So When The Crosses Are Gone, Then What?

I recently listened to a sermon from Michael Youssef of “Leading the Way Ministries” and the subject was “When the Crosses Are Gone”, also the title of his new book. He explains in the book and his sermon that the Christian Cross is being purposely “removed” from the sight of the public all across America. There are many examples that he gives:

– The removal of the Ground Zero Cross in New York City that just “happened” to be two pieces of steel support beams that welded together from the intense heat.
– The Hundred Year Old Crosses in San Diego.
– A single Cross in the Mojave Desert that was erected in honor of the WW1 Veterans.

1 Corinthians 1: 18 18 For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

There are many more examples of this “Cross Removal” in his book and his sermon that can be accessed from the Ministry Website. And some of the sources actually condone this action and call themselves Christian!

Dr. Youssef says, ” that removal of the Cross is the very destruction of the Western Civilization itself! Western Civilization was built upon the logic of the Cross”. He further states; “The Atheist and Anti Christian forces know the power of the Cross, and more than some of the Church goers themselves! To the enemy powers, the Cross is a dangerous symbol. To remove the Cross equals removing the True God from Society”.

I believe the Cross shows us our weakness, and we cannot save ourselves. We need the Savior Jesus Christ! The Cross shows us redemption, mercy and answers to our deep problems. The Cross is convicting as well as condemning! In 1917 Lenin took down 50,000 Crosses and replaced them with Red Stars!

Matthew 10: 38 38 And anyone who does not pick up his cross and follow me is not worthy of me.

The cross is so offensive to the public eye it must be removed from sight! Why is this? It is because the Cross says we are sinful.

We have to as Christians and believers, get off our collective butts and put a stop to this insanity! We need the Savior! The Cross is meant to make us all uncomfortable! It shows our human weaknesses and desires! The Latin word for Cross is “Crux”. You remove the Cross (Crux), you remove Christ and surrender to Evil forces. Just look at the Nations that have no more Cross and have crumbled into cultural suicide!

Are we going to replace the Cross with Mosques and Minarets? Instead of walking in the shadow of the Cross are we going to waking up to Islamic wailing before dawn? It is happening right before our eyes at this very moment! Look at how Islam has been allowed to take over some American towns and taking root in the cities? We also must be on the lookout for this abomination called Chrislam. Don’t let that lull you to sleep either. We must look at the track history of the result of allowing Islam into our culture. It is not favorable! Please Christians, I pray you heed this atrocity that is happening! Let’s stay awake and fight these forces set out to destroy Christianity and Western Civilization.

1 Peter 2: 24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”

God Bless,

Brian Mason

Maybe “Purgatory” Will Go The Way Of “Limbo”?

Check this out….

VATICAN CITY (Reuters) – The Roman Catholic Church has effectively buried the concept of limbo, the place where centuries of tradition and teaching held that babies who die without baptism went.

In a long-awaited document, the Church’s International Theological Commission said limbo reflected an “unduly restrictive view of salvation.”

The 41-page document was published on Friday by Origins, the documentary service of the U.S.-based Catholic News Service, which is part of the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Pope Benedict, himself a top theologian who before his election in 2005 expressed doubts about limbo, authorized the publication of the document, called “The Hope of Salvation for Infants Who Die Without Being Baptized.”

The verdict that limbo could now rest in peace had been expected for years. The document was seen as most likely the final word since limbo was never part of Church doctrine, even though it was taught to Catholics well into the 20th century.

“The conclusion of this study is that there are theological and liturgical reasons to hope that infants who die without baptism may be saved and brought into eternal happiness even if there is not an explicit teaching on this question found in revelation,” it said.
“There are reasons to hope that God will save these infants precisely because it was not possible (to baptize them).”

The Church teaches that baptism removes original sin which stains all souls since the fall from grace in the Garden of Eden.

The preceding news article was from http://www.religionnewsblog.com April 21, 2007. I have to ponder the following thought; Will the Pope also remove the Dogma of Purgatory sometime soon? As reported above he expressed “Doubts on Limbo” why would he not remove the Dogma of Purgatory? Just as there is no Biblical scripture mentioning “Limbo” why not include Purgatory as that has no Biblical basis either?

Purgatory also implies that the righteousness of Christ does not cleanse from all sin. And there is also the implication that justification is not by faith alone! What a slap in the face of God!

Notice also the emphasis on Baptism? Romans 11:6 reads: 6 But if it is by grace, it is no longer on the basis of works; otherwise grace is no longer grace.

Water Baptism is not a requirement for Salvation as the Roman Catholics Believe. The scripture clearly states that we are not saved by rituals or works but we are saved by the blood on the cross, as Jesus died for sinners!

God Bless!

Brian Mason

Can Miracles Be Assessed By Science?

How would one define what a miracle really is? A Dictionary definition of a Miracle is:

1. An effect or extraordinary event in the physical world that surpasses all known human or natural powers and is ascribed to a supernatural cause.
2. Such an effect or event manifesting or considered as a work of God.
3. A wonder; marvel.

From a Christian definition I have heard it be stated; “They are a direct act of a personal God that cannot be predicted or explained by only natural causes”.

The Scottish Philosopher David Hume explained that “Miracles are “violations” of natural laws, and that natural laws cannot be violated”, thus miracles don’t exist! But he was begging the question.

Natural Law explains how the Natural World operates, however it cannot control what happens in it. Science is prescriptive not descriptive as American Philosopher Paul Copan describes. Actually if the entirety of “things” must conform to prior experience then scientific progress would be impossible. Since science currently states, “the Universe came into existence from nothing” how could that have been predicted by natural law?

If the Universe as science explains came into existence from “nothing” how invalid would Jesus walking on the water be? Is that “crazier” than the Universe explanation by science? Jesus’ very resurrection is a historically well supported event. A documented “Miracle”! Jesus appeared to over 500 people after his resurrection to both believers and unbelievers!

This may not be “scientific” as proven in a lab, however, eyewitness evidence is certainly a heavyweight form of evidence!

God Bless,

Brian Mason

Why Yoga in the Public Schools and Not Christian Prayer?

I guess the first thing to define exactly what Yoga is? The definition that I found on Wikipedia says” It is an Eastern Philosophy, based on Metaphysical beliefs” The goal of the Yoga participant is to “attain a state of Spiritual Perfection and Insight, while Meditating on the Hindu concept of Divinity or Brahman. It is associative with Jainism, Buddhism and Hinduism.

There are three types of Yoga. The Meditative by repeating the divine name. Breathing exercises, and of course putting your body into contorted and sometimes painful positions. The Meditative type that is being introduced into Public Schools is by definition helping practitioners “attain a path to salvation”. So by definition Yoga is Religious in nature.

Don’t get me wrong, I believe the stretching/physical fitness side of it has its benefits, but it goes deeper than that;
Dave Hunt, the Author of “Yoga and the Body of Christ; What Position Should Christians Hold”, explains, “It’s pretty simple; Yoga is a Religious Practice in Hinduism”. He goes on to state, “It’s the way to reach enlightenment, to bring it to the West and bill it as a scientific practice for physical fitness is just dishonest”. Hunt who is against any form of Religion at all being in schools also said, “I’ve talked to many people who got hooked on the spiritual deception of Yoga. They come to believe in this and become enamored with the Hinduism or Eastern Mysticism.”

My question is this: Why is Christian Prayer not allowed but Yoga is being introduced and accepted as a deterrent to the so-called obesity epidemic in our schools? In Canada it is now becoming a part of regular curriculum.

The Christian position should be clear. Yoga is an Antichristian religion that should NOT be brought into schools and we should as Christians question the motives. Here is what God has to say about it;

We are not saved by works but by Jesus:

John 14: 6, 6 Jesus said to him, “I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me”. Jesus is the only way to Salvation!

Christians are to be different in this World:

Romans 12: 1-2, 1 Therefore I urge you, brethren, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies a living and holy sacrifice, acceptable to God, which is your spiritual service of worship. 2 And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect.

Christians are to meditate only on God’s word:

Phil 4: 8, “8 Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things. 9 The things you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you.”

Psalms 119: 27, “27 Make me understand the way of Your precepts, So I will meditate on Your wonders.”

God Bless!

Brian Mason

What Is “The New Atheism” And What Are They Cooking?

In ancient written history since the times of Epicurus (341-270 BC) and other pleasure seeking materialists there have always been atheists. What makes the so-called “New Atheist” any different?

A renowned American Sociologist of Religion Rodney Stark, describes them as simply “angry and remarkably nasty”. Let’s look at three points to chew on, shall we?

First, their arguments against God’s existence are very weak. They seem to be very uneducated on what it is they are criticizing. Their arguments are simply not intellectually sound. However they still bring up important questions on the “Problem of Evil” but their argument usually ends up in a heap of rhetoric and don’t form a solid argument about the subject.

Rodney Stark also brings up the point in regards to the uneducated backing of their position, and writes,“To expect to learn anything about important theological problems from Richard Dawkins or Daniel Dennet (famous Neo-Atheists) is like expecting to learn about medieval history from someone that had only read Robin Hood.”

Secondly, they like to emphasize cool-headed, scientifically sound rationality; however they themselves express their position in passionate anger sprinkled with vitriol! Michael Novak, author of “No One Sees God” wrote about the New Atheists writing’s “they have an odd defensiveness about them – as though they were a sign not of victory but of desperation.”

Thirdly, why are the New Atheists not willing to own up to horrible acts committed in the name of Atheism? Names like Pol Pot, Joseph Stalin come to mind. On the other hand they expect Christians to own up to heinousness acts done in the name of Jesus? Any Christian or Atheist that has a spattering of intellectual honesty knows that the Biblical Jesus would never condone such actions, as the Crusades and Spanish Inquisitions.

Paul Copan in his book “Is God a Moral Monster? Making Sense of the Old Testament God” writes and I paraphrase, “Since September 11th, 2001, the terror attacks on the Twin Towers and on the Pentagon, the New Atheists have capitalized on evil done in the name of religion” “to tar all things religious with the same brush, even though the term “religious” is hard to define.

Lastly, there seems to be a complete disregard from the New Atheists and blatant refusal to acknowledge the well documented positive influence of the Christian Faith. Actually Christianity laid down the Foundations of Modern Science, promoting human rights, overthrowing slavery and the list goes on…

So I will say in conclusion that the so-called “New Atheists” are just the same old Atheists but considerably more angry. When using Richard Dawkins as their Patriarch they,(the New Atheist’s) should really consider that his accusations that God is a Moral Monster, etc, can be quickly refuted. I would suggest that the New Atheist does his or her own homework before lashing out. And have some humility if shown the correct way.

I have had conversations with atheists,and I don’t hear them give any well grounded evidence for the validity of of their own religion of atheism! They can’t show any “proofs” that God does not exist; at least, none that I have heard or read, especially since you can’t prove a negative regarding the existence of God.

God Bless!

Brian Mason

Is Buddhism Satanic?

Ok, I know that you are going to cry “foul!” straight away. I mean how could I even table such a question? Everyone knows that Buddhism is such a peaceful religion with those cute little “Buddha Statues” on the mantelpiece and sitting in the bathroom with an air freshener inside them. Come on!

Buddhist’s, just like Wiccans say that they are not Satan worshippers. However, from a Christian perspective we must ultimately say that if it is not from God, it must be orchestrated from Satan. Buddhism is an alternative religion for those who reject Christianity.

Let me point out some glaring anti-Christian issues with Buddhism:

Buddhism teaches that man’s suffering is caused by his egocentric desires and aversions, and if man can change his way of thinking, Nirvana (a peaceful state of rest and tranquility) can be gotten among the problems of this world. It all funnels down to mind control; and doesn’t address the evil heart of man, as the Bible says is “desperately wicked” and deceitful above all else. Jeremiah 17:9, “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” Buddhism tries to convert the human mind, without bringing into play the sinful heart that cannot be tamed.
Buddhist’s bow down to Idols and worship them:

The Bible teaches that sacrificing to idols is the same as sacrificing to devils. Demons thrive on idol worship. You’re literally in communion with devils as 1 Corinthians 10: 19-20 tells us:
19 Do I mean that what is offered to a statue of a god is anything? Do I mean that a statue of a god is anything? 20 No! But what is offered by those who worship statues of gods is offered to demons. It is not offered to God. I don’t want you to be sharing with demons.

Idol worship has always been associated with Satanism, paganism, and the occult!

Buddhism is a false religion that is becoming more and more popular every day. What with the “Coolness Factor” of hanging around with the Dalai Lama and celebrities grasping onto it, what could be wrong with that? One of the reasons is that it does not put any absolute demands on its worshippers. People don’t want to tolerate sound and true Bible Doctrine anymore.

2nd Timothy 4:3, “For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears.”

I quote the Dalai Lama, “The ultimate authority must always rest with the individual’s reason and critical analysis,” meaning that if it makes sense to you, that’s all you need.” So in a nutshell…if it feels good, do it? What a bunch of nonsense! Call me intolerant, but I will not sell out the Almighty God!

If you are a Buddhist, ask yourself, “Why am I praying to a dead Spiritual Leader?”” What promises has he made?” Please turn to our Savior Jesus Christ and ask for repentance! Jesus Christ has risen! Christ is alive and has a purpose in your life! YOU ARE TO GLORIFY HIM IN ALL WAYS! Not a false religion statue!

Here is a perfect example of the good of Buddhism….

Muslims And Buddhists Work Together To Destroy 1500 Christians

Proverb 16:25, “There is a way that seems right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death.”

God Bless!

Brian Mason

Urgent Prayer Is Needed!

I would not normally post an article that I didn’t write myself. This is the exception! Please pray for Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani! This is an outrage and ALL CHRISTIANS MUST SEE THE OFFENCES THAT ARE HAPPENING TO US ALL OVER THE WORLD BY ISLAMIST’S!!!!!!!

Urgent Prayer & Action: Final Verdict for Pastor Youcef… Death
(Iran)—According to a FOXNews report today, the final verdict has been handed down on Christian Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani’s fate—death.
As Youcef’s supporters all around the world feared, the Iranian trial court has decided that he will be executed on the charges that he left Islam to convert to Christianity.
Pastor Youcef Nadarkhani’s family and supporters are asking for urgent prayer by Believers worldwide, on his behalf, and for people to contact their legislators to ask for intervention.
Follow the link for more information:

http://www.breakingchristiannews.com/articles/display_art.html?ID=9857

http://www.breakingchristiannews.com

God Bless you all!

Brian Mason

Nothing Against the Roman Catholic Church, however…

By now anyone who has been following my blog posts will have noticed that most of them have been directed at the Roman Catholic Church. Why am I writing so much about them? Well most Roman Catholics (in fact all) that have read this blog are up in arms about the direction I have been taking regarding the actions and inactions of the RCC. In effect I have been writing polemically against the Church as I have found that the legalism and past history of the Church is choking the life out the followers.

I did a very unscientific poll recently, and the title of that poll was “How many Atheists were at one time from the Roman Catholic Church?” The results were not good for the RCC. I am also seeing very many Atheists in chat rooms today starting with….”I was raised in a Catholic family….etc”, the rest was not good if you can see where I am heading with this. Is there a connection? I don’t know for sure however it seems that there is a great disillusionment happening within that RCC! I thank God for not letting me head down the road of Atheism as I too was a Catholic that escaped with my faith in tact!

Recently I was at a Wedding Reception, and my wife and I were chatting with a guest at a table, and the subject of Religion came up. As both my Wife and I are Pastors the subject of faith usually comes up. The gentleman we were speaking with said “I guess by denomination I am a Catholic” and he went on to state, “although I don’t go to Mass anymore…” This is not the first time I have heard this. It happens over and over that the Roman Catholic says “I am a Catholic but I don’t go to Church…”? What the heck is going on?

A more startling side of all this is that when I quote actual writings from Official Roman Catholic publications and Councils etc., the reaction is always from a defensive postition. In fact the last post I read on a Catholic Bloggers site he posted that “The Church teaches us”, “The head of the Council said…”, but where is Christ in their teaching? So much Mary propaganda and legalism that they can’t seem to see through the stained glass and idol worship to read the actual word of God! I truly believe that the Catholic Church is an Idol in itself!

I hope that if you find this post offensive, instead of writing more snarky comments back to me, take some time to read the Gospels of Christ! Reevaluate then get back to me!

God Bless,

Brian Mason

Mary, The Mother of God?

Mary, the Mother of God?

The view from the Roman Catholic Church is that Mary is the Mother of God. Are we to believe this? Are we to take our eyes off of Jesus and worship Mary?
Hebrews 12:2 says otherwise….”2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.” Before I go any further let’s read what comes directly from the Roman Catholic Church…
From Vatican Collection Volume 1, Vatican Council II, The Conciliar and Post Conciliar documents. General Editor Austin Flannery, O.P. New revised edition 1992; Costello publishing company, Northport, New York. 1992 pages 420-421 (par. 65)

65. But while in the most Blessed Virgin the church has already reached that perfection whereby she exists without spot or wrinkle (cf. Eph. 5:27), the faithful still strive to conquer sin and increase in holiness. And so they turn their eyes to Mary who shines forth to the whole community of the elect as the model of virtues. Devoutly meditating on her and contemplating her in the light of the Word made man, the Church reverently penetrates more deeply into the great mystery of the Incarnation and becomes more and more like her spouse. Having entered deeply into the history of salvation, Mary, in a way, unites in her person and re-echoes the most important doctrines of the Faith: and when she is the subject of preaching and worship she prompts the faithful to come to her son, to his sacrifice and to the love of the Father. Seeking after the glory of Christ, the Church becomes more like her lofty type, and continually progresses in faith, hope and charity, seeking and doing the will of God in all things. The Church, therefore, in her apostolic work too, rightly looks to her who gave birth to Christ, who was thus conceived of the Holy Spirit and born of a virgin, in order that through the church he could be born and increase in the hearts of the faithful. In her life the Virgin has been a model of that motherly love with which all who joined in the church’s apostolic mission for the regeneration of mankind should be animated.

IV. THE CULT OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN IN THE CHURCH1
66. Mary has by grace been exalted above all angels and men to a place second only to her Son, as the most holy Mother of God who was involved in the mysteries of Christ: she is rightly honored by a special cult in the Church. From the earliest times the Blessed Virgin is honored under the title of Mother of God, whose protection the faithful take refuge together in prayer in all their perils and needs. Accordingly, following the Council of Ephesus, there was a remarkable growth in the cult of the people of God towards Mary, in veneration and love, in invocation and imitation, according to her own prophetic words: “all generations shall call me Blessed, because he that is mighty hath done great things to me,” (Luke 1:48).

This is completely unbiblical.

“Mary has by grace been exalted above all angels and men to a place second only to her Son” Where is this found in the Bible?
“as the most holy Mother of God who was involved in the mysteries of Christ” Mary was the Mother of the human nature of Jesus, not the Mother of God. Remember that Jesus had two natures, fully God and fully Human known as the Hypostatic Union. She is the Mother of the Human part of Jesus.
Don’t get me wrong, Mary was a woman of high virtue, however the Roman Catholic Church wants you to believe that she is at the level of Goddess and Mediatrix, (Catechism of the Catholic Church paragraph 969), (CCC 966), (CCC 974) and (Vatican II, Dogmatic Constitution on the Church, par. 66)

I believe that it is not only unbiblical but heretical and the work of demonic forces. If it cannot be backed by Biblical scripture, then where does it come from? If you are a Roman Catholic, I challenge you to seek the truth and pray on this.

God Bless!

Brian Mason

Are you an “Invisible Christian”?

Whenever I talk to people about Faith and Religion I often have a hard time distinguishing what faith they actually believe? Some will identify with a faith (and I hate to say this), because it is fashionable such as the so-called “New Agers” do. Or it can be a “convenience” factor, so as it does not get in the way of their everyday lives. And the strangest belief that I think I have come across is a form of a “just in case” belief…just in case God exists they want to be safe from a one way ticket to Hell. They live their lives as if God does not exist, but in the back of their mind he just might. Very disingenuous to be sure!

Maybe you have heard of the statement “Christian Walk”? There is a very good website worth checking out called http://www.bible-knowledge.com and on it I found a good article on “The Basis of the Christian Walk” The article published an even number of specific requirements that will help you on your personal walk with God. I will share with you in paraphrase:

1. “The Full Surrender”
– You must completely surrender your life over to God the Father. Jesus must become Lord over your life!

2. Become “Spirit Filled”
– You need to receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit.
– Only through “Faith and Belief” will this be allowed to happen. Not just “Theological knowledge”

3. Establish “Faith and Trust in God”
– After you receive the Baptism of the Holy Spirit the next step is to establish Faith and Trust in God. A small amount will do at first. Just look at the Parable of the Mustard Seed.

4. Walk in ALL of God’s Ways
– Read the Bible! If you want to play a sport you have to learn all the basics and rules before playing, correct?
– You must also develop a good and healthy “Fear of the Lord”, a reverent healthy respect for God!
– It is God that wants you to have an intimate relationship with you!

6. Develop a Strong Prayer Life
– Remember not to pray in vain repetition or thoughtless prayer – you are speaking to God! Would you like it if someone kept repeating the same thing over and over? Prayer is a communication with God, not a work based repetition.
– Pray from your heart.

7. Enter into a True Sanctification Process with the Lord
– We have been saved the work done by the Blood of Jesus on the Cross in Calvary! God wants to transform us by a “renewing of our minds”.
– God is the Potter, we are the Clay!

8. Seek after the Knowledge of God
– The main source is the Bible
– The second source is Books. There is many good books to choose from to “feed” you
– TV/Radio/Podcasts. I would highly recommend the sermons of Dr. Michael Youssef @ http://www.leadingtheway.org

9. Establish “Fellowship” with other Christians
– You will find them as God presents them to you. You must be careful on the people that you connect with. Basically you will feed and share best with other Christians of equal yolk.

10. Join a good “Spirit Filled Church”
– Ask God through prayer to lead you to a Church that he would like you to join

So in summary, “Are you an Invisible Christian”? You will not be if you follow these ten steps above I guarantee it! You will have a great “Walk” and “Personal Relationship” with Jesus. You cannot help but become “Visible”, especially with Jesus our Lord!

Amen!

Brian Mason