This is a Christian "world view" perspective Blog with videos, sermons and teachings from the Bible which is our hope and my faith.
The focus here is to show how current world events are the reason why we need to have a greater understanding about ourselves and the world around us. The Bible once humbly studied, is a history book of God's relationship to human kind throughout the ages and human kind's purpose on the Earth.
Music can bless us, move us, motivate us, and relax us. We can use music to uplift, dedicate and bless others, and most of all we can use music to praise God. The Word of God in the holy scriptures is filled with examples of how God has given us the use of music to do all the above. But the world which the Bible teaches is under the control of the evil one (1 John 5:19), perverts all good things that God has given us and uses music to curse, depress, alter reality, and blaspheme God. The above video is only a small example of the power music can have upon a culture. Like any other art form, music is a time stamp of what is going on in the culture and where the society is headed. We have seen how music, art, film, literature, etc., has changed over the passed several decades. While most want to ignore the potency media has upon society, culture and behavior, we know that we can definitely see the impact because we can always look back in time to see where we where, and where we're going with regards to morality, mores and norms. What was once considered reprehensible can within just 2 decades be acceptable. Music, fashion, art, literature, film and all sorts of expression reveals the individual and collective human heart. Ultimately, if any of these expressions do not offer praise to God in the talent of that art form that He has given humanity, the expression is worthless.
Much of the Separation of church and state arguments center around the prevention of "favoring" one religion over another. What is considered "favoring religions". If ALL religions are equally represented in public then there obviously isn't a "favoring" of any one particular religion. Secularism itself IS a religion. The separation between church and state referred to within the constitution is about #1: protecting people of various faiths and #2: preventing another state-run religion as it was in England. (context is everything) So it's important to argue what actually is "favoring" one religion over another in a legal context, NOT the over-the-top exclusion of people operating out of their daily decisions and convictions of which WE ALL HAVE. But that's what we're seeing today EVERYWHERE in our country! Who doesn't operate their lives based on personal beliefs, faiths and convictions?? We all do. And there's no such thing as stopping yourself from thinking, from believing anything or having a baseline morality. No one lives, thinks or exist in a vacuum. That is why even the so-called "atheist" or secularist is himself a VERY DEEPLY RELIGIOUS person. Whether explicit or implicit, We're all operating out of deep convictions and stored faith in our beliefs. The secularist claims to have no god but neither does the Buddhist. The Catholic has their rituals but so do the "atheists" -- whether they know it or not. I do need to mention (because this is a Christian blog) that "Atheists" don't really exist as the Bible clearly teaches that WE ALL know God exists but many suppress this truth simply because we want to hang on to our sins and not give up lordship of ourselves. So, in actuality, there are simply just some who worship (themselves) the man in the mirror. Whether you believe in one thing or not, those beliefs will bring about behavior, actions, habits, routines, ceremonies, etc. All of this shapes our lives. You can't shut these principles off at work, at school, at play, within our every day.... They go with you wherever you go; and form all of our decisions in life. How we make decisions and how we get along with other people is determined by our faiths. How does one leave that at home?? Faith aren't just expressed in ceremonies and actions but also in word and thought. This is why The Bible teaches us that we ALL will be judged by every WORD, THOUGHT and DEED. All of these things comprise of who we are, what we think, what kind of citizens we'll be, etc., etc. Yet today we continue to see the taking down of nativity scenes, crosses, 10 commandment displays, etc. Three people can't stand together in a school cafeteria to pray or pray before a football game without some government agency intruding into our simple lives, etc. How ridiculous is this? Our public schools are attacked as soon as there's even a mention of God or Christ, etc. And how is that going to be prevented in a culture that is stated to be "75% Christian"? It's unrealistic to think that you can just shut down your thinking, your gestures, your judgments, you opinions, ...and just "keep them at home"! It's ridiculous to even suggest that people stop being who they are. There's even a continuous battle for "In God we Trust" on our coins during a time when governments are trying to stop using cash. Legal precedent and especially recent legal precedent does not equal to proper interpretation of the founding documents. Again, secularism is the fastest growing religion in the west, and one of the most deceptive and exclusive, and extremist religions at that. The "Separation clause" isn't even found within the US Constitution but in a letter from Thomas Jefferson to a Baptist church in the 1700's. But in The US Constitution it states that no law will be established by the government (as was in England) for which was the reason why the settlers came to America in the first place -- to escape religious persecution. England had a state church that imposed on everyone else. This has to be read in context, not in willful misinterpretation of secularists today. It also states that government will not favor one religion over another AND not get in the way of people worshiping as they wished. *** Therefore, as long as we can demonstrate that our government #1- isn't favoring one religion over another, #2- it isn't imposing they're own religion while #3- it's protecting the right of people to worship as they please,... it's all good right?.... Nope, not good enough I guess. However, the fact that secularism is itself a religious belief system of thought and ideology, It also cannot be favored by government. Therefore, the promotion of secularism from evolutionary theories to sexual revolution IS INDEED favoring one religion over another because those tenets of secularist ideology are being taught in the public schools and promoted even by our courts today. While many around the world continue to refute what today is called science being taught in the public schools, it's nevertheless still found in our children's textbooks. The only way the secularist religion can grow is by successfully silencing the voices of those who they despise the most -- Christians. And the more we continue to give way the voice of their religious deception being called, "science", "morals", "freethinking", "open-mindedness", etc., the more we compromise on the Truth. This form of Christian persecution continues to be on the rise and it is very similar to the Christian persecution we see happening today in China where the government is trying to stop the spread of Christianity by trying to infiltrate it, and monitor it. There are over 300 Chinese pastors who have declared that they will not submit to government as it tries to stamp out their faith in Christ but will continue to do so, even if it costs them their freedom and their lives. Secularism is from Satan himself. While some try and teach that it's simply having "NO" religion, this is false, and also a lie. There's no void or vacuum when you reject Christ... you simply fall into the hands of the evil one with his lies and snares, and you'll take on either one form of religious deception or another.
"There is a way that seems right to a man, but its end is the way to death."- Proverbs 14:12
We're seeing more and more how secularists are painting a picture of Christians as backwards, warmongers, hypocrites, and evil. These un biblical mis-characterizations of what it is to believe, live and die worshiping our Lord Jesus Christ reminds us of His warnings to the Church.
"If the world hates you, know that it has hated me before it hated you. If you were of the world, the world would love you as its own; but because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you." - John 15:18-19
This is coming to America... Very soon. Are we ready? Be ready. Seek the face of our Lord Jesus daily. Grace and peace to the remnant. ______________________________________
This debate demonstrates the difference between a world view submissive to the authority of The Word and a world view submitted to the authority of the human heart.
"The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it"?
The statement written on social justice was produced to place a line in the sand on clarification of what is and what is not the Gospel. I signed it and the more I read it, and glance at the culture and climate we're living in, the more I recognize the importance of having the statement. But unfortunately, many Christian leaders that I admire and do respect have not signed it. But to date, I haven't really heard of a very consistent reason given for not signing it. Strangely enough, many who said that they understood the statement and agreed with it, decided not to sign it. My bottom line heartfelt suspicion is that by nature, the culture's infiltration of the church and intimidation of the world, has already done its damage. And that's why we need the statement in the first place.
Because the church of Christ has always and historically been about reaching the lost and healing souls -- no different today. But we're in an post-Christian age where churches are closing, denominations are falling like dominoes to the influence of cultural sin, and liberalism has infiltrated and done its damage progressively for decades. So, it's no wonder why Christ's prophesy of apostasy is taking place in the western world. How any sound Bible believing Christian can miss the signs of the times, is astounding. But then again, the deceptions will come even to sweep away the elect, "if it were possible".
Lets continue to pray for greater vision from The Holy Spirit of God and pray for discernment in these last days.
"I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting him who called you in the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel— not that there is another one, but there are some who trouble you and want to distort the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach to you a gospel contrary to the one we preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again: If anyone is preaching to you a gospel contrary to the one you received, let him be accursed. For am I now seeking the approval of man, or of God? Or am I trying to please man? If I were still trying to please man, I would not be a servant of Christ." - Galatians Chapt. 1
The "I told you so's" can't be repeated enough times. The slippery slope argument ... not only comes alive, but it becomes an ugly, disgusting ogre, and is all in your face! Sodom and Gomorrah, here we come!
News reports state Anthony Bourdaine was "found unresponsive" in his hotel room in France. They're saying the cause of death was suicide. This man was very much loved around the world and was known to have traveled more than 80 countries on his TV show. His TV series was very interesting. I've never watched more than part of his show but could tell from interviews, that he was an incredibly charismatic, down-to-earth and intelligent man. He came from economically humble beginnings, and struggled with drugs and alcohol for many years prior to finding stardom. He had a recent divorce and a 10 year old daughter. During interviews the man was said to have given hints of depression over many things including his fame, time with his daughter, etc. There are many things that go into individual causes and cases of suicide. How sad it is when a person decides there's no other way out of their troubles that they have to take their own lives. CDC stats say that national suicide rates are up for middle-aged men, and now, for younger women also. There is a lack of hope out there in the world. When you contrast between those who are depressed and have no hope with those who are full of zest for life, what do you see? .... What we see is IDENTITY and PURPOSE. As soon as we lose those two things, we put ourselves in a very mental and physically vulnerable state. The lack of these two things (for whatever reason) are responsible for people losing their grip on life. Our world view; WHO WE ARE and OUR PURPOSE is so important. And it doesn't matter the age of the person. Everyone needs to form an understanding of who we are and what our purpose is in life, and that needs to sustain itself throughout the entirety of our lives. Our world view is everything. Our secular / individualistic culture clashes with a Biblically Christian world view and when when guilt comes to the individual by way of personal moral barometers, it's extremely difficult to deal with. And that's why more and more, the conviction for sin and accountability needs to be numbed down. In the Word of God, The Bible, any time we see suicide it's associated with shame, rebellion and a rejection of God's standards. Prayers for Mr. Bourdaine's family, friends and loved ones. I found this video interesting.
Those who deny certainty deny accountability to it and ultimately find themselves floating in the monotony of certain absurdity.
