ER forwarded me a link to one of the most heartbreaking sites to which I have ever been. It literally, and unashamedly brought tears to my eyes.
Father in heaven, I pray you destroy this evil, and bring swift justice to those who manage the Blasphemy Challenge. I beg you Lord to please, somehow, put a stop to it. I further ask that you forgive those who have taken the challenge and show them, leaving no room for doubt, that You ARE the LORD of Glory. And help me to be a better witness.
I lift up this prayer in the holy name of Jesus. Amen.
I've offered the link only so other believers can witness this abomination of the enemy, and I ask that you all echo and add to the prayer I've offered. Nothing is beyond the power of the Lord to perform, and He knows how to answer prayer. Please pray, believing, that our Lord will destroy this site and bring swift justice to these enemies of God-- There are currently 174 videos blaspheming the Holy Ghost.
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Thank you, ER, for the link. I deeply appreciate it. On this we do indeed agree.
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..:UPDATE:..
December 18, 2006
According to the little counter at the top of the video screen there now appears to be 900 respondents to the blasphemy challenge. What's struck me as significant is, thus far, I have yet to have seen a video from someone older [or appearing to be older] than 19? ... 21?
What a sad testament to the state of faith in America. This is what permissiveness, and the concerted effort [whatever my detracters may think] to cleanse our culture of God and Jesus. Prayer is gone from school, the bible in no longer taught, Nativity scenes are no longer welcome on public property, the colors red and green are banned in some school systems. Christmas trees aren't welcome in many places. Even Santa Claus [decided NOT a religious symbol] is not welcome in, of all places, Disney World. Even our holidays [Holy-Days] are being stripped of their religious significance. It's now holiday trees, winter trees, happy holidays, happy Kwaanza, even happy Channukah is most places... but not merry Christmas.
It's not a wonder these young turks have no faith in God; they have been raised [or not, as the case may be] by a generation who also sees nothing wrong with sanitizing the reason for the season.
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The site is offensive. Pure and simple. I wouldn't shed a single tear if it was shut down.
But I needn't worry; God always repays...
On this, I agree. as many folk did in Jesus' day and do still, today.
As for what is blasphemy: I think it's not nearly as dramatic as some think. Don't misunderstand me, but the ultimate sin against God is to say no to Him -- and I mean in the ultimate, eternal sense. That, I believe, is the only sin that won't be forgiven. The poor souls who put videos up on that site were walking blaspemies in the first place or they wouldn't have done it. But unohol crap, it's shocking. That's why I sent it along.
Praying for others, men. That will bring us together.
On a much, much lighter note ...
Dudes, I was in a Christian book store for the first time in 20 years today, to get a present for someone -- and had to leave before I spent my paycheck on music I haven't heard in 20 years! The Hinsons! Rambos! Keith Green!
Awe. Some. Stuff.
Rushing wind blow thru this temple
Blowing out the dust within
Come and breathe your breath upon me
I've been born again...
How about Larry Norman? Randy Stonehill? Rich Mullins? I still have the albums...
"While there's glory in Old Glory, it could never quite compare to the glory of the Cross on Calvary."
By the way, my familiarity with Southern Gospel stops cold after 1984. What have I missed? ... It will amuse some of y'all, and appall others, that from 1982 to 1984, I was a dues-payin' member of the National Religious Broadcasters Association. :-)
Back to the subject of the post: Don't you think God can use a site such as that for His glory? Dadgum, if nothin' else it got us to quit bickering for a minute!:-)
Thanks for checking up on me.
The bible college I'm planning on attending also runs a Southern Gospel radio station. I'm not particularly keen on southern gospel, but I do love bluegrass, secular or otherwise. Bluegrass still retains its celtic roots, moreso than country or southern gospel, and that's why I'm keen on it
I reckon I can see how such a site might prove a blessing, but not just because it seemingly puts an end to doctrinal bickering, but because, to a greater degree, it more clearly shows the enemy at work... kinda like the muzzle flash of a sniper giving away his position.
Drlobo, over at my place, remarked that there have a tellingly small number of blaspehemers get the DVD.
Let's be fair: This is also testament to the irrelevance of the church at large, to the perceived and real hypocrisy of church-goers and religious leaders and the failure to Be Church.
I think the fault lies much more within the church than without. Which is probably what you're saying, but we may be saying that for different reasons...
"a tellingly small number of blaspehemers [sic] get the DVD..."
Typical of the promises of evil, eh? High promises, shallow deliveries....
Anon--
World events are swiftly building to a head; the dam will soon burst. If God chooses not to punish these people now, that's His business. But EVERYONE receives God's justice sooner or later.
Dan--
"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing"
--Edmund Burke
In that respect it certainly IS the Church's fault, but that hardly negates the guilt of the God-less of 'this present world'
Whatever gave you the idea that God HAS to do anything? He gave us free will to do what we choose. He works on his on timetable, and His justice will be meted out as and when He sees fit. If He simply zapped everybody that was offensive to Him, none of us would be saved. He is patient and longsuffering, unlike us. And in the end, if you reject His Son, He will reject you. So Justice will be done sooner or later.
"If He simply zapped everybody that was offensive to Him, none of us would be saved. He is patient and longsuffering, unlike us. And in the end, if you reject His Son, He will reject you."
Jesus. Saves.
Is the blasphemy any greater than the quite, staid and dignified rejection of Jesus on the Cross? That they're rejecting the HS is a mere form -- because the HS points to Christ.
Perhaps such a petty, silly, feckless sight is a good thing? It brings some to prayer, who might otherwise neglect it. It gives a face to the poor silly souls who are lost, and need prayer. So there are some 900 kids who should be but most likely are not on anyone's prayer list.
That's the real sin.
J
Maybe. Maybe not. This kind of thing has been said of current events literally since Jesus's time -- before, actually. Sheesh. :-)
I've always understood the meaning of "the blasphemy of the Holy Spirit" as meaning a refusal to convert. That's the ultimate rejection of the Holy Spirit, and one has the option to change ones mind up until the last breath. If you die without ever being "saved", you have committed blasphemy of the Holy Spirirt. So, even those who have recorded themselves saying they reject the Holy Spirit can still be saved. That's how I interpret the phrase.
second: Santa Clause is a Christian figure. His name is a contraction of the name Saint Nicholas, a priest who was canonized for, among other things, bring gifts to children. That may not be 100% accurate, since I didn't research it, but if my memory serves, it's pretty close, I believe.
By the way, if you moderate comments, you don't need word verification. :)
It is perfectly clear that the sort of "respect" religious people demand is much the same as the "respect" demanded by street punks - i.e, fear and submission.
As to your dare...
a) There's no such thing as "free speech"-- Everyone pays for the things they say... every idle word.
b) As much as I would love to see that site shut down, it's not likely to happen simply because I wish it, although it is certainly possible... me getting my wish. As I stated earlier, 'The site is offensive', but I don't presume to know the will of God in terms of 'The Blasphemy Challenge'... for who's to say what good may come of it?
"And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose."
--Romans 8:28
You know what? I'm a little tired of this culture war silliness. These claims are just meant to be divisive are getting dated.
I am an atheist. I mostly hang out with people who are not Christian (most of us stopped believing in God a long time ago). But what did we all say to each other yesterday? Merry Christmas. We exchanged Christmas gifts, we have Christmas trees in our homes, Christmas lights in our yards, and Christmas wreaths on our doors. Even my cat has a Christmas bow on today.
No, we're not really celebrating Jesus' birth. It's more of a family holiday/tradition for us. But we're well aware of where it came from, even if it borrowed its rituals and symbols (the lights, the trees, the mistletoe, etc.) from earlier pagan celebrations.
In short, even we godless elitist liberals are not afraid or ashamed to say Merry Christmas, nor do we care to sweep it under the rug.
The bogus war on Christmas has been greatly exaggerated.
Oh- and Merry Christmas El. Yes, I mean it.