Month: November 2020

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Devotionals

MITHRAISM, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, CHRISTIANITY AND ROMANISM (Part VI)

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

MITHRAISM, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, CHRISTIANITY AND ROMANISM (Part VI)

“So willing were the church leaders to adopt the POPULAR heathen festivals, that even HEATHEN authors reproached them for it. Faustus accused St. Augustine [prominent church father of the Romish church] as follows:

“You celebrate the solemn festivals of the Gentiles,!their calends, and their solstices; and as to their manners, these you have retained WITHOUT any alteration. Nothing DISTINGUISHES you from the pagans except that you hold your assemblies APART from them. – ‘Cited in ‘History of the Intellectual of Europe,’ Dr. J. W. Draper, Vol. 1, p. 310. NY, 1876.

“Similar reproaches has been made earlier, for Tertullian [another prominent church father] answers them, making the following admission:

“Others, with greater regard to good manners, it must be confessed, suppose that the sun is the God of the Christians, because it is a well-known fact that we may PRAY TOWARDS THE EAST, or because we make Sunday a day of FESTIVITY. What then? Do you do less than this? …..It is you, at all events, who have even admitted the sun into the calendar week; and you have selected its day, in preference to the preceding day [Saturday]….You who reproach us with the sun and Sunday should consider your PROXIMITY [nearness, closeness, likeness] to us.” – ‘Ad Nationes,’ Book I, chap. 13; in ‘Anti-Nicene Fathers,’ Vol. III, p. 123, ed. by Drs. Roberts and Donaldson, NY: 1896.

“Tertullian had no other excuse for their Sunday-keeping than that they DID NOT DO WORSE than the heathen! But not only did the Church adopt heathen festivals but Gregory Thaumaturgus allowed their celebration in the DEGRADING manner of the heathen [pagans]:

“When Gregory perceived that the IGNORANT MULTITUDE persisted in their IDOLATRY on account of the pleasures and sensual gratifications which they enjoyed at the pagan festivals, he granted them permission to INDULGE THEMSELVES in the like pleasures, in celebrating the memory of the holy martyrs [?], hoping that, in process of time, they would return of their own accord, to a more VIRTUOUS and regular course of life.’ – ‘Ecclesiastical History,’ J. L. Mosheim, D. D., Vol. I, Second Century, Part II, chap. 4, par. 2, footnote (Dr. A. Maclaine’s 2-vol. ed., p. 66). NY: 1871. (From “Facts of Faith,” Christian Edwardson, pp. 103, 104. Southern Publishing Asso. Nashville TN. 1943.

God bless all today. NMF

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Devotionals

MITHRAISM, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, CHRISTIANITY AND ROMANISM (Part V)

November 27, 2020

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

MITHRAISM, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, CHRISTIANITY AND ROMANISM (Part V)

“Richard Vertegen, after much research, writes of the heathen nations:

‘And it is also respectable that the most ancient Germans being Pagans, and having appropriated their first Day of the Week to the peculiar adoration of the Sun, whereof that Day doth yet in our English Tongue retain the name of Sunday.’ – ‘Restitution of Decayed Intelligence in Antiquities,’ p. 11. London: 1673.

“Speaking of the Saxons, he says: ‘First then unto the day dedicated unto the especial adoration of the Idol of the Sun, they gave the name of Sunday, as much as to say the Sun’s-day, or the day of the Sun. This Idol was placed in a Temple, and there adored and sacrificed into, for that they believed that the Sun in the Firmament did with or in this Idol correspond and co-operate. The manner and form whereof was according to this ensuing Picture.’ – Ibid, p. 74. (Capitalization as given in this ancient book).

“It is hardly fair to accuse the Roman Catholic Church of exchanging God’s holy Sabbath for a heathen festival WITHOUT giving her the opportunity to DENY or ACKNOWLEDGE this accusation; so we will let her now state the FACT in her own words, frankly. She says:

“The Church took the pagan philosophy and made it the buckler of faith against the heathen……She took the pagan Sunday and made it the Christian Sunday……There is, in truth, something royal, kingly about the sun, making it a fit emblem of Jesus, the Sun of Justice. Hence the Church in these countries would seem to have said, ‘Keep that old, pagan name. It shall remain consecrated, sanctified.’ And thus the pagan Sunday, dedicated to Balder, became the Christian Sunday, sacred to Jesus.’ – ‘Catholic World,’ March, 1894, p.809.” (From ‘Facts of Faith,’ Christian Edwardson. pp. 102, 103, Southern Pub. Asso. 1943.

The Bible Sabbath has a preparation day, Friday. The pagan Sunday which the Catholic Church changed its name to ‘Christian Sunday,’ does not have a preparation day. Hence, they cannot change the true Sabbath into their “preparation day.” It would be too obvious a change this late!
Let’s prepare for the Lord’s day tomorrow! Bless all, NMF  

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Devotionals

A THANKSGIVING MESSAGE

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

A THANKSGIVING MESSAGE

“In everything give thanks: for this is the WILL of God in Christ Jesus concerning YOU [and me].” 1 Thess. 5:18.

Let us thank God for all His blessings: particularly those that didn’t look or feel like one, or came in the form we did not expect, suspect, imagine not desire. Those seemingly unanswered prayers eliciting disappointed hopes, may in fact be some of the greatest blessings where eternal interests are concerned: they may have revealed our weakest points that we little realized was the “weakest link in the chain.” Whenever and whatever blessings that God in His wisdom and love determines best for us, that are not appreciated, He reminds us by removing them till we learn to discern such as blessings. But always, He has a special blessings for all who trust, obey, depend and willingly co-operate with Him in all His revealed will for us. The development of the special graces of humility, meekness, patience, forbearance and mercy are accelerated by such experiences.

Let us thank God for His truth with all its promises and provisions: It is impossible to exhaust or render obsolete even one “truth as it is in Jesus.” He desires that we become channels for His truth Alas, how often His truth is marred by the channel through which His truth passes through!  In infinite mercy to the contrite and repentant sinner, He forgives the corrupted channel and purifies the blessing that His name be glorified.

Let us thank God in Christ for His loving kindness: There is absolutely nothing nor any creature that is more powerful than God’s love. Rom. 8:35-39. His love, “poured out into our hearts by the Holy Spirit” (Rom. 5:5), will gain the victory when all argument and authority are futile and powerless. Everything else will fail but God’s love will prevail.

Above all, and greater than all these blessings: “Thanks be unto God for His ‘indescribable Gift” (2 Cor. 9:15), for “through Him and by Him, who is before all things, all things consist” (Col. 1:16,17).

“That Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith; that you, being rooted and grounded in LOVE, may be able to comprehend with all saints what is the width and length and depth and height—to know the love of Christ, which passes knowledge [even as His peace passes understanding]; THAT YOU MAY BE FILLED WITH ALL FULNESS OF GOD.” Eph. 3:17. 18.

This Thanksgiving, deep in the throes of the COVID pandemic, think on these special promises and provisions so you can thank God not only for making it through this pandemic year, for the “turkey dinner” with family and friends, but for grand hope that we can “be filled with all the fulness of God.”  I cannot think of anything greater, now and forever!
Bless all, NMF 

Categories
Devotionals

MITHRAISM, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, CHRISTIANITY, ROMANISM AND ‘THE LORD’S DAY’ (Part IV)

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

MITHRAISM, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, CHRISTIANITY, ROMANISM AND ‘THE LORD’S DAY’ (Part IV)

“Thomas Chafie, a clergymen of the English [Anglican] Church, gives the following reasons why the early Christian church COULD NOT CONTINUE to keep the Bible Sabbath among the heathen, nor CHANGE the heathen custom from Sunday [back] to Saturday:

“Christians should not have done well in changing, or endeavoring to have changed the heathen’s standing service-day, from Sunday to any other day of the week; and that for these reasons:

“1. Because of the contempt, scorn and derision they thereby should be had among all the Gentiles with whom they lived; and toward whom they ought by St. Paul’s rule to live in offensively, 1 Cor. 10:32, in things indifferent. If the Gentiles thought hardly, and spoke evil of them, for that they ran not into the SAME EXCESS of riot [wild feasting and gross intemperance]: 1 Pet. 4:4, what would they have said of Christians for such an innovation as would have been made by the CHANGE of their standing service-day? If long before this, the JEWS were had in such disdain among the Gentiles for their Saturday-Sabbath…..how grievous would be their taunts and reproaches against the poor Christians living with them, and under their power, for their new set Sacred day, had the Christians chosen any other than the Sunday?

“2. Most Christians then were either Servants or of the poorer sort of the People: and the Gentiles most probably not give their servants LIBERTY to cease from working on any other set day constantly, except on their Sunday……

“3. It would have been but labor in vain for them to have assayed the same, they could never have brought it to pass.’- ‘A Brief Tract on the Fourth Commandment,’ ….About the Sabbath-Day,’ pp. 61, 62. London: St. Paul’s Yard, 1692.” –   (From Facts of Faith, Christian Edwardson, pp. 101, 102. Southern Pub. Asso., Nashville, TN, 1943.

Instead of converting the Gentiles, Christianity feared to offend them more than offend God, and yielded up their faith and fidelity to God and the Bible Sabbath and started keeping the heathen Sunday, calling it “the Lord’s Day.” The compromise turned into a major deception and gross doctrinal error embraced by the whole Christian world then and now!

Be a true and faithful commandment-keeping Christian! Bless all, NMF. 

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Devotionals

MITHRAISM, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, CHRISTIANITY AND ROMANISM (Part III)

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

MITHRAISM, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, CHRISTIANITY AND ROMANISM (Part III)

Professor Gilbert Murray, M.A., D. Litt., L.L.D., F.B.A., Professor of Greek in Oxford University, says:

“Now, since Mithras was ‘The Sun, the Unconquered,’ and the Sun was ‘The Royal Star,’ the religion looked for a King whom it could serve as the representative of Mithras upon earth.

The Roman Emperor seemed to be clearly indicated as the true King. In sharp CONTRAST to Christianity, Mithraism recognized CAESAR as the bearer of the Divine Grace, and the votaries [worshippers] filled the legions of the CIVIL service [note that for it is part of how religious laws will be legislated soon, mingling church craft and statecraft].

It had so much acceptance that it was able to IMPOSE on the CHRISTIAN world its own SUN-DAY in place of the SABBATH, its Sun’s birthday, TWENTY-FIFTH DECEMBER, as the birthday of Jesus.’ – ‘History of Christianity in the Light of Modern Knowledge,’ Chap. III; cited in ‘Religion and Philosophy,’ pp. 73,74. NY, 1929.” (From Facts of Faith, Christian Edwardson, p. 100, Southern Publishing Asso., Nashville, TN, 1943.

Know the origin of things. It reveals why things are, and what they will be, in the light of prophecy. Bless all, NMF 

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Devotionals

Mithraism, Romanism, and December 25 (Part II)

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

Mithraism, Romanism, and December 25 (Part II)

“Jake Dowling, D.D., says: ‘There is scarcely anything which strikes the mind of the CAREFUL STUDENT of ancient ecclesiastical history with greater surprise, than the comparatively EARLY period at which many of the corruptions of Christianity, which are EMBODIED in the ROMISH SYSTEM, took their rise.’ – ‘History of Romanism,’ Book II, chap. 1, par. 1, p. 65.

“Christianity soon became so much like Mithraism that there was ONLY A STEP between them. Franz Cumont (who is probably the most informed man of our age on the subject of Mithraism) says of Christianity and Mithraism: ‘The two OPPOSED creeds moved into the SAME intellectual and moral sphere, and one could ACTUALLY PASS from one to the other WITHOUT SHOCK OR INTERRUPTION…..The religious and mystical spirit of the Orient had slowly OVERCOME the whole social organism and prepared all nations to UNITE  in the BOSOM OF A UNIVERSAL CHURCH.’ – ‘Oriental Religions in Roman Paganism,’ pp. 210,211. Chicago, Ill: Open Court Publishing Co., 1911.

“The Introductory Essay by Grant Showerman says: ‘Nor did Christianity stop there. It took from its OPPONENTS their own weapons and used them; the better elements of PAGANiSM were TRANSFERRED to the new religion [Mithraism + apostate Christianity= The Church of Rome].’ – Ibid, pp. xi, xii.

“It would be too long a story to trace the doctrines of Mithraism that were brought into the church. We must confine ourselves to our subject, Sunday-keeping. Mr. Cumont says further: ‘The ecclesiastical authorities [not Christ neither the apostles nor anywhere in the Bible] purified in some degree the customs which they could not abolish.’

‘The preeminence assigned to the DIES SOLIS [Sunday] by Mithraism also certainly contributed to the general recognition of Sunday as a HOLIDAY [among Christians].’ – ‘Astrology and Religion Among the Greeks and Romans,’ pp. 171,162, 163. NY: 1912.

“Sunday, over which the Sun presided, was especially holy…..The worshippers of Mithraism held Sunday sacred, and CELEBRATED THE BIRTH OF THE SUN ON TWENTY-FIFTH DECEMBER.’ – ‘The Mysteries of Mithra,’ pp. 167, 191. Chicago: Open Court Pub. Co., 1911.” – Facts of Faith, Christian Edwardson, pp. 99, 100. Southern Pub. Asso. Nashville, TN, 1943.

More tomorrow, God willing. Bless all, NMF 

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Devotionals

JUSTINIAN’S TREACHEROUS ROLE IN THE UPROOTING OF THE ARIAN VANDALS

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

JUSTINIAN’S TREACHEROUS ROLE IN THE UPROOTING OF THE ARIAN VANDALS

In his  deadly campaign using persecution to force pagans, Jews, and those they classified as “heretics,” to convert to Roman Catholicism, Justinian had help in this abominable work:

“John of Ephesus [not the John the beloved] was employed in this apostolate [yes, they called this activity an ‘apostolate’!]. He boasts that in 546 A.D. he gained 70,000 pagans in Asia Minor, including nobles, rhetoricians and physicians, and many in Constantinople. Tortures discovered these men, and scourging and imprisonment INDUCED them accept instruction and baptism.

“A Patricius named Phocus, hearing that he had been denounced, took poison. The Emperor ordered that he should be buried as an ass is buried. The pious [?] Emperor paid all the expenses of this Christian mission [!], and gave to each of the 70,000 Asiatics the white garments for their baptism and a piece of money.

“Other heretics were given three month’s GRACE. All magistrates and soldiers had to SWEAR that  they were Catholics. – ‘Studies in the Early Papacy,’ Dom John Chapman, p.222. London: Sheed and Ward, 1928, NY, Benziger Brothers.

The Vandals: “Justinian’s cherished aim was the reconquest of Italy by the Empire, but in order to succeed in this it was necessary to secure his rear by OVERTHROWING THE VANDALS and resuming possession of AFRICA.  – ‘The Barbarian Invasion of Italy,’ P. Villari, Vol. 1. p. 197.

“A PRETEXT for BREAKING HIS OATH OF PEACE with the Vandals soon presented itself. The Vandal government had oppressed the Roman Catholics  just as the Emperor, UNDER THE INFLUENCE OF THE PAPACY, had oppressed the Arians. But when Hilderic came to the Vandal throne he, through the INFLUENCE OF HIS CATHOLIC WIFE, had restored the Roman clergy to their ancient privileges, and this has so displeased the Vandal leaders that Gelimer, a zealous Arian, had dethroned and imprisoned him, and reigned in his place. ‘A strong appeal was thus made to the piety [?] of the Emperor to deliver the true Catholic Church of the West out of the hands of the Barbarian heretics.’  -‘Medieval and Modern History,’ P.V.N. Myers, p.62. Boston. 1897.

“Justinian wavered for a time, fearing to attack this warlike Vandals, but a CATHOLIC BISHOP assured him of victory, claiming ‘he had seen a vision, in which commanded that the war should immediately undertaken. ‘It is the will of Heaven, O Emperor!’ exclaimed the bishop’- Ibid, p. 63.  (From “Facts of Faith,” Christian Edwardson. pp. 41, 42. Southern Publishing Asso., 1943.

Continued Monday. Have a blessed and restful Sabbath starting sunset tonight. Bless all, NMF 

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Devotionals

THE ‘MYSTERIES’ OF MITHRAISM COVETED THEN ADAPTED BY THE CHURCH FATHERS

FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:

THE ‘MYSTERIES’ OF MITHRAISM COVETED THEN ADAPTED BY THE CHURCH FATHERS

“Dr. J. L. Moaheim says: ‘The profound respect that was paid to the Greek and Roman [pagan, not divine] mysteries, and the extraordinary sanctity that was attributed to them, were additional circumstances that INDUCED the Christians to give their religion a MYSTIC AIR, in order to put it upon an EQUAL FOOTING, in point of dignity, with that of the Pagans. For this purpose, they have the name of ‘MYSTERIES’ to the institutions of the Gospel, and DECORATED  particularly the holy sacrament with that solemn title. They used in that sacred institution, as also in that of baptism, several of the terms employed in the Heather Mysteries and resembled them considerably in many particulars.’ – ‘History of the Church,’ (2 vol. ed.), Vol. 1, Cent. 2, part 2, par. 3, p. 67, NY, 1871..

“Gradually, as the church LOWERED its standards, many of the Greek scholars accepted Christianity (while they retained their heathen philosophy), and they carried with them INTO the church more or less of their FORMER viewpoint and teaching.

“Then as heathenism assailed the church, and the ROMAN government PERSECUTED it, these men, such as Origen, Tertullian. Justin Martyr, etc., wrote ‘Apologies’ and ‘Treatises’ to vindicate Christianity. They, however, sadly MIXED heathen sentiments with Christian doctrines, and the church GRADUALLY BECAME PERMEATED with the teachings of these men [called the ‘Church Fathers’ by the Church of Rome], who had now become the NEW leaders. Dr. Cummings says:

“The Fathers who were really most fitted to be the luminaries of the age in which they lived were TOO BUSY in preparing their flocks for MARTYRDOM to commit anything to writing…..The most devoted and pious of the Fathers were busy TEACHING their flocks;[while] the more vain and ambitious occupying their time preparing TREATISES. If all the Fathers who signalized the age had committed their sentiments in WRITING, we might have had a FAIR representation of the theology of the church [at that stage].’—‘Lectures in Romanism,’ p. 203, quoted in ‘History of the Sabbath,’ J. N. Andrews, pp. 199, 200.” – Facts of Faith, Christian Edwardson, pp. 97,98.

More tomorrow, God willing, and if you are willing, too. Bless all, NMF.