Saturday, September 13, 2014

Frankie Sings To Choir

Perusing the interwebs-my action packed Saturday night-I see that Pope Francis has painted himself far out on the limb of political correctness by denouncing war as bad.
You tell 'em, Frankie! 
War IS bad. What the resurgent terrorists of the world have been doing lately, chopping off heads...very bad. Evil. Sin.
Here's the header from Yahoo News:"Pope says world's many conflicts amount to piecemeal World War Three".
You could make a case that there has only been one world war percolating through history since Cain slew Abel which will not end until Christ definitely ENDS IT.
What happens then?
All of Creation at Peace with our Creator. God communing with man. Man right with and properly worshiping God.
Until that day...Popes will denounce, terrorists will terror and much bad stuff will happen as Man continues to fight against Man and God.
Shimon Peres, former president of Israel stated recently that what the world needs to do to achieve Peace is to have a  "United Nations of Religion" so that killings will not continue in the assorted names of God.
Peres mused his moonbeam idea with...Pope Francis.
The United Nations of Religion? Because the original has been such a sparkling success?
I'm going back...back...way, way back to the 1960's and that great song by the Chi-Lites:
"There Will Never Be Any Peace Until God Is Sitting At The Conference Table"
"Men are runnin from land to land
Tryin to make things alright
Holding meeting after meeting, constantly reaching
For what they maybe thinking is right
Everybody has a plan
Aint that just a man
People cant you understand?
We gotta tell em
There will never be any peace
Until God is seated at the conference table
(Hes at the conference table)"

Thank you, Chi-Lites. You might better remember their songs "Oh Girl" and "Have You Seen Her?".

I am with Frankie and Shimon in wanting peace and denouncing terrorists. But of course, as both 'world leaders' are part of the world system which at war with God-THEY ARE PART OF THE PROBLEM!
Peace is achievable, one heart at a time, and it comes through the person of Jesus Christ.
Not through pagan Catholicism or any other religion. His sacrifice, His Rule, His way is the only Way.
If again someone clocks me for denouncing Catholicism, let me gently remind those someones that, according to Catholic doctrine, I am a heretic bound for hell with no hope of Salvation unless I join their team. 
I don't play nice with those who have a history of killing my brothers and sisters, torturing them to 'convince' them to convert. Catholics are no better than ISIS.
But as I said, Peace is achievable. I was made to be at Peace with God back in 1979, and I've been living in enemy territory since. What Christ did for me is available to all, including Catholics and Jews and Muslims who truly wish to be at Peace with God. 
May i see you in Heaven someday.  




7 comments:

Doug said...

Tomorrow I am honored to take part in a memorial for a friend who is now in Heaven. He left enemy territory behind him and is now Home.

Lucia said...

I have a Catholic friend who took her children and their friends (all college-age kids) on several mission trips to clean up and rebuild after Hurricane Katrina. She also looked after my daughter for me numerous times when my son was in the hospital for several months. She is the salt of the earth. Don't you dare equate her with brutal murderers.

Doug said...

Hello Lucia-I dare. I certainly dare, and you are not the only one with great Catholic friends-I have them, too.

Read my post again concerning Catholics-by their theology I am doomed to hell. The Catholic church has a history which you may not like, but that history is full of the torture and killing of 'heretics' such as I am.
I am not trying to upset you or anyone...but I speak my mind, whether you agree with me or not.
And so do you, friend.

Lucia said...

This is what keeps me coming back, Doug: utter mystification and horrified fascination with your thought process. You can simultaneously consider someone a friend and the moral equivalent of a brutal, fanatical thug.

When you call me friend, what exactly do you mean by that? Not that I'm sure I want to know.

Doug said...

My thought processes, if actually viewable, would have most people screaming off into the night.
I have many friends/family who are my polar opposite in theology/lifestyle/politics/everything.
Two of my closest friends are Catholic; they put up with me and vice versa.
In my own family I am the only Christian.
As you probably have guessed, Lu, I have Scripture to back me up:
"14Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse.
15Rejoice with those who rejoice, and weep with those who weep.
16Be of the same mind toward one another; do not be haughty in mind, but associate with the lowly. Do not be wise in your own estimation.
17Never pay back evil for evil to anyone. Respect what is right in the sight of all men.
18If possible, so far as it depends on you, be at peace with all men." Romans 12:14-18
Be at peace with all men. That is what I want. Does it work out that way? Not always. Some things which separate us can not be moved.
But as much as possible, I am on good terms with most people in my life. I enjoy helping others, and have been helped by family/friends who would never set foot in my church.
We're all on this planet together, so we should get along as much as possible.
What do I mean by friend? Opposite of enemy. If it would make you more comfortable, I could refer to you as my nemesis. The position is open right now.

Lucia said...

I'm not sure I have what it takes to be a nemesis. The original Nemesis, as you may know, was the Greek goddess of payback.

We're all imperfect, and we all need to live together. Getting along with coworkers, neighbors, and family is one thing. Getting along with people you consider no better than evil murderers is a whole other realm.

Doug said...

"Getting along with people you consider no better than evil murderers is a whole other realm."
Is it?
"43“You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’
44“But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you,
45so that you may be sons of your Father who is in heaven; for He causes His sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.
46“For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same?
47“If you greet only your brothers, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same?
48“Therefore you are to be perfect, as your heavenly Father is perfect." Matthew 5:43-48

As always, Lu, we stand on opposite sides of a chasm. You believe that people are inherently good, and I believe that we are all sinners deserving hell.
If I am a sinner, (and I am) then I am no better than any murderer, as all have fallen short of the perfect Holy God.
I have received Grace, which washes away my sin as if I were as holy as Jesus. Sounds strange to state that, but it is true.
I don't walk around my town or my workplace keeping a tally of who is righteous or wicked.
Today I visited with a woman who is an adulteress, whose two sons do not belong to her husband.
Should I shun her? How should I treat her?
Last night I heard of some horrible sins perpetrated by a Minister who pretends to be righteous. Him I have shunned for years, though what I found out last night was news to me.
"We're all imperfect, and we all need to live together." Very true, Lu. That's why I treat people as I would like to be treated, because I am as imperfect as they come, and I need forgiveness as often as everyone.