FROM YOUR PASTOR’S DESK:
A UNIVERSAL RELIGION UNITING ALL RELIGIONS – REAL PURPOSE OF SUN-DAY WORSHIP BEGAN IN THE ROMAN EMPIRE
The word catholic simply means “universal.”
“Dean H.H. Milman says: ‘It was openly asserted that the worship of the sun, under the name Elagabalus, was to SUPERSEDE all other worship. If we may believe the biographies in the Augustan history, A MORE AMBITIOUS SCHEME OF UNIVERSAL RELIGION had dawned upon the mind of the Emperor. The Jewish, the Samaritan, even the Christian, were to be FUSED and RECAST into ONE GREAT SYSTEM, of which the Sun was to be the central object of adoration.’ – ‘History of Christianity,’Vol. II, Book II, ch. 8, par. 22, pp. 178, 179. NY: 1881.
“Dr. Lewis further says that [Emperor] Aurelian, who reigned from
270-276 A.D., embellished the temple of the Sun with ‘above fifteen thousand pounds of gold.’—‘History of Sunday Legislation,’ p. 23.
“Emperor Diocletian, who reigned from 284-305, appealed in the face of the army to the all-seeing Deity of the Sun.’ -Ibid, p. 24.
“Such were the influences that PRECEDED Constantine and surrounded him when he came into power. The following extract shows still plainer the CHARACTER of Constantine and his attitude toward the sun-worship CULTS, when the first ‘Sunday edict’ was issued:
‘But the devotion of Constantine was more peculiarly directed to the genius of the Sun, the Apollo of the Greek and Roman mythology…..The sun was UNIVERSALLY celebrated as the INVISiBLE guide and protector of Constantine.’- Ibid, pp. 26, 27. These facts combine to show that Sunday legislation was PURELY PAGAN IN ITS ORIGIN.” – Ibid, p. 31.” – Facfs of Faith, pp. 111, 112.
How can a true Bible-believing Christian ever hold in reverence and worship anything that is pagan/heathen, instead of Christian and from Christ Himself, in origin and practice?? The light of truth needs to shine and dispel the gross darkness covering the Christian world! Do your part and God will be glorified! NMF