BigMack
Posted on 06/27/2003 11:31:19 AM PDT by Antoninus
Friends,
In light of recent national and international events, it should be clear to most of you that the Christian underpinnings of western civilization are being knocked out from under our feet. Recent acts of judicial fiat in both Canada and in our own country have made it abundantly clear that the "post-Christian" world envisioned by anti-Christian radicals for centuries now may be close at hand.
Rather than continuing to scratch and claw our own eyes out over our differences (which will not, by the way, be resolved on this forum) I suggest that we call a temporary truce. Nearly all of us have the same cultural values including an abhorrence for abortion, a desire to raise our children free from intrusive and pervasive immorality, a revulsion at the "gay" deathstyle, and a desire to express our religious convictions publicly without threat of punishment.
If we continue on our current trajectory, is there any doubt that Christians will be reduced to the status of second class citizens? There are already whiffs of persecution emanating from Canada and some European countries. Are you truly prepared to face this threat if it arrives here? Of course, there is something to be said for being imprisoned and stripped of your family and possessions for expressing your Christian beliefs. But how many of us in our soft communities are ready to face the same trials that routinely confronted our early saints?
I maintain that there is much we can do to turn the tide. First and foremost, taking a cue from the citizens of Nineveh, we should put on sack-cloth and ashes (at least figuratively, if not literally) and seek personal repentence. Second, we must get active. If you're already active, prepare to become moreso.
The activity I'm proposing is not simply political, though that is a part of it. It needs to be evangelical--I accuse myself and my Church in general of going mainly soft on this issue. Indeed, many of the most celebrated evangelical Catholics are converts (!) And for you Evangelical Protestants, I challenge you to turn your fervor away from trying to convert pious and believing Catholics and train your theological cannons on the great and growing mass of secularized, sexualized youth. In short, I believe that a new, powerful burst of evangelization is the only thing that can save Western civilization from the otherwise unavoidable implosion of anarchy.
At any rate, if you think I'm being ridiculous or overstating the problem, just imagine we were back in 1990 and I told you that within 15 years, the Supreme Court would declare sodomy to be a constitutional right and that Canada would consider two homosexual men the moral equivalent of marriage.
If we unite, we can win. If we stay divided, we cede the victory to the forces of darkness. Your choice.
John answered him, saying: Master, we saw one casting out devils in thy name, who followeth not us: and we forbade him. But Jesus said: Do not forbid him. For there is no man that doth a miracle in my name and can soon speak ill of me. For he that is not against you is for you. (Mark 9:38)
But I have to say I am no ECT fan. There are some differences that can not be compromised even for political reasons .
I would say that when we meet on the political forum for the most part there is not a religious seperation and that is how it shoud be in our multi ethnic country . Christians have already been compromised. Today post modernism affects all Christian kids. I heard something like 85% believe there are no absolute rights or wrongs. That is something we have to take care of in our homes and churches cause the days of being a Judeo/Christian Nation are gone.
All that being said the debate on doctrine is healthy and necessary if we are to continue to have religious freedom....if you not use it you loose it, We need to keep the right to have strong disagreements on doctrine and still salute the same flag
Closed grocery and retail stores
People scrounging for food and clothing and basic necessities as in the 30's
Massive numbers of bankruptcies and financial calamaties
Roads unpaved, basic infrastructure services disrupted
Criminals let out on the street due to no place to house them
Massive poverty, economic hardship, starvation even
And, yes, persecution of Christians and of Jews on a scale unbelieved possible in this nation.
An end to tax deductions for donations to Christian organizations
A police state
It is all coming our way like a tsunami.
With this persecution and hardship, however, will come a great tide of return to "basic, New Testament Christianity" on the part of lax American Christians....and a flood of new believers - as as has been seen in China and in every locale where persecution fires intensify.
It is the preparation of the Bride of Christ for His soon return.
Each believer's responsibility is to seek God's direction for our part in these end times according to God's will and purpose for each of us. He will not fail us nor forsake us no matter how dark the night.
All praise, honor, and glory be to the One True God - and HIs Son Jesus Christ!
I think you misunderstand the grave and imperative nature of his TRUCE, Terry.
Personally, I feel that making use of already existing vehicles is the easiest way to get started with in-house evangelization. For example, speaking to the abortion issue from a Catholic perspective, Priests for Life is an already existing vehicle which would be delighted to hear from us and give us their input. And speaking to the sodomy issue, there is the vehicle of Fr. Harvey's Encourage.
Let me know if we're on the same wavelength before going on.
People scrounging for food and clothing and basic necessities as in the 30's
Massive numbers of bankruptcies and financial calamaties
Roads unpaved, basic infrastructure services disrupted
Criminals let out on the street due to no place to house them
Massive poverty, economic hardship, starvation even
And, yes, persecution of Christians and of Jews on a scale unbelieved possible in this nation.
An end to tax deductions for donations to Christian organizations
A police state
It is all coming our way like a tsunami.
Yeah and the moon landing was a fake, and the goverment road blocks are killing me trying to get to the gro store for a beer!
You should give speeches at a positive thinking rally!
BigMack
We traditional/orthodox/conservative Catholics should join forces with our Christian brothers and sisters outside the Church and coordinate our political and economic efforts. We will have to agree to disagree on certain issues and concentrate on those beliefs and practices we share -- and we share a good deal more than one might think.
Perhaps we could use the Apostles Creed as a "litmus test" of sorts, keeping in mind that "...every spirit which confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God." [1 John 4:2]. Keeping in mind the meaning of the word "catholic", which simply means "universal" in this context, I see nothing in it that would preclude its use as a statement of joint belief by our Catholic/Protestant/Orthodox/Evangelical alliance. Here is the Creed in its entirety:
I believe in God the Father Almighty, Maker of heaven and earth.This is the most ancient creed of the Christian faith: it contains all the doctrines essential for salvation, yet it has in it nothing with which even the staunchest Baptist, Pentecostal, or Orthodox believer could disagree.And in Jesus Christ his only Son our Lord; who was conceived by the Holy Ghost, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, dead, and buried; he descended into hell; the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and sitteth on the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence he shall come to judge the quick and the dead.
I believe in the Holy Ghost; the holy catholic Church; the communion of saints; the forgiveness of sins; the resurrection of the body; and the life everlasting. AMEN.
Ideas? Comments? Thanks for a great post, Anto!
Especially among Christians.
When the funds dry up - yes, Christians will still do ministry and churches will not vanish - look at the blossoming of the Christian house churches in China.
I am simply saying the war is almost over re: the continuation of life in America "as we have always known it". The enemy has full intention of removing everything remotely effective for the cause of Jesus Christ - including removing one incentive that many people (perhaps lukewarm Christians) to justify giving to the Church and to other Christian organizations.
Disaster simply is going to happen and there is nothing save a repentance in ashes (as stated in the first post) by the united body of Christ which will stop it.
I know it sounds dour and doom and gloom. But the "world" is that way. Jesus Christ, on the other hand, is soon to return and for that we can unite, bring the Truth and Love of God to all we know and touch, corporate repenting for all our sins and receiving God's forgiving grace and the power to touch and transform those around us.
Old Testament prophets were not popular either. But they told God's truth. (No, I am not claiming to be a prophet - at all - just reading the times in which we live and listening to God's Word and to the events of today.)
BigMack
Now - given all that, what are we to do? We are to unite with our fellow Christians in unity and faith that God is not done yet and that our lives really are NOT about our comforts being perpetuated but God's Kingdom being advanced! Our lives are about being "conformed to the image of Jesus Christ". This has very little to do actually with the normal comforts of society with which most Americans enjoy.
Again, no matter how dark the night, the light of the Gospel of Jesus Christ shines on and the darkness cannot put it out.
Yet, acting as if the darkness does not exist or is not worsening is as foolish as living in the darkness without shining the light of Jesus Christ into it!
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