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A rabbi's warning to U.S. Christians
worldnet via virtueonline ^ | 1. 13. 07 | Rabbi Daniel Lapin

Posted on 01/14/2007 4:53:30 PM PST by freedomdefender

I am certainly not a Churchill. I am not even a Revel. I am having enough trouble just trying to be a Lapin. But I am issuing a very serious warning about deep consequences, just as they did. It is a warning about the earliest stages of what could become a cataract of disasters if not resisted now.

During the 1930s, Winston Churchill desperately tried to persuade the English people and their government to see that Hitler meant to end their way of life. The British ignored Churchill, which gave Hitler nearly 10 years to build up his military forces. It wasn't until Hitler actually drew blood that the British realized they had a war on their hands. It turned out to be a far longer and more destructive war than it needed to be had Churchill's early warning been heeded.

In 1983, a brave French writer, Jean-Francois Revel, wrote a book called "How Democracies Perish." In this remarkable volume, he described how communism's aim is world conquest. For decades he had been trying to warn of communism's very real threat. Yet in January 1982, a high State Department official said: "We Americans are not solving problems, we are the problem." (Some things never change.) A good portion of the planet fell to communism, which brought misery and death to millions because we failed to recognize in time that others meant to harm us.

Heaven knows there was enough warning during the 1980s of the intention of part of the Islamic world to take yet another crack at world domination. Yet instead of seeing each deadly assault on our interests around the world as a test of our resolve, we ignored it. We failed the test and lost 3,000 Americans in two unforgettable hours.

I am not going to argue that what is happening now is on the same scale as the examples I cite above, but a serious war is being waged against a group of Americans. I am certain that if we lose this war, the consequences for American civilization will be dire.

Phase one of this war I describe is a propaganda blitzkrieg that is eerily reminiscent of how effectively the Goebbels propaganda machine softened up the German people for what was to come.

There is no better term than propaganda blitzkrieg to describe what has been unleashed against Christian conservatives recently.

Consider the long list of anti-Christian books that have been published in recent months. Here are just a few samples of more than 30 similar titles, all from mainstream publishers:

"American Fascists: The Christian Right and the War on America"

"The Baptizing of America: The Religious Right's Plans for the Rest of Us"

"The End of Faith: Religion, Terror, and the Future of Reason"

"Piety & Politics: The Right-wing Assault on Religious Freedom"

"Atheist Universe: The Thinking Person's Answer to Christian Fundamentalism"

"Thy Kingdom Come: How the Religious Right Distorts the Faith and Threatens America"

"Religion Gone Bad: The Hidden Dangers of the Christian Right"

What is truly alarming is that there are more of these books for sale at your local large book store warning against the perils of fervent Christianity than those warning against the perils of fervent Islam. Does anyone seriously think America is more seriously jeopardized by Christian conservatives than by Islamic zealots? (Yep, that loonytunes loudmouth, Rosie O'DonnelI, said something to that effect on the popular TV show, "The View" - RJ) fear that many Americans believe just that in the same way that many pre-World War II Westerners considered Churchill a bigger threat than Hitler.

Some may say that today's proliferation of anti-Christian print propaganda is nothing to become worried about. To them I ask two questions:

First, would you be so sanguine if the target of this loathsome library were Jewish? Just try changing the titles in some of the books I mention above to reflect anti-Semitism instead of rampant anti-Christianism and you'll see what I mean.

Second, major movements that changed the way Americans felt and acted came about through books, often only one book. Think of Rachel Carson's 1962 error-filled "Silent Spring" that resulted in the pointless banning of the insecticide DDT and many unnecessary deaths. Other books that caused upheavals in our nation were Upton Sinclair's "The Jungle," many of Ayn Rand's books and of course "Uncle Tom's Cabin." ("Population Bomb" by Paul Ehrlich is another...I confess reading it as student at university & being mightily impressed by it....but since I'm older & bit wiser, I know now it was a lot of propaganda & hot air & unproven assumptions....the truth is the opposite - RJ)

No, I would advise you not to underestimate the power of books to alter the behavior of the American public, and I fear for an America influenced to detest Christianity by this hate-filled catalog.

It is not just books but popular entertainment also that beams the most lurid anti-Christian propaganda into the hearts and minds of viewers. One need only think of who the real targets of the recent hit movie "Borat" are. The brilliant Jewish moviemaker Sacha Baron Cohen, as his title character, using borderline dishonest wiles, lures some innocent but unsophisticated country folk, obviously Christians, to join him in his outrageously anti-Semitic antics. Cohen then triumphantly claims to have exposed anti-Semitism. In fact, he has revealed nothing other than the latent anti-Christianism of America's social, economic and academic secular elites.

Even the recent PBS documentary, "Anti-Semitism in the 21st Century: The Resurgence," managed to do more attacking Christianity than defending Judaism.

Richard Dawkins, an Oxford University professor, is one of the generals in the anti-Christian army of the secular left. American academia treats him with reverence and hangs on his every word when he insists that "religious myths ought not to be tolerated."

For those with a slightly more tolerant outlook, he asks, "It's one thing to say people should be free to believe whatever they like, but should they be free to impose their beliefs on their children?" He suggests that the state should intervene to protect children from their parents' religious beliefs. Needless to say, he means Christian beliefs, of course. Muslim beliefs add to England's charmingly diverse cultural landscape.

The war is against those who regard the Bible to be God's revelation to humanity and the Ten Commandments to be His set of rules for all time. Phase one in this war is to make Christianity, well, sort of socially unacceptable. Something only foolish, poor and ugly people could turn to.

We have seen how a carefully constructed campaign pretty much made it socially unacceptable to drink and drive. For years, there had been stringent laws against drunk driving. They achieved little. In the end, the practice was all but eliminated by groups allied with Mothers Against Drunk Driving and their effective ways of changing the way Americans thought about it.

We have seen how a carefully constructed campaign has pretty much made it socially unacceptable to smoke. In the face of a relentless campaign (dare one call it propaganda?), Americans became docile and forfeited the right to make their own decisions. Nobody was willing to stand up to the no-smoking tyrants. Nobody even asked whether health was sufficient grounds for freedom to be reduced. Now, entire cities and even states have banned smoking, not only in public places but even in privately owned restaurants.

Tyranny comes when citizens are seduced into trading freedom for the promise of safety and security.

Considerably more intellectual energy is being pumped into the propaganda campaign against Christianity than was ever delivered to the anti-smoking or anti-drunk-driving campaigns. Fervent zealots of secularism are flinging themselves into this anti-Christian war with enormous fanaticism.

If they succeed, Christianity will be driven underground, and its benign influence on the character of America will be lost. In its place we shall see a sinister secularism that menaces Bible believers of all faiths. Once the voice of the Bible has been silenced, the war on Western Civilization can begin and we shall see a long night of barbarism descend on the West.

Without a vibrant and vital Christianity, America is doomed, and without America, the West is doomed.

Which is why I, an Orthodox Jewish rabbi, devoted to Jewish survival, the Torah and Israel am so terrified of American Christianity caving in.

Many of us Jews are ready to stand with you. But you must lead. You must replace your timidity with nerve and your diffidence with daring and determination. You are under attack. Now is the time to resist it.


TOPICS: Culture/Society; Editorial
KEYWORDS: ac; catholic; christophobia; daniellapin; israel; lapin; persecution; rabbi; rabbidaniellapin; religiousleft; revel
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To: Mr. Silverback

I agree with you, but then again, I am essentially a Puritan in my beliefs. Puritans always believed that we should work hard in order to honor God, and not spend our time acting frivolously. The fact is, that is likely to mean you are going to do better than someone who just sits around. But it also means you have more responsibility to give back to God. I give an increasing portion of my income away every year to my church and other ministries. I could be spending that money on a Jaguar, but I am content with keeping my lifestyle pretty modest and driving a Honda Civic.

But I am really troubled by the ministers that teach you that God guarantees you wealth and prosperity. The best racket is that if you just send money to the television shyster, God *must* multiply it ten-fold. Talk about a corruption of the concept of a tithe.


181 posted on 01/16/2007 11:11:28 AM PST by kaehurowing
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To: Thinkin' Gal; Salem
Heaven knows there was enough warning during the 1980s of the intention of part of the Islamic world to take yet another crack at world domination. Yet instead of seeing each deadly assault on our interests around the world as a test of our resolve, we ignored it. We failed the test and lost 3,000 Americans in two unforgettable hours.

Amos 7

1 This is what the Sovereign LORD showed me: He was preparing swarms of locusts after the king's share had been harvested and just as the second crop was coming up. 2 When they had stripped the land clean, I cried out, "Sovereign LORD, forgive! How can Jacob survive? He is so small!"

3 So the LORD relented. "This will not happen," the LORD said.

4 This is what the Sovereign LORD showed me: The Sovereign LORD was calling for judgment by fire; it dried up the great deep and devoured the land. 5 Then I cried out, "Sovereign LORD, I beg you, stop! How can Jacob survive? He is so small!"

6 So the LORD relented. "This will not happen either," the Sovereign LORD said.

***

This is the second wave, the first being the Ottoman Empire.

See: Psalm 83

Golda Meir called the Palestinians ‘locusts’ and she was right on.

182 posted on 01/16/2007 11:27:51 AM PST by Jeremiah Jr (Saturn is in Leo)
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To: Zionist Conspirator
First, the simple fact is that chr*stians cannot save America. Jews must save America and the world by returning to Torah and bringing mankind to the Noachide Laws.

You sure hit the nail on the head with that one! This is the age of Aquarius and water (knowledge) is being poured out on this world.

Habakkuk 2:14 For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the L-RD, as the waters cover the seabed.

183 posted on 01/16/2007 11:32:58 AM PST by Jeremiah Jr (Saturn is in Leo)
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To: freedomdefender

Hmm. A Rabbi named Rabbit. (Lapin=Rabbit in French.)


184 posted on 01/16/2007 11:37:58 AM PST by CholeraJoe (Spork weasels ain't afraid of nuthin' but running out of sardines.)
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To: redpoll

Part of the reason for success of the athiests and Reds is that Christians do not speak with one voice. There might be a billion different flavors of Islam, but there are a billion different flavors of Christianity, two billion if Moslems are identified as heretic Christians. Say anything and a number will call you heretic or perhaps, more politely, mistaken. Say, 'dunk,' and watch out for the sprinklers.


185 posted on 01/16/2007 11:45:45 AM PST by RightWhale
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To: kaehurowing

Where do you put Rick Warren?


186 posted on 01/16/2007 11:57:53 AM PST by JZelle
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To: freedomdefender

Good warning. Big problem. Dems in power. Nothing going to be done about it.


187 posted on 01/16/2007 12:06:04 PM PST by Leftism is Mentally Deranged
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To: California Patriot

>The dirty little secret of Christianity is that most dedicated Christians are cowards when it comes to public controversy. They seem to want what the anti-Christians want for them: To keep it all within four walls. That way lies death.<

Speak for yourself, Pat. Your description in no way resembles any Christian that I know or am. The Rabbi says much the same as what Dr. Alan Keyes says, and they are both right, as Churchill was right. The powers that be have been trying to sweep Christians under the rug for over five decades now in America. It is time to listen. It is time to watch. It is time to do what God says to do.


188 posted on 01/16/2007 12:19:13 PM PST by Paperdoll
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To: Paperdoll

All well and good to listen, watch, and hope that God tells us what to do.

More important to fight tooth-and-nail.


189 posted on 01/16/2007 12:45:42 PM PST by California Patriot ("That's not Charlie the Tuna out there. It's Jaws." -- Richard Nixon)
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To: Salem
Rabbi Lapin is welcome in my corner of the arena any day of the week!

Indeed, mine as well.

It is right to recognize that the author of the Book of Hebrews was so erudite. I am told that the Greek of Hebrews is by far more literate than any of the other books, using vocabulary not found in the other books. Out of the fine, in this case, inspired, tradition of Orthodox Judaism. Must have beeen someone like Rabbi Lapin in some ways.

190 posted on 01/16/2007 1:24:44 PM PST by BuglerTex
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To: Tax-chick

Just wait until the morning comes when your teeth are soaking in the bathroom awaiting your arrival each A.M.!

8-o]]


191 posted on 01/16/2007 4:47:24 PM PST by Frank Sheed ("It is terrible to contemplate how few politicians are hanged." --G.K. Chesterton)
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To: alrea
Jews are waking up. That 1% voting Republican will probably double in a couple of decades.

A couple of decades? We may not even have a couple of years. Not that doubling the percentage would help, even if it happened tomorrow.

As others have pointed out, the lefty trend among post-WWII American Jewish voters is rooted in the risible 'enemy-of-my-enemy' idea that supporting whatever looks like the opposite of Nazi fascism (which, of course, was actually National Socialism) will prevent a new edition of the Holocaust. We probably won't see a change until that generation, and probably its children, are gone. By which time, alas, the point may very well be moot.

192 posted on 01/16/2007 5:49:59 PM PST by Tenniel ("Why has the Nobel been awarded to 167 Jews, and only four out of 380 million Arabs?" -- S. Ubeid)
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To: JZelle

Re Warren, it's been a long time since I read Purpose Driven Life, so I can't remember what he said, and I don't pay much attention to him generally.

My church did the "Forty Days" with the book. Our ministers warned us ahead of time that they had problems with some of the theology in the book and explained what they were, but wanted us to read it to be aware of it and that it had some good ideas in it. The church did its own programs in addition.

A lot of people in our church are pretty biblically literate, so I think there is a little less chance (I hope) in getting sidelined into unscriptural stuff.

I do agree with the first line of Purpose Driven Life: "It's not about you."


193 posted on 01/16/2007 7:16:38 PM PST by kaehurowing
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To: Mr. Silverback

Yes, we are and I agree with you. But HE CAN do it without us. He loves us and wants us to have the privilege of serving and obeying Him but HIS plan will go forward with or without individual believers. If we aren't willing, He'll find someone who is.


194 posted on 01/16/2007 8:49:16 PM PST by Marysecretary (GOD IS STILL IN CONTROL.)
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To: Frank Sheed

Looking forward to it!


195 posted on 01/17/2007 4:44:06 AM PST by Tax-chick ("I don't know you, but I love who you seem to be.")
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To: happygrl

Thank you happygrl


196 posted on 01/17/2007 5:50:08 AM PST by 1903A3
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To: OldPossum; All
Once the voice of the Bible has been silenced, the war on Western Civilization can begin and we shall see a long night of barbarism descend on the West.

The "long night of barbarism" is coming because the Bible says it is. The will be the seven-year Tribulation which will seem to those going through it like an eternity, I'm sure. Not entirely sure this is the time, but the trends seen by Lapin and others, as well as our own observations, indicate the time may be very near.

Many fervent Christians are doing their best to stand and fight against this. (Jay Sekulow's American Center for Law and Justice is a good example.) We as Christians must give ourselves entirely to the Lord and let him be the Commander regarding our battle "role" during this time. We certainly need to pray and seek to lead as many as possible to the Lord before he comes to take his own to heaven with him and the world plunges into darkness.

197 posted on 01/27/2007 6:02:46 PM PST by Jim W N
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