The saddest thing I see in today's Christian Community is the undeniable lack of faith it manifests on a daily basis. Oh! Yes! Its members can quote scripture all over the Internet (Facebook, MySpace, etc.) and beat their chest how knowledgeable they are of God's word, therefore everyone else is a heathen destined for Hell. Yet, when push comes to shove, instead of trusting God to provide them with the wisdom to solve their respective problems, they turn to their political gods and the state, and scream out the most vile and hateful things ever to come out of any person's mouth!
I speak primarily about the self-annointed saviors of the world, such as the Tea Bag Party and the so-called saviors from the great immigrant hoard that is supposedly invading this nation. I speak about groups like ALIPAC (Americans for Legal Immigration) and amazed (but not surprised) to see so many self-proclaimed Christians actually leading these various gangs of civic guardians who claim they have God on their side.
You can hear the patriotic epithets at rallies, talk shows and barroom discussions: "If they can't respect our flag, our God-ordained country and its English language, and our way of life, they need to go back where they came from."
The main hue and cry, especially on Internet and other blog radio shows, is "Let's kick these criminals out of our country." And their (stated) rationale is that immigrants are eating up their tax dollars, taking jobs away from American citizens, abusing medical facilities and (as one politician recently said), "these terrorists cross the border and are building weapons against our country by having 'anchor babies'." All of this mean-spirited rhetoric in the name of Jesus, too?
Christianity has lost its way. Not because of Gay rights, abortions, nor any liberal agenda conspiracy; but, because it has lay down its faith and can no longer distinguish between the Gospel and patriotism, and only one of these can solve the biggest problem the world has. It's not economics, taxes nor even the poor, which Jesus said we would always have with us. It's issues of the heart! Instead of looking inwardly, they point fingers outwardly, laying the blame for all their ills on other people. And by God (despite God) they are going to set things right!
They abandon all of God's principles and instead bow before the idol state gods and seek out and lick the boots of charismatic politicians to solve their problems. This includes not just your 'right-wing' radicals but your 'left wing liberals, too, neither group having any faith in God and His power to heal the land.
Our so-called Christian leaders, for the most part, are shining the wing-tip shoes of government officals as well, by claiming they are great patriots and are merely taking back the country for Jesus, by helping to select and elect Christian candidates in support of Pro-Life legislation and who are against Gay marriages, as if those actions will keep this American culture from disintegrating any further. This culture (which is not true Christianity in the first place) is a political one that seeks solutions for its woes through the very same system that caused the problems to begin with. This is not the reason Christ called us to follow Him. Jesus did not bless us with the Holy Spirit to exercise its power against the state, but rather to reveal truth and to convict the world of sin!
Did the Apostle Peter lobby Pontius Pilate to enact legislation to rid Roman society of gay people? Did Peter plead him to erect high fences around the seven hills of Rome to keep out those who werent citizens? Did the apostle Paul beg King Agrippa to provide free legal aid for the Christians who were being accused of treason? Did he even ask that the poor be provided food and free medical service? No! As a matter of fact, Paul knew that was the role of the church.
Actually, Paul got into King Agrippa's face and boldly told him what he was doing, preaching to the world so that they should repent and turn to God and prove their repentance by their deeds.
"That is why the Jews seized me in the temple courts and are trying to kill me." But Paul wasn't really worried about that; he told Agrippa that he has had God's help to this very day, and so he stood there and testified to small and great alike.
"I am saying nothing beyond what the prophets and Moses said would happen, that the Christ would suffer and, as the first to rise from the dead, would proclaim light to his own people and to the Gentiles."
At this point Festus interrupted Paul's defense. "You are out of your mind, Paul!" he shouted. "Your great learning is driving you insane."
"I am not insane, most excellent Festus," Paul replied. "What I am saying is true and reasonable. The king is familiar with these things, and I can speak freely to him. I am convinced that none of this has escaped his notice, because it was not done in a corner. King Agrippa, do you believe the prophets? I know you do."
Then Agrippa said to Paul, "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?"
Paul replied, "Short time or long—I pray God that not only you but all who are listening to me today may become what I am, except for these chains."
After Paul spoke, the king rose, and with him the governor and Bernice and those sitting with them. They left the room, and while talking with one another, they said, "This man is not doing anything that deserves death or imprisonment."
And then Agrippa said something to Festus that each and every Bible-thumping Christian in America should remember when it comes to bowing before the political thrones of this world;
"This man could have been set free if he had not appealed to Caesar."
"Well folks, are you free from the control of Caesar's world? Do you have the faith to move mountains? Do you believe God has enough power to rescue you from great tribulation? Well, great tribulation has already begun and is increasing daily, it's coming down the pipeline (not just through the broken and oily gushing ones), but in all sorts of manner.
But, hey, don't worry Christians, God is going to Rapture us to heaven any day now to escape any further persecution. We know this to be true because Hal Lindsey, Tim LaHaye, John Hagee, Mike Evans, Bennie Hinn and hundreds more of God's ersatz apostles have assured us that we will not experience great tribulation, along with other soothing lies!
"But," you say, "God would never leave His children here on earth to suffer, especially when He pours out His wrath on unbelievers. He will Rapture us to heaven before that time!"
No! There wont be any Pre-Tribulation Rapture to Heaven. But God has enough power to protect His children under any circumstances, right here on earth, without having to take you anywhere. God is powerful enough to protect you right where you are!
But, do you have the faith that He can, or will you continue trusting politicians, the state and the money-changers of the world instead of God?
O Ye of little faith!
1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
2 I will say of the LORD, "He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust."
3 Surely he will save you from the fowler's snare
and from the deadly pestilence.
4 He will cover you with his feathers,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
His faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
5 You will not fear the terror of night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
6 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
nor the plague that destroys at midday.
7 A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
8 You will only observe with your eyes
and see the punishment of the wicked.
9 If you make the Most High your dwelling—
even the LORD, who is my refuge-
10 then no harm will befall you,
no disaster will come near your tent.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread upon the lion and the cobra;
you will trample the great lion and the serpent.
14 "Because he loves me," says the LORD, "I will rescue him;
I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.
15 He will call upon me, and I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble,
I will deliver him and honor him.
16 With long life will I satisfy him
and show him my salvation."
(Psalms 91:1-16)
For more information about this blog and the author's two recently published books, The End Times Passover and Why Christians Will Suffer Great Tribulation (Author House Publishing), please click here Joe Ortiz
Thursday, June 10, 2010
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1 comment:
You mentioned Lindsey, LaHaye, Hagee etc. Do you realize that they are Bible people? Bible people are those who want very much to see it fulfilled even if they have to fulfill it themselves. All this is said to say that the above trio is fulfilling the words of Jesus Himself - where Jesus predicted that before His return to earth "many will come in my name and deceive many." So by deceiving many with their absurd promotion of the money-making fantasy called the "any-moment pretribulation rapture" they are actually fulfilling Jesus' prediction of deception since that rapture itself is gross deception since it was never a part of official Christian theology or a part of any organized church before 1830! So if Lindsey, LaHaye, and Hagee ever wonder who Jesus was talking about when He predicted the end time arrival of deceivers, all they have to do is look in the mirror to find out at least one deceiver that Jesus had in mind! Your prophecy books, BTW, are great and on target and everyone should order them and pass them around and give them as gifts.
Stuart
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