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Christianity vs America and the World

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America and the World have everything backwards when it comes to Jesus' commandments to his disciples and to all Christians. I will give some scriptural examples to support this truth.
Based on what you have posted, the title of the thread should be "Christ vs America and the World". Christianity has generally departed from the teachings of Christ and the true Gospel.
 
Can someone give me proof that God exists?
Why? Have you ever toured earth and seen the multitude of life thereon? Big bang perhaps? I thought of offering the following reason for a new vehicle in my driveway. Hey, where'd you get that new car? I don't know! I woke up this morning, heard a loud bang noise, came outside and it is just here. Next thing to consider is whether I should start flapping my arms a lot in hope of feathers forming so that I can fly. :shrug

Rom 1:19 Because that which may be known of God is manifest in them; for God hath shewed it unto them.
Rom 1:20 For the invisible things of him from the creation of the world are clearly seen, being understood by the things that are made, even his eternal power and Godhead; so that they are without excuse:
 
Can someone give me proof that God exists?

Honestly, no. We can't even prove to you we exist. Everything could all be an illusion of your mind. Is that what you choose to believe? If not, once you've accepted that others exist, you're on your way to accepting that God exists. Next it's just a question of 'What is God like?' I believe Christianity holds the best revealed answer to that question.
 
The Old Testament, which was written for the Jews, shows a type of living in which communities of Jews stoned those who broke these many old laws. Christians do not follow these laws of the Old Testament. Jesus did not teach us to follow these old rules in His ministry. The Old and New Testament are quite different. That is why Christians follow Jesus and His new commandments in the New Testament today.

Who was speaking in these verses ? Was it not Jesus ? Who was he speaking to ? Was it not the Jews ? Something so many people fail to realize that although the OT covenant was fulfilled by Jesus Christ, & the new covenant was established with who ? The Jew. Jesus never told these things to the gentiles. Neither did the apostles. Paul was Jesus' chosen vessel to the gentiles. Paul taught death, burial & resurrection of Jesus Christ. Believe in him & you will be saved. The yoke of the Jewish law & customs were never meant for nor placed on the gentile. The law has always been for the Jew. God said "And ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests, and an holy nation. These are the words which thou shalt speak unto the children of Israel." -Exodus 19:6 The gospels, Matthew, Mark, Luke & John in the bible are the new covenant with Israel ... not the gentile. The covenant with the gentile is God's grace through faith in Jesus through his death, burial & resurrection. Believe this & you shall be saved. ref John 3:16
 
America and the World have everything backwards when it comes to Jesus' commandments to his disciples and to all Christians. I will give some scriptural examples to support this truth.

Jesus said not to call any man father, like the Catholics do.

Acts 7:2 Who said: Ye men, brethren, and fathers, hear. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charan.

So Acts is wrong? It's God's word.

Romans 9:10 And not only she. But when Rebecca also had conceived at once, of Isaac our father.

And St. Paul has it wrong? No, your claim looks like another case of prooftexting carried to the point of error.
 
No Acts isn't wrong its Gods word Jesus Is the Word of God and he said:

Matthew 23:9 And call no man your father upon the earth: for one is your Father, which is in heaven.

Then to add insult to injury we have people calling a man holy father, where is it written holy father? To call any man holy father is blaspheme in the extreme, Jesus is the only one to call God the Father "Holy Father"

No proof text here straight unadulterated word of God

tob

*edit: forgot something "again"

John 17:11 And now I am no more in the world, but these are in the world, and I come to thee. Holy Father, keep through thine own name those whom thou hast given me, that they may be one, as we are.
 
Christ vs. America & the World;

"Christ does not vindicate a race or a nation. It is the sovereignty of God which is vindicated."
- Reinhold Neibuhr

Political realities form a murky smog upon one's mind. It's the biggest obstacle to seeing the rule of Christ over nations.
The rule of Christ is given lip service by many, but when the nerve of patriotism is touched one often sees ridicule and character assassination instead of a dispassionate discussion of Our Lord's intent. Militaristic nationalism, especially the American variety, has assumed the levels of near fanaticism. Many American Christians cannot perceive the truth of Christ because of it.

There is, for example, a logical disconnection when it comes to murder. Its perfectly ok to do so when a foreign person is involved. Those who put on a uniform and do it are celebrated as heroes, but when they come home and do it on our own streets there is something wrong with the behavior they've been trained and applauded to perform. I submit, dear reader, there is nothing wrong with the action. There is something terribly wrong with our attitude and our failure to recognize the criminal basis of both.

"Yet your fellow citizens say, 'The way of the Lord is not right', when it is their own way that is not right."
- Ezekiel 33:17

American exceptionalism assumes that even God and the symbols of His kingdom are of lesser importance and meaning than the nation.

Consider that in most Protestant churches the national flag is displayed in the front of the church next to the cross. According to flag etiquette, the national banner is to be displayed on its own right. Flags and symbols of lesser importance are displayed to its left. On a stage that would be stage right, or viewed from the seats of the congregation the extreme left. The cross is displayed in the center. If symbols have meaning and the placement of them has meaning, then this arrangement shows everyone that the national banner is superior to the cross.

Some might argue that its only a symbol, but how many have died for those symbols? Many who served in uniform died to honor the banner, but God Himself died upon the cross to save us. If a proper arrangement is to be made, then the flag should be displayed to stage left of the cross if it is to be displayed in the House of God at all. Personally I think it shouldn't be displayed there at all.

At what point is God and the Name of God to be held in higher esteem than every tradition of man? If this cannot be done in church, then it cannot be done in our nation at all. This is why we are in trouble. We have forgotten God and replaced Him with a fascist police state.

IF GOD DOES NOT JUDGE AMERICA HE WILL HAVE TO APOLOGIZE TO SODOM AND GOMORRAH.
- Shanghai curse August 1937

and that's me, hollering from the choir loft...
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Acts 7:2 Who said: Ye men, brethren, and fathers, hear. The God of glory appeared to our father Abraham, when he was in Mesopotamia, before he dwelt in Charan.

So Acts is wrong? It's God's word.

Romans 9:10 And not only she. But when Rebecca also had conceived at once, of Isaac our father.

And St. Paul has it wrong? No, your claim looks like another case of prooftexting carried to the point of error.


Hi Barb! :)

I think there may be a misunderstanding between the verses you posted and the teaching about not using special titles which the OP quoted.

Jesus gave examples like, "master", "teacher" and "father" in the context of titles. He did not say, "do not be a father" or "do not use the word father". He said "do not be called...".

I can say, "my father named me John because he wanted me to be a fast runner and John was the disciple who did outrun Peter". Although I have said, "my father" it is used in the context of talking about my father rather than addressing him as "father". If I were to address my father specifically and say, "father, why did you name me John" then I would be using it as a title.

The issue is one of flattery. In a situation where we are all brothers and sisters in Christ, why should we use titles like "father", "Mr" (which is a shortened form of master" or "Sir" (which is a shortened form of father". Isn't it flattery, fear, or emotional attachment which causes us to use these titles?

Do we have the courage to believe he meant what he said?
 
If a proper arrangement is to be made, then the flag should be displayed to stage left of the cross if it is to be displayed in the House of God at all. Personally I think it shouldn't be displayed there at all.

Hey CL. I like what you've shared here. I'm curious to know why it is that you think it should not be displayed at all? Like, what caused you to reason that way?
 
Can someone give me proof that God exists?

Consider the Jew.

If you want proof of God, you need look no further than Jesus.

Consider the life miracles and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
"If you have known Me," He said, "you have known the Father. I and the Father are One."

The secular records of Josephus and Pliney the younger among others record the factual historic existence ministry and resurrection of the man from Galilee.

Consider the Biblical record. No other sacred text was written in the same generation as the founder of its religion. The Qur'an, for example, was written 600 years after the death of Mohammad [pbuh] and NO ONE doubts the record of his life and teachings.

Consider your own body. It isn't an accident, but rather the miraculous design of an intelligence greater than anything imaginable.

The Bible asks the question "What is man that God is mindful of him?"

If there is no God, then you are nothing more than another squirming worm on the only planet in the known universe that can support life and your existence means just about as much as that of an amoeba.

But God has sent His son that those who believe in Him should have eternal life.

God died a humiliating public death - FOR A WORM LIKE YOU? I think not. I think you are worth a great deal more than that.

So does God.

If you want to see a miracle of God - look in a mirror.

and that's me, hollering from the choir loft...
 
America and the World have everything backwards when it comes to Jesus' commandments to his disciples and to all Christians.

Go immediately to the head of the class. You have discovered The Secret. Now, as you are discovering, no one wants to hear it. The ability of "Christians" to tap dance around, explain away and evade The Secret is a constant source of amusement for me (as Elvis Costello said, "I used to be disgusted, now I try to be amused"). "Oh, sure, it may appear that what Jesus was saying was what you think He was saying, but what He was actually saying was [something that demands absolutely no sacrifice on my part and allows me to live out my selfish, greedy little version of the American Dream while patting myself on the back about what a good Christian I am]." "Everything backwards" nicely sums up today's "Christianity."
 
Christ vs. America & the World;

"Christ does not vindicate a race or a nation. It is the sovereignty of God which is vindicated."
- Reinhold Neibuhr

Political realities form a murky smog upon one's mind. It's the biggest obstacle to seeing the rule of Christ over nations.
The rule of Christ is given lip service by many, but when the nerve of patriotism is touched one often sees ridicule and character assassination instead of a dispassionate discussion of Our Lord's intent. Militaristic nationalism, especially the American variety, has assumed the levels of near fanaticism. Many American Christians cannot perceive the truth of Christ because of it.

There is, for example, a logical disconnection when it comes to murder. Its perfectly ok to do so when a foreign person is involved. Those who put on a uniform and do it are celebrated as heroes, but when they come home and do it on our own streets there is something wrong with the behavior they've been trained and applauded to perform. I submit, dear reader, there is nothing wrong with the action. There is something terribly wrong with our attitude and our failure to recognize the criminal basis of both.

"Yet your fellow citizens say, 'The way of the Lord is not right', when it is their own way that is not right."
- Ezekiel 33:17

American exceptionalism assumes that even God and the symbols of His kingdom are of lesser importance and meaning than the nation.

Consider that in most Protestant churches the national flag is displayed in the front of the church next to the cross. According to flag etiquette, the national banner is to be displayed on its own right. Flags and symbols of lesser importance are displayed to its left. On a stage that would be stage right, or viewed from the seats of the congregation the extreme left. The cross is displayed in the center. If symbols have meaning and the placement of them has meaning, then this arrangement shows everyone that the national banner is superior to the cross.

Some might argue that its only a symbol, but how many have died for those symbols? Many who served in uniform died to honor the banner, but God Himself died upon the cross to save us. If a proper arrangement is to be made, then the flag should be displayed to stage left of the cross if it is to be displayed in the House of God at all. Personally I think it shouldn't be displayed there at all.

At what point is God and the Name of God to be held in higher esteem than every tradition of man? If this cannot be done in church, then it cannot be done in our nation at all. This is why we are in trouble. We have forgotten God and replaced Him with a fascist police state.

IF GOD DOES NOT JUDGE AMERICA HE WILL HAVE TO APOLOGIZE TO SODOM AND GOMORRAH.
- Shanghai curse August 1937

and that's me, hollering from the choir loft...

Wow, two geniuses on one thread (well, three if you count me!). You, like the OP, have hit upon The Secret.

Your point about the flag is one of my pet peeves and was the subject of a thread I started on another forum several years ago. My wife arrived here seven years ago from Belarus, a former Soviet republic where being a serious Christian still demands a serious sacrifice. I will never forget her first Sunday at our local Southern Baptist church. "WHAT ON EARTH is an American flag doing next to the pulpit???" she asked with such shock and horror that I was stunned. I had never even noticed it before. "Well, yeah, WHAT ON EARTH is an American flag doing there???" I wondered. The problem is, of course, that it's not just "a political flag in a church" - it's a symbol of the lunacy that has infected the entire country, as you accurately describe. "God's country" has become, in many respects, the "Great Satan" the Iranians think it is - yet those who have got everything backwards (to borrow the OP's apt phrase) think that what we need to make God happy is more entanglement of religion with government, more flag-waving and (of course) a bigger military.
 
A lot of Americans fought and died for the freedom that flag represents my friend..

tob
While I serve ,however not all wars we fought were just. Were the seminoles wrong for defending there homes? No. They weren't party to any cessation of land to america.I understand the complexity of it and while I disagree with the others on the flag I do understand it.
 
A lot of Americans fought and died for the freedom that flag represents my friend..

The freedom they fought and died for has absolutely, positively nothing, nada, zilch to do with Christianity. The flag that represents that freedom has absolutely, positively no place in the house of God. Apart from that, of course, the idea that Americans today are dying for freedom in places like Iraq and Afghanistan is a fantasy some folks indulge in because they can't deal with the reality of why Americans are really dying there. "Thank you for your service" - yeah, right.
 
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