This website is a member of Liberty Alliance, which has been named as an company.

Where Christianity intersects with politics, culture, and entertainment.


graham

Christendom isn't dead

Retired evangelist Billy Graham used his power to influence the vote in North Carolina on May 8. “The Bible is clear: God’s definition of marriage is between a man and a woman,” he stated in a newspaper advertisement. “I want to urge my fellow North Carolinians to vote for the marriage amendment.”

Many other church leaders advocated for etching into the state Constitution the definition of marriage as only between a man and a woman. The two North Carolina Roman Catholic bishops issued a letter to be read during worship throughout the state on the Sunday before the vote.

“We ask you to join in our support for the sacred vocation of marriage and what its definition means to us and to the future of our great state,” they wrote. The bishops spent $100,000 of their church’s money for the campaign to change the state Constitution.

The institutional and cultural power of Christianity succeeded in fortifying a law that affects everyone in the state, regardless of a person’s religious convictions about marriage. Graham and the Catholic bishops, among others, found a way to alter the state constitution to privilege their biblically informed definition of marriage.

Given the dominance of Christianity in the United States, we ought to rethink using the language of “post-Christendom” to describe our time and place.

Continue reading at www.mennoworld.org
 
Posting Policy
We have no tolerance for comments containing violence, racism, vulgarity, profanity, all caps, or discourteous behavior. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain a courteous and useful public environment where we can engage in reasonable discourse. Read more.
  • http://www.missiontoisrael.org Ted R. Weiland

    That many church leaders are advocating "for etching into the state Constitution the definition of marriage as only between a man and a woman" is indicative that the federal Constitution the framers gave us is not Biblical. Had they expressly established America's government upon Yahweh's morality as codified in His commandments, statutes, and judgments, making His law the supreme law of the land, and Americans had remained true to it, this would not even be an issue. That it is an issue speaks volumes regarding the secular, humanist document the framers provided us.

    Find out how much you really know about the Constitution as compared to Yahweh's moral law (His commandments, statutes, and judgments). Take our Constitution Survey at http://www.missiontoisrael.org/constitutionsurvey… and receive a free copy of the "Primer" (an 85 page book, normally $7 plus shipping) of "Bible Law vs. the United States Constitution: The Christian Perspective."

    • wesley

      i visited your sight a look at the statement of faith. i take it you are not a Trinitarian for their is no mention of the Holy Spirit. your 2nd and 5th contradict each other as well as the 2nd and 3rd statements do. there was never a people group known as the Anglo-Saxon for it is like saying there existed a people group known as the Greco-Roman. Germanic was the name given to the tribes that lived in the northern Europe by the Romans for they called them the German Barbarians. the Anglos and the Saxons were a couple of the Germanic tribes. the first scripture you use for biblical salvation contradicts your first statement for those verses only date back to the middle of the middle ages. your first statement imposes on itself deity. your fourth statement reads as a Jehovah's Witness statement for for in itself it does not use the proper names of God; Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. my theo prof probably would find problems that i could not find.

      • http://www.missiontoisrael.org Ted R. Weiland

        Nick,

        Following is my response copied to a similar comment of yours to my post on American Visions' site:

        Wesley, first, there is no escaping theocracy:

        “Not all theocracies are Christian. Some are Jewish, Hindu, Islamic, Buddhist, and some are secular. There is no escaping theocracy. A government’s laws reflect its morality, and the source of that morality (or, more often than not, immorality) is its god. It is never a question of theocracy or no theocracy, but whose theocracy. The American people, by way of their elected officials, are the source of the Constitutional Republic’s laws. Therefore, the Constitutional Republic’s god is WE THE PEOPLE.

        “People recoil at the idea of a theocracy’s morality being forced upon them, but because all governments are theocracies, someone’s morality is always being enforced. This is an inevitability of government. The question is which god, theocracy, laws, and morality will we choose to live under?” Excerpted from “The Preamble: WE THE PEOPLE vs. YHWH” at http://www.missiontoisrael.org/biblelaw-constitut….

        Second, of course, I believe in the Holy Spirit and that the same Spirit is the Spirit of the Father, the Spirit of the Son, and Christ himself (Romans 8:9-11, etc.) In fact, I just preached on this a couple of weeks ago in the expository series I’m presently preaching on Paul’s epistle to the Romans.

        Third, yes, I do believe that the Bible, history and archeaology all emphatically prove the today’s Israelites (in fulfillment of dozens of prophecies such as Jeremiah 31:31-37) are found in the Anglo-Saxon, Germanic, Scandinavian, Celtic, and kindred peoples. Now, let’s say I’m as wrong as wrong as can be on this issue (albeit, I challenge you to read “Mystery of the Gentiles: Who Are They and Where Are They Now?” – http://www.missiontoisrael.org/mystery-of-gentile… – before you decide) and, let’s also say that I’m in error on everything else I teach, SO WHAT? Would this mean that what I teach about the Constitution is in error? Each thing I teach must by independently examined by the standard – God’s inspired Word. To do otherwise is a cultish means of evaluating one’s beliefs.

        • wesley

          yes. for when you use theological arguments bad theology begets more bad theology. bad theology means bad interpretation of the Bible. the cults use the Christian scriptures. all heresy can be found in the Bible just by reading and interpreting it in wrong ways. especially by taking scripture out of both historical and scriptural context.

        • wesley

          yes. for you are using theological arguments. bad theology begets more bad theology. bad theology leads to misinterpreting scripture. the cults use the Christian scriptures. all heresies can be found in and be made by the Bible just by misreading and interpreting the scriptures. especially by taking scripture out of its scriptural and historical context.

          • http://www.missiontoisrael.org Ted R. Weiland

            You've stated nothing here that most everyone doesn't agree upon. But it could be just as easily your bad theology or your theo proff's that is bad and begetting more bad theology.

          • wesley

            our theology begin with the doctrine found in the creed of the faith; Apostles', Nicene, and Athanasius'. they have two thousand years of Christian history behind them. they have the backing of the one canon(The Holy Bible), the two Testaments(Old and New), the three creeds(mention above), the four ecumenical councils of the fourth and fifth centuries, and the church fathers of the first five centuries of Christianity.

          • http://www.missiontoisrael.org Ted R. Weiland

            Let me ask you, Wesley, do you have any doctrine that is incorrect or is your doctrine perfect?

          • wesley

            the church the day before memorial day celebrated its 1982 birthday give or take a couple of years. it survived ten waves of Roman Empire wide persecutions. read the creeds and they will tell you the essentials to the faith passed down from the Apostles of Jesus Christ. Paul wrote no one could build on anything but the foundation already laid by Jesus Christ Himself. the key word to the Apostles' creed is the word Apostles. the Nicene creed expands and clarifies the doctrines already found in the Apostles' creed. Athanasius creed gives us a beautiful word picture of how each Person of the Trinity is the same and yet different at the same time. the creeds will change the way you read the Bible.

          • http://www.missiontoisrael.org Ted R. Weiland

            You didn't even come close to answering my question, and I think we both know why. However, let me try again a little differently. Did they authors of the Apostle's, Nicene,or Athanasius' creeds have any doctrines that were incorrect or were their doctrines all perfect?

          • Vladimir

            Their doctrines were not all perfect or correct. But, how does that help your campaign to revile the U.S. Constitution?

  • cyoder

    The US is not nor was ever intended to be a theocracy. Nevetheless, our Constitution was written by Christians and based on Biblical principles.

    • http://www.missiontoisrael.org Ted R. Weiland

      There is no escaping theocracy:

      “Not all theocracies are Christian. Some are Jewish, Hindu, Islamic, Buddhist, and some are secular. There is no escaping theocracy. A government’s laws reflect its morality, and the source of that morality (or, more often than not, immorality) is its god. It is never a question of theocracy or no theocracy, but whose theocracy. The American people, by way of their elected officials, are the source of the Constitutional Republic’s laws. Therefore, the Constitutional Republic’s god is WE THE PEOPLE.

      “People recoil at the idea of a theocracy’s morality being forced upon them, but because all governments are theocracies, someone’s morality is always being enforced. This is an inevitability of government. The question is which god, theocracy, laws, and morality will we choose to live under?” Excerpted from “The Preamble: WE THE PEOPLE vs. YHWH” at http://www.missiontoisrael.org/biblelaw-constitut….

      • Kalev

        We will be living under a perfect theocracy when Yeshua returns; one I will not want to escape.
        Thank you Ted for the effort you put into your research and praise YHVH Yeshua for guiding you.

        • http://www.missiontoisrael.org Ted R. Weiland

          You're welcome and thank you!

        • Vladimir

          Ted R. Weiland's ministry is guided by George Soros not Jesus Christ. Hopefully Ted listens to Jesus when running his personal life.

          • http://www.missiontoisrael.org Ted R. Weiland

            "There are no such things done as thou sayest, but thou feignest them out of thine own heart." (Nehemiah 6:8)

            Vladimir, I leave you in Yahweh's hands for your Ninth Commandment false accusations against me. Of course, as an antichrist Mormon, you are already destined to perish, unless you're brought to the God of the Bible via the biblical Christ and His redeeming blood sacrifice and resurrection from the grave.

          • Vladimir

            Ted R. Weiland, why can't you come right out and say, "I am not a tool of George Soros", "I don't accept funds from the satanic socia list George Soros either directly or through his many socia list fronts", "I am not in league with George Soros and those who work to destroy the U.S. Constitution", "I am greatful for the freedoms accorded me by the U.S Constitution and realize that it is an impediment to the socia list agenda of power accumulation and control over the citizens of the United States of America."

            Come on, Ted, do it for the billions who look up to you for guidance and inspiration. Living a lie can have serious health consequences. Just relax, take a deep breath and admit the truth. Then you can repent and change course.

      • bighoss

        This nation does not need a theocracy. The menace of any theocracy dictating behaviors of its citizenry in accordance with a defined sectarian code of any kind is an appalling prospect. Those who disagree should do some research concerning the current crop of theocracy advocates in this country, including the nut job British Israelite cults and the New Apostolic Reformation would-be tyrants.

        • Evermyrtle

          There is no way around theocracy! Any god you worship, our TRUE GOD or any other, forms a theocracy, even if it is a tree you worship.That is what the word, theocracy means, the worship of GOD or gods.

          • wesley

            theocracy is a form of government where religion dictates what the laws and leaders are.

          • Evermyrtle

            Theocracy: 1. A government in which a God or gods, is recognized as the supreme civil ruler and divine or religious laws are taken as the laws of the stare.
            2. a government by priests
            3. a country or nation having such a government.

    • wesley

      very true. outside the Bible the primary source used was John Locke's Two Treatises of Government. they used Locke's book more than the Bible for Locke simplified the government found in the Bible.

  • msjallen

    Jesus told the religious leaders in His day and for us to obey even as Paul taught in Romans 13.
    Matt 22:20-21 And He said to them, “Whose likeness and inscription is this?” They said to Him, “Caesar’s.” Then He said to them, “Then render to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s; and to God the things that are God’s.”
    Col 2:10 and in Him you have been made complete, and He is the head over ALL rule and authority;
    Titus 3:1-2 Remind them to be subject to rulers, to authorities, to be obedient, to be ready for every good deed, to malign no one, to be peaceable, gentle, showing every consideration for all men.
    If we want good rulers We the People need to vote them in and watch their every move. Are we finally awake or is it too late?

    • http://www.missiontoisrael.org Ted R. Weiland

      Msjallen, your perspective on all of these passages couldn't be more wrong. You've actually turned them on their head.

      You might find "Christian Duty Under Corrupt Government: A Revolutionary Commentary on Romans 13:1-7" (in which I defer to many of the pre-American Revolutionary pastors and their explanations of Romans 13 and other passages you've cited) of assistance in getting these passages correct. Sorry, I don't have this one online yet. Nevertheless, I'll provide you a free copy if you go to http://www.missiontoisrael.org and let me know you would like one via our contact button. The same for anyone else on this site.

      • Vladimir

        Msjallen, Ted doesn't think women should have the right to vote. Small wonder that he thinks you are wrong.

    • Evermyrtle

      We are watching their every move, and that is all we are doing, watching, at least most of us!!.