FUNDAMENTAL CHURCH FAILURESWritten by Jard DeVille
Every great human movement toward freedom, whether commercial, political or religious or a combination thereof, begins with determination of concerned men and women to make life better by resolving recurring human problems. The Renaissance and Age of Reason occurred through efforts of talented people to end brutal political, financial and religious abuses common within Medieval Europe. The Protestant Reformation and revival of a personal redemptive relationship with God occurred because people rebelled against a corrupt Catholic hierarchy that was using Spanish Inquisition to maintain their dominance over society and burning thousands of reformers alive in name of God. Even American Revolution of 1776 and Mexican Revolution of 1917, erupted along fault lines between thoughtful people and a ruthless aristocracy that controlled virtually all wealth. And while new nation wasn’t perfect, we spent next two centuries getting more and more things right in service of a more equitable society. That desire to serve people is collapsing now for one major reason.A wicked triad of narcissistic robber barons, fundamental preachers and reactionary politicians has seized power enough to cripple our beloved Republic and turn it into an anti-human killing machine. Their new American Empire has devoured many of our young men and women in a dozen preemptive wars against poor, dark skinned nations since World War Two and slain literally millions of peasants from Korea and Vietnam to Iraq twice now. Our wars profit a financial elite who support both fundamental religious and reactionary political abusers for their own benefit. They do this through a powerful propaganda system that confuses and seduces naïve men and women into believing many wicked deceptions from halls of government, commercial media and from pulpits of fundamental church. Reactionary politicians have always been suspect -- Bible itself admonishes us not to place our trust in princes, for they always have narcissistic agendas that supercede our own. Naive persons who believe narcissistic abusers show as much judgment as chickens who elect foxes to manage hen house. The aristocrats who control almost ninety percent of American wealth paid campaign bills for first oil baron president, George H. W. Bush -- with Dubya now firmly in saddle and Jeb waiting in wings for his turn at trough. Tom Delay and his scowling ventriloquist dummy Dennis Hestert, are considered honest politicians -- now that they sold out American Republic, they remain bought and paid for by their financial masters. We all know this but some Americans support manipulators for crumbs that fall from their table. The dishonesty of fundamental clergymen is a more recent phenomenon. The church that began with Jesus’ timeless spiritual revelation of faith, hope and love was once central to American democratic experience. Unfortunately, church is now being corrupted beyond all recognition by wicked consortium of no more global financiers than could be carried in a single Boeing 747 and their eager henchmen. The wicked triad of aristocrats, politicians and preachers, understands that with enough campaign money and their great media propaganda machine, betrayal of both thoughtless voters and fundamental true believers is a slam dunk. Men like Franklin Graham, James Dobson, Pat Robertson and Jerry Falwell, leadership and most pastors of Southern Baptist Convention, Nazarene, Missouri Synod Lutheran and Assemblies of God denominations, yearn to be gathered into another Oliver Cromwell type theocratic state that uses police power and courts to call their very own ideological tune for America to dance to. They are off to a good start and if history has taught us anything, we can already see that compassion of power players within finance, governance or religion is a weak reed on which to rely for support. Every organization that seizes complete power over others quickly turns evil. Or how do you get from Jesus’ Sermon on Mount to burning of theological challengers at stake in Christianity? Or explain many Southern Baptist preachers who cast out from their churches heretics that voted for John Kerry? Neo-conservative financiers, politicians and preachers have come together to create a perfect storm in collapse of democracy occurring in America today. The abusers don’t need to cancel elections and appoint a dictator when they control vast media machine that persuades millions of naïve men and women to commit financial, political and religious suicide at their bidding. But while aristocracy and their politician abusers are motivated by pure greed and a lust for power over people, fundamental politico/preachers pretend to themselves and others that obeying wishes of powerful abusers of society is an extension of biblical Truth and thus reflects wisdom of Jesus. They are engaging in oldest form of psychological self-deception, of course. “What’s best for me is great for America and Church.”
| | The Lords PrayerWritten by Rev. A.R.Smith
What is Reverence? A new look at Matthew 6:9 thru 13. Many call Matthew 6:9-13, The Lords Prayer but it actually isn't. Its prayer that Jesus gave to us, so in essence its our prayer. What I want to do is break it down to make it more personal. How many here today love Jesus? How many here today love God? How many here today do commandments of Christ? You know, Love your neighbor as yourself, pray for those who despitfully use you, forgive others, pray for your enemies, ect, ect, ect? If you are sure, then this is your prayer. Mat 6:9 ...Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Mat 6:10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven. Mat 6:11 Give us this day our daily bread. Mat 6:12 And forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors. Mat 6:13 And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil: For thine is kingdom, and power, and glory, for ever. Amen. Now lets make it personal, between you and Father. 1.“Our” Belonging to, in possession of, to abide in oneself. God belongs to us and we to Father. By purchase of our body and soul with blood of His Son. 2.“Father”A man who begets or raises or nurtures a child. To procreate (offspring) as male parent. To act or serve as a father to (a child). To create, found, or originate. To acknowledge responsibility for. Isn't meaning of Father, everything that God is? “To acknowledge responsibility for.” God acknowledges us as His children, His seed, His Creation and he fully takes responsibility for us. To Teach and Nurture, to Feed and cloth, to Save and protect. Now what about those who refuse God as Father, refuse His Chastisement? Heb 12:8 But if ye be without chastisement, whereof all are partakers, then are ye bastards, and not sons. “Bastard”, The Talmud and rabbis are probably therefore right in explaining mamzer, not illegitimate children in general, but those begotten in incest or adultery: from mazar, "to be corrupt." The only other occurrence of mamzer is Zec_9:6; "a bastard (a vile alien) shall dwell in Ashdod." One who is without conjoining of Father (God) to themselves. We must look at this from spiritual and not physical for all children have a physical father(dad). 3.“which art” “Which Art”, residing at, being in a certain place or time, without doubt as to where or who.Positive. Without our Faith knowing where God our Father resides, we would not believe in a Diety, that is in controll of all manner of life. We must first believe in Heaven and Hell, Reward and punishment, Resurrection and Damnation, on a grand scale, up to and including, very soul that makes us who we are. Rom 1:17 For therein is righteousness of God revealed from faith to faith: as it is written, The just shall live by faith. 4a.“in heaven” 4.”IN” Within limits, bounds, or area of: From outside to a point within;. To or at a situation or condition of. 5.”Heaven” The sky or universe as seen from earth; firmament.The abode of God, angels, and souls of those who are granted salvation. An eternal state of communion with God; everlasting bliss. Any of places in or beyond sky conceived of as domains of a divine being. A place of great happiness, delight, or pleasure: Jesus promised all who believed in Him a place. John 14:2-3 In my Father's house are many mansions: if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to prepare a place for you.
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