PRESIDENT BUSH’S SPEECH A CHALLENGE TO CHRISTIANS

Moody News ^ | 21 January AD 2004 | The Revd. Dr. Moody Adams

[Ryan Bailey]

PRESIDENT BUSH’S SPEECH A CHALLENGE TO CHRISTIANS

The theme of President Bush’s State of the Union speech was “defense”: “Our greatest responsibility is the active defense of the American people,” which puts a heavy responsibility on Christians.

He praised the soldiers defending us from terrorism: “The men and women of the American military — they have taken the hardest duty. We have seen their skill and courage in armored charges, and midnight raids, and lonely hours on faithful watch.” They fight to capture or kill the terrorists. But only the soldiers of the Cross can stop Islam from producing more terrorists by converting those who believe they must kill infidels to please God.

Our President praised those defending our youth from drugs through “aggressive education, treatment and law enforcement,” that have reduced young drug users by 400,000 since 2001. But only the gospel of Christ can give youth a reality that is preferable to a drug escape from reality.

President Bush praised Congress for defending the American family by passing the Defense of Marriage Act, signed in 1996 by President Clinton that protects marriage under federal law as the union of a man and a woman. But it is going to take an energized, massive Christian army to help pass a constitutional amendment that will stop the activist judges trying to re-define marriage.

The President called for a $300-million Prisoner Re-entry Initiative to expand job training and placement services to defend the 600,000 Americans leaving prison this year. But,while the government can help by providing jobs, only the power of Jesus Christ can enable them to overcome the temptations crime brings.

Our President declared, “America will never seek a permission slip to defend the security of our people.”

Those of us who are Christians must never seek a permission slip from the politically correct, the pagans, or the American anti-Christs to defend this nation by proclaiming Jesus Christ, “the way, the truth, and the life.”

[Ryan Bailey]

Dr. Adams cites well the moral imperatives delivered within the Presidents address and outlines how we as Christians must expand on these to help our fellow man in fulfilment of our commission.

[thinktwice]

But only the gospel of Christ can give youth a reality

The gospel of Christ is not metaphysically based in reality, it is based in faith and mysticism.

[L,TOWM]

Actually, the Life, Death, and RESURRECTION of Christ is mentioned by more ancient writers and historians than the assasination of Julius Ceaser.

I don't pin my faith on supernatural experience or a mystic faith. I pin it on historical reality.

[JustPlainJoe]

"The gospel of Christ is not metaphysically based in reality, it is based in faith and mysticism.

-only if you're not a Christian do you understand it like that...

For me, it IS based metaphysically in reality.

[trebb]

The gospel of Christ is not metaphysically based in reality, it is based in faith and mysticism.

Many of us believe the Gospel of Christ to be the Truth and Good News of Christ as evidence of God's Grace - if it isn't the Truth, then God is a lie. Basically, you can decide that God is everything, or He is nothing; I choose everything...

[Abe Froman]

Is it just me or is it not quite so obvious how spending money taken under coercion for the benefit of others is the "Christian" thing to do? Voluntarily giving help or a job to a convict = Christian compassion. Forcing other people to do the same under threat of imprisonment or fine = something else entirely. Jesus told us to give to the poor, not steal from others and give that to the poor.

Bush is a typical clueless Christian, apparently incapable of connecting Jesus' teaching to social policy.

I'm all for defending our country when it has been attacked. I just can't seem to recall when the Iraqi military, or any agents acting under direction of any Iraqi authority, attacked one of the 50 states or any United States territory. Someone remind me when that took place.

[bibarnes]

It isn't based on mysticism at all. It is based on fact. The bible has been proven right many times by archaeological findings. I remember a teacher telling me (back in the 50's) that Pontius Pilate was a "legendary" figure and didn't really exist. Years later I read where a corner stone was discovered with his name on it and was dated at the time the bible tells us he was Procurator of Jerusalem.

Christianity is not mysticism it is an acknowledgment of the truth that Christ is "THE ONLY WAY" to "PARADISE" (read eternal life).

[Abe Froman]

That's interesting, there are virtually no credible scholars who would disagree with the notion that Jesus existed. Furthermore the New Testament has been shown to be singularly authentic among all ancient literature. Perhaps you might want to look into it more deeply before you make such a comment.

Or is it perhaps that you write it off as mysticism because you don't like the message?

[Western Phil]

" I just can't seem to recall when the Iraqi military, or any agents acting under direction of any Iraqi authority, attacked one of the 50 states or any United States territory. Someone remind me when that took place."

Feb 26, 1993. Check out Ramzi Yousef.

[bibarnes]

Sometimes you have to "pre-empt". When Pearl Harbor was bombed we declared war on Germany. At that point we had not been attacked by Germany.

If I have good reason to expect you to hit me, I will hit you first or run away and hide.

A country like the US can't hide and can't run away. Our borders are open and our country is free. That makes us vulnerable, but vulnerable is better than what the Soviet Union imposed on eastern Europe.

[alnick]

Think twice.

[thinktwice]

Actually, the Life, Death, and RESURRECTION of Christ is mentioned by more ancient writers and historians than the assasination of Julius Ceaser.

I don't pin my faith on supernatural experience or a mystic faith. I pin it on historical reality

In reality, Christ lived and died, but ... his resurrection is not historical reality, it is a matter of mystical faith.

[keats5]

I don't believe you exist. Therefore, you don't.

[thinktwice]

I'm all for defending our country when it has been attacked.

So am I, and it was attacked on 11 September 2001 by terrorists supported by nations such as Iraq.

All such nations -- and those people dancing in the streets over the 9/11 attack -- are America's enemies in this current war.

You should be thanking God that President Bush is smart enough -- and brave enough -- to identify and attack them.

[thinktwice]

Christianity is not mysticism

I'll bet that you know the difference between reality and fantasy. All you need to do now is apply what you know in that regard to ... religous beliefs.

[keats5]

Why Perfectly Rational People Believe in the Resurrection

[AbsoluteJustice]

"The gospel of Christ is not metaphysically based in reality, it is based in faith and mysticism."

Oh NO! prepare to be blogged as an anti-christ.

[thinktwice]

if it (the Gospel of Christ) isn't the Truth, then God is a lie.

Would that include a transcendental God?

[AbsoluteJustice]

Don't respond to Abe he is a sort of hit and run tactician. He throws things out without EVER pointing to facts to see if it sticks. Remind you of a typical party?

If he cannot back statements up with a "logical" hypothesis or FACT then don't even regard it. Treat it as the passing wind. Only until you respond to people like him to you empower those individuals. For me I tend to ignore them.

[tdunbar]

N.T. Wright's "The Resurrection of the Son of God" is precisely on the historical reality of the resurrection and argues in a manner that is compatible with other historical research. If you're really interested you might check it out.