Time for a simple approach....

[Kee]

Time for a simple approach to solving world's wars

By the Rev. Jeffrey Ruby
Senior pastor of Esperanza Lutheran Church
Phoenix, AZ

It has become a daily litany of bad news.

U.S. and Coalition forces are in a firefight in Fallujah, Iraq. A roadside bomb explodes in Baghdad, killing U.S. soldiers. Terrorist are arrested in Jordan, plotting to release chemicals. Israelis kill the leaders of Hamas, Hamas kills Israelis by blowing up a bus.

We can argue all we want about the root causes. Some say it is poverty, but that does not explain why Usama Bin Laden plots terror as the son of one of Saudi Arabia's wealthiest families. Some say it is land, but I think many are fighting with no idea what began the conflict in the first place. Others say it is oil, or money, or politics, or imperialism. Everyone has a theory.

Maybe it is time for one thing. Maybe it is time for the religious leaders of the world to call for a world conference of Jewish, Christian, and Muslim leaders. Maybe it time for the pope, the archbishop of Canterbury, the chief rabbis of Orthodox and Reformed Jews and Imams of the Shiite's and Sunni's to meet. Maybe it is time to say no matter what we believe; no matter how we practice our faith: and whether we call God Yahweh, Allah, or by the name of God's son Jesus that we say killing in God's name is wrong.

I know what some will say. Naive. Idealistic. S-tupid. Some will say that Jews or Muslims or Christians are not people of faith because only (take your pick) Christians, Muslims, Jews are truly God's children. Others will laugh and echo Stalin's words - how many divisions does the Pope have?

But what other choice do we have? We teeter on the verge of a world where truly we return to the Crusades, Christian vs. Muslim and Muslim vs. Jew. Is there anyone or anything else that can encourage us to move forward? How many have to die in God's name before it stops?

I have a breaking news alert I would like to see someday. "At a world conference of religious leaders, hosted by Pope John Paul II in Rome, Jews, Christians, and Muslims came together and made a pledge to stop using violence to advance their faith. At the conclusion of the conference, a joint service was held in which all came together to worship, and pray for the day that peace will come.

Instead, we hear the news we always hear. More bombings, bloodbaths and war. If it is a foolish and naive idea, than maybe it is time to be foolish, because using our common sense so far doesn't seem to be working. How many divisions do religious leaders have? None. But one weapon in our arsenal that has not been used is the most potent. Prayer.

[I2AM4GOD]

Kee,

Although I'm a Christian and feel I have nothing in common with Muslims, I agree with you and the Reverend that prayer is the only answer and believe that we do need to talk to members of the other faiths. After all, we all share the same planet and we just can't carry on with the nonsense of killing our own kind. War is so stupid that words can't adequately describe it.

Andy.

[genesda]

I2AM4GOD said:

Kee,

Although I'm a Christian and feel I have nothing in common with Muslims, I agree with you and the Reverend that prayer is the only answer and believe that we do need to talk to members of the other faiths. After all, we all share the same planet and we just can't carry on with the nonsense of killing our own kind. War is so stupid that words can't adequately describe it.

Andy.

Andy, how would you suggest that we get the terrorists to stop killing themselves and taking innocent people with them?

The Rc's say to pray the rosary to:
end abortion
find peace
find Jesus
They can't be the answer because just look at how many centuries they've been doing that and we still have the things they say the rosary will stop.

What's next?

I believe Jesus was right when He said, "there will be wars and rumors of wars" towards the end. He said nothing about them stopping, even by prayer.

[/color]

[I2AM4GOD]

genesda said:

I2AM4GOD said:

Kee,

Although I'm a Christian and feel I have nothing in common with Muslims, I agree with you and the Reverend that prayer is the only answer and believe that we do need to talk to members of the other faiths. After all, we all share the same planet and we just can't carry on with the nonsense of killing our own kind. War is so stupid that words can't adequately describe it.

Andy.

Andy, how would you suggest that we get the terrorists to stop killing themselves and taking innocent people with them?

The Rc's say to pray the rosary to:
end abortion
find peace
find Jesus
They can't be the answer because just look at how many centuries they've been doing that and we still have the things they say the rosary will stop.

What's next?

I believe Jesus was right when He said, "there will be wars and rumors of wars" towards the end. He said nothing about them stopping, even by prayer.

[/color][/quote]

I see. So your solution would be "Don't bother praying." Didn't Christ tell us Christians to "Pray for Jerusalem?" Perhaps we shouldn't, eh? If all religious people prayed for peace, I think wars would very possibly end. Of course, there would also be the need for peace talks, but surely you believe in the power of prayer - don't you? Don't you know that fervent prayers are to do with spiritual warfare and that much of what is wrong with our World has a spiritual dimension to it? I tell you, I much prefer prayer to killing people. When I look at what is going on in the World today, I feel relieved that I haven't got any children as I believe that they deserve a better life than they would get here. And I mean that.

Andy.

[genesda]

I2AM4GOD said:

I see. So your solution would be "Don't bother praying." Didn't Christ tell us Christians to "Pray for Jerusalem?" Perhaps we shouldn't, eh? If all religious people prayed for peace, I think wars would very possibly end. Of course, there would also be the need for peace talks, but surely you believe in the power of prayer - don't you? Don't you know that fervent prayers are to do with spiritual warfare and that much of what is wrong with our World has a spiritual dimension to it? I tell you, I much prefer prayer to killing people. When I look at what is going on in the World today, I feel relieved that I haven't got any children as I believe that they deserve a better life than they would get here. And I mean that.

Andy.

Of course we should pray, but we should also DEFEND ourselves too!

[/color]

[marysia]

actually pope JPII has met with the muslems some time back...

i think with any group meeting to create change -- they must all WANT to change before any change can ever happen.

just like with prayer. whether it's an Rcc praying a rosary or another just "praying" -- unless it's in full committment to what one is praying about -- it's nothing but vanity - listening to one's own words, thinking moreso -- "hey i prayed, i made the difference" as my dziadzia would say -- that's a load of Bunk! your prayers - no matter how coiffed or tangled, when sincere can move the mount!

[genesda]

Kee said:

Time for a simple approach to solving world's wars

By the Rev. Jeffrey Ruby
Senior pastor of Esperanza Lutheran Church
Phoenix, AZ

It has become a daily litany of bad news.

U.S. and Coalition forces are in a firefight in Fallujah, Iraq. A roadside bomb explodes in Baghdad, killing U.S. soldiers. Terrorist are arrested in Jordan, plotting to release chemicals. Israelis kill the leaders of Hamas, Hamas kills Israelis by blowing up a bus.

We can argue all we want about the root causes. Some say it is poverty, but that does not explain why Usama Bin Laden plots terror as the son of one of Saudi Arabia's wealthiest families. Some say it is land, but I think many are fighting with no idea what began the conflict in the first place. Others say it is oil, or money, or politics, or imperialism. Everyone has a theory.

Maybe it is time for one thing. Maybe it is time for the religious leaders of the world to call for a world conference of Jewish, Christian, and Muslim leaders. Maybe it time for the pope, the archbishop of Canterbury, the chief rabbis of Orthodox and Reformed Jews and Imams of the Shiite's and Sunni's to meet. Maybe it is time to say no matter what we believe; no matter how we practice our faith: and whether we call God Yahweh, Allah, or by the name of God's son Jesus that we say killing in God's name is wrong.

I know what some will say. Naive. Idealistic. S-tupid. Some will say that Jews or Muslims or Christians are not people of faith because only (take your pick) Christians, Muslims, Jews are truly God's children. Others will laugh and echo Stalin's words - how many divisions does the Pope have?

But what other choice do we have? We teeter on the verge of a world where truly we return to the Crusades, Christian vs. Muslim and Muslim vs. Jew. Is there anyone or anything else that can encourage us to move forward? How many have to die in God's name before it stops?

I have a breaking news alert I would like to see someday. "At a world conference of religious leaders, hosted by Pope John Paul II in Rome, Jews, Christians, and Muslims came together and made a pledge to stop using violence to advance their faith. At the conclusion of the conference, a joint service was held in which all came together to worship, and pray for the day that peace will come.

Instead, we hear the news we always hear. More bombings, bloodbaths and war. If it is a foolish and naive idea, than maybe it is time to be foolish, because using our common sense so far doesn't seem to be working. How many divisions do religious leaders have? None. But one weapon in our arsenal that has not been used is the most potent. Prayer.

This man is delusional if he thinks one can reason with terrorists.

[/color]

[mook2357]

genesda said:

I2AM4GOD said:

Kee,

Although I'm a Christian and feel I have nothing in common with Muslims, I agree with you and the Reverend that prayer is the only answer and believe that we do need to talk to members of the other faiths. After all, we all share the same planet and we just can't carry on with the nonsense of killing our own kind. War is so stupid that words can't adequately describe it.

Andy.

Andy, how would you suggest that we get the terrorists to stop killing themselves and taking innocent people with them?

The Rc's say to pray the rosary to:
end abortion
find peace
find Jesus
They can't be the answer because just look at how many centuries they've been doing that and we still have the things they say the rosary will stop.

What's next?

I believe Jesus was right when He said, "there will be wars and rumors of wars" towards the end. He said nothing about them stopping, even by prayer.

[/color][/quote]

Nor by fighting back...

James 4:1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?

James 4:2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

James 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

You seek to fight the world with the world's weapons, Gene...that makes you a friend of the world. If you want to fight the Godly war, use God's weapons, not mans....

AND THAT MEANS prayer and love, not war and violence.

[SonWorshiper]

First of all, in responding to the OP, Pope John Paul II is too old and "out of it" to take on such a monumental task as uniting the religions.

I think (correct me if I'm wrong), according to catholic prophecies (whatever they're worth), that there will only be two popes after John Paul II, with the very last one being The False Prophet, who will fulfill the noble, yet horrendously wrong desires of Jeffrey Ruby in uniting all religions in the name of peace.

(Putting an end to "killing in God's Name" will be the perfect motive in bringing all the religions together, which sounds like a good idea, but ultimately will amount to a lifeless, powerless form of godliness and in the end, an eternity spent in hell for all who are deceived by it, because eventually, The Anti-Christ will become The Head of this "unified religion" and the whole world will worship him, and in doing so, they will deny The Lord Jesus Christ as the Resurrected Saviour of the world.)

Uniting the religions seems like the perfect solution. If everyone would just compromise their beliefs just a little bit, we could all get along and our problems would go away, right? This mantra will grow, and increase in popularity throughout the world.

Indeed, we are heading toward a one-world religion, under the authority of the catholic church, headed by The False Prophet, who answers to The Anti-Christ, and he will deceive all non-Christians into worshipping him and receiving his mark. Members of the false form of Christianity ("pastors" like Jeffrey Ruby) will lead the way in establishing the groundwork for this movement to begin.

There's only one problem. I ain't compromising. And there are millions and millions of other Christians around the world who ain't gonna compromise either. What do you do with us? Arrest us for standing in the way of world peace? Imprison us? Torture us? Kill us?

I think it will come to that one day. One day probably sooner than anyone realizes. Bring it on, 'cause I ain't compromising one tenant of my Christian faith. Not Jesus' as The Only Begotten Son of God...not Jesus' Lordship...not Jesus' Kingdom...not Jesus' deity...not Jesus' death and atonement for the sins of the world...and not Jesus' literal resurrection.

You see, in order to unite with the religions of the world, you have to compromise these essential tenants of the true Christian faith. Anyone who compromises any of these beliefs is not a true Christian and will be "fresh meat" for the Anti-Christ to deceive and devour.

The Bible teaches that true believers know The Shepherd's Voice, will follow Him, and no man can pluck them out of His Hand. Those who are not true believers will be deceived by The Hireling (the Anti-Christ) who comes to seek, kill and destroy.

Please, come to The Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ, and allow Him to guide your path. All other ways lead to death and destruction.

SonWorshiper

[marysia]

mook2357 said:

Nor by fighting back...

James 4:1 From whence come wars and fightings among you? come they not hence, even of your lusts that war in your members?

James 4:2 Ye lust, and have not: ye kill, and desire to have, and cannot obtain: ye fight and war, yet ye have not, because ye ask not.

James 4:3 Ye ask, and receive not, because ye ask amiss, that ye may consume it upon your lusts.

James 4:4 Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God.

You seek to fight the world with the world's weapons, Gene...that makes you a friend of the world. If you want to fight the Godly war, use God's weapons, not mans....

AND THAT MEANS prayer and love, not war and violence.

and yet the OT is filled with references to the times when we did have to fight. yes this was before the Son of God walked the earth in the flesh. however to those who are presently fighting against us - they do not believe that the Son of God HAS walked the earth. WE know we understand we believe, they are still living as in the OT times and to a certian degree, we must act accordingly to bring them about.

[marysia]

SonWorshiper said:

First of all, in responding to the OP, Pope John Paul II is too old and "out of it" to take on such a monumental task as uniting the religions.

actually, if you did some research on his latest writings you would find them niether out of it or that of a man too old. he is feeble in body but not in mind or mostly, Spirit. BTW, he did attempt to discuss and meet and was actually greeted in the ME in 2000 and was welcomed without any harm or mallice.

[I2AM4GOD]

SonWorshiper said:

First of all, in responding to the OP, Pope John Paul II is too old and "out of it" to take on such a monumental task as uniting the religions.

I think (correct me if I'm wrong), according to catholic prophecies (whatever they're worth), that there will only be two popes after John Paul II, with the very last one being The False Prophet, who will fulfill the noble, yet horrendously wrong desires of Jeffrey Ruby in uniting all religions in the name of peace.

(Putting an end to "killing in God's Name" will be the perfect motive in bringing all the religions together, which sounds like a good idea, but ultimately will amount to a lifeless, powerless form of godliness and in the end, an eternity spent in hell for all who are deceived by it, because eventually, The Anti-Christ will become The Head of this "unified religion" and the whole world will worship him, and in doing so, they will deny The Lord Jesus Christ as the Resurrected Saviour of the world.)

Uniting the religions seems like the perfect solution. If everyone would just compromise their beliefs just a little bit, we could all get along and our problems would go away, right? This mantra will grow, and increase in popularity throughout the world.

Indeed, we are heading toward a one-world religion, under the authority of the catholic church, headed by The False Prophet, who answers to The Anti-Christ, and he will deceive all non-Christians into worshipping him and receiving his mark. Members of the false form of Christianity ("pastors" like Jeffrey Ruby) will lead the way in establishing the groundwork for this movement to begin.

There's only one problem. I ain't compromising. And there are millions and millions of other Christians around the world who ain't gonna compromise either. What do you do with us? Arrest us for standing in the way of world peace? Imprison us? Torture us? Kill us?

I think it will come to that one day. One day probably sooner than anyone realizes. Bring it on, 'cause I ain't compromising one tenant of my Christian faith. Not Jesus' as The Only Begotten Son of God...not Jesus' Lordship...not Jesus' Kingdom...not Jesus' deity...not Jesus' death and atonement for the sins of the world...and not Jesus' literal resurrection.

You see, in order to unite with the religions of the world, you have to compromise these essential tenants of the true Christian faith. Anyone who compromises any of these beliefs is not a true Christian and will be "fresh meat" for the Anti-Christ to deceive and devour.

The Bible teaches that true believers know The Shepherd's Voice, will follow Him, and no man can pluck them out of His Hand. Those who are not true believers will be deceived by The Hireling (the Anti-Christ) who comes to seek, kill and destroy.

Please, come to The Resurrected Lord Jesus Christ, and allow Him to guide your path. All other ways lead to death and destruction.

SonWorshiper

You're right, Sonworshipper.