Friday, September 21, 2012

Part 2 - Mistakes Christians Make


Part 1 of this entry remarked on the misunderstanding and misuse of the commonly used phrase, "unconditional love" and the gross error of ignoring the Tanahk (Old Testament). If you haven't read it, it's here.

Part 2 continues with the idea that believers cannot accept sin, although I'll be taking a different approach. I ask the question, "Can we COEXIST with evil?"

At this time it's appropriate to restate the biblical point in Part 1:

2Co 6:14 Do not be bound together with unbelievers; for what partnership have righteousness and lawlessness, or what fellowship has light with darkness? Or what harmony has Christ with Belial, or what has a believer in common with an unbeliever? Or what agreement has the temple of God with idols? For we are the temple of the living God; just as God said, "I WILL DWELL IN THEM AND WALK AMONG THEM; AND I WILL BE THEIR GOD, AND THEY SHALL BE MY PEOPLE. "Therefore, COME OUT FROM THEIR MIDST AND BE SEPARATE," says the Lord. "AND DO NOT TOUCH WHAT IS UNCLEAN; And I will welcome you. 2Co 6:18 "And I will be a father to you, And you shall be sons and daughters to Me," Says the Lord Almighty.

This deftly connects to a modern 'culturalism' here in America. We drive cars everywhere. On these cars we have bumper stickers. The stickers declare our philosophies, religions, attitudes, and political affiliations; among other things. Perhaps you do the same in your country.

One particular sticker that's popular is called; "COEXIST". Here's an example:


The pic on the left indicate what the "symbols" mean:

As you may have noticed, the symbols are sometimes stylistically altered. You can find many different variations on the theme. Typically, homosexuality/lesbianism is inserted as the "e"sometimes. The idea behind this "declaration" applied to the bumper of a car is that if we would all just get along, be patient with one another, and love one another, we would COEXIST in peace and harmony! So, here's the question; "can these various religions/philosophies really COEXIST"?

The answer, of course, is an obvious and emphatic, NO !

Not only is the concept infantile, it also ignores centuries of history, it ignores each groups writings and beliefs, and it assumes, quite incorrectly, that each group is willing to COEXIST peaceably.

Tell me if I'm wrong, but I believe all of Yeshua's Apostles died a horrible death except John. John, of course, was tortured and suffered greatly during his beloved life.

Paul T. McCain, a Lutheran brother, has created a wonderful image of how these "forces" actually affect each other. His blog, CYBERBRETHEREN, shows this relationship in a very humorous way.


When we look at history and today's reality, it becomes quite obvious that only two groups are trying to live in peace and harmony with everyone else. The Jews and Christians are the only ones. Yes, Jews and Christians do have bad examples within their group like all human groups have, but overall and within a historical context these are the only two that make a concerted effort and are willing to come to the aid and assistance of the "weaker" ones.

One comment I've heard recently is that the happiest Muslim living in the Mideast lives in Israel! There is truth in this.

A friend of mine, a Turkish gentleman and a former Muslim now living here once told me; "Tiger, you Christians and the Jews have reform movements in your religion and even with all the problems of your history you continue to endeavor to live in peace and love toward your fellow man. In Islam, all who would be reformers are killed before they can even speak!"

However, it's not just the Islamic terrorist threat but the secular anti-GOD threat that imperils us today.

To press home my point I've collected a series of stories about current events. Please go to each link and read. You will find the articles very enlightening, and again, you'll have to decide which side you're on.

'It is dramatic, I have never seen levels of attacks like these'
 
A valedictorian denied the right to pray at her high school graduation; a directive that a campus Christian group may not require its leaders to be Christian; senior citizens ordered by city officials to stop praying before their meals; and the U.S. government telling religious institutions they must provide insurance coverage for abortifacients.
 
 
Barack Obama’s presidency-long campaign to expand privileges for same-sex duos, from the right to practice homosexuality openly in the military to his refusal to defend federal law describing marriage as between a man and a woman, may be about to blow up into a controversy, just as the 2012 election reaches its peak.
It’s because the U.S. military apparently has flaunted a same-sex “marriage” that was performed on a military based by a chaplain – in a state where such “unions” are illegal.
 
Say true impact of 'Don't ask, don't tell' repeal hidden from public
 
Homosexual behavior punishable by imprisonment in Muslim nation
 
 
Police do nothing to protect them
 
Yet, this is what atheists want - a world without God
 
If “tolerance” demands respect for diverse viewpoints, why are these self-professed Tolerant People wishing death and destruction upon conservatives who disagree with them?
 
A new study released just this week by The Heritage Foundation reveals that one factor alone can reduce by 82 percent the probability that a child lives in poverty – whether Mom and Dad are married to each other.

The 1 forbidden alternate lifestyle
California Gov. Jerry Brown is almost certain to sign into law a bill passed by the legislature that will make it illegal for young homosexuals who want to become heterosexual from choosing psychotherapy.

Affirmed: Study that 'gay' family children more troubled
The University of Texas at Austin says it has investigated and found no evidence of research misconduct in a study that found adult children from “gay” families are “more apt to report being unemployed, less healthy, more depressed, more likely to have cheated on a spouse or partner, smoke more pot, had trouble with the law” than children from traditional mom-and-dad households.

Safe and legal? Abortion kills woman
Report confirms incomplete procedure done at Planned Parenthood

... and last, but not least, at the recent Democrat National Convention, GOD HIMSELF was denied 3 times. Yes, that's right, screaming delegates yelling NO to GOD HIMSELF!

Dems denied God 3 times
 


So, can we COEXIST with evil?
 
BTW folks, this a very tiny sampling of what has been going on in world in the past few weeks. Our societies are getting much, much worse than what these articles indicate. As in the days of Noah, as in the days of Sodom and Gomorrah ...
 
The Observer