Perhaps it strikes you as strange that I introduce a treatise on Christianity, God and doctrine with an illustration from the coinage of a 20th century A.D. world power like US, The United States of America.
Yet in this not-so-brave new world of the 21st century Common Era WE spend countless lite-weight pennies. And more inflated American dollars than WE save say, “IN GOD WE TRUST.” All the while WE recklessly espouse political ideologies FOR or AGAINST GOD (blessing America).
October, A.D. 2013 conclusion of 5-part TalkofJESUS.com post series from the Prophets
Election year rhetoric -- nothing new. (See post from 10 years ago above.)
WE didn't trust in God then and certainly WE as a Nation do NOT trust in God now, ten years later in this Common Era of an upcoming 2024 election.
The phrase had been placed on U.S. coins since the Civil War when, according to the historical association of the United States Treasury, religious sentiment reached a peak. Eisenhower’s treasury secretary, George Humphrey, had suggested adding the phrase to paper currency as well.
July 30, A.D. 1956 – President Dwight D. Eisenhower signs a law officially declaring “In God We Trust” to be the nation’s official motto. Public LAW passed by the 84th Congress of the United States of America also ‘mandated that the phrase be printed on all American paper currency.’ – source: History.com
“In this way we are reaffirming the transcendence of religious faith in America’s heritage and future; in this way we shall constantly strengthen those spiritual weapons which forever will be our country’s most powerful resource in peace and war.”
Dwight David Eisenhower – June 14, A.D. 1954 – Flag Day in the U.S.
christianity lite – church & STATE – god help US
Time will not allow me to get to the christian church of the Common Era today; so you'll have to wait for my NEXT post where, God-willing, I will move on from doctrines of GOD to teaching JESUS CHRIST. - RH)
NO Doctrine of the COMMON ERA or any other millennia will stand the test of time without defining GOD truthfully.
GOD IS and God reveals Himself through His creation, Scriptures and IN THE PERSON of JESUS CHRIST.
Deuteronomy 4-5 — the line of the LAW and the GOD we crossed
“For what great nation is there that has a god so near to it as is Yahweh our God whenever we call on Him? Or what great nation is there that has statutes and judgments as righteous as this whole law which I am setting before you today?
“Only keep yourself and keep your soul very carefully, lest you forget the things which your eyes have seen and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. But make them known to your sons and to your grandsons.
WE must not limit God exclusively to Israel, America or any nation, but worship the only Creator of ALL things, breathing life into human flesh and blood, choosing some as saved souls for His glory of eternal life.
I CHALLENGE ANY PASTOR who claims to be NOT GUILTY of preaching "christianity lite" to OPEN A SERMON as Paul does his letter to the Church in Rome:
Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus
Pastor, are you shepherding YOUR church proclaiming yourself "A SLAVE" of the risen Christ JESUS and PROCLAIMING THE GOSPEL of SCRIPTURE as God has written it?
Paul does.
.. 3 concerning His Son, who was born of the seed of David according to the flesh,
4 who was designated as the Son of God in power, according to the Spirit of holiness, by the resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, ..
16 For I am not ashamed of the gospel, for it is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes, to the Jew first and also to the Greek.
17 For in it the righteousness of God is revealed from faith to faith; as it is written, “But the righteous will live by faith.”
christianity lite neglects GOD’s Righteous Wrath
Your 'christianity lite' 'pastor' will not confess this positive place of appropriate SLAVERY.
And a Common Era shepherd wearing the casual robes of cultural correctness
DARE NOT draw a distinct line written IN GOD'S WORD of Scripture.
Paul does.
For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men [and women anthrōpos] who suppress the truth in unrighteousness, because that which is known about God is evident within them; for God made it evident to them.
1 How lonely sits the city
that was full of people!
How like a widow has she become,
she who was great among the nations!
She who was a princess among the provinces
has become a slave.
2 She weeps bitterly in the night,
with tears on her cheeks;
among all her lovers
she has none to comfort her;
all her friends have dealt treacherously
with her;
they have become her enemies.
5 Her foes have become the head; her enemies prosper, because the Lord has afflicted her
for the multitude of her transgressions;
her children have gone away,
captives before the foe.
9 Her uncleanness was in her skirts; she took no thought of her future;
therefore her fall is terrible;
she has no comforter.
“O Lord, behold my affliction,
for the enemy has triumphed!”
10 The enemy has stretched out his hands
over all her precious things;
for she has seen the nations
enter her sanctuary,
those whom you forbade
to enter your congregation.
11 All her people groan as they search for bread;
they trade their treasures for food
to revive their strength.
“Look, O Lord, and see,
for I am despised.”
16 “For these things I weep;
my eyes flow with tears;
for a comforter is far from me,
one to revive my spirit;
my children are desolate,
for the enemy has prevailed.”
18 “The Lord is in the right, for I have rebelled against his word; but hear, all you peoples and see mysuffering; my young women and my young men have gone into captivity.
21 “They heard my groaning, yet there is no one to comfort me.
All my enemies have heard of my trouble; they are glad that you have done it.
You have brought the day you announced; now let them be as I am.
22 “Let all their evildoing come before you, and deal with them as you have dealt with me
because of all my transgressions;
for my groans are many,
and my heart is faint.”
Disclaimer & claim: WE the PEOPLE of the LORD trust God.
Nations rise and nations will fall.
The Prophet Jeremiah had warned Judah of their impending fall. Lamentations is the record of their fall from the grace and mercy of God.
Lamentations is indictment of rulers who did not heed the cries of their people
This world is fallen. Rome fell though it ruled over the land of the King of Kings.
The Lord will return to restore the good stolen from the people in nations no longer free.
Isaiah 59
English Standard Version (ESV)
Evil and Oppression
Behold, the Lord’s hand is not shortened, that it cannot save, or his ear dull, that it cannot hear;
2 but your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God,
and your sins have hidden his face from you so that he does not hear.
8 The way of peace they do not know,
and there is no justice in their paths;
they have made their roads crooked;
no one who treads on them knows peace.
9 Therefore justice is far from us,
and righteousness does not overtake us;
we hope for light, and behold, darkness,
and for brightness, but we walk in gloom.
This is not a Biblical quote, as near as I can tell; yet it is from the Lord.
Do you trust the Lord God to do what is right?
Jesus Christ IS and will judge what is right and what it wrong.
John 5: ESV
24 Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever hears my word and believes him who sent me has eternal life. He does not come into judgment, but has passed from death to life.
25 “Truly, truly, I say to you, an hour is coming, and is now here, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. 26 For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself.
27 And he has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of Man. 28 Do not marvel at this, for an hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice 29 and come out, those who have done good to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil to the resurrection of judgment.
Witnesses to Jesus
30 “I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me. 31 If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not true.
Will the Judge of the Universe Not Do What Is Right?
Trust in our Lord Christ Jesus with all of your heart.
5 Her foes have become the head; her enemies prosper, because the Lord has afflicted her
and there is no justice in their paths;
