Bitter, clinging thumper here!!
Posted on 04/11/2013 8:43:04 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
It seems people have misunderstood, as well as misrepresented, the church's role and influence in "secular society." The early Christians lived in the secular society of Rome, but by heralding the good news of salvation, what some might call "thumping," their words along with their deeds changed all of society of their day. In present-day America, however, secularists have taken over and changed the rules of the debate on so many key cultural issues.
Religion, or more accurately, the Christian way of life, is being shoved out of not only politics but the American culture. We believers are being forced to accept things anathema to our way of thinking and living -- accept them or be labeled "haters" or, more recently, "thumpers." Every Christian is keenly aware of the Great Commission, where Jesus commanded, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit." (Matthew 28:19). Christians in the earliest days of the Church did not keep silent about their faith, bringing it with them (and many times at great cost) into the public arena. St. Paul debated at the illustrious Mars Hill with Greek and Athenian scholars (see Acts, Chapter 17). Many there, in fact, welcomed his insights and reasoning skills.
Others, including both civic and religious leaders of the day, wanted him to keep his views to himself. Think about it: Christianity in a few hundred years after the resurrection of its namesake had changed the entire Roman Empire. And certainly not by keeping its beliefs bottled up, only to be uncorked for an hour or two every Sunday. No, the Good News was front-and-center in a believer's life, sometimes even shouted from the mountaintops (when the spirit so moved).
(Excerpt) Read more at americanthinker.com ...
AUTHOR CONTINUES
If the Supreme Court sanctions gay marriage, God and country will both soon fade away. America will fast become like Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Germany. It may be that the day is near when any church unwilling to preach the State’s “gospel” will not be allowed to exist. (Woe to churches which currently meet on public property — in school auditoriums, for example.)
If we Christian’s are no longer able to share what the God of the Universe has revealed to us, how can anyone’s thinking on gay marriage or abortion or taking care of the planet or whatever be shaped or swayed?
I walked past a parked car the other day that was plastered with bumper stickers championing a far-left point of view. One that especially grabbed my attention said, “The last time religion and politics mixed, People got burned at the stake!”
CLICK ABOVE LINK FOR THE REST
The Mainstream News Media and idiotic pop culture are ruining the country.
Yeah, I know .. lifestyle evangelism was tried years ago and was labeled heresy and lazy/cowardly evangelization.
I remember, though ,,, in the 50's, in Boston ... everything was shut down on Sunday and the neighborhood(s) were empty of people at home ... we were all in church(es)
My best friend was a Congregationalist while I was being taught to be a Catholic
Perhaps people today are more concerned with whose image is on their own coin and less defined by WWJD.
We have forgotten our first love.
I hear you, on the occasion we run late and don’t make the 8:30 traditional service we have to attend the 10:50 rock and roll show, casual dress is optional (by that I mean spandex, flip-flops, and pajamas can be seen all in the name of acceptance). I come away all depressed.
Like the article says, things change...
The early Christians first impacted the Roman during the time of Nero when Seneca noted the Christian women would come each morning and rescue the abandoned infants at a fountain the Romans had dedicated to such use. Deeds as well as words.
The rock music always puts me off but the casual dress thing doesn’t bother me as much because I’d rather see that than empty seats. Although, smelling bad is an entirely different thing.
I find myself coming home from mass angry. Not good. Playing loud music with percussion during communion like it’s some sort of concert! It’s a big show for them. Whatever happened to sacred music choirs? I swear the other week someone actually came in with their iPod and headphones on!!!! That was beyond. Flipflops, short shorts. Sweatpants. So sick of these people. I would rather they stay home.
“..... the Christian way of life, is being shoved out of not only politics but the American culture.”
Or, it could be the lack thereof, just as Israel fell to hedonism.
I feel like that sometimes, then pray upon it. The music is that hardest part for me but there are other things that get me too like the meet and greet before service. ( Lutheran Service )
Here is an example, I just hate the part where you have to shake your neighbor's hand before the start of service because people don't really look at you and could really care less if they were shaking your hand because they were already looking at the next person.
So I decided to take that opportunity to smile more and genuinely be happy to shake that person's hand, letting them know that I am happy to meet them. It's a small thing but it's a start.
I don't know what to do about the music other than to get up early and attend the traditional service but with other things, I have to take those opportunities to act.
Bitter, clinging thumper here!!
You need your own sticker for just such an opportunity. Place above the others:
Since I posted #15, I’ve been wondering if I worded it so that you understood — I meant that you should put that sticker on the leftist’s car, not your own! No offense intended...
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