Taking Bob Dylan at faith value

It's painfully obvious Mr. Galupo hasn't a clue about relationship with Jesus. Either you agree there is a Creator, he sent his son to reconcile us back to the Creator and the son (Jesus) sent his Spirit to guide us or....you don't. If you don't you often use academic terminology to describe these odd cultish people who believe in the supernatural. Dylan got it because of relationship not ideology. You won't get people who have a relationship with Jesus to buy into your fake ideology that has no basis in the values and principles Jesus affirmed in his ministry on earth. If one does they're not following the leading of the Spirit. The Spirit will not lead a mother to kill her baby or marry the same sex. This is not a matter of being close-minded, it's a matter of relationship to the Creator who knows best. Who are you following Mr. Galupo? Like Dylan pointed out, you gotta serve somebody...you don't follow your own drummer no matter how hard to want to believe that you do. In the end you will be magnetized to "the dark side" or "the kingdom of light."

Well said, FlexFamily, well said. And, as Jesus Himself told us: "The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit." John 3:8 (NIV) Maranatha

"the move meant either that Mr. Dylan had been manipulated by rank, attention-seeking Jimmy Swaggart types or that the man had taken leave of his senses" There is a third reason someone might embrace Christianity but Mr Galupo doesn't seem to understand..

Thank you for this brief description of Mr. Gilbert's film on Bob Dylan's Jesus years. The film allows room for various "explanations" of a complex period in the great artist's career, and Mr. Galupo's article does not attempt to reduce the complexity. Dylan inspired millions. As one who was touched by his music and message(s), I wish him well in his relationship with the Creator.

dylan-a christian? anybody that thinks this communist was EVER a christian, is smoking the same thing dylan does!! is dylan a Quisling? is dylan a 5th colunmist? my faith tells me he is! (for those schooled in public education please google Quisling)

The Light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it.

Jesus on the cross was a bleeding heart liberal. Giving free health care and feeding the poor up to that point. "Make love not war" permeated his life. Less any drug or sex. He even rode a donkey the democratic mascot. It's relevant and symbolic as opposed to beasts of war. He came not to conquer. In every conceivable way Jesus was more a democrat than a republican. He said to the rich man if you want to follow me give your money to the poor first. McCain would call that spreading of wealth socialism. "The love of money is the root of all evil" this definately doesn't bode well for big business. It's harder for a republican to enter the kingdom of heaven than a camel through the eye of a needle. I think that camel is symbolic as well. It just shows how effective sound bites are and how little most people know about politics.

Those are interesting "sound bites" of your own there, Chavez66. Your obvious ignorance of Scripture is astounding. Perhaps you should actually read it, rather than scan it for verses to take out of context. Jesus never told anyone to give other people's money, but their own -- that is not democrat (check charitable giving of the Communist Organizer and Joe "plagiarist" Biden). The donkey was not the symbol of the Democrat Party in 33 AD (that's right Anno Domini); it was the standard cremonial mode of transportation for kings of Israel. "Let the rich among you be ready to give," does not condemn the wealthy, but admonishes them to do good with their money. (I Timothy 6:17-18). If you would read the actual passages in Matt 19, Mark 10, and Luke 18, you would find that the Lord said harder for a rich man, not Republican, to enter the Kingdom, and that, in the very next verse, the Disciples ask Him, "Who then can be saved?" indicating that they were also rich. I hope you will consider the true claims of Jesus Christ, and bow your knee to His great offer of rebirth and eternal life.

Chavez, if your comments were offered as stones from a glass house, we would see that structure reduced to shards in no time. Rather than use any of the endless amounts of scripture that refute your points...I remind you the vast majority of 'bleeding heart liberals' sanction a legalized choice to kill babies in the womb, promote homosexual and lesbian rights, and prohibit the mention of Jesus in schools. Now wait a minute... You say Jesus believes in these philosophies...including the exclusion of any mention of Himself to the little children He loves and died for? To quote the Savior Himself...'A house divided against itself cannot stand'. Saying Christ was a bleeding heart liberal is like saying Obama is qualified to be President.

Check the polls the "Big Love" state is by far the McCain strong hold. Ray-gun-nomics cause abortions while Obama shows compassion as opposed to condemnation. Jesus stands in front of Mary Magdalin when those who would cast stones at her. For what reasons? Mormons might be the only "christians" that I can think of that would reasonably use the term religious right. "I could give you a raise but, I'm trying to get to the next tax bracket." Do we need the gov. to tempt us tward greed? How do the poor raise a child when the minimum wage stays the same nearly 20 years. Both gas and milk were under a dollar at one mark of min. wage than at the next, over 3 dollars pretty much exactly what post tax min. wage was at the time. At that time most of the country could not afford a one bedroom apartment in the most rat infested slum hole let alone buy a gallon of milk. While one illegal canadian immigrant can now milk a thousand cows a day with automation. It must be "mad cow" or something but they also get the high end tax cuts. Just in case you want clarification on how reaganomics cause abortions. Also lest anyone think I'm a religious nut I am against censorship but republican tax cut go tward opening porn studios. Let's say you can't censor, what then, discrepency of wealth and an education that must be bought. Those are the problems.

Wow, Hugo66, you make no sense. I could have sworn Roe v. Wade legalized abortion, and that Planned Parenthood pushed it. BTW, illegal immigration is exactly the reason real wages have declined. If an employer can hire an illegal for $5/hr without any withholding or taxes vs an American at $15/hr, plus w/h & taxes, which will he hire? Now the American has to take a lower wage to compete, but prices do not go down. So, Reagan's tax cuts and deregulation did not cause the problems, the Democrat Congress's amnesty program (which Pres. Reagan unfortunately signed) caused it. Socialism has failed everywhere it has been tried. Only capitalism thrives. Sweden is successful despite its socialism, not because of it; its prosperity derives from the capitalism it allows. Again, read the Bible; don't cut it up for your own twisted ends.

Dear chavez66, I have read and meditated upon the Holy Bible every day for over 12 years; since I was truly born again of the Spirit in 1996. In fact, I've read it completely through, Genesis to Revelation, many times. I'd be interested to know (if you will tell the truth), how much of it you have actually read yourself. I ask this because your understanding of it (or lack thereof), belies your criticism of those of us who *do* understand it. Be careful of telling the Children of God that we don't understand His Book or hear His Voice. Because, by His grace, and through His Spirit, we do! Abortion, homosexual behavior, and dividing His creation into "secular" and "religious" (there is NO such thing!) are also grevious sins among the sins of selfishness and greed. Your Democratic party openly embraces these first three sins. You have NO basis for stating that My Savior is "in every conceivable way more of a democrat than a republican". You're just dead wrong. He transcends all politicians, political parties, and politics itself. I repeat: The Light shines in the darkness... ... but the darkness has not understood it.

Steve Taylor sang in "Meltdown" "Dylan may be fillin' The puddle they designed. Is it gonna take a miracle To make up his mind?" Those are pretty good lyrics, and just about sums up Dylan's backslidden state.

Hey Subby, You make some good points here - re: Contemporary Christian music. The gospel is a fantastic message -- but the Holy Spirit can use folks with true artistry gifts to really bring it home. Have you every listened to Rich Mullin's stuff? ... particularly the cuts that don't make it to the popular lists. IMHO, Rich was a true musical genius. He's making music with the angels now. Looking forward to hearing what he's come up with, once I get up there! God bless...

In response to Maranatha.Shalom. It truly saddens me that you can be fooled by either political party. Both the Democrats and Republicans are secular. The Republicans have wrapped themselves in a veneer of righteousness in order to win your vote, while killing hundreds of thousands of innocent babies and children, turning there backs on the poor and destitute of this country, and lying and cheating in order to keep power. I'm making no excuses anyone who believes abortion is OK. I don't. It does concern me that if we allow our government to decide what a mother does with her children, turning the decision over to the lawyers and politicians, one day we may become like China with our lawyers and politicians deciding that we have too many children and making laws that require us to kill them. So I personally favor civil liberties and education over mandates. Keep praying and meditating brother. May the spirit of Christ be with you.