HI EVERYONE, I'M A BIG CORPORATION! LOOK AT ME! I FINALLY LEARNED RECENTLY THAT RACISM IS BAD!!! I'VE FINALLY DECIDED THAT, NOW THAT THERE ARE PROTESTS AND RIOTS BREAKING OUT, I DON'T LIKE RACISM ANYMORE! PLEASE READ MY NEW BLOG POST DETAILING EVERY SINGLE THING I'M DOING TO COMBAT RACISM!
I WASN'T DOING ANY OF THESE THINGS BEFORE JUNE 2020, BUT NOW I AM!!!
WE ACCEPT PATS ON THE BACK IN CASH, CHECK, PAYPAL, OR CREDIT CARD!!! :)
Previously, a blog based on esoteric occultism (2012-2014). Most of these old posts have been deleted. Now (2014-present), this is a Christian blog, meant to reach out to, and teach, those who are still living in darkness. Note that posts from a couple years ago may not necessarily reflect my thoughts now.
Friday, June 19, 2020
Sunday, May 31, 2020
Experiences
Contrary to popular opinion, Christianity isn't just a "religion".
It's a relationship with a real, living, supernatural, spiritual being.
Of course the difference is that God (called YHWH, Yahwheh, etc) is
righteous and just, while every other spiritual force in Creation is
inherently flawed ("only God is good", etc) and likely malevolent and
misleading (see every non-Christian experience I've ever had, every
account of ex-Satanists and ex-Luciferians, etc).
Christianity
has "experiences" just like any other spiritual path. We have to be
discerning, because the devil will try to mislead people who
delve too far into "ExPeRiEnCeS", and the Bible even shows how the devil
will do that in the future when the events of Revelation take place -
bringing fire down from heaven, etc. We should always rely on God's
promises more than outward miracles. The point stands, however, that God
is capable of great things that neither we, nor science, can explain.
The other night, I was working on some album artwork and I was unsure about it.
As with all music and art I do, the intent was to glorify God, but the
subject just seemed... a bit "off the mark". Very paranormal, might have confused some people.
Suddenly my mom, in the next room, told me she was feeling dizzy. I've
been through things like this enough times that I immediately connected
it to the artwork. I didn't want to delete it if I was wrong and God did want me to use it, so I basically prayed, "God, if You
want me to delete this, just let me know. Let my mom feel better, and
I'll know I should delete it." (Keep in mind the context here - this
is NOT a case of, "If God does a good thing, I'll obey Him.") A couple
minutes later I asked her, and she was feeling better again. That was
the sign I needed! I deleted the artwork and she's been fine ever since.
This
also reminds me of August-September 2014 when I prayed for wisdom about
my old beliefs. A couple weeks later, not even searching for answers, I
was given the wisdom I needed anyway. While I wasn't looking (so to
speak), God was teaching me.
And around the
same time when I was learning to reject things like "magick" and
learning to embrace God as a source of power instead of my own intent.
It started raining and I was planning to use "intent/power" to stop the
rain (I now understand that magickal intent is a demonic trick,
basically "smoke and mirrors", not an actual "power" that humans can
harness) but decided to pray instead, and God stopped the rain for me. I
also understand now that God doesn't just grant whatever we ask, but
that small gesture was very important in developing my faith.
Not to mention all the other guidance that God gave me from around 2012-2014 as I learned to radically shift my worldview.
Originally I was going to post the above on a forum, but God directed me to post it here instead. May God bless you all and guide you according to His perfect will! In Jesus' name. Amen.
Friday, May 1, 2020
Be Free or Don't Be!
As the coronavirus pandemic goes on, people are starting to talk about how they "need to get back to work". People are expressing concerns about how the stock market going down.
What if you didn't need to go back to work? What if you didn't have to care about the stock market? You don't! At this very moment, you could be free from the economy and the stock market.
The coronavirus has put us in a position where we're temporarily separated from the daily rat races we live in and race around each day. This, now, is our chance to make it permanent. To be free from the shackles that the government puts on us. They hold money in front of our faces as bait, telling us we need to jump, roll over, play dead, etc to earn that money, and then they drip feed it to us. Just enough that we become complacent with where we are. But the simple fact is, money is inherently meaningless.
No insect will care if the economy collapses.
No tree, grass, or flower will care if the economy collapses.
No bear, wolf, deer, lizard, ram, camel, ... will care if the economy collapses.
No indigenous tribe will care if the economy collapses.
Only certain humans will care if the economy collapses.
This is because the economy is an imaginary thing that has no corporeal or incorporeal effect on anything. It's the trading of money. Money is an object. It's the trading of objects. Nothing will happen if objects stop being traded. The world will go on. Life will still exist. There will still be days and nights. There will still be food. It's just that meaningless objects won't be traded anymore. Is it "more complicated" than that? Technically yes, but not by much!
Every species on earth has lived for how many years, without money, including human beings. It's just that many of us are so fully indoctrinated into this society, we can't see beyond it. But there is life beyond it. We just have to see it and find it.
Don't beg to go back to work. You hated your job when you were there. You'll hate it when you go back. You don't want that job. You willingly placed your entire life in the government's shackles, not for "a job", but for money. You want the money from that job. But money is meaningless. Everything you want will still exist without money. Food literally grows on trees! Will it be difficult to restructure civilization to exist without money? Yes, but this is our chance to do it. What will be the replacement and incentive to continue making whatever man-made inventions you want? Perhaps a bartering system? This is what I don't know. Society is utterly foreign to me. I don't know what the rest of you want to put in place. BUT THIS IS OUR CHANCE TO REMOVE THE CURRENT SYSTEM AND THE SHACKLES IT PLACES ON YOU, AND REPLACE IT WITH SOMETHING ELSE, WHATEVER IT'S DECIDED THAT NEW THING WILL BE!
And I want to stress: I do not advocate for the mark of the beast. First, Satanism/Luciferianism is inherently flawed. (For example: They encourage breaking the ten commandments, and since "thou shalt not commit murder" is a commandment, well...... Also, think about this: if "evil" were "good" as the devil claims, wouldn't the ultimate act of "evil" be to go against the kingdom of Satan and embrace justice and holiness, hence still making God the proper deity of worship?) Second, the mark of the beast will simply be a stamp of approval to buy or sell. As far as I personally know, it doesn't mean you'll be able to just get anything for free if you have the mark! Third, every point I made before this remains: EVERY SPECIES IN HISTORY HAS LIVED WITHOUT THE MARK OF THE BEAST. WE CAN DO THE SAME! There's more to life than the very black-and-white view of MONEY or MARK. There have been other systems all throughout human history, and even more throughout the history of all living things.
Every living being throughout history -- including tons and tons and tons of your own ancestors -- have lived without a proper "economy".
What's stopping you from doing the same, other than your fear of letting go of your shackles?
Hail Christ!
Hail the God of 1 Samuel 8:6-7!
May God bless you all and guide you according to His perfect will! In Jesus' name. Amen.
What if you didn't need to go back to work? What if you didn't have to care about the stock market? You don't! At this very moment, you could be free from the economy and the stock market.
The coronavirus has put us in a position where we're temporarily separated from the daily rat races we live in and race around each day. This, now, is our chance to make it permanent. To be free from the shackles that the government puts on us. They hold money in front of our faces as bait, telling us we need to jump, roll over, play dead, etc to earn that money, and then they drip feed it to us. Just enough that we become complacent with where we are. But the simple fact is, money is inherently meaningless.
No insect will care if the economy collapses.
No tree, grass, or flower will care if the economy collapses.
No bear, wolf, deer, lizard, ram, camel, ... will care if the economy collapses.
No indigenous tribe will care if the economy collapses.
Only certain humans will care if the economy collapses.
This is because the economy is an imaginary thing that has no corporeal or incorporeal effect on anything. It's the trading of money. Money is an object. It's the trading of objects. Nothing will happen if objects stop being traded. The world will go on. Life will still exist. There will still be days and nights. There will still be food. It's just that meaningless objects won't be traded anymore. Is it "more complicated" than that? Technically yes, but not by much!
Every species on earth has lived for how many years, without money, including human beings. It's just that many of us are so fully indoctrinated into this society, we can't see beyond it. But there is life beyond it. We just have to see it and find it.
Don't beg to go back to work. You hated your job when you were there. You'll hate it when you go back. You don't want that job. You willingly placed your entire life in the government's shackles, not for "a job", but for money. You want the money from that job. But money is meaningless. Everything you want will still exist without money. Food literally grows on trees! Will it be difficult to restructure civilization to exist without money? Yes, but this is our chance to do it. What will be the replacement and incentive to continue making whatever man-made inventions you want? Perhaps a bartering system? This is what I don't know. Society is utterly foreign to me. I don't know what the rest of you want to put in place. BUT THIS IS OUR CHANCE TO REMOVE THE CURRENT SYSTEM AND THE SHACKLES IT PLACES ON YOU, AND REPLACE IT WITH SOMETHING ELSE, WHATEVER IT'S DECIDED THAT NEW THING WILL BE!
And I want to stress: I do not advocate for the mark of the beast. First, Satanism/Luciferianism is inherently flawed. (For example: They encourage breaking the ten commandments, and since "thou shalt not commit murder" is a commandment, well...... Also, think about this: if "evil" were "good" as the devil claims, wouldn't the ultimate act of "evil" be to go against the kingdom of Satan and embrace justice and holiness, hence still making God the proper deity of worship?) Second, the mark of the beast will simply be a stamp of approval to buy or sell. As far as I personally know, it doesn't mean you'll be able to just get anything for free if you have the mark! Third, every point I made before this remains: EVERY SPECIES IN HISTORY HAS LIVED WITHOUT THE MARK OF THE BEAST. WE CAN DO THE SAME! There's more to life than the very black-and-white view of MONEY or MARK. There have been other systems all throughout human history, and even more throughout the history of all living things.
Every living being throughout history -- including tons and tons and tons of your own ancestors -- have lived without a proper "economy".
What's stopping you from doing the same, other than your fear of letting go of your shackles?
Hail Christ!
Hail the God of 1 Samuel 8:6-7!
May God bless you all and guide you according to His perfect will! In Jesus' name. Amen.
Tuesday, January 14, 2020
One Minute on Earth
I was walking in a cemetery recently when I thought: Surely, sadly, not every single person in that cemetery is saved. How much would one of those people in Hell give, to have one more minute on Earth? To be surrounded by flames, constantly burned, for years and years on end........... and then to suddenly be in that cemetery with me? To experience just a few of the things we take for granted every day? How glad would someone who had been burning in flames for 80+ years be to take a small drink from the water I had brought with me? How glad would they be to hear the distant sounds of a factory? How glad would they be to see the foliage again? How glad would they be to feel the breeze on their face? How glad would they be for the solemn quietness there? ... And yet that won't happen. I'm no expert on endtime prophecies, but as far as I understand, the only reprieve they will ever get is on Judgment Day. They will stand before God to be separated into "sheep" (the saved) or "goats" (the unsaved*), after which time they will be sent from the first death, to the second death. ... But how much would they give for one more minute beyond that? To have an eternity of punishment ahead of them, but to have that eternity interrupted for a brief moment in time to smell the air? Feel the grass? Read a tombstone in a cemetery? Yet so severe are their sins, according to the righteous judgment of our omniscient Lord, they will not be granted even this reprieve. And yet I'm sure they all yearn for it.
And I don't say this to mock them. I say it as a warning to those reading this. Despite the memes, the reality is that Hell isn't a party where you'll be in "good company" (unless you think Adolf Hitler is good company!) Hell is a place of torment where people will be punished severely for sins they knowingly committed. Every person in Hell was aware of the Gospel. They rejected it, sure, but they heard the message. They were preached to about Hell by many people in their lives. Given the years on the tombstones in that cemetery, the people from that time period would have lived during a time where Christianity played a crucial role in American culture. If you listen to stories from that time, you'll learn quickly that many of those so-called "Christians" were lukewarm chaff. Adulterers, drunkards, racists, abusers, ... who always made sure to have a Bible in the home and dress nicely for Sunday services! Regardless, you'll always hear of at least a few people in those people's lives who made a genuine attempt to live out the Gospel. The Gospel was always available to everyone who rejected it in favor of some prideful and/or hedonistic path into self-fulfilling destruction. If they had that one minute on Earth, I'm certain they would spend at least some of that minute warning those here on Earth. They would beg and plead (to an indifferent and mocking world) that they should turn from their sins and not go down the same path. And indifferent and mocking would the world be, even though the truth is right in front of their eyes. But because Christians can't take these people by the hand and lead them to the edge of Hell and show them Hell, they refuse to acknowledge it. They're certainly able to believe, but they refuse to. There's abundant proof everywhere around them, but until they feel the heat of the flames, they'll resist.
Why?
Judgment is coming, and there are so many who are suffering for following the same paths people are following on Earth today. There are people from the 1900s, the 1800s, the 1700s, even the 100s who are suffering for the same things people still do today.
How much would they give to warn the people of this world today, for just one minute?
... Will people wait until they're looking at the flames to repent?
* Obviously this is not meant to imply that goats, as animals, are evil. The use of "sheep" and "goats" is just a metaphor that Christ used when originally preaching to the Israelites.
And I don't say this to mock them. I say it as a warning to those reading this. Despite the memes, the reality is that Hell isn't a party where you'll be in "good company" (unless you think Adolf Hitler is good company!) Hell is a place of torment where people will be punished severely for sins they knowingly committed. Every person in Hell was aware of the Gospel. They rejected it, sure, but they heard the message. They were preached to about Hell by many people in their lives. Given the years on the tombstones in that cemetery, the people from that time period would have lived during a time where Christianity played a crucial role in American culture. If you listen to stories from that time, you'll learn quickly that many of those so-called "Christians" were lukewarm chaff. Adulterers, drunkards, racists, abusers, ... who always made sure to have a Bible in the home and dress nicely for Sunday services! Regardless, you'll always hear of at least a few people in those people's lives who made a genuine attempt to live out the Gospel. The Gospel was always available to everyone who rejected it in favor of some prideful and/or hedonistic path into self-fulfilling destruction. If they had that one minute on Earth, I'm certain they would spend at least some of that minute warning those here on Earth. They would beg and plead (to an indifferent and mocking world) that they should turn from their sins and not go down the same path. And indifferent and mocking would the world be, even though the truth is right in front of their eyes. But because Christians can't take these people by the hand and lead them to the edge of Hell and show them Hell, they refuse to acknowledge it. They're certainly able to believe, but they refuse to. There's abundant proof everywhere around them, but until they feel the heat of the flames, they'll resist.
Why?
Judgment is coming, and there are so many who are suffering for following the same paths people are following on Earth today. There are people from the 1900s, the 1800s, the 1700s, even the 100s who are suffering for the same things people still do today.
How much would they give to warn the people of this world today, for just one minute?
... Will people wait until they're looking at the flames to repent?
* Obviously this is not meant to imply that goats, as animals, are evil. The use of "sheep" and "goats" is just a metaphor that Christ used when originally preaching to the Israelites.
Friday, January 3, 2020
Iran
I ask Iran to remember, that the American GOVERNMENT, is not the same
thing as American CITIZENS. We did not murder anyone in Iran -- the
government did. we are citizens, trying to live life, trying to reach
our own personal goals, spending time with our friends and family...... The government acts independently of us. We don't condone most of the
actions of the government.
(I wrote this on Facebook earlier. I wanted to write it here, too.)
(I wrote this on Facebook earlier. I wanted to write it here, too.)
Thursday, January 2, 2020
RE: "Differences Between Human Life and Animal Life" (OB16)
I strongly disagree with something Answers in Genesis wrote. Don't get the wrong idea from this. I AM A FIRM CHRISTIAN and I personally believe in Young-Earth Creationism, but whether someone follows Young- or Old-Earth is hardly important to me. It's more the details of their article than the primary message of it. Since they don't seem to have a contact form (???) I guess I'll just write my thoughts here instead.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE IS [HERE]
The article is, of course, a comparison of human beings and animals. There are differences, and some differences are correctly highlighted in the article. The problem is, the author lets these excessively proud and anthropocentric beliefs distort his interpretation of Scripture, and at at least one point, misses a crucial verse within Scripture. This is an error I've seen in the views of many Christians. Now make no mistake, the Gospel message is inherently geared toward human beings. Jesus Himself said that humans are of more value than "many sparrows". But Christian views of animals are a very controversial subject, and this needs to be handled carefully. And ... I am simply led to believe that Answers in Genesis answered this incorrectly! A list of the points I am convicted by, are listed below along with responses.
1) Man possesses the faculty of speech (see OB2), and his creative communication by means of his vocal system is completely different from those of animals [G7, p. 112–130].
A dog was shown to be able to communicate using buttons that say words when pressed. Apes can learn sign language. I have no idea what "creative communication by means of his vocal system" is supposed to mean; so many animals communicate by using their vocals cords, it's not even worth mentioning. With canines for example, there are distinct barks, howls, yips etc that mean different things based on pitch/tone. There are also human languages (eg Chinese) where tone can change the meaning of a word.
2) Only man received the breath of God. In this way, he was given a spirit (Eccles. 12:7; 1 Thess. 5:23) so that he transcends the world of the animals.
This is absolutely 100% false. Genesis 7:15 clearly states, "They went into the ark with Noah, two and two of all flesh in which there was the breath of life." We all know the story of Noah; this refers to the animals that were entering the ark. You can easily compare Genesis 7:15 with Genesis 2:7. "ruach chaiyim" and "neshmat chaiyim". Both words refer to "life" and "spirit".
3) Only man can actually communicate with God. Only he possesses the gift of speech and of prayer by means of which he can express all his thoughts before his Creator.
The claim that "ONLY" man can communicate with God, is found nowhere in Scripture. God hears silent prayers. So if an animal were to acknowledge God, it could very easily pray to Him. Do animals acknowledge God? I don't know. I would certainly think so. I can't claim to know for sure, but if mankind acknowledged God before eating the fruit, it stands to reason that animals, having not eaten the fruit, are also capable of acknowledging Him. Even if I'm wrong, though... THE PROOF ISN'T IN HOLY SCRIPTURE!
4) Only man has a free will and possesses the faculty of creative thought. [. . .] Human beings possess gifts such as freely developing personalities, inventiveness, and the capacity for cultural development (writing, music, historical awareness).
Animals can make art. Animals also have cultures. Yes, these cultures are more "hardwired" than "developed" like those of humans, but they exist, and can be very complex. Canine packs have separate territories from each other. Families have a strict hierarchy that is taught from youth. Also, have you noticed yet how all of these points are about how mankind is better than animals? One thing that DOES separate humans from animals, that this author conveniently neglects to mention, is that humans were the only species out of all the millions God created, that ate the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden, and fell into a state of sin. Human beings, and demons, are the only beings in all of Creation capable of being thrown into Hell and tormented eternally for their wickedness.
5) In contrast to the animals, man is an eternal being; this means that his existence never ends, even after the death of the body (Luke 16:19–31). An imperishable body will be raised from the perishable one (1 Cor. 15:42).
NOWHERE in Scripture does it say that animals aren't eternal. This claim is utterly baseless and without a clear word from Scripture, clearly contradicts it. Now granted, Scripture does specifically say that humans are eternal -- the point of this response is not to doubt the Gospel message itself. Humans alone sinned; salvation is only given to humans. However, if we're talking about humans and animals, it's crucial to remember WHY salvation is only offered to humans: humans are the only earthly beings who sinned. Before Eve and Adam ate the apple, all living beings lived in a state as God ordained them. Animals still live as God ordained them; humans do not. If anything, animals are even more likely to be in Heaven because they ALSO have the breath of life (see Genesis 7:15 which I mentioned above!) but are not guilty of sins.
Let's make my intentions clearer for those who still don't understand. Yes, I have had bad experiences with humans my entire life, and for a very long time up to today (and likely beyond today...), I have favored the company of animals over the company of humans. However, I do acknowledge, and take to heart, what God says of human beings, that humans are more valuable than animals. I do see the intrinsic value of a human being -- the soul within, that is lovingly created by God. As God created the natural world, God creates and knows every single human being -- the things that make them similar, and the things that make them unique, individual people. However, I also remember that a mere two verses BEFORE the verse about sparrows, Jesus also says, "For only a penny you can buy two sparrows, yet not one sparrow falls to the ground without your Father's consent." (Matthew 10:29) Both are crucial to keep in mind, in a complete view of Scripture. Anthropocentrists place too much emphasis on mankind, and so neglect the verses highlighting the good in animals. Misanthropes place too much emphasis on animals, and so neglect the verses highlighting the good in humans. Both sides are wrong and paint an incomplete view of Scripture! We CAN'T just pick the verses we like. God has a clear message to anthropocentrists about His love for animals. God has a clear message to misanthropes about His love for mankind. Both need to set aside their pride and their self-righteous beliefs, and look at both aspects of the Bible. Granted, this is hardly a salvation issue. Having a negative view of animals is, by itself, hardly enough to land one in Hell. However, as Christians we're called to become more like God. If God loves animals, AND GAVE THEM THE BREATH OF LIFE, we should strive to give this same love, and seek to understand God's love for them, as best as we can. Those who dislike humans also have a responsibility to strive to love humankind and seek to understand God's motivations for this love, as best as they can, too.
Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? -- Matthew 6:26
May God bless you all and guide you, according to His perfect will! In Jesus' name. Amen.
ORIGINAL ARTICLE IS [HERE]
The article is, of course, a comparison of human beings and animals. There are differences, and some differences are correctly highlighted in the article. The problem is, the author lets these excessively proud and anthropocentric beliefs distort his interpretation of Scripture, and at at least one point, misses a crucial verse within Scripture. This is an error I've seen in the views of many Christians. Now make no mistake, the Gospel message is inherently geared toward human beings. Jesus Himself said that humans are of more value than "many sparrows". But Christian views of animals are a very controversial subject, and this needs to be handled carefully. And ... I am simply led to believe that Answers in Genesis answered this incorrectly! A list of the points I am convicted by, are listed below along with responses.
1) Man possesses the faculty of speech (see OB2), and his creative communication by means of his vocal system is completely different from those of animals [G7, p. 112–130].
A dog was shown to be able to communicate using buttons that say words when pressed. Apes can learn sign language. I have no idea what "creative communication by means of his vocal system" is supposed to mean; so many animals communicate by using their vocals cords, it's not even worth mentioning. With canines for example, there are distinct barks, howls, yips etc that mean different things based on pitch/tone. There are also human languages (eg Chinese) where tone can change the meaning of a word.
2) Only man received the breath of God. In this way, he was given a spirit (Eccles. 12:7; 1 Thess. 5:23) so that he transcends the world of the animals.
This is absolutely 100% false. Genesis 7:15 clearly states, "They went into the ark with Noah, two and two of all flesh in which there was the breath of life." We all know the story of Noah; this refers to the animals that were entering the ark. You can easily compare Genesis 7:15 with Genesis 2:7. "ruach chaiyim" and "neshmat chaiyim". Both words refer to "life" and "spirit".
3) Only man can actually communicate with God. Only he possesses the gift of speech and of prayer by means of which he can express all his thoughts before his Creator.
The claim that "ONLY" man can communicate with God, is found nowhere in Scripture. God hears silent prayers. So if an animal were to acknowledge God, it could very easily pray to Him. Do animals acknowledge God? I don't know. I would certainly think so. I can't claim to know for sure, but if mankind acknowledged God before eating the fruit, it stands to reason that animals, having not eaten the fruit, are also capable of acknowledging Him. Even if I'm wrong, though... THE PROOF ISN'T IN HOLY SCRIPTURE!
4) Only man has a free will and possesses the faculty of creative thought. [. . .] Human beings possess gifts such as freely developing personalities, inventiveness, and the capacity for cultural development (writing, music, historical awareness).
Animals can make art. Animals also have cultures. Yes, these cultures are more "hardwired" than "developed" like those of humans, but they exist, and can be very complex. Canine packs have separate territories from each other. Families have a strict hierarchy that is taught from youth. Also, have you noticed yet how all of these points are about how mankind is better than animals? One thing that DOES separate humans from animals, that this author conveniently neglects to mention, is that humans were the only species out of all the millions God created, that ate the forbidden fruit in the Garden of Eden, and fell into a state of sin. Human beings, and demons, are the only beings in all of Creation capable of being thrown into Hell and tormented eternally for their wickedness.
5) In contrast to the animals, man is an eternal being; this means that his existence never ends, even after the death of the body (Luke 16:19–31). An imperishable body will be raised from the perishable one (1 Cor. 15:42).
NOWHERE in Scripture does it say that animals aren't eternal. This claim is utterly baseless and without a clear word from Scripture, clearly contradicts it. Now granted, Scripture does specifically say that humans are eternal -- the point of this response is not to doubt the Gospel message itself. Humans alone sinned; salvation is only given to humans. However, if we're talking about humans and animals, it's crucial to remember WHY salvation is only offered to humans: humans are the only earthly beings who sinned. Before Eve and Adam ate the apple, all living beings lived in a state as God ordained them. Animals still live as God ordained them; humans do not. If anything, animals are even more likely to be in Heaven because they ALSO have the breath of life (see Genesis 7:15 which I mentioned above!) but are not guilty of sins.
Let's make my intentions clearer for those who still don't understand. Yes, I have had bad experiences with humans my entire life, and for a very long time up to today (and likely beyond today...), I have favored the company of animals over the company of humans. However, I do acknowledge, and take to heart, what God says of human beings, that humans are more valuable than animals. I do see the intrinsic value of a human being -- the soul within, that is lovingly created by God. As God created the natural world, God creates and knows every single human being -- the things that make them similar, and the things that make them unique, individual people. However, I also remember that a mere two verses BEFORE the verse about sparrows, Jesus also says, "For only a penny you can buy two sparrows, yet not one sparrow falls to the ground without your Father's consent." (Matthew 10:29) Both are crucial to keep in mind, in a complete view of Scripture. Anthropocentrists place too much emphasis on mankind, and so neglect the verses highlighting the good in animals. Misanthropes place too much emphasis on animals, and so neglect the verses highlighting the good in humans. Both sides are wrong and paint an incomplete view of Scripture! We CAN'T just pick the verses we like. God has a clear message to anthropocentrists about His love for animals. God has a clear message to misanthropes about His love for mankind. Both need to set aside their pride and their self-righteous beliefs, and look at both aspects of the Bible. Granted, this is hardly a salvation issue. Having a negative view of animals is, by itself, hardly enough to land one in Hell. However, as Christians we're called to become more like God. If God loves animals, AND GAVE THEM THE BREATH OF LIFE, we should strive to give this same love, and seek to understand God's love for them, as best as we can. Those who dislike humans also have a responsibility to strive to love humankind and seek to understand God's motivations for this love, as best as they can, too.
Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? -- Matthew 6:26
May God bless you all and guide you, according to His perfect will! In Jesus' name. Amen.
Monday, December 16, 2019
(Additional Notes) Demoniciduth - Enemy of Satan
These are notes the band wrote in the lyric booklet for their album "Enemy of Satan". These notes are written at the top of each page, followed by the actual song lyrics. These notes are also available when you click on each song title [on Bandcamp]. I just wanted to have them all available in one convenient place. For more info on Demoniciduth in general, including the aforementioned song lyrics, see the Unblack Archives page for them [here]. Oh, for the record, there's some text on the inner sides of the CD packaging. If you were wondering, they say: (left) "Enemy of Satan - Fear not the serpent - His fate has been foretold - In the pages of old". (right) "DEMONICIDUTH MMXVII".
March of the Dead
"Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light" - Ephesians 5:14
Christian Metal Worldwide
The purpose of that song is to reaffirm what Christian Metal ought to be. Christians believe that the Bible is God's exclusive revelation to mankind and Jesus' sacrifice the only way to salvation. Such a statement can stir up much opposition in our increasingly secularized world. Does it mean that backing away from a clear stand for the truth of The Scriptures is a viable solution to reach our generation? By no means! "Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through The Word of Christ" (Rom. 10:17) So we should be determined not to beat about the bush. And determined we shall be!
Destiny
The Bible says that "man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment" (Heb. 9:27) But there is "no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 8:1). The Son of God suffered the penalty for our sin through His death on the cross and rose again on the third day, so that all who believe in Him and repent from their sin will have eternal life, but those who don't will be condemned (John 3:16-18). Therefore we urge you to receive God's grace: "Now is the time of God's favour, now is the day of salvation" (2 Cor. 6:2)!
Crucify
Originally written in 2003 under the name "Cut Off", the song depicts the Christian's daily war to keep in step with the Spirit, something we cannot carry out by our own, as the apostle Paul realized 2000 years ago when he wrote: "Who will rescue me from this body of death?" while immediately adding: "Thanks be to God through Jesus to sympathize with our weakness, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are, yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need" (Heb. 4:15-16). Amen!
The Holocaust of Our Generation
In Jeremiah 7:30-31, we read that God pronounced a sentence against the people of Judah because they were burning alive their children in sacrifices to the gods Moloch and Baal in an area of the Valley of Ben Hinnom called Topheth, from Hebrew "toph", meaning "drums", for the cries of the children were masked by the sound of tambourines. Likewise, in the ongoing debate over abortion, pr-choice proponents use 'rhetorical tambourines' to mask the fact that abortion is murder. Although modern fetology has confirmed the Bible's claim that human life begins at the very moment of conception, abortionists still question the human status of the unborn. The same kind of reasoning prompted Nazi Darwinian Germany to kill about six million Jews. They denied their full humanity, calling them "Untermensch" (subhumans). Abortion is the holocaust of our generation and it is our duty to expose the deeds of darkness (Eph. 5:11) and engage our culture with a biblical defense for the sanctity and dignity of human life: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart" (Jer. 1:5)
Enemy of Satan
The Bible warns us: "Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour" (1 Pet. 5:8). We are told to "Resist him, standing firm in the faith" (v. 9). Faith in Jesus is like a shield which "can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one" (Eph. 6:16). Several examples in the gospels demonstrate that demons are terrified when confronted with Jesus. Thus, Christians shouldn't fear the devil, "because The One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world" (1 John 4:4). Satan's doom is settled: "And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulphur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever" (Rev. 20:10). The whole purpose of that song and album is to remind everyone that Christ has all authority in heaven and on earth (Matt. 28:18). We are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ our Lord (Rom. 8:37)!
Megiddo Massacre
This is a song about the justice of God. Jesus said that a time of great distress – unequalled from the beginning of the world until now, and never to be equalled again – would befall humankind, adding that if those days had not been cut short, no-one would survive (Matthew 24:21-22). Indeed, man will be scarcer than pure gold (Isaiah 13:12) when God will bring charges against the nations, judgment on all mankind and put the wicked to the sword (Jeremiah 25:31). Does God punishes too harshly? Holy angels don't think so: "You are just in these judgments... Yes, Lord God Almighty, true and just are Your judgments" (Revelation 16:5, 7). Rather, our righteous acts are like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). We deserve to die for our sins (Romans 5). But the point is this: God loves us and gave His Son to take our punishment (Isaiah 53:5), so that "whoever believes in The Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects The Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on Him" (John 3:36). Hebrews 2:3 aptly summarizes: "How shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation?"
Dogs of Antichrist
This song primarily addresses the dangers of satanism through a tale about a man who made a pact with the devil. Thinking that Satan would treat him like a son, he was instead treated like a prisoner and a slave. In the end, Satan sent his dogs to claim his due. The poor man was devoured (the dogs imagery was borrowed from Greek mythology, namely the legendary hell hound Cerberus). If you feel like you're in a dead end, trapped and without hope, we tell you: Come to Jesus! He is your Saviour, your Deliverer and He said that He came to save what was lost (Matthew 18:11).
March of the Dead
"Awake thou that sleepest, and arise from the dead, and Christ shall give thee light" - Ephesians 5:14
Christian Metal Worldwide
The purpose of that song is to reaffirm what Christian Metal ought to be. Christians believe that the Bible is God's exclusive revelation to mankind and Jesus' sacrifice the only way to salvation. Such a statement can stir up much opposition in our increasingly secularized world. Does it mean that backing away from a clear stand for the truth of The Scriptures is a viable solution to reach our generation? By no means! "Faith comes from hearing the message, and the message is heard through The Word of Christ" (Rom. 10:17) So we should be determined not to beat about the bush. And determined we shall be!
Destiny
The Bible says that "man is destined to die once, and after that to face judgment" (Heb. 9:27) But there is "no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus" (Rom. 8:1). The Son of God suffered the penalty for our sin through His death on the cross and rose again on the third day, so that all who believe in Him and repent from their sin will have eternal life, but those who don't will be condemned (John 3:16-18). Therefore we urge you to receive God's grace: "Now is the time of God's favour, now is the day of salvation" (2 Cor. 6:2)!
Crucify
Originally written in 2003 under the name "Cut Off", the song depicts the Christian's daily war to keep in step with the Spirit, something we cannot carry out by our own, as the apostle Paul realized 2000 years ago when he wrote: "Who will rescue me from this body of death?" while immediately adding: "Thanks be to God through Jesus to sympathize with our weakness, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are, yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need" (Heb. 4:15-16). Amen!
The Holocaust of Our Generation
In Jeremiah 7:30-31, we read that God pronounced a sentence against the people of Judah because they were burning alive their children in sacrifices to the gods Moloch and Baal in an area of the Valley of Ben Hinnom called Topheth, from Hebrew "toph", meaning "drums", for the cries of the children were masked by the sound of tambourines. Likewise, in the ongoing debate over abortion, pr-choice proponents use 'rhetorical tambourines' to mask the fact that abortion is murder. Although modern fetology has confirmed the Bible's claim that human life begins at the very moment of conception, abortionists still question the human status of the unborn. The same kind of reasoning prompted Nazi Darwinian Germany to kill about six million Jews. They denied their full humanity, calling them "Untermensch" (subhumans). Abortion is the holocaust of our generation and it is our duty to expose the deeds of darkness (Eph. 5:11) and engage our culture with a biblical defense for the sanctity and dignity of human life: "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart" (Jer. 1:5)
Enemy of Satan
The Bible warns us: "Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour" (1 Pet. 5:8). We are told to "Resist him, standing firm in the faith" (v. 9). Faith in Jesus is like a shield which "can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one" (Eph. 6:16). Several examples in the gospels demonstrate that demons are terrified when confronted with Jesus. Thus, Christians shouldn't fear the devil, "because The One who is in you is greater than the one who is in the world" (1 John 4:4). Satan's doom is settled: "And the devil, who deceived them, was thrown into the lake of burning sulphur, where the beast and the false prophet had been thrown. They will be tormented day and night for ever and ever" (Rev. 20:10). The whole purpose of that song and album is to remind everyone that Christ has all authority in heaven and on earth (Matt. 28:18). We are more than conquerors through Jesus Christ our Lord (Rom. 8:37)!
Megiddo Massacre
This is a song about the justice of God. Jesus said that a time of great distress – unequalled from the beginning of the world until now, and never to be equalled again – would befall humankind, adding that if those days had not been cut short, no-one would survive (Matthew 24:21-22). Indeed, man will be scarcer than pure gold (Isaiah 13:12) when God will bring charges against the nations, judgment on all mankind and put the wicked to the sword (Jeremiah 25:31). Does God punishes too harshly? Holy angels don't think so: "You are just in these judgments... Yes, Lord God Almighty, true and just are Your judgments" (Revelation 16:5, 7). Rather, our righteous acts are like filthy rags (Isaiah 64:6). We deserve to die for our sins (Romans 5). But the point is this: God loves us and gave His Son to take our punishment (Isaiah 53:5), so that "whoever believes in The Son has eternal life, but whoever rejects The Son will not see life, for God's wrath remains on Him" (John 3:36). Hebrews 2:3 aptly summarizes: "How shall we escape if we ignore such a great salvation?"
Dogs of Antichrist
This song primarily addresses the dangers of satanism through a tale about a man who made a pact with the devil. Thinking that Satan would treat him like a son, he was instead treated like a prisoner and a slave. In the end, Satan sent his dogs to claim his due. The poor man was devoured (the dogs imagery was borrowed from Greek mythology, namely the legendary hell hound Cerberus). If you feel like you're in a dead end, trapped and without hope, we tell you: Come to Jesus! He is your Saviour, your Deliverer and He said that He came to save what was lost (Matthew 18:11).
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)