In a recent story from OneNewsNow titled, "Obama, Clinton to headline forum on 'pressing moral issues'," our presidential candidates are spotlighted for their moral backbones. Interesting, I thought. The research I've done on both Obama and Clinton didn't provide much in the pro-moral category. Nevertheless, "The Compassion Forum" on CNN Sunday night (hosted by Messiah College in Grantham, PA) will give each candidate 40 minutes to discuss moral issues dividing America. McCain, unfortunately, has a conflicting schedule and is unable to attend.
Of the hot topics are: "...poverty, AIDS, global warming, abortion, genocide in Darfur, as well as human rights and torture." Global warming? AIDS? Are these actually moral issues? Poverty? Perhaps to a degree, but most of us know the Democratic stance on poverty and taxes.
Ok...abortion. That is definitely a controversial moral issue facing Americans. Katie Barge, Director of Communications at Faith in Public Life, says she hopes "we can find a lot of common ground." I'm sorry, did I miss something? Obama - pro-choice, Clinton - pro-choice. Where is common ground supposed to come into the picture? Well, they both attend church. That's something, right? They seem to be "good" Americans. Reality check! They're political celebrities living the high-life in the spotlight at the moment, and leading America down the path of no return.
One has unashamedly stated that a “literal reading of the Bible is a folly” (Obama, Book Excerpt: Barack Obama, Time.com), while the other doesn’t sway one way or the other, “For Clinton, it is a difficult tight rope to walk as she continues to talk openly on faith and religion without speaking directly about the controversial social issues” (The Morning Grind, Hilary Clinton Talks Religion, CNN.com).
We can’t offend the voters, now can we?
Saturday, April 12, 2008
Christianity: A Threat to America
Erica Corder, one of 15 valedictorians of Lewis-Palmer High School in Denver, Colorado was threatened, by the school principal, to not receive her diploma if she did not prepare a public apology for mentioning Jesus Christ in her commencement speech. Many Americans embrace their right to free speech and their right to freedom of religion; however, when Corder embraced the two together, she was at risk of disciplinary action. The growing intolerance for Christianity has become more than apparent in the United States. What is it about this particular religion that makes individuals and organizations feel threatened?
There are religious extremists in several major religions of the world and their acts reign terror on many nations. Radical Christians have killed and destroyed on the basis of protecting human life. Extreme Hindu organizations have completely demolished buildings of other religious groups out of intolerance. Sikh terrorists have bombed airlines and massacred hundreds for fear that the position of their religion was descending. Radical Muslims have murdered thousands in their own lands in adherence to the commands of their god.
Christianity is not the radical philosophy that is often exploited in the media. True Christianity is love, compassion, hope, patience, and understanding. Where in these attributes is the threat to Americans? When followers of a different religion are the subject of negative stereotypes, American people work diligently to reverse those notions as nothing more than just poor representations of the group as a whole. When Christians are subject to negative stereotypes, the labels are accepted by many Americans: “Christians are hypocrites.” America’s religious tolerance has become acceptance for all, except Christianity.
The majority of Americans have experienced the evangelism of a Mormon follower at one time or another (For the record, my opinion holds that Mormonism is not Christianity. Christianity has a closed canon consisting of the Old and New Testaments of the Holy Bible. The Mormon religion incorporates the teachings of a second book, The Book of Mormon. Mormonism has developed from the fundamentals of Christianity, as Christianity—and Islam—have from Judaism). Mormons are tolerated (even if for only seconds) when they knock on the door of homes; they are tolerated when they interrupt an individual in a public shopping center and dismissed as “that’s just what they do.” A young girl embraces the name of Jesus in a speech about moving forward with her life and she is threatened to lose the reward of years of hard work—her high school diploma.
As children, Americans are taught equality and tolerance. Equality and tolerance for different races, genders, and concepts of sexuality are implanted in a child’s brain as early as pre-school. Religious tolerance is embraced: to Buddhists who affirm no god, only Nirvana; to Hindus who worship Brahmin and Vishnu, among others; to Muslims who embrace one god and one god only, Allah. Shift to Christians in America who proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and that tolerance becomes a theoretical reality.
In many local Asian food restaurants, there are statues and paintings of “Buddha.” They are admired, perhaps sometimes chuckled at, but never viewed as an infringement on another’s personal religious freedom. These icons of the Buddhist religion are accepted in public areas—Americans are proudly tolerant of other religions! No one person wants to be branded a bigot because they are offended by the Buddha. Turn the tables to the symbol of Jesus Christ and Christians are in violation of everyone else’s first amendment rights. For example, a high school in Charleston, West Virginia is home to a classic picture of Jesus—a picture that had been an art piece at the school for more than 30 years. Two people have taken offense to this picture and caused the school to enter into litigation on the basis of “unconstitutional religious expression.” The lawsuit exclaims, “The expenditure of public funds to maintain the Jesus portrait is unconstitutional." What types of additional funds are actually required to maintain a picture that hangs on a wall?
The picture lawsuit is one of many examples of the anti-Christian religious tolerance that is sweeping the nation. A 10-year old boy in suburban Philadelphia was not allowed to wear a Jesus costume to school because it was said to promote religious activities. Yet, other students were allowed to dress as devils for the festivities. Devils too transmit religious symbolism, but for some reason, that was overlooked. Why was the Christian image of hope and love a threat to Willow Hill Elementary administration?
A former classmate once described her work environment where Muslim co-workers would congregate at certain times of the day, and bow down in prayer. This, of course, is their right—their religious freedom. Among fellow employees who did not share the same religious values, the Muslims were allowed to embrace their religious duties. In New Orleans, multiple school districts have entered into litigation because school board members joined in prayer prior to their board meetings. School board meetings are held after school hours, outside any school building, and no children are required to attend. Some parish school districts have already lost their battle to maintain opening prayers due to, that’s right, first amendment violations. Violations have been declared, yet there was no person present at the board meetings that did not engage in the same beliefs and practices of the board as a whole. The hypocrisy of America’s religious tolerance is more than evident in circumstances such as these.
Every person should question why Christianity, why Jesus Christ, why the Christian God is perceived as threatening, and why so little tolerance is offered in comparison to the hundreds of other religions abounding in this nation. Maybe then, the double standard of religious freedoms guaranteed to all by the Constitution of the United States of America can be relieved.
There are religious extremists in several major religions of the world and their acts reign terror on many nations. Radical Christians have killed and destroyed on the basis of protecting human life. Extreme Hindu organizations have completely demolished buildings of other religious groups out of intolerance. Sikh terrorists have bombed airlines and massacred hundreds for fear that the position of their religion was descending. Radical Muslims have murdered thousands in their own lands in adherence to the commands of their god.
Christianity is not the radical philosophy that is often exploited in the media. True Christianity is love, compassion, hope, patience, and understanding. Where in these attributes is the threat to Americans? When followers of a different religion are the subject of negative stereotypes, American people work diligently to reverse those notions as nothing more than just poor representations of the group as a whole. When Christians are subject to negative stereotypes, the labels are accepted by many Americans: “Christians are hypocrites.” America’s religious tolerance has become acceptance for all, except Christianity.
The majority of Americans have experienced the evangelism of a Mormon follower at one time or another (For the record, my opinion holds that Mormonism is not Christianity. Christianity has a closed canon consisting of the Old and New Testaments of the Holy Bible. The Mormon religion incorporates the teachings of a second book, The Book of Mormon. Mormonism has developed from the fundamentals of Christianity, as Christianity—and Islam—have from Judaism). Mormons are tolerated (even if for only seconds) when they knock on the door of homes; they are tolerated when they interrupt an individual in a public shopping center and dismissed as “that’s just what they do.” A young girl embraces the name of Jesus in a speech about moving forward with her life and she is threatened to lose the reward of years of hard work—her high school diploma.
As children, Americans are taught equality and tolerance. Equality and tolerance for different races, genders, and concepts of sexuality are implanted in a child’s brain as early as pre-school. Religious tolerance is embraced: to Buddhists who affirm no god, only Nirvana; to Hindus who worship Brahmin and Vishnu, among others; to Muslims who embrace one god and one god only, Allah. Shift to Christians in America who proclaim Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior and that tolerance becomes a theoretical reality.
In many local Asian food restaurants, there are statues and paintings of “Buddha.” They are admired, perhaps sometimes chuckled at, but never viewed as an infringement on another’s personal religious freedom. These icons of the Buddhist religion are accepted in public areas—Americans are proudly tolerant of other religions! No one person wants to be branded a bigot because they are offended by the Buddha. Turn the tables to the symbol of Jesus Christ and Christians are in violation of everyone else’s first amendment rights. For example, a high school in Charleston, West Virginia is home to a classic picture of Jesus—a picture that had been an art piece at the school for more than 30 years. Two people have taken offense to this picture and caused the school to enter into litigation on the basis of “unconstitutional religious expression.” The lawsuit exclaims, “The expenditure of public funds to maintain the Jesus portrait is unconstitutional." What types of additional funds are actually required to maintain a picture that hangs on a wall?
The picture lawsuit is one of many examples of the anti-Christian religious tolerance that is sweeping the nation. A 10-year old boy in suburban Philadelphia was not allowed to wear a Jesus costume to school because it was said to promote religious activities. Yet, other students were allowed to dress as devils for the festivities. Devils too transmit religious symbolism, but for some reason, that was overlooked. Why was the Christian image of hope and love a threat to Willow Hill Elementary administration?
A former classmate once described her work environment where Muslim co-workers would congregate at certain times of the day, and bow down in prayer. This, of course, is their right—their religious freedom. Among fellow employees who did not share the same religious values, the Muslims were allowed to embrace their religious duties. In New Orleans, multiple school districts have entered into litigation because school board members joined in prayer prior to their board meetings. School board meetings are held after school hours, outside any school building, and no children are required to attend. Some parish school districts have already lost their battle to maintain opening prayers due to, that’s right, first amendment violations. Violations have been declared, yet there was no person present at the board meetings that did not engage in the same beliefs and practices of the board as a whole. The hypocrisy of America’s religious tolerance is more than evident in circumstances such as these.
Every person should question why Christianity, why Jesus Christ, why the Christian God is perceived as threatening, and why so little tolerance is offered in comparison to the hundreds of other religions abounding in this nation. Maybe then, the double standard of religious freedoms guaranteed to all by the Constitution of the United States of America can be relieved.
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
The New America
Can you feel it? There is an anti-Christian movement spreading throughout this country. Now, I’m not sure if I am feeling this so strongly because I have recently come into a very powerful relationship with Christ, but I know it’s here. It’s in the form of liberalists who insist on the protection of rights for everyone except Christians; it’s in the form of new spiritual movements, promoted by national icons like Oprah Winfrey; it’s in the form of so-called Christian churches that distort the Word to appease society.
This movement is very strong, and Christians—real, faithful, believing Christians—are bullied into a corner blanketed by silence. The anti-Christian movement likes silence. A day of “silence” for the LGBT community is manifesting in our children’s schools and is expected to climax on April 25, 2008. That silence needs to be countered with the noise of prayer—prayer for children who are forced to accept something that our Bible says is a sin. The protection of rights for Christian children is disintegrating.
Oprah enjoys the silence as well. She is led by Eckharrt Tolle, author of A New Earth Phenomenon: An Hour That Can Change Your Life, in an opening moment of “silence” during one of her latest webcasts (YouTube). She is promoting a “New American Spirituality” via webcasts, her website, and her TV show. She has blatantly denied Jesus is the only way to God. She has gone as far as proclaiming God is not even what the Bible says, “God is a feeling experience, not a believing experience” (Oprah, YouTube). Her website (Oprah.com) clearly explains the concepts this book campaigns: “old spirituality,” which includes God, Jesus, one path to salvation, and church, is no longer the way; “new spirituality” is the way. It teaches:
1. “You are your own best authority.”
2. “You listen within for your own definition of spirituality.”
3. “Many paths lead to spiritual freedom and peace. …String a necklace all your own.”
4. “Everything is sacred…. The world is sacred, too, with all of its light and darkness.”
5. “The truth is like the horizon…forever changing its shape and color. Let your spiritual path change and diverge as you journey toward it.”
Let us not forget what the Bible (NIV) says:
1. The Lord is the only authority on and of this earth.
“Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” Matthew 28:18
It is only through Him that men are given any authority—to do His will for His glory:
“He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.” – Matthew 10:1
2. We cannot define our own spirituality; the Lord gives us this wisdom.
“Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.” Psalm 51:6
3. There are not many paths. There is only one. No one gets to God, the Father, except through our Lord Jesus Christ. No ifs, ands, or buts about it.
“Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
God wants to shower us with peace and freedom from the troubles of this world:
“Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you.” Job 22:21
“Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy…” 1 Peter 1:8
Filled with inexpressible and glorious joy! How much more freedom and peace is there?
4. This world is full of evil. The darkness of the world is not sacred.
“I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins. I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless.” Isaiah 13:11
The darkness of this world is the illusion of pleasure—worldly desires that draw us away from the Lord:
“Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” 2 Peter 1:4
5. The truth is never-changing.
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17
The only absolute in life is our Lord who remains forever the same:
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” Rev. 22:13
There is no truth to be found in this world:
“Therefore say to them, 'This is the nation that has not obeyed the LORD its God or responded to correction. Truth has perished; it has vanished from their lips.” Jeremiah 7:28
There is only one truth that we should seek:
“Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. John 17:17
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14
All that Oprah is following and promoting is against everything the Bible says; it is anti-Christian; it is anti-Christ. Hopefully she will turn her heart and listen, “Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart.” (Acts 8:22)
The Holy Bible is guidance for our time on Earth. It is our instruction for salvation, hope, peace, love, and everlasting life. No other truth, way, or spiritual walk will speak to us the way the Lord does through His word. There are churches in this nation who distort God’s word to fit society. They justify their teachings by hiding behind the idea of mistranslation. They conform to the ways of the world instead of helping the world conform to the ways of our Lord. These churches silence the voice of God.
God should not be silenced! Christians should not be silenced! We should be heard loud and clear when expecting religious freedoms and equal protection of our rights under the law.
Most importantly, we should be loud in prayer. This country needs prayer more now than ever. This nation, this world, is in need of healing that only God can provide. I encourage every God-loving Christian, every “unsure about God” person, and everyone who wants to see our society change to take advantage of the National Day of Prayer that is approaching. On May 1, 2008, thousands of people will join in prayer for this country. “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.” NationalDayofPrayer.com has a list of cities around the nation where people will be gathering. Even if you don’t go to a public gathering to pray, spend time that day in your home or church in deep prayer for the much needed healing of our country, healing of the hearts of our leaders, and protection for all of God’s people.
This movement is very strong, and Christians—real, faithful, believing Christians—are bullied into a corner blanketed by silence. The anti-Christian movement likes silence. A day of “silence” for the LGBT community is manifesting in our children’s schools and is expected to climax on April 25, 2008. That silence needs to be countered with the noise of prayer—prayer for children who are forced to accept something that our Bible says is a sin. The protection of rights for Christian children is disintegrating.
Oprah enjoys the silence as well. She is led by Eckharrt Tolle, author of A New Earth Phenomenon: An Hour That Can Change Your Life, in an opening moment of “silence” during one of her latest webcasts (YouTube). She is promoting a “New American Spirituality” via webcasts, her website, and her TV show. She has blatantly denied Jesus is the only way to God. She has gone as far as proclaiming God is not even what the Bible says, “God is a feeling experience, not a believing experience” (Oprah, YouTube). Her website (Oprah.com) clearly explains the concepts this book campaigns: “old spirituality,” which includes God, Jesus, one path to salvation, and church, is no longer the way; “new spirituality” is the way. It teaches:
1. “You are your own best authority.”
2. “You listen within for your own definition of spirituality.”
3. “Many paths lead to spiritual freedom and peace. …String a necklace all your own.”
4. “Everything is sacred…. The world is sacred, too, with all of its light and darkness.”
5. “The truth is like the horizon…forever changing its shape and color. Let your spiritual path change and diverge as you journey toward it.”
Let us not forget what the Bible (NIV) says:
1. The Lord is the only authority on and of this earth.
“Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me.” Matthew 28:18
It is only through Him that men are given any authority—to do His will for His glory:
“He called his twelve disciples to him and gave them authority to drive out evil spirits and to heal every disease and sickness.” – Matthew 10:1
2. We cannot define our own spirituality; the Lord gives us this wisdom.
“Surely you desire truth in the inner parts; you teach me wisdom in the inmost place.” Psalm 51:6
3. There are not many paths. There is only one. No one gets to God, the Father, except through our Lord Jesus Christ. No ifs, ands, or buts about it.
“Jesus answered, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” John 14:6
God wants to shower us with peace and freedom from the troubles of this world:
“Submit to God and be at peace with him; in this way prosperity will come to you.” Job 22:21
“Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy…” 1 Peter 1:8
Filled with inexpressible and glorious joy! How much more freedom and peace is there?
4. This world is full of evil. The darkness of the world is not sacred.
“I will punish the world for its evil, the wicked for their sins. I will put an end to the arrogance of the haughty and will humble the pride of the ruthless.” Isaiah 13:11
The darkness of this world is the illusion of pleasure—worldly desires that draw us away from the Lord:
“Through these he has given us his very great and precious promises, so that through them you may participate in the divine nature and escape the corruption in the world caused by evil desires.” 2 Peter 1:4
5. The truth is never-changing.
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17
The only absolute in life is our Lord who remains forever the same:
“I am the Alpha and the Omega, the First and the Last, the Beginning and the End.” Rev. 22:13
There is no truth to be found in this world:
“Therefore say to them, 'This is the nation that has not obeyed the LORD its God or responded to correction. Truth has perished; it has vanished from their lips.” Jeremiah 7:28
There is only one truth that we should seek:
“Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth. John 17:17
“The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us. We have seen his glory, the glory of the One and Only, who came from the Father, full of grace and truth. John 1:14
All that Oprah is following and promoting is against everything the Bible says; it is anti-Christian; it is anti-Christ. Hopefully she will turn her heart and listen, “Repent of this wickedness and pray to the Lord. Perhaps he will forgive you for having such a thought in your heart.” (Acts 8:22)
The Holy Bible is guidance for our time on Earth. It is our instruction for salvation, hope, peace, love, and everlasting life. No other truth, way, or spiritual walk will speak to us the way the Lord does through His word. There are churches in this nation who distort God’s word to fit society. They justify their teachings by hiding behind the idea of mistranslation. They conform to the ways of the world instead of helping the world conform to the ways of our Lord. These churches silence the voice of God.
God should not be silenced! Christians should not be silenced! We should be heard loud and clear when expecting religious freedoms and equal protection of our rights under the law.
Most importantly, we should be loud in prayer. This country needs prayer more now than ever. This nation, this world, is in need of healing that only God can provide. I encourage every God-loving Christian, every “unsure about God” person, and everyone who wants to see our society change to take advantage of the National Day of Prayer that is approaching. On May 1, 2008, thousands of people will join in prayer for this country. “The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped.” NationalDayofPrayer.com has a list of cities around the nation where people will be gathering. Even if you don’t go to a public gathering to pray, spend time that day in your home or church in deep prayer for the much needed healing of our country, healing of the hearts of our leaders, and protection for all of God’s people.
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