A Protestant Minister's Unusual Sermon on Reformation Sunday

Patrick Madrid ^ | 10/26/2009 | Patrick Madrid

[Patrick Madrid]

A few years ago, I slipped into the back of a large Methodist church in the area to hear a sermon delivered by the pastor which had been advertised for several days on the marquee on the lawn in front of the handsome Neo-Gothic stone edifice. I really wanted to hear what he had to say on that particular Sunday.

The occasion of this sermon was what Protestants celebrate as "Reformation Sunday," in remembrance of the sad, tragic rebellion against the Catholic Church. Of course, that's my take on what Reformation Sunday symbolizes. The pastor whose sermon I heard that day had a much different view. . . .

[wagglebee]

I don’t recall where I blamed Koresh for what Clinton, Reno, et al did. Are you trying to say that there were no heinous acts at the Waco compound before the Clinonistas got involved?

[Cronos]

Where did you get that idea of Zoroastrianism???

It's basic beliefs are:

• There is one universal and transcendental God, Ahura Mazda, the one uncreated Creator to whom all worship is ultimately directed.
• Ahura Mazda's creation—evident as asha, truth and order—is the antithesis of chaos, evident as druj, falsehood and disorder. The resulting conflict involves the entire universe, including humanity, which has an active role to play in the conflict.
• Active participation in life through good thoughts, good words and good deeds is necessary to ensure happiness and to keep the chaos at bay. This active participation is a central element in Zoroaster's concept of free will, and Zoroastrianism rejects all forms of monasticism.
• Ahura Mazda will ultimately prevail over evil Angra Mainyu / Ahriman (see below), at which point the universe will undergo a cosmic renovation and time will end (cf: Zoroastrian eschatology). In the final renovation, all of creation—even the souls of the dead that were initially banished to "darkness"—will be reunited in Ahura Mazda returning to life in the undead form. At the end of time a savior-figure [a Saoshyant] will bring about a final renovation of the world (frasho.kereti), and in which the dead will be revived.
• In Zoroastrian tradition the malevolent is represented by Angra Mainyu (also referred to as "Ahriman"), the "Destructive Principle", while the benevolent is represented through Ahura Mazda's Spenta Mainyu, the instrument or "Bounteous Principle" of the act of creation. It is through Spenta Mainyu that transcendental Ahura Mazda is immanent in humankind, and through which the Creator interacts with the world. According to Zoroastrian cosmology, in articulating the Ahuna Vairya formula Ahura Mazda made His ultimate triumph evident to Angra Mainyu.
• As expressions and aspects of Creation, Ahura Mazda emanated the Amesha Spentas ("Bounteous Immortals"), that are each the hypostasis and representative of one aspect of that Creation. These Amesha Spenta are in turn assisted by a league of lesser principles, the Yazatas, each "Worthy of Worship" and each again a hypostasis of a moral or physical aspect of creation.

[Cronos]

As usual, Cronos is making things personal by attributing to me something I have not said.

Really! So you mean that you don't believe in sola interpretation

[B-Chan]

I quote 2 1/2 chapters of scripture, and your reply is “Sez you”?

Yes, because you are interpreting that Scripture, which you have no authority to do. That's what our Lord established the Catholic Church for. Any interpretation of Scripture that doesn't come from the Church is just someone's opinion -- "sez you".

[editor-surveyor]

Zoro (seed of) Astre (Astarte, Semiramis, Ishtar) = Tammuz (or Nimrod, Osirus, etc if you prefer).

Semiramus, the goddess, and her illegitimate son Tammuz, which the Romans transfered to their “Mary” and the infant. - Most modern pagans now simply say “the Godess and god.”

[editor-surveyor]

"Are you trying to say that there were no heinous acts at the Waco compound before the Clinonistas got involved?"

Yes, that is what the surviving evidence says (the testimony of the bulk of the residents of Waco Texas).

The massacre at Waco was carried out by the very satanic Wesley Clark at the behest of William Jefferson Clinton through his apprentice, Janet Reno.

Obama really has quite a way to go to catch up to Clinton.

[wagglebee]

So, you don’t consider the systematic sexual abuse of children to be an issue?

[Petronski]

Catholics here constantly declare that salvation is by the works of men...

He said nothing of the sort in post 7, nor does the Catholic Church declare such.

[netmilsmom]

>>Why would you say that?<<

Because she doesn’t like Catholic prayers very much.

[Cronos]

Esquirette is correct, and the OPC, PCA, PCUSA and just about every other Protestant denomination agree that the holy Scriptures are our final authority for our faith and practice.

And what about "Scripture is the ultimate authority, and where interpretation is required, go to the oldest orthodoxy available." -- so, where does Dr. E go for interpretation?

[Petronski]

The Bishop of Rome broke away from them in pride and arrogance.

LOL

[Cronos]

Zoro (seed of) Astre (Astarte, Semiramis, Ishtar) = Tammuz (or Nimrod, Osirus, etc if you prefer). Semiramus, the goddess, and her illegitimate son Tammuz,

That's rot. I'm part Irani and my grandmother was Zoroastrian/Parsi, so I know when I call that utter ROT. Zoroastrianism has nothing whatsoever to do with any Semitic/Assyrian/Babylonian goddess Semiramis.

Zoroastrianism arose from the Indo-European religion relating to the two families of gods: the Ahuras and the Daevas.

While in India the Devas were made top dogs and the Asuras became demonic-like, in Iran the opposite happened and the Ahuras (S in Indic becoes H in Avestani and Iranic) became supreme.

Until Zoroaster came and created his monotheistic religion (well dualistic) where he urged all to worship ONLY Ahura Mazda

do you even know anything about Zoroastrianism that you put some utter garbage as what they believe in?

[Petronski]

Priesthood is needed for offering sacrifices. Apart from a universal priesthood offering a sacrifice of praise and good deeds, there is no priesthood in the NT other than Jesus Christ Himself, who offered Himself once for all, and now sits at the right hand of the Father.

Thank you for sharing your own personal interpretation of Scripture.

[Petronski]

...that continuation of the Zoroastrian paganism...

[Cronos]

Zoro (seed of) Astre (Astarte, Semiramis, Ishtar) = Tammuz (or Nimrod, Osirus, etc if you prefer). Semiramus, the goddess, and her illegitimate son Tammuz,

That's rot. I'm part Irani and my grandmother was Zoroastrian/Parsi, so I know when I call that utter ROT. Zoroastrianism has nothing whatsoever to do with any Semitic/Assyrian/Babylonian goddess Semiramis.

Zoroastrianism arose from the Indo-European religion relating to the two families of gods: the Ahuras and the Daevas.

While in India the Devas were made top dogs and the Asuras became demonic-like, in Iran the opposite happened and the Ahuras (S in Indic becoes H in Avestani and Iranic) became supreme.

Until Zoroaster came and created his monotheistic religion (well dualistic) where he urged all to worship ONLY Ahura Mazda

do you even know anything about Zoroastrianism that you put some utter garbage as what they believe in?

================

This is what the SOla Scriptura, Sola Interpretura crowd DO --they interpret facts or just make up things about anything they please. They accuse a monotheistic religion like Zoroastrianism to be one that worships the Assyrian/Semitic goddess Semiramus. They make up their own "facts" about the Bible and it's teachings and sheer imaginations.

No wonder they build their foundations of philosophy on sand

[Petronski]

I quote 2 1/2 chapters of scripture...

That is not all you did.

[Poe White Trash]

Zoro (seed of) Astre (Astarte, Semiramis, Ishtar) = Tammuz (or Nimrod, Osirus, etc if you prefer).

This seems a rather fanciful etymology. To say the least. Who's your authority on this?

And let's not forget that Zarathushtra was Iranian, not a Greek.

[Cicero]

I don’t know what may have been said to you in the past. But that’s no excuse for your over-the-top comment. If true, two wrongs still don’t make a right.

[Cronos]

And let's not forget that Zarathushtra was Iranian, not a Greek.

Thank you!!!

[wagglebee]

This is what the SOla Scriptura, Sola Interpretura crowd DO --they interpret facts or just make up things about anything they please.

They are really good at just making things up and then repeating them on a regular basis in hopes that they are eventually accepted as factual. Like this whole absurd notion that the Blessed Virgin Mary was crucified with her Son.