20 years ago, on June 4th, thousands of Chinese died in Tiananmen Square in protest of Communism's suppression of freedom of speech, and in promotion of Democracy.
In a BBC article, a man named Steve Chan is quoted: "June 4 was a time when a group of people sacrificed their lives for democracy. We need to remember their efforts."
We should be so very thankful about our very free lives. God has given us a political system that allows us much more peace and tranquility than so many have on this earth.
On the other hand - democracy will not transform the world. Democracy will not stop the spread of evil. Democracy cannot stop death. Democracy cannot forgive our sins. Democracy cannot satisfy our souls.
Democracy for now is probably as good as it gets, and let's thank God for it. But let's thank God more that it will be replaced by a Kingdom which already exists - as Jesus reigns in our hearts through the Holy Spirit.
Sunday, May 31, 2009
Saturday, May 30, 2009
Monday, May 25, 2009
Tuesday, May 5, 2009
Jesus is Returning with a Sword, Jez.
I'm currently working through the beginning of the book of Revelation. In the letters to the seven churches, Jesus (in five of them) threatens to come judge the church because there are people there doing bad stuff.
In Pergamum and Thyatira, there were people who were false teachers. These false teachers were getting people to join in at idol-feasts and participate in sexual immorality.
The fact is, we don't have idol-feasts today. They were essentially parties; the food happened to be sacrificed to a false god. They were a cultural phenomenon. Everyone did it.
That got me thinking - we're far too individualistic a culture for that to really be a problem. Christians don't really get ostracized here; and idol-worship isn't really a cultural norm.
But... how do I... how do we... join in our culture's idol-worship? What does our culture worship? What do they value? What do they... do - since all they do is worship idols? How do we join in? C'mon, Church - we need to figure this out and hold fast to Christ's glory - because it's by that glory that we're saved.
In Pergamum and Thyatira, there were people who were false teachers. These false teachers were getting people to join in at idol-feasts and participate in sexual immorality.
The fact is, we don't have idol-feasts today. They were essentially parties; the food happened to be sacrificed to a false god. They were a cultural phenomenon. Everyone did it.
That got me thinking - we're far too individualistic a culture for that to really be a problem. Christians don't really get ostracized here; and idol-worship isn't really a cultural norm.
But... how do I... how do we... join in our culture's idol-worship? What does our culture worship? What do they value? What do they... do - since all they do is worship idols? How do we join in? C'mon, Church - we need to figure this out and hold fast to Christ's glory - because it's by that glory that we're saved.
Monday, May 4, 2009
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