' brothers said to him, "You ought to leave here and go to Judea, so that your disciples may see the miracles you do. 4No one who wants to become a public figure acts in secret. Since you are doing these things, show yourself to the world." 5For even his own brothers did not believe in him.

 

Luke 8:10He said, "The knowledge of the secrets of the kingdom of God has been given to you, but to others I speak in parables, so that,

" 'though seeing, they may not see;

though hearing, they may not understand.'

 

Luke 9

 

18Once when Jesus was praying in private and his disciples were with him, he asked them, "Who do the crowds say I am?"

 

19They replied, "Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, that one of the prophets of long ago has come back to life."

 

20"But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?"

Peter answered, "The Christ of God."

 

21Jesus strictly warned them not to tell this to anyone.

 

The interesting fact is that had any of these kids actually paid attention while reading the Christian Bible, they would have known this. Instead, they accept this guy's word as law because he's a religious authority figure and he said it.

[Amethyst]

Keep turning what up? What a lame slogan. I'm surprised they can't do better than that. If they honestly think anyone over 5 is going to buy that, they are going to be disappointed.

[Grandpa Harley]

Of course it's lame, it's evangelist.

[white_raven23]

Keep turning what up?

 

 

The radio.

 

 

Turn it up!

Yeah!

I'm working hard, you're working too

We do it every day

For every minute I have to work

I need a minute of play

Day in day out all week long

Things go better with rock

The only time I turn it down

Is when I'm sleepin it off

 

Turn up the radio

I need the music, gimmie some more

Turn up the radio

I wanna feel it got to gimmie some more

 

Now listen!

I wanna shake, I wanna dance

So count it off a'one two three

I feel the beat, I'm in a trance

No better place to be

Daytime nightime, anytime

Things go better with rock

I'm goin' twenty four hours a day

I can't seem to stop

 

Turn up the radio

I need the music, gimmie some more

Turn up the radio

I wanna feel it got to gimmie some more

Turn up the radio

I wanna feel it got to gimmie some more

 

 

 

Turn up the radio

I need the music, gimmie some more

(Yeah!)

Turn up the radio

I wanna feel it got to gimmie some more

(Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!)

Turn up the radio

(Come on!)

I need the music, gimmie some more

(Everybody)

Turn up the radio

(Turn it up!)

I wanna feel it got to gimmie some more

(Whoooooooooooooooooooo!)

Turn up the radio

(Turn it up!)

I need the music, gimmie some more

(Gimmie some more)

Turn up the radio

(Whew! Come on)

I wanna feel it got to gimmie some more

(Gimmie all you got!)

Turn up the radio

 

- Autographs "Turn Up The Radio"

 

[Amethyst]

LOL, White Raven! If only their intent was so benign.

[L.B.]

By "turning up", they do just mean showing up to their meetings. They are Australian, after all... it's UK-style langauge sometimes.

 

Yeah, just keep turning up. So the mass-mind-control brainwashing can continue. So the peer pressure can intensify. So we can push yet another 'x number of steps to _______" book or seminar.

 

Just like the dumbass who pastors the church I work for (loooong story). People ask his opinion about what they should be doing with their lives, and he just keeps telling them, "just keep praying... just keep trusting. The Bible says trust in the Lawrd, so just trust." Never mind a single piece of concrete advice nor any ethical admonitions... just keep trusting, which is to say, just keep coming to hear his preaching and belong to the great mass of sheeple that need to be wrapped in someone else's dogmas or they can't think... oh wait. They're wrapped in someone's dogmas and they don't think, anyway. Whatever.

 

Let me tell you what I HEARD (so no lawsuits for libel/slander, Hillsong lemmings!) the holy joes @ Hillsong asked a local pastor for when he invited them to do an event here:

 

15 (FIFTEEN!) FIRST-CLASS airline tickets from Sydney, AU to our local airport on the East Coast.

$25,000 wired to their account in AU BEFORE they even consider getting on the plane.

YOU get a list of their gear needs. You then either RENT or PURCHASE EXACTLY what they demand. If it's a $1500 Roland electronic piano or a $2000 Gibson guitar, so be it. It's for the Lawwud, ya see, so the anointing can be on their muzak.

 

to top it all off:

 

3 (three!) offerings at the show, all of which they keep. That doesn't include merch sales of books, shirts, CDs, etc.

 

If it was Van Halen, I could see all the monetary demands... after all, they are a professional band in a captialist society with no pretense of anything but music as their goal.

 

These shitheads? Pure fucking profit, 501©3 status and closed eye/lifted hands spiritual posturing be damned.