If...Then

“IF my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, THEN will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.”   2 Chronicles 7:14 NIV

If…

When was the last time you really humbled yourself and prayed?

When was the last time you really sought the face and will of God?

When was the last time you acknowledged your sins and then turned from them?

I encourage you to spend some quality time with the one who made you, the one who loves you and the one who always keeps his promises.

Then...

He promises to hear you!  The God of the universe actually hears you; you’re not one individual lost in the sea of millions, to him you are one in a million and he loves conversing with you!

He promises to forgive you!  It’s not that he has forgotten your sins; it’s that he chooses to forgive them!

He promises to heal!  To heal our land, to heal our bodies, to heal our spirits, to heal our minds…he promises to heal!

IF…THEN.

Do your part, then sit back and enjoy the promises of God!

Interview with Larry Johnson - ye shall be as gods

I had the privilege of meeting Larry Johnson, author of ye shall be as gods, after he spoke at my church.  I asked him to do an interview and he willingly agreed.  Please forgive the longer than normal post and Enjoy!  (If you haven’t read the review of this book you can check it out by clicking here:  http://tcavey.blogspot.com/2012/01/ye-shall-be-as-gods-book-review.html )

What is Humanism? 

Every person has basic beliefs about the world and how things work or ought to work including human life, social morality, government, education, family, and God. These beliefs form a worldview.  Whether humanist or Christian, a person’s worldview is formed as he or she attempts to answer the basic questions of life: Who are we and where did we come from?  How did we get into the mess we are in?  How do we get out of the mess? 

Humanism purports that man is the evolutionary product of Nature.  All things supernatural are myths and therefore there is no God.  This life is all there is and there is no conscious survival after death.  Without a god, there is no right or wrong, no absolute truth. Therefore man does not have a fallen nature.  Humanists believe the problems of mankind can be solved through reason (intellect) and science coupled with extensive social programs.  Thus, humans are the masters of their own destiny.  Man’s highest goals are happiness, freedom, and progress in this world.

What is the Christian worldview?

In the Christian worldview, God existed before the universe was created, and then God created the universe and all that is within it including the laws that govern that creation. Unlike all of the other elements of his creation, man was created with a free will. This part of the Christian worldview is called Creation.

Mankind’s free will allowed man to think and act in ways that were contrary to God’s plan and will for His creation. When man acted in ways contrary to God’s laws (truths), this disobedience was called sin, and as a result decay and death entered into God’s creation. This is called the Fall, and it affected not only man but all of God’s creation.

But as God is a loving God, he created a way through His Son, Jesus Christ that allows man to bring order to the chaos he created. This is called the Restoration.

Why do many Christians embrace (and even defend) elements of the humanistic worldview?

There are several reasons:  (1) Lack truthful teaching for three generations about our nation’s founding on Christian/Biblical principles.  (2) The insidious nature of humanism whose tenets of faith are often couched in feel-good or noble sounding ideals.  (3) The humanists’ redefinition of key concepts such as freedom, democracy, and justice to conform to the humanist worldview.  (4) The secularization of culture in which religion in general and Christianity in particular are banished from the public square. (5) The humanist generated false conflict between science and religion and between reason and faith.

How and when did humanism infiltrate our culture?

The humanist worldview is changing America’s cultural vision by capturing its institutions and leadership and imposing the humanistic philosophy throughout those institutions.  When did this happen?  First, we must realize this conflict has existed throughout mankind’s existence.  Even though our nation was founded upon Christian principles, the humanistic erosion of those principles was present from the beginning.

Humanism was well advanced in Europe and other parts of the world in the nineteenth century and began spreading to American institutions where its philosophies infiltrated government, politics, the judiciary, education, the family, physical and human sciences, popular culture, economics, and religion.  By the beginning of the twentieth century, that infiltration was accomplished to varying degrees, but by the middle of the 20^th century, the humanistic philosophy began to dominate all of these institutions and their leadership.

You have written in your book of the close alliance between humanism and socialism in organizing society.  Why is this so?

One of the key elements of humanism is the equal distribution of private resources and equality of income.  This bond or linkage between humanism and socialism is well illustrated by an examination of Humanist Manifesto I and II. The Fourteenth affirmation of Humanist Manifesto I reads as follows:

The humanists are firmly convinced that existing acquisitive and profit-motivated society has shown itself to be inadequate and a radical change in methods, controls, and motives must be instituted. A socialized and cooperative economic order must be established to the end that the equitable distribution of the means of life be possible. The goal of humanism is a free and universal society in which people voluntarily and intelligently cooperate for the common good. Humanists demand a shared life in a shared world. (emphasis added)

Humanist Manifesto II broadened the reach of humanism’s philosophy as regards government and economic controls:

Tenth: Humane societies should evaluate economic systems not  by  rhetoric  or  ideology,  but  by  whether  or  not  they increase economic well-being for all individuals and groups, minimize poverty and hardship, increase the sum of human satisfaction, and enhance the quality of life. Hence, the door is open to alternative economic systems. We need to democratize the economy and judge it by its responsiveness to human needs, testing results in terms of the common good. (emphasis in original)

The domination of a culture through the advancement of humanistic goals can only be achieved through the socialistic model for organizing society.  As government gains greater and greater control over the “general welfare” of individuals through the control of organizations and means of production, the freedoms of the individual will decline correspondingly.

You have said that America is sliding into socialism, becoming Euro-America.  How is this happening? 

Beginning in 1936, the Supreme Court’s liberal interpretations of the “general welfare” clause of the Constitution have dramatically enlarged the powers of the federal government and encroached on fundamental property rights through its welfare programs.  The American government as we know it in the twenty-first century has come to mean massive government involvement in almost every aspect of the individual’s “general welfare.”  Under the 1936 ruling, the general welfare of the individual is not just encouraged, it is now supported.

A striking example of the difference between encouraging and supporting the general welfare of society was given by Charles Murray. Murray states that the totality of life, the “stuff of life” as he calls it, revolves around four institutions:  family, community, vocation, and faith.  In his lecture titled “The Happiness of the People,” he noted that personal success in one or more of these areas results in personal satisfaction, that is, a measure of happiness. He further stated that as America encouraged personal success in each of these areas, the nation thrived. The past American encouragement of success in each of these institutions was contrasted with the European support that each of these same institutions received over years through   advanced   socialism.  The   support   given   by   European socialism has undermined those institutions. Faith is supported by providing and maintaining church buildings that remain empty. Generous childcare and maternity benefits are provided to the family, yet the birth rate has plummeted. Vocation is supported through workplace regulation but has led to low job satisfaction. Community is supported by creation of a “European Brand”, but in place of unity has  come  a  growing  cynicism  in  France,  Germany,  Spain,  and Sweden. In effect, socialism has usurped the responsibilities formerly in the province of the individual and consequently “…sapped much of the energy, drive, and satisfaction from living.”

As government gains greater and greater control over the “general welfare” of individuals through the control of organizations and means of production, the freedoms of the individual will decline correspondingly.

Without a dramatic turnaround in the direction of America, the nation will follow the path of the failed European vision of a new world order.  This turnaround will require a rejection of the humanistic worldview that pervades the institutions of American life. 

Questions:  Have you seen evidence of humanism overshadowing the Christian worldview in society, if so how? Do you agree that humanism can lead to socialism, please explain?  Are there any questions you would like me to ask Larry regarding his book?

Ye shall be as gods can be purchased at Barns & Noble, Amazon, and http://www.anvilhousebooks.com – possibly other places but I’m not sure.

ye shall be as gods Book Review

Have you ever thought about your world view? Before reading, ye shall be as gods by Larry Johnson, I had given little thought to my world view outside the fact that I am a Christian.  

But a world view is more than me being a Christian, it helps to shape my thoughts, opinions, beliefs and dictates how I live my life…my world view is who I am.

So if my world view stems from me being a Christian, what does someone’s world view look like that isn’t a Christian? 

That’s difficult to answer because even Christians have blurred the lines of right and wrong making it difficult for others to know exactly what a Christian world view is.  We (Christians) justify our personal habits in order to ease a sense of guilt that comes from having a dominate Christian world view.  The really astonishing part is that many Christians do not even realize how the non-Christian dogma has influenced our family structures, leisure activities and moral stances.

In ye shall be as gods Johnson takes a look at the two dominate world views that have been in operation since the beginning of time:  Christianity and Humanism.  

Johnson takes the reader through a comprehensive look at both world views throughout history, giving a systematic overview of each point of view from the origin of man to current events.  He explains how each philosophy has battled for supremacy throughout the centuries through governments/politics, churches/religions, education/science, popular culture/media/arts and family structure.  

These categories have fought for the majorities support as repeatedly they have gone head to head in their attempt to suppress, misrepresent or twist the others beliefs.  So far, neither side has backed down…or have they?

Johnson challenges the reader to question their world view and to assess how their world view is influenced by governmental policies, educational practices and through various outlets of popular culture.  

I encourage people to read this comprehensive book to help them not only understand the world in which we live, but to help them identify what they truly believe.  Knowing your world view is key to standing firm in your beliefs instead of being a leaf blowing in the winds of change.

I know this book has opened my eyes, challenged my previous precepts of history and shown me the importance of being aware of current events. 

While this book is not a “light easy” read, it is definitely one that should be on your list of books to check out, after all, not everything in life has to be for pleasure.

This book can be purchased online at Barns and Noble in eReader format or in paperback at http://www.anvilhousebooks.com/

Questions:  Have you read or studied about Christian world views, please share?  What are some books you would recommend for me to read?  

Soros: To Know Some Ones Heart...Follow the Money

Now that we have looked at the elements that influenced what made Soros into the man he is today and we have looked at a few of the countries he has “helped”, let’s take a peak at some of the ways he funnels his money.  

Soros laundries money through a web of organizations in order to make it difficult to track and to help mask his agenda’s from the public eye. 

We already talked briefly about his Open Society Institute, OSI.  Now let’s look at how OSI (and other Soros funded organizations) uses back doors to influence one organization- Media Matters.  

1.       OSI donates to Tides foundation which donates to Media Matters (Media Matters is a tax exempt organization that is “supposed” to be a media WATCH DOG.  It is supported by many Liberals including Hilary Clinton) 

2.       Democracy Alliance gives to Media Matters

3.       Move On.org donates to Media Matters

4.       Centers for American Progress contributes to Media Matters – ARE YOU STARTING TO SEE HOW THIS ONE ORGANIZATION, THAT IS MAINLY ASSOCIATED WITH PROGRESSIVES, HAS POWER TO MANIPULATE OUR THOUGHTS?  So who are they watching anyway, certainly not the progressives.  

5.       Media Matters turns around and donates/supports Main Stream Media (media we listen to daily)

OSI also donates to these organizations that are Progressive (progressive is another word for liberalism). 

Soros’ money moves around the world shaping politics and pushing left wing agenda’s.  Here is a brief look:

1.        Center for American Progress, CAP - 2006, CAP launched a network of liberal religious leaders called Faith in Public Life. It has a Campus Progress group that advises college student activists on launching initiatives and newspapers as well as helps to provide funding.   It also has a studio that daily offers taped segments and talking points.

2.       Campaign for America’s Future- political organization with major progressive ideas.

3.       National Council of La Raza - La Raza on the surface is a Hispanic civil rights and advocacy organization but has been quoted as saying:  “For La Raza todo. Fuera de La Raza nada” which translates “For The Race everything. Outside The Race, nothing." (Stop and think about how scary that is.  Isn’t America about being a melting pot of various cultures and races?)

4.       ACORN- Google this scandal if you don’t remember- it ranges from Voter Registration fraud to teaching citizens how to “skirt” the law and even run a brothel. 

5.       Apollo Alliance- Apollo Alliance is a project of the Tides Center-- Van Jones is a former board member (look him up- he was part of Weather Underground, STORM, and a self proclaimed Communist and to my knowledge has never renounced his views or activities in the 60’s/70’s) - Apollo Alliance helped to design and promote the stimulus bill which included $110 billion for “green spending”-(new research is shedding light on global warming that perhaps contradicts previous opinion.  Spain used “green jobs” and now has approximately 20% unemployment.  Maybe we do not need to rush into “green spending”?)

6.       Center for Community Change- Associated with ACORN and helping underprivileged groups as well as illegal immigrants.     

7.       American Arab Antidiscrimination Committee Research Group and several other Islamic groups that support suicide bombers.  Regarding 9/11 Soros said in his book, “The Bubble Of American Supremacy,”, “Hijacking fully fueled airliners and using them as suicide bombs was an audacious idea, and its execution could not have been more spectacular.”- SPECTACULAR?? SERIOUSLY?  That is not how I would describe it.  

8.       American Constitution Society is a legal activist group working for left wing progressives to change America’s laws by focusing on how we interpret our constitution (it is now a living document that needs changed instead of amended). 

Thanks Glenn Beck for the following information regarding OSI donations:  

Top 20 grant recipients in 2008 (the most recent OSI filing)
- International Crisis Group        $5,000,000
- Ministry of Education Republic of Liberia        $4,250,000
- Drug Policy Alliance        $4,000,000
- Media Development Loan Fund        $3,900,000
- Bard College        $3,094,539
- Proteus Fund Inc         $3,000,000
- The Revenue Watch Institute     $3,000,000
- The Tides Foundation     $2,875,000
- The Mayors Fund to Advance New York City  $2,512,415
- Center on Budget and Policy Priorities     $2,107,000
- Public Interest Projects    $1,700,000
- The Tides Center     $1,396,681
- Center for Community Change     $1,362,500
- Leadership Conference on Civil Rights education    $1,320,000
- Fund for the European University     $1,100,000
- Center for New York City Neighborhoods     $1,050,000
- American Civil Liberties Union Foundation     $1,000,000
- Center for American Progress     $1,000,000
- Foundation to Promote Open Society     $1,000,000
- Link Media Inc     $1,000,000
(Source: Open Society Institute, IRS Form 990-PF, 2008))))

Are you starting to see how much power this man wields in our society?  Shouldn’t we all know more about him, about his plans for our Country?  We can do this by researching his past and watching how he spends his money.  Soon we will look at some of the recent events he is behind in our media and political arena. 

Is Your Faith Tank Full?

Acts chapters 6-7 tells us of the first Christian martyr, Stephen.  Twice he is described as a man “full of faith” (6:5 & 8).  I think that description is key to understanding his willingness to speak out in the face of extreme opposition.  

Accused of blasphemy, the Jews stoned Stephen.  However, this practice had been banned by the Romans.  I have read that the stoning therefore was more a mob-like reaction than actual justice being carried out.  Regardless, Stephen must have known he was facing potential death, he must have known the outrage he was causing.  

People were mad, they were distress and they didn’t want to hear what Stephen had to say.  But that didn’t stop him, he kept right on proclaiming Gods message until the end.  

So how did he have the courage to speak….Faith.

Stephen had faith; in fact he was “full of faith and the Holy Spirit” Acts 6: 5.  

This faith didn’t “just happen”.  He didn’t “just happen” to decide to speak out.  He didn’t “just happen” to tick a few people off.  He didn’t “just happen” to know the history of the Jews and Gods promises to them and he didn’t “just happen” to be full of faith.

Being “full of faith” takes daily commitment, daily practice.  

In 1 Corinthians Paul teaches us to deny our selfish desires and to serve others.  He tells us how he lived his life: “Therefore I run thus; not with uncertainty.  Thus I fight; not as one who beats the air.  But I discipline my body and bring it into subjection...” 1 Cor 9:26-27 NKJ.  

Further on, he tells us that he dies daily to self.  He goes on to say, “Do not be deceived: ‘evil company corrupts good habits.’  Awake to righteousness, and do not sin; for some do not have the knowledge of God.  I speak this to your shame.”  1 Cor 15:33-34 NKJ

He spoke those words to the Corinthians shame… and to ours.  You don’t have to be a Missionary in a Third World Country to be a witness.  There are people who live next door that do not know Christ and it is to our shame.  

Being “full of faith” like Stephen takes the discipline of Paul.  It takes a daily commitment to “awake to righteousness”.    It takes self control to not sin and that can only be done through vigilant training of our spirits and minds.  We must daily choose to transform our minds into the likeness of Christ, to allow him to govern our thoughts and actions.  

“Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind.” Romans 12:2a NIV

We cannot assume (you know what happens when you assume, don’t you?) that if the occasion arose that we will be “full of faith and the Holy Spirit”, that doesn’t “Just happen”.  

God wants to use us, but if we do not know his words, if we do not allow ourselves to be used, he cannot. 

If Stephen had not been in the habit of reading Gods word, if he had not spent time allowing his mind to be transformed, he probably would not have been the first Christian Martyr; God would have used somebody better prepared.  

Not saying you want to be a martyr but I am saying that if you want to be used by God you have to submit to him.  Great acts of faith do not “just happen”.  You must allow him to fill your heart and mind with his will for your life instead of being a slave to fleshly desires.  

You might be thinking, ‘man I would love to be full of faith but I’m scared of what God might call me to do’.  That is understandable.  What you must realize is God will grow you day by day.  Stephen wasn’t sent to speak to the people on day 10 of his walk with God.   He was sent when he was fully ready.  When that time came he didn’t care about his life as much as he cared about sharing the Good News to those who were perishing without it.

As he was speaking, it is reported that people “saw his face as the face of an angel”.  

His appearance is yet another sign that he was “full of faith and the Holy Spirit” and that he was not worried he might die.  He wasn’t about his own business, but about his Lords.  

In the end he did give his life, but as I read the words describing his last moments I can’t help but be almost envious.  His faith lead him to his death and his faith lead him to a place many of us may never fully understand.  

“Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.”  Then he knelt down and cried out with a loud voice, “Lord do not charge them with this sin.” (Can you imagine praying for the ones ending your life…that really does take putting Gods will supreme) And when he had said this, he fell asleep.”  Acts 7:59b-60

Question:  Are you growing in your faith or are you content where you are?  (You don't have to answer on here, but please be honest with yourself)

Is My Faith Crazy To You?

“…comparing Spiritual things with spiritual.  But the natural man does not receive the things of the Spirit of God, for they are foolishness to him; nor can he know them, because they are spiritually discerned.”  1 Corinthians 2:13b-14 NKJV

Recently, I have been learning more about the world and how various people think and believe.  While some things seem out right crazy to me, I have to stop and wonder how my beliefs look to those who do not share my background or faith.  

Does my faith seem crazy to the world?  

I have decided that yes, yes it does seem a bit farfetched, crazy and slightly fairy tale-ish.  But my faith is real to me.  So the things I do not comprehend do not bother me as they do those who do not share my deep found assurance in Christ.  

This leads me to the scripture above.  I originally made a conscious decision to believe in the Salvation of Jesus Christ.  Once my natural man made that decision, I was given the Holy Spirit who guides me to discern the scriptures.  Outside of the assistance of the Holy Spirit, the Bible can appear to be a “great work of fiction” instead of the inspired word of God.  

So what makes a natural man decide to make that initial decision?  

 “For ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.” Romans 1:20 NLT

I believe we all desire to understand how we came into existence, who we are and where we are going.  Based on how we answer these questions, we come up with our world view (great book on this is, ye shall be as gods by Larry Johnson- book review coming soon).  

I come into my world view through a revelation found in God’s word.  I questioned my life, I sought answers and I decided I liked what I found in the Bible so I accepted them as truth.  It took faith, faith of a child because there were things I still did not understand.  I simply decided that even though I had questions, the overall explanation found in the Bible was enough.  I decided it didn’t matter that I didn’t understand, because I trusted in the one who has all the answers.  

But it is not that simple for others; in fact it is downright difficult.  

I think many Christians don’t spend much time contemplating various other world views.  This should not be so.  The lost and dying world is seeking answers.  They are reading the Bible and they need help in believing.  They need courage to embrace Christ with faith like a child.  They need you to understand them and help them to understand Christianity.

The Bible says, Narrow is the gate leading to life (Matt 7:14).  I think this gate is narrow, not because God doesn’t want everyone to be saved, but because it takes faith to enter through.  Faith is not easy to understand or to explain.  

I have my faith, it comforts me, it guides me and it sustains me.  For me, it is simple but for the natural man, the man without the Holy Spirit, it is complicated.  

Christianity is not meant to be confusing, in fact it is very easy to be saved- it is man who makes it complicated (please see my post labeled Salvation-http://tcavey.blogspot.com/2011/08/romans-road.html).  The steps may be simple, but they are not easy.  Faith is difficult.  The older we get, the more we learn and the more we experience in life, the more difficult it is to believe in a loving/redeeming God.  

To help me help others, I am going to continue to learn more about other religions/non-religions.  I am going to do this because I have come to believe that unless I can begin to understand opposing beliefs, I will never be able to adequately tell people why my faith is of value to them.  

I cannot simply tell people, ‘because it’s true’.  While I believe the Bible is true, many do not, therefore that is not a valid point of discussion.  

I challenge you to do the same, to learn more about the world around you and then I encourage you to talk to those who do not share in your faith.  Talk to them not about spiritual things they cannot understand, but talk to them about things they can.  Find common ground, then you can witness as a friend who understands them (or is trying to understand) and not as someone who is trying to convert.  Also, respect them.  Jesus respected us, he gave us free will to choose what to believe and we owe that to others.

Questions:  Have you ever thought about your world view in relation to others?  Do you have friends who are not Christian and do you discuss your differing beliefs? If you are reading this and you are not Christian, what about Christanity seems crazy to you?