The end of 'Christianity lite' is near

Edmonton Sun ^ | December 21, 2003 | TED BYFIELD

[Aquinasfan]

This may sound extreme, but I think it will happen. Mel Gibson's movie, The Passion, will prove to be the most attended Hollywood movie ever made.

I said this months ago, and I'm sticking to it. This will be one of the top 10 grossing movies of all time.

[PetroniusMaximus]

I have been watching this stuff also. Certain nations in Africa were 2% Christian 100 years ago - now they are 80%. And I have friends that have witnessed what is going on in China first hand. Their reports are ASTOUNDING. Some of the stuff they talk about is like something from the book of Acts.

I was (myopically) thinking only of the West (America/Europe) where things seem to be rapidly polarizing. The way the Africans have stood up to the ECUSA only highlights the spiritual darkness that seems to be enveloping our country. Could you have imagined this would happen in the USA a hundred years ago?

The movement of the Spirit into these previously unreached areas (unreached on a large scale) is very heartening because it seems to be a fulfillment of Matt 24 -"And this gospel of the kingdom shall be preached in all the world for a witness unto all nations; and then shall the end come."

I believe it's pretty clear the Antichrist will arise from the West (or Israel). I don't see revival coming in the West. I see dark clouds gathering.

[Al Simmons]

.."- and until the end, there will always be the anti-Church (those who call themselves Christians, but deny the power of thereof)."

whom John, I believe, calls "antichrists"..which is why I have always been 100% factually correct when I pointed out to various libs that Bill Clinton IS AN "antichrist"....and the "temporal" leader of the aforementioned group...

[Zipporah]

I am member of the Church of God, Cleveland, Tennessee.

[#3Fan]

God isn't a fur tree?

The bible says God says He is like a fir tree. I mistakenly said He was a fir tree where I was commenting on the bible verse. I got the verse right but my comment immediately after was wrong. It's important because we shouldn't worship fir trees. We can recognize that God is like a fir tree though.

[#3Fan]

Figured I'd throw in a bit of fun -- "Immaculate Conception" refers not to Jesus' being born without sin by a virgin, but to Mary's supposedly being born without sin. That's according to Roman Catholic doctrine....

I'll simply say that only one person (who lived long enough to commit sin) was without sin and that was Jesus.

[#3Fan]

I figured this thread is so filled with ad hominem attacks and arguments about relatively trifling doctrinal points, so it seemed natural to introduce a bit of slightly-off-topic, yet true, information....

Where does the Word say Mary never sinned?

[MHGinTN]

Please, don't get that started on this thread, okay?

[#3Fan]

Please, don't get that started on this thread, okay?

Get what started? I didn't start anything anyway, he pinged me. I simply would like to see documentation that backs it up. I've never heard that theory before. If he can't show me where it says that in the Word, I'll drop it, it's not important to me. I try not to argue about biblical stuff unless someone is purposely being a jerk and he's not from what I can tell so far.

[k2blader]

I so hope Byfield is right.

[Iowegian]

That's interesting, my parents were members of that denomination years ago and my Dad always had a Scofield reference Bible.

[k2blader]

Er, I'll take this under advisement. Our church is going to begin a study on Warren's "A Purpose Driven Life" next year.

Usually I'm very wary of "inspirational best-sellers". But we got our books just this past Sunday, and on the back cover were words of praise from the Rev. Billy Graham and Franklin Graham, whom I consider quite "solid" in their preaching of biblical truths.

That said, I really have no idea what's in the book. Guess I'll find out soon enough. There's nothing wrong with reading with discernment.

[LS]

But is He like a fur tree?

[#3Fan]

fir

[LS]

Never mind. It was a joke, and obviously you misplaced your humor bone.

[Havoc]

Men's opinions and their journey from opinion, through theory, then dressed by logic into philosophy and finally doctrinalized as superior to scripture is the most widespread error out there. Having a form of Godliness (look and feel without real substance) has been the default for nearly 2000 years as people try to convince themselves that by making a master of their philosophy somehow makes that philosophy the Christ. Christ isn't a philosophy of your making or anyone elses. Nor is the covenant of your making or that of any other man. God sent Christ and authored the covenant. If God had intended men's philosophies to stand as part of His covenant, they would have been written in by His will rather than spurned by His will.

There are many out there that have the look and sound of Christianity on the surface; but, as soon as you discuss some specific thing that betrays the philosophy they follow, the claws and fangs come forth. The mystery of iniquity has been posing its following as US - trying to look like us, sound like us and in the doing, pervert the message so that the truth is lost though a form be followed.
People understand that a thief may rob them by trying to sell them a paste for diamonds; but the thought that the Devil would do the same in order to mislead and at the same time make the followers think they do right just doesn't occur and is actually offensive. Ignorance knows no greater heights than that found in the Religiously wise and those who blindly put their faith in them rather than in God.

Grace and peace.

[MizRiz9]

Yes, St. Nicholas was in Asia Minor but he was an Italian Missionary from Bari whose mission was IN Turkey. So your "of Turkey" is a little misleading.....

[Havoc]

Catholicism? Catholicism came later. It was called Christianity early on and what the Apostles taught was the starting out default. Catholicism is a huge big religion largely based in philosophy; but, to say it is the original is factually incorrect. You might say it is old; but and if truth and error be of differing ages, is the truth less truth for being young? Or for those that think themselves enlightened for rebelling against obvious wrong, is the outcome of retaining some error while denouncing other a better or worse position?

God must be so perfect and even handed that he should have
retained from us such a truth for 1300 years that mankind must submit itself to a particular bishop or risk his salvation. But, then this is where the philosophies of men intrude upon what Christ said. Which is true, that which God uttered through his son, or that which men utter on their own behalf in God's stead. Either salvation is believing and confessing or it is believing and confessing and bowing to the Bishop of Rome. Of course I've chosen but one thing. But show us where Christ confirms this or withdraw and consider ho philosophy supplanted that which Jesus gave us in your mind. It hasn't supplanted it in mine and the two things are irreconcileable. Many philosophers claim the superior philosophy. Christ didn't come with philosophy - he came with God's message. If your message don't match His, where is your claim? And of what worth. That charge I lay at the feet of all who teach philosophy and preach it to be christian.

[Havoc]

IS THIS STILL VALID FOR US TO DO?

Context. The burdens these priests placed upon their congregations were such as not to be injurious to the soul. So two things must be considered, the extent of authority of a minister AND whether what they teach is injurious to the soul. If you don't know scripture, how can you judge the latter. And as it is the duty of a minister to bring only the message that Christ brought, if he teach other than that, he has already violated his office and therefore any athority he may have. This is an oft used device that tells us it is somehow reasonable to follow a wolf in the pulpit if he bears a title. Ignorance. Eve wasn't decieved, and blaming it on the serpent didn't float with God any more than blaming it on the minister will. The blind following the blind is what the world does according to scripture. Some would have us believe it is the state we should assume as Christians. Scripture tells us by example that we are to know the message and judge the message of others against it. Else how can you know if one comes preaching another gospel if you don't even know the extent of the one you claim to believe. Christ didn't say his people perish for lack of intelligence or blind allegiance to men. He said they perish for lack of knowledge of God's word. What claims to be Christian these days hardly knows a word of scripture but can list off beliefs of their individual philosophy readily. Soo telling. Christ said we'll know them by what follows them - the gifts of the spirit.. not by the number of doctrines they create to themselves and pretend come from on high.

[#3Fan]

Never mind. It was a joke, and obviously you misplaced your humor bone.

I guess so. I don't get it.