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Hi all
An Unseen Battle Over Every Soul,
For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places. Ephesians 6:12.We do not understand as we should the great conflict going on between invisible agencies, the controversy between loyal and disloyal angels. Over every man, good and evil angels strive. This is no make believe conflict. It is not mimic battles in which we are engaged. We have to meet most powerful adversaries, and it rests with us to determine which shall win.
Could human beings know the number of the evil angels, could they know their devices and their activity, there would be far less pride and frivolity. Satan is the prince of demons. The evil angels over whom he rules do his bidding. Through them he multiplies his agencies…. He instigates all the evil that exists in our world.
If Satan sees that he is in danger of losing one soul, he will exert himself to the utmost to keep that one. And when the individual is aroused to his danger, and, with distress and fervor, looks to Jesus for strength, Satan fears that he will lose a captive, and he calls a reinforcement of his angels to hedge in the poor soul, and form a wall of darkness around him, that heaven’s light may not reach him.
But if the one in danger perseveres, and in his helplessness casts himself upon the merits of the blood of Christ, our Saviour listens to the earnest prayer of faith, and sends a reinforcement of those angels that excel in strength to deliver him. Satan cannot endure to have his powerful rival appealed to, for he fears and trembles before His strength and majesty. At the sound of fervent prayer, Satan’s whole host trembles…. And when angels, all-powerful, clothed with the armory of heaven, come to the help of the fainting, pursued soul, Satan and his host fall back…. The great Commander in heaven and earth has limited Satan’s power.
Around every tempted soul there are angels of God, ready to lift up the standard of righteousness, if the tempted one will only show a spirit of resistance to evil. Each may be an overcomer. Christ has in our behalf withstood the fiercest temptations of the enemy.
God bless
Hi all
THE PROTECTION OF ANGELS
Behold, I give unto you power to tread on serpents and scorpions, and over all the power of the enemy. (Luke 10:19)
Fallen man is Satan’s rightful captive. Christ’s mission was to rescue man from the power of his great adversary. Man is naturally inclined to yield to Satan’s temptations, and he cannot resist him unless Jesus, the mighty conqueror, dwells in him, directing his desires and imparting his strength. God alone can limit the power of so terrible an enemy… Satan knows better than Christians what power they can have against him if they rely on Jesus. For the weakest disciple of Christ, if he will call upon the great Conqueror to help him, can resist Satan and all his host…. When Satan perceives that he is in danger of losing a soul, he does everything in his power to prevent it from escaping him…. But if it appeals to the merits of the blood of Christ and perseveres, our Savior hears the fervent prayer of faith and sends in turn more powerful angels to deliver it. Satan cannot bear to have recourse to his heavenly rival, for he trembles before his majesty. At the hearing of fervent prayer, the whole host of the adversary is seized with terror.
Nothing but the loving compassion of Christ, His divine grace, His omnipotence, can enable us to confound the implacable enemy and to repress the opposition of our own hearts. What is our strength? The joy of the Lord. Let the love of Christ fill our hearts; then we shall be ready to receive the power that is in store for us…
If the seeker after truth will look to Christ for likeness, he will see the perfection of the principles of God’s law, and nothing will satisfy him but perfection…. He must wage a battle against the human attributes that Satan has strengthened for his own use…. But he knows that the saving power of the Redeemer will carry him through the conflict victorious. The Saviour will give him strength and succor as he cries out for almighty grace.
(E. G. White – Power of Grace)
A Collection of Meditations
God bless
Hi all
THE STRENGTH IS IN THE LORD
Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the power of his might. (Ephesians 6:10)
Many are weak spiritually because they look to themselves instead of contemplating Christ… Christ constitutes for us in every occasion an inexhaustible reserve of strength and happiness. In this case, why do we cease to look to his fullness to consider and deplore our weakness? Why do we forget that he is ready to help us in every circumstance? We dishonor him by speaking of our incapacity. Let us look unceasingly to Jesus to resemble him each day more obviously, to speak more like him, to profit more from his goodness and his help, and to receive the blessings that he offers us. By living in communion with him in this way, we strengthen ourselves, we are a help and a blessing to our neighbor.
God has provided everything to make us strong. He has given us His Holy Spirit, whose office it is to bring to our remembrance all the promises made by Christ, to give us peace and a sweet sense of forgiveness. If we do not cease to fix our eyes on the Saviour, to believe in His power, we shall feel secure, for the righteousness of Christ will become our righteousness…
When temptation assails you, as it never fails to do, cares and perplexities surround you; despairing, discouraged, you are ready to abandon yourself to despair: look for the light where, with the eye of faith, you last saw it; then the bright light of His glory will dispel the surrounding darkness. When sin seeks to master your soul, and unbelief veils your mind, then draw near to the Saviour. His grace is sufficient to subdue sin. He will forgive us and restore our joy in God.
God desires our minds to be developed. He desires to rest His grace upon us… We must be one with Christ as He is one with the Father; then the Father will love us as He loves His Son. We can receive the same help that Christ had; we can be made strong for every contingency, for God will be our vanguard and our rearguard. He will protect us on every side.
(E.G. White – Power of Grace)
A Collection of Meditations
God bless
What is the Christian’s responsibility to the state?
First and foremost, every Christian needs to recognize that we are ambassadors of another kingdom. Even our giving should reflect a sacrifice to spread the message of the gospel that we love. But there are a number of other needs in the world, and Christians should be known as givers not only to our own causes, but also to various other causes in society. This might mean helping with community projects of various kinds.
No government can survive without supporting at least the last six of the Ten Commandments. It was no accident that God wrote the Ten Commandments on two tables of stone. Jewish tradition tells us that the Lord divided it this way: The first four, which deal with our relationship to God, are on the first table of stone; the last six, which deal with our relationships with our fellow man, are on the second table of stone.
I often hear religious leaders talk about “America returning to God” and that we need to require that people keep the Ten Commandments. That scares me, because if the government dictates that we’re supposed to keep the first four, they’re going to tell us what God to worship, what day to worship Him, how to worship Him, what His name is, and so on. The government should never be involved in enforcing the first four with civil penalties or laws.
On the other hand, if the government does not endorse the last six, you have anarchy. That’s where I draw the line. There is a misconception in which people talk about Thomas Jefferson’s reference to the wall of separation of church and state. He wasn’t saying that religion and Christian principles should have no influence on government; he was saying that government should never dictate what the denomination of the state should be, which is what happened in Europe. But the morals of Christianity and Judeo-Christian ethics must influence government, because they encompass the foundational morals that are essential for the survival of any society.
KEY BIBLE TEXTS
And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. And they marvelled at him. Mark 12:17God bless
https://www.amazingfacts.org/bible-study/daily-devotional
Donald Trump Told Christian Leaders that he will Establish a Faith Office in the White House that will Report Directly to Him
On October 28, 2024, Donald Trump attended the Faith Summit hosted by the National Faith Advisory Board. During an interview with the tongues-speaking Pentecostal pastor Paula White, Donald Trump said he will establish a Faith Office in the White House because religion is under attack in our nation and must be saved.
Here we are witnessing a very strategic coalition between the President of the United States and evangelical faith leaders being planned for the purpose of saving religion in the United States. This so-called “Office of Faith,” which will work directly in the “Oval Office,” aims to influence not only the White House but also American policies, shaping them to align with evangelical beliefs.
There is no question that all citizens, including people of faith, have the right to be heard. However, the establishment of an office of “faith” within the executive branch of government is not mentioned in the US Constitution. Additionally, Christians cross the line whenever they support laws or regulations that force particular religious beliefs—especially Sunday rest—on all citizens. Furthermore, why would evangelical Christians want a “Faith Office” in the White House? Obviously, religious leaders want to be able to influence policies that will benefit their religious communities.
We have been warned that the time will come when influential church leaders will gain increased sway over political leaders, pushing them to enact Sunday laws in an effort to enforce societal rest and religious observance on a national level. This scenario, known as the “Sunday law crisis,” will occur when religious authorities, facing growing concerns about moral decay and social unrest, argue that Sunday observance laws are necessary to restore order, our Christian identity, and the favor of God.
“When the Protestant churches shall unite with the secular power to sustain a false religion … when the state shall use its power to enforce the decrees and sustain the institutions of the church—then will Protestant America have formed an image to the papacy, and there will be a national apostasy which will end only in national ruin” (Bible Commentaries, Vol. 7, p. 976).
“If the people can be led to favor a Sunday law, then the clergy intend to exert their united influence to obtain a religious amendment to the Constitution, and compel the nation to keep Sunday” (Review and Herald, December 24, 1889).
Before the churches can effectively influence the government to impose their teachings on society, it is necessary to first establish a political-religious mechanism that provides a structured forum for dialogue. We are seeing this come to fruition with Donald Trump’s Faith Office. Evangelical Christians will have a front-row seat in the Oval Office, ultimately positioning themselves to advocate their perspectives more directly in the policymaking process.“The dignitaries of church and state will unite to bribe, persuade, or compel all classes to honor the Sunday. The lack of divine authority will be supplied by oppressive enactments. Political corruption is destroying love of justice and regard for truth; and even in free America, rulers and legislators, in order to secure public favor, will yield to the popular demand for a law enforcing Sunday observance” (Great Controversy, p. 592).M
Rev.14:12 Here is the patience of the saints: here are they that keep the commandments of God, and the faith of Jesus.
🙏
Soon God will put it into their hearts to do away with Babylon the great=99% of all religions on earth. That event triggers the tribulation.
Additionally, Christians cross the line whenever they support laws or regulations that force particular religious beliefs—especially Sunday rest—on all citizens.
Unless it is established to protect the freedom to believe. Trump could be a modern day Cyrus. We need to be careful when criticising people that God may have called. If we get it wrong, then we are in that respect on the wrong side of God’s plan. Of course, even if established for a good purpose, that does open the possibility that someone might abuse that further down the track.
Regardless, if the Believers of America are praying for their great nation, then it is possible that God may send them a King Cyrus type leader. God can step in on behalf of the righteous who are praying.
The Lord said, “If I find fifty righteous people in the city of Sodom, I will spare the whole place for their sake.”
Then Abraham spoke up again: “Now that I have been so bold as to speak to the Lord, though I am nothing but dust and ashes, 28 what if the number of the righteous is five less than fifty? Will you destroy the whole city for lack of five people?”
“If I find forty-five there,” he said, “I will not destroy it.”
Once again he spoke to him, “What if only forty are found there?”
He said, “For the sake of forty, I will not do it.”
Then he said, “May the Lord not be angry, but let me speak. What if only thirty can be found there?”
He answered, “I will not do it if I find thirty there.”
Haven’t you noticed the separation of Church and state means they kicked God out, thus satan moved in, like this though-2Cor 11:12-15)-he misleads. Jesus taught his followers to be no part of this world, that most assuredly means NEVER chancing a vote for corruption. Jesus is King to a true follower. Every govt on earth is standing in opposition to Gods king.
The State should be influenced by the law of God (10 commandments) and the true religion.
But the State can only legislate on the content of the second table of the law, but not the first table, because we all know that the domain of faith is between God and us, and the State has no place sticking its nose in there.
👇Please read or reread
October 28, 2024 at 5:20 am#946942
What is the Christian’s responsibility to the state?
First and foremost, every Christian needs to recognize that we are ambassadors of another kingdom. Even our giving should reflect a sacrifice to spread the message of the gospel that we love. But there are a number of other needs in the world, and Christians should be known as givers not only to our own causes, but also to various other causes in society. This might mean helping with community projects of various kinds.
No government can survive without supporting at least the last six of the Ten Commandments. It was no accident that God wrote the Ten Commandments on two tables of stone. Jewish tradition tells us that the Lord divided it this way: The first four, which deal with our relationship to God, are on the first table of stone; the last six, which deal with our relationships with our fellow man, are on the second table of stone.
I often hear religious leaders talk about “America returning to God” and that we need to require that people keep the Ten Commandments. That scares me, because if the government dictates that we’re supposed to keep the first four, they’re going to tell us what God to worship, what day to worship Him, how to worship Him, what His name is, and so on. The government should never be involved in enforcing the first four with civil penalties or laws.
On the other hand, if the government does not endorse the last six, you have anarchy. That’s where I draw the line. There is a misconception in which people talk about Thomas Jefferson’s reference to the wall of separation of church and state. He wasn’t saying that religion and Christian principles should have no influence on government; he was saying that government should never dictate what the denomination of the state should be, which is what happened in Europe. But the morals of Christianity and Judeo-Christian ethics must influence government, because they encompass the foundational morals that are essential for the survival of any society.
KEY BIBLE TEXTS
And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. And they marvelled at him. Mark 12:17God bless
Yes govt’s do some good, but as well promote antichrist things. and are corrupt. The bible teaches to pay Caeser’s things to Caeser=taxes, and show respect for those, and do not break the laws( as long as they don’t contradict Gods laws) then they will have no reason to jail one.
But to cast a vote for corruption is not Gods will. Jesus taught his to be no part of this world.
According to a Secular, Non-profit Academic Think Tank, University Students Need Sundays Off for Church, Rest, and Mental Health
Minding the Campus is a subsidiary of the National Association of Scholars (NAS), a New York City-based secular, nonprofit organization that publishes “essays and short pieces written by professors, academics, students, journalists, and concerned citizens” in an effort to promote reasoned scholarship at American universities. [1] In an article titled “Students Need Rest; Christian Colleges Should Set the Example,” published on October 18, 2024, Minding the Campus urged colleges and universities nationwide, both Christian and secular, to make Sunday a priority for students to attend church, relax, and take a break. The essay stated that securing Sunday rest would help students feel less pressured by the rigorous academic and work schedules that leave little time for mental recovery, which can lead to stress and negatively impact their wellbeing.
Minding the Campus published the following:
• “Sundays used to signify a day of rest, reflection, and worship—now, for college students, they signify 11:59 p.m. deadlines and endless Canvas notifications. The constant pressure of online grading systems and classes keeps students in a state of perpetual stress—even at Christian colleges, where Sabbath-honoring should be prioritized. Said religious universities ceaselessly stress the significance of worship, emphasizing that weekly chapel requirements are no substitute for Sunday service, while hypocritically following the oppressive secular model of interminable technological attachment.” [2]
• “There is a constant pressure to keep up. Even when you’ve done everything required, it feels like there is something still to be done … This pressure is even greater for an online class, where such a system gives students the false impression that they must be continuously plugged in and pumping out assignments to be productive in the course.” [2]
• “Young adults are constantly warned of technological obsession through the overuse of social media, and yet, they are also trained to be ceaselessly available to respond to emails and submit assignments regardless of the date or time. This does not trivialize the threat of social media; however, it would be of great benefit to students’ mental health if educators and curriculum designers, particularly in Christian universities, abide by the Biblically derived idiom, ‘Practice what you preach’.” [2]
University students do have demanding schedules, with back-to-back classes, study sessions, assignments, and, for many, part-time jobs to help cover expenses. Minding the Campus says that the constant pace and lack of downtime leave no time for recovery and claims that if students were to take Sundays off for rest and worship, they could benefit from a structured break each week.According to these so-called “experts” who are dedicated to researching and analyzing campus life, Sunday rest is the solution to reset mentally. Sunday is the day to reflect and connect with your values and community. Sunday would not only give them a needed physical and mental rest but also serve as a weekly anchor, helping them refocus and manage their lives. Sunday rest and worship is the answer to a healthier balance and more sustainable academic performance.
While there is a wealth of statistical evidence demonstrating that the human body and mind absolutely need rest to function well, there is no scientific or biblical proof that we must get our rest on Sunday. Students and people in general certainly need more rest to reduce stress, improve focus, and prevent burnout, but why is it that the consensus from everyone, including academia, agrees that Sunday is the solution to save society? You will find this same consensus among most Christians, labor unions, politicians, and the mainstream media who believe that Sunday, not Saturday, is the universal day of rest.
God, in His wisdom, created rest during creation week. In Genesis 2:2, 3, God “rested,” “blessed,” and “sanctified” the seventh day, meaning He set it apart for a holy or religious use and for a time of rest. Through these three distinct acts, the day of rest was established. It was committed to Adam, the father of our race, and was made into a memorial of creation. This rest was also enshrined in the moral law (Exodus 20:8–11). This holy Sabbath rest is at the same time a sign of sanctification, a sign of the believer’s rest from his own works of sin and his entrance into the rest of the soul, which Jesus promises to those who come to Him according to Hebrews 4:1–10.
Before sin entered our world, the Sabbath was a memorial to the living God. Before sin destroyed the perfect peace and unity that existed in the Garden of Eden, the Sabbath had been established, blessed, and sanctified by the Lord. And this memorial of God will live on throughout eternity in the earth made new (Isaiah 66:22, 23). Yes, after this world has been purified and all the marks of sin have been forever removed, Saturday, not Sunday, will remain for all eternity as the true day of worship for the Creator.
Today, the world has sanctified the first day of the week and is participating in a fraud, a lie, a deception. Millions believe that Sunday is the day of rest, but as long as God endures, as long as His word is true, and as long as the earth remains, the seventh-day Sabbath is a rebuke to all those who are worshiping on the wrong day. Regardless of how many times people tell us that Sunday is the Lord’s Day, the Fourth Commandment remains unchanged and requires observance of the seventh-day Sabbath.
Sources
[1] https://www.influencewatch.org/non-profit/minding-the-campus/
[2] https://www.mindingthecampus.org/2024/10/18/students-need-rest-christian-colleges-should-set-the-example/
Fox News Reports that the Catholic Vote may have Helped Trump Regain the White House
On election night in 2024, Fox News’ Sandra Smith reported that Donald Trump was 24 points ahead of Kamala Harris in Michigan’s Catholic vote, which could have been the reason for Trump’s victory. The other conservative news anchors joked and laughed and claimed that Kamala should not have missed the Al Smith Dinner, a Roman Catholic charity event historically attended by presidential candidates from both parties. The Fox News panel highlighted the fact that Kamala Harris did not attend the benefit, but Donald Trump did, and that may have ultimately helped Trump win the election.
Kamala Harris’s snub of the Al Smith Dinner was seen by Catholics as a sign of disrespect to the Catholic Church. Donald Trump, on the other hand, capitalized on her absence, saying that he wouldn’t have missed the charitable dinner for the world. [1]
The Sacramento Bee published the following about the Catholic vote, Donald Trump, and the 2024 Presidential Election:
• “As ballots were counted late into the evening on Tuesday, Nov. 5, U.S. Catholics — a group experts see as ‘sharply divided by party’ — broke for former President Donald Trump by a historically large margin nationwide, exit polls revealed. Fifty-eight percent of U.S. Catholics favored Trump, compared to 40% who supported Vice President Kamala Harris, according to exit polls from NBC News, The Washington Post and CNN. The 18-point margin represents the largest voting gap among the group in decades.” [2]
If Catholic voters helped Donald Trump recapture the White House, it would be in part due to Trump’s efforts to win over Catholic voters. Trump has specifically targeted Catholics in the 2024 election by paying lip service to Catholic traditions.On his social media account, for instance, Donald Trump wished everyone a “Happy and Blessed All Saints Day,” a Roman Catholic holiday that honors and pays tribute to all the saints who have ascended to heaven. On this day, Catholics pray for the intercession of the saints, attend a Eucharistic Mass, and reflect on the so-called Catholic path to holiness.
Donald Trump also offered a happy birthday to the Virgin Mary on the Catholic Feast of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This is a devotion practiced by Catholics, not Protestants. And recently, during his second political rally in Butler, Pennsylvania, Donald Trump played the song Ave Maria, Latin for Hail Mary, a song deeply rooted in Catholic tradition that honors Mary’s unique role in salvation and asks for her heavenly intercession. [3]
What other Catholic traditions will be perused in order to connect more with policies that resonate with Catholic voters—Sunday rest by law?
When political leaders focus on running the government and creating policies that help their constituents rather than entangling themselves with the churches, there will be a healthy balance between church and state. However, if our politicians begin prioritizing the doctrines of the churches ahead of public policies, they run the risk of undermining both our systems of government and the safeguards of religious liberty. We were warned that “political corruption” will lead to the union of church and state and bring about the Sunday law crisis.
“The dignitaries of church and State will unite to bribe, persuade, or compel all classes to honor the Sunday. The lack of divine authority will be supplied by oppressive enactments. Political corruption is destroying love of justice and regard for truth; and even in free America, rulers and legislators, in order to secure public favor, will yield to the popular demand for a law enforcing Sunday observance” (Great Controversy, p. 592).
Sources[1] http://adventmessenger.org/donald-trump-accuses-kamala-harris-of-being-deeply-disrespectful-to-the-great-catholic-community-for-not-physically-attending-the-al-smith-dinner/
[2] https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/election/article295156154.html
[3] http://adventmessenger.org/ave-maria-hail-mary-was-sung-when-donald-trump-returned-to-the-place-of-his-shooting-in-butler-
A DIVINE PSYCHOANALYSIS
Search me, O Lord, and try me. (Psalm 26:2)
In His providence the Lord places men where He can test their spiritual energies and reveal the motives of their actions, that they may improve that which is good and reject that which is evil. He would have His servants become acquainted with the innermost reactions of their being. To this end He often permits the fire of affliction to purify them….
True grace willingly accepts trial; if we are loath to be tried by the Lord, our condition is serious indeed. God refines and purifies souls; in the heat of the furnace the dross is separated from the silver and gold of Christian character. Jesus oversees the trial. He knows what is necessary to purify the precious metal so that it may reflect the splendor of divine love.
I beseech you, “Examine yourselves, whether ye be in the faith; prove yourselves.” 2 Corinthians 13:5. Christian love requires, to remain ardent and pure, a constant renewal by the grace of Christ….
In times of conflict and trial, we all need the support and comfort that right principles, firm religious convictions, and rich experience of the things of God can provide. A continual growth in grace will enable us to attain to the full stature of men and women in Christ Jesus.
It is not in the absence of tribulation that the Christian forms his character, but in the trial itself. It is in the face of struggle and difficulty that the disciple of Christ displays greater vigilance; more earnest prayers then arise from his soul for the help of the Almighty.
A hard trial endured through the Master’s help develops patience, watchfulness, courage, and a deep and unwavering trust in God. What a triumph faith wins when it enables the true disciple to suffer and yet remain strong, to submit and yet conquer, to die constantly to self and yet live, to bear his cross and thus secure the crown of glory!
(E G. White – Power of Grace)
A Collection of Meditations
God bless
Actually the Hebrew word Elohim is not a name, it means the supreme one when translated from Hebrew. Never plural for the true living God. Jehovah alone is the true living God, Jesus is the true living Gods son.
Jehovah alone is the true living God, Jesus is the true living Gods son.
Agreed. There is one God, the Father, and one Lord, the Lord Jesus Christ.
GOD IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR FALLS
Now to him who is able to keep you from falling, and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy… (Jude 1:24)
In the last days, when iniquity shall abound, and the love of many shall wax cold, God will have a people who will glorify his name and reprove iniquity. They are to be a “separate people,” faithful to the law of God while the world seeks to nullify its precepts. When God’s transforming power works through his servants, the hosts of darkness will put up bitter and determined resistance…. From the moment we decide to serve the God of heaven until we are delivered from this evil world, there will be a constant conflict. This warfare is without respite…
Our work is a battle; as faithful soldiers of Jesus, we are to carry the blood-stained banner into the heart of the enemy’s stronghold…. If we will but lay down our weapons and lower the blood-stained banner, and become slaves and servants of Satan, we may be delivered from conflict and suffering. But this peace will cost us Christ and heaven. We cannot accept it at such a price. Let us carry on the war to the end of earth’s history rather than find peace in apostasy and sin.
The work of apostasy begins with some secret revolt of the heart against the demands of God’s law. We cherish and cherish impure desires, unlawful ambitions; unbelief and darkness separate the soul from God. If we do not overcome these evils, they will prevail over us…
If we indulge in spiritual pride, unsanctified desires, evil thoughts, and anything that separates us from intimate and sacred communion with Jesus, our souls will be in danger…. We must “fight the good fight of faith” if we would “lay hold on eternal life.” 1 Timothy 6:12. “We are kept by faith unto salvation.” 1 Peter 1:5. If the thought of apostasy is abhorrent to you,… then “abhor that which is evil, but hold fast that which is good” (Romans 12:9); and believe on Him who is “able to keep you from falling, and to present you blameless before the presence of his glory with exceeding joy.”
—E. G. White—The Power of Grace
A Collection of Meditations
God bless
Hillsdale College Organized an Event to Unite Protestants and Catholics Around the Holy Eucharist
Advent Messenger
News and commentary from a Biblical world view on current events, top stories, social trends and political and religious events.
Hillsdale College Organized an Event to Unite Protestants and Catholics Around the Holy Eucharist
November 21, 2024 by Andy RomanA false, radical, and misguided unity is bringing Protestants and Catholics together to exalt the Holy Eucharist and ecumenism above the word of God. There is an endeavor underway in the interfaith movement to eliminate the practice of closed communion. According to Rome, we are all one, and we are all part of Christ; and for this reason, participation in the same Eucharistic bread and wine must be followed. The fruit of ecumenism is to get Protestants to embrace Catholic liturgies and sacraments, bringing them closer to Rome and thereby neutralizing the protest of the Reformation.
Hillsdale College is a conservative non-denominational institution founded by Baptists located in Hillsdale, Michigan. The Hillsdale Collegian newspaper published an article on November 21, 2024, titled “Speaker Advocates for Unity on the Eucharist” and argued the “Protestants and Catholics can find more common ground on the Eucharist” than most people think. [1]
The following was stated in the student college paper about bringing both religions together:
• “Transubstantiation can unite Christians, not divide them, author and theologian Brett Salkeld said in a lecture Nov. 18.” [1]
• “Hillsdale College Catholic Society hosted Salkeld’s talk, ‘Transubstantiation and Christian Unity.’ Salkeld has written several books, including ‘Transubstantiation: Theology, History, and Christian Unity’ in 2019, and serves as an Archdiocesan Theologian for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Regina.” [1]
• “The lecture attracted Catholic and Protestant students alike, leaving few empty seats in a basement Lane Hall classroom.” [1]
• “Dr. Salkeld’s work can help Catholics understand their own faith better, and it can help Protestants and others from developing a false understanding of that teaching,” said Professor of Theology Mickey Mattox. “I think he very much managed to do both those things. The event was a resounding success.” [1]
• “Salkeld said his emphasis on transubstantiation being an act of God, not man, is important to unite Catholics and Protestants around the Eucharist.” [1]
• “When Catholics and Protestants can agree on the real presence in the Eucharist, they can unite in Christian fellowship. ‘We need to affirm the same faith but not the same theology,’ Salkeld said.” [1]
Advent Messenger
News and commentary from a Biblical world view on current events, top stories, social trends and political and religious events.
Hillsdale College Organized an Event to Unite Protestants and Catholics Around the Holy Eucharist
November 21, 2024 by Andy Roman Leave a CommentA false, radical, and misguided unity is bringing Protestants and Catholics together to exalt the Holy Eucharist and ecumenism above the word of God. There is an endeavor underway in the interfaith movement to eliminate the practice of closed communion. According to Rome, we are all one, and we are all part of Christ; and for this reason, participation in the same Eucharistic bread and wine must be followed. The fruit of ecumenism is to get Protestants to embrace Catholic liturgies and sacraments, bringing them closer to Rome and thereby neutralizing the protest of the Reformation.
Hillsdale College is a conservative non-denominational institution founded by Baptists located in Hillsdale, Michigan. The Hillsdale Collegian newspaper published an article on November 21, 2024, titled “Speaker Advocates for Unity on the Eucharist” and argued the “Protestants and Catholics can find more common ground on the Eucharist” than most people think. [1]
The following was stated in the student college paper about bringing both religions together:
• “Transubstantiation can unite Christians, not divide them, author and theologian Brett Salkeld said in a lecture Nov. 18.” [1]
• “Hillsdale College Catholic Society hosted Salkeld’s talk, ‘Transubstantiation and Christian Unity.’ Salkeld has written several books, including ‘Transubstantiation: Theology, History, and Christian Unity’ in 2019, and serves as an Archdiocesan Theologian for the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Regina.” [1]
• “The lecture attracted Catholic and Protestant students alike, leaving few empty seats in a basement Lane Hall classroom.” [1]
• “Dr. Salkeld’s work can help Catholics understand their own faith better, and it can help Protestants and others from developing a false understanding of that teaching,” said Professor of Theology Mickey Mattox. “I think he very much managed to do both those things. The event was a resounding success.” [1]
• “Salkeld said his emphasis on transubstantiation being an act of God, not man, is important to unite Catholics and Protestants around the Eucharist.” [1]
• “When Catholics and Protestants can agree on the real presence in the Eucharist, they can unite in Christian fellowship. ‘We need to affirm the same faith but not the same theology,’ Salkeld said.” [1]
When Catholic theologians are brought in to instruct Protestant students, they will cause them to adopt practices and beliefs associated with Catholicism. Central to this phenomenon is the increasing embrace of the Holy Eucharist, a key Catholic doctrine that the founders of the Protestant Reformation originally rejected. This shift is often framed as a move toward unity and ecumenism, but it effectively draws Protestants into Catholic understandings of faith. Over time, this trend raises profound questions about the distinctiveness of Protestant identity and whether or not there remains any reason to continue being separate.The Protestant Reformation is far from over, despite significant strides made by ecumenism to bridge the divide between Protestant and Catholic traditions. The work begun by the Reformers of the 16th century remains vital, as their call to embrace the primacy of Scripture and reject man-made traditions continues to resonate in a world that often seeks to dilute doctrinal clarity for the sake of unity. The proclamation of the gospel in its purity, the rejection of practices and doctrines contrary to Scripture, and the need for ongoing renewal in the Church are as urgent today as they were in the days of Luther, Calvin, and Zwingli. Until the second coming of Jesus, the Reformation remains an unfinished work, calling believers to hold fast to the truth of God’s Word and to faithfully contend for the faith once delivered to the saints (Jude 1:3).
Protestants who participate in the ecumenical movement are helping to heal the deadly wound, which will lead to the following crisis:
“God’s Word has given warning of the impending danger; let this be unheeded, and the Protestant world will learn what the purposes of Rome really are, only when it is too late to escape the snare. She is silently growing into power. Her doctrines are exerting their influence in legislative halls, in the churches, and in the hearts of men. She is piling up her lofty and massive structures, in the secret recesses of which her former persecutions will be repeated. Stealthily and unsuspectedly, she is strengthening her forces to further her own ends when the time shall come for her to strike” (The Great Controversy, 581).
“The Roman Church is far-reaching in her plans and modes of operation. She is employing every device to extend her influence and increase her power in preparation for a fierce and determined conflict to regain control of the world, to reestablish persecution, and to undo all that Protestantism has done” (The Great Controversy, 565).
Sources[1] https://hillsdalecollegian.com/2024/11/speaker-advocates-for-unity-on-the-eucharist/
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