It’s tough enough trying to be a Christian in this secular world without taking misleading doctrinal advice from non–believers who deny the divinity of Christ.

But some Christians obviously can’t resist because Hindus, Buddhists, Zen masters, Wiccans, pagans, fire worshipers, polytheists, agnostics, atheists and Unitarians continue their work of trying to get us to follow the “real” teaching of Jesus.

The latest advice comes from the religion columnist for the WaPost: Lisa Miller. Lisa is a conflicted Jew. The kind who goes to a Reform synagogue and says prayers for Israel, but her bizarre philosophy of moral equivalence leads Miller to believe Israelis are mean to Arabs. So she feels like it’s time to redefine the word “Israel,” at least for prayer purposes.

Fresh from altering the intent Jewish prayer, Miller turns to occupy Wall Street with helpful advice on how Christians should respond to this civic tantrum.

Lisa knows just how Jesus would have responded, had He spent a few days in Zuccotti Park: “Thus, (H)e might have sympathy for the various causes espoused by the campers (end hydrofracking, tax the rich, support unions, cap executive pay.)”
Poor Jesus, He never gets a break. Plagued by Pharisees during his own time – thrown among parasites today.

Miller’s non–divine Jesus is an advocate of what John Eldredge calls “wispy wisdom.” Christ becomes non–judgmental, vegan philosopher whose market beliefs are Karl Marx without the aggressive beard and class struggle.

Naturally Miller turns to Bart Ehrman for expert agreement. Ehrman’s a favorite of secular, non–believing reporters because he’s a former evangelical Christian who lost his faith over typos in the New Testament. Today Ehrman is an agnostic professor of religion and the go–to guy for reporters looking to enlist Jesus in the Socialist International.

Still, even cursory readers of the New Testament know Jesus did not spend a lot of time discussing investment strategy, although Matthew 25: 14–30 comes close.

Theologically it’s complicated, but the parable concerns a rich man going on vacation. He gives three of his servants ten, five and one talent of silver and then heads for the beach. When he returns, the master calls the servants to account. The ten–talent and the five–talent men invested and doubled their money. But the one–talent servant buried his for fear of losing it.

The master praised those who doubled their money, but fired the one–talent servant, which sounds to me like a rousing endorsement of capital gains.

If you really read the Bible, it’s hard to co–opt the Savior into your earthly political plans without simply inventing theology.

He had plenty of time to confront civil authority, yet Christ focused on religious authority. He didn’t discuss the politics with the Centurion or tax rates with Matthew. In fact the only system of government approved by God was that of the judges, and the Jews disliked that so much they demanded a king. Democracy and the consent of the governed are not mentioned in the New Testament because it’s not a political science or economics text. The Word is directed at individuals and not banks, corporations, the GOP, Congress or Parliament.

But Miller does real damage when she repeats the big lie of our modern, dissolute age. “The Jesus of history would love them all. What Jesus really said, and what he meant, are the subjects of culture’s greatest controversies, but one thing is sure. Jesus gave preferential treatment to society’s outcasts.”

This half–truth is used to justify homosexuality, shacking up, sex before marriage, out–of–wedlock births and much of the rest of the degeneracy of our age. But it’s a lie.

Jesus’ ministry was in sharp contrast to that of the Pharisees who weren’t interested in people unless they were already members of the club. Jesus did do outreach. His ministry was directed at sinners and He welcomed them. For adulterers, thieves, terrorists, prostitutes, tax collectors, men with anger issues it was come one, come all.

But to remain in His presence you had to be willing to change EVERYTHING.

He changed the names of His disciples, ordered them to abandon their families, and rebuked them for lack of faith. The prostitute and the fornicator had to lead a moral lives and the thief stopped stealing, to mention but a few.

Yes He reached out without regard to your past or your station in life, but if you were to follow Him, it was under His rules and Christ did not grade on the curve.

That’s the truth Miller and other liberal Bible hijackers conveniently overlook.

Michael R. Shannon is a public relations and advertising consultant with corporate, government and political experience around the globe. He is a dynamic and entertaining keynote speaker. He can be reached at
michael-shannon@comcast.net.

Michael R. Shannon
MANDATE: Message, Media & Public Relations
703-583-6277
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http://www.linkedin.com/in/michaelrshannon
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WesternFront America

By Doug Edelman

Since almost nobody watches Lawrence O’Donnell on MSNBC, it’s a pretty safe bet that you either haven’t seen his recent scriptural dissertation – or if you did, it was because someone shared it with you on Facebook!

If you haven’t seen it, or want to see it again, here’s the link:

http://www.breitbart.tv/msnbcs-odonnell-explains-jesus-christs-position-on-progressive-tax-brackets/

As he disingenuously besmirches Limbaugh’s biblical expertise, and attempts to respond to Rush Limbaugh’s rhetorical musing, ‘What would Jesus take?’; O’Donnell postulates that Jesus would advocate taking it ALL. And uses the story of the widow’s mite as biblical justification for the progressive income tax!

Mark Twain once quipped, “It is better to remain silent and be thought a fool, than to open one’s mouth and remove all doubt.” This saying was never more true than in the case of Lawrence O’Donnell’s biblical knowledge!

O’Donnell’s interpretive hypotheses are COMPLETELY without biblical justification! Talk about twisting scripture to support one’s preconceived notions!

O’Donnell postulates that the lesson of the widow’s mite in Mark 12 is that, because Jesus praised her giving all she had, while condemning the rich giving a mere token of their abundance, that Jesus would condone the Progressive Income Tax!!

Actually, I would be no less biblically inaccurate if I were to say his praise of the widow meant that he would condone raising taxes on the Poor!!

O’Donnell further referenced Matt 19:21 “Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

Thus, in O’Donnell’s mind, Christ wants those who have means to give it ALL to help the poor.

Well, gee whiz! He quoted 2 scriptures and it sure sounds that way, don’t it? (To O’Donnell’s audience, likely people as biblically ignorant as O’Donnell himself, it probably does!!) But when the Sword of the Spirit is wielded by one unskilled in swordsmanship, there is much danger to any nearby!

Pulling scriptures out of context can be a very dangerous practice, Mr. O’Donnell! Let me demonstrate:

First verse: “Then he threw down the pieces of silver in the temple and departed, and went and hanged himself” (Matthew 27:5).

Second verse: “Go and do likewise” (Luke 10:37).

So, Larry… think it might please Jesus if you complied??

{Inserting dramatic pause while you stop laughing}

So, let’s look as O’Donnell’s verses in biblical and historical context!

First, let’s look at Mark 12: (NIV)

⁴¹ Jesus sat down opposite the place where the offerings were put and watched the crowd putting their money into the temple treasury. Many rich people threw in large amounts. ⁴² But a poor widow came and put in two very small copper coins, worth only a few cents.

⁴³ Calling his disciples to him, Jesus said, “Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put more into the treasury than all the others. ⁴⁴ They all gave out of their wealth; but she, out of her poverty, put in everything—all she had to live on.”

First, a little historical perspective. Israel was a theocracy. The nation was ruled by the priesthood. The Temple was the Government.

“AHA!!!” I hear the MSNBC zombies saying!! All those verses about giving can be appropriated by Government!

Well, NO! See, scriptures speak of both TITHES, and OFFERINGS.

The TITHE was the “temple tax”. It was the amount each person was to give for the support of the priesthood – the upkeep of the government.

One of the most commonly cited verses regarding giving that you’ll hear in churches is Mal 3:10

“Bring the whole tithe into the storehouse, that there may be food in my house. Test me in this,” says the LORD Almighty, “and see if I will not throw open the floodgates of heaven and pour out so much blessing that you will not have room enough for it.”

Interestingly, it was FOOD and not Money, and it was a TITHE… one tenth! The “income tax” set by biblical law was 10%, and it was NOT progressive! The rich were assessed 10% of their abundance and the poor 10% of their meager existence! (Our lowest rate income tax today is 15%! GOD only required 10%!)

Further, the OFFERINGS, which were indeed money, went into the treasury of the temple for the work of the ministry. These were FREE WILL OFFERINGS. Voluntary giving. Jesus referred to this giving when he said, “Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.” 2COR 9:7

So the offerings were to be voluntary, (not under compulsion), and the amount was to be determined by the individual’s own conscience and purpose. God preferred less given cheerfully over more given reluctantly!

Let’s go back to Matt 19:21 “Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

Sure, he said “sell your possessions and give to the poor”. But look at the context!

¹⁶ Just then a man came up to Jesus and asked, “Teacher, what good thing must I do to get eternal life?”

SUBJECT: ETERNAL LIFE. A SPIRITUAL issue.

¹⁷ “Why do you ask me about what is good?” Jesus replied. “There is only One who is good. If you want to enter life, keep the commandments.”

¹⁸ “Which ones?” he inquired.

Jesus replied, “‘You shall not murder, you shall not commit adultery, you shall not steal, you shall not give false testimony, ¹⁹ honor your father and mother,’^[c] and ‘love your neighbor as yourself.’^[d]”

²⁰ “All these I have kept,” the young man said. “What do I still lack?”

Jesus here was setting up the great premise of the Christian Salvation. The LAW sets the standard of perfection which all men fall short of. (“For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God.” Rom 3:23) It is this realization that no man can earn or deserve eternal life through their own works that leads man to accept Christ’s substitutionary atonement. ⁸ “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— ⁹ not by works, so that no one can boast.” Eph 2:8,9

The man did not come to this realization. He relied on his own self-righteous works. He was deluded into thinking he had not failed in his perfect keeping of the law!

²¹ Jesus answered, “If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me.”

²² When the young man heard this, he went away sad, because he had great wealth.

O’Donnell and his ilk seize upon the “give to the poor”, but they ignore not only the spiritual context of the passage, but the remainder of this very verse! “THEN COME FOLLOW ME!” Christ was telling the man that the works of his own self-efforts, of his self-righteousness, were inadequate. He told him to abandon what he valued, and turn to what GOD valued. He was unwilling.

As a final admonition to our friend Lawrence O’Donnell, I would warn him away from advocating for the position held by Judas Iscariot in John 12!

¹ Six days before the Passover, Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. ² Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honor. Martha served, while Lazarus was among those reclining at the table with him. ³ Then Mary took about a pint^[a] of pure nard, an expensive perfume; she poured it on Jesus’ feet and wiped his feet with her hair. And the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfume.

⁴ But one of his disciples, Judas Iscariot, who was later to betray him, objected, ⁵ “Why wasn’t this perfume sold and the money given to the poor? It was worth a year’s wages.^[b]” ⁶ He did not say this because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief; as keeper of the money bag, he used to help himself to what was put into it.

⁷ “Leave her alone,” Jesus replied. “It was intended that she should save this perfume for the day of my burial. ⁸ You will always have the poor among you,^[c] but you will not always have me.”

Copyright © 2011 by Doug Edelman

Doug Edelman is a conservative political analyst and commentator, and was a contributing editor for The Conservative Voice. His work has appeared on ChronWatch, Western Front American, Small Government Times, Western Journalism, News By Us, The American Daily, The Post Chronicle, New Media Journal, Capitol Hill Coffee House and more. Mr. Edelman is also an IT Consultant/Contractor and owner of a Computer Services Business.  He has taught PC Maintenance & Repair and Networking at his local Community College, and maintains a blog at http://starboard.blogtownhall.com/.

 

WesternFront America

By Thor H. Asgardson

The Holy Shroud of Turin has been the field of battle in the war between science and religion, with the conflict culminating in the glorious victory for both fields of human endeavor.

Borderlines between science and religion have now officially vanished for those with the perception to see and analyze the scientific data gleaned from the most advanced, exhaustive dissection of a miracle.

The scoffers who chose to question the validity of the Shroud, cannot be blamed for a healthy skepticism, which emulates the independent spirit of Thomas Jefferson, who did not believe in blind faith as a guiding pole star.

“Question with boldness even the existence of a God; because, if there be one, he must more approve of the homage of reason, than that of blind-folded fear.”

Thomas Jefferson

What is this artifact to an incurious mankind, which sees it as yet another “holy relic” foisted onto the human race, as a continuous pattern in a long train of abuses involving fraud, which made religion the opiate of the masses?

This writer sees the Holy Bible as nothing more than Jewish mythology, as much contained therein can only be regarded with suspicion, including the story about sacrificing one’s children to Jehovah, a wrathful tribal god of the Hebrews.

Thomas Jefferson felt that the chapter in the Bible titled “Revelation,” was centered around the stark ravings of a madman.

Perhaps that biblical author spent too much time out in the wilderness eating insect excreta (manna) or subsisting on moldy bread, which would have delivered ergot into his veins, for a nice little LSD trip.

Maybe the author saw a UFO and it blew his mind.

There is the question regarding a document which was written two centuries after the advent of Jesus on earth and in addition, one which was mutilated as a historical document by Emperor Justinian I, of the Eastern Roman Empire.

Many references to reincarnation and the human attributes of Jesus were ripped out of the Bible and destroyed by imperial decree, so that what is left for the perusal of mankind, is a greatly adulterated view, lacking its most salient points. It may have even been rewritten in the sixth century.

The point being made here is that the Bible cannot be taken as the last word in revelation of God’s plan for the human race.

How can any man pontificate on God, for He is Eternity Itself? A few answers must be explored in eternity.

What is the Holy Shroud of Turin, if not the direct Scripture of Revelation, which can satisfy the pragmatism and sophistication of modern man?

Just as the life of a tree may be read through dendrochronology, or the geological record of the Grand Canyon can be read by stratigraphy, so too may be revealed the miracle of the life of Jesus of Nazareth in the folds of His burial cloth.

What does the Shroud of Turin tell mankind?

Simple minds became fascinated by the road bump called C-14 dating, which did nothing more than analyze a piece of patch cloth installed by nuns of Chambery, France in 1534, after a fire which almost destroyed the Shroud in Medieval times.

The patches were made of dyed cotton, to match the ancient patina of the Shroud, which is pure linen.

From this sample, scoffers concluded that the Shroud was a Medieval forgery and thus it was proclaimed across the land that the burial cloth of Jesus, was nothing more than a fraud, based on test results of a tainted sample.

The heavy artillery was brought out by science, in the form of an advanced space age scanner, developed by NASA, which revealed two coins of Roman Procurator of Judea, Pontius Pilate, placed over the eyes of the dead man along with associated grave flowers.

It was also revealed under examination, that the image was in fact three-dimensional, which would make it impossible to have been painted as a two-dimensional image.

These findings were not visible to the naked human eye and had to wait for centuries before they could be seen by mankind.

Grave tags with the dead man’s name, origin and crime were also found revealed in the weave, which too were not visible to the naked eye and revealed the owner of the burial shroud.

Associated evidence also corroborated by science, came in the form of pollen analysis which directly traced the route the cloth is supposed to have taken–according to chronicles–and proved that it did indeed follow the ancient accounts.

What did science find beyond mystery, wonder and the miracle of survival?

Science found itself in the forefront of unwittingly proving the mortal existence of Yeshua ben Joseph and the reality of his crucifixion as the Man of Sorrows and more importantly, the validity of the Resurrection.

Every scientific finding corroborated the kernel of truth–regarding the life of Jesus– still found in the Bible, even after that document had been disheveled down through the centuries.

What did science have to say about how the image was formed?

After all was said and done and every detail of ancient scriptural account was verified by scientific finding, the world of science concluded that the historical artifact defies the laws of physics and the glory revealed cannot be isolated in a test tube.

A scientific discipline which had formerly been grounded in the hard facts of particle physics, developed a new supernatural branch on its tree.

A scientist declared that the Resurrection of Yeshua ben Joseph was indeed now known to science as a historical reality and that the miracle had been explained in scientific jargon as a “horizon event” by particle physicist Dame Isabel Piczek.

The image formed on the Shroud was in fact a form of photography which came on the scene two thousand years before the invention of photography, so that the faithful would be able to see the visage of The One they adored.

Scientists declared the “event horizon” of Jesus’ resurrection, was what they called the “creation of a new universe.”

The final analysis of the Shroud of Turin by scientific experts, with advanced space age technology, came to the conclusion that the image was formed by the dead man, floating in mid air and the grave cloth arranging itself in a flat pattern, so that an unobstructed photograph could be taken for the edification of mankind.

Science pronounced the image was formed by multiple thermonuclear explosions out of every pore of the dead man’s skin.

The Shroud of Turin stands as stark testament to the lack of limits for human potential.

Science has now approached the threshold of an entire new understanding of the laws of physics, as revealed by the Master Physicist.

The Man of Sorrows is the Man of Eternal Joy.

Thor H. Asgardson

 

WesternFront America

To religious progressives wanting to at least acknowledge the morality of Jesus without having to acknowledge His rightful place as the Lord of the their lives, the resurrection of the body is viewed as a disposable dogma more suited for less scientific times when the masses of humanity were less capable of comprehending the harsh realities of life. Often the believer confronts this kind of thinking in contemporary academic forums such as the Quest for the Historical Jesus and the like. However, this attempt to undermine this teaching goes back even further among beloved historical figures from the past such as Thomas Jefferson who exorcised from the pages of the Bible those passages attesting to the miraculous truth. However, by analyzing I Corinthians 15, the believer is assured that the Resurrection is perhaps the most important doctrine in the pages of Scripture.

In verse 1, Paul points out that what he is about to teach is not some new doctrine pulled out of the sky but rather a reminder of the fundamental Gospel on which believers in the church have taken their stand often without regard to earthly consequences. In verse 2, Paul makes it known that the Gospel is not just a set of intellectual propositions but rather the message through which the believer is saved if they “hold firmly to the word I have preached to you” outside of which there is no hope.

Sometimes when confronted with the complexities of both daily life and raging religious debates, it is easy to neglect and even forget about the basics upon which our faith rests. Thus, in verses 3 and 4 Paul provides the Corinthians with a recap of the basic Gospel message which he summarized as the following: “that Christ died for our sins, according to the Scripture, that he was buried, that he was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures.”

Either in an attempt to lull believers into lowering their discernment or, as in the case of the Neo-Orthodox to curry favor with the elites of academic theology, occasionally one will find that the cultured despisers of the old time religion will allow those comforted by traditional religious language to speak of some kind of belief in Christ’s Resurrection. However, these propagandists turn around and insist that at best the Resurrection be understood merely as a metaphorical or spiritual event meaning Jesus simply went on living in the memories of those that loved him or in a manner outside of verifiable empirical history.

In verse 5, the reader is told that the risen Christ appeared to Peter and then the Twelve. This is also a summation of Gospel accounts such as John 20 where Jesus appeared to His disciples in the Upper Room.

Some skeptics might dismiss such encounters, claiming that the Disciples were so fraught with grief and so beside themselves that they imagined seeing Jesus. However, from verse 6, we learn that Jesus appeared to over 500 believers and it is highly doubtful you could get 500 Jews to agree on anything unless they had witnessed it for themselves. And though it might carry slightly less resonance with us as it did for the Corinthians, at one time one could ask these 500 if what Paul wrote was true or not as at that time most of the witnesses were still alive.

In verse 7, it is pointed out that Jesus appeared to James. While the testimony is powerful that Jesus appeared to over 500 people, the resurrected Christ is further authenticated by appearing before his earthly half-brother who would have been more qualified than the 500 as a family member to expose someone masquerading as Jesus.

While this report of what others experienced is sufficient to establish the veracity of Christ’s resurrection as a concrete historical event, in court first hand eyewitness testimony is considered a very powerful form of evidence. As such, in verse 8, for that reason Paul claims Christ appeared to him as well.

But whereas most would consider themselves superior to others if they had a tangible firsthand encounter with God, in verse 9 Paul does not consider himself worthy of being an apostle and views himself as the least among them because of his past persecution of the Church. This itself has implications in the life of the average person.

Often, some put off accepting Christ as their personal savior by claiming that Jesus would never accept them because of all the wicked things they have done. However, by accepting Paul into the ranks of apostleship, the average sinner is shown that, if we confess the error of our ways and repent of them under the shed blood of Christ, as I John 1:9 tells us, “He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and cleanse us from all unrighteousness.”

In verse 10, Paul admits that his turnaround was not the result of pulling himself up by his own sandalstraps but rather as a result of God’s own grace. From this, believers realize that what good ultimately comes about in their own lives is not the result of our own efforts but rather a result of God working through us. As it says in Isaiah 64:6, our righteousness is as filthy rags.

Even in our religiously turbulent times, the denial of the Resurrection sounds so foreign to our Christian ears that it is easy to assume that this heresy is a new development. However, it must be remembered that the Greco-Roman world was marked by (to utilize an overused phrase) considerable diversity. Paul writes, “But if it is preached that Christ has been raised from the dead, how can some of you say there is not resurrection of the dead?”

Such an inquiry would indicate that, even at this early stage in the history of the church, criticisms of the Resurrection were beginning to creep in doctrinally, possibly in part due to Neo-Platonic or Gnostic influences. For these philosophies tended to downplay the role and need for the body in the quest for spiritual enlightenment. For example, the Docetics believed that Jesus only appeared to have a body and was rather a spirit that could not really die or be resurrected.

In verse 13, Paul begins to expose the implications of just what it would mean if there was no resurrection from the dead. Paul bluntly states, “If there is no resurrection from the dead, then not even Christ has been raised.”

Some are so detached from what they believe that they would probably continue plodding along not caring one way or the other whether Jesus rose from the dead. It is not until the implications of certain ideas show up on the doorstep of our own existential predicament that we begin to sit up and take notice.

Thus, in verse 14, Paul draws the conclusion that, if Christ has not been raised, his preaching is useless and so is our faith. We are shown why this is true for a number of reasons.

In verse 15, it is pointed out that, if Christ was not resurrected, the Apostles such as Paul would be false witnesses about God. And if they cannot be trusted in this matter, why should they be trusted in others?

In verse 16, the subject is examined from a slightly different angle. Paul posits that, if the dead in an absolute sense do not rise in the body, then Christ has not been raised either.

In verse 17, Paul applies the issue of the Resurrection to a direct personal application by pointing out that, unless Christ has been risen from the dead, our faith is a waste of time. For as Christ Himself responded in Matthew 12:39-40 when asked for a sign authenticating His authority, “But he answered and said unto them, An evil and adulterous generation seeketh after a sign; and there shall no sign be given to it, but the sign of the prophet Jonas: For as Jonas was three days and three nights in the whale’s belly; so shall the Son of man be three days and three nights in the heart of the earth.”

Adding to the personal repercussions if Christ is not raised from the dead, in verse 18 Paul provides an added shock observing that, if Christ has not been raised from the dead, the those asleep in Him (a polite way of referring to the dead) are lost. Anyone that has lost a loved one as a Christian knows that sometimes the only thing that enables you to cope with the big gaping hole in your heart is knowing that one day we will be reunited with them. As I Thessalonians 4:13 instructs, “Brothers, we do not want you to be ignorant about those who fall asleep, or to grieve like the rest of men, who have no hope.” Because of this hope, we don’t cry because those we cherish have passed out of existence but rather in a manner more akin over someone that has moved away that we won’t have any contact with for what to us may seem to be many years or even decades to come.

Finally, to end this litany of despair regarding the ramifications if Christ did not rise from the dead, Paul flat out says in verse 19, “If only for this life we have hope in Christ, we are to be pittied more than all men.” As stated previously, sometimes liberals and progressives think they are doing a magnanimous thing by enunciating an admiration for the so-called “ethics of Jesus”. However, if we simply end up as food for worms as G. Gordon Liddy mused one time on “The Tonight Show” before his own spiritual awakening, then turning the other cheek and putting others before yourself is a rather pathetic way to live if kindly and devout grandmothers end up with the same eternal reward as homicidal serial rapists.

Fortunately, Paul does not leave the reader on a decidedly glum note and in fact becomes markedly more positive with verse 20. Here it is reinforced that Christ has indeed risen from the dead as the firstfruits of those that have fallen asleep.

In verses 21-22, Paul shows how it is only logical that the Resurrection would be provided through Christ. Paul’s argument goes something like this: since death came through one man, the resurrection would also come through one man.

From Genesis 3, we learn that, as the forefather of the human race, as a result of his sin of eating the forbidden fruit, Adam brought death to all those to whom his sin nature was passed on. Therefore, since God the Father sent His Son into the world in the form of a sinless human being to live the sinless life we could not yet have to pay the price of the sins of the world through the shedding of His blood and being raised from the dead, if we acknowledge our sinfulness and what Christ did for us what we could not, then as our newly adopted federal head we are extended the privilege of enjoying our resurrection life in Heaven with Him throughout eternity.

In verses 23-28, Paul provides a rough chronology to the order of events connected to the Resurrection and the ultimate fulfillment of all things. In verse 23, it is pointed out that, as we already know, Christ was risen first as the firstfruits. We will be given our opportunity when He returns.

However, that will not be the sole purpose of Christ’s return. For at that time, according to verse 24, Jesus will hand the world over to God the Father after He has destroyed all earthly power and authority.

In verse 25, Paul informs us that Christ must reign until all His enemies are under His feet, the last of which, verse 26 tells us, is death. These verses coincide with Revelation chapter 25, describing the Millennial Kingdom particularly as that period draws to a close when Satan is released from the Pit to foment one last rebellion that is ultimately put down according to verses 7-10. In Revelation 20:14, death is cast into the Lake of Fire, becoming (as I Corinthians 15:26 tells us) the “the last enemy destroyed”.

In verses 27-28, the believer is given a glimpse into the distinctions within the Trinitarian Godhead. Verse 27 tells us that, while everything has been put under feet of Christ, that does not include the Father as it was the Father who put everything under Christ. In verse 28, Christ the son willingly subjects Himself to God the Father. This demonstrates that, while Christ is Himself God, He is Himself subject (though in perfect accord) to the will of the Father.

In verses 29-34, Paul returns to the theme of why should anyone even bother with Christianity if the Resurrection is a fiction. In verse 29, Paul asks, “Now if there is no resurrection, what will those do who are baptized for the dead?” If there is no future hope for the dead, why should we express any formalized concern for them?

Throughout this chapter, Paul has primarily analyzed the logical implications that would result if the Resurrection was not an actual event. However, in verses 30-33, we can easily pick up on the emotion and passion the Apostle feels in connection with the issue.

In verse 30, Paul asks point blank, “And as for us, why do we endanger ourselves every hour? I die every day…just as surely as I glory over you in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Paul is asking why should he bother risking his behind if its all for nothing anyway.

Often in Christian circles, it is portrayed that serving in the Lord’s will is all sunshine and moonbeams here in this life, forgetting that in this life we will have trouble. Paul makes it known in verse 31 that, even though he found much glory in his labors on behalf of his fellow believers, he died a bit everyday as of a result of these hardships.

Bringing this line of analysis to a conclusion in verse 32, Paul observes that, if he fought wild animals in Ephesus for merely human reasons, what had he gained and if the dead are not raised one might as well “Let us eat and drink, for tomorrow we die.” While this quote is from Isaiah 22:13, it is also a summation of the Epicurean philosophy prominent throughout the Greco-Roman world at that time. It was the contention of this perspective that, since this world was all the individual had, the best one could hope for was to maximize pleasure, minimize pain, and look to one’s own interests while in pursuit of this goal.

From verse 35 onwards, Paul for the most part examines what the Resurrected and their bodies will be like. In verse 35, the question on everybody’s mind is asked: “How are the dead raised? With what kind of body will they come?”

Since most of us are buried in the ground after we die, in verse 36-40, Paul likens the process of the resurrection to the planting of a seed. As such, our earthly bodies that are subject to decay and death serve as a kind of seed from which God will bring forth our glorified bodies, each after its own kind.

Though there will be similarities between our old bodies and our resurrection bodies, they will also be marked by considerable differences. In verse 42, it is observed, “The body that is sown is perishable, it is raised imperishable.” Thus, unlike the old body, the resurrection body is not subject to death.

From verse 43, we learn this is because the resurrected body of the Christian will no longer be marred by the stain of sin. The text reads, “it is sown in dishonor [a reference to original sin passed down through our parents all the way back to Adam and Eve], it is raised in glory.” In verse 44, we learn that while the body is sown as a natural body, it is raised as a spiritual body.

In verses 45-49, we learn that the natures of these are derived from the federal heads to whom those possessing them belong. In verse 45, it is stated that the natural body traces back to Adam whereas the incorruptible body comes as a result of the finished work of the last Adam, Jesus, being “a life-giving spirit.”

It would be easy from this to dismiss the natural body entirely as was the tendency of certain Gnostic sects of the ancient world. However, as Paul points out in verse 46, the natural body came first before the spiritual. In terms of human beings, one cannot have one without the other.

In verses 47-48, Paul examines a number of the differences derived from the natures of the first and second Adams. Verse 47 informs us that the first man cam from the dust of the earth whereas the second man, Christ, came from Heaven.

Since Adam and Christ are the two respective heads of the human race in terms of representing redemptive states, their respective followers take on a number of their characteristics. Verse 48 says, “As was the earthly man, so are those who are of the earth; and as is the man of heaven, so also are those who are of heaven.” As those, those still in Adam remain in sin and are subject to the penalties of being in such a state. Those found in Christ are no longer subject to the eternal penalty of their sins.

In verse 50, Paul announces that flesh and blood cannot inherit the Kingdom of God. Thus, we are provided with the primary reason why we much undergo this transformation from, to the use words found at the end of the verse, from the “perishable” and into the “imperishable”.

It is usually assumed that one cannot enter this glorified state without having first partaken of death’s bitter taste. However, in verses 51-52, Paul reveals that, for all Christians, such will not be the case. According to the text, in the twinkling of an eye (even quicker than a blink) when the last trumpet sounds and the dead are raised, those living at that time will be instantaneously changed.

Verse 53 reminds us of the lesson learned in verses 42-44 that this transformation of our very nature signals death’s ultimate defeat as it will no longer hold any power in the end over the redeemed child of God. In verse 55, a bit of a taunt is rubbed in the face of death when the passage reads, “Where, O Death, is your victory? Where, O Death, is your sting?”

From verse 56, it is clarified that the sting of death is sin and the power of sin is the law. However, as is proclaimed in verse 57, God gives the believer victory over these things through Jesus Christ. Since He takes away our sins and takes them as far as the east is from the west according to Psalms 103:12, these transgressions do not leave a lasting stain if we ask for forgiveness.

In verse 58, Paul ends on a note of victorious encouragement. Echoing words similar to the comforting truism of if the Lord is for us, who can be against us, Paul admonishes Christians to stand firm, let nothing move them, and to give ourselves fully to the work of the Lord because of labor is not in vain. Without the Resurrection provided by the work of Christ, the most anyone could hope for is the cold sleep of the grave. However, such physical affliction is ultimately temporary as a result of His triumph.

In “Star Wars”, Obi-Wan Kenobi warns Darth Vader that, should the Sith lord decide to strike him down, the Jedi master would become more powerful than could possibly be imagined. Though a fictionalized scene since as soon as Kenobi was struck down by Vader’s blade Kenobi began to instruct Luke in the ways of the Force from beyond the grave, the sentiment is one echoed in the hope that the Christian has a life beyond this one not subject to the same drawbacks, restraints, and letdowns that plague is the few brief years that we trod this earth.

© Dr. Frederick Meekins

 

WesternFront America

Thanks and a tip of the hat to Christopher of Logan’s Warning for his post which alerted me to this. Several years ago, Ibrahim Hooper,  National Communications Director for the Washington-based Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), published a deceptive article which Arab American News republished on December 25, ’09. Love for Jesus unites Muslims, Christians

The article makes citations to the following ayat & hadith. By selectively quoting Islam’s canon of scripture and tradition, Hooper  programs us to accept his al-taqeyya.

• 3:45. (Remember) when the angels said: “O Maryam (Mary)! Verily, Allâh gives you the glad tidings of a Word ["Be!" - and he was! i.e. 'Iesa (Jesus) the son of Maryam (Mary)] from Him, his name will be the Messiah ‘Iesa (Jesus), the son of Maryam (Mary), held in honour in this world and in the Hereafter, and will be one of those who are near to Allâh.”
• 2:87. And indeed, We gave Mûsa (Moses) the Book and followed him up with a succession of Messengers. And We gave ‘Iesa (Jesus), the son of Maryam (Mary), clear signs and supported him with Rûh-ul-Qudus [Jibrael (Gabriel)]. Is it that whenever there came to you a Messenger with what you yourselves desired not, you grew arrogant? Some, you disbelieved and some, you killed.
• 21:91. And (remember) she who guarded her chastity [Virgin Maryam (Mary)], We breathed into (the sleeves of) her (shirt or garment) [through Our Rûh ­ Jibrael (Gabriel)], and We made her and her son ['Iesa (Jesus)] a sign for Al-’Alamin (the mankind and jinns).
• 3:47. She said: “O my Lord! How shall I have a son when no man has touched me.” He said: “So (it will be) for Allâh creates what He wills. When He has decreed something, He says to it only: “Be!” and it is.
• 5:110. (Remember) when Allâh will say (on the Day of Resurrection). “O ‘Iesa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary)! Remember My Favour to you and to your mother when I supported you with Rûh­ul­Qudus [Jibrael (Gabriel)] so that you spoke to the people in the cradle and in maturity; and when I taught you writing, Al­Hikmah (the power of understanding), the Taurât (Torah) and the Injeel (Gospel); and when you made out of the clay, as it were, the figure of a bird, by My Permission, and you breathed into it, and it became a bird by My Permission, and you healed those born blind, and the lepers by My Permission, and when you brought forth the dead by My Permission; and when I restrained the Children of Israel from you (when they resolved to kill you) since you came unto them with clear proofs, and the disbelievers among them said: ‘This is nothing but evident magic.’ “
• 57:27.Then, We sent after them, Our Messengers, and We sent ‘Iesa (Jesus) ­ son of Maryam (Mary), and gave him the Injeel (Gospel). And We ordained in the hearts of those who followed him, compassion and mercy. But the Monasticism which they invented for themselves, We did not prescribe for them, but (they sought it) only to please Allâh therewith, but that they did not observe it with the right observance. So We gave those among them who believed, their (due) reward, but many of them are Fâsiqûn (rebellious, disobedient to Allâh).
• 2:136. Say (O Muslims), “We believe in Allâh and that which has been sent down to us and that which has been sent down to Ibrâhim (Abraham), Ismâ’il (Ishmael), Ishâque (Isaac), Ya’qûb (Jacob), and to Al-Asbât [the twelve sons of Ya'qûb (Jacob)], and that which has been given to Mûsa (Moses) and ‘Iesa (Jesus), and that which has been given to the Prophets from their Lord. We make no distinction between any of them, and to Him we have submitted (in Islâm).”
• Sahih Bukhari Volume 4, Book 55, Number 652: Narrated Abu Huraira:Allah’s Apostle said, “Both in this world and in the Hereafter, I am the nearest of all the people to Jesus, the son of Mary. The prophets are paternal brothers; their mothers are different, but their religion is one.”So Islam accepts the virgin birth and accords Jesus the status of prophet. Is that really a sufficient  bridge to close the gap between Islam and Christianity?  Take a close look at 5:110: the  apocryphal  story about Jesus giving life to a clay bird.  Moe got his version of Christianity from literature not recognized as canonical by Christianity,

2:136 makes Jesus out to be the equal of previous prophets.  But wasn’t he he son of God?  Wasn’t he resurrected after being crucified?  Not according to Islam.  By withholding this information from us, Hooper is practicing  kitman: deception by obfuscation.  Examine the following ayat to which I have added emphasis for clarity.

• 4:157. And because of their saying (in boast), “We killed Messiah ‘Iesa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary), the Messenger of Allâh,” – but they killed him not, nor crucified him, but the resemblance of ‘Iesa (Jesus) was put over another man (and they killed that man), and those who differ therein are full of doubts. They have no (certain) knowledge, they follow nothing but conjecture. For surely; they killed him not [i.e. 'Iesa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary) ]:
• 4:158. But Allâh raised him ['Iesa (Jesus)] up (with his body and soul) unto Himself (and he is in the heavens). And Allâh is Ever All­Powerful, All­Wise.
• 4:159. And there is none of the people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians), but must believe in him ['Iesa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary), as only a Messenger of Allâh and a human being], before his ['Iesa (Jesus) or a Jew's or a Christian's] death (at the time of the appearance of the angel of death). And on the Day of Resurrection, he ['Iesa (Jesus)] will be a witness against them.
• 4:171. O people of the Scripture (Jews and Christians)! Do not exceed the limits in your religion, nor say of Allâh aught but the truth. The Messiah ‘Iesa (Jesus), son of Maryam (Mary), was (no more than) a Messenger of Allâh and His Word, (“Be!” – and he was) which He bestowed on Maryam (Mary) and a spirit (Rûh) created by Him; so believe in Allâh and His Messengers. Say not: “Three (trinity)!” Cease! (it is) better for you. For Allâh is (the only) One Ilâh (God), Glory be to Him (Far Exalted is He) above having a son. To Him belongs all that is in the heavens and all that is in the earth. And Allâh is All­Sufficient as a Disposer of affairs.

In his Qur’an, Moe, speaking in the name of Allah, tells us that Jesus is not God’s son, had no share in divinity,  and was not crucified.  Moe/Allah also tell us that we must accept Jesus as fully human and no more or he will testify against us in the final judgment.  How inviting does that bridge of common ground look now?

Before you step onto that bridge, there is something else you should know. Hooper tells us that Muslims “love and revere Jesus as one of God’s greatest messengers to mankind”.  Is that really why they love Jesus? Is there something more, something he is not telling us about?  You can be sure of it!

• Sunan Abu Dawud Book 37, Number 4310: Narrated AbuHurayrah:The Prophet (peace_be_upon_him) said: There is no prophet between me and him, that is, Jesus (peace_be_upon_him). He will descent (to the earth). When you see him, recognise him: a man of medium height, reddish fair, wearing two light yellow garments, looking as if drops were falling down from his head though it will not be wet. He will fight the people for the cause of Islam. He will break the cross, kill swine, and abolish jizyah. Allah will perish all religions except Islam. He will destroy the Antichrist and will live on the earth for forty years and then he will die. The Muslims will pray over him.Moe is prophesying about the second coming. What will Jesus do? He will fight the people for the cause of Islam.  If you have read 8:39, 9:29 & Sahih Bukhari 1.8.387, you will understand what that means. If you have not read them, click the links and read them now. Islam has given Jesus Christ a new role: warlord.

He will break the cross. We don’t need to think long nor hard to determine what that means: he will kill the remaining Christians and eliminate Christianity. He will kill swine. Jews are described in the Qur’an as transmuted into monkeys and swine.  Jizya will be abolished because there won’t be anyone left to pay it.

Moe depicts Jesus as a genocidal warlord, which is what Muslims are in love with about Jesus.  Am I  judging Islam too harshly? No, and I have proof. In his tafsir of 7:167,  in which Allah promises to continually send someone to torment Jews,  Ibn kathir lets the cat out of the bag. Perhaps you will hear the cat snarling as you read this excerpt, to which I have added emphasis for clarity.

• In the future, the Jews will support the Dajjal (False Messiah); and the Muslims, along with `Isa, son of Mary, will kill the Jews. This will occur just before the end of this world. [Eternal Humiliation placed on the Jews]

Jesus will kill the Jews. Impossible you say? Not to Islam. You have heard of the infamous genocide hadith; take another look at it in the light of the prophesy revealed above.

• Sahih Muslim Book 041, Number 6985:
  Abu Huraira reported Allah’s Messenger (may peace be upon him) as saying: The last hour would not come unless the Muslims will fight against the Jews and the Muslims would kill them until the Jews would hide themselves behind a stone or a tree and a stone or a tree would say: Muslim, or the servant of Allah, there is a Jew behind me; come and kill him; but the tree Gharqad would not say, for it is the tree of the Jews.

Judgment Day can’t come; the Muslims can not enter Paradise to enjoy rivers of wine and perpetual virgins until they hunt down and kill the last Jew and Jesus will lead them in that final jihad.  Islam is a genocidal war cult which has co-opted our Saviour as a genocidal warlord.

Hooper’s common ground is quick sand and his bridge will fall apart, plunging you into Hell as you  cross it to embrace Islam.

As forces of hate in this country and worldwide try to pull Muslims and Christians apart, we are in desperate need of a unifying force that can bridge the widening gap of interfaith misunderstanding and mistrust. That force could be the message of love, peace and forgiveness taught by Jesus and accepted by followers of both faiths.

Jesus sent his disciples to preach the gospel.

• Luke 9:1 Then he called his twelve disciples together, and gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases.
  9:2 And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick.
  9:3 And he said unto them, Take nothing for your journey, neither staves, nor scrip, neither bread, neither money; neither have two coats apiece.
  9:4 And whatsoever house ye enter into, there abide, and thence depart.
  9:5 And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off the very dust from your feet for a testimony against them.

Moe sent his commanders to invite disbelievers to embrace Islam.

• Sahih Muslim Book 019, Number 4294:  Fight in the name of Allah and in the way of Allah.
• Fight against those who disbelieve in Allah
• When you meet your enemies who are polytheists invite them to three courses of action. If they respond to any one of these, you also accept it and withold yourself from doing them any harm.
  • Invite them to (accept) Islam;
    • if they respond to you, accept it from them and desist from fighting against them
      • Then invite them to migrate from their lands to the land of Muhajirs and inform them that, if they do so, they shall have all the privileges and obligations of the Muhajirs.
        • If they refuse to migrate, tell them that they will have the status of Bedouin Muilims and will be subjected to the Commands of Allah like other Muslims, but they will not get any share from the spoils of war or Fai’ except when they actually fight with the Muslims (against the disbelievers)
    • If they refuse to accept Islam, demand from them the Jizya.
      • If they agree to pay, accept it from them and hold off your hands.
      • If they refuse to pay the tax, seek Allah’s help and fight them…

Does Islam accept Christ’s message of peace and love?  If you answered in the affirmative,  please post a comment explaining exactly how you reconcile Christ’s teaching and Moe’s as outlined above.  Jesus sent his disciples, empty handed, to  persuade people to follow him. Moe sent an army with swords and spears to extort their victims to embrace Islam and pay tribute.  Moe’s message is war, not peace.  The two can not be reconciled; there is no bridge between them.

The Prophet Muhammad himself sought to erase any distinctions between the message he taught and that taught by Jesus, who he called God’s “spirit and word.”

Of course he did, because his message of rapine, when compared to Christ’s message of love and peace, shines and stinks like a dead carp on the river bank  in the light of a full moon.

Disrespect toward Jesus, as we have seen all too often in our society, is very offensive to Muslims.

Depicting Jesus as a genocidal warlord  who will lead the Muslims  as they exterminate Jews & Christians does not seem to offend Muslims, perhaps, because they worship a genocidal warmonger as Allah’s final prophet.

And yes, Muslims and Christians do have some differing perspectives on Jesus’ life and teachings. But his spiritual legacy offers an alternative opportunity for people of faith to recognize their shared religious heritage.

Can you smell the  aroma of rotting fish in that statement? If not,  you need to re-read this post, the truth has not penetrated yet.

America’s Muslim community stands ready to honor that legacy by building bridges of interfaith understanding and challenging those who would divide our nation along religious or ethnic lines.

We have more in common than we think.

There ain’t much in common between the Christian & Muslim concepts of  Jesus, that bridge won’t support the weight of  Moe’s lice.

 

WesternFront America

As the story goes, it was about this time of the year when police officers received complaints about an apartment at the edge of the city. When they went to investigate, they came upon a flophouse. What they found inside was dank darkness. The sight that met their eyes was a bit atrocious. At one time, the place had been a dance hall. The sparkling globe lights were still clinging to the dilapidated ceiling. Inside, people were strewn across the filth and squalor. They were sleeping off their chosen substance-abuse hangovers. The stench was overwhelming.

The police quickly rounded everyone up. When the case finally came to court, an astounding story came to the surface. One of the derelicts said to the judge, “Your honor, I am an upstanding citizen of the community. I don’t use any type of drugs or alcohol. I was in that house merely to take care of others.”

The judge investigated the man’s claims and found them to be true. His name is of no importance to this story, but the people from the other side of town called him “Father God,” because of his compassion and kindness. He paid the rent so that these drug addicts and derelicts would have shelter. However, the man they so admired looked just like everyone else who had been thrown into the slammer.

The law-abiding citizen chose to appear like the others so he could better take care of their needs. And when you give it some thought, that’s the same message behind the birth of Christ — “the greatest story ever told”:
“Let this mind be in you, which was also in Christ Jesus: Who, being in the form of God, thought it not robbery to be equal with God: But made himself of no reputation, and took upon him the form of a servant, and was made in the likeness of men” (Philippians 2:5-7).

The Almighty God was willing to give up all the magnificent glories of heaven to become just like you and me. The reason is obvious. God did so to be able to identify Himself with us while paving the way so that one day we too could experience the glories of heaven. (See John 14:3.)

God’s way of “tugging at our hearts”

Throughout the world of Christendom, people are counting the days while looking forward to celebrating the Christmas season. There is no other time of the year like it, with its shorter days and cold, blistering weather. Yet most believers, and even non-believers, have a twinkle in their eyes and a new sense of hope and confidence about the future. They feel jubilant and content. God’s holy angels are drawing close to us, and the “Spirit says come.” The Lord in His mighty wisdom takes this special time to gather all mankind near to Him. One might say He has His ways of tugging at our hearts.

The message of the birth of Christ is amazing. Christians look upon this season in reverence because it marks the birth of Jesus Christ. With joy, they hurry about preparing for this day.

The biblical account

It is a custom in our home to gather around the beautifully-decorated Christmas tree and read the story of Christ’s birth. We use the words right out of the Bible:

“And it came to pass in those days that a decree went out from Caesar Augustus, that the entire world should be registered. This census first took place while Cyrenius was governing Syria. So all went to be registered everyone to his own city.

“And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth into Judea to the city of David which is called Bethlehem. Because he was of the house and lineage of David, to be registered with Mary, his betrothed wife who was with child.

“So it was that while they were there, the days were completed for her to be delivered and she brought forth her first-born son and wrapped Him in swaddling clothes and laid Him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

“Now there were in the same country, shepherds living out in the fields, keeping watch over the flock by night. And behold, an angel of the Lord stood before them and the glory of the Lord shone around them and they were greatly afraid.

“Then the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid, for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy which will be to all people. For there is born to you this day, in the city of David, a Savior which is Christ the Lord. And this will be the sign to you. You will find the Babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.’ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying, ‘Glory to God in the highest, and on earth good will toward men.’” (Luke 2:1-20)

Our greatest need: a Savior

The Word says that all the world was being taxed by Augustus Caesar at the time Christ was born. However, the biggest story of the day had nothing to do with governments, Caesar, or taxes. In actuality, it had to do with a little baby boy who didn’t have a proper place the night that he was born. To this day, Christ’s birth is the most important event in the history of our planet. Besides Mary and Joseph, however, only a handful of shepherds were aware of it.

The angels in heaven were rejoicing while the human race slept. Mankind was unaware that the Creator God had just stepped into their midst, and thousands of years of heavenly promises had come true.

As the Savior of the world was being born, many people were caught off guard and surprised. Some were confused. Many were expecting a great political leader to arrive on the scene who would throw off the yoke of Roman oppression and set the nation of Israel free.

The religious leaders at the time were looking for someone who looked just like them. They expected he would take a seat within the great Sanhedrin. However, that’s not who God sent us, because that is not what the world needed. Our greatest need was forgiveness from sin, so our Father sent us a Savior.

The greatest gift you can give

The night Jesus was born, the Lord Almighty became both human and God. He took on our image. Close your eyes and imagine seeing Him asleep in a manger, as helpless as any other child. Because Christ was someone special, wise men came from afar to bring their precious gifts.

Throughout this joyous Christmas season, remember that the one gift that would put a smile on the face of Christ is you. The whole reason “Jesus came was to seek and to save that which was lost.” Christ humbled Himself the way He did for no one else but you.

Take five minutes over the holidays and ask yourself why Christ came into this world. As you think about the baby in a manger, dwell upon His abiding love. Since the beginning of time, God was thinking about all of humanity while offering up prayer and supplication in the courts of heaven.

Please listen to His voice and don’t say no to Him any longer. Prepare with happiness, for He is coming again. His Second Coming could be very soon. (See John 14:1-3.)

Christmas time is almost here, and I wanted to share with you a wonderfully true and uplifting story that is the reason for this joyous season.

RenewAmerica.com wishes you and yours a very blessed Christmas Day.

Song: The Roches — Star of Wonder

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What can I do to help preserve America?

What America needs — if it is to survive in liberty — is a surge in citizen activism unlike anything our nation has ever before seen.

The success of such a grassroots movement will depend on how much individual citizens are willing to do their part to return our country to divinely-inspired principles of self-governance — those principles outlined by the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution, and those validated by common sense and biblical teaching as self-evidently true.

If you feel you need to “wait for instructions,” or otherwise depend on others — especially those in positions of leadership — to guide and assist you, our country will not survive these perilous times. You must act as though the future of our country depends on you alone, for in a very real sense it does. It depends on the creative, responsible, exemplary initiative of yourself and those you inspire to similar patriotism.

Here are suggestions for helping to make a difference in the future of our country.

1. Live right.
   The single most important thing you can do for your country is to set an example of outward and inward commitment to godly living. Be the kind of person God can work through to save our nation.
   If you have yet to do so, determine with all your heart to yield your will completely to God “as a little child” (Matt. 18:3-4) and allow Him to change you according to His will and design for you — so that thereby you might truly fulfill your divine “mission” in life; so that you might be fully open to His guidance and influence; and so that you might be submissive to whatever challenges or tasks He desires of you. After yielding your will in this manner, and thus becoming truly born again according to the scriptural pattern (see John 3:1-8; Acts 1:1-9, 2:1-47; and Heb. 8:6-13), then work continuously on developing the godly self-discipline needed to please Him in all you do, and strive to overcome anything in your character that contradicts His precepts for godly, self-sacrificing, compassionate living.
   Be a true Christian in both word and deed, and continually strive to become a better one — one who inspires others to live by a higher standard than they may be accustomed.
   Never underestimate the power of righteous example — and be that kind of example!
   One thing is reasonably certain: If enough Americans live worthy of God’s intervention and miracles in their lives, and inspire enough people around them to strive with all their hearts to do likewise — then according to biblical principles and teachings, God will spare our country, no matter what evils confront it. (See 2 Chron. 7:14 and Isaiah 60:12.)
   On such a scripture-based promise, we can all wisely depend.
2. Take bold, appropriate action.
   If — in a very real sense — our nation’s future depends on you alone (and on similar patriots you inspire), don’t simply be a spectator who watches others do courageous, remarkable things. Do them yourself! Lead out!
   The evils confronting America have never been more threatening, insidious, or powerful — and your country therefore needs your activism more than ever before. Stand up and make a difference!
   What should you do? If you’re living in harmony with God’s will, you’ll know. You won’t need “that any man teach you” (see 1 John 2:20-29), but will know in your heart by His Spirit what He wants you to do — and you will have His power and authority to sustain and multiply your efforts. (See Acts 10:34-38 and Matt. 7:29.) You won’t need to rely on others to guide or direct you, but will be reliant on God alone to know and do His will.
   By your leadership, you will inspire others to do likewise in their own sphere and in their own way, as God directs them.
3. Consider the possibility that God might want you to:
   • Submit frequent letters to editors.
   • Testify at public hearings.
   • Hold regular gatherings in your home or community to discuss and promote the cause of liberty.
   • Volunteer to work in a political campaign, at any level, for any worthy purpose.
   • Widely distribute signs for a cause or a candidate.
   • Lead — or get involved in — a worthy petition drive.
   • Organize a rally, large or small, to publicize an urgent issue or cause.
   • Contact your local paper and offer to be interviewed regarding a public question or concern you have vital knowledge of.
   • Pick up the phone and share your views on talk radio — or if you have the skills and opportunity, create your own radio or internet talk show.
   • Create a blog.
   • Found a website.
   • Write and publish a regular column — or even a book.
   • Get actively involved in a major (or possibly a “third”) political party in your state or the nation.
   • Run for local — or higher — public office.
   • Sign the Pledge for America’s Revival — and invite others to do the same.
   • Participate in the Discussion Board at AmericasRevival.com, and support similar discussion forums on the web.
   • Help organize your state or local area in the cause of taking back our country. (Consider getting involved in the State Activism section at AmericasRevival.com.)
   • Inform yourself. “Zeal without knowledge” (see Rom. 10:2-3) will not save our country. Become acquainted with reliable, principled websites, blogs, publications, books, speakers, organizations, and other praiseworthy sources for information regarding the needs of our country and the solutions to those needs. Sign up to receive helpful newsletters and alerts.
     A good place to start informing yourself would be to study essential documents that describe our nation’s founding principles.
   • Work on your “people skills.” By this, we mean your ability to strengthen and influence others for good — so they might be persuaded to take independent action — not your ability to “use” others for your own ends, as some might think. Respect the worth, dignity, and free will of each individual as you seek to assist them in fulfilling their duty as citizens.
   • Work on your communicative skills. “Politics is communication,” to a large extent. Become the kind of communicator God can use for His purposes. Meaningful communication requires practice, experience, wisdom, and the operation of God’s Spirit in effectively informing real people in real situations. This applies equally to both spoken and written communication.
   • Turn your skills and resources mainly to saving our country — above any other purpose beyond your own salvation and the well-being of your family — and rely on God to give you the practical means to do so.
4. Expect adversity.
   Just as our Founders — or other great figures in history — suffered considerable adversity and personal hardship for their principled allegiance to the will of God, you too can expect adversity as you stand forth in the cause of reclaiming America. “No good deed ever goes unpunished,” as the saying goes.
   This will likely prove true the more you become a significant player in our country’s future, as the Adversary will predictably seek to destroy your efforts — and as God Himself may undertake to try you, to test the depth of your commitment to His will.
   Of course, not all adversity comes from outside sources — since we often bring it upon ourselves by our imperfect nature. But it helps to bear in mind that, no matter the source of our difficulties and challenges, a wise Father can help us deal successfully and productively with all our struggles, provided we rely on Him, and not upon our own wisdom or strength.
5. Don’t give up.
   , aIf you persist in well-doing, relying on God to bless and sustain you against all odds and the hardships you can expect to encounter, you will emerge victorious over the forces of evil that confront our country, and you will be a beacon of reason and righteousness, and thus a tangible inspiration, to those around you.
   That’s all anyone can expect of another in the cause of reclaiming our republic. If enough of us catch the vision of such selfless grassroots activism, and spread it infectiously to others, we will succeed in preserving the “blessings of liberty [not only] to ourselves [but to] our posterity.” (See Preamble, U.S. Constitution.)

See “What does it mean to be ‘converted’ to Jesus Christ?“

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© Marie Jon

 

WesternFront America

“Therefore keep watch, because you do not know on what day your Lord will come.” — Matthew 24:42

While trying to make sense of our world’s current political and social disarray, many are led to believe that something extraordinary is about to happen. We could use some good news for a change.

The Second Coming of our Savior is imminent. The signs are all around us. America’s life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness are quickly eroding. It makes people tremble in righteous indignation. Our country is being transformed by those who wish her ill.

Read the headlines. Take note of the times we live in. We’ve become a weakened nation and have forsaken many of our allies such as Israel, Poland, and the Czech Republic. All we hear are discouraging, distorted words about the land that we love. There is no way to express the needless stress that this president and his administration have heaped upon America and its people. He is negligent when it comes to his reckless foreign and domestic polices.

For the very first time in history, man has the capability to wipe the inhabitants of the earth out of existence in a matter of minutes with nuclear weapons. However, there is an Almighty Father in heaven who will not allow this to happen. He alone will destroy the earth. When the wicked arrogance of man finally oversteps its bounds, Christ will return:

“When the nations got angry, you became angry too! Now the time has come for the dead to be judged. It is time for you to reward your servants the prophets and all of your people who honor your name, no matter who they are. It is time to destroy everyone who has destroyed the earth” (Revelation 11:18).

Words of prophecy

God does not want us to be confused concerning the last days. He points to the ancient prophecies with great urgency. Too often, uncomfortable disagreements arise that lead to verbal contention regarding the Second Coming. According to the Bible, Christ’s return is the “blessed hope.” That hope should bring all Christians together in unity. Unfortunately, through the many centuries, theologians have developed conflicting ideas about Christ’s return. At times, we ourselves have defended our differences to the extreme.

One believer will say it’s supposed to happen one way, and yet another person will say says it’s supposed to happen another way. The discussion can get a bit argumentative.

Recently, I was corresponding with a person who reads my articles. He knew I was both a religious and a political writer. He went on to exclaim that he and his son had been talking about the Second Coming. He wrote to tell me of their disagreement. His son said it’s going to happen this one way, while the father said it’s going to happen another way. Their discussion was not surprising. He was writing to ask me if I could help them out.

As the world situation becomes tenser, a lot of people are beginning to sense that it’s no longer business as usual. It is time to turn to the truth and draw strength from it. Our world is in a very tenuous position that is no longer sustainable without God’s intervention. Get down on your knees and humbly pray, America.

No matter our differences, we can all understand beyond a shadow of a doubt that His return draws closer with each and every passing day. Christians are sensing it with intensity.

God’s final analysis

Jesus will literally come back as He has promised. For He alone provides us a way of escape. The Lord has commanded us to occupy until he comes. As good citizens, we continue to fight back the beginning of our sorrows — tyranny. However, there comes a time when God will say “enough,” and will no longer wink at a nation’s excessive, intolerable sins.

Every day, arrange your life with God’s will in mind. Pray for your family so that they too are ready to meet the Lord in the air. This world has not been our home since the fall, when sin set in motion a constant battle between good and evil.

When discussing the many theories about the Savior’s return, our heavenly Father gives us His final analysis. You’ll find it written in the Bible.

I’ve heard some say that the Second Coming is nothing more than a frame of mind, sort of symbolic and allegorical. Rather than embrace God’s Word, man wants to paint a picture of a benevolent golden age that comes when the human race solves all of its fifty million problems. Then maybe mankind will finally live in a man-made utopia. Sorry, it may sound comforting to some, but it is not what the Bible teaches.

There are those who say that the Second Coming is an awakening within the heart. It is a religious, spiritual, experience. And again, that sounds sort of OK, but it’s not written in God’s Word.

Others believe that when you die defines the Second Coming. In a way, that is kind of true, because when you die, you’re out of time. The very next thing you’ll know is that you will be standing before the Savior. But that is not what Jesus was talking about when He promised to return.

The manner of Jesus’ return

Christ said when He returns, “every eye” shall see him. In the Book of Acts, before Jesus is about to return to heaven, He had some very important parting words for His disciples. He said, “Go tell the world what I’ve done, and then I’ll come back for you.” At that point, Jesus rose up into heaven. The disciples watched Him disappear into a cloud.

Here is where Christians need to pay careful attention to what happens next. In Acts, chapter one, it says: “While they looked steadfastly toward heaven as He went up, behold two men stood by them in white apparel, who also said, ‘Men of Galilee, why do you stand gazing up into heaven? This same Jesus which was taken up from you into heaven will so come in like manner as you have seen Him go into heaven.”

The angels said, “Listen, that very same Jesus you saw go up into heaven is going to come back the same way you saw Him go” (Acts 1:10-11).

There is a particular account found in the New Testament Book of Luke that pertains. After Jesus had risen from the dead, Christ appears to the disciples. Even though He told them that He would come back from the dead, some of the disciples were still afraid:

“And He said to them, ‘Why are you troubled? And why do doubts arise in your hearts? Behold my hands and my feet that it is I myself. Handle me and see, for a spirit does not have flesh and bones as you see I have” (Luke 24:38-39).

When Jesus came out of the grave, He appeared as a human being. He was not some sort of a spirit or ghost. The Bible says when Jesus came out of the grave, He had a real, physical, human body. The Lord had a glorified body.

And He said to the disciples, “Look, why don’t you come and touch me? I’m real.” He asked for something to eat. Our Lord ate food, just like any other real person. We need to take stock and think about what this represents for us.

The same Jesus who ate fish and sweet honey with His friends is the same One who will definitely keep His Word. When you think about it carefully, that is awesome. It means that Christ has taken on a human form for all eternity. Jesus went back to heaven as a human being, and the Bible says that this same Jesus is coming back to reward His family and abide with us forever.

All will see and hear

Study God’s Word and prove your readiness. The groom is coming to take His bride. And like any wedding celebration, those tin cans will be tied behind the newlyweds’ car. There will be plenty of honking of horns. Yes, weddings are always noticed. Those who have turned down the gracious invitation will not miss the groom’s appearance.

In Revelation one, verse seven, it reads: “Behold, He is coming with clouds, and every eye will see Him, even they who pierced Him.” Many Christians have looked at this passage and said: “I know the Word says that every eye is going to see Jesus, but that actually means only Christians who see Jesus when He comes.”

Yet the verse has no qualifiers. It simply says that “every eye will see Him.” When you compare what the scriptures say in Matthew 24, verse 30, it is very clear that it doesn’t only mean Christians:

“Then the sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the earth will mourn, and they will see the Son of Man coming in the clouds of heaven with power and great glory.”

God says that all the tribes of the earth will see Him. In the Book of Matthew, it says: “For as the lightning comes from the east and flashes to the west, so also will the coming of the Son of Man be” (Matthew 24:27).

“And He will send His angels with a great sound of a trumpet, and they will gather together His elect from the four winds, from one end of heaven to the other” (Matthew 24:31).

When Jesus comes, there will be a great sound of a trumpet, not some little quiet bugle call. In First Thessalonians, chapter four, you’ll read that the noise is actually loud enough to wake the dead. His return will be no secret:

“For the Lord Himself will descend from heaven with a shout, with the voice of an archangel, and with the trumpet of God. And the dead in Christ will rise first. Then we who are alive and remain shall be caught up together with them in the clouds to meet the Lord in the air. And thus we shall always be with the Lord” (1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17).

The truth is that everyone will see and hear the pageantry of this astounding event. Yes, with a shout, and a loud trumpet blast. Christ’s coming will be stunningly glorious. When I read Psalm 50, joy fills my heart, and it is well with my soul:

“Our God shall come and shall not keep silent. A fire shall devour before Him, and it shall be very tempestuous all around Him” (Psalm 50:3). This earth-shaking, life-changing event is expressed in these words: “And the heavens departed as a scroll when it is rolled together, and every mountain and island were moved out of their places” (Revelation 6:14).

The most splendid sight in history

No one will miss the Second Coming when it happens. Not even the wicked. “For the Son of Man will come in the glory of His Father, with His angels; and then he shall reward every man according to his works” (Matthew 16:27). The Bible says that the Son of Man will come with “the glory of His Father.” That’s something so brilliant, so glorious, that human eyes will scarcely be able to take it in. The Bible also tells us that the angels will be with Him.

In fact, the Bible says in Matthew 25:31: “When the Son of Man comes in His glory, . . . all the holy angels [will be] with Him.“ When Jesus comes, He comes with all the Holy angels. In the Book of Revelation, chapter five, John has a vision of heaven while lingering in prison on the isle of Patmos:

“Then I looked, and I heard the voice of many angels around the throne, the living creatures, and the elders; and the number of them was ten thousand times ten thousand, and thousands of thousands” (Revelation 5:11).

God says billions of angels will appear with our Savior. This event is going to be the most splendid sight ever seen in the history of our universe. However, here is the “last warning” mankind will receive from the everlasting most Holy Father God and Creator:

“He who is unjust, let him be unjust still; he who is filthy, let him be filthy still; he who is righteous, let him be righteous still; he who is holy, let him be holy still. And behold, I am coming quickly, and My reward is with Me, to give to every one according to his work.” Revelation 22:11-12)

The die is cast

When Jesus comes, the die is already cast. Those who are wicked will remain that way forever, and those who are righteous are going to be righteous forever.

According to the scriptures, there will be no more chances to change one’s mind. Your destiny is settled. If you have rejected God’s love at that point, you will not be able to accept it. If you have ignored that still small voice that is telling you to get things right with God, you won’t have another opportunity. Those who are unjust, says Jesus, will remain unjust forever.
But those who are wise, and have accepted Christ, and are washed in the blood of the lamb are secure forever, and that will never change. Those who accepted God’s free gift of salvation will never again face pain and suffering, or have to deal with the consequences of living in a sinful world.

When Jesus comes, there will only be two kinds of people on this planet to contend with. Today, we are divided into all kinds of different groups. Big government, with its Census Bureau, tends to divide human beings by nationality, by ethnicity, by language, by political beliefs. But when the end comes, there will only be two groups that matter.

One group sees Jesus coming, and they don’t want it and they will reject Him. The Bible says in Revelation 6:14: “Then the sky receded as a scroll when it is rolled up and every mountain and island was moved out of its place, and the kings of the earth, the great men, the rich men, the commanders, the mighty men, every slave and every free man hid themselves in the caves and in the rocks of the mountains, and said to the mountains and rocks, ‘Fall on us and hide us from the face of Him who sits on the throne and from the wrath of the Lamb! For the great day of His wrath has come, and who is able to stand?”’

For me and many others, that is one of the most tragic passages in the Bible. People have heard all their lives that Jesus would come, and yet they choose to put off their repentance, or they turn away and ignore Him.

Choose you this day . . .

Imagine this scene if you will. That moment finally arrives. The throngs of people hear a sound, and they look up, and they see Jesus coming. It’s then that they realize what was squandered away. Because God is love, they were given every opportunity possible. Aware of the power of the Holy Spirit and the witness of others, still these individuals chose destruction when they could have had eternal life.

The good news is you don’t have to be separated from the One who loves you. There is better way. Those who love God and keep His Commandments written on their hearts will not cry in fear, rather they cry out with joy and excitement:

“It will be said in that day: ‘Behold, this is our God; we have waited for Him, and He will save us. This is the Lord; we have waited for Him; we will be glad and rejoice in His salvation” (Isaiah 25:9).

Just think about it, there are more than 2,500 scriptures that make reference to Christ’s return. Prophecy after prophecy has already been fulfilled. That’s amazing! When Jesus comes in the clouds of glory, I hope you’re planning to be ready.

Without a doubt, there will be a celebration of the fact that the blood of Jesus has bought us an eternity with Him. Then the biggest and happiest reunion in history begins.

Please don’t be fooled or deceived any longer. Take God at His Word. He is giving us plenty of warning signs. Christ is coming again.

Song: We are all Children of our Father in Heaven. Christ is the way back

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© Marie Jon

Marie Jon is a political/religious-based writer and founder of www.DrawingClose.org.

Marie is a nurse, a lay student of the Bible, and a patriot. She is an advocate for American troops serving abroad, as well as the Blue and Gold Star Mothers of America and their families. Marie enjoys Townhall.com radio, Rush Limbaugh and Larry Elder.

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WesternFront America