Are you suggesting Muslims are justified in killing Christians because of the Catholic Church crusading period?
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Just to be fair, Christians have been doing the same thing, in the name of God, for centuries. There was this little era called the Crusades...
The Middle East hasn't forgotten about.
Vote our Christian beliefs? I agree with you mostly, but not there. America is a nation of the world, and whether or not we spend our time on politics and voting, it will still be on a downward spiral. We have to be a distinct people. We have to allow no grey areas! The unjustified things must be thrown away, so that the world may see that this is a strange people, and that people would hate us because our lifestyles would offend them. If the world finds us offensive, we should make ourselves more offensive! We ought to taunt the world and bait the world, fearing nothing but God and showing nothing but the Love of Christ and the Spirit of God! America is part of the world - and we should not love the world. We must love the people of the world and we must offend them, for if their consciences aren't kindled by our very dress and character, then we aren't witnessing as well as we can. (And I don't say I'm doing this - nay, I also have a very lacking witness.)
We are seeing the loss of religious freedoms today. Any business, church, that refuses to participate in same sex marriages will be sued. Our judicial system defeated DOMA, forcing states, like Utah, to perform same sex marriages. They are battling back, but I'm not sure they will win. We have become politically correct, Merry Christmas was changed to happy holidays. Many states have outlawed the creche, they don't want to offend non-believers with these exhibits of Christ's birth. Also, we have seen crosses removed from areas near expressways, main traffic exchanges, many having been in place for decades. Let's not forget the schools, the war going on there to remove anything, even in history classes, that teaches about the founding of this country. Our president stood up and said America is NOT a Christian nation.
Now we have the added problem of legal marijuana sales to contend with. States are going broke, Chicago is a great example, these drugs look like a cash cow for them. They have no idea what they are doing. There is little way to regulate growth, strength, taxation, who and where it is used, safety of children in the home, but the states are throwing caution to the wind in favor of "money". We can't handle legalized alcohol sales and use, how in the world will we handle drugs? Once the door is open for marijuana, believe me the other drugs will follow in hot pursuit.
This country is on a downward spiral, morals are all but gone, greed is the driving force behind much we see, and our government could care less about the citizens. They cater to the rich, powerful, anyone that can keep them in their cushy seats of power.
If we don't start making better choices, vote our Christian beliefs, nothing will change. I keep thinking about the verse, "if God be for you, who can be against you", if we could get past our differences, we could change the world. As long as we try to be a friend to the world, not offend those living in sin, we will remain an ENEMY of God. On judgment day we will stand before God and be judged for those decisions.
Vote our Christian beliefs? I agree with you mostly, but not there. America is a nation of the world, and whether or not we spend our time on politics and voting, it will still be on a downward spiral. We have to be a distinct people. We have to allow no grey areas! The unjustified things must be thrown away, so that the world may see that this is a strange people, and that people would hate us because our lifestyles would offend them. If the world finds us offensive, we should make ourselves more offensive! We ought to taunt the world and bait the world, fearing nothing but God and showing nothing but the Love of Christ and the Spirit of God! America is part of the world - and we should not love the world. We must love the people of the world and we must offend them, for if their consciences aren't kindled by our very dress and character, then we aren't witnessing as well as we can. (And I don't say I'm doing this - nay, I also have a very lacking witness.)
If we don't stand up, defend our beliefs, we are going to lose the ability to practice them. No church, Christian business owner, should be forced by laws our government enacts to go against God's word. The courts fined a Christian bakery owner $50,000 because he refused to bake a wedding cake for a same sex couple. He was admonished if he did this in the future, he would continue to be fined in each and every case.
Yes, we are supposed to be an odd people, to love the lost, to witness so others would be saved, but if we lose our voice how will the lost hear? These politicians only care about "money", and the atheists have lots of it. The day is coming when we will be silenced, unless we stop it now!!
If we don't stand up, defend our beliefs, we are going to lose the ability to practice them. No church, Christian business owner, should be forced by laws our government enacts to go against God's word. The courts fined a Christian bakery owner $50,000 because he refused to bake a wedding cake for a same sex couple. He was admonished if he did this in the future, he would continue to be fined in each and every case.
Yes, we are supposed to be an odd people, to love the lost, to witness so others would be saved, but if we lose our voice how will the lost hear? These politicians only care about "money", and the atheists have lots of it. The day is coming when we will be silenced, unless we stop it now!!
I agree 100% Good points.
There are those who suggest we Christians keep silent, but with all you stated, which is 1005 the truth, it is clear the world needs Christians to be a light to the world and teach them morals. Paul preached Gods words in the streets of the cities, at the temples of false gods. We need to do the same.
But that's what the spirit of martyrdom demands. Christ did not 'fight for his rights' or try to change the Jewish laws. He stood in perfect righteousness and He was killed. And ought we not to imitate Christ?
Hundreds of years ago, even in the times of Paul, Christians were being put to death for their faith. We should never be silenced, but we shouldn't try and 'fight for our rights' or 'try to change the world', because the world is evil, and it is destined to evil. As I've said in another thread, a Godly nation cannot exist because as soon as it pulls the first trigger it would lose it's Godliness. And maintaining it's Godliness, it would probably be the shortest lived nation in the world - no doubt an invasion would be imminent for this pacifist country.
Our battle is spiritual - not with politicians or with people, but with Satan and the very spirit of the world (and, of course, the fallen angels that fell with him). Why get involved with politics? There's a lot more pressing things to do. If you want to serve Christ, why not go to Africa or South America or even to a godless neighborhood and preach there! I'm sure the salvation of souls is much more pressing then mere 'Christian rights'! We are bound by the law as long as it stays in sync with God's law - but when it contradicts God's law, God's law takes priority. If the government says you can't preach, that's when you become an outlaw. But when the government says things like 'you must pay taxes' or 'you must wear your seatbelt', you have to obey them simply because God put these rulers above you, and by submitting to them you are a witness to them.
1 Peter 2:13, 14: "Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well."
But that's what the spirit of martyrdom demands. Christ did not 'fight for his rights' or try to change the Jewish laws. He stood in perfect righteousness and He was killed. And ought we not to imitate Christ?
Hundreds of years ago, even in the times of Paul, Christians were being put to death for their faith. We should never be silenced, but we shouldn't try and 'fight for our rights' or 'try to change the world', because the world is evil, and it is destined to evil. As I've said in another thread, a Godly nation cannot exist because as soon as it pulls the first trigger it would lose it's Godliness. And maintaining it's Godliness, it would probably be the shortest lived nation in the world - no doubt an invasion would be imminent for this pacifist country.
Our battle is spiritual - not with politicians or with people, but with Satan and the very spirit of the world (and, of course, the fallen angels that fell with him). Why get involved with politics? There's a lot more pressing things to do. If you want to serve Christ, why not go to Africa or South America or even to a godless neighborhood and preach there! I'm sure the salvation of souls is much more pressing then mere 'Christian rights'! We are bound by the law as long as it stays in sync with God's law - but when it contradicts God's law, God's law takes priority. If the government says you can't preach, that's when you become an outlaw. But when the government says things like 'you must pay taxes' or 'you must wear your seatbelt', you have to obey them simply because God put these rulers above you, and by submitting to them you are a witness to them.
1 Peter 2:13, 14: "Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme; Or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evildoers, and for the praise of them that do well."
AFM makes a good point about us coming together as Christians. We need to support every Christian exercising their right no matter how small the case. How do you defeat and army? You divide them. If we are divide we can not stand.
One case take what happen on this forum with Phil Roberson. Someone posted supporting him and there were a few Christians who objected, even though most everyone agree what he said was Biblical they said it was crude. Does not matter we need to support him as well as Hobby Lobby, and Chick fe la. We need to group together even if we disagree on theology because we are children of God.
do you agree?
Our problem, we have been silent for so long we're afraid to take a stand. If we do we will become extremely unpopular with our friends, on our jobs, even in our churches.
St John wrote to the seven churches in Revelations, I hate to think what he would say to present day churches. We are doing the same things they did, but to a greater degree. We have "denominations" that ordain practicing homosexuals and lesbians into the ministry. This is an absolute slap in God's face.
If we don't take a stand, refuse to go along with what's shoved down our throats, bring discomfort down on our heads, God is going to give us our just desserts. It has taken decades to get to this point, that's the past and we can't change that. But, we still have time to work, at least until God calls us home, to make changes. It's truly now or never, the church better wake up quickly.
The disciples were sent to teach, lead the lost, admonish in brotherly love fellow Christians that have failed to follow Jesus' teachings, and those who refused to repent were tossed out of the church. John, the baptizer, got his head chopped off for going against the "church", and calling out the corrupt government. Yes, people died defending Jesus, they were vocal, refusing to bend their knees to false gods. Even Jesus became angry, remember, he overturned the tables of the money changers in the temple. Matthew 10:34 says, "Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword."
If we don't stand for God, refuse to go quietly along with every ungodly thing this country wants, we are going to answer Him. I refuse to have my right to serve God taken away by a corrupt government. I will make my wants known through prayer, and the ballot box.
You will never have the right to serve God taken away. If a government says you can't serve God, that is where that government's authority ends. God has allowed every rule that has come to pass to come to pass, and God has put all authorities in their place.
Romans 13:1 - Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God.
Also, the money-changer incident was different. He was dealing with the Church here, and the government has no authority regarding religious or purely Christian matters. God is the master of the Church, and if the government says you can't have Church services, then you don't obey them. And if they try to arrest you? You go out and have Church services in secret. That's what the Russian Christians did under communist reign. They'd stand in forests and have their Church services there.
@Bluelion
He did, indeed, use his citizenship occasionally. But when he used it, it wasn't to demand more rights, but simply, when he was brought to trial, to claim the rights already promised to him as a roman citizen. (Forgive me if I misremember the story at all) However, I don't believe he ever petitioned for more rights, nor do I believe that he tried to convince people that he deserved rights. His main priority, I believe, was fighting spiritual warfare, not physical.
Take a stand? How? By becoming some vast political party and bullying America into fear like the homosexuals are doing? We have to be physically passive beyond measure yet spiritually we have to be the boldest warriors on the face of the Earth, more like suicide bombers than actual soldiers - that is to say, 100% offense and 0% defense.
What you're suggesting is simply illogical! Let me put it this way. You have a lump of play dough. Except this play dough is pure evil. Bear with me here. Now you want to take this play dough and mold it somehow so that it becomes good. But the very essence of this play dough is evil, and therefore all the attempts will be vain! You'd be better off throwing it in the garbage. What would political changes do? You might, might, just succeed and get a few laws passed. And what would that do? An oppressed joyful people is a better example of God's glory than a free joyful people. Free people tend to be more joyful naturally. An oppressed people tend towards bitterness and misery. But if you have joy in your bonds you will be a witness against the world, and the world will hate you the more, and you will condemn the world.
Yes, absolutely. The problem, denominations. People have taken the word of God, picked what made them feel good, created man-made rules, and if you don't follow/believe as they want you to, you're not considered to be a "Christian". I wish we could take God's word as it's written, not add or delete, we would be unstoppable. We forget that in heaven there is only one religion, Judaism. There are no spots for denomination, color, education, financial standing, we are "All" equal in God's sight. When we finally learn that one fact, then maybe the church will be the power it was meant to be.
If, we as a people, can't sing Christmas carols about Christ's birth, say Merry Christmas, place manger scenes where people can see them, because it OFFENDS non-believers, how long before we can no longer watch anything religious on TV, the internet, hand out tracts, pray in public? Our schools were sued by the group Freedom From Religion, two students were offended by prayer before football games. The students can no longer pray and the teachers are forbidden to pray with them.
If we don't stand up for our religious freedoms they will absolutely be taken away. Jesus wasn't passive, turning over the tables of the money changers, running the sacrifice sellers out. He never failed to call the Pharisees out, comparing them to "whitewashed sepulchers full of dead men's bones", He wasn't afraid to hurt their feelings, show them to be hypocrites, to preach against their false teachings. We have to do the same. I'm not willing to go quietly, letting unbelievers dictate how I will live for God, how I will serve Him, what I can say, because I will one day stand before Him and be ashamed.
You are very right. In martial arts when we got lost we went back to the root. The root is the basics. Maybe if we all got back to the basics. Most of the disagreements come from the finer points, or more advanced stuff.
The basics are Love, Faith, Hope. Maybe we need to teach more from the Bible, I think we have strayed to far in many Churches.
But what do we do about the wolves? Those Christians which say they are Christians but are in fact wolves.
So I was watching star trek the series. The episode was produced around 2005 or so. It was a story about these religious nuts who took over the ship. These people where in a war on their world with people who believed the world was created in 9 days, and the others thought 10. There were a few of them that question religion and they wanted to have an abortion and this was perfectly ok with the doc on the ship of enterprise, but they had to do it in secret because of their nutty leader.
The crew of Enterprise reclaimed the ship and took them back to their home world where it had all be destroyed by war, and the episode seem to be saying religious people are nuts and this is where religion gets you. On the show religious people objected to science, and the crew argued science has debunked the myth about Gods.
Never before has star trek taken a pro abortion anti religious stance on their show before.
Media is the way in which the government desensitize people to push there agenda. Is there a future in which religion all religion being banned? With the argument that it only cause wars and promotes hating other people?
I question this because the anti christ will claim to be God, and people will believe he is Jesus, so there must be religion at the end times.
All this is speculation of course.
But it would seem even old TV shows are now taking a liberal stance of being for gay marriage and for abortions, and against religion. The movies however are trying to cash in on Christianity with making of movies from Bible stories.
Where do you see this world head in the next 10 years, because i am seeing an all attack on Christianity, is anyone else seeing this?
I think there are dark days ahead, do you believe the rapture is near, and what do you believe about that?
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