For the sole purpose of objectivity (and NOT for the purpose of stereotypes), I will not be using gendered pronouns in this article.
So I see a transgender person (male-to-female) has committed suicide. The blame appears to lie with their "Christian" parents.
I have heard that the word "Christian" literally means "Christ-like", so clearly the word is being misused here, because there is no behavior resembling the Christ that I know and have learned about in the Bible here. In response to learning the teenager was trans and gay, the parents apparently took them to special therapists (called "Christian" therapists in articles, be careful now) and effectively isolated the child for a few months.
Well, let's assess the situation. God does not approve of gay sex, or gay marriage. The Bible backs this. The Bible also says (in old testament law, to which our souls are no longer bound) that people of one gender should not dress as the other, though it's worth noting that was written in a desert thousands of years ago, when fashion was slightly different. Does the overall rule still apply today? The argument could be reasonably made that it does still apply.
Alright, so we have a few behaviors of which God does not approve. Now, this is where things get tricky, and by "tricky", I mean extremely simple, but for some reason impossible for some to understand. God does not approve of some behaviors. NOWHERE, DOES GOD INSTRUCT US TO HATE OTHER PEOPLE OR TREAT THEM THE WAY THIS CHILD'S PARENTS TREATED THEM. The God of righteousness doesn't say, "if someone dresses this way, then respond hatefully to them and drive them to suicide". God, the God of truth and justice, tells us the exact opposite.
Matthew 22:39 And the second is like it: 'Love your neighbor as yourself.'
Mark 9:42 If anyone causes one of these little ones--those who believe in me--to
stumble, it would be better for them if a large millstone were hung
around their neck and they were thrown into the sea.
1 John 3:15 Everyone who hates his brother is a murderer, and you know that no murderer has eternal life abiding in him.
The behavior of these so-called "Christian" parents and the behavior of these so-called "Christian" therapists violates the very basic laws of God's will, including the second-most important commandment in the entire Bible (Matthew 22:39 above). This is not the behavior of "conservative Christian parents".
This is NOT the behavior of people who are devoted to Christ, but refuse to get with the times.
THIS IS THE BEHAVIOR OF THE ADVERSARY, THE DEVIL. The devil (NOT God!) is the one who tempts us, who drives us to hatred, who compels us to lie, to steal, to unrighteously lust, to commit acts of terrorism against people of other faiths, and to make people feel so down about themselves that they commit suicide.
God takes absolutely no pleasure in this act. Ezekiel 18:32 says,
"For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone", declares the Sovereign LORD. "Repent and live!" God does not want trans people to commit suicide. God wants trans people to come to Him through Jesus and be saved and live with Him in Heaven, just like he does with cisgendered people.
I'm not sure if I've made this perfectly clear to everyone who finds this page yet, but God does not agree with the acts committed here. This is not "Christian" behavior.
This is disgusting, self-righteous, hateful, un-Biblical behavior that not only contradicts God's rules, not ONLY that, but affected another person. A "person", contrary to what new atheists and secular evolutionists claim, is not simply a collection of dust working mechanically to biologically keep itself going for no reason just to die without purpose. A "PERSON" is a living creation of a loving, living God, who cares about His creatures, ALL OF THEM!, so much that He sent His own begotten son Jesus Christ to be brutally murdered for our own sake, to pay the debts of all the sins we had committed against Him like the unbehaving children we all know deep down we are, so that we would not have to pay them ourselves. The souls that we have as people can go to Heaven and live with God in His kingdom for all of eternity, and all we have to do is accept Jesus Christ as our savior, accept His offer to have our sins paid off by His sacrifice. God wants us to love each other (see above quotes from the holy word of God as written in the Bible), to help each other, and to generally be the exact opposite of how the sociopaths in this suicide case acted.
Now, sure, we are specifically told to call out wrongdoings, and contrary to popular thought, judgment isn't forbidden (read that whole passage in Matthew) as long as it is done righteously (not based on height/weight/ethnicity, for example) or if it's something we do wrong, too (hypocrisy). However, that does not mean that we can just go around, doing whatever we like to those we deem wrong, or being a sociopathic lunatic toward them, especially, no less, when our actions are directly and 100% literally contradicting God's own instructions for our lives as these people's did. Leelah Alcorn / Joshua Alcorn was a precious creation of God, who is now taken from our world because of behavior from others unbecoming of a Christian, but carries the unmistakable smell of the actions of the anti-Christ. See, whether transgender behavior is wrong or not, the parents and therapists are still objectively wrong, because even if transgender behavior isn't right, there are ways to deal with it that do not include acting like the anti-Christ, who takes pleasure in the deaths of others while God does not. This person wasn't a statistic, this person wasn't, "a trans person", this person wasn't "a boy", this person wasn't "a girl". DON'T YOU UNDERSTAND IT YET? This wasn't just some compartmentalized concept that we can express in charts in science textbooks while comparing and contrasting various aspects, this wasn't some odd variety of human that we might enjoy poking with a stick, this was a living person. A soul, a life. So much more than the basic concepts we can apply like gender or orientation. This soul had a name, two names if you think about it, Leelah Alcorn / Joshua Alcorn. Life isn't another biological pile of dust or some action taking place as a result of chemicals, life is something much greater.
And because of the actions of people who have clearly never seen a Bible in their lives (or else they would know what they've done), the anti-Christ (have I stressed enough that he's behind this?) has killed off another person, let me say their name(s) one more time for you, Leelah Alcorn / Joshua Alcorn, the person who ended their own life. I really want to drive home the fact that we are talking about an individual, and not just "a human being".
On top of this, the mother then asked for prayers.
But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them
that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which
despitefully use you, and persecute you; That ye may be the children of your Father which is
in heaven: for he maketh his sun to rise on the evil and on the good,
and sendeth rain on the just and on the unjust. Matthew 5:44-45
So, yes, as we don't want our fellow humans suffering, we should still pray for this family... But I, personally, will be sending another prayer, a prayer that she did not intend for people to send regarding her.
I will be praying for their souls, both theirs and the therapists'. All of us are created by God, all of us can be forgiven and saved by God, and I truly hope that these people see the error of their ways and turn to God's love so that they never have to pay for what they've done. In the one quote I wrote before from God's holy word to us, anyone who causes a child to stumble is in trouble; it would be, quote, "better for them if a large millstone were hung around their neck and they were thrown into the sea." Think about how much having that happen must suck, and then think about what could be worse than it. I, as a Christian, as someone who actually cares about what God wants and who cares about other people, do not want anyone to suffer in any way, or for anyone to go to Hell, but they will if they do not obtain forgiveness for the sins they have committed against this child.
Allow me to quickly stress again, that the behavior of the so-called "Christian" people in this case contradicts the Bible, is the opposite of what God asks us to do, and is the exact kind of thing the devil is known to do, NOT God.
We all need to pray for these people's souls, for Leelah/Joshua 's parents and for the therapists involved, these people have committed a terrible crime, and are not living according to God's will. This is a serious issue. I don't know the beliefs of the person who already killed themself, I don't know if they are saved. I absolutely hope so, I want that person, along with everybody who does and doesn't read this, to be in Heaven in the end, forever. But the most important thing at this very second is that we pray hard for the people still living. The behavior of these adults is nothing short of wicked and carries a severe punishment.
If they had done the same, if they had prayed on the issue and hadn't responded with emotional force like they did, if they trusted God and not their own angry minds, if they responded with peace like I am asking us all to instead of with anger (like I'm sure a lot of you understandably want to right now), then this child would still be alive. This isn't a question of if they'd be alive. Well, I mean yes, something else could have happened, an accident or disease or what have you, but probably not. As far as the circumstances leading up to this, though, the behavior I am asking us all to exhibit here is what saves lives. This is the behavior that keeps people from committing suicide. This is the behavior that God wants us to exhibit, our relationship with Him and our love for others both being shown through prayer. This is what the Bible instructs us to do. This is how the parents should have responded. This is the behavior that the devil hates. He doesn't want us to pray for anybody, he wants us to react like wild animals and treat people badly and hate them, just like these adults did. We need to be better than that. We need to pray for these people's souls. We also need to take away every lesson on this that we can, and I turn again to the Bible for that. Read the thing. Don't just cherrypick verses from Old Testament law; read the actual message that God is giving us. No, not every behavior is good, sin is still wrong, but realize what God is telling us to do here. NOT to hate, NOT to bully, but to follow the example of Jesus Christ, who would have done just about anything before driving somebody to suicide. In fact, He did. He died on a cross for their sins.
May God bless you all, according to His perfect will. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
Sunday, December 28, 2014
REVIEW: O Majestic Winter - Defiling the Serpent's Temple
I recently submitted a review on Metal Archives (my profile there is here) for O Majestic Winter's Defiling the Serpent's Temple, a great experimental Christian black metal album. I decided to share it here as well.
(Edit: Thanks to one of this band's members, Gorlim, for the kindness and friendship since I wrote this review! Also thanks to the band for featuring the review on their facebook page!)
There seem to be certain black metal bands, both Christian and otherwise, that people just generally respect. They may experiment a bit, but ultimately stay within slowly-established parameters. Thus, a "scene" is formed. The problem with this is, bands that go too far outside of those parameters don't earn the same respect, because their sound is too far out in left field to fit into an expected mold. In comes O Majestic Winter.
Clean vocals over distorted guitars, screams and occasional growls over slow ambiance, blasting drums, this has everything. Several different ideas can happen in the same song, and the production is demo-tape-level raw throughout. Contrary to how that sounds, a lot of "ideas" in this are surprisingly well-written. The piano and percussion section in Christ Is Lord There Is No Other works perfectly. The varied percussion playing over the symphonic ambiance in Caverns of Unspeakable Darkness couldn't possibly have been randomly strung together (as some suspect with this album). The faster sections here might be a little incoherent when the drums overpower the guitars, but see, that's not a problem to me. Besides, in the slower, more mid-paced sections, the guitar gets plenty of chances to come through with its raw, noisy tone.
Something that may put people off is that, regardless of how well individual sections may be written, this is a very random album. Extended sections of piano may lead back into more raw, noisy screech fests, and keyboards may or may not be playing under them when they are happening. On the other hand, with Caverns of Unspeakable Darkness for example, a period of seemingly deathcore-influenced black metal just randomly switches into relaxing string keys. Later on, the music picks back up, but the relaxing keys are still playing. (Speaking of which, "Watchtowers of the Holy Kingdom" has some -core like guitar chugging in the beginning!)
This album isn't perfect. A couple sections (mostly near the beginning) felt a little too out of place even for this album's standards, not really following the path the track seemed to try to be following. A little thing here or there could have been fine-tuned, like maybe a scream wasn't done that well or something, but those are minor and rare. And can be sort of forgiven, since it's their debut.
Overall, though? I absolutely love this. It's atmospheric and beautiful when it needs to be, and it's raw and in-your-face brutal when it needs to be, and it's both at the same time when it needs to be. This is the perfect album for me. Just when I get tired of one style, another one comes in and takes over. It's got that nice, demo quality Verdelger production, with plenty of artistic touches thrown in.
Recommendations are tough. I guess this is kind of like ambient black metal, so if you like that and you like faster, more brutal music, you might like this. If you like more normal styles of metal and are playing Metallica as you read this, you'll want to pass. Try Antestor or Crimson Moonlight for some good unblack worship metal. Now, if you like noisecore? You'll love this if you can take all the slower, ambient sections. If you like weird, obscure bands, this is the holy grail you've been looking for. If you're like me and find yourself switching from Dying Blaze to cheery keyboard-driven music? You absolutely need to hear this. I am fully aware that this isn't for everyone, but don't doubt at all that music like this has its audience.
(Edit: Thanks to one of this band's members, Gorlim, for the kindness and friendship since I wrote this review! Also thanks to the band for featuring the review on their facebook page!)
There seem to be certain black metal bands, both Christian and otherwise, that people just generally respect. They may experiment a bit, but ultimately stay within slowly-established parameters. Thus, a "scene" is formed. The problem with this is, bands that go too far outside of those parameters don't earn the same respect, because their sound is too far out in left field to fit into an expected mold. In comes O Majestic Winter.
Clean vocals over distorted guitars, screams and occasional growls over slow ambiance, blasting drums, this has everything. Several different ideas can happen in the same song, and the production is demo-tape-level raw throughout. Contrary to how that sounds, a lot of "ideas" in this are surprisingly well-written. The piano and percussion section in Christ Is Lord There Is No Other works perfectly. The varied percussion playing over the symphonic ambiance in Caverns of Unspeakable Darkness couldn't possibly have been randomly strung together (as some suspect with this album). The faster sections here might be a little incoherent when the drums overpower the guitars, but see, that's not a problem to me. Besides, in the slower, more mid-paced sections, the guitar gets plenty of chances to come through with its raw, noisy tone.
Something that may put people off is that, regardless of how well individual sections may be written, this is a very random album. Extended sections of piano may lead back into more raw, noisy screech fests, and keyboards may or may not be playing under them when they are happening. On the other hand, with Caverns of Unspeakable Darkness for example, a period of seemingly deathcore-influenced black metal just randomly switches into relaxing string keys. Later on, the music picks back up, but the relaxing keys are still playing. (Speaking of which, "Watchtowers of the Holy Kingdom" has some -core like guitar chugging in the beginning!)
This album isn't perfect. A couple sections (mostly near the beginning) felt a little too out of place even for this album's standards, not really following the path the track seemed to try to be following. A little thing here or there could have been fine-tuned, like maybe a scream wasn't done that well or something, but those are minor and rare. And can be sort of forgiven, since it's their debut.
Overall, though? I absolutely love this. It's atmospheric and beautiful when it needs to be, and it's raw and in-your-face brutal when it needs to be, and it's both at the same time when it needs to be. This is the perfect album for me. Just when I get tired of one style, another one comes in and takes over. It's got that nice, demo quality Verdelger production, with plenty of artistic touches thrown in.
Recommendations are tough. I guess this is kind of like ambient black metal, so if you like that and you like faster, more brutal music, you might like this. If you like more normal styles of metal and are playing Metallica as you read this, you'll want to pass. Try Antestor or Crimson Moonlight for some good unblack worship metal. Now, if you like noisecore? You'll love this if you can take all the slower, ambient sections. If you like weird, obscure bands, this is the holy grail you've been looking for. If you're like me and find yourself switching from Dying Blaze to cheery keyboard-driven music? You absolutely need to hear this. I am fully aware that this isn't for everyone, but don't doubt at all that music like this has its audience.
Saturday, December 27, 2014
Wars
People like to say that religions are "the #1 cause of war throughout human history".
I've said many times to people that it isn't, but here's another interesting source:
http://carm.org/religion-cause-war
I've said many times to people that it isn't, but here's another interesting source:
http://carm.org/religion-cause-war
Tuesday, December 23, 2014
Christmas and Its Beggin Oranges!1
If I hear one more person complain about Christmas' (or any Christian holiday's) pagan origins, I'm going to go insane. Guess what? In case you've never seen a Bible before, changing the date goes against Christian law, too. Deuteronomy 12:30 clearly states, "and after they have been destroyed before you, be careful not to be
ensnared by inquiring about their gods, saying, "How [did] these nations
serve their gods? We will do the same.""
This was written to the Jews of that time, but for the people of today seeking God, this means that Christians aren't to adopt beliefs or practices from other religions, especially in how we worship.
The reason Christmas is celebrated on the day it is, is because some old pagan traditions celebrated different things around this time of the year, so the Christians of those days decided to change the time we celebrate Jesus' birth, in order to make it easier for the pagans to convert. Now, here's the problem with that: Deuteronomy forbids that.
Honestly, doesn't changing the time we celebrate the birth of our Savior, the very Son of God Himself, for the sake of some pagan tradition, sound like the sort of thing people would try to do today, and I would come onto this blog and complain about?
It totally is, because no matter how many people point fingers in internet comment sections, it was totally un-Biblical and un-Christian to do. Same with Easter. Yet regardless of the fact that the Bible itself speaks out against the activity, people of other beliefs continue to shove this in our faces, as if Christians today were responsible for it. Guess what? It violates our beliefs, too.
So yes, both sides (should) disagree with what happened, but it happened. Society could change anything about itself that it wanted to at any time, but nobody seems to want to, so Christmas is staying in its current spot. Can we all please just shut up about it and enjoy the holiday?
Even though it's placed in the incorrect spot on the calendar, it's meant to celebrate Jesus, the Savior of the world, who paid the debt of all of our sins. That is truly the greatest gift of all, and when our earthly riches fade and the end comes, we'll fully grasp how much that statement really means.
In the meantime, a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you all! God bless you all and anyone with whom you might be spending the holidays, according to His perfect will, in Jesus' name. Amen.
This was written to the Jews of that time, but for the people of today seeking God, this means that Christians aren't to adopt beliefs or practices from other religions, especially in how we worship.
The reason Christmas is celebrated on the day it is, is because some old pagan traditions celebrated different things around this time of the year, so the Christians of those days decided to change the time we celebrate Jesus' birth, in order to make it easier for the pagans to convert. Now, here's the problem with that: Deuteronomy forbids that.
Honestly, doesn't changing the time we celebrate the birth of our Savior, the very Son of God Himself, for the sake of some pagan tradition, sound like the sort of thing people would try to do today, and I would come onto this blog and complain about?
It totally is, because no matter how many people point fingers in internet comment sections, it was totally un-Biblical and un-Christian to do. Same with Easter. Yet regardless of the fact that the Bible itself speaks out against the activity, people of other beliefs continue to shove this in our faces, as if Christians today were responsible for it. Guess what? It violates our beliefs, too.
So yes, both sides (should) disagree with what happened, but it happened. Society could change anything about itself that it wanted to at any time, but nobody seems to want to, so Christmas is staying in its current spot. Can we all please just shut up about it and enjoy the holiday?
Even though it's placed in the incorrect spot on the calendar, it's meant to celebrate Jesus, the Savior of the world, who paid the debt of all of our sins. That is truly the greatest gift of all, and when our earthly riches fade and the end comes, we'll fully grasp how much that statement really means.
In the meantime, a very Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you all! God bless you all and anyone with whom you might be spending the holidays, according to His perfect will, in Jesus' name. Amen.
Thursday, December 18, 2014
Let's Debunk Things the Pope Says, Part 2
The most popular liar in the entire human race just doesn't seem to stop. Popes allegedly "take the place of Jesus Christ on Earth" (source: the New York catechism). First of all, that's clear-as-day blasphemy straight out of an old black metal demo inlay. But let's pretend for a second, just like the vatican, that it isn't. Okay, the original Jesus who actually did exist never sinned and was honest. Someone who would take His place on Earth should logically also be honest and should not sin. But wait, the pope is lying again! Why is that? Oh right, because a pope is NOT Jesus' replacement on earth, that's heretical blasphemy.
So, let's get started.
Well, okay, the disciples could be a little intolerant at times, even Jesus Himself knew that. They were trying to get all these kids away from Jesus, He had to step in and tell them not to, it was crazy. So anyway, that "Jesus broadens the horizon" statement grabbed my attention. Speaking of things Jesus said, what does Jesus have to say about broadening horizons? JESUS SAYS: "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." (Matthew 7:13-14) How can someone who directly contradicts obvious scripture like this possibly be in a position like the leader of the biggest "Christian" church on earth? How does this happen? I'm seriously confused. What's going on here?
But it doesn't stop there.
In case you think I am misconstruing that quote, the Catechism of the Catholic Church explains it even more clearly:
Lies. How can anyone even say that? This isn't just a misconstrued Bible verse or something here. This isn't a debate with different possibilities backed by well-meaning people like that whole Lordship Salvation vs Easy Believism debate going on lately; this is absolute lies. This is literally leading people into Hell. I am so sickened that anybody claiming any ties to the Christian church can say something like this. This man is leading people into eternal punishment.
I am very aware how it looks to unbelievers. This looks like the world's hero, Pope Francis, is being progressive again and is willing to change with the times, which makes "his" church looks nice, unlike "intolerant conservatives" like me. Here's the issue with that: that's not how Christianity works, and is actually the most hateful thing anybody could EVER do. Allow me to explain. Let's assume (even unbelievers now) that the Bible that Pope Francis supposedly defends is speaking absolute truth. The Bible (which is true!) teaches that people who do not accept Jesus Christ as their savior will face eternal punishment for the debts they did not pay. What you think of that statement is irrelevant, it's in the Bible and is truth. Surely, somebody who is leading a church based on these teachings should want to use all that power to spread the true Gospel of Jesus Christ, because you'd have to really hate or not care about people, to truly believe that atheism leads people to eternal punishment and then lie about it, which the catholic church is doing. Regardless of whether you believe in Hell or not, the pope is perfectly okay with teaching you things that he claims to believe in his heart will lead you straight to it.
Am I getting this through? NO BIBLE-BELIEVING CHRISTIAN who loves others will claim that atheism is okay in God's eyes; they believe in their heart that it is a path to eternal punishment. Again, regardless of whether you believe in it or not, that person does, and is leading you to it. That is hatred, not "tolerance", not "being progressive", not "respecting others' beliefs". The most disrespectful, most spiteful thing anybody could ever do is exactly what pope Francis and the vatican cult leaders are doing.
I know I probably sound quite angry right now, but I think it's for good reason. I believe in love, I believe in truth and justice, and as someone who makes such a generically heroic (albeit true) claim, I couldn't possibly live with myself if, after all my years of reflecting on our world, of determining conclusions based on sound logic and reasoning, of learning about scripture, I had the audacity to turn around with my full knowledge of God's word, and (knowingly) mislead anybody about it. I feel so strongly about such matters that I recently went through my old posts on two separate websites and removed all (possible) content that I felt did not align with God's will, because I don't want to lead anybody else astray. I'm not saying this to make myself sound good (all glory to GOD!), I'm doing this to inform you of what a loving Christian will do - remove lies in the world. The pope, on the other hand, promotes them.
God bless all of you, according to His perfect will. In Jesus' name. Amen.
So, let's get started.
The disciples, Pope Francis explained, "were a little intolerant," closed off by the idea of possessing the truth, convinced that "those who do not have the truth, cannot do good." "This was wrong... Jesus broadens the horizon." Pope Francis said, "The root of this possibility of doing good - that we all have - is in creation." (source: catholic.org)
Well, okay, the disciples could be a little intolerant at times, even Jesus Himself knew that. They were trying to get all these kids away from Jesus, He had to step in and tell them not to, it was crazy. So anyway, that "Jesus broadens the horizon" statement grabbed my attention. Speaking of things Jesus said, what does Jesus have to say about broadening horizons? JESUS SAYS: "Enter through the narrow gate. For wide is the gate and broad is the road that leads to destruction, and many enter through it. But small is the gate and narrow the road that leads to life, and only a few find it." (Matthew 7:13-14) How can someone who directly contradicts obvious scripture like this possibly be in a position like the leader of the biggest "Christian" church on earth? How does this happen? I'm seriously confused. What's going on here?
But it doesn't stop there.
"The Lord has redeemed all of us, all of us, with the Blood of Christ, all of us, not just Catholics. Everyone! 'Father, the atheists?' Even the atheists. Everyone!" We must meet one another doing good. 'But I don't believe, Father, I am an atheist!' But do good: we will meet one another there."
In case you think I am misconstruing that quote, the Catechism of the Catholic Church explains it even more clearly:
Since it rejects or denies the existence of God, atheism is a sin against the virtue of religion but the imputability of the offense can be significantly diminished in virtue of the intentions and the circumstances
Lies. How can anyone even say that? This isn't just a misconstrued Bible verse or something here. This isn't a debate with different possibilities backed by well-meaning people like that whole Lordship Salvation vs Easy Believism debate going on lately; this is absolute lies. This is literally leading people into Hell. I am so sickened that anybody claiming any ties to the Christian church can say something like this. This man is leading people into eternal punishment.
I am very aware how it looks to unbelievers. This looks like the world's hero, Pope Francis, is being progressive again and is willing to change with the times, which makes "his" church looks nice, unlike "intolerant conservatives" like me. Here's the issue with that: that's not how Christianity works, and is actually the most hateful thing anybody could EVER do. Allow me to explain. Let's assume (even unbelievers now) that the Bible that Pope Francis supposedly defends is speaking absolute truth. The Bible (which is true!) teaches that people who do not accept Jesus Christ as their savior will face eternal punishment for the debts they did not pay. What you think of that statement is irrelevant, it's in the Bible and is truth. Surely, somebody who is leading a church based on these teachings should want to use all that power to spread the true Gospel of Jesus Christ, because you'd have to really hate or not care about people, to truly believe that atheism leads people to eternal punishment and then lie about it, which the catholic church is doing. Regardless of whether you believe in Hell or not, the pope is perfectly okay with teaching you things that he claims to believe in his heart will lead you straight to it.
Am I getting this through? NO BIBLE-BELIEVING CHRISTIAN who loves others will claim that atheism is okay in God's eyes; they believe in their heart that it is a path to eternal punishment. Again, regardless of whether you believe in it or not, that person does, and is leading you to it. That is hatred, not "tolerance", not "being progressive", not "respecting others' beliefs". The most disrespectful, most spiteful thing anybody could ever do is exactly what pope Francis and the vatican cult leaders are doing.
I know I probably sound quite angry right now, but I think it's for good reason. I believe in love, I believe in truth and justice, and as someone who makes such a generically heroic (albeit true) claim, I couldn't possibly live with myself if, after all my years of reflecting on our world, of determining conclusions based on sound logic and reasoning, of learning about scripture, I had the audacity to turn around with my full knowledge of God's word, and (knowingly) mislead anybody about it. I feel so strongly about such matters that I recently went through my old posts on two separate websites and removed all (possible) content that I felt did not align with God's will, because I don't want to lead anybody else astray. I'm not saying this to make myself sound good (all glory to GOD!), I'm doing this to inform you of what a loving Christian will do - remove lies in the world. The pope, on the other hand, promotes them.
God bless all of you, according to His perfect will. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Tuesday, December 16, 2014
Evolution
Why does Bill Nye need to explain evolution using emoticons? I thought everybody who believed in evolution already understood it. What need was there to explain it in this manner? Whom is it teaching?
In fact, why is Bill Nye in the spotlight again at all? I heard his nonsense Carl Sagan-esque quote about "the universe observing itself" or something; Bill Nye is best known for being an entertaining goof in kids' science videos, why the new ageism? Why the disturbingly abrupt interest in pushing evolution?
You can't possibly call it a call to action, because evolution is already taught in schools as irrefutable fact, even though it actually isn't. (Do research!) Why is the mad scientist clown of yesteryear suddenly waving a banner of evolution in debates and videos everywhere?
What is the need?
Could it be something besides an interest in science?
Could it have something to do with the fact that he is one of the only people in the scientific community that is well-known and highly respected in mainstream/conventional audiences? In theory, that kind of person sounds like a perfect candidate for pushing an agenda.
Edit: I understand that this post is almost complete speculation and is not really based in fact like a lot of things I post, but I felt a need to share this anyway.
In fact, why is Bill Nye in the spotlight again at all? I heard his nonsense Carl Sagan-esque quote about "the universe observing itself" or something; Bill Nye is best known for being an entertaining goof in kids' science videos, why the new ageism? Why the disturbingly abrupt interest in pushing evolution?
You can't possibly call it a call to action, because evolution is already taught in schools as irrefutable fact, even though it actually isn't. (Do research!) Why is the mad scientist clown of yesteryear suddenly waving a banner of evolution in debates and videos everywhere?
What is the need?
Could it be something besides an interest in science?
Could it have something to do with the fact that he is one of the only people in the scientific community that is well-known and highly respected in mainstream/conventional audiences? In theory, that kind of person sounds like a perfect candidate for pushing an agenda.
Edit: I understand that this post is almost complete speculation and is not really based in fact like a lot of things I post, but I felt a need to share this anyway.
Friday, December 12, 2014
... Temptation?
I see the devil is tempting me again. I've decided to admit recently that I'm a brony, and it doesn't stop at the backlash. No, I've only gotten one or two negative comments that don't even bother me really.
Let me explain. In watching My Little Pony, it just puts my mind in a nice place, you know? Thoughts of friendship, of harmony, of good triumphing (which will soon happen anyway!), all real and completely plausible things, which such... "direct" exposure, shall we say, makes me want to bring about in my surroundings. Couldn't the world use more of those things? And yet they are largely absent from my environment, even moreso than usual. Even more than usual, I want to isolate myself, and not talk to anybody. Even more than usual, I want to be left alone, as many people around me continue to annoy me, to an even greater scale than they did mere months ago.
Do you really think that's all coincidence? I've said it to a few people now, this world is truly operating with supernatural influence. There is no other way the world could be like this. I'm a musician, but you have probably not heard any of my music. Do you know why that is? Part of the reason is that... well, I deleted my only demo recently for personal reasons. Another reason is that every time I want to make music that will genuinely glorify the Lord, I am tempted to go do something else and not work. This throws off my schedule, and kind of just disappoints me anyway. At any rate, no work gets done. Why?
If I were a physical creature that acted solely on mental impulses, thus did not have a soul and was not influenced by souls as the secularists persistently insist, would the dedication I have to my idea of God not just compel me to work even harder, convinced that, like a dog searching for food, it's just what "needs to be done"? Would temptations, distractions from my work, threats to my work, not simply just get a GRUNT, GRUNT from me, as I escaped from them, keeping at what I needed to do? What force could possibly compel me away from something that I hold as closely as my faith? I consider my faith even more important than food, than water, even though I do obviously consume both. Under those conditions, my mind being convinced of it, I should be standing at my keyboard and recorder, guarding them like a rabid wolf! How dare anybody or any thing or any thought try to distract me from them, no?
And yet that does not happen! The reason is simple: there is another voice in my head. It is not my mind, because my mind is busy being a rabid wolf, remember? There is another force at work, that is subtly nudging me, and the people around me, to do certain things. It is NOT all biological impulses or instinct left from the fairytale of evolution.
Going back to my first example, I want to be more isolated, right around the time I am being more inspired to show kindness. People are frustrating me more, at a time when I sometimes, just sometimes, actually feel happy. Why do you think that is? It's because it's those same supernatural forces at work.
What other logical explanation could there be, anyway? This situation of distractions and temptations doesn't just happen to me, understand - you know it happens to you, and it happens to the other seven billion or so people in this world.
Could a world that was not influenced by spiritual forces, inciting temptation or raining blessings, leading us to them and influencing changes in our world, really operate like the one we have? Do you really think that every single instance of this happening is coincidence? That all of our distractions which seem more prominent during important times in our lives are all coincidence? If you want to think logically, which most secularists seem to want to do, do you think it's logical to claim that a world rife with examples like this is really not being influenced by something higher?
On an ending note, do you really think it's coincidence that these conveniently-timed distractions and temptations all lead to the same things that God, the God of Christianity, abhors, while ignoring them leads to things that God loves? Do you really think that ancient people who didn't even understand simple racial equality would have been capable of inventing a belief this closely-knit with the real things we experience every single day?
God bless you all, according to His perfect will. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Let me explain. In watching My Little Pony, it just puts my mind in a nice place, you know? Thoughts of friendship, of harmony, of good triumphing (which will soon happen anyway!), all real and completely plausible things, which such... "direct" exposure, shall we say, makes me want to bring about in my surroundings. Couldn't the world use more of those things? And yet they are largely absent from my environment, even moreso than usual. Even more than usual, I want to isolate myself, and not talk to anybody. Even more than usual, I want to be left alone, as many people around me continue to annoy me, to an even greater scale than they did mere months ago.
Do you really think that's all coincidence? I've said it to a few people now, this world is truly operating with supernatural influence. There is no other way the world could be like this. I'm a musician, but you have probably not heard any of my music. Do you know why that is? Part of the reason is that... well, I deleted my only demo recently for personal reasons. Another reason is that every time I want to make music that will genuinely glorify the Lord, I am tempted to go do something else and not work. This throws off my schedule, and kind of just disappoints me anyway. At any rate, no work gets done. Why?
If I were a physical creature that acted solely on mental impulses, thus did not have a soul and was not influenced by souls as the secularists persistently insist, would the dedication I have to my idea of God not just compel me to work even harder, convinced that, like a dog searching for food, it's just what "needs to be done"? Would temptations, distractions from my work, threats to my work, not simply just get a GRUNT, GRUNT from me, as I escaped from them, keeping at what I needed to do? What force could possibly compel me away from something that I hold as closely as my faith? I consider my faith even more important than food, than water, even though I do obviously consume both. Under those conditions, my mind being convinced of it, I should be standing at my keyboard and recorder, guarding them like a rabid wolf! How dare anybody or any thing or any thought try to distract me from them, no?
And yet that does not happen! The reason is simple: there is another voice in my head. It is not my mind, because my mind is busy being a rabid wolf, remember? There is another force at work, that is subtly nudging me, and the people around me, to do certain things. It is NOT all biological impulses or instinct left from the fairytale of evolution.
Going back to my first example, I want to be more isolated, right around the time I am being more inspired to show kindness. People are frustrating me more, at a time when I sometimes, just sometimes, actually feel happy. Why do you think that is? It's because it's those same supernatural forces at work.
What other logical explanation could there be, anyway? This situation of distractions and temptations doesn't just happen to me, understand - you know it happens to you, and it happens to the other seven billion or so people in this world.
Could a world that was not influenced by spiritual forces, inciting temptation or raining blessings, leading us to them and influencing changes in our world, really operate like the one we have? Do you really think that every single instance of this happening is coincidence? That all of our distractions which seem more prominent during important times in our lives are all coincidence? If you want to think logically, which most secularists seem to want to do, do you think it's logical to claim that a world rife with examples like this is really not being influenced by something higher?
On an ending note, do you really think it's coincidence that these conveniently-timed distractions and temptations all lead to the same things that God, the God of Christianity, abhors, while ignoring them leads to things that God loves? Do you really think that ancient people who didn't even understand simple racial equality would have been capable of inventing a belief this closely-knit with the real things we experience every single day?
God bless you all, according to His perfect will. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Saturday, December 6, 2014
Keep Alert
The elites seem to have backed off a lot with the subliminal anti-Christian stuff in the media lately. I hardly see it anywhere, unlike a few years ago -- even just a few months ago -- when it was everywhere. There was near constant talk about "dark forces" rising, selling your soul, "not needing saving" (usually from some unrelated 'threat'), fairytales, what have you.
But lately, the propaganda seems to have all but come to a complete halt, save a few who don't seem to have gotten the memo. Why?
I'm not sure. But remember, just because it's not being shoved in our faces all the time at this very moment doesn't mean that there isn't still a threat. Just because they're not explicitly advertising songs about evil doesn't mean that the war is over. There are still political and social movements working against us every day, lies being spread as scientific fact, society still being shifted and molded according to the desires of corporations, and elites who are still trying to fight the spreading of the truth of God's grace.
Remember, when you paint a world of self-sufficiency and evolving from non-sentient particles, you have good slaves working hard to achieve something you can dangle in front of their faces since they seek nothing better. When you have a world where people don't rely on you, and believe they were created by Someone higher than you, they won't be as good of slaves, and don't want the nonsense you dangle in front of their faces. We want something the elites can't give us!
This is hardly the time to settle down and take a breather. The war is not over. Their attacks have lessened, but not disappeared. "Less" is not "none".
Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
- 1 Peter 1:13
Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.
- Jesus, in Mark 13:31-37
God bless and guide you all according to His perfect will. In Jesus' name. Amen.
But lately, the propaganda seems to have all but come to a complete halt, save a few who don't seem to have gotten the memo. Why?
I'm not sure. But remember, just because it's not being shoved in our faces all the time at this very moment doesn't mean that there isn't still a threat. Just because they're not explicitly advertising songs about evil doesn't mean that the war is over. There are still political and social movements working against us every day, lies being spread as scientific fact, society still being shifted and molded according to the desires of corporations, and elites who are still trying to fight the spreading of the truth of God's grace.
Remember, when you paint a world of self-sufficiency and evolving from non-sentient particles, you have good slaves working hard to achieve something you can dangle in front of their faces since they seek nothing better. When you have a world where people don't rely on you, and believe they were created by Someone higher than you, they won't be as good of slaves, and don't want the nonsense you dangle in front of their faces. We want something the elites can't give us!
This is hardly the time to settle down and take a breather. The war is not over. Their attacks have lessened, but not disappeared. "Less" is not "none".
Therefore, prepare your minds for action, keep sober in spirit, fix your hope completely on the grace to be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ.
- 1 Peter 1:13
Heaven and earth shall pass away: but my words shall not pass away. But of that day and that hour knoweth no man, no, not the angels which are in heaven, neither the Son, but the Father. Take ye heed, watch and pray: for ye know not when the time is. For the Son of Man is as a man taking a far journey, who left his house, and gave authority to his servants, and to every man his work, and commanded the porter to watch. Watch ye therefore: for ye know not when the master of the house cometh, at even, or at midnight, or at the cockcrowing, or in the morning: Lest coming suddenly he find you sleeping. And what I say unto you I say unto all, Watch.
- Jesus, in Mark 13:31-37
God bless and guide you all according to His perfect will. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Sunday, November 16, 2014
Did Princess Celestia Destroy the Illuminati?
This is absolutely the most ridiculous thing I'll ever talk about on this blog, but I absolutely have to share it somewhere.
This isn't a very serious post, just a silly random thought. Whenever My Little Pony comes up in conspiracy theory discussions, people often point out the obvious thing:
This is a flashback from... either, before Ponyville (where most of the show takes place) was founded, or right after people had begun building it. This is from a long time ago, anyway. This flashback takes place in Canterlot, the big ritzy "royal" area where Princess Celestia lives, and where I would not. (Can't stand that ritzy kind of atmosphere.)
The red arrow is pointing to a symbol, can you guess what it is? The obvious implication is that the tent belongs to the Illuminati, given that their symbol is on it. But what does this really mean?
Celestia rules Equestria, and especially the place where she lives, Canterlot. Celestia's territory far outweighs what the Illuminati have - a single tent. Also notice that Celestia is sitting on a giant, brightly-colored chariot-like vehicle, being pulled by servants (not to mention ruling an entire kingdom) while the Illuminati tent is shoved off to the side, dimly-colored and dark. Everybody's facing away from the eye, which has obvious psychological implications. It's glaring at Celestia, but notice the eye on the back wheel is glaring right back at it. I'm serious, look - it looks exactly like an eye, and it's staring right at the other eye.
The Illuminati don't play an important part in Canterlot. They've already been reduced to one tent that's not getting much attention. What's more is that in modern-day Canterlot, after everything stopped being old and fading and yellow, you don't see that tent at all. They're an ancient thing of the past in Equestria.
______________________________________________________________
With things like all the magic references, Twilight's cutie mark/hexagram and Rainbow Dash's cutie mark/lightning bolt, I'd think that -- if anything, of course -- this show would support an Illuminati agenda. But now that I think about it, Twilight's cutie mark really looks bent/twisted compared to normal hexagrams, and RD's cutie mark is reversed, at least on one side (right-down, left, right-down - not left-down, right, left-down), and with the Illuminati symbolism above... Do you think this show could actually somehow be anti-Illuminati?..
You can't just go preaching to people on TV these days (don't get me started), you have to have some give and take with the elites' agendas if you want your idea to go anywhere, and hiding a message of friendship, kindness, that believing in things you can't explain is fine, and your friends who think that way can help you see them (see Twilight's monologue near the end), hope (which the Illumainti hate), etc, amidst a few random symbols thrown around (eye, owl, etc) with some magic references (will appeal to today's already occult-influenced audiences) seems like a very sneaky way to get the point across in today's world. I'm not sure if that assessment is entirely correct - I'm not necessarily green-lighting the show for you conspiracy nuts, but that's really something to think about, I think.
I wonder if any bronies will find my blog because of this. Hello there.
This isn't a very serious post, just a silly random thought. Whenever My Little Pony comes up in conspiracy theory discussions, people often point out the obvious thing:
EDIT: Oh yeah, this isn't my image. (C) Hasbro. Red marks are (C) whoever added them.
This is a flashback from... either, before Ponyville (where most of the show takes place) was founded, or right after people had begun building it. This is from a long time ago, anyway. This flashback takes place in Canterlot, the big ritzy "royal" area where Princess Celestia lives, and where I would not. (Can't stand that ritzy kind of atmosphere.)
The red arrow is pointing to a symbol, can you guess what it is? The obvious implication is that the tent belongs to the Illuminati, given that their symbol is on it. But what does this really mean?
Celestia rules Equestria, and especially the place where she lives, Canterlot. Celestia's territory far outweighs what the Illuminati have - a single tent. Also notice that Celestia is sitting on a giant, brightly-colored chariot-like vehicle, being pulled by servants (not to mention ruling an entire kingdom) while the Illuminati tent is shoved off to the side, dimly-colored and dark. Everybody's facing away from the eye, which has obvious psychological implications. It's glaring at Celestia, but notice the eye on the back wheel is glaring right back at it. I'm serious, look - it looks exactly like an eye, and it's staring right at the other eye.
The Illuminati don't play an important part in Canterlot. They've already been reduced to one tent that's not getting much attention. What's more is that in modern-day Canterlot, after everything stopped being old and fading and yellow, you don't see that tent at all. They're an ancient thing of the past in Equestria.
______________________________________________________________
With things like all the magic references, Twilight's cutie mark/hexagram and Rainbow Dash's cutie mark/lightning bolt, I'd think that -- if anything, of course -- this show would support an Illuminati agenda. But now that I think about it, Twilight's cutie mark really looks bent/twisted compared to normal hexagrams, and RD's cutie mark is reversed, at least on one side (right-down, left, right-down - not left-down, right, left-down), and with the Illuminati symbolism above... Do you think this show could actually somehow be anti-Illuminati?..
You can't just go preaching to people on TV these days (don't get me started), you have to have some give and take with the elites' agendas if you want your idea to go anywhere, and hiding a message of friendship, kindness, that believing in things you can't explain is fine, and your friends who think that way can help you see them (see Twilight's monologue near the end), hope (which the Illumainti hate), etc, amidst a few random symbols thrown around (eye, owl, etc) with some magic references (will appeal to today's already occult-influenced audiences) seems like a very sneaky way to get the point across in today's world. I'm not sure if that assessment is entirely correct - I'm not necessarily green-lighting the show for you conspiracy nuts, but that's really something to think about, I think.
I wonder if any bronies will find my blog because of this. Hello there.
Untitled
You know how unbelievers always complain that the churches only talk about the nice stories and don't get into the nitty-gritty of the Bible? A passage they often cite is the one "where that guy sends out bears after those kids!"
First of all the original word for "kids" that's used can also be translated as "young men", thus young adults.
Second, "the guy" is Elisha.
Third, the internet will be glad to know that this passage was indeed mentioned in today's church service! We read a passage involving Elisha, and during the sermon, the passage about the bears came up.
I'm often surprised by how firmly (friendly, very welcoming, but firmly) my church stands by actual Scripture. I've heard several horror stories about churches today. Everything the internet says about Christianity, my church basically disproves on a weekly basis. I assume there are others out there, too. I just thought I'd point out that yes, Christians do sometimes read the Bible, even the unpopular stuff...
First of all the original word for "kids" that's used can also be translated as "young men", thus young adults.
Second, "the guy" is Elisha.
Third, the internet will be glad to know that this passage was indeed mentioned in today's church service! We read a passage involving Elisha, and during the sermon, the passage about the bears came up.
I'm often surprised by how firmly (friendly, very welcoming, but firmly) my church stands by actual Scripture. I've heard several horror stories about churches today. Everything the internet says about Christianity, my church basically disproves on a weekly basis. I assume there are others out there, too. I just thought I'd point out that yes, Christians do sometimes read the Bible, even the unpopular stuff...
Sunday, November 9, 2014
Calling Out Occultism in Black Metal Again
I had a dream a couple weeks ago that I found an occult-influenced CD, but the artwork looked cool (an old trick I fell for many times), so I convinced myself it was still okay to listen to.
Something strange happened in my house afterwards, but I can't remember what. It might have been an argument. Then the whole area around me started to change to something else.
The dream sort of repeated itself, with me finding an even worse CD, but it sounded cool, so I kept listening to it. The listening experience manifested as a walk through a street in my town. It was nighttime, dimly lit, etc. and eventually I saw a giant demon, hanging dead from something. The sight scared me so much, I gave up listening to the CD and woke up.
That's basically what happens, really; the horrified feeling you'd naturally experience if you saw a physical demon, first of all, then you found a carcass hanging in a doorway, is very similar to the feeling rooted inside of your psyche after listening to that negative stuff, though of course it's more subtle when you're still listening to it. I seriously can't stress enough how bad the satanic end of black metal really is for you. What it plays up as "strength" is actually "strong" feelings of sadness, of despair, of longing for death, and while it may sound good at first, and may indeed be performed by talented musicians, it's not worth listening to it, considering the psychological and physical effects of it.
I experienced spiritual things like beings communicating with me that seemed benevolent, projections (incl astral), visions, etc. I felt this was a validation of my spirituality. What it actually was - much like the "strength" and "sadness" I mentioned before - was the complete opposite. It made clear my spirituality, by poisoning it and afflicting me with negative emotions.
I truly hope this post will finally expose that entire scene, and its spiritual poison, and that somebody will see the truth through this blog. Of course there's good stuff in black metal, but nobody will look at the rest of the black metal scene, the popular stuff is what's full of this negativity.
It is for that reason I gave a rather big list awhile back of Christian bands of various styles. And there are way more than I listed there; it's just to get you started. I may update that someday. If you want good spirituality, pray to God. Christ can save you, and even though many evil types think it, the devil and his demons cannot kill you once you become Christian. You are protected by God, and He will not let those negative beings hurt you. It's up to you to decide.
And I pray that you make the right decision. In Jesus' name. Amen.
PS: Since this post seems to be getting the most views, here is another article I wrote, that the scene may be interested in.
Something strange happened in my house afterwards, but I can't remember what. It might have been an argument. Then the whole area around me started to change to something else.
The dream sort of repeated itself, with me finding an even worse CD, but it sounded cool, so I kept listening to it. The listening experience manifested as a walk through a street in my town. It was nighttime, dimly lit, etc. and eventually I saw a giant demon, hanging dead from something. The sight scared me so much, I gave up listening to the CD and woke up.
That's basically what happens, really; the horrified feeling you'd naturally experience if you saw a physical demon, first of all, then you found a carcass hanging in a doorway, is very similar to the feeling rooted inside of your psyche after listening to that negative stuff, though of course it's more subtle when you're still listening to it. I seriously can't stress enough how bad the satanic end of black metal really is for you. What it plays up as "strength" is actually "strong" feelings of sadness, of despair, of longing for death, and while it may sound good at first, and may indeed be performed by talented musicians, it's not worth listening to it, considering the psychological and physical effects of it.
I experienced spiritual things like beings communicating with me that seemed benevolent, projections (incl astral), visions, etc. I felt this was a validation of my spirituality. What it actually was - much like the "strength" and "sadness" I mentioned before - was the complete opposite. It made clear my spirituality, by poisoning it and afflicting me with negative emotions.
I truly hope this post will finally expose that entire scene, and its spiritual poison, and that somebody will see the truth through this blog. Of course there's good stuff in black metal, but nobody will look at the rest of the black metal scene, the popular stuff is what's full of this negativity.
It is for that reason I gave a rather big list awhile back of Christian bands of various styles. And there are way more than I listed there; it's just to get you started. I may update that someday. If you want good spirituality, pray to God. Christ can save you, and even though many evil types think it, the devil and his demons cannot kill you once you become Christian. You are protected by God, and He will not let those negative beings hurt you. It's up to you to decide.
And I pray that you make the right decision. In Jesus' name. Amen.
PS: Since this post seems to be getting the most views, here is another article I wrote, that the scene may be interested in.
Tuesday, November 4, 2014
Society Doesn't Understand Christianity!
Here is a real quote somebody wrote about Christians:
It's funny on the surface, sure. Why, this person's calling Christians (thus, me) out on our intellect, and they can't even spell "people"! This person is so stoopid, they think Christians like to smell their own farts!
But when you get down to it, things like this aren't really funny. First of all, people's "stupidity" / ignorance is NOT funny, and second, this is a bad sign of how things are. Is this really what that person thinks Christians are like? What else do people think about Christianity?
There's the same meaningless, boring, baseless rhetoric that all pseudo-intellectual people seeking to mock Christians or make themselves appear smart use, typically in internet comment sections. But this is the first time I've seen one this bad. The person who wrote this works at a counseling office somewhere, and has a child.
People, in fact, think all kinds of crazy things about Christianity that make no sense. Sure what they say applies to some Christians; you could say just about anything and it'll apply to some people in a group. That's only logical. I'm sure that somewhere out there, there are a few Christians who enjoy sniffing their own flatulence, and there are likely some in that person's belief system who do the same. That doesn't mean it applies to everybody, but people will make it apply to everyone!
You can make a few conclusions... All Christians believe in Jesus. All fans of a band enjoy listening to them. All fans a movie series enjoy watching it. Everything else beyond these (unnecessarily) obvious conclusions is speculation.
Christianity has nothing to do with sniffing flatulence, blind adherence to whatever you hear, "just not hearing about" other viewpoints, throwing logic out the window (Christianity is logically sound!), condemning everybody, getting rich, political corruption, being "paranoid" about evil forces (they're real whether you notice them or not!), being a party-pooper, making out with your cousins, being stuffy old mean parents, or anything else people associate with it!
Interestingly enough, Christianity teaches the exact opposite of everything people associate with it, INCLUDING, and ESPECIALLY, blindly adhering to whatever you hear. If these people read the Bible (a book of truth! Truth sets you free, not enslaves you!) they would understand that.
Also, the Bible is not a "storybook".
Ppl are sadly proud of themselves for knowing a fake story in a storybook. These are the same ppl who enjoy the smell of their own farts.
It's funny on the surface, sure. Why, this person's calling Christians (thus, me) out on our intellect, and they can't even spell "people"! This person is so stoopid, they think Christians like to smell their own farts!
But when you get down to it, things like this aren't really funny. First of all, people's "stupidity" / ignorance is NOT funny, and second, this is a bad sign of how things are. Is this really what that person thinks Christians are like? What else do people think about Christianity?
There's the same meaningless, boring, baseless rhetoric that all pseudo-intellectual people seeking to mock Christians or make themselves appear smart use, typically in internet comment sections. But this is the first time I've seen one this bad. The person who wrote this works at a counseling office somewhere, and has a child.
People, in fact, think all kinds of crazy things about Christianity that make no sense. Sure what they say applies to some Christians; you could say just about anything and it'll apply to some people in a group. That's only logical. I'm sure that somewhere out there, there are a few Christians who enjoy sniffing their own flatulence, and there are likely some in that person's belief system who do the same. That doesn't mean it applies to everybody, but people will make it apply to everyone!
You can make a few conclusions... All Christians believe in Jesus. All fans of a band enjoy listening to them. All fans a movie series enjoy watching it. Everything else beyond these (unnecessarily) obvious conclusions is speculation.
Christianity has nothing to do with sniffing flatulence, blind adherence to whatever you hear, "just not hearing about" other viewpoints, throwing logic out the window (Christianity is logically sound!), condemning everybody, getting rich, political corruption, being "paranoid" about evil forces (they're real whether you notice them or not!), being a party-pooper, making out with your cousins, being stuffy old mean parents, or anything else people associate with it!
Interestingly enough, Christianity teaches the exact opposite of everything people associate with it, INCLUDING, and ESPECIALLY, blindly adhering to whatever you hear. If these people read the Bible (a book of truth! Truth sets you free, not enslaves you!) they would understand that.
Also, the Bible is not a "storybook".
Thursday, October 30, 2014
Good Article on Psychic Abilities
http://www.heavenlymanna.net/christianArticle.php?article_id=361
Obviously, I didn't write this, but I felt like you should see it anyway. Check it out.
Obviously, I didn't write this, but I felt like you should see it anyway. Check it out.
Imaginary Friends?
You're all probably wondering, "Are you ever going to write about metal again?" Yeah, one of these days.
So anyway, this is a post about imaginary friends and tulpas. From, like everything else here, a Christian perspective.
In theory, there's nothing wrong with the basic idea of an imaginary friend. There's nothing wrong with interacting with something that doesn't exist. Now, here's the problem: you have to be careful.
At first, these beings are usually imaginary. But it's all too easy for negative forces that are real to get in there, and impersonate your imaginary friend. This isn't crazy of me to say, either. Back when I was into some occult stuff, there were beings/voices that I was almost certain were real, but there were one or two I knew were false. I purposely imagined those. But then they started to feel more real to me.
It happened really slowly, too. I knew they (the latter one(s)) were imaginary, but then I began to wonder. Why? I don't know. Eventually I didn't know that they weren't real anymore; I just started wondering. Eventually I just accepted that they were real, and what they became were misleading and deceptive, just like the real ones. This is a real phenomenon.
Quick note: I'm now aware that dealing with beings like that, which are real, is forbidden. Leviticus 19:31, Leviticus 20:6, Deuteronomy 18:9-14
Which leads to my next point. When they become real, that's when there's a problem. I mean, in theory, a "good" spirit has the capability to interact with you like that, but I have NEVER seen an instance of it. It's ALWAYS deceptive, demonic beings like the ones that interacted with me.
Tulpas in modern terms are basically the same thing as imaginary friends when you get down to it, but they appear a little more real, and can act without your 100% conscious command. Again, there's nothing theoretically wrong with this. It's not idolatry as one site I saw said, neither are imaginary friends, but you have to be even more careful with tulpas anyway. There is the very real possibility of negative beings entering in situations like that and taking control. It'd be even more subtle with a tulpa, because you're not (always) (consciously) controlling it. There's no real telling when a negative being could come in and how obvious its influence could be to you.
So, if I were you, I'd just avoid these ideas altogether, but I personally, won't explicitly forbid them. But I do recommend that you avoid them. And if you feel like you really need them, just be extremely, extremely careful. Enjoy them, but be careful. Most of you have no idea how deceptive those beings can be if something gets in there, and when you finally get the guts to kick out the negative beings if they appear... you'll feel pretty lousy afterwards, left with a lot of sticky negative essence and loneliness. May God bless, protect, and guide you all according to His perfect will. In Jesus' name. Amen.
So anyway, this is a post about imaginary friends and tulpas. From, like everything else here, a Christian perspective.
In theory, there's nothing wrong with the basic idea of an imaginary friend. There's nothing wrong with interacting with something that doesn't exist. Now, here's the problem: you have to be careful.
At first, these beings are usually imaginary. But it's all too easy for negative forces that are real to get in there, and impersonate your imaginary friend. This isn't crazy of me to say, either. Back when I was into some occult stuff, there were beings/voices that I was almost certain were real, but there were one or two I knew were false. I purposely imagined those. But then they started to feel more real to me.
It happened really slowly, too. I knew they (the latter one(s)) were imaginary, but then I began to wonder. Why? I don't know. Eventually I didn't know that they weren't real anymore; I just started wondering. Eventually I just accepted that they were real, and what they became were misleading and deceptive, just like the real ones. This is a real phenomenon.
Quick note: I'm now aware that dealing with beings like that, which are real, is forbidden. Leviticus 19:31, Leviticus 20:6, Deuteronomy 18:9-14
Which leads to my next point. When they become real, that's when there's a problem. I mean, in theory, a "good" spirit has the capability to interact with you like that, but I have NEVER seen an instance of it. It's ALWAYS deceptive, demonic beings like the ones that interacted with me.
Tulpas in modern terms are basically the same thing as imaginary friends when you get down to it, but they appear a little more real, and can act without your 100% conscious command. Again, there's nothing theoretically wrong with this. It's not idolatry as one site I saw said, neither are imaginary friends, but you have to be even more careful with tulpas anyway. There is the very real possibility of negative beings entering in situations like that and taking control. It'd be even more subtle with a tulpa, because you're not (always) (consciously) controlling it. There's no real telling when a negative being could come in and how obvious its influence could be to you.
So, if I were you, I'd just avoid these ideas altogether, but I personally, won't explicitly forbid them. But I do recommend that you avoid them. And if you feel like you really need them, just be extremely, extremely careful. Enjoy them, but be careful. Most of you have no idea how deceptive those beings can be if something gets in there, and when you finally get the guts to kick out the negative beings if they appear... you'll feel pretty lousy afterwards, left with a lot of sticky negative essence and loneliness. May God bless, protect, and guide you all according to His perfect will. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Sunday, October 26, 2014
Clearing Up Misconceptions (Progressivists)
I was reading a "progressive" Christian page recently, and I was honestly appalled at what I was reading.
These statements weren't just different interpretations of Scripture like the age of the Earth or something, these were literal blasphemy.
I would like to point out before I get into this that I am not a fundamentalist looney old preacher, I am a (young-ish) metal fan who used to be into some occult stuff and has come to accept controversial Biblical views over several years. And even if I were the former, my individual status still wouldn't invalidate God's word.
1) Gay marriage and gay sexual activities don't go against God's will? (Genesis 1:28-29, Mark 10:6-7, Leviticus 18:22) I don't hate gay people. (Also, I will not disclose my own orientation; it's not important.) Hatred is murder (1 John 3:15) and I will not judge somebody for their preferences. You could be attracted to any number of things, gay, straight, normal, weird; what matters to God is how you handle those attractions (see end of paragraph). God's marriage is different from what humans consider marriage. God's marriage is... about love to a degree, sure, but isn't just about a union; it's also about reproduction, having children, which only biologically happens between a man and a woman. This is not discrimination. This isn't about holding back people of other genders, it's just the very basic definition of what marriage is. A deaf person wouldn't have much place in a record store; a blind person at an art gallery; it's not discrimination against them, it's just what the idea is about, and they just don't fit it, the VERY same principle applies to God's definition of marriage. It's NOT about hatred, it's about what marriage exactly is! The Bible is God's word to us, and He's clearly not too happy about gay marriage. But don't be mistaken, heterosexuals also have VERY clearly-defined rules that all would do well to learn and keep in mind. Some people are called to flat-out celibacy (could be homosexuals' calling too?). It's not about gays vs straights, it's about living a holy life, which everybody is to do, homosexuals included.
2) There isn't a Hell? Luke 16:19–31, Matthew 18:34-35, Matthew 3:12, Matthew 13:30, Revelation 20:14-15, Revelation 20:9-10 This does not mean that God isn't loving! He sent His own Son to be crucified on a cross for you! He doesn't want you to experience that, and takes no pleasure in sending anyone there (Ezekiel 18:31-32), but He will do so - He has warned you many, many times, He has sent His Son and told you EVERYTHING you need to do to have eternal life. Literally all you have to do is accept these things into your heart, and you will never have to experience it! He is preserving your free will, while throwing you every possible lifeline to save you! This is God's love, that He wants to save even the lowest of the low, but will not force them (since everybody complains about "forcing" beliefs...) He wants so, very much to save you from Hell. But Hell does exist.
3) Jesus isn't the only way to Heaven? John 14:6, 1 Peter 4:3 (". . . and abominable idolatries"), Galations 5:19-21 (". . . idolatry and witchcraft") This can't be any clearer. We're to only worship the Holy Trinity, (in the right way! Deuteronomy 12:30-31), we're supposed to fully acknowledge and accept Jesus as our savior, and follow Him. The first verse I mentioned here is very clear! Jesus is the ONLY way to Heaven! This isn't to offend people who worship other gods, I point this out so that any of you who do will realize this truth, and come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9), God and I want to see you in Heaven, in eternal peace and comfort! But you need to accept Jesus as your savior, and you (progressivists included) need to reject the false notion that there are other ways to Heaven. Jesus is the ONLY way to Heaven.
I think that covers it for now, but these are basic Biblical truths that are being compromised here. Just because these statements are "old" doesn't mean they're "outdated" - God's word is never outdated! Times may change, but God's will is consistent throughout all of it. Don't listen to wolves in sheep clothing trying to spread false ideas. Listen to God's holy word in the Bible, with genuine, heartfelt prayer-guided reflection. May you all be blessed and guided to God's truth, according to His perfect will! In Jesus' name. Amen.
These statements weren't just different interpretations of Scripture like the age of the Earth or something, these were literal blasphemy.
I would like to point out before I get into this that I am not a fundamentalist looney old preacher, I am a (young-ish) metal fan who used to be into some occult stuff and has come to accept controversial Biblical views over several years. And even if I were the former, my individual status still wouldn't invalidate God's word.
1) Gay marriage and gay sexual activities don't go against God's will? (Genesis 1:28-29, Mark 10:6-7, Leviticus 18:22) I don't hate gay people. (Also, I will not disclose my own orientation; it's not important.) Hatred is murder (1 John 3:15) and I will not judge somebody for their preferences. You could be attracted to any number of things, gay, straight, normal, weird; what matters to God is how you handle those attractions (see end of paragraph). God's marriage is different from what humans consider marriage. God's marriage is... about love to a degree, sure, but isn't just about a union; it's also about reproduction, having children, which only biologically happens between a man and a woman. This is not discrimination. This isn't about holding back people of other genders, it's just the very basic definition of what marriage is. A deaf person wouldn't have much place in a record store; a blind person at an art gallery; it's not discrimination against them, it's just what the idea is about, and they just don't fit it, the VERY same principle applies to God's definition of marriage. It's NOT about hatred, it's about what marriage exactly is! The Bible is God's word to us, and He's clearly not too happy about gay marriage. But don't be mistaken, heterosexuals also have VERY clearly-defined rules that all would do well to learn and keep in mind. Some people are called to flat-out celibacy (could be homosexuals' calling too?). It's not about gays vs straights, it's about living a holy life, which everybody is to do, homosexuals included.
2) There isn't a Hell? Luke 16:19–31, Matthew 18:34-35, Matthew 3:12, Matthew 13:30, Revelation 20:14-15, Revelation 20:9-10 This does not mean that God isn't loving! He sent His own Son to be crucified on a cross for you! He doesn't want you to experience that, and takes no pleasure in sending anyone there (Ezekiel 18:31-32), but He will do so - He has warned you many, many times, He has sent His Son and told you EVERYTHING you need to do to have eternal life. Literally all you have to do is accept these things into your heart, and you will never have to experience it! He is preserving your free will, while throwing you every possible lifeline to save you! This is God's love, that He wants to save even the lowest of the low, but will not force them (since everybody complains about "forcing" beliefs...) He wants so, very much to save you from Hell. But Hell does exist.
3) Jesus isn't the only way to Heaven? John 14:6, 1 Peter 4:3 (". . . and abominable idolatries"), Galations 5:19-21 (". . . idolatry and witchcraft") This can't be any clearer. We're to only worship the Holy Trinity, (in the right way! Deuteronomy 12:30-31), we're supposed to fully acknowledge and accept Jesus as our savior, and follow Him. The first verse I mentioned here is very clear! Jesus is the ONLY way to Heaven! This isn't to offend people who worship other gods, I point this out so that any of you who do will realize this truth, and come to repentance (2 Peter 3:9), God and I want to see you in Heaven, in eternal peace and comfort! But you need to accept Jesus as your savior, and you (progressivists included) need to reject the false notion that there are other ways to Heaven. Jesus is the ONLY way to Heaven.
I think that covers it for now, but these are basic Biblical truths that are being compromised here. Just because these statements are "old" doesn't mean they're "outdated" - God's word is never outdated! Times may change, but God's will is consistent throughout all of it. Don't listen to wolves in sheep clothing trying to spread false ideas. Listen to God's holy word in the Bible, with genuine, heartfelt prayer-guided reflection. May you all be blessed and guided to God's truth, according to His perfect will! In Jesus' name. Amen.
Sunday, October 19, 2014
Don't Listen to Televangelists!
Most, if not all, televangelists are NOT servants of God! If you watched them and saw a corrupted message, believe me, all who read this: God is just as angry about those lies as you are. These people may be speaking about God, and they may quote His word, but they are no different than the pharisees of Jesus' day; whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful/okay on the outside, but it hides death inside.
Also, they like to distort the word of God to the point that it has a whole different message! Can you think of any other beings who like to speak to servants of God and try to tell them a message that is not in line with God's word? I can think of one in particular!
Now, remember that we are NOT to hate people (1 John 3:15). Don't support their actions, but pray for them, pray that these people might accept -- not only find, they've already done that much -- but accept the truth, and repent before they learn the hard way. I want to see these people change, and I'd like to see them in Heaven. If any of them read this - REPENT! Stop reading my blog, and stop reading your own thoughts, and read the BIBLE! God is more than a marketing tool, and your behavior comes with a price. You will learn someday... why not make that day today?
Here are some videos about televangelists:
http://youtu.be/T245DmTUjKY?t=2m34s
Also, Benny Hinn says that if you donate to him, you can get blessings in return. This is what God's word says about that: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+8%3A18-22
Here's more about Benny Hinn.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WA--WMl6u-k See Mark 12:41-44
Here's several of their lies being exposed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKLZvmR1GeY
And that's that! Don't listen to them, or their heresy, as it stands. Read the Bible, and listen to its clear instructions with prayerful guidance. If a televangelist hindered your relationship with God, understand that God does not condone what they do, and He wants no part of such manipulative nonsense. Don't listen to the "ravening wolves" in "sheep's clothing". God wants you to come to repentance and to accept Jesus as your savior. God wants you to, unlike televanglists, worship in spirit and truth.
Also, they like to distort the word of God to the point that it has a whole different message! Can you think of any other beings who like to speak to servants of God and try to tell them a message that is not in line with God's word? I can think of one in particular!
Now, remember that we are NOT to hate people (1 John 3:15). Don't support their actions, but pray for them, pray that these people might accept -- not only find, they've already done that much -- but accept the truth, and repent before they learn the hard way. I want to see these people change, and I'd like to see them in Heaven. If any of them read this - REPENT! Stop reading my blog, and stop reading your own thoughts, and read the BIBLE! God is more than a marketing tool, and your behavior comes with a price. You will learn someday... why not make that day today?
Here are some videos about televangelists:
http://youtu.be/T245DmTUjKY?t=2m34s
Also, Benny Hinn says that if you donate to him, you can get blessings in return. This is what God's word says about that: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Acts+8%3A18-22
Here's more about Benny Hinn.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WA--WMl6u-k See Mark 12:41-44
Here's several of their lies being exposed: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AKLZvmR1GeY
And that's that! Don't listen to them, or their heresy, as it stands. Read the Bible, and listen to its clear instructions with prayerful guidance. If a televangelist hindered your relationship with God, understand that God does not condone what they do, and He wants no part of such manipulative nonsense. Don't listen to the "ravening wolves" in "sheep's clothing". God wants you to come to repentance and to accept Jesus as your savior. God wants you to, unlike televanglists, worship in spirit and truth.
Tuesday, October 14, 2014
Random Thoughts
Hear: A man committed many heinous crimes and went to jail with a life sentence. His lawyer - an honest one, looking to help - asked to speak to him, and they allowed him in to speak. The man informed the lawyer that he hated being in jail. The lawyer said happily, "There are things we can do to get you out! I've found a way to help you! Then you can be freed from this prison, and you can go out and find happiness again." But the man said, "No, I will find my own way out of jail. I don't need your help." And the man spent the rest of his life in jail. Everything he tried failed.
Also, isn't it astounding that I experience temptation the most when I'm closest to doing God's will? If sins are just caused by instinct or by human emotion, why am I tempted to sin more ONLY when I pose a threat to the adversary? Wouldn't I want to sin all the time?
If there is one thing I have learned in my like two months of online evangelizing, it's that there are some seriously mentally troubled human beings out there. In fact, you could get the same thing from reading the news, but people's instability has only been magnified in recent events. Humanists need to look at the world - I don't know what mankind they think can survive without God, but it's not the one on the planet where I live. These people are lost and in desperate need of a savior.
Also, isn't it astounding that I experience temptation the most when I'm closest to doing God's will? If sins are just caused by instinct or by human emotion, why am I tempted to sin more ONLY when I pose a threat to the adversary? Wouldn't I want to sin all the time?
If there is one thing I have learned in my like two months of online evangelizing, it's that there are some seriously mentally troubled human beings out there. In fact, you could get the same thing from reading the news, but people's instability has only been magnified in recent events. Humanists need to look at the world - I don't know what mankind they think can survive without God, but it's not the one on the planet where I live. These people are lost and in desperate need of a savior.
Sunday, October 12, 2014
Sadness?
When I listened to a lot of dark music, I was more inclined to sadness. There are a number of reasons for that, the most obvious being: 1) the direct negative spiritual influence, and 2) the general mental effect of listening to negative music - it makes you sad, too!
Another reason though, is more to do with the scene itself. The secular black metal scene often use anger and sadness as standards; the better you can express those emotions, the more positive reviews you will probably get.
When you're in a scene where there's a lot of competition to be the "darkest", most "pained" band out there, how do you think people in the scene are going to be?
Obviously very few people will want to exhibit those traits, but when you're around it so much, it rubs off on your psyche anyway! I guess you could say you sort of start "wanting" those emotions anyway. I'm not a psychology expert, but I would definitely describe it that way. And any secularists reading this will say how stupid these words are. "They don't want to be sad, the world just keeps dragging them down! They listen to that music to help them cope with their feelings! They listen to that music because it 'just sounds good'!" It's hard to imagine, but that's actually usually wrong.
Imagine you or your friends being "cheery" people, greeting each other with sincere smiles and hugs. It makes you cringe. Imagine dealing with the "preps" out there. Who would want to do that? But see, those people aren't like that just because they're on some euphoric popularity trip, or because they're "idiots", they're just different. Some of them are putting on a show, sure, but some of them are just happy people. There are plenty of happy people in the world who are very aware of what's going on. (What's "actually going on" is different from what the secular scene tells you too, but that's for another post.)
Happiness, true happiness, seems to be a sign of weakness in that scene, and in fact in a lot of the world in general. It's not! It's okay to be happy! Your sadness doesn't have to define you. You don't have to hide behind it. It's okay to look at the good in a situation. It's okay to be positive, even cheery if you feel like it, even if "it's faggy" / "it's douchey" / what have you, because it's not! Happiness, even being goofy is okay. It's fine to listen to happier music, too.
I would actually recommend it! The world is full of bad stuff, to be sure, but we don't have to let it affect us so much! We don't have to listen to music based on it and that revels in it. Finding more positive stuff will clean out your psyche (and even your spirit, depending how positive it is). Thinking more positively will magnify those effects.
I know how weird it is for a lot of metalheads to think this way, but try it! Express happiness! Happiness and sadness are contagious, which would you rather someone spread to you? Maybe you can become someone who starts it where you are.
Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice!
Psalms 32:11 Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous ones; And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.
Luke 1:47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
God bless and guide you all according to His perfect will! In Jesus' name, Amen.
Another reason though, is more to do with the scene itself. The secular black metal scene often use anger and sadness as standards; the better you can express those emotions, the more positive reviews you will probably get.
When you're in a scene where there's a lot of competition to be the "darkest", most "pained" band out there, how do you think people in the scene are going to be?
Obviously very few people will want to exhibit those traits, but when you're around it so much, it rubs off on your psyche anyway! I guess you could say you sort of start "wanting" those emotions anyway. I'm not a psychology expert, but I would definitely describe it that way. And any secularists reading this will say how stupid these words are. "They don't want to be sad, the world just keeps dragging them down! They listen to that music to help them cope with their feelings! They listen to that music because it 'just sounds good'!" It's hard to imagine, but that's actually usually wrong.
Imagine you or your friends being "cheery" people, greeting each other with sincere smiles and hugs. It makes you cringe. Imagine dealing with the "preps" out there. Who would want to do that? But see, those people aren't like that just because they're on some euphoric popularity trip, or because they're "idiots", they're just different. Some of them are putting on a show, sure, but some of them are just happy people. There are plenty of happy people in the world who are very aware of what's going on. (What's "actually going on" is different from what the secular scene tells you too, but that's for another post.)
Happiness, true happiness, seems to be a sign of weakness in that scene, and in fact in a lot of the world in general. It's not! It's okay to be happy! Your sadness doesn't have to define you. You don't have to hide behind it. It's okay to look at the good in a situation. It's okay to be positive, even cheery if you feel like it, even if "it's faggy" / "it's douchey" / what have you, because it's not! Happiness, even being goofy is okay. It's fine to listen to happier music, too.
I would actually recommend it! The world is full of bad stuff, to be sure, but we don't have to let it affect us so much! We don't have to listen to music based on it and that revels in it. Finding more positive stuff will clean out your psyche (and even your spirit, depending how positive it is). Thinking more positively will magnify those effects.
I know how weird it is for a lot of metalheads to think this way, but try it! Express happiness! Happiness and sadness are contagious, which would you rather someone spread to you? Maybe you can become someone who starts it where you are.
Philippians 4:4 Rejoice in the Lord always: and again I say, Rejoice!
Psalms 32:11 Be glad in the LORD and rejoice, you righteous ones; And shout for joy, all you who are upright in heart.
Luke 1:47 And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior.
God bless and guide you all according to His perfect will! In Jesus' name, Amen.
Thursday, October 9, 2014
Logic
Some people think that the reason I am a Christian is because, darn-tootin', I'll just believe anything I hear.
Yes, that's why I reject: atheism, deism, paganism, heathenism, taoism, satanism, druidism, atavism, naturalism, wicca, occultism, gnosticism, esotericism, zoroastrianism, (modern) judaism, hinduism, islam, buddhism, norse mythology, and new age. It's because I'll believe "anything" I hear.
No, I'm a Christian because I'm aware of God's work in this world. Christianity is the only logical belief. I also see that the world literally could not operate in the way it does if supernatural forces were not at work. There are too many coincidences, too many unexplained phenomena, too many similar cases, too many subtle nudges that can't be explained as fleeting thoughts... Also the simple fact that something can't come from nothing. That "something" and those "supernatural forces" being, of course, explained by Christianity.
God bless you all, according to His perfect will. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Yes, that's why I reject: atheism, deism, paganism, heathenism, taoism, satanism, druidism, atavism, naturalism, wicca, occultism, gnosticism, esotericism, zoroastrianism, (modern) judaism, hinduism, islam, buddhism, norse mythology, and new age. It's because I'll believe "anything" I hear.
No, I'm a Christian because I'm aware of God's work in this world. Christianity is the only logical belief. I also see that the world literally could not operate in the way it does if supernatural forces were not at work. There are too many coincidences, too many unexplained phenomena, too many similar cases, too many subtle nudges that can't be explained as fleeting thoughts... Also the simple fact that something can't come from nothing. That "something" and those "supernatural forces" being, of course, explained by Christianity.
God bless you all, according to His perfect will. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Tuesday, October 7, 2014
A Note to the Secular Black Metal Scene
Nicki Minaj Bamboobles Her Butt Critics! People took the time to examine Nicki Minaj's butt so well that they decided to criticize it or something, so Nicki Minaj wore a shirt that accentuated her chest. They, I, we all, have been successfully bamboobled.
Alright, now that we've gotten that out of our systems, let's get right down to things.
A huge complaint I noticed in the secular black metal scene was always the "Christians" who are supposedly taking over our world today. Inflicting technology, pollution, and mundane articles like ones about Nicki Minaj's "bamboobling" abilities. The complaint was that while the bold pagans and atheists were making atmospheric black metal albums, standing against society's meaningless banter, we Christians were supposedly embracing it and capitalizing off of it. Let me be very clear about something here: that is not true.
Nobody who is interested in serving God will embrace the society we have now. They'll easily be as against it as, almost definitely more than, the secular scene. Society today contradicts the rules set forth by Jesus so much, it's insane.
Society today is about violence, about hedonistic sloth and greed and gluttony and lust (and using psychological warfare to make people want those things!), about impatience and wrath, about seeking immediate comfort, about modernizing, about submitting to corrupt authority that works for its own agendas, about corporations taking advantage of their workers, about fighting your own way to the top of a nonsense ladder of deceitful societal lies fabricated as "reality", all things that God never wants from us ever for any reason.
Here are some of the things which God wants us to ponder, rather than society:
Luke 21:1-4 As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
John 15:18-19 "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you."
Also, God calls His natural creations "good" (Genesis 1), Jesus overturned tables when people were misusing a temple (Matthew 21:12-17), Jesus also openly called out the corrupt authorities of that day (Matthew 23), Christianity is actually very much in line with many of your views, and interestingly enough, God is against many of the same things that you are. If any of you are reading this, really, the more I read the Bible, the more I realized that God was actually "on our side" too. God is against the corruption, against the anger, against the - if you will - "stupidity" in our world, against the pointless meandering of the media, against wasting our natural resources for personal gain, all of it. The biggest mistake someone in the secular scene's position can make is to lump God in with those practices, which is a very common misconception. The idea is that the elites claim to be Christians, so you assume they are, when they are actually "ravenous wolves" (Matthew 7:15) and are nothing like the example Jesus set forth.
In fact, one main reason I listened to your music for as long as I did (before I could discern positivity and negativity) was how much I, a Christian, agreed with parts of your message: the rebellion against society, the longing for beauty in our world, the shameless self-expression... That's what God wants from His followers! Why do you think there are so many unblack, Christian bands? It's not just because we all want to evangelize to you! If you're into "true" black metal and are truly against society, if you really support rebellion and creativity like black metal talks about, God may well be calling you to Him.
It's not black metal but this song came to mind: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgpoeTj_Qns
Alright, now that we've gotten that out of our systems, let's get right down to things.
A huge complaint I noticed in the secular black metal scene was always the "Christians" who are supposedly taking over our world today. Inflicting technology, pollution, and mundane articles like ones about Nicki Minaj's "bamboobling" abilities. The complaint was that while the bold pagans and atheists were making atmospheric black metal albums, standing against society's meaningless banter, we Christians were supposedly embracing it and capitalizing off of it. Let me be very clear about something here: that is not true.
Nobody who is interested in serving God will embrace the society we have now. They'll easily be as against it as, almost definitely more than, the secular scene. Society today contradicts the rules set forth by Jesus so much, it's insane.
Society today is about violence, about hedonistic sloth and greed and gluttony and lust (and using psychological warfare to make people want those things!), about impatience and wrath, about seeking immediate comfort, about modernizing, about submitting to corrupt authority that works for its own agendas, about corporations taking advantage of their workers, about fighting your own way to the top of a nonsense ladder of deceitful societal lies fabricated as "reality", all things that God never wants from us ever for any reason.
Here are some of the things which God wants us to ponder, rather than society:
Luke 21:1-4 As Jesus looked up, he saw the rich putting their gifts into the temple treasury. He also saw a poor widow put in two very small copper coins. “Truly I tell you,” he said, “this poor widow has put in more than all the others. All these people gave their gifts out of their wealth; but she out of her poverty put in all she had to live on.”
Matthew 5:44 But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you, and persecute you;
Romans 12:2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.
John 15:18-19 "If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you."
Also, God calls His natural creations "good" (Genesis 1), Jesus overturned tables when people were misusing a temple (Matthew 21:12-17), Jesus also openly called out the corrupt authorities of that day (Matthew 23), Christianity is actually very much in line with many of your views, and interestingly enough, God is against many of the same things that you are. If any of you are reading this, really, the more I read the Bible, the more I realized that God was actually "on our side" too. God is against the corruption, against the anger, against the - if you will - "stupidity" in our world, against the pointless meandering of the media, against wasting our natural resources for personal gain, all of it. The biggest mistake someone in the secular scene's position can make is to lump God in with those practices, which is a very common misconception. The idea is that the elites claim to be Christians, so you assume they are, when they are actually "ravenous wolves" (Matthew 7:15) and are nothing like the example Jesus set forth.
In fact, one main reason I listened to your music for as long as I did (before I could discern positivity and negativity) was how much I, a Christian, agreed with parts of your message: the rebellion against society, the longing for beauty in our world, the shameless self-expression... That's what God wants from His followers! Why do you think there are so many unblack, Christian bands? It's not just because we all want to evangelize to you! If you're into "true" black metal and are truly against society, if you really support rebellion and creativity like black metal talks about, God may well be calling you to Him.
It's not black metal but this song came to mind: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgpoeTj_Qns
Useful Information on the Forces at Work
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5vZ14Ozqzw
^ This is a video of a man who was heavily into satanism and turned Christian. He exposes many of the things that go on behind the scenes, and how these things work.
It's in things from Pokemon to horror movies. The Illuminati are real, and the "Star of David" is a symbol used when practicing black magic.
The most interesting part, for me, is he tells of a time when a Christian woman was threatening to expose his group, a group thinking their side had all the power, and they summoned a demon and they told him to go put a hex on this lady. The demon returned a few minutes later angry at all of them and said, "Don't you ever send me after a Christian again!" That's how "powerful" demonic forces are compared to the power of Jesus Christ.
God bless and protect you all according to His perfect will. In Jesus' name. Amen.
^ This is a video of a man who was heavily into satanism and turned Christian. He exposes many of the things that go on behind the scenes, and how these things work.
It's in things from Pokemon to horror movies. The Illuminati are real, and the "Star of David" is a symbol used when practicing black magic.
The most interesting part, for me, is he tells of a time when a Christian woman was threatening to expose his group, a group thinking their side had all the power, and they summoned a demon and they told him to go put a hex on this lady. The demon returned a few minutes later angry at all of them and said, "Don't you ever send me after a Christian again!" That's how "powerful" demonic forces are compared to the power of Jesus Christ.
God bless and protect you all according to His perfect will. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Monday, October 6, 2014
Rant About the Local Church Conference and Our Role as Christians
For many reasons, I'm going to be vague about this, but let me explain the situation. I belong to a church. This church is part of a group of churches in the local area. The "group" (as a whole, so not just my church) owned a local property that they often used for (spiritual) getaways. For example, when I was younger, my church took us to this property over the weekend a couple of times and much to my spiritual benefit! Some might assume the worst about such situations, but this was actually, sincerely, a wonderful place for me - nothing bad happened there, we genuinely learned about God and about Jesus there. It was at this place that I sent my prayer about the fighting, about the hate-filled life I was leading. That prayer to God is what set in motion everything that led me to as good of a place as I am right now. I still have a ways to go, we all always will, but I have improved so much through God's grace in that situation, I can hardly describe it.
So I was upset to hear that they didn't have the money to keep the property and might have to sell it.
They ended up having to sell it. Surely there were a number of people interested in this property, it was a beautiful building with plenty of woods and stuff.
Apparently, according to this paper, the property was originally purchased years and years ago for the purpose of training for church leadership. For a long time now, this property has been used to welcome people of various backgrounds to help people develop awareness in the world, or something.
And so they sold the quote "holy" property to Buddhists.
They did so hoping to remain faithful to the original intent of the people there. Buddhism doesn't sound very much like training for Christian church leadership, but what do I know?
Look, the fact is, this is highly non-Christian behavior of them. People today like to think that Buddhism isn't that bad in Christian terms since, hey, at least it promotes peace, right? Nothing can be bad if it promotes peace! But it can be. Jesus didn't come to Earth to bring peace, but a sword. Also, at the end of the day, though Buddhism may teach some nice-sounding values, the belief still denies Jesus Christ, and the Father. It still teaches things contrary to the Holy Bible, and that's dressed-up blasphemy. Blasphemy sounds like a harsh word, but let's be honest with ourselves here, it still is. You don't have to run around and burn churches and make band logos with inverted crosses in them to be blasphemous. It's all wrong in the eyes of the Father, and now this property that was originally used to bring people to God is now being used to lead people away from Him.
I can hardly believe that information about a Buddhist center looking to "chant" "Buddha's name" was located anywhere on a paper given to me at my church. I do not hate Buddhists, I don't hate anyone, but I cannot respect the belief itself. I can't accept that the place that helped rekindle my relationship with the true and living God is now owned by people seeking to worship lies. Then the "group" of churches, the one which released the statement, have the nerve to gleefully write that a Buddhist center will be established on quote "holy" ground.
They call this, and I quote, "exciting and extraordinary", claiming that the spiritual quest of Buddhism mirrors our own. IT DOES NOT!!! I mean no disrespect to Buddhist people here, even though I know how this will sound, but Buddhism as a belief is blasphemous lies set forth by the adversary, deceptive, denying the truth that he's always trying to hide. The only difference is, Buddhism doesn't look as bad to unfocused eyes because it teaches some nice values.
The statement suggests that they fully embrace the fact that Buddhists will own the quote "holy" property, and have no intent to do anything about it. This always looks like love to unfocused eyes, because you're "being respectful" by being "tolerant" and not pushing your views which they clearly do not want to hear. This is not love. True love is spreading the word of God, true love is prohibiting other beliefs from spreading whenever possible, because God is truth, Christ is our savior, and Hell as bad as it sounds awaits anyone who doesn't see those truths. Avoiding the truth is lying, a principle which almost anybody recognizes, and by being silent, people are allowing the lost souls to go to Hell. That doesn't sound very much like love to me. Don't be ashamed to spread the word! It's like when your parents took something harmful away from you as a child. You wanted it, but it would have hurt you. Out of love, parents take sharp, harmful things away so that their children will be safe and happy. We are to do likewise with our friends, with others in this world. They want something else, but it WILL hurt them. Our duty is to spread the word so that they can be safe in God's love. This sounds like hatred, but it IS NOT. It's love, it's concern for our neighbors, it's hope that others can have the grace of God in their lives, too. This isn't hatred. It's love.
May God bless you all according to His perfect will. May God help our local group of churches. They are severely misled as it is. Maybe they will see it and repent, just as I did. God's will be done. In Jesus' name. Amen.
The statement ends with a prayer from a reverend from many years ago who wanted the property to bring forth good fruit for the kingdom of God. You can't imagine how sad reading that makes me.
So I was upset to hear that they didn't have the money to keep the property and might have to sell it.
They ended up having to sell it. Surely there were a number of people interested in this property, it was a beautiful building with plenty of woods and stuff.
Apparently, according to this paper, the property was originally purchased years and years ago for the purpose of training for church leadership. For a long time now, this property has been used to welcome people of various backgrounds to help people develop awareness in the world, or something.
And so they sold the quote "holy" property to Buddhists.
They did so hoping to remain faithful to the original intent of the people there. Buddhism doesn't sound very much like training for Christian church leadership, but what do I know?
Look, the fact is, this is highly non-Christian behavior of them. People today like to think that Buddhism isn't that bad in Christian terms since, hey, at least it promotes peace, right? Nothing can be bad if it promotes peace! But it can be. Jesus didn't come to Earth to bring peace, but a sword. Also, at the end of the day, though Buddhism may teach some nice-sounding values, the belief still denies Jesus Christ, and the Father. It still teaches things contrary to the Holy Bible, and that's dressed-up blasphemy. Blasphemy sounds like a harsh word, but let's be honest with ourselves here, it still is. You don't have to run around and burn churches and make band logos with inverted crosses in them to be blasphemous. It's all wrong in the eyes of the Father, and now this property that was originally used to bring people to God is now being used to lead people away from Him.
I can hardly believe that information about a Buddhist center looking to "chant" "Buddha's name" was located anywhere on a paper given to me at my church. I do not hate Buddhists, I don't hate anyone, but I cannot respect the belief itself. I can't accept that the place that helped rekindle my relationship with the true and living God is now owned by people seeking to worship lies. Then the "group" of churches, the one which released the statement, have the nerve to gleefully write that a Buddhist center will be established on quote "holy" ground.
They call this, and I quote, "exciting and extraordinary", claiming that the spiritual quest of Buddhism mirrors our own. IT DOES NOT!!! I mean no disrespect to Buddhist people here, even though I know how this will sound, but Buddhism as a belief is blasphemous lies set forth by the adversary, deceptive, denying the truth that he's always trying to hide. The only difference is, Buddhism doesn't look as bad to unfocused eyes because it teaches some nice values.
The statement suggests that they fully embrace the fact that Buddhists will own the quote "holy" property, and have no intent to do anything about it. This always looks like love to unfocused eyes, because you're "being respectful" by being "tolerant" and not pushing your views which they clearly do not want to hear. This is not love. True love is spreading the word of God, true love is prohibiting other beliefs from spreading whenever possible, because God is truth, Christ is our savior, and Hell as bad as it sounds awaits anyone who doesn't see those truths. Avoiding the truth is lying, a principle which almost anybody recognizes, and by being silent, people are allowing the lost souls to go to Hell. That doesn't sound very much like love to me. Don't be ashamed to spread the word! It's like when your parents took something harmful away from you as a child. You wanted it, but it would have hurt you. Out of love, parents take sharp, harmful things away so that their children will be safe and happy. We are to do likewise with our friends, with others in this world. They want something else, but it WILL hurt them. Our duty is to spread the word so that they can be safe in God's love. This sounds like hatred, but it IS NOT. It's love, it's concern for our neighbors, it's hope that others can have the grace of God in their lives, too. This isn't hatred. It's love.
May God bless you all according to His perfect will. May God help our local group of churches. They are severely misled as it is. Maybe they will see it and repent, just as I did. God's will be done. In Jesus' name. Amen.
The statement ends with a prayer from a reverend from many years ago who wanted the property to bring forth good fruit for the kingdom of God. You can't imagine how sad reading that makes me.
Sunday, October 5, 2014
Let's Debunk Things the Pope Says, Part 1
The pope (the human who masquerades as the leader of God's and Jesus' church) is a blasphemous heretic, just like the one(s) before him. I am so outraged by the things I have found that he's said and done, just this current pope, let's take a quick minute to debunk them. I plan to make several posts like this. This will just be one of them.
"God is not a magician, He is the Creator”
LIES. See how it's worded, though: grammatically speaking, this is not a lie -- God is not a "magician", since that's technically occultism. However, the context was pertaining to God's (and the church's) ability to do things beyond human reason, which most people today simply call "magic". And this is a LIE. God can do anything whenever He wants. His power is not "magical", but it has the same level of power as "magic", and in fact exceeds that level, too. This quote from Francis is a lie that undermines the power of the Heavenly Father.
Pope Francis has ordered a group of theologians and lawyers to open up methods for Catholics to obtain divorces more easily.
What does our Lord and savior Jesus Christ say about that?
Matthew 19: 3-9
Some Pharisees came to Jesus, testing Him and asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason at all?” And He answered and said, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.” They said to Him, “Why then did Moses command to give her a certificate of divorce and send her away?” He said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses permitted you to divorce your wives; but from the beginning it has not been this way. And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.”
The pontiff also asked people to reflect on how they interact with their guardian angel. He inquired if people not only listen to their inner voice, but actually acknowledge its presence. Are individuals asking their guardian angels for advice, protection, or communicating with that inner voice on a daily basis?
The pope encourages people to speak to "guardian angels".
Can you think of any beings pertaining to angels, who are not God, but are still always trying to get us to follow some way through an inner voice? If you said "the adversary", you're right! The Bible does not tell us to do this, though angels have of course been known to intercede in our lives sometimes at the command of God. This may seem like an innocent statement from the pope, but I can tell you from experience this will 99% almost definitely lead to bad things instead of good ones and open demonic forces into your life. Most people will not be able to differentiate angelic and demonic forces in their minds - I know I couldn't!! And if that weren't bad enough, this is basically a distraction from the power of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit in our lives anyway. We shouldn't need other beings to watch over us, and if they do, it's at the command of God anyway. The Holy Trinity is sufficient for us.
Oh yeah, and while I'm finding things, here's one more. Please note: pope Francis did not say this, but pope John Paul II did:
The Church knows that the issue of morality is one which deeply touches every person; it involves all people, even those who do not know Christ and his Gospel or God himself. She [the Catholic church] knows that it is precisely on the path of the moral life that the way of salvation is open to all.
A moral life, eh? Even for unbelievers? Let's see what Jesus says about that:
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me."
Salvation most definitely is available to everyone, but they must accept that Jesus is their savior.
By the way, if God is real, then a moral life would automatically include believing in Him and spreading His word, because otherwise would be lying, which is wrong. And please do not try to twist around the pope's words to suggest that that's what he was saying all along. He clearly was not.
These are the words from people who "take the place of Jesus Christ on Earth." (the New York chatechism.) Is that what they are doing? Are the words I quoted from these popes "Christian" statements? No.
God bless you all. May you all see God's perfect truth according to His will, in Jesus' name, amen. And may He help the vatican before it's too late, according to His will, amen... They are in desperate need of spiritual help from the Lord.
"God is not a magician, He is the Creator”
LIES. See how it's worded, though: grammatically speaking, this is not a lie -- God is not a "magician", since that's technically occultism. However, the context was pertaining to God's (and the church's) ability to do things beyond human reason, which most people today simply call "magic". And this is a LIE. God can do anything whenever He wants. His power is not "magical", but it has the same level of power as "magic", and in fact exceeds that level, too. This quote from Francis is a lie that undermines the power of the Heavenly Father.
Pope Francis has ordered a group of theologians and lawyers to open up methods for Catholics to obtain divorces more easily.
What does our Lord and savior Jesus Christ say about that?
Matthew 19: 3-9
Some Pharisees came to Jesus, testing Him and asking, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for any reason at all?” And He answered and said, “Have you not read that He who created them from the beginning made them male and female, and said, ‘For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh’? So they are no longer two, but one flesh. What therefore God has joined together, let no man separate.” They said to Him, “Why then did Moses command to give her a certificate of divorce and send her away?” He said to them, “Because of your hardness of heart Moses permitted you to divorce your wives; but from the beginning it has not been this way. And I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for immorality, and marries another woman commits adultery.”
The pontiff also asked people to reflect on how they interact with their guardian angel. He inquired if people not only listen to their inner voice, but actually acknowledge its presence. Are individuals asking their guardian angels for advice, protection, or communicating with that inner voice on a daily basis?
The pope encourages people to speak to "guardian angels".
Can you think of any beings pertaining to angels, who are not God, but are still always trying to get us to follow some way through an inner voice? If you said "the adversary", you're right! The Bible does not tell us to do this, though angels have of course been known to intercede in our lives sometimes at the command of God. This may seem like an innocent statement from the pope, but I can tell you from experience this will 99% almost definitely lead to bad things instead of good ones and open demonic forces into your life. Most people will not be able to differentiate angelic and demonic forces in their minds - I know I couldn't!! And if that weren't bad enough, this is basically a distraction from the power of God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit in our lives anyway. We shouldn't need other beings to watch over us, and if they do, it's at the command of God anyway. The Holy Trinity is sufficient for us.
Oh yeah, and while I'm finding things, here's one more. Please note: pope Francis did not say this, but pope John Paul II did:
The Church knows that the issue of morality is one which deeply touches every person; it involves all people, even those who do not know Christ and his Gospel or God himself. She [the Catholic church] knows that it is precisely on the path of the moral life that the way of salvation is open to all.
A moral life, eh? Even for unbelievers? Let's see what Jesus says about that:
John 14:6 Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me."
Salvation most definitely is available to everyone, but they must accept that Jesus is their savior.
By the way, if God is real, then a moral life would automatically include believing in Him and spreading His word, because otherwise would be lying, which is wrong. And please do not try to twist around the pope's words to suggest that that's what he was saying all along. He clearly was not.
These are the words from people who "take the place of Jesus Christ on Earth." (the New York chatechism.) Is that what they are doing? Are the words I quoted from these popes "Christian" statements? No.
God bless you all. May you all see God's perfect truth according to His will, in Jesus' name, amen. And may He help the vatican before it's too late, according to His will, amen... They are in desperate need of spiritual help from the Lord.
Friday, October 3, 2014
Catholicism: As Usual, the devil is in the Details
Catholicism is a form of "Christianity" that follows the basic principles of the faith, but then twists around other things. See, what Catholicism does is formulate its own ideas, and then uses the bare minimum of Biblical sources required to make the idea "not totally impossible", and then makes those ideas into core principles of the religion.
Can you think of any other belief systems that have some similarities to Christianity but then change things to fit a specific interpretation?
Anyway, as with the "Negativity in the Media" post, I plan to start this one now, publish it, and then add things as time goes on.
Claim #1: Praying to saints and Mary. I recommend you read this, even though I didn't write it. Anyway, Catholics claim they do not pray to the saints for help - rather, they "pray"/ask the saints to pray for them, on their behalf sort of. This is absolutely true most of the time. The problem is, this is not Scripturally sound. Catholics use verses about Christians praying in general, to refer to the saints and Mary praying for us. That's misleading, because even though they are Christians, that's nothing more than distracting from the main point: the saints and Mary cannot hear us to begin with. There are verses in Revelation that mention saints, and that mention prayers; nowhere does it directly state that the saints hear our specific prayers and that these prayers are the ones that we try to send them. Their point isn't even suggested by this verse unless you're specifically looking for it. This is all over Catholic apology.
Catholics also believe that contacting dead saints is different from "contacting the dead" as occult people do ("contacting the dead" being STRICTLY forbidden by Scripture). The saints and Mary cannot hear our prayers, so who does? As someone who was a victim of occult forces, I can tell you with 100% certainty who hears our prayers (the ones which do not go to God in Three Persons the Blessed Trinity) - familiar spirits, aka demons. They will hear your prayers, they may even try to answer a couple to make themselves look legit. This is not the work of saints! The adversary and his forces do this a lot: they may do some things that look good on the surface, but are ultimately evil. If they answer you, you might get the thing you want, but it's only to trick you into praying to the dead more often, which is spiritually poisonous and outweighs any benefits from your prayer. Back when I used to communicate with spirits that were not part of the Holy Trinity, I often got answers, too, and they were always ultimately misleading, usually giving me what I asked, but in a way that led me further from the truth of God's word, further from my relationship with God. If you don't have a relationship with God, I cannot stress enough how much you *need* one. Not with other spirits, not with demons, with God. I didn't think I needed one this close, either, but I most certainly do. Please seriously consider it, God will truly hear your prayers. Saints will not, and Mary will not. Contacting them is the same as contacting "the dead", because you are contacting the same beings. Even if you do not intend to.
As the link above also explains, the Bible never tells us to pray to people in Heaven anyway, and there is no need for this anyway since Jesus is already our sole mediator. There is very, very minimal evidence for this practice in the Bible, and even what's provided is a major stretch. Clearly, even if this were true (which it isn't!!) it's not very important to God, and certainly not intended to be a widespread practice for all Christians or a main facet of a church.
Claim #2: Confession to a priest. Nowhere mentioned in Scripture, but it's one of the main points of Catholicism. Catholics look at priests in a very high regard, even though they're human beings like the rest of us. The Bible does mention confession, and does not state in plain words outright that this is forbidden, but I point again to the fact that Christ is our only mediator now, and therefore priests are not needed for our forgiveness. We are to confess our sins directly to God, and through salvation through Jesus Christ, we will be forgiven our trespasses against God, by God. Not by a human priest. This whole idea wouldn't be here unless someone came up with it and then specifically went looking for Bible verses to defend it. Just confess to God! What can a priest who did not commit your (specific) sins do, that you can't do yourself in God's presence? By this logic, I could take... let's do a random verse. Psalm 148:9 - "Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars", and use this to defend an idea that cedars must have some kind of divine significance, they're even mentioned somewhere in the Bible! That's not true of course, but seriously, it has as much Scriptural basis.
Claim #3: Purgatory. I like hearing myself talk, so let's look at what I just said above: "This whole idea wouldn't be here unless someone came up with it and then specifically went looking for Bible verses to defend it." There are a few sections (like three in the whole Bible) that could be construed in some sense to suggest the basic concept of Purgatory, but again, NONE of them state it outright, none of them even strongly suggest it! It's all dependent on interpretation, and even that relies on interpretation from like three brief side-suggestions in the entire Bible. If, by some stretch of the imagination, Purgatory really does exist, God must really want to hide it from us, considering the only basis for it is loose suggestions mostly taken out of context. God must also not think of it as very important to our faith journey, since He never even said the name of it, or even actually stated directly that it existed. I think we can safely say that Purgatory does not exist.
Besides that, Jesus died for all of our sins already, so Purgatory is unnecessary anyway. See 1 John 2:2 "He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins--and not only our sins but the sins of all the world."
Claim #4: Hail Mary. Please refer to Claim #1 above. Also, read this. This isn't even slightly suggested by Scripture, it's actually contradictory to it, and if you do it, you should stop right now. I don't say this, or anything in this post, out of hostility towards Catholics, I say it out of hostility towards, if anything, the teachings and practices themselves. I say it out of LOVE towards Catholics, fellow believers who seek to follow the word of our Heavenly Father, but have been gravely misled. This one, the Hail Mary, is particularly bad because it does not just rely on loose interpretations, it literally contradicts the Bible.
"Claim" #5 Oh yeah, a quick side-note, Catholics like to use the term "Father". Jesus expressly forbade anyone from calling people "Father" in Matthew 23:9. They point out that we call our dads "father". Jesus himself says, "Honor your father and mother." So apparently it's (grammatically) okay in that sense, true. Jesus used it in that sense himself.
Now, does Jesus say that it's okay to call a priest "Father"?
Here, have some more, taken from this site:
No comments. Just think about that for a minute, and decide if the God who sent us Jesus Christ, and spoke the words He did according to the Holy Bible is truly inspiring those responsible for the ideas I just presented above.
Update 2016: I see there's some debate about the New York Catholic Catechism. So here's a quote from something that is undoubtedly approved by the Vatican: For the Son of God became man so that we might become God.
I think that's all for right now. I'll add more later. May God bless all who read this and guide them to the truth according to His perfect will. May they all see the love in this post, and not hateful disagreement. In Jesus' name. Amen.
Can you think of any other belief systems that have some similarities to Christianity but then change things to fit a specific interpretation?
Anyway, as with the "Negativity in the Media" post, I plan to start this one now, publish it, and then add things as time goes on.
Claim #1: Praying to saints and Mary. I recommend you read this, even though I didn't write it. Anyway, Catholics claim they do not pray to the saints for help - rather, they "pray"/ask the saints to pray for them, on their behalf sort of. This is absolutely true most of the time. The problem is, this is not Scripturally sound. Catholics use verses about Christians praying in general, to refer to the saints and Mary praying for us. That's misleading, because even though they are Christians, that's nothing more than distracting from the main point: the saints and Mary cannot hear us to begin with. There are verses in Revelation that mention saints, and that mention prayers; nowhere does it directly state that the saints hear our specific prayers and that these prayers are the ones that we try to send them. Their point isn't even suggested by this verse unless you're specifically looking for it. This is all over Catholic apology.
Catholics also believe that contacting dead saints is different from "contacting the dead" as occult people do ("contacting the dead" being STRICTLY forbidden by Scripture). The saints and Mary cannot hear our prayers, so who does? As someone who was a victim of occult forces, I can tell you with 100% certainty who hears our prayers (the ones which do not go to God in Three Persons the Blessed Trinity) - familiar spirits, aka demons. They will hear your prayers, they may even try to answer a couple to make themselves look legit. This is not the work of saints! The adversary and his forces do this a lot: they may do some things that look good on the surface, but are ultimately evil. If they answer you, you might get the thing you want, but it's only to trick you into praying to the dead more often, which is spiritually poisonous and outweighs any benefits from your prayer. Back when I used to communicate with spirits that were not part of the Holy Trinity, I often got answers, too, and they were always ultimately misleading, usually giving me what I asked, but in a way that led me further from the truth of God's word, further from my relationship with God. If you don't have a relationship with God, I cannot stress enough how much you *need* one. Not with other spirits, not with demons, with God. I didn't think I needed one this close, either, but I most certainly do. Please seriously consider it, God will truly hear your prayers. Saints will not, and Mary will not. Contacting them is the same as contacting "the dead", because you are contacting the same beings. Even if you do not intend to.
As the link above also explains, the Bible never tells us to pray to people in Heaven anyway, and there is no need for this anyway since Jesus is already our sole mediator. There is very, very minimal evidence for this practice in the Bible, and even what's provided is a major stretch. Clearly, even if this were true (which it isn't!!) it's not very important to God, and certainly not intended to be a widespread practice for all Christians or a main facet of a church.
Claim #2: Confession to a priest. Nowhere mentioned in Scripture, but it's one of the main points of Catholicism. Catholics look at priests in a very high regard, even though they're human beings like the rest of us. The Bible does mention confession, and does not state in plain words outright that this is forbidden, but I point again to the fact that Christ is our only mediator now, and therefore priests are not needed for our forgiveness. We are to confess our sins directly to God, and through salvation through Jesus Christ, we will be forgiven our trespasses against God, by God. Not by a human priest. This whole idea wouldn't be here unless someone came up with it and then specifically went looking for Bible verses to defend it. Just confess to God! What can a priest who did not commit your (specific) sins do, that you can't do yourself in God's presence? By this logic, I could take... let's do a random verse. Psalm 148:9 - "Mountains, and all hills; fruitful trees, and all cedars", and use this to defend an idea that cedars must have some kind of divine significance, they're even mentioned somewhere in the Bible! That's not true of course, but seriously, it has as much Scriptural basis.
Claim #3: Purgatory. I like hearing myself talk, so let's look at what I just said above: "This whole idea wouldn't be here unless someone came up with it and then specifically went looking for Bible verses to defend it." There are a few sections (like three in the whole Bible) that could be construed in some sense to suggest the basic concept of Purgatory, but again, NONE of them state it outright, none of them even strongly suggest it! It's all dependent on interpretation, and even that relies on interpretation from like three brief side-suggestions in the entire Bible. If, by some stretch of the imagination, Purgatory really does exist, God must really want to hide it from us, considering the only basis for it is loose suggestions mostly taken out of context. God must also not think of it as very important to our faith journey, since He never even said the name of it, or even actually stated directly that it existed. I think we can safely say that Purgatory does not exist.
Besides that, Jesus died for all of our sins already, so Purgatory is unnecessary anyway. See 1 John 2:2 "He himself is the sacrifice that atones for our sins--and not only our sins but the sins of all the world."
Claim #4: Hail Mary. Please refer to Claim #1 above. Also, read this. This isn't even slightly suggested by Scripture, it's actually contradictory to it, and if you do it, you should stop right now. I don't say this, or anything in this post, out of hostility towards Catholics, I say it out of hostility towards, if anything, the teachings and practices themselves. I say it out of LOVE towards Catholics, fellow believers who seek to follow the word of our Heavenly Father, but have been gravely misled. This one, the Hail Mary, is particularly bad because it does not just rely on loose interpretations, it literally contradicts the Bible.
"Claim" #5 Oh yeah, a quick side-note, Catholics like to use the term "Father". Jesus expressly forbade anyone from calling people "Father" in Matthew 23:9. They point out that we call our dads "father". Jesus himself says, "Honor your father and mother." So apparently it's (grammatically) okay in that sense, true. Jesus used it in that sense himself.
Now, does Jesus say that it's okay to call a priest "Father"?
Here, have some more, taken from this site:
- The New York Catholic Catechism, under: Pope, says, "The Pope takes the place of Jesus Christ on earth...by divine right the pope has supreme and full power in faith and morals over each and every pastor and his flock. He is the true Vicar of Christ, the head of the entire church, the father and teacher of all Christians He is the infallible ruler, the founder of dogmas, the author of and the judge of councils; the universal ruler of truth, the arbiter of the world, the supreme judge of heaven and earth, the judge of all, being judged by one, God himself on earth."
- In his encyclical, "The Reunion of Christendom" (1885), Pope Leo XIII stated that the pope holds "upon this earth the place of God Almighty."
- The Council of Trent declared: "Sitting in that chair in which Peter, the Prince of the Apostles, sat to the close of life, the Catholic Church recognizes in his person the most exalted degree of dignity, and the full jurisdiction not based on constitutions, but emanating from no less authority than from God Himself. As the Successor of St. Peter and the true and legitimate Vicar of Jesus Christ, he therefore, presides over the Universal Church, the Father and Governor of all the faithful, of Bishops, also and of all other prelates, be their station, rant, or power, what they may be."
- The Catholic book, "My Catholic Faith" which is based on the Baltimore Catechism, on page 251, says, "The Pope can make and unmake laws for the entire Church; his authority is supreme and unquestioned. Every bishop, every priest, every member of the Church is subject to him."
No comments. Just think about that for a minute, and decide if the God who sent us Jesus Christ, and spoke the words He did according to the Holy Bible is truly inspiring those responsible for the ideas I just presented above.
Update 2016: I see there's some debate about the New York Catholic Catechism. So here's a quote from something that is undoubtedly approved by the Vatican: For the Son of God became man so that we might become God.
I think that's all for right now. I'll add more later. May God bless all who read this and guide them to the truth according to His perfect will. May they all see the love in this post, and not hateful disagreement. In Jesus' name. Amen.
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