'Attack on America' & War!

 Part 3:

As in the Days of Noah

Matthew 24:37 

But as the days of Noe were, so shall also the coming of the Son of man be. For as in the days that were before the flood they were eating and drinking, marrying and giving in marriage, until the day that Noe entered into the ark,  And knew not until the flood came, and took them all away; so shall also the coming of the Son of man be.

The attitude of most individuals in countries not caught up in the violence of war and rebellion, is eat, drink and be merry—as in the times of Noah. Sin abounds worldwide. Most in our 'civilized' countries allow fornication, adultery, covetousness and other vices to be an acceptable part of their morality or thinking. Most reject Jesus Christ and the reality that all have sinned and there is a coming judgment from Almighty God. 

Luke 17: 28 

Likewise also as it was in the days of Lot; they did eat, they drank, they bought, they sold, they planted, they builded; 29 But the same day that Lot went out of Sodom it rained fire and brimstone from heaven, and destroyed them all. 30 Even thus shall it be in the day when the Son of man is revealed.

Many have called for prayer for the victims of this tragedy and we think - why are you calling for prayer – which god will you pray to? Our countries are filled with pagans and New Agers and Freemasons and every other sort. People wrapped up in self-focused things.  Which god do they pray to? Wednesday, September 12, Cardinal Roger Mahony, archbishop of Los Angeles, told people to pray and read their holy book, whether the Bible, the Koran or whatever. Can you imagine. A Catholic Cardinal who recommends the Koran to people? The Koran views Jesus Christ as a prophet, not the Son of God, that is, God come in the flesh.

People think all religions are equal. Even "Christians" are now of that mindset. Many attended the numerous inter-faith prayer meetings, giving silent assent to the belief that one can approach God in one's own way. As Christians we know that "Jesus said, I am the way, the truth and the life, NO MAN cometh to the Father, but by me."  

Every Christian that has joined in these inter-faith prayer times has denied this very basic Christian truth. That silent assent is also a rejection of the truth that all have sinned and have need of the redemption found only through Jesus Christ. Christians believe the Bible and all that it holds. Prayers of those who do not know Jesus Christ will not be heard by God. To deny these tenets of the faith is to reject Christ before men.

Proverbs 15: 29 The LORD is far from the wicked: but he heareth the prayer of the righteous.

Jesus said: John 9: 31 Now we know that God heareth not sinners: but if any man be a worshipper of God, and doeth his will, him he heareth.

One cannot claim to be a Christian and believe all paths lead to God, that all prayers of all religions are heard and answered by God. Why? Because our mediator is Christ and He stands before God for us. Without Him we cannot approach the throne of grace. 

Hebrews 7:25 "Wherefore he (Jesus) is able also to save them to the uttermost that come unto God by him, seeing he ever liveth to make intercession for them." 

Jesus said in John 15:7 If ye abide in me, and my words abide in you, ye shall ask what ye will, and it shall be done unto you.

1 Peter 3:12 For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil.

1 John 3:22 And whatsoever we ask, we receive of him, because we keep his commandments, and do those things that are pleasing in his sight. 23  And this is his commandment, That we should believe on the name of his Son Jesus Christ, and love one another, as he gave us commandment.

1 John 5:10  He that believeth on the Son of God hath the witness in himself: he that believeth not God hath made him a liar; because he believeth not the record that God gave of his Son. 11 And this is the record, that God hath given to us eternal life, and this life is in his Son. 12 He that hath the Son hath life; and he that hath not the Son of God hath not life. 13 These things have I written unto you that believe on the name of the Son of God; that ye may know that ye have eternal life, and that ye may believe on the name of the Son of God. 14  And this is the confidence that we have in him, that, if we ask any thing according to his will, he heareth us: 15 And if we know that he hear us, whatsoever we ask, we know that we have the petitions that we desired of him.

Jesus said: John 14:13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.

The National Day of Prayer

Matthew 10:32 -34

Jesus said: "Whosoever therefore shall confess me before men, him will I confess also before my Father which is in heaven. But whosoever shall deny me before men, him will I also deny before my Father which is in heaven.  Think not that I am come to send peace on earth: I came not to send peace, but a sword."

President Bush called on Americans to go to the place of worship of their choosing to honor a National Day of Prayer and remembrance. He said "go to your church, your synagogue, your mosque -- whatever place you choose." This was supported by many countries who also held similar services. There has been denial of Jesus Christ being the only way to God-including prayers being heard-- by many leaders and Christians. The National Cathedral  interfaith Day of Prayer service held September 14, speakers and attendees included Buddhists, Sikhs, Muslims, Jews, Hindus, Christians, etc,  and had Billy Graham, "the pastor of the people" as main speaker. President George Bush also spoke.

``Those of us who are gathered here -- Muslim , Jew, Christian, Sikh, Buddhist, Hindu -- all people of faith want to say to this nation and to the world that love is stronger than hate,'' said Bishop Jane Holmes Dixon, opening the service on what Bush had decreed a national day of prayer and remembrance. [Bush, Ex-Leaders at Prayer Service; AP Online 09/14/2001]

Billy Graham affirmed the ecumenical beliefs, by saying the following, with editorial comments in blue.

"...We come together today to affirm our conviction that God cares for us, whatever our ethnic, religious or political background may be...that the spirit of this nation will not be defeated by their twisted and diabolical schemes...today we especially come together in this service to confess our need of God. [not Jesus Christ? without which no man can know God] We've always needed God from the very beginning of this nation but today we need Him especially. We're facing a new kind of enemy. We're involved in a new kind of warfare and we need the help of the Spirit of God. [the Holy Spirit is for those who accept Jesus as Lord and Savior. He will convict hearts and draw each to Himself] The Bible's words are our hope: "God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble. Therefore we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea" (Psalm 46:1,2, NIV).

But how do we understand something like this? [Psalm 112:7 He shall not be afraid of evil tidings: his heart is fixed, trusting in the LORD.] Why does God allow evil like this to take place? [Romans 2:9 Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; John 16:33 These things I have spoken unto you, that in me ye might have peace. In the world ye shall have tribulation: but be of good cheer; I have overcome the world.]

Perhaps that is what you are asking now. You may even be angry at God. I want to assure you that God understands those feelings that you may have. [Who are we to question God's judgments and be angry with Him? That is sin and must be confessed as such. Job 40: 2 Shall he that contendeth with the Almighty instruct him? he that reproveth God, let him answer it. 8 Wilt thou also disannul my judgment? wilt thou condemn me, that thou mayest be righteous? ]

...I have been asked on hundreds of times in my life why God allows tragedy and suffering. I have to confess that I really do not know the answer totally, even to my own satisfaction. I have to accept, by faith, that God is sovereign, and He is a God of love and mercy and compassion in the midst of suffering. [Romans 9:14 What shall we say then? Is there unrighteousness with God? God forbid. 15 For he saith to Moses, I will have mercy on whom I will have mercy, and I will have compassion on whom I will have compassion. 16 So then it is not of him that willeth, nor of him that runneth, but of God that showeth mercy. 17 For the scripture saith unto Pharaoh, Even for this same purpose have I raised thee up, that I might show my power in thee, and that my name might be declared throughout all the earth. 18 Therefore hath he mercy on whom he will have mercy, and whom he will he hardeneth. 19 Thou wilt say then unto me, Why doth he yet find fault? For who hath resisted his will? 20 Nay but, O man, who art thou that repliest against God? Shall the thing formed say to him that formed it, Why hast thou made me thus? 21 Hath not the potter power over the clay, of the same lump to make one vessel unto honour, and another unto dishonour?
22 What if God, willing to show his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much longsuffering the vessels of wrath fitted to destruction:"]

The Bible says God is not the author of evil. [1Sa 2:6 The LORD killeth, and maketh alive: he bringeth down to the grave, and bringeth up; Matthew 10:28 And fear not them which kill the body, but are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him which is able to destroy both soul and body in hell.]

...The lesson of this event is not only about the mystery of iniquity and evil, but secondly, it is a lesson about our need for each other.

...A tragedy like this could have torn this country apart, but instead it has united us and we have become a family. So those perpetrators who took this on to tear us apart, it has worked the other way. It has backlashed, it has backfired. We are more united than ever before.  [2 Corinthians 6:14 Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?
15 And what concord hath Christ with Belial? or what part hath he that believeth with an infidel?
16 And what agreement hath the temple of God with idols? for ye are the temple of the living God; as God hath said, I will dwell in them, and walk in them; and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.]

I think this was exemplified in a very moving way when the members of our Congress stood shoulder to shoulder the other day and sang, "God Bless America." [Matthew 15:8 This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. 9 But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men.]

...this event can give a message of hope -- hope for the present, and hope for the future. Yes, there is hope. There is hope for the present because I believe the stage has already been set for a new spirit in our nation...we desperately need is a spiritual renewal in this country. [Renovaré adherents would agree] We need a spiritual revival in America. And God has told us in His Word, time after time, that we are to repent of our sins and we're to turn to Him and He will bless us in a new way... [Not without Jesus Christ. 1 John 4: 3 And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. 4 Ye are of God, little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you, than he that is in the world. 5 They are of the world: therefore speak they of the world, and the world heareth them.]

...here is also hope for the future because of God's promises. As a Christian, I have hope not just for this life, but for heaven and the life to come. And many of those people who died this past week are in heaven right now [there is no knowledge that any but a very few knew Jesus Christ. No one can be in heaven that did not know Him] ... It's so glorious and so wonderful. And that's the hope for all of us who put our faith in God. [Not Jesus Christ!!???--the generic God of each of the faiths present? Hope is not enough--knowing Jesus Christ is] 

This event reminds us of the brevity and the uncertainty of life. We never know when we too will be called into eternity...And that's why each of us needs to face our own spiritual need and commit ourselves to God and His will now. [which God, of all that were represented?]

Here in this majestic National Cathedral we see all around us the symbols of the Cross. For the Christian, I'm speaking for the Christian now, [meaning all other faiths need not listen] the Cross tells us that God understands our sin and our suffering, for He took them upon Himself in the person of Jesus Christ our sins and our suffering. And from the Cross, God declares, "I love you. I know the heartaches and the sorrows and the pains that you feel. But I love you." [ Jesus died on the cross because no one could fellowship with God because of their sin. Mankind is alienated from God and condemned to an eternity of separation from Him. God completely understands our feelings and heartaches, because, Hebrews 4:15 For we have not an high priest which cannot be touched with the feeling of our infirmities; but was in all points tempted like as we are, yet without sin. 16 Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.]
The story does not end with the Cross, for Easter points us beyond the tragedy of the Cross to the empty tomb that tells us that there is hope for eternal life, for Christ has conquered evil and death...

...Those majestic towers, built on solid foundations, were examples of the prosperity and creativity of America. When damaged, those building eventually plummeted to the ground, imploding in upon themselves. Yet, underneath the debris, is a foundation that was not destroyed. Therein lies the truth of that old hymn, "How Firm a Foundation ... ." [Buildings of 'prosperity' and lust of money, built on solid foundation aligned to the firm foundation of Christ?  1 John 2:15 Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world. If any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him. 16 For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world. 17 And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth for ever.]

``Yes our nation has been attacked, buildings destroyed, lives lost. But now we have a choice: Whether to implode and disintegrate emotionally and spiritually as a people and a nation, or whether we choose to become stronger ... to rebuild on a solid foundation,'' [1 Corinthians 3:11 For other foundation can no man lay than that is laid, which is Jesus Christ.]
``And I believe we're in the process of starting to rebuild on that foundation. That foundation is our trust in God...This has been a terrible week with many tears but it has also been a week of great faith. Churches all across the country have called prayer meetings and today is a day that they are celebrating (????) not only in this country but in many parts of the world.

My prayer today is that we will feel the loving arms of God wrapped around us, and will know in our hearts that He will never forsake us as we trust in Him. ... [John 15:19 If ye were of the world, the world would love his own: but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.]

[Transcript: Billy Grahams Speech] For Renovaré See: Renovaré and the Christian Mystic

"...President Bush led four former presidents and the nation in prayer Friday for healing -- and the grace to respond to evil without becoming evil."....`. [Bush, Ex-Leaders at Prayer Service; AP Online 09/14/2001] 

President Bush's rallying words included, "...We come before God to pray for the missing and the dead, and for those who loved them...our responsibility to history is already clear: to answer these attacks and rid the world of evil...This conflict was begun on the timing and terms of others; it will end in a way and at an hour of our choosing...Today, we feel what Franklin Roosevelt called, "the warm courage of national unity." This is a unity of every faith and every background. This has joined together political parties and both houses of Congress. It is evident in services of prayer and candlelight vigils and American flags, which are displayed in pride and waved in defiance. Our unity is a kinship of grief and a steadfast resolve to prevail against our enemies. And this unity against terror is now extending across the world...They have attacked America because we are freedom's home and defender, and the commitment of our fathers is now the calling of our time...We thank Him for each life we now must mourn, and the promise of a life to come. As we've been assured, neither death nor life nor angels nor principalities, nor powers nor things present nor things to come nor height nor depth can separate us from God's love. 
May He bless the souls of the departed. May He comfort our own. And may He always guide our country.

President Bush quoted Romans 8: 39 Nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature, shall be able to separate us from the love of God, --and eliminated-- which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. That is denying Christ before men. This is precisely why Christians should not be in political office. Denying Christ becomes a part of being politically correct. The goal of politics is to include and be acceptable by all faiths and all beliefs. To have man's approval. If we reach that approval with men, we do not have God's approval.

Luke 6: 26 Woe unto you, when all men shall speak well of you! for so did their fathers to the false prophets.

Jeremiah 17:5 Thus saith the LORD; Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the LORD.

As Christians, becoming all things to all people is only valid in the context of the hope of saving some. It cannot be by eliminating Jesus Christ from the presentation of that 'truth.

Paul wrote in 1 Corinthians 9:22 To the weak became I as weak, that I might gain the weak: I am made all things to all men, that I might by all means save some. 23 And this I do for the gospel's sake, that I might be partaker thereof with you." 

Ezekiel 33:9 Nevertheless, if thou warn the wicked of his way to turn from it; if he do not turn from his way, he shall die in his iniquity; but thou hast delivered thy soul.

1 Timothy 4:16 Take heed unto thyself, and unto the doctrine; continue in them: for in doing this thou shalt both save thyself, and them that hear thee.

Praying for the dead is a Catholic concept as well as found in connection to the Maccabbees. "..In II Maccabees 12:44-45 we read about a sin offering made by Judas Maccabeus on behalf of his dead soldiers: "For if he were not expecting that those who had fallen would rise again, it would have been superfluous and foolish to pray for the dead. But if he was looking to the splendid reward that is laid up for those who fall asleep in godliness, it was a holy and pious thought. Therefore he made atonement for the dead, that they might be delivered from their sin." [Praying>http://theologic.com/oflweb/inhome/prydead.htm]  

Praying for the dead is also found in the Jewish Kaddish, which some believe will help those dead move to higher levels in purgatory. [Kaddish>http://www.kehilatdvarhashem.org/Kaddish.htm] 

Praying for the dead is also a Muslim practice, "..."Prophet (S) saying only three acts benefit a deceased when he dies. Those being knowledge he gave, charity he spent, or the prayers of a pious son."...The Prophet himself prayed for the deceased and declared that his prayer benefited them, as in the hadith of the mosque-sweeper in Sahih Muslim..." [Muslim>http://sunnah.org/msaec/articles/absolute.htm] 

Hindus >http://www.swami-krishnananda.org/disc/disc_32.html >and other groups also pray for the dead.

However, Believers, those who belong to Jesus Christ, know that all decisions for our eternity are made before our body dies. Those who have accepted Jesus Christ as Lord and Savior will have eternal life. Those who have not accepted Jesus Christ will have eternal torment. That cannot be changed by those still living. Belief in Jesus Christ, that He is God come in the flesh, is a personal decision. 

Hebrews 11:6 But without faith it is impossible to please him: for he that cometh to God must believe that he is, and that he is a rewarder of them that diligently seek him.

 

Next Section: Part 4: Ecumenical Faith

Previous Section: Part 2: Do We Weep 

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