So THAT’S What You Mean!

The Bible talks a lot about obedience and disobedience. I for one think I’m pretty good when I obey Jesus after a time of desperately wanting to disobey. 

“Aren’t I something Lord? You must be plenty glad to have me on Your side.”

Pfft!

The fact is, none of us know what it’s like to obey our Lord and Saviour.

None of us have sweated great drops of blood from the anxiety generated by wanting to do something other than what God has called us to do. When the stress of doing the right thing gets too strong, we simply disobey, do the wrong thing to relieve the stress. 

And then we ask for forgiveness.

Kinda pitiful - isn’t it?

The fact is, none of us know what it means to be obedient.

“Jesus learned obedience through what He suffered.”

That doesn’t mean that Jesus started out disobedient and slowly but surely learned to do the right things all the time. Jesus NEVER disobeyed God the Father. What it means is that Jesus learned the essence of, or the nature of, or the full quality of obedience. Through continual practice, Jesus learned what it felt like to be obedient at all points all the time, especially when tempted to disobey.

Through experiencing obedience in every and all circumstances, Jesus could say, “So THIS is what it means to obey. So this is what We’re asking humans to do.” 

And THAT is why Jesus truly can be our high priest, our counsellor, or guide and comforter. He knows what it’s like to obey. He knows how hard it is to obey. And that is why “We can come boldly and with confidence to the throne of Grace to receive mercy and find grace in our time of need.”

Does God Lie?

 . When God says that the universe was brought into being via His Word, can we Christians trust that?

. When the Bible describes forming and filling the earth in six days, can we Christians know what that means?

. When science says that the material cosmos is 14 billion years old – give or take - and that it came into being from literally nothing material, without a cause, can we trust that?
. When science says that matter, in some form, has always existed, can we trust that?
. When science says that matter created itself, can we trust that?
. When science says, almost as a statement of fact, that our universe is one of an infinite number of universes (for which there is zero evidence), can we trust that?

Bottom line, it's pretty hard to reconcile both the scientific and Biblical accounts of Creation. It doesn't appear that the findings of science are wrong regarding the age of the universe. Yet, as Francis Crick noted, and as scientists studying both the macro and micro universe are forced to concede, “We have to keep reminding ourselves that what we're seeing is not designed.”

The thing is, IF God is saying the universe is much younger than 14 billion years old, wouldn't that make God a liar? Science and a literal reading of the Bible can't both be right – can they?

Some have tried to accommodate these two conclusions by saying that just as God created Adam and Eve as mature individuals, He also created a mature universe. Light only appears to have been travelling for billions of years.

That's not impossible, but again, wouldn't THAT make God a liar, or at least deceptive in how He deals with us?

I suggest the latter. And I also suggest that there is nothing wrong with Him doing that. As Pascal said, “God has given us just enough evidence of His existence that those who are being drawn to Him will be able to find Him, AND He has given us just enough evidence so that those who are rejecting God will not be able to find Him accidentally.”

As many an atheist has truthfully told me, “I couldn't become a Christian even if I wanted to.”

We know from Scripture that God is going to send to His enemies “a great delusion.” Now, that particular verse is dealing specifically with the anti-Christ. But I think those who are fighting against God are experiencing a delusion on many, many levels. Jesus Himself says that many people can't understand His teaching because “their ears have been kept from hearing and their eyes have been kept from seeing.” He's talking about their inability to discern spiritual truths (2 Corinthians 4:4). It's what I”m talking about when I say atheists are spiritually dull of mind and slow of thought. It's like they're colour blind and can't see a little piece of red plastic lying in the green grass. Atheists just can't get it.

The thing about this is,

IF God created a universe that looks 14 billion years old when it isn't, it isn't a lie as long as He has also given us the actual truth, right there in His Word.

IF God has made it look like life came from non life, if it only looks as though humans are the end result of an impossibly complicated series of mutations over eons, it isn't a lie if He's given us the truth right there in His Word.

IF God has kept those who are going to reject Him from seeing or hearing the truth of what is right there before them, how can they blame Him? They don't want anything to do with Him anyway.

Like Chris Hitchens said, “For me to be in heaven would be hell.” So God gave him what he wanted. Is that wrong? Besides, there is nothing, literally nothing beside God Himself that can open our spiritual eyes so that any of us can believe in the reality of Creator God (John 6:44). Our corrupt nature precludes a decision that “In the beginning, God created the universe.”

As Jesus said to those who were rejecting Him, “Even if I rise from the dead, you won't believe.” 

You know how atheists never venture outside of the Old Testament lest they run into teachings of Jesus that convict them of wrong? And you know how atheists accuse Christians of cherry-picking verses to make our case? Do you think atheists ever do the same thing? Like, have you ever seen them ranting about this?

“The king must not acquire great numbers of horses for himself or make the people return to Egypt to get more of them. He must not take many wives, or his heart will be led astray. He must not accumulate large amounts of silver and gold.”

Deuteronomy 17:16-17

Immense riches are seldom possessed by leaders of countries or corporations without the oppression of their citizens, employees or investors. Unlike their neighbours, unlike our modern industrial societies, people in ancient Israel (those who atheists call bronze-age goat herders) were to make sure they did nothing to take advantage of each other.

Peace, Mercy and Justice were then and are today to be the hallmark of God's people.

The god of Atheism

At blog Makarios I wrote about the Triune god of atheism: Science, Pride and Intelligence. Atheists actually believe that technology and intelligence can save us. 

Stephen Hawking and like minded atheists take the absurdity one step further. They think that all we need to do is inhabit a different planet to save our species. 

These people can’t seem to figure out that where ever we go, we and our inherently flawed nature will go too.

These men can't see that our problems lie a little deeper than where we live. I'm not surprised. They can go no deeper in search of solutions than to invent machines to help us move further away from our neighbours.

When you only believe in the material, well, the material is all there is to save us. Atheists believe that we can think our way out of our problems, but on atheism, our beliefs and in fact our thinking is based upon determinism.

Oh sure, atheists would like to borrow from the Christian concept of free will and believe in our ability to be rational, but on atheism that is simply not allowable.

“There is a creeping all-pervading gas of immorality which starts in the nursery and does not stop until it reaches the highest offices both corporate and governmental.”

John Steinbeck 

The Warrior Jesus

Gentle Jesus

Peaceful Jesus

Jesus was all about love

Those are familiar terms, more familiar than “warrior” Jesus. Yet, at least for this stage of history, Jesus is more of a warrior than anything else. 

Although it's nothing like anyone will see when Jesus returns with undiluted wrath poured out against evil and those who have deliberately sided with evil.

For now, earth is enemy territory. It’s satan’s turf and the very coming to earth of God in the form of Jesus was the establishing of a beachhead deep, deep in enemy territory. From the time that He was born, Jesus encountered battle after battle. 

Atheists of course note how violent the Bible is, especially the Old Testament - actually only the Old Testament. In fact, Jesus uses the violence of humans toward one another to turn away from Him those destined for hell.

“One of the things that surprised me when I first read the New Testament seriously was that it talked so much about a Dark Power in the universe - a mighty evil spirit who was held to be the Power behind death and disease, and sin. The difference is that Christianity thinks this Dark Power was created by God, and was good when he was created, and went wrong. Christianity agrees. This universe is at war.”

former atheist, C. S. Lewis - Mere Christianity

Like Jesus, we too have been born into the midst of battle. There is no sitting on the fence. “Those who are not for Me are against Me,” said Jesus. There is no neutrality. You’re making a choice of sides even as you read this. Since that is the case, you may as well know, the Winner has already been decided. 

“If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other. Spread love everywhere you go. Let no one ever come to you without leaving happier.

Mother Theresa 

“Mother Theresa is a lying, thieving Albanian dwarf.”

atheist Christopher Hitchens

“Mother Theresa was not a friend of the poor, but was a friend of poverty.”

Atheists, Humanists, Agnostics Association of Dartmoth

You can also google Penn and Teller for more atheist hate toward those who help the poor and dying. 

Letting Go

I suppose every healthy child in the world has played the game. They stand on the edge of the bed or bench or swimming pool and leap into the arms of their mom or dad. They leap because they trust. Or you see them at the playground. Stuck high on a climbing apparatus, the parent encourages the child, 

“Let go, so I can catch you.”  

Obviously, to be caught by someone else, we must first let go. That is a very hard thing to do for some people. Even if we’re in a terrible relationship, it’s easier to stay stuck in old behaviours because, well, it’s familiar. More familiar than relaxing in the arms of Creator God. Even if we know that we’ve become dependent on possessions or looks, or careers and power or mood altering chemicals, it easier to continue in sickness than to move toward health. All these self-destructive things we know. They’re familiar. Even as they strip us of confidence, our grip on them tightens. The more destructive they become, the tighter the grip.

Jesus says, “Come to Me and I will give you rest for your soul.”

Our dependencies call out to us, “Stay with me. Don’t let go. You know me. You can trust me. I’m familiar.”

I’ve worked with thousands of people who have defended holding onto the very lifestyles that are destroying them and their relationships. The fear of changing their world-view is just too great. So we keep on repeating the same old ineffective behaviours over and over again. Yet it is only in letting go that we will receive what God has to offer. Trying to ensure that we never be hurt again only ensures that we will be hurt more.

Jesus’ disciples let go of economic security and familial security and received the fulfilment of the desires of their heart. What our heart desires the most is a healed and forgiven and intimate relationship with Jesus. Jesus Himself let go of His rights as our Creator and became our servant instead. All for the joy of glorifying Father God.

This leads us to the paradoxes of Christianity:

We win through losing

We gain by giving away

We live by dying-to-self

We humble ourselves and are exalted by God

We are no fool to give up what we cannot keep in order to gain what we cannot lose.

Letting go is gaining and we can only gain when we first let go.  

"If you can't see God everywhere, you won't be able to see Him anywhere."

When The Meaning Of Words Goes Off The Chart

"Jesus loves me this I know . . ."

"Trust and obey, for there's no other way . . ."

"Nearer to the heart of God . . ."

"How great thou art . . ."

Those are the words of songs traditionally sung in Christian Churches all over North America. Many people know these hymns so well they can sing them without “hearing” a single word.

Not so with one group I was just with.

My wife and I drove a few hours south to visit a friend of ours. I met him in Graduate School and he became one of my best friends. He's a young man who is dying of Multiple Systems Atrophy. The doctors have described it as a rare disease of the brain stem where the patient experiences the symptoms of Parkinson's, Huntington's, Multiple Sclerosis, ALS, and one other disease that I can't remember. He went into a special care home in January of this year and is not expected to see January 2013. All things being equal, he will suffocate to death.

At this point Rod's speech is barely discernible. Soon he will not be able to speak at all, and shortly after that he will not be able to swallow. He does not have control of his bowels. He cannot walk or stand or move from his wheelchair to bed or from bed to chair without nurses and Lifts. 

His mind is clear. 
He is trapped. 
Utterly trapped in a body that is failing him fast.

I used to covet this man's body. He was the stereotypical jock. Big and buff. He climbed mountains and built houses. He hunted and fished and raised four strong and healthy children. He could move wheelbarrows of concrete all day long and play football for fun in the evening. He is a loving husband and grandfather. He's kind. He's gentle. He's brilliant. He was a Pastor until he did not have the strength to prepare sermons or do his duties.

Rod loves God and says via a computer that right now, in the midst of this horrendous loss, God's love for him seems deeper and broader than anything he's ever experienced in his life. While both Rod and his wife don't downplay how devastating this disease has been on them individually, as a couple and as a family, Rod and his family have dug deep in their commitment to their Creator. 

“He sustains us, strengthens us, encourages us and fills us with hope and joy.”

Only another follower of Jesus can know and identify with the meaning of these words. They are empty and meaningless to those on the outside looking in. 

My wife and I spent the last couple days with Rod. This is the first time that I've ever said goodbye to someone who was able to say back to me, “Goodbye my friend. I'm almost home.” This is the first time I've ever had to say goodbye to someone who in return was able to look me in the eye, to hold me close and cry with me as we promised to see each other on the other side.

I can count on one hand the number of men that I admire and my dear friend Rod is one of them.

God bless, my friend.

I'll see you There.

Oh ya. And the words to those songs? I discovered they mean one thing in your average Congregation on your average Sunday morning. However, when sitting in a room on a Thursday afternoon in a nursing home where thirty wheelchair bound people, all of them heading for an early death are singing their hearts out with smiles on their faces and tears of gratefulness in their eyes, well, those words mean something else altogether.

I have been honoured to sit with those who display amazing courage and boldness in the valley of the shadow of death.

And that leads me to wonder - 

What kind of a person would reject the offer of a Love that is able to sustain us through trials like this? Not just sustain us but make us more than conquerors. It seems to me that only a fool would turn away from that kind of Love.

Thanks to all those who have bought my books. Thank you even more for your comments and encouragement.

It's all rather humbling.

Thank you.

rod

The Church - God Bless Her

There are few things more frustrating, disappointing and infuriating than the Christian Church. There are few things more amazing, astounding and uplifting than the Christian Church.

I love this saying, “A Church that admitted only saints would be like a hospital that admitted only healthy people. It would be a lot easier to run but it certainly wouldn’t serve the purpose for which it was created.”

Hence the nature of her problems. The Church is full of sinners – serious sinners – not just your run of the mill slackers but people with a serious sin problem. That leads those on the outside with a fairly jaded view of the Church.

So what is the Biblical concept of the Church? At its base, the Church is a gathering of the people of God. “I will be your God and you will be My people.” Beyond that, the Church is described as being:

The Body of Christ - We are, in the true Church, one and all believers in Jesus the Christ as He is revealed in the Bible. We are being made one in life and character with Jesus. Jesus is the head of this body.

The Bride of Christ - This image has deep, deep roots in the OT. Jesus referred to Himself as the bridegroom and because of our sin nature, we are, mostly, the unfaithful bride. God / Jesus has always identified Himself with unqualified love. His desire is toward us and He pursues us to what seems an unreasonable level. God is single mined in His devotion to His people with a degree of devotion to which we can only long to achieve. God’s love for us and His desire for our well-being is so deep that He will not and cannot tolerate rivals for His affection.

The Building of God - We are God’s temple. We are the residence of His very Spirit. God dwells with His people. The image is of one who has pitched His tent among us. The Church of God is Spiritual - not material. Nevertheless, Jesus is described as the cornerstone without which life itself becomes twisted out of shape. 1^st Peter 2:5 describes the people of God as living stones in the temple of God.

The Family of God - As believers in Christ we are adopted into His family. To all of us, God is our Spiritual or Heavenly Father. Therefor the Church becomes the family of God. We are sons and daughters of God, brothers and sisters in Christ.

The Church is a Mess:

To a large extent, we have forgotten our calling, i.e. To go into every nation and make disciples of Jesus the Christ. We weren't called to build buildings where we sit and listen to someone talk at us. Yes we are to meet together and learn but we are to go out and talk to others about Jesus' offer of salvation, of forgiveness and freedom from real guilt.

We who follow Christ would do well to listen to those who point out our failures. Most of the time the critiques are very accurate.

“The great danger for family life, in the midst of any society whose idols are pleasure, comfort and independence, lies in the fact that people close their hearts and become selfish.”

Pope John Paul II

Don’t Break Your Promise

I learned quickly with our first set of kids to not promise anything. Life has a way of interfering with plans. A sick kid. A flat tire. Rain.

That’s not the way it is with our Creator. The Bible is full of promises and our Creator delivers on every single one of them. In fact, we are told that we can come “Boldly and with confidence to the throne of grace and receive grace and find mercy in our times of need.”

Now I need to ask, if you know that God does not, indeed cannot break His promise, if you know that He says "Come without fear to present your requests," why do you hesitate? 

Could it be that you don’t actually know your Heavenly Father as well as you let on? Have you spent so little time in obedience that you don’t know if you can believe your Creator? Are you trying so hard to be in control of your life that you don’t know you can give it all to Him?

We humans can’t be trusted.

That’s true.

To live as though our Creator God can’t be trusted is an insult that may be fine for atheists, but it’s just plain wrong for someone who calls h/herself a believer.

Atheists and their fear of Jesus

Have you noticed? Kinda sad actually.

Atheists can't bring themselves to say Jesus. They write Jebus.

Atheists can't bring themselves to say Christ ian. They write Xian. (They don't know that the X actually stood for Christ in the early Church).

Atheists say it's wrong for Christians to say that the reason for Christmas (December 25^th) is to celebrate the birth of Jesus. Instead, atheists say, “Christmas was originally a pagan celebration of the winter solstice that Christians stole.”

Which leads to the question, Why would pagans celebrate the winter solstice on December 25^th?

A few facts for future reference:

. The reason for Christmas Day (December 25^th) is the celebration of Jesus' birth.

. The Winter Solstice is actually on December 21^st. Strange that atheists don't know this.

. The “reason for the season” is purely commercial. Stretching the season as long as possible is to increase profits. 

Certain Conditions Apply

Do you have friendships like that? Kinda like when you go fishing? Catch and release friendships? When the usefulness is gone, or when things get difficult the relationship is over? 

Do you love like that? 

God doesn’t.

God doesn’t see you as you are as much as He sees you as you could be, will be, as He will transform you into being. If only you would allow Him to take you there your Creator will turn you into the likeness of God the Son who, while on earth was known as Jesus.

He won't begin this transformation someday, but now!

He begins the moment you turn your life over to Him.

If only you’d allow yourself to go where God wants to take you. What a difference it would make in your marriage and family life! Loving extravagantly is God's plan for your life.

Joel 2:13 - Rend your heart and not your garments. Return to the LORD your God, for He is gracious and compassionate, slow to anger and abounding in love, and he relents from sending calamity.

THIS is love! What kind of a person would push that away?

CBS – 60 Minutes – The Baby Lab

Atheists know all about baby morality. I'm sure you've heard it over and over and over. We're born good (and of late we're born atheists) and we only become “bad” through the influence of our environment.

The Bible on the other hand says that we are evil from conception.

What does study after study after study show as published in peer review journals?

Just as the Bible says, we don't start off good and learn evil. We start off evil, selfish, self-obsessed, bigoted, with a deep desire to punish, and with a strong bias towards us vs. them. And if that isn't trained out of us, we do not become “good.” What's more even if we are nurtured to "become good," when under stress (eg. shortages of necessities) we revert back to the dark nature with which we were born.

These traits are observable in humans as early as three months old.

Why Comment Moderation Is Wrong

I'm forever annoyed when I find comment moderation on a blog.

Here's why.

Comments allow viewers to see the true character of the person posting the comment.

For example, on my post “Petraeus and the Rules of Christianity” some atheist actually hacked into my blogger (I'm guessing Hump or one of his friends) and posted a comment under MY name, Thesauros, feigning a reply to my friend Leo, The Maryland Crustacean.

Sorry Leo – It's a pretty disgusting image – to a heterosexual at least – but it demonstrates the true character of those who oppose their Creator.

At any rate, while I don't appreciate having my blog hacked, I do enjoy the fact that you've tipped your hand and shown the true nature of atheists. 

But We Can’t Know!

 Some say that this side of the grave we can’t know who is correct regarding life after death. Therefore Christians shouldn't claim the Jesus has given us the truth. 

At first glance this sounds like a statement that comes from humility. Instead this is pure arrogance. 

It’s similar to the analogy of the blind men and the elephant. It seems like a story with a profound point until you realise that the one telling the story thinks that he and he alone has the answer - he’s the only one who knows that it’s an elephant while everyone else is blind.

So too with those with those who say that we can’t know truth. If the person was saying, “I don’t know which religion is true,” that would come from humility. To say, “No one can know,” is to infer that you know everything there is to know about religion or any other belief system for that matter. That kind of dogmatic statement is usually reserved for atheists who throw in the added piece of arrogance in saying, “Because I’m a Bright and you’re not, I can tell you that you are wrong and I am right.”

Petraeus and the Rules of Christianity

Every person, every club, every community, society, country etc. has rules. Even organised atheism has codified rules. It’s how we keep ourselves within the bounds of safety. Break those rules and there are consequences, both natural and imposed.

Mature people also know that freedom is not a life without rules, but in fact personal freedom requires a life with rules that protect ourselves from physical, emotional or spiritual harm. Be it rules regarding diet, physical or social activity, self-discipline of some sort is required to experience real freedom. The key is to find those rules that provide the most liberating life and then follow them.

As Christians, we believe that our Creator, who knows how we operate at optimum levels has given us freedom producing rules. The rules laid down by our Creator do not limit us nor oppress us but actually allow us to live at our full potential.

This is true regarding our sexuality. According to our Creator, humanity works best when one man and one woman are joined in a permanent committed relationship; a relationship where two people are committed to treating each other with loving behaviours. As that relationship goes, so goes our community, our nation our world. Without peace in the home, there cannot be peace in the world. One man, one woman in a commitment to a permanent state of forgiveness. The Bible allows for no other kind of sexual union. Polygamy, divorce and remarriage, same sex unions or casual sex, all these violate one man / one woman in a permanent committed relationship.

When we go beyond those guidelines we easily fall into absurd questions like the one found on CNN today. It was regarding the Petraeus affair: “Is email and text flirting really cheating?” 

Seriously? 

Are we really that pitiful? 

Answer – Yes, we are.

Even from a scientific physical perspective, chemicals release during sexual intercourse create deep intimacy, oneness, trust and communion between two people. Because of this it is not to be used outside of a permanent committed relationship. Violation of this rule creates profound damage to our emotional and spiritual well-being.

Of course, it’s not just Christianity that tries to set guidelines regarding how we use our sexuality. Everyone sets some sort of guideline. The key is to find behaviours that will allow humanity to flourish,  and to set limits on those behaviours that will diminish us as humans. Because guidelines regarding our sexual relationships have been closely tied to the character of our Creator, who is loving, and faithful and merciful and just, our human nature has reacted violently against obeying those guidelines. Our natural bent is to rebel against those guidelines and to choose instead behaviours that are destructive to ourselves, our families and our communities. The Patraeus affair vividly demonstrates this point, a point that is reinforced in millions of families every year.

What is particularly important for Christians is that we not allow our views on right and wrong to diminish other humans who think differently than we think or believe.   Those who are spiritually dull of mind and slow of thought either cannot or will not accept the truth of the above. They support perversions of every sort and pride themselves in what they call tolerance. However, true tolerance is treating with respect those people whose behaviours you disagree with. Tolerance is not celebrating and and promoting those behaviours.

I understand how we get to such a position of such disconnect. We live in communities where people of other faiths, races and sexual orientations also live. It is a desire to treat our neighbours with love that leads so many to try to find ways to have the Bible say something other than what it clearly says regarding sexual relations. Most people who call themselves Christians don’t want to hurt people of other beliefs on this or any other issue. 

One world view states that we should not limit ourselves in any way regarding our sexuality. Christianity says that without limiting ourselves to live within the bounds our Creator has set before us, in the end there will be no safe use of our sexuality - period. We will destroy one of the greatest gifts our Creator has given humanity - i.e. sexual intimacy.

What I do know from personal experience, is that when I lived by my own set of rules, rules that were acceptable within the community of my peers, my life was a mess. I emotionally hurt people. I disappointed people. Our life-style (that of my generation) forced both myself and others to put up walls of emotional protection that have allowed the onslaught of sin to grow at an enormous pace. These walls of protection have caused us to distance ourselves from emotional intimacy with one another, and as a result our ability to love is growing cold. 

Now, that I am a follower of Jesus, to the degree that I obey His guidelines for us, my life is one of peace, safety, mercy and love.

I can't think of anything that would cause me to turn away from Jesus or go back to the foolishness of man-made regulations.

“I had been filled with anger, confusion, hate, selfishness, greed you name it. When God revealed Himself to me, it was a supernatural peace and love that was so far higher and beyond anyhting you can experience on earth. I knew it was God. He poured out his love into my heart, and I was instantly changed in that moment.”

former atheist and guitarist for Korn – Brian Welch

Atheists Humping Camels

There's an atheist blogger whose friends call him Hump. He seems to know camels intimately. Nuff said.

At any rate, Hump the Camel, like many atheists, says that Hitler was a devout Christian. To prove it, this Hump says that Hitler was baptised. Well, what more evidence could one ask for? An infant who's been baptised is definitely in it to win it.

What's more, this Hump comes very close to saying that he knows of every comment of Hitler's that's been documented and he sees no evidence for suggesting that Hitler was anything but a fundamentalist Christian.

One Fundamentalist Christian of the time stands out in contrast to Hitler. The man's name is Dietrich Bonhoeffer. Let me compare quotes from Bonhoeffer with this Hump's man of the hour, Adolf Hitler.

“The Church has an unconditional obligation to the victims of any ordering of society, even if they do not belong to Christian community.”

Dietrich Bonhoeffer speaking of defending the Jews

“The Fuehrer spoke very derogatorily about the arrogance of the higher and lower clergy. The insanity of the Christian doctrine of redemption really doesn't fit at all into our time. It is simply incomprehensible how anybody can consider the Christian doctrine of redemption as a guide for the difficult life of today. A Church that does not keep step with modern scientific knowledge is doomed.”

from Joseph Goebbels private diary

“What is at stake is by no means the question whether our German members of congregations can still tolerate church fellowship with the Jews. It is rather the task of Christian preaching to say: here is the Church, where Jew and German stand together under the Word of God; here is the proof whether a church is still the Church or not. “There is neither Jew nor Greek, bond nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.” Galatians 3:28

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

“As Hitler stated, “National Socialism and Christianity are irreconcilable.”

from Albert Speer's diary

“Only he who cries out for the Jews may sing Gregorian chants.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

“Once I have settled my other problems, I'll have my reckoning with the Church. I'll have it reeling on the ropes.”

Adolf Hitler

“Peace means giving oneself completely to God's commandment, wanting no security, but in faith and obedience laying the destiny of the nations in the hand of Almighty God, not trying to direct it for selfish purposes. Battles are won, not with weapons, but with God they are won when the way leads to the cross.”

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

“Jesus is our greatest Aryan hero.”

from a 1922 speech – Adolf Hitler

“There is no way to peace along the way of safety. For peace must be dared, it is itself a great venture and can never be safe. Peace is the opposite of security. To demand guarantees is to want to protect oneself.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

“Christianity is the one great curse, the one enormous and innermost perversion, the one immortal blemish of mankind.”

Hitler's hero Nietzsche - Hitler actually believed that Nietzsche was someone who was able to prophecy Hitler's coming. 

“Do not try to make the Bible relevant. Its relevance is axiomatic. Do not defend God's Word, but testify to its Truth.

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

“In 1935 he ordered every SS member to resign leadership in religious organizations. The next year he forbade SS musicians to participate in religious services, even out of uniform, Soon after he forbade SS members to attend church services. To him the SS itself was a religion, and its members postulants in its priesthood.”

Hitler's right hand man in the SS Himmler

“The proclamation of grace has its limits; grace may not be proclaimed to anyone who does not recognize or distinguish or desire it. The world upon whom grace is thrust as a bargain will grow tired of it, and it will not only trample upon the Holy, but also will tear apart those who force it on them.”

Dietrich Bonhoeffer

That the National Church was put under the leadership of of an outspoken pagan shows how much respect Hitler had for the Christian Church and its doctrines. Under Hitler's direction came the following action:

. The National Church demands immediate cessation of the publishing and dissemination of the Bible in Germany.

. The National Church declares that to it, and therefore to the German nation, it has been decided that the Fuehrer's Mein Kampf is the greatest of all documents. It not only contains the greatest truths, but it embodies the purest and truest ethics for the present and future life of our nation.

. The National Church will clear away from its altars all crucifixes, Bibles and pictures of saints.

. On the altars there must be nothing but Mein Kampf (to the German nation and therefore to God the most sacred book) and to the left of the altar a sword.

. On the day of its foundation, the Christian Cross must be removed from all Churches, cathedrals and chapels and it must be superseded by the only unconquerable symbol, the swastika.

“You can do anything you want with them. They will submit. They are insignificant little people, submissive as dogs, and the sweat with embarrassment when you talk to them.”

Adlolf Hitler regarding his plans for Christian Pastors

“Decree for the Restoration of Orderly Conditions in the German Evangelical Church,” “Discussions concerning the Church can not take place in Church buildings or be conducted in Church newspapers. Anyone who does so will be dismissed. All German church youth groups, called the Evangelical Youth will be merged with the Hitler Youth.”

Adolf Hitler's head of the Church, the pagan Muller

“I shall give a propagandist reason for starting the war; never mind whether is it plausible or not. This victor will not be asked after ward whether he told the truth.”

Adolf Hitler who made it seem as though he supported the Church.

“I pointed out that I know that extensive executions were planned in Poland and that particularly the nobility and the clergy were to be exterminated.

Canaris

While this Hump says, on the one hand that he is aware of everything that Hitler said and did, and is familiar with Goebbles and Speer and the rest of the lot, he also said he is unfamiliar with anything that could be interpreted as Hitler simply using the Church for his own ends. Strange, don't you think, when there is so much available information?

“Death reveals that the world is not as it should be but that it stands in need of redemption. Christ alone is the conquering of death.”

Pastor Dietrich Bonhoeffer who was executed for resisting Adolf Hitler.

The Downfall of Nations

The course is predictable and sure:

From Bondage to Spiritual faith

From Spiritual faith to Courage

From Courage to Liberty

From Liberty to Abundance

From Abundance to Complacency

From Complacency to Apathy

From Apathy to Self-obsession and Self-indulgence

From Self-obsession to Dependence and

From Dependence back into bondage and collapse

From Andy Andrews' book “How To Kill 11 Million People; The Adolf Hitler Years.”

Love In Action

Because God loves us, we can know that if circumstances in our lives are humbling us, humbling is exactly what we needed.

If circumstances in our lives are breaking our dependency on things and on money and on status “symbols,” then breaking that hold is exactly what was needed.

Remember: God breaks our dependence on money and on things, NOT by giving us more than we need (We already have that), but by removing some or all of what we already have.

Almost nothing detracts us from accomplishing the task of loving our husband / wife or neighbour faster than the pursuit of money and possessions. The richer we are, the less we give to those in need. Bigger houses, newer cars, bigger bank accounts, nicer clothes - Pursuing newer, better, bigger, faster always depletes our love & mercy for others.

It is profoundly ironic that in the most overtly Christian nation on earth, “In God We Trust” is written on the object of most people's deepest love and dependence for security, status, worth and sense of value – money. 

 “The purpose of our life is God's glory. However lowly a life is, THAT is what makes it great.”
Oscar Romero

Atheists and “How Dare You Be Happy!”

Every once in awhile I see a post on an atheist blog that oozes outrage over the very idea that Christians could be happy in heaven knowing that some of their loved ones are in hell.

The real question being asked is, “How could you be happy while I’m not?”

Actually, atheist, you’ll be lucky if anyone is thinking of you at all; even the other people in hell. Hell is going to be one case where misery does not love company. In the total absence of love, it’s going to be a total all consuming self-obsession.

How dare you be happy when I’m sad?

How dare you enjoy yourself when I’m determined to have a bad time?

It happens all the time with children who are throwing a tantrum. The whole point of a tantrum is to make the adult pay for not giving in to the child’s demands. Be it screams or stamping of feet or throwing toys, nothing makes a child, or childish adult angrier than noticing that the other person is going on with life as per normal. And that’s what really bugs atheists. It’s the idea that other people will carry on with their lives, that other people will actually enjoy their lives, and allow the atheist to reap the consequences of h/her decision.

I’ve actually had atheists tell me, “God should force me to believe in Him.”

Ya, right. Like you wouldn’t complain about that!

No one is going to celebrate the fact that someone they cared about decided to reject Jesus’ offer of salvation. No one.

On the other hand, no one could have talked you out of making that decision - could they?

Of course hell is horrific beyond imagination. All the more reason to let Jesus rescue you from going there - don’t you think?

Not to atheists.

You’d rather go to hell and then tantrum because other people did what was necessary to avoid it. It’s not like you weren’t aware of your options. You’ve determined to remain on the road to hell for most of your adult life. So whose fault is that if not your own?

It’s something like parents who warn and warn and warn their child, Don’t drink alcohol or do other drugs before driving. And the kid does it repeatedly and finally gets a DUI. And they warn and warn and warn, and the kid does it some more and wrecks h/her car. And they warn and warn and warn, and then the kid runs a stop sign and kills a friend or the child of someone else. The parents don’t enjoy the pain and heartache their child will live with, but what can they do?

Should they stop their life because their kid’s a fool who pushes away available help?

It’s like friends who warn a young woman to quit having careless / reckless sex with strangers. But she continues year after year. In fact, the more they warn her the more determined she seems to continue, until one night she’s beaten beyond recognition. The friends don’t enjoy the fact that she wouldn’t listen, but what could they do?

Co Dependency is when the quality of my day is dependent on the quality of your day. People in heaven, people in the very presence of Creator God, people in the presence of His glory and majesty and power, people enjoying complete and total freedom from evil and violence, people who are in the presence of total and absolute Love are not very likely to look away and wonder what’s going on with those who refused the invitation.

Christianity is anti-Co Dependent. Christianity demands independence.

Rather than going along with the sheeple who are too afraid to challenge atheist propaganda and indoctrination, those who follow Jesus must walk a narrow, narrow path that most people are simply not willing to travel. 

In the end it’s just the Christian and God. I’m not going to have to answer for your decisions and behaviours, and you are not going to have to answer for mine.

Of course I won’t be happy that you’ve chosen hell, but neither will I go there with you to hold your hand. As one person said, “I'll do a lot of things for my friends, but going to hell is not one of them.”

Eternity goes on my friend.

Choose life or choose death.

Either way, the choice is yours.

“I tell you, now is the time of God’s favour, now is the day of salvation.” 2^nd Corinthians 6:2

What kind of fool would turn down an invitation like that?