Faith Fellowship Church…PO Box 1586…Broken Arrow, OK 74013…918-451-0270…Pastor Terry Dashner

In America throughout 18th and 19th centuries concept of faith, instead of reason, was taking a beating. The Enlightened authors of 18th century questioned all things that could not be proven by either inductive or deductive reasoning. When Darwin published his works in 19th century, it only added fuel to fires of enlightened class of intellectuals who believed that organized religion was doing more harm to societies than good. Along with Darwin’s ideas arose other thinkers, and traditional thoughts of theology went into a step decline. Some Bible scholars and philosophers began to argue that God was dead (Nietzche—“God is dead and we have killed Him”) and nihilism (reject all established authority), and Utilitarianism (to weird for me to explain). This decline in traditional beliefs of theology that had held constant since Apostles was affecting social fabric of America. Schools, especially higher institutions of learning, were embracing a new theology called modernism. The rebellion against traditional faith came to a crescendo in 1960s. America’s Supreme Court judges began propounding philosophical law that supported modernism—prayer in school was banned. In 1970s abortion rights activists were successful in ruling of Roe-v-Wade. Today after 30 years of modernism influencing our courts, now we’ve come to post-modern era. Things are getting wackier. For example, who in their right mind would have suggested thirty years ago that same sex couples would one day wed legally? Things are spinning out of control.

We need a Revival in land. We need to stand up and preach Gospel without compromise. We need to combat our federal judges that rule against will of people on issues like banning of partial birth abortions and same sex marriage. America needs a spiritual boost to say least. We, church, must teach dangers of post modernism. Post modernism is nothing more than “wiles of devil” creeping into American society “unawares” because Satan has caught Christians asleep at their posts. We must awaken to righteousness and speak truth. We’ve got to stand up and be counted. Here are some ways we can be counted: (1) Pray for America (2) Witness our faith without compromise (3) tell our Representatives how we believe (4) Register and vote in elections. (5) Join active ministries that keep us informed about work of evil one—the devil—in governments of men as well as “world.” Stay encouraged! Jesus has given us all authority to advance His kingdom among men.

I bless you, and I pray that God would continue to bless this great land we call America.

Pastor Terry Dashner

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Faith Fellowship Church…PO Box 1586…Broken Arrow, OK 74013…918-451-0270…Pastor Terry Dashner

the world through Jewish race. Israel was groomed by God, at times severely (dispersion, gentile rule, and etc.), in order to accomplish His purpose of delivering world through Israel’s Messiah. Jesus Christ lived in Israel during time of Roman occupation---gentile rule. Because of His humble roots, not all Jews believed He was their Messiah. He didn’t fit part. The Jews were looking for a political ruler that would lead them against Romans and establish God’s Kingdom, once and for all, on face of earth. When Jesus died on cross Jews were justified in their belief. Jesus was no Messiah, or so they thought. Seventy years later, Israel was crushed under foot of Rome and Jews were scattered through out world once again (Jesus had predicted this). The Jews would not reclaim Palestine, their ancient lands, until 1948.

When Christianity was in its infancy, it was considered just another sect of Hebrew religion. It carried out same philosophies as Jews, preached from same scriptures (Old Testament) as Jews, and centered in same capital as Jews—Jerusalem. It wasn’t until Jerusalem was destroyed by Romans in 70 AD that Christianity stood as a separate and distinct religion from Jews in eyes of Rome. Also, at this time church, still relatively small, was persecuted relentlessly by Rome as an unlawful religious sect. Notwithstanding plight of Christians by Rome, Christians continued to elevate human life as sacred, just as Jews had done before them. That was not case for pagan Romans.

Rome cheapened life. Rome began its decline morally during last days of Republic and continued decline throughout Pax Romana. Contentment was replaced by greed. People looked to government to supply free grain and public amusements. Family life disintegrated, divorce and immorality abounded, and superstition increased. Once backbone of Rome, a hard-working patriotic citizen was now hard to find. The Roman father had right to accept or reject birth of his children. The life of a divorced woman was terrible. She ranked with cattle of field. Infanticide was rampant. By third century, mighty Rome was over run with barbarians. The Roman Empire was no longer. Christianity was lifted to prominence with Edict of Constantine. It became official religion of Roman Empire when capital of Rome was moved from west to east. Christianity did much to restore morality and lift sanctity of human life to a higher place in state. Unfortunately, church went through a decline during years that followed and was sometimes culprit in lowering sanctity of life immorality of priesthood, dark ages, misappropriation of scriptural truths, and Crusades).

“The Dawning of a New Day”

To be continued…

God Bless America!

Pastor Terry Dashner, Faith Fellowship Church, Broken Arrow, OK 74013