7/29/2022 How a subtle form of Animism is corroding the American Church. A friend TAKES COMMUNION!!!!Read Now Hello, my dear friends..... This entry belatedly celebrates Sanctity of Human Life Sunday/Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Both are centered on human rights issues. It's quite fitting that the recognition of both occurs on the same Sunday. Good Churches celebrate both w/o political agenda. My emails will never be partisan because issues are spiritual before they ever turn political. Btw.....I tuned out the media long ago. I REALLY hope you vote like I do but for the sake of your conscience before God, I am more concerned why than how you vote. I just hope that you’re not a "Christian Animist" & hope your faith in Christ informs/guides you. Imago Dei ethics are ultimately anchored in eternal truth, not the political earth. How many Churches rant on pet causes but avoid truths uncomfortable to them? It mostly comes to the same old city VS. county divide. We can maintain party loyalty but must proclaim all truth if we're going to be truly true. May both political parties again stand for what is decent & good! Since few of us would rationalize racism, this email will focus on abortion. I will say this 1 thing: Had the greater Church--urban & suburban--done ACTUAL Gospel work in the black community, there never would've been BLM, which lacks a moral compass. The vacuum of the Church has been filled by BLM because we've mostly talked about talking. Lots of emoting/voting/showboating but little service worth noting. No right to complain. D. James Kennedy was great when he preached the Bible but he pushed my last button when he "preached" that "Revival has come to America" when the GOP won the '94 midterm election. This was part of his perpetual "Reclaiming America for Christ" rant. He had an animistic bent. But so does most of the American Church!!! When both the Evangelical right & left hope that their candidates will deliver some kind of spiritual awakening, they are already sliding into Animism. I'm "anti-wing" & prefer the dove of peace (Matt. 3:16). Animism doesn't discern matter from spirit. It's a fusion/confusion of the 2....But, since the Spirit of God precedes creation, 1st things should remain 1st. Likewise, most Christians confuse Church & State. As His Spirit precedes matter, our politics should be INFORMED & YES, EVEN CREATED by His Spirit. And in the same way that good works won't save us, neither will voting w/"conviction" do anything to "tweak" our righteousness. Secular arguments for the strict Separation of Church & State are downright wicked & smell like smoke but there is a balanced historical argument which is sourced from Christian logic. The animist views material stuff as holding spiritual entities/properties. They carve fetishes from stone, wood, etc. & Presto! A god of their invention. (Exodus 32:24) Their foolish hearts are darkened......& God gives them over. (Romans 1:21-24). Selah. That should ring a bell as even many of us think we can redeem ourselves w/good government in D.C. If the Ark of the Covenant failed when the Israelites fetishized it (1 Sam. 4:1-11), we shouldn't think that the Constitution or our favorite "righteous" member of Congress will help if we are not worshiping the true Liberator, Who is Jesus! In the same way, I am convinced that there are people who hold pro-life & pro-Israel views, not because they fear God, but because they are afraid of Him & how He is about to destroy America. We should stand for truth "merely" because it's true. If we don't, we'll have a mere form of godliness. (2 Timothy 3:5) What is needed is another Great Awakening. Look at these shocking stats: This is a pro-life song from Kerry Livgren, formerly of the rock group, Kansas. He became a believer several yrs ago. I think it's my favorite by him:
https://youtu.be/1tTLD7rQOXI Despite politics competing for our passions, the Gospel still advances. My nephew became a believer recently!....Ever searching for icebreakers w/my "A" friend whom I call R (not even his real initial), I seized upon the moment & told him that my nephew would be baptized soon. (There are also water rituals in his religion by which adherents have a sense of spiritual cleansing before worship....so there is context.) I told him how rare it was for adults to become believers. (He's 2 years older.....I'm his "kid uncle".) Now, I never invite people from "that other Abrahamic religion" to Church. But, when they self-invite, I encourage it! And that's what he did! He said he'd only seen VIDEOS of baptisms. (Hmmm.....seen videos?) And when the Lord's Supper came 'round, he took a cup from the tray. After I explained the meaning, he took it! He even knew where to put the empty plastic cup afterwards! (Hmm......knew where to put the cup? ).......I think he might be in the Kingdom.....but I don't probe. My Heavenly Father is teaching me patience (& how to be a detective. Nyuk nyuk nyuk!) For the unborn, keeping spirit and matter distinct, having the eyes of a detective and the nations. ......Just another witness of His Glory Comments are closed.
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