It gives me no joy to report on what I think is one of the most prominent stories of 2007.America is the most blessed, prosperous nation on earth.God raised this young nation up for several reasons.We have been a gospel light to the world and that remains.We have been Israel's "off-and-on" ally. Our Christian heritage has made us a compassionate nation.
But I see a nation pulling away from the one true God and giving a voice to those who hate God or who have a skewed view of Him.This was personified in 2007.
Why would a nation of Judeo-Christian principles give one of the highest honors to the Dalai Lama who received the Congressional Gold Medal of Honor in October?He snowed his adoring admirers, most of them the highest of America's leaders, by saying, "There can be no world peace without first obtaining inner peace."Where's the Prince of Peace and did anyone stand up for Him?
In July, a Hindu opened the U.S. Senate with a Hindu prayer. This same man is opening in prayer at state senates in many places.
The first Muslim imam delivered a prayer for the U.S. House of Representatives, even though he is on record saying, "Take my word--if 6-8 million Muslims unite in America, the country will come to us."
This year saw an unprecedented push to convince Americans that Jews, Christians, and Muslims celebrate similar roots.Interfaith gatherings have taken place so that in unity all may celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, and the Muslim Hajj Festival. Pulpits filled with men who should know better telling us that God and Allah are one and the same.
At the same time, atheists want a pulpit everywhere in America!It's not just Christopher Hitchens and Richard Dawkins.Phillip Pullman's trilogy, The Golden Compass, warranted an expense of $180 million to seduce kids into hating God.The bottom line is that in America, atheism is in. Not since Nietzsche have disbelievers enjoyed such a ready public reception to their godless message--and such royalties.
Snaps Christopher Hitchens who wrote God Is Not Great: How Religion Poisons Everything (although not, presumably, the pronouncements of atheists), "Many of the teachings of Christianity are, as well as being incredible and mythical, immoral." In the past 12 months, atheist authors, according to The Wall Street Journal, have created a publishing sensation, selling more than 1 million books worldwide.
And the great "falling away" fell some more (see II Thess. 2:3). While many churches struggle to hold on to the truth, many more caved to methods of doing church that are not biblical.Willow Creek Pastor Bill Hybels repented for his "seeker-sensitive" approach, calling it an utter failure (although the church appears to now be taking an Emergent turn.)
Our own president stated in late 2007 that all religions pray to the same god. This creates confusion and a form of "falling away" again.
And the lead story in U.S. News and World Report in late 2007 was that even Protestants are returning to Rome as Catholicism and the one world religion join forces and gain strength.
The Bible says, The fool has said in his heart, 'There is no God' (Psalm 53:1).
There is a way which seems right to a man, but its end is the way of death (Proverbs 14:12.)
Yet our Lord delays His coming so that even these might be saved.
Disclaimer: Worldview Weekend, Christian Worldview Network and its columnists do not necessarily endorse or agree with every opinion expressed in every article posted on this site. We do however, encourage a healthy and friendly debate on the issues of our day. Whether you agree or disagree, we encourage you to post your feedback by using the feedback button.
I was raised in the Christian faith and have been involved in public policy issues my entire adult life. But I've never understood this sort of hysterical code language evangelicals use. I've come to conclude that most of this is simply words devoid of serious thought.
It just seems to me that they, or you as the case may be, are living in some sort of parallel reality. The concerns you raise aren't important or even relevant. In my view, they are fantasy and imaginary. There are some deadly serious issues we face as a society - distancing ourselves from god is hardly one of them. Click here to reply to this post
Distance from God
Posted On: 01/07/08 11:42:57 AM
Age 61, MO
"In ALL thy ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct thy paths." (Proverbs 3:6). George Cancilla Click here to reply to this post
America Distances God
Posted On: 01/04/08 11:37:51 AM
Age 61, MO
The World is slipping into the clutches of Lucifer by way of the spirit of mammon. Riches and the love of the world and its pomp and its pride and its comforts and its pleasures has people forgetting about God and His righteousness as well as His kingdom. The gods of silver, gold, paper currencies, stocks, and bonds, has utterly deceived the American Christian. The hand of God's judgment is on the system of mammon that rewarded those that destroy and penalized those that create. God is going to deal very, very harshly with the greedy and rich men of global corporatism as they struggle to get out of the noose they prepared for others, and who now see that very same noose around their own fat necks. “Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. Your riches are corrupted, and your garments are moth eaten. Your gold and silver is cankered; and the rust of them shall be a witness against you, and shall eat your flesh as it were fire. Ye have heaped treasure together for the last days. Behold, the hire of the laborers who have reaped down your fields, which is of you kept back by fraud, crieth: and the cries of them which have reaped are entered into the ears of the Lord of Sabaoth. Ye have lived in pleasure on the earth, and been wanton; ye have nourished your hearts, as in a day of slaughter. Ye have condemned and killed the just; and he doth not resist you. Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.” (James 5:1-7). This is the state of the American 501c3 churches: “Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. (Revelation 3:17-18). America is dead. Ron Paul nor any other political leader is going to change her fate. She refuses to come to the Fountain of Living Waters Whom her forefathers honored. Now America will be judged for her myriad of sins and evils. George Cancilla Click here to reply to this post
AMERICA AND GOD
Posted On: 01/04/08 08:14:13 AM
Age 42, MN
I t is quite interesting that people are thinking that just recently America is falling away from god. America has been away from god for quite a long time. Just ask the native Americans whom lost their lands, their way of life all for the American greed , "the american god"... It is nice we have churches on sunday but it's the life you live between sundays that matters, and that life is what appears to be godless. In America we look at the visible sins as "THE SINS" and we judge people that do these as evil doers , yet we forget the rest of the sins that are equally bad, like greed, hate, lust, conveteusness (owe yes wanting what the jones have this is why America was formed and fought to keep it, we wanted what we did not have -land-money-at any cost) ...drunkenness, slothfullness(owe yeah this one is a bad one here-) lieing ,unfaithfullness, divorce (except for biblical reasons of unfaithfulness) on and on it goes ,all sins we break everyday across America. I love this land this place we call home , but it couldhave been bought or gained in a more christain manner , did we have to cover the ground with so much blood to gain our home our freedoms... Do not spout that this is a biblical christian nation because we attend church on sunday and say a few nie things and act nice and good and holy," LIVE IT "!Yo see the commercial years ago where the native american was on horse back and crying looking out over the polotution , that is christ now crying over what says in his name is its church, why have they forgotten me and my words ,my way , this is not how they are to be... yet in his name we sin....
Now onto global warming - you have to be kidding me that any average person with an ounce of smarts cannot look at the world around him and see that we are destroying it, all for money ,all for greed, to have more and more, we have no limit. Ask anyone that lives in Alaska if their is global warming and they will shout a YES , just look at the amount the glaciers have receded ,and that is a measurable amount. Look at changes in wildlife , water purity (folks once its gone its gone and we die its that simple ) Look at places that are having extreme cold like never before , then other places are having extreme drought where it used to rain , then places that were dry now get rain. The birth pangs have started and man has brought it on... You don;t have to be an expert to see this ,just open your eyes and look. take a walk in the woods. Global warming should correctly be called global climate change caused by man ... Its real . i grew up in an industruial area where the air was always different , water unclean, the heat and humidity was trapped ,and you could feel it...wake up America and take charge as god would want ...ITS SO FUNNY AGAIN WE CLAIM TO BE A CHRISTAIN NATION OBEYING GOD " YET OUR SO CALLED CHRISTAIN LEADERS SAY THEIR IS NO GLOBAL WARMING , does it not say in the bibel WE are the caretakers of the planet or all that is in it...we are to be held responsible for all life here this world was given to us by god to dwell in to care for , yet we turn our backs on it for money, and to control... This has to stop , CHRISTIANS were called to be care takers taking resposibility for the world ,not excuse makers... Now get back to true christianity , beleive and walk in that belief make a difference be a christian not say your one , but BE ONE ! Click here to reply to this post
Mother earth save us
Posted On: 01/06/08 01:24:13 PM
Age 47, MO
Friend: I pretty much like your post with its admonishment to live our faith. But you confused me in a few areas. One is that you didn't mention what faith should be in. I assume you mean faith in Christ which would comclude that if our faith is in Christ, then we would follow the promptings of the Holy Spirit. Our nation was founded by individuals that did just that, they followed the prompting of the Holy Spirit to come to this land and build a nation that was flowing with milk and honey. We didn't do it perfectly but it does include bloodshed. When Israel entered the promised land, the inhabitants didn't give up without a fight, but God gave it to them none-the-less.
As for global warming; yes the average earth temperature has risen .6 degree Celsius in the past 100 years. I'm proud of what I contributed to that .6 degree because my kids have warmth at night, a incedescent light to read by, a spacious car to ride in, and a fridge full of food. Come to think of it, it's probably not much different than your life. What's that word I'm looking for...hypocrite? John Click here to reply to this post
Not even worth arguing
Posted On: 01/05/08 06:00:15 PM
Age 42, NM
I see that you are passionate about what you believe to be true. But many of the statments you made are, quite simply, not true (regarding global warming). You are exactly what people falsely label Christians..."closed-minded". If the facts were laid out before you, you wouldn't receive it. There are thousands (I have the names) of scientists who discount your view. But in your mind, I'm sure they're kooks and "not real scientists". So I've come to the conclusion that its not worth rebutting what you say. I'll just let it go.
Real Christianity is not defined by taking care of the planet, and doing good deeds will never buy one's way into the kingdom. We can never be good enough. We're not good enough even to measure up to your standard, let alone God's standard, which is as far beyond yours as the east is from the west. We will never be able to live up to His standard, no matter how many "second-chances" we get. That's why God-the-Son came. To purchase our pardon. My only hope is to fall upon the mercy of God, believing the gospel message and repenting (turning away from) of my sin. He is my only salvation. Saving the whales and seals, stopping greenhouse gas emissions won't save me (or you for that matter). Click here to reply to this post
GLOBAL WARMING
Posted On: 01/08/08 12:03:49 PM
Age 64, OH
Who is the Apostle of Global Warming. Is his name not Al Gore. Al Gore goes around telling poor people to cut down on their electric bill. My electric bill is about $22 a month. Al Gores electric bill for just his one home in Tennessee is $2400.00 per month. I do not think such hypocrites make good apostles do you. Of course we should take care of the earth but it is not our source for the earth was created by Jesus Christ. If we follow Jesus Christ all else will be taken care of. Don't you agree. Lou Click here to reply to this post
JESUS - JESUS - JESUS
Posted On: 01/04/08 08:34:35 PM
Age 64, OH
Just a thought after I read your post. Is not Christianity about Jesus Christ. I see that you did not even mention His name. Lou Click here to reply to this post
jesus jesus jesus
Posted On: 01/06/08 02:49:37 PM
Age 21, MN
Actualy the person did mention Jesus. I am sure they would fel horrible for matching the required Jesus quota that is inherent in any truthful statements. Plus, it isnt like tha author of the article itself mentions Jesus much either. The author cries out against false enemies as if America was so pure and innocent at its concenption. She does not acknowledge the centrality of Jesus Christ to the Christian message, but instead she appeals to "Christian heritage" of America as the centrality of the Christian message. She pulls the heritage card to justify Christian dominance and control in America even though the bible never admonishes Christians to contol an dominate. Any "attack" against Christianity to the author is considered a grave and personal insult. Seriously, the Golden Compass is not against theism, but it is against oppressive theism. The "god" that is killed in the book is oppresive, silly, and able to be destroyed in the first place, and it is in NO WAY representative of the God we believe in. if the author feels threatened by a book than i am suprised she doesnt have her foundations by the slightest troubles in life. Thats all i have to say. -Dan Smith Click here to reply to this post
THE NAME OF JESUS
Posted On: 01/08/08 11:52:11 AM
Age 64, OH
1st of all I can read and the word JESUS is never used by the author of the reply in question. he does use God, and Christ but not JESUS. I did not criticize the man at all but simply mentioned to him that he never used the name of Jesus because I thought it worth mentioning. Apparently you do not think the name of Jesus is of the same value that I think the Name of. Lou Click here to reply to this post
