As a side point, there is no such thing as an Atheist. We all worship something as God. Atheist, Richard Dawkins, worships science as God.
What does the leading Australian Catholic, George Pell, think about Atheists and their chances of getting into heaven?
GEORGE PELL: Well, I know from the Christian point of view, God loves everybody but every genuine motion towards the truth is a motion towards God and when an atheist dies, like everybody else, they will be judged on the extent to which they have moved towards goodness and truth and beauty but in the Christian view, God loves everyone except those who turn his back turn their back on him through evil acts.
So apparently atheists will be in heaven if they are good, truthful and whatever beauty means.
A 'move towards truth' stated by Pell, as a pre-requisite to get into heaven only works if you identify 'what or who is truth'.
1 John 1; 8-9
8 If we claim to be without sin, we deceive ourselves and the truth is not in us. 9
There is no moving towards truth if we don't recognise our sin. That's step 1 in moving towards truth. Who is the truth? What or who is not in us? If the truth is not in us, what or who are we lacking?
John 1; In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 2 He was with God in the beginning. 3 Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made. 4 In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. 5 The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.
As a translation...In the beginning there was Jesus, and Jesus was with God and Jesus was God. Jesus was with God in the beginning. Through Jesus all things were made; without Jesus nothing was made that has been made. In Jesus was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it..
Jesus' life was the light of all mankind. Stay with me here. What kind of light was this?:
John 1 continued... The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world. 10 He was in the world, and though the world was made through him, the world did not recognize him. 11 He came to that which was his own, but his own did not receive him. 12 Yet to all who did receive him, to those who believed in his name, he gave the right to become children of God
Jesus is the true light that points towards life.
Last verse. John 14:6 from the words of Jesus himself:
'I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.'
No one gets to heaven except through Jesus Christ. A genuine move towards truth is a move towards Jesus. If atheists don't worship Jesus Christ as being with God and God (Trinity), eternal, creator and saviour there is no truth in them and therefore no life.
I hope George Pell was meaning to say that a 'move towards truth' can only be a move towards Jesus. Any other move in another direction is a move away from truth.
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Why Did God choose the Jews?
Why did God choose Israel?
Leader of the Australian Catholics, Cardinal George Pell, says:
'If you want something done, you’ve got to ask somebody. It’s no good, say, my asking everyone in the congregation will you would do something. Normally you go to a busy person because you know they'll do it and so for some extraordinary reason God chose the Jews. They weren't intellectually the equal of either the Egyptians or the...'
What does God tell the prophet Isaiah? Only if we had Isaiah on Q&A.
God chose the Jews to be his 'witnesses'. Isaiah 43:10 'You are my witnesses, and my servant whom I have chosen so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me...you are my witnesses that I am God. Yes, and from ancient days I am he.
God chose the nation of Israel to reveal himself to the world, not because they were righteous or geo-politically and economically strong. Through the weakness of Israel in their position of slavery, God's glory is proclaimed that much greater. God doesn't ride on the back of nations of military and political strength. If he did you could discount the existence of a God because all achievements could be credited to the strength of the nation. God's grace is more clearly evident through the weak.
Pell was half right.
Leader of the Australian Catholics, Cardinal George Pell, says:
'If you want something done, you’ve got to ask somebody. It’s no good, say, my asking everyone in the congregation will you would do something. Normally you go to a busy person because you know they'll do it and so for some extraordinary reason God chose the Jews. They weren't intellectually the equal of either the Egyptians or the...'
What does God tell the prophet Isaiah? Only if we had Isaiah on Q&A.
God chose the Jews to be his 'witnesses'. Isaiah 43:10 'You are my witnesses, and my servant whom I have chosen so that you may know and believe me and understand that I am he. Before me no god was formed, nor will there be one after me...you are my witnesses that I am God. Yes, and from ancient days I am he.
God chose the nation of Israel to reveal himself to the world, not because they were righteous or geo-politically and economically strong. Through the weakness of Israel in their position of slavery, God's glory is proclaimed that much greater. God doesn't ride on the back of nations of military and political strength. If he did you could discount the existence of a God because all achievements could be credited to the strength of the nation. God's grace is more clearly evident through the weak.
Pell was half right.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
The Pope exonerates the Jews for Jesus' death
The current Pope, who is apparently a very studious man and a juggernaught in all things theological, has revoked a longstanding Catholic policy of blaming the Jews for Jesus' death. In 1965, a Catholic document the Nostra Aetate, stated that the Jews are to be considered collectively guilty for the crucifixion of Jesus. The current Pope has now only narrowed it down to a handful of Jewish leaders.
This all gives the impression that it was all a big mistake and Jesus was a victim. He was not a victim and if the Jews are collectively guilty, we are all collectively guilty. Jesus came to earth knowing he would be sacrificed. There are dozens of Old Testament prophecies indicating that the Messiah would be sacrificed on behalf of humanity. Here is one:
Isaiah 53:4-6:
4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Jesus was not ignorant of his final days in Jerusalem:
John 2:18-19 The Jews then responded to him, “What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”
The prospect of being nailed to a tree didn't fill him with excitement however. In the garden of Gethsemane, he had the fate of humanity on a knife edge when he thought about what he had to go through. If he changed his mind we would all be stuffed:
Matthew 26:39 - he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
When one of the disciples pulled out a sword to prevent Jesus from being arrested, Jesus said in Matthew 26:
Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”
55 In that hour Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. 56 But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.”
When Jesus gave up his life on the cross he proclaimed 'It is finished'. He didn't say, 'how did it come to this'. Lucky for you, he came to be nailed to the cross so you wouldn't have to do the honours yourself for eternity.
Jesus was not a victim. He was victorious.
Yes the Jews were chosen by God in advance to crucify their Messiah, but salvation also comes through the Jews just as God predicted in the Old Testament numerous times. How on earth a succession of Popes can play a blame game and be so arrogant to exonerate a race of Jesus' death is beyond me. They obviously think they have no need for the forgiveness of sins through Jesus' crucifixion...and subsequent resurrection.
We are all guilty of Jesus' crucifixion. But he rose again and we can therefore be all forgiven if we confess with our mouth and believe in our heart that he is Lord.
This all gives the impression that it was all a big mistake and Jesus was a victim. He was not a victim and if the Jews are collectively guilty, we are all collectively guilty. Jesus came to earth knowing he would be sacrificed. There are dozens of Old Testament prophecies indicating that the Messiah would be sacrificed on behalf of humanity. Here is one:
Isaiah 53:4-6:
4 Surely he took up our infirmities and carried our sorrows, yet we considered him stricken by God, smitten by him, and afflicted.
5 But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed.
6 We all, like sheep, have gone astray, each of us has turned to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all.
Jesus was not ignorant of his final days in Jerusalem:
John 2:18-19 The Jews then responded to him, “What sign can you show us to prove your authority to do all this?” Jesus answered them, “Destroy this temple, and I will raise it again in three days.”
The prospect of being nailed to a tree didn't fill him with excitement however. In the garden of Gethsemane, he had the fate of humanity on a knife edge when he thought about what he had to go through. If he changed his mind we would all be stuffed:
Matthew 26:39 - he fell with his face to the ground and prayed, “My Father, if it is possible, may this cup be taken from me. Yet not as I will, but as you will.”
When one of the disciples pulled out a sword to prevent Jesus from being arrested, Jesus said in Matthew 26:
Do you think I cannot call on my Father, and he will at once put at my disposal more than twelve legions of angels? 54 But how then would the Scriptures be fulfilled that say it must happen in this way?”
55 In that hour Jesus said to the crowd, “Am I leading a rebellion, that you have come out with swords and clubs to capture me? Every day I sat in the temple courts teaching, and you did not arrest me. 56 But this has all taken place that the writings of the prophets might be fulfilled.”
When Jesus gave up his life on the cross he proclaimed 'It is finished'. He didn't say, 'how did it come to this'. Lucky for you, he came to be nailed to the cross so you wouldn't have to do the honours yourself for eternity.
Jesus was not a victim. He was victorious.
Yes the Jews were chosen by God in advance to crucify their Messiah, but salvation also comes through the Jews just as God predicted in the Old Testament numerous times. How on earth a succession of Popes can play a blame game and be so arrogant to exonerate a race of Jesus' death is beyond me. They obviously think they have no need for the forgiveness of sins through Jesus' crucifixion...and subsequent resurrection.
We are all guilty of Jesus' crucifixion. But he rose again and we can therefore be all forgiven if we confess with our mouth and believe in our heart that he is Lord.
Thursday, November 11, 2010
Obama in Indonesia wedding Christianity to Islam
Obama has been in Indonesia this week, poking his fingers into the eye of the one true God.
http://www.smh.com.au/world/we-have-much-more-work-to-do-20101110-17np0.html
Earlier Mr Obama had visited Indonesia's Grand Mosque, south-east Asia's largest, with his wife, Michelle, and cited it as a source of inspiration. ''This house of worship for many thousands of Muslims was designed by a Christian architect,'' he said to applause. ''Such is Indonesia's spirit. Such is the message of Indonesia's inclusive philosophy: pancasila.
''People choose to worship God as they please. Islam flourishes, but so do other faiths. Here we can find the ability to bridge divides of race and region and religion. That ability to see yourself in other people.''
The very first Commandment, that God never replaced is in Exodus 20
I am the LORD your God...“You shall have no other gods before me."
Obama could have said 'people choose to worship their god as they please'. If he said that, it would have been acceptable. But they all can't be worshipping God because they don't recognise Jesus Christ as the Son of God. The Bible makes it clear. If you are worshipping any other God, you are worshipping a worthless idol.
The only inspiration that an Islamic mosque can provide is the architecture. People can't worship God as they please and certainly not within the religion of Islam. Jesus is the seed of Abraham and is the Son of God. All authority has been given to him and Obama, who professes to be a Christian, must see that other faiths flourishing should be a source of distress. Being reconciled across religions in recognition that we all live in one global society and must all live peacefully is fine. But uniting Christianity with an anti-Christ religion is not possible.
Your stripes are beginning to look a little dubious Mr Obama. Stand up for your God and recognise him before men!
http://www.smh.com.au/world/we-have-much-more-work-to-do-20101110-17np0.html
Earlier Mr Obama had visited Indonesia's Grand Mosque, south-east Asia's largest, with his wife, Michelle, and cited it as a source of inspiration. ''This house of worship for many thousands of Muslims was designed by a Christian architect,'' he said to applause. ''Such is Indonesia's spirit. Such is the message of Indonesia's inclusive philosophy: pancasila.
''People choose to worship God as they please. Islam flourishes, but so do other faiths. Here we can find the ability to bridge divides of race and region and religion. That ability to see yourself in other people.''
The very first Commandment, that God never replaced is in Exodus 20
I am the LORD your God...“You shall have no other gods before me."
Obama could have said 'people choose to worship their god as they please'. If he said that, it would have been acceptable. But they all can't be worshipping God because they don't recognise Jesus Christ as the Son of God. The Bible makes it clear. If you are worshipping any other God, you are worshipping a worthless idol.
The only inspiration that an Islamic mosque can provide is the architecture. People can't worship God as they please and certainly not within the religion of Islam. Jesus is the seed of Abraham and is the Son of God. All authority has been given to him and Obama, who professes to be a Christian, must see that other faiths flourishing should be a source of distress. Being reconciled across religions in recognition that we all live in one global society and must all live peacefully is fine. But uniting Christianity with an anti-Christ religion is not possible.
Your stripes are beginning to look a little dubious Mr Obama. Stand up for your God and recognise him before men!
Thursday, October 7, 2010
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