Hi to my Forum Friends
In the discussion titled "How The Web Is Killing Faith" Robust is faithful to his Atheist religion when he copy/pastes from a Washington Post article written by the atheist, Hemant Mehta:
"...This is why atheists love the Internet. We can tell Christians the emperor’s not wearing any clothes. We can question the dogma they’ve simply accepted all their lives. We can expose religious frauds. We can explain the many unfortunate consequences of unquestioned belief. The Internet is blind faith’s worst nightmare..."
And, then Robust declares, "By definition, all faith is blind."
Then, we have what, I suppose, we could call the "Dueling Atheists" concert with Robust and Deep tuning their proclamation voices, ready to declare, "God is dead!" But, I still believe "Dueling Banjos" are much better.
Deep proudly proclaims, "When the false claims of religions can be examined fairly, the normally intelligent and extraordinarily brave have no choice but to reject them. It's no wonder clerics of all stripes are railing against the very medium that makes these posts possible. The Internet is about to break their rice bowls."
And, Robust comes back to him with his amen, "Indeed Deep, Each theist on this board is actively, though inadvertently, contributing to the overall demise of religious faith and power by trying their best to defend the absurd and impossible on the internet."
This dialogue between our atheist Friends reminds me very much of the 1959 movie starring Peter Sellers, titled "The Mouse That Roared." It is the satirical tale of a very, very small, fictitious European nation (3 miles wide, 5 miles long) which is bankrupt. Its leader, Peter Sellers, decide that the only way for his nation to survive is to declare war on the United States, be defeated, and then be given the Foreign Aid which America always gives to rebuild its defeated enemies.
Yes, I do believe I see quite a bit of Peter Sellers' character in this newest atheist boast of defeating Christianity. Sail on, fair prince!
And, I do believe I can feel God smiling, even though, like small children, those who insist upon walking without opening their eyes keep bumping into their own walls of unbelief. Do we need any more proof of God's eternal mercy and patience?
When we consider the atheist/secular world's claims that Christianity is dying -- isn't it amazing that a belief which began with a small handful of followers over 2000 years ago -- has now fully encompassed the world, with billions of the faithful holding hands in Christian love and fellowship around the world -- while those faithful to the Adversary still huff and puff about its demise?
Yes, it is truly amazing how one Man, Jesus Christ, with only twelve apostles, could start a faith which has not only lasted for over 2000 years -- but, continues to grow despite defamation, denigration, and very often, persecution, from the Adversary's army. The Christian church, the body of believers worldwide, began on that Day of Pentecost, 33 AD, with only 120 believers gathered in the Upper Room, praying and waiting upon the gift of the Holy Spirit which God had promised to send to them. That faith was surely well placed.
That day was the first God-intended, permanent indwelling of believers, when the Holy Spirit came upon and began His permanent residence within each believer waiting in the Upper Room -- sealing them until their day of redemption (Ephesians 1:13, 4:30). From that day, He would be within them and within all believers -- until the day we either die in this mortal body or are raptured from this mortal body. All that began with only 120 people. And, since then has spread to billions of people worldwide -- despite the persecution and denigration of a world of non-believers.
And, our atheist Friends, Deep and Robust, tell us that Christianity is dying? Once again, this brings to mind the short story I have shared on the Religion Forum several times (Nothing Comes To Forumland). It is the story of two atheist friends, Argue and Debate, who had come to Forumland in a futile attempt to introduce the good folks of Forumland to the religion followed by Argue and Debate -- the Religion of Nothing. Of course, in real life we all realize this is speaking of the Religion of Atheism and its sister religions, Secularism and Humanism.
Let's look back at what happened after that Day of Pentecost indwelling of the 120 disciples. We know from Acts 2:41 that when the apostles, newly indwelled with the Holy Spirit, began to teach about Jesus Christ and eternal salvation -- that very day about 3000 became believers.
Then, we are told, in Acts 4:4, that when the apostles continued teaching on subsequent days, the number of believers grew to many more than 5000, for the number, 5000, only reflects the number of men counted. This was the cultural custom in that day. So, when we add the women and children -- we have many more than 5000 believers brought into the family of God -- in just a few days of the apostles' teachings.
And, in spite of the passive nature of so many Christian believers, then and today -- the body of Christ, the body of believers -- continued to grow then and it continues to grow today. Many times I get frustrated when people, whom I know to be Christian, will not stand with other brothers and sisters when we share the Gospel. I know it is not because they do not believe; so, the only answer is that, somehow, they have convinced themselves that Christians should be passive. We see this even in those first early days of the Christian church, when many in Jerusalem were too passive to stand alongside Peter and the other apostles:
Acts 5:12-14, "At the hands of the apostles many signs and wonders were taking place among the people; and they were all with one accord in Solomon's portico. But none of the rest dared to associate with them; however, the people held them in high esteem. And all the more believers in the Lord, multitudes of men and women, were constantly added to their number."
Yet, in spite of that passivity, this passage tells us that "multitudes of men and women, were constantly added to their number." And, non-believers tell us God is dead? Has there ever been a better example of false bravado?
What happened when the apostles continued to teach in Jerusalem? Well, the Pharisees, like our atheist/secular Friends, thought they could fight against God and stop His teachings. We read:
Acts 5:27-29, "When they had brought them (the apostles), they stood them before the Council. The high priest questioned them, saying, 'We gave you strict orders not to continue teaching in this name, and yet, you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and intend to bring this man's blood upon us.' But Peter and the apostles answered,'We must obey God rather than men.' "
What Christian believer does not want to be accused of this -- "You have filled your Jerusalem (your immediate world) with your Christian teaching!" Wow! Talk about receiving the Medal of Honor!
And, what a glorious feeling when we can declare, "We must obey God rather than men."
Yet, praise God, we are told, in Acts 5:42, of the actions of the apostles in that early church, "And every day, in the temple and from house to house, they kept right on teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ." Isn't that what Jesus Christ is telling every Christian believer to do in Matthew
28:19-20, Acts 1:8, and in Mark 16:15 -- take His name to all the world?
In Romans 16:17 the apostle Paul tells us, "Now I urge you, brethren, keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching which you learned, and turn away from them."
That is solid advise, "Keep your eye on those who cause dissensions and hindrances contrary to the teaching." The Bible is not teaching that we should enter into the lion's den, into the confidence of those who are working on their end of the rope to pull the believer down into their world -- but, that we stay aware of this agenda and offer them the love of Christ -- not the rope to pull us into their world.
We believers have the Solid Rock of Scripture upon which we can stand as we reach out to those still mired in the world:
2 Timothy 3:16-17, "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work."
The apostle Paul teaches his disciple, Titus, whom Paul had left in Crete to establish the church there:
Titus 1:7-9, "For the overseer (elder, pastor) must be above reproach as God's steward, not self-willed, not quick-tempered, not addicted to wine, not pugnacious, not fond of sordid gain, but hospitable, loving what is good, sensible, just, devout, self-controlled, holding fast the faithful Word which is in accordance with the teaching, so that he will be able both to exhort in sound doctrine and to refute those who contradict."
While we know that this is Paul's instructions to Titus for establishing the local church in Crete -- shouldn't that be the goal of every believer -- "To hold fast the faithful Word which is in accordance with the teaching, . . and to refute those who contradict."
In the book of Revelation Jesus Christ sent letters to the seven churches. Here we find the (1) Persevering church, Ephesus; we find the (2) Suffering church, Smyrna; we find the (3) Persecuted church, Pergamum; we find the (4) Compromising church, Thyatira; we find the (5) Dead church, Sardis; we find the (6) Faithful church, Philadelphia; and we find the (7) Lukewarm church, Laodicea.
Jesus has a very personal message to each of these churches -- which I see as the different kinds of Christian churches found throughout the entire Church Era, that time from the Day of Pentecost until He comes to Rapture His church out of this world. Most likely, many of us have experienced several of these types of churches, maybe more, until we found our Faithful Philadelphia church -- which has become our church home, our Christian fellowship.
To the Persecuted church of Pergamum, His message was:
Revelation 2:12-14, "And to the angel of the church in Pergamum write: The One who has the sharp two-edged sword (the Word of God) says this: 'I know where you dwell, where Satan's throne is (the world); and you hold fast My name, and did not deny My faith. . . But I have a few things against you, because you have there some who hold the teaching of Balaam, who kept teaching Balak to put a stumbling block before the sons of Israel, to eat things sacrificed to idols and to commit acts of immorality.' "
Revelation 2:15-16, "So you also have some who in the same way hold the teaching of the Nicolaitans. Therefore repent; or else I am coming to you quickly, and I will make war against them with the sword of My mouth (the Word of God)."
And, in His message to the church of Ephesus, Jesus declared, in Revelation 2:6, "Yet this you do have, that you hate the deeds of the Nicolaitans, which I also hate."
From these Scripture passages, we can tell that Jesus Christ did not hold the Nicolaitans in high regard. Just who, or what, were the Nicolaitans?
DEEDS OF THE NICOLAITANS?
By David Baker, What Do The Scriptures Say?
http://www.scripturessay.com/c...-of-the-nicolaitans/
Question: "Could you explain what are the 'Deeds of the Nicolaitans'?”
Answer: The Nicolaitans are only mentioned twice in Scripture, both in Revelation chapter 2. . . . Other than these passages, we have no information on the Nicolaitans.
There is speculation about them based upon the etymology of the words used to make the name. The first part of the name – nico – comes from the Greek word “nikao” meaning “to conquer.” The second part of the name – laitans – comes from the Greek word “laos” meaning “people.” Hence, the speculation is that they were a group of people who enslaved others in some way. . .
The etymology is probably more in keeping with the overall nature of the Revelation. The writing is highly figurative so such would fit the character of the book. In this light, we would view the teaching of the Nicolaitans as any teaching that would enslave others to false teaching. This warning is certainly valid throughout Scripture!
In Acts 8:23 (NIV) we see Peter saying to Simon, “For I see that you are full of bitterness and captive to sin." The Apostle Paul warned the Colossians, “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ” (2:8 NIV). He tells Timothy that the servant of the Lord must be able to instruct those (who) oppose him so “that they will come to their senses and escape from the trap of the devil, who has taken them captive to do his will“ (2 Tim 2:26 NIV).
This understanding seems to be the most consistent with the teaching of the Bible. Rather than referring to a particular group of people, it most likely refers to a form of teaching opposing the truth of God's Word.
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So, my Friends, based upon what you have read here, I think you will agree with me that our TimesDaily Religion Forum is infested with the "Deeds Of The Nicolaitans!"
But, never fear! God has already won the war. We are only involved in the clean-up skirmishes until He returns to take us home with Him. Yet, each believer is appointed the task, the awesome responsibility (Matthew 28:19-20, Acts 1:8, Mark 16:15), of pointing as many people as possible toward Jesus Christ, toward the Holy Spirit, who will lead them out of the world and into the Family of God, before Christ comes to Rapture us home.
Based upon that, please feel free to share this with your Friends, Relatives, Associates, and Neighbors -- all your FRANs. Let us all be active "sowers" of the seeds of salvation -- until He comes.
God bless, have a wonderful, blessed day,
Bill