Archive for January, 2010
Actualitatea Crestina din America - 30 ianuarie
Actualitatea Crestina din America - 30 ian.2010 by Christ4ro
Why Go to Church?
“America is full of good guys who think their admittance to heaven is going to be based on their acts of charity, abstinence from cheating people, and the like. With the utmost grief I profess that anyone who thinks they can earn God’s favor has grossly overstated their worth and grossly understated their sin (see Ephesians 2:8-10). But that’s besides the point. The point is that it’s usually this category of people who snub going to church. Let’s just set the record straight from the beginning: church is not a building. It’s not a place you go. It’s a community of people that is universal/global (Matt. 16:18; Acts 20:28; Eph. 3:10) but expressed locally in groups of believers who gather together for worship (1 Cor. 14:26, Col. 3:16, Heb. 10:25).
I’m very skeptical of anyone who claims right-standing with God but doesn’t attend church. So although this apologetic for ‘going to church’ was stirred by a cultural need to defend and promote this discipline for the nonbelievers in our world, I also recognize that some people in the church genuinely struggle understanding the worth of gathering regularly for worship, instruction, fellowship etc. Let’s admit it–sometimes sermons stink, people are curiously peculiar, and services are more boring than watching C-Span. I’m not immune to feeling that sometimes I could have gained more from a personal Bible study at home or watching a Podcast from one of my favorite teachers.
With these realities in mind, I hope to shed light on why Christians should go to church. This may serve as an apologetic both for believers and nonbelievers.
Let’s just ignore the fact that the Bible straightforwardly commands Christians to attend church (Heb. 10:25)! Furthermore, it’s helpful to understand that the Bible hardly expounds on this practice because it was an assumed discipline and the early communities were keenly aware of why they were assembling together (something churches in free societies, where they do not suffer persecution, are less prone to).
The nature of my argument is a very pragmatic one. I have traditionally taught that Christians should go to church for two simple reasons. Though they are uncomplicated in theology, I don’t consider them lacking profundity. Those who actively attend church and live out these two reasons will understand the strength of my argument.
God wants Christians in a church so that they can grow.
There are so many dimensions that we need to grow in as God’s people. There’s worship (Col. 3:16), knowledge (Acts 2:42), character (Heb. 13:17) to name a few. Local churches serve as the environment through which God wants you to experience this. They provide relationships that will serve as an avenue for your spiritual growth. Pastors, teachers, mentors, accountability partners cannot be found in solitude. The cap to your personal growth will be your own experience if you attempt to grow spiritually on your own! By joining a church, you humbly recognize that the Spirit has been working in his church (universal) long before you came upon the scene, and are given access to knowledge, understanding, and experiences that you can only gain from others…”
Andy Dragos
Read the full article here http://themourningdovecaws.com/2009/11/30/why-go-to-church/
‘Creation’ Movie to Make U.S. Debut
“A film that tells the “true story” of 19th-century naturalist Charles Darwin will finally be making its U.S. debut this weekend – nearly four months after its worldwide release.
“Creation,” which stars Paul Bettany in the leading role, will be distributed in limited theaters through Newmarket Films, which picked up the movie just days after the its producer garnered media attention by suggesting that the film had not found a distributor due to the divide that exists in America over the theory of evolution.
In September, producer Jeremy Thomas told the London-based Telegraph ahead of the European premiere of “Creation” that the movie had picked up a distributor “everywhere else in the world but in the U.S. … because of what the film is about.”
“People have been saying this is the best film they’ve seen all year, yet nobody in the U.S. has picked it up,” he said. “It is unbelievable to us that this is still a really hot potato in America.”
read more here: http://www.christianpost.com/article/20100119/-creation-movie-charles-darwin-evolution/index.html
Bataturi de la… pietre
“Noi nu judecăm, noi analizăm; nu acuzăm, noi tragem concluzii. Dar, dacă judecătorul te va inculpa, purtăm un arsenal de pietre prin buzunare să-l ajutăm. Dacă judecătorul nu este competent să judece cazul corect, justițiar, o să preluăm noi cazul, ca să nu rămână vreo nedreptate sub soare.
Umblăm bezmetici uneori, cu noaptea-n cap, alteori nu avem somn, căutând să aflăm unde este răul în lume, pentru a-l stârpi. Facem liste, apoi le filtrăm, cântărim gravitatea lucrurilor și în final ne decidem: EL (EA) întruchipează răul! Apoi, în numele binelui, dăm o fugă până la Grand River (la râu) și ne înzestrăm cu un arsenal potrivit de bolovani, cu care vom face să răsune dreptatea lui Dumnezeu și sfințenia pe care trebuie s-o apărăm!!!
Târâm cu mintea noastră păcătoși, oameni căzuți, depravați, mincinoși, curvari, bârfitori, neascultători, hoți, șmecheri, până la locul unde trebuie să se descopere justiția, iar degetele ni se încleaștă pe cea mai colțuroasă piatră ascunsă pe sub rugăciuni, cântări și alte ritualuri, care mai de care mai religioase. Apoi, ne băgăm degetele adânc în urechi, cum înfundăm cepul în bute, pentru ca nu cumva să auzim acel cuvânt strident, IERTARE!
Așa suntem noi… Strângem pietrele în pumn până ni se fac bătăruri, în așteptarea sentinței pentru semenul nostru, dar avem multă alifie pentru propriile greșeli. Avem atâta înverșunare pentru alunecarea altuia, dar atâta îngăduință pentru grosolăniile noastre…. apoi ne justificăm: să veghem unii asupra altora, iar această veghere ne-a transformat în ofițeri de contrainformații. Facem pact cu “generalul pârâșilor” pentru ca acuzațiile în dreptul nostru să fie mai blânde.
Imaginea care mă șochează în pasajul unde este descrisă femeia prinsă în preacurvie este singurătatea în doi. În mijlocul unui cerc de “sfinți acuzatori”, stau doi oameni, parcă de pe altă lume: Isus și o femeie mizerabilă. De aceea a coborât Isus la noi, să stea chiar în cercul acuzațiilor, iar pietrele care ar fi trebuit să zboare înspre mine, să se transforme în curând într-o cruce.
Avem o singură șansă: să lăsăm pietrele jos și să intrăm în cerc, lângă Isus.”
de Ioan Szasz
Sursa : http://rcfkw.org/
Persecutia crestinilor: realitati si intrebari
Altfel spus, crestinii reprezinta grupul cel mai persecutat din lume. Supusi discriminarii legalizate, violentei, inchisorii, deportarii si convertirii fortate, soarta acestor oameni ramane un secret bine ferit de atentia opiniei publice globale. Tema nu face prima pagina niciodata. Magnitudinea fenomenului ar cere-o. Prioritatile par insa altele. In ultimele sase luni s-a scris mai mult despre soarta ursilor polari decat despre soarta acestor semeni.
La varful piramidei, in marile trusturi media occidentale, unde se da tonul si acolo unde se afla principala sursa a acestui blocaj informational, tema este considerata ca prea incorecta politic si prea subversiva pentru noua ideologie a stangii liberale promovata de aceste institutii.
In lumina acestei ideologii, tot mai influenta in redactiile si studiourile de pe toate meridianele, crestinii sunt, alaturi de evrei, agresorii si exploatatorii acestei lumi. Prin definitie, nu pot fi victime. Iar daca realitatea contrazice dogma, cu atat mai rau pentru realitate!
La baza piramidei, jurnalistii din organizatiile nationale si locale defileaza mesmerizati dupa ritmul impus la varf. Superficialitatea, lipsa oricaror principii in afara asimilarii instinctive a unor vagi ecouri ale stangismului liberal, la care se adauga pura si simpla lipsa de profesionalism, conduc toate in aceeasi directie.
Si totusi, evidenta pare sa fie covarsitoare: traim o epoca de mari persecutii anticrestine. Iar acestea se intampla, paradoxal, cu tacerea complice a mass-media occidentale si sub ochii popoarelor crestine, abulice in fata agresivitatii purtatorilor altor credinte si resemnate in fata edictelor liberalismului corect politic.”
Church loses pastor, church leaders, but not hope
“Haiti (MNN) ― Only 100 members out of the 2,000-member Shiloh Baptist Church congregation have been accounted for since the earthquake in Haiti last week. Many in the congregation have yet to be found; others are known to be dead.
The pastor of Shiloh Baptist Church, Bienne Lamerique, and three other church leaders were among those killed.
The church building is still standing but has undergone a great deal of structural trauma. Support beams have been damaged, and the inside of the church has been obviously disturbed.
The building was under construction at the time the quake hit, so thankfully the members were not inside. The congregation had been meeting in an open-air auditorium nearby, and several were at that location when the quake hit. Church member Pierre Anderson says some were injured, but no one was killed. Anderson’s own sisters were, however, killed during the quake–loss that represents what many of the other remaining members are going through. …”
Read more here: http://mnnonline.org/article/13787
Huge Marriage Victory! Scott Brown Wins Senate Seat in Massachusetts!
“Dear Friend of Marriage,
Last night the impossible happened. George Stephanopoulos called it the “Upset of the Century.”
Just three weeks ago, Scott Brown trailed Martha Coakley in the race for U.S. Senate by more than 20 percentage points. Yet last night Massachusetts voters sent a powerful message to Washington, giving Scott Brown a dramatic 52%-48% victory.
And the news you won’t hear anywhere else?
Thanks to your efforts, last night marks the fourth consecutive major upset victory for marriage in the Northeast!
While in the Massachusetts legislature, Scott Brown was one of the courageous few to stand for marriage, voting yes on the Massachusetts Marriage Amendment in 2007. Now in Washington, he will bring a strong new voice to protect and uphold DOMA against the attacks by President Obama, Nancy Pelosi, and the pro-gay marriage lobby in Congress.
The contrast in the race couldn’t be more striking. As Massachusetts Attorney General, Martha Coakley has been a radical activist for same-sex marriage, even suing the federal government in an attempt to have DOMA declared unconstitutional. ”
read more here : http://nomblog.com/705/
KY courthouse Ten Commandments display stays
“An appeals court decision favoring a Ten Commandments display in Grayson County, Kentucky, will likely not be appealed.
The display — entitled “Foundations of American Law and Government” and found on the second floor of the county courthouse — also includes the Magna Carta, the Mayflower Compact, the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights, The Star-Spangled Banner and the national motto, among other things. The Sixth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled on Thursday that it passes constitutional muster.
Grayson County Judge-Executive Gary Logsdon thanked God for the return of the Commandments as part of the display of historical documents. An overflow crowd of hundreds of people at the county courthouse sang “Amazing Grace” and “God Bless America” to celebrate their victory in an eight-year legal battle. Rev. Chester Shartzer told Associated Press he is not concerned that displaying the Commandments could offend some people. “You don’t have to look at it,” said the pastor. “There’s nobody standing there with a gun, saying ‘Look here.’”
read more here: http://www.onenewsnow.com/Legal/Default.aspx?id=858870
Actualitatea Crestina din America - editia din 15 ian.2010
Actualitatea Crestina din America - 15 ian.2010 by Christ4ro
Conventia Bisericilor Penticostale Romane din Australia
“În perioada 15-17 ianuarie 2009 în Melbourne va avea loc Convenţia Bisericilor Penticostale Romane din Australia .
Cu această ocazie românii din îndepărtata Australie se vor unii pentru a slăvii pe Domnul şi pentru a învăţa de la Marele lor Pedagog, Domnul Isus Hristos cum să împlinească marea trimitere pe care au primit-o şi anume: FACEREA DE UCENICI!
Mesajele biblice vor fi transmise de pastorii Luigi Miţoi (Chicago-USA), Mihai Dumitraşcu (Galaţi-RO) şi de alţi vizitatori prezenţi atât din ţară cât şi din străinătate.
Pentru tabăra de tineret organizată cu acestă ocazie va fi prezent fratele Gabi Floruţ.
Dumnezeu va fi prezent pentru a binecuvânta aceste zile.
P.S.: Toţi cei ce aveţi pe inimă această lucrare vă rog să o susţineţi cu rugăciunile dumneavoastră.”
Caleb Nechifor
http://calebn.wordpress.com/2010/01/04/conventia-bisericilor-penticostale-romane-din-australia/
Plans made for new ‘Jesus’ movie
“A new movie about the life of Christ is in the works. The film, which has already been titled Jesus…No Greater Love, will be a word-for-word, verse-by-verse film adaptation of the Gospel of John.
Bruce Marchiano, known for his portrayal of Jesus in The Gospel of Matthew, is producer of the new movie. He says the goal of the project is simple.
“It’s not a Christian movie. We’re not trying to change Hollywood culture and make family films, as noble and wonderful as that is,” he clarifies. “We’re trying to reach hungry souls with the gospel of Jesus Christ in a cutting edge-format. This film is a tool, if I can put it that way, a tool that you can take to your neighbor, you can take to your school, you can take to your workplace and you can say, ‘Everybody sit down. I want you to meet Jesus.’”
You can read the full article here
Source: www.onenewsnow.com
Dezastru la penticostali – Har pentru credinciosi?
2. Multi vor ramane consumatori pasivi de predici din ce in ce mai “profesioniste” mai slefuite si mai lipsite de putere transformatoare. Capul, Hristos, fiind inlocuit de un leader cu puteri absolute, inconjurat de “ajutoare” lingusitoare si supuse ( daca vor sa fie numite in continuare in conducere).
PREȘEDINTELE CULTULUI CREȘTIN BAPTIST DIN ROMÂNIA SE ADRESEAZĂ PRIMULUI MINISTRU
“Într-o scrisoare adresată Primului Ministru Emil Boc, domnul Otniel Bunaciu, Președintele Cultului Creștin Baptist din România își manifestă îngrijorarea față de schimbarea, fără o consultare prealabilă a cultelor recunoscute de stat, a subordonării Secretariatului de Stat pentru Culte de la Ministerului Culturii, Cultelor şi Patrimoniului Naţional la un secretariat special aflat în subordinea Primului Ministru.
Președintele Cultului Baptiste solicită o expunere a motivelor care au determinat această schimbare ce afectează viața bisericilor baptiste din România. Totodată solicită și o clarificare a unor declarații făcute în mass media de către Primul Ministru prin care afirma că noul secretariat va păstra legătura „cu Biserica Ortodoxă în principal”.
Domnul Otniel Bunaciu își exprimă speranța că schimbările făcute sunt în spiritul Constituției României și a articolului 9 din Legea nr. 489/2006 privind libertatea religioasă şi regimul general al cultelor, care specifică faptul că „statul este neutru faţă de orice credinţă religioasă sau ideologie atee”, cultele fiind „egale în faţa legii şi a autorităţilor publice, iar „statul, prin autorităţile sale, nu va promova şi nu va favoriza acordarea de privilegii sau crearea de discriminări faţă de vreun cult”.
Sursa: http://www.uniuneabaptista.ro/
