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 THE LIBERTARIAN ENTERPRISE Number 369, May 28, 2006 "Data Privacy is a Fundamental Right"
Christianity . . . the Mother of Harlots
Credit The Libertarian Enterprise The Christian church of the 21st century is completely sold out to the State. I grew up a Baptist kid. (I'm a Christian, but thank God, I've been delivered from being Baptist!) I remember hearing sermons on prophecy, and hearing preachers say that the Catholic Church was the woman of Revelation 17:5, called "Mystery, Babylon the Great, the Mother of Harlots and Abominations of the Earth. After 52 years on this planet, and tons of study, I've come to believe that it is the whole of the organized Christian church . . . Christendom . . . that is that prophetic Woman. I think back to God's commandments to His children when they entered the Promised Land. He explicitly commanded them not to study the religions of the pagan nations and tribes around them. God knew that they would follow false gods if they mixed a little paganism into Judaism. Every time the Children of Israel messed around with their neighbors, they drifted off into sin, and God punished them for it. Christianity began to pander to the State successfully in the 4th Century as it convinced Emperor Constantine to embrace and protect Christianity in the known Roman world. (For a terrific book on the subject, read "When Jesus Become God," by Richard Rubenstein) From that point in history to this . . . 1700 years later, Christianity has sought the blessing of the King, so to speak. In many instances thoughout that time period, distinguishing between the desires of the Church and the State would have been hard to do. I am reminded of two Scriptures that condemn most of Christianity as it relates to Christianity and the warfare state. Ezekiel 23: 37-39 "That they have committed adultery, and blood is in their hands, and with their idols have they committed adultery, and have also caused their sons, whom they bare unto me, to pass for them through the fire, to devour them. Moreover this they have done unto me: they have defiled my sanctuary in the same day, and have profaned my sabbaths. For when they had slain their children to their idols, then they came the same day into my sanctuary to profane it; and lo, thus have they done in the midst of mine house." Here's how this translates in today's world. 1. The majority of Christians support a warfare state.
Doesn't that place the State ahead of God and His commandments? Here's a thumb poked in the eye of all the "patriot" flagwavers out there. I'll bet that not one in a million has considered this position. The superiority of position of the American flag requires that the flag, when displayed on a pole, or in a group of flagpoles, be placed above all other flags. That must mean that the sovereignty of the US Government is superior to all other entities. One is supposed to salute the American flag, and pledge allegiance to it, and to the republic for which is stands. But what about the position of the flag in the churches of the US? Christianity in America gives the American flag preeminence on their flagpoles, and in display on their platforms. They try to outdo each other in their displays of patriotism, which is nothing more than bowing their knees to the god of the State. Christians salute the flag and pledge allegiance to it. They even go so far as protesting when the Pledge of Allegiance to the State is not done in government schools! I thought that Christians were supposed to swear their allegiance to the King of Kings only. Isn't there a Commandment in Exodus that says "Thou shalt have no other gods before me"? If the American flag is displayed and allegiance is sworn to it in an American church, then God Almighty just got shoved into second place. He hates that . . . Another nail in the coffin of the Church in "Amerika" is that most churches organize under the legal entity called a corporation. Without thinking about it, the corporate churches of Amerika have placed themselves at the mercy of, and under the control of, the State and its laws relating to corporations. There's not a requirement that a church be incorporated in order to be the recipient of tax-exempt status in Amerika. The 501c(3) exemption is a Federal tax code, not a state statute, so every church that uses this part of the tax code is a ward of the Federal government. Final nail in the Church's coffin is its desire . . . even its perceived entitlement . . . of tax exempt status in Amerika. Why should churches be tax exempt? Isn't the tax exemption bestowed on churches just one more way that the tax code is perverted to encourage certain behavior approved by the State? Here's the other Scripture that condemns the whole of Christianity, and it touches areas like Sabbath-keeping, celebrating Christmas and Easter, forsaking the Feast days in the Old Testament, personal behavior (such as smoking, drinking, gambling, cinema, etc.) and prophecy. Mark 7: 6-9 "He answered and said unto them, well hath Esaias prophesied of you hypocrites, as it is written, This people honoreth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandments of God, ye hold the traditions of men, as the washing of pots and cups; and many other such like things ye do. (adding v. 13) Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition, which ye have delivered: and many such like things do ye." True Biblical Christianity would be unrecognizable by today's Church. They don't even resemble one another. The Christian Church of the early 21st century preaches liberty, but practices slavery.
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