Paganism

During our stay in Clonmel we had the opportunity to hear Pr. Matthew talk about paganism during the evening talks to teenagers and young adults. He focused on the similarities of our present society and ancient roman society practices...

OHhhhh it definitely brought back some memories!!
About 2 and half years ago we started reading the portuguese traslation (A espada do Espírito) of some of the articles published by a ministry that studies Bible prophecies and relate them to world events. Boy did we get scared?!?!... I suppose that was the same feeling most of the people listening to the talk had on that evening. But the most amazing thing is that the Lord allowed us to learn all those things, and had somehow used it as to show us that a the end of the day "He controls everything".

Pr. Matthew was very precise in appointing how the entertainment being offered to us nowadays is one of the tools to stop people from thinking, learning and reflecting on life in a meaningful way. Another very important point was the fact that our society has become so pagan and is increasingly godless that real Christians for the sake of the Lord shall see hard times ahead.

 I think it is extremely beneficial, specially to young people, to have some kind of fear of that sort, it reminds us of our Spiritual warfare and that we have an enemy before us everyday, accusing us day and night before God, and hating us because "God so loved us...Pr. Matthew was right in his reply on a question on what we got to do. He simply said our focus HAS TO BE on above, on Eternity.

For a good while after constantly hearing and reading about how the world is going, and been controlled to become like you name it: Roman Empire, New World Order, Anti- Christ's kingdom and so on; I felt anxious to share about it all the time and to "awake people to reality". The reality that I had just discovered. But one person always put me on perspective: Always when sharing with mom about the meaning of prophecies and how things would get worse and worse she would simply reply saying that this is natural, we live in a fallen world, our adversary is constant working still thinking he can overcome God, so why would I think the world is a " safe and nice" place to live?

That thought has freed me from fear of the increasing evil around us, it did not though by a second made me forget the fear of God and God alone for " the fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. Pv 1:7; the fear of the Lord (what does HE says in His word about it?) has helped me in my choices over what will I allow my eyes to see, what kind of activities I should take part in, what music should I allow myself to hear and so on. It was not until I understood the evil power behind certain activities, music, books that I could understand  the necessity of " keeping my heart with all diligence for out of it are the issues of life.Pv 4:23. 


 We have to recognise that this is something our generation has to think about, many Christians have been fooled into thinking that wordly activities have no influence on their children's minds and the way they will build their worldview. The people writing your child's school curriculum are very much concerned (without knowing it ) in making your child a "model citizen" , questioning the beliefs you teach them about the  word of God ,and unless Christians start seeing those things, we are going to have more and more people calling themselves Christian but stumbling on the very first chapter of the Bible, not knowing what to believe. We are going have Christian still wondering what to think over Euthanasia and Abortion and core issues that for many years have been so decidedly considered wrong and sinful by all of God's people.

It is amazing, isn't it? the amount of controversy in our "Christian churches" over the authority of the Scriptures, the meaning of the Gospel and even about our Lord Jesus Christ. Pr. Matthew pointed out that today it is  not enough to say you are Christian as everyone is a Christian nowadays, right?

The Bible calls Christians not to conform to this world, but to be transformed by the renewing of their minds.
Are we constantly increasing our knowledge on the eternal things, are we looking to the word of God and looking for answers to practical aspects of our lives?
Is what we believe ( or think we do) changing the way we act, and respond ? Is it affecting every aspect of our daily activities, encounters, conversations ? Are we becoming more Christ-like?

In Christ our Redeemer!

J Roque