All posts for the month June, 2011

Obama’s push for religious “tolerance” on campuses

This past April, President Barack Obama announced a new initiative targeting U.S. college campuses called “Interfaith and Community Service Challenge.”  Since the announcement he has wasted no time getting it off the ground through the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships.  One of the stars of the initiative is Chicagoan Eboo Patel, 35, of the nonprofit organization Interfaith Youth Core, which was started by him in 2002.

Patel, a Muslim (surprise! surprise) and a Rhodes scholar, boasts degrees from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) and Oxford University where he received his doctorate in sociology of religion.  The White House got wind of Patel’s concern that religious conflict were increasing in our society.  He came to the conclusion that if religious extremists from the different religions could recruit teens and college kids, then those who favor religious tolerance should do the same.

 While Patel attended UIUC and for a few years after his UIUC days, he went on a spiritual journey that took him through Catholic Worker houses, Buddhist meditation, a homeless shelter started by evangelicals, and a visit to the Dalai Lama in India.  In the end he came to the conclusion that “his own tradition [the Ismaili Shiite sect] offered the ethic of service and humanitarianism he had been looking for all along.” 

He believes “[y]ou need a critical mass of interfaith leaders who know how to build relationships across religious divides, and see it as a lifelong endeavor.”  Armed with the slogan “Better Together” he and his staff trained 18 college students who recruited 40 other college students to help their initiative on their campuses by the end of the 2009-2010 school year.  They now have trained college students on 97 campuses with 10,000 individuals on board with their interfaith goals.

In May 2011, Obama contacted 2,000 university presidents to get them involved in his interfaith program for the 2011-2012 school year and 400 have signed up so far. 

Considering the anti-Bible, anti-Christian, pro-socialist leanings of secular college campuses and the fact that Obama and his wife taught at the bastion of socialism known as the University of Chicago, don’t be surprised if this new initiative is used as a tool to brainwash college students even more.

Usually when initiatives are started that call for “religious tolerance,” one of their first goals is to get evangelicals to compromise the gospel.  They try to discourage any talk about Jesus Christ being the only way to God and promote the false doctrine that all roads lead to God so we should all just try to accept what other religions teach.  Then, of course, they tend to promote the contradictory idea that there is no absolute truth. Proselytizing will undoubtedly be discouraged.  And any questions raised about falsehoods taught by other religions will be deemed as hate speech.

Since there are so many young people raised in evangelical homes that aren’t rooted and grounded in the faith because their parents have neglected to raise them in the nurture and admonition of the Lord, they will most likely fall prey to such nonsense if they aren’t prayed for.

And what will be the ultimate goal of the “Interfaith and Community Service Challenge?”  The push for the New World Order’s one world religion, of course.  Can we really expect anything different from a President who favors Muslims, openly takes shots at Israel, and fights social issues that evangelicals stand for?

Source: Laura Goodstein, One man’s calling: fostering tolerance on campuses, bendbulletin.com, June 18, 2011.

–posted by Harry A. Gaylord–

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by Harry A. Gaylord on June 19, 2011  •  Permalink
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Posted by Harry A. Gaylord on June 19, 2011

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Indian officials ask evangelicals to leave India

The Times of India newspaper reported this week that three American Christian women–Shelly Louise Deeds, a nurse from Pennsylvania, Katelyn Heather Deeds,also from Pennsylvania, and Diane Geen Harrington,  a Wisconsin teacher–were approached by Indian authorities and were asked to leave the country.  Several Hindu organizations went to the police accusing the women of trying to convert the poor to Christianity in Kerala, an Indian southern state.

Police chief Asok Kumar of the region stated, “We have not received any evidence to indicate the three US women were engaged in conversion-related activities. However, they were about to attend religious prayers session.”  Kumar went on to explain that the visas the women have don’t allow them to attend any organized meetings including prayer sessions. According to Kumar, “We were not clear about their intentions. That is why we asked them to leave the country, and they agreed.”

The police are also investigating three pastors who were seen associating with the women.  International Christian Concern (ICC), which advocates for religious freedoms, filed an official complaint this past Friday, June 17, with the U.S. government over the incident.  ICC points out that evangelicals are often accused, without proof, of offering incentives to India natives if they convert to Christianity when the evangelicals always make it clear to authorities that becoming a Christian is completely an act of free will and offering incentives is totally against their beliefs.

ICC also highlighted the fact that people from all over the world visit India with the same type of visas and attend Hindu or Buddhist religious ceremonies without any hindrances.  They point out that this shows the obvious religious discrimination carried out by local authorities under pressure from Hindu organizations against Christians having equal protections in spite of the fact that India’s constitution calls for religious freedom.

The same type of anti-conversion sentiments are also occurring in neighboring Nepal, which is contemplating a national anti-conversion law.  Hindus may claim that they are very tolerant of other faiths, but their practice is the opposite of their claims.  Many of them hate the idea of having a Christian in their presence, which is why they raise false accusations against them.

Hindus are feeling threatened by Christianity because the number of converts to Christianity is increasing more and more. Individuals in bondage to Hinduism who choose to convert realize how oppressive and untruthful Hindu teachings are and the gospel of Jesus Christ offers them the freedom they long for. May God continue to draw the lost in India to his household of freedom.

Source: India Asks U.S. “Evangelists” to Leave, Worthy Christian News, Saturday, June 18, 2011.

–posted by Harry A. Gaylord–

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by Harry A. Gaylord on June 18, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Christianity, Hinduism, human rights, persecution, religion
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Posted by Harry A. Gaylord on June 18, 2011

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Doctor testifies that he rose from the dead

At a Christian conference for medical professionals in Brisbane, Australia that took place June 11-12, Dr. Sean George gave his testimony about a miracle from God that he experienced three years ago.  He was driving along on the south coast of Australia in his car with an intern on October 24, 2008 when he began feeling chest pains.  He pulled over and called his wife, who suggested that he return home immediately.

Dr. George, however, felt prompted to stop at a clinic that was closer to his location and 31 miles from his home.  Using an electro-cardiogram at the clinic it was clear he was having a heart attack.  A few minutes later, he went into cardiac arrest.  A team of doctors and nurses at the clinic worked on Dr. George with chest compressions and electrical shocks for an hour, but he didn’t respond.  He was pronounced dead 10 minutes later.

A few minutes after being pronounced dead, his wife arrived and was given the bad news.  When the medical team ushered her into the room to see his body, her faith in the Lord Jesus Christ took over and she prayed a simple prayer over her Christian husband while holding his lifeless hand–”Lord Jesus, he is only 39, I am only 38 and we have a ten year old boy. I need a miracle.”  As soon as she finished her prayer, Dr. George’s heartbeat and breathing returned.

He was taken a few hours later to Royal Perth Hospital for emergency surgery to clear a blocked artery, but the odds were against his survival.  On Sunday, three days after his surgery, his eyes opened.  The following day, he was able to move his limbs. That Wednesday, he was fully awake and his lungs and heart were working on their own. Two weeks later, the hospital discharged him.  Then three months after his being discharged, he returned to work full-time.

During his testimony, Dr. George presented his medical records to prove that he was telling the truth.  “It has proved to me that Jesus really is Creator God and Sustainer of life and that He hears and responds to the humble prayers of His servants. I now also understand that eternity is only a breath away,” stated the doctor.

This is overwhelming proof once again that God truly exists, that what he says in the Bible is the truth, and that he is still performing his wondrous miracles on behalf of his saints today just like he did for his saints thousands of years ago in biblical times.

Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live: And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die. Believest thou this? [John 11:25-26]

Source: The Doctor Who Came Back From the Dead, Breaking Christian News, June 15, 2011.

–posted by Harry A. Gaylord–

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by Harry A. Gaylord on June 16, 2011  •  Permalink
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Posted by Harry A. Gaylord on June 16, 2011

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Bilderberg 2011 convenes

The Bilderberg Group started its 2011 meeting today at St. Moritz in Switzerland as openly published at CNBC.com, with its positive spin on it of course.  It seems the New World Order organization is no longer hiding the fact it’s meeting.  Newt Gingrich is conveniently on a cruise in Europe.  It would be rude of him not to stop by and say hello, don’t you think? (I say this with sarcasm)

Here’s what I speculate (with tongue in cheek) will be on the Bilderberg agenda:

Who do we want to run against our man Obama in the Republican Party?

Who do we want to run against Sarkozy in France?

Who do we want to win in both races and when do we get our media outlets on board with us to brainwash the masses to make the choices we want?

Our plans for Dominique Strauss-Kahn worked perfectly, OR, How could Dominique Strauss-Kahn have been so foolish?

“I Was Born This Way!”: How our Lady Gaga’s efforts to promote our pro-gay agenda is moving along nicely

How to use the acts of God (or Mother Nature if you prefer) to persuade the masses to buy into our global warming efforts

“We Don’t Need No Education!”: the progress we’ve made on cutting education, school libraries, and public libraries in North America

Who should replace Strauss Kahn at our IMF?

Where do we stand on China’s rise on the world market?

Updates on our socialist efforts in Latin America.

How soon can we expect to have control of the Internet?

One world & its many paths to one god: reports on our agents in mosques, temples, synagogues, seminaries, and churches as we move to one world religion

———

These are probably the tip of the iceberg and I’m sure we will witness the results of their brainstorming played out on the world stage in the near future.  Stay tuned and stay prayerful!

–posted by Harry A. Gaylord–

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by Harry A. Gaylord on June 9, 2011  •  Permalink
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Posted by Harry A. Gaylord on June 9, 2011

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Parable of the unjust judge (shall not God avenge his own?)

Those of us who follow Christian news can see how there is a steady rise in the persecution of Christians all over the world. It has become clear that Satan has “great wrath, because he knoweth that he hath but a short time,” [Revelation 12:12]. The number of incidences of persecution can become overwhelming and disheartening, but we must cling to the precious promises our Savior gives us in his word. One of those promises appears in the parable of the unjust judge–

1And he spake a parable unto them to this end, that men ought always to pray, and not to faint;

 2Saying, There was in a city a judge, which feared not God, neither regarded man:

 3And there was a widow in that city; and she came unto him, saying, Avenge me of mine adversary.

 4And he would not for a while: but afterward he said within himself, Though I fear not God, nor regard man;

 5Yet because this widow troubleth me, I will avenge her, lest by her continual coming she weary me.

 6And the Lord said, Hear what the unjust judge saith.

 7And shall not God avenge his own elect, which cry day and night unto him, though he bear long with them?

 8I tell you that he will avenge them speedily. Nevertheless when the Son of man cometh, shall he find faith on the earth?  [Luke 18]

We see here a circumstance where a widow was being unjustly oppressed by an enemy.  She knew she had valid legal grounds to bring a legal action against her oppressor and she knew where to go to make her plea.  Though her motion was filed to the court, the judge hesitated awhile before moving forward on her case.

He knew her case was legally sound and he could grant her motion for judgment, but the judge, who was either an atheist or agnostic and had no love for his fellow humans, granted her motion simply because he did not want to be bothered with the possibility that she could make trouble for him with her persistence.

Scenarios similar to this one are played out in our American courts every day so even today we can relate to the point Christ is making.  If an evil judge can make a ruling in favor of a persecuted defenseless widow for his own personal unjust reasons, then we can expect God to avenge those of us who are his precious elect. 

The God who created the unjust judge (who would have had no power at all except it were given to him from above [John 19:11; Romans 13:1]) is the same God whose thoughts and ways are higher than any unjust judge’s thoughts and ways. And if an unjust judge, being lower than our righteous God, can render a just verdict, then surely God will avenge his children, whom he has called and sanctified by the blood of Jesus.  When we have troubles heaped on us by an unbelieving world, our Father is available all day and all night (24/7) to hear our pleas for help.

Yes, he will “bear long” with us sometimes when we pray.  From our perspective, it seems like he is dragging his feet on giving us an answer or that he didn’t hear us or that he seemingly doesn’t care when he takes so long, or even that he seems to take pleasure at watching us suffer, but none of this is true.  What is true is that God’s compassions fail not and his faithfulness is great toward us [Lamentations 3:22-23].  When he takes his time granting his vengeance for us, it is for a greater purpose that only he knows.  Sometimes he reveals it to us at a later date in our lives and at other times he waits until we get to heaven to show us the big picture.

Nevertheless, we must remind ourselves that ALL things work together for the good of those of us who love God and are called according to his purpose.  We also must remember that the trying of our faith worketh patience–a patience that takes us to perfection in Christ [Romans 5: 3-5; James 1:2-4].

Our Lord Jesus promised us in this teaching that God will one day take vengeance on our unrepentant enemies, even if it seems like it’s taking forever.  When his vengeance finally comes on them, the act of vengeance will be executed very quickly.

And with this promise comes a very poignant question.  When Jesus comes, will he find faith on earth?  Will there be anyone around who is faithful to him?  This seems to imply an answer ranging from “it’s questionable” to “it’s very doubtful.”  Or it could be a plea from Christ for us to remain faithful to him since he has proven faithful to us.

Rest assured, persecuted saints, God will make your enemies sorry that they messed with you.

–posted by Harry A. Gaylord–

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by Harry A. Gaylord on June 9, 2011  •  Permalink
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Posted by Harry A. Gaylord on June 9, 2011

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PET scans prove weed degrades brain chemistry

A new study released today by the National Institute of Mental Health has shown clear, inarguable proof that habitual marijuana use alters brain chemistry for the worse.  The findings were released at the Society of Nuclear Medicines 58th Annual Meeting  today.  For this study, 30 marijuana users were studied in a closed environment four weeks during which they received positron emission tomography (PET) scans.

The PET scans revealed that the pot smokers had a 20% decrease in the brain receptors known as cannabinoids.  These receptors control body functions such as pleasure, concentration, time perception, coordination, digestive functions, respiratory abilities, pain perceptions, and cardiovascular functions.  However, once the smokers quit their habit, the brain receptors were restored to normal.

A decrease in such brain receptors greatly diminishes the ability of the body to function normally.  This is additional proof that marijuana should not be legalized for medical or any other purposes.

With proof such as this, it’s no wonder God spoke out against sorcery and witchcraft (practices that are based on drug abuse) in the Bible.  Jehovah is the God who loves his creation so much that he warns us against practices like smoking pot because he wants us to be the best he knows we can be when we accept Christ.  Weakening one’s brain functions with pot use not only downgrades one’s physical functions, but it allows Satan and his angels to build up spiritual strongholds in a person’s life.  Nevertheless, God has shown over and over that his power of salvation through the blood of Jesus Christ can overcome anything Satan uses to bind people, including drug addictions.

And I will come near to you to judgment; and I will be a swift witness against the sorcerers… saith the LORD of hosts. [Malachi 3:5]

Source: Susan Martonik, Molecular imaging shows chronic marijuana smoking affects brain chemistry, Eurekalert.org, June 6, 2011.

–posted by Harry A. Gaylord–

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by Harry A. Gaylord on June 6, 2011  •  Permalink
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Posted by Harry A. Gaylord on June 6, 2011

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As socialism increases globally, so will the power of the yuan

Since the U.S. economy and the economies of Europe continue to show a lack of vibrant recovery, as orchestrated by New World Order (NWO) organizations, the Chinese are increasing their efforts to make their yuan, or renminbi, a global currency to be reckoned with.  A financial adviser to the People’s Bank of China reported this past Friday that he believes the yuan will move beyond circulation among China’s Asian neighbors to be a full-blown international currency within the next five to 10 years.

China has therefore set two goals: (1) decrease dramatically the reliance on the U.S. dollar since the dollar’s reliability is not what it once was with the instability of U.S. markets in recent years, and (2) promote the yuan as an additional major global currency that will stabilize world markets by allowing investors an alternative to the weakened currencies of the euro and dollar.

Li Daokui, that financial adviser, states, “It’s ironic, isn’t it? The U.S. is the epicentre of the global financial crisis, but the U.S. dollar is the monetary safe haven. The country is having much more financial trouble than China, or even Russia, but we put our money there. By having an international currency, China is helping itself by helping the world.”  Or, to put it in more blatantly honest terms, China is helping itself by helping strengthen the plans of the New World Order.

However, the yuan still has several roadblocks to navigate, such as how the Chinese will relinquish their stringent control of the artificially deflated value of their currency.

And to show they are serious about their aims, the Chinese government since 2009 has dumped 97% of its ownership in short-term U.S. treasury bills that fund our nation’s debt over a period of one year or less.  Since October 2010, the Chinese have also started decreasing their holdings in the longer-term U.S. treasury securities. This means the U.S. government will have to convert their U.S. treasury bills into the U.S. treasury securities, giving our national debt a higher annual interest rate.

So the policies of the NWO are forging ahead and the people of the world, who are brainwashed by the socialist leanings of the secular media, educational systems, and governments, are embracing the changes under the false belief their lives will improve.  Meanwhile, those of us who have unwavering faith in our Lord Jesus Christ know that these are the signs that our blessed hope, the rapture and subsequent rule of our Lord on Earth, is drawing closer and closer.

“…knowing the time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed.  The night is far spent, the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light.” [Romans 13:11-12]

Sources:

Mark McKinnon, Yuan expected to become major world currency, The Globe and Mail, Friday, June 3, 2011.

Terrence P. Jeffrey, China has divested 97 percent of its holdings in U.S. treasury bills, CNSnews.com, Friday, June 3, 2011.

–posted by Harry A. Gaylord–

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by Harry A. Gaylord on June 5, 2011  •  Permalink
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Posted by Harry A. Gaylord on June 5, 2011

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Dislike Obamacare? Cut your earnings

When acting Solicitor General Neal Kumar Katyal testified in Cincinnati this week at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Sixth Circuit, he showed no shame in revealing the type of socialist mentality that the Obama administration has in defending Obamacare.  The appeals court panel is made up of three judges–two appointed by Republican administrations and one appointed by a Democrat administration.

During Katyal’s testimony, Judge Jeffrey Sutton asked him if he could recall a U.S. Supreme Court case where the court had to consider the use of the Commerce Clause of the Constitution by Congress to make people commit a specific action like buying health care insurance.  Katyal couldn’t think of one but attempted to say the 1964 civil rights case of Heart of Atlanta Motel was similar.  That case allowed Congress to enact laws against racial discrimination in private establishments like hotels and restaurants.

Judge Sutton then pointed out that if a person in that particular case did not want to abide by Congress’ mandates against discrimination, they could opt out by getting out of a business altogether.  Then he pointed out that individuals don’t have that option.

Katyal’s response was, “If we’re going to play that game, I think that game can be played here as well, because after all, the minimum coverage provision only kicks in after people have earned a minimum amount of income. So it’s a penalty on earning a certain amount of income and self insuring. It’s not just on self insuring on its own. So I guess one could say, just as the restaurant owner could depart the market in Heart of Atlanta Motel, someone doesn’t need to earn that much income.” [emphasis mine]

Then Sutton interrupted Katyal and questioned him about that exemption in the new health care law.  But there you have it folks.  The socialist agenda plain as day as set forth by Obama’s Solicitor General.  If you don’t want to be on board with Obama’s agenda you will have to suffer by earning less income.  Why would an administration that claims to care about the poor and claims they want to help the poor get out of poverty turn around and argue in favor of a policy that urges people to join the ranks of the poor?  This is the contradictory nature of socialism.

This reminds me of a statement I read recently in Atlas Shrugged: “Our culture has sunk into a bog of materialism. …They’re too comfortable.  They will return to a nobler life if we teach them to bear privations.  So we ought to place a limit upon their material greed,” [Balph Eubank, Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand, Signet, 50th Anniversary ed., p. 128]. Of course the character Balph Eubank and those like him equated “material greed” with those who were more successful than he was.  His verbal attack was to hide his envy, jealousy, and covetousness.  This is what socialism is based on.  Those who work hard and work smart to reap the seemingly endless rewards of their work ethic are targeted by the covetous to take away what they’ve earned and to re-distribute it to those who are not as successful.  Balph Eubank, a university professor, wanted the material wealth of those he hated and tried to manipulate the mindset of his connections and his students to enrich himself at the expense of his enemies. 

That’s not to say that there aren’t any corrupt capitalists.  Some rich people are devious and don’t care about others.  But many capitalists gain wealth by honest means and really want to help others by creating jobs or by donating to worthy organizations.

A government that is run based on envying the successful is a government that will end up targeting the successful for a takedown.  When governments target the successful for a takedown, the whole nation will end up suffering and being weakened, even to the point of being conquered by its enemies.  Katyal’s statements make it clear that the people running things have certain people in their crosshairs, including the wealthy who aren’t on board with their agenda and the middle class.

Thou shalt not steal. …Thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s house, thou shalt not covet thy neighbour’s wife, nor his manservant, nor his maidservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour’s. [Exodus 20: 15, 17]

Source: Philip Klein, Obama solicitor general: If you don’t like mandate, earn less money, Washington Examiner, June 2, 2011. 

–posted by Harry A. Gaylord–

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by Harry A. Gaylord on June 4, 2011  •  Permalink
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Posted by Harry A. Gaylord on June 4, 2011

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Rooted, built up, and established in the faith

The Information Age we live in has sparked in many of us a desire to increase in knowledge to enhance our lives.  Whenever useful information is around to strengthen us in our walk with Christ, there is always harmful information thrown in our path to get us off track.  It is a constant struggle to discern the good from the bad because so often our flesh wants one thing while God’s Spirit in us wants another.  This is the concern Paul had for the church at Colossae as he shared what the Holy Ghost laid on his heart in Colossians 2.

Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power: [Colossians 2:8-10]

Paul warns us against allowing anyone to rob us of godly knowledge and wisdom after we are established in our faith in the Lord Jesus Christ.  If we are not careful, we can fall for worldly philosophies and worthless deceitful ideas that are established by human traditions and principles the world promotes.  One reason we fall for these lies is that we entertain the thought that there must be more purpose to our lives and spiritual truth in the world than what is supplied to us through Christ.

This opens the door for us to fall for a myriad of false beliefs such as thinking we can lose our salvation, or that all religions lead to God, or that gay marriage is okay, or that creation evolved over millions of years, or that experts in certain fields can be taken at their word, or that no one can really know the truth. 

Paul goes on to say that in Jesus Christ we find the Godhead fully represented in bodily form.  In other words, Jesus Christ is 100% God and possesses 100% of God’s power since he is God.  Since he is 100% God and we are in him, we are therefore spiritually complete in him and it is unnecessary for us to look anywhere else for our spiritual needs.  Christ is not lacking in anything we need, having the power to supply all of our needs according to his riches in glory whether they be physical, mental, or spiritual.

We can also trust that all of our needs are met through Christ because he is over all principalities and powers in the universe.  That includes angelic principalities and powers who have prompted the men of this world to conjure up their vain philosophies and ungodly ideas.  Since these beings are beneath Christ and his heavenly doctrines, why would we want to cling to them?  Their philosophies and ideas are serious downers and as Christians we should look upwards to where our lives are hid with Christ in God.

In whom also ye are circumcised with the circumcision made without hands, in putting off the body of the sins of the flesh by the circumcision of Christ:  Buried with him in baptism, wherein also ye are risen with him through the faith of the operation of God, who hath raised him from the dead. 

And you, being dead in your sins and the uncircumcision of your flesh, hath he quickened together with him, having forgiven you all trespasses; Blotting out the handwriting of ordinances that was against us, which was contrary to us, and took it out of the way, nailing it to his cross; [Colossians 2:11-14]

Believing in the Lord Jesus Christ brings about a spiritual circumcision and a spiritual baptism where our sinful nature is cut off and buried while a new godly nature springs forth and arises in us, even if we still struggle with the fleshly, sinful nature that still dwells in our bodies.  Our spiritual baptism shows that through our faith that came from God’s power, our old nature died and was buried, and we were raised to a new life spiritually at the time Christ experienced his death, burial, and resurrection.  It was at this moment God created a “savings” account filled with the blood of Jesus for those of us who would be saved at a future date when we could withdraw from that account by confessing Jesus as Lord.

It was at the cross that we were forgiven not just some of our trespasses, but all of our trespasses, past, present, and future.  If we were forgiven only some of them (e.g. only those we committed up to the point of our salvation), then it would be possible for us to lose our salvation and Jesus’ death on the cross would not have been enough to cover us.  But God took all of the charges that were against us (which he knew ahead of time) and blotted them out with Jesus’ blood and nailed them to the cross.  Our sins (past, present, and future) were taken completely (not partially) out of the way.

And having spoiled principalities and powers, he made a shew of them openly, triumphing over them in it. [Colossians 2:15]

Not only was Christ’s death powerful enough to save sinners, it openly showed that even in death he was more powerful than Satan and his angels, robbing Satan of souls who were part of his kingdom.  Since Satan and his powers were defeated by a superior, more powerful Lord, why would we want to embrace his devilish doctrines promoted in this world?

Let no man therefore judge you in meat, or in drink, or in respect of an holyday, or of the new moon, or of the sabbath days: Which are a shadow of things to come; but the body is of Christ. [Colossians 2:16-17]

Christ has made us free completely from all religious rituals established under the Mosaic law or man-made traditions, so as a Christian no one has the right to mandate that I only eat meat or I should only be vegetarian.  They don’t have the right to mandate that I shouldn’t eat pork or that I have to celebrate Christmas or Easter.  They can’t mandate that I should only attend church on Saturday or Sunday.  Religious rituals are just symbols and glimpses of what God still has yet to do, but my body (God’s temple) and the church (body of believers) are the real tangible possessions of Christ and they trump religious rituals.

Let no man beguile you of your reward in a voluntary humility and worshipping of angels, intruding into those things which he hath not seen, vainly puffed up by his fleshly mind, And not holding the Head, from which all the body by joints and bands having nourishment ministered, and knit together, increaseth with the increase of God.

 Wherefore if ye be dead with Christ from the rudiments of the world, why, as though living in the world, are ye subject to ordinances, (Touch not; taste not; handle not; Which all are to perish with the using;) after the commandments and doctrines of men? Which things have indeed a shew of wisdom in will worship, and humility, and neglecting of the body: not in any honour to the satisfying of the flesh. [Colossians 2:18-23]

People try to deceive believers into following their deceptive practices through asceticism (the use of stringent self-discipline to attain higher spirituality) and worshiping angels (contacting and fellowshiping with spirit guides), but all of this is based on the ungodly pride of man looking to exalt himself.  They disregard the Lord, who is the true Head of the church and the universe.  Christ is the one who nourishes his church and takes care of it so it can increase in blessings and strength so such rituals and doctrines are completely unnecessary.

Since we are dead with Christ to the world and its ways, it’s in our best interest to cast off worldly principles and all man-made doctrines that try to keep us from advancing in what pleases God.  We must obey God rather than men.  These principles are just an outward show of worshiping man’s will with a false humility even when they neglect their bodies through fasting or self-flagellation or forbidding themselves to marry, like Pharisees doing their good works only to be seen by men.  This in no way leads to godly honor, but is geared toward catering to fleshly desires, the desire to have men place them on pedestals.

If we are rooted, built up, and established in the faith, being tricked by these tactics will be less of a problem for us.

–posted by Harry A. Gaylord–

1 Comment
by Harry A. Gaylord on June 1, 2011  •  Permalink
Posted in Bible, Christianity, encouragement, religion

Posted by Harry A. Gaylord on June 1, 2011

http://sunandshield.wordpress.com/2011/06/01/rooted-built-up-and-established-in-the-faith/

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