Islam, Submission With No Peace Pt. 13 ~ Christian Liberalism

Recently, Wheaton College Professor Dr. Larycia Hawkins gained national attention when she was placed on administrative leave by Provost Stan Jones. It has been reported that Dr. Hawkins troubles began when she decided to wear a hijab, a garment associated with religious Muslim women, to show her solidarity with Muslim women, a class of persons whom she felt were being marginalized and ridiculed within American society, in particularly because of recent terrorist attacks within the United States, said to have been inspired by ISIS.

Dr. Hawkins explained her actions in her Facebook POST as follows: 

“I stand in religious solidarity with Muslims because they, like me, a Christian, are people of the book. And as Pope Francis stated last week, we worship the same God.”

She further stated:

"As part of my Advent Worship, I will wear the hijab to work at Wheaton College, to play in Chi-town, in the airport and on the airplane to my home state that initiated one of the first anti-Sharia laws (read: unconstitutional and Islamophobic), and at church."

In her recent press conference on this issue, (see video at the end of this article) she stated:

"Our love for Jesus compels us to make no peace with oppression because Christianity is political or it is not Christianity. That drove my solidarity with women in the hijab, particularly Muslims in the hijab—because you know, Jesus’ mother Mary wore a hijab too."

She went on to state:

"Throughout my years of service at Wheaton College, I have never waivered from my commitment to the Christian doctrines elucidated in the Statement of Faith."

Distinguishing & Differentiating Issues

I would be the first to say that I do not know anything about Dr. Hawkins employment

agreement with Wheaton College or about any reason or right that her employer may have had to monitor Dr. Hawkins' Facebook account. While I would support Dr. Hawkins' right to free speech and to privacy, I must point out that it also seems appropriate that Dr. Hawkins, if she has agreed to a statement of faith, or to certain Christian centered doctrines and teachings, that she be faithful to those teachings even in her private life. This is especially important as she is not only a representative of the college, but more importantly of Christ.   

The media has focused its attention on the Dr.'s freedom and right of expression. However, the primary issue, as I have examined this case and the statements, are clearly her assertion that Muslims (who she sought to encourage) and Christians, worship "the same God". To be fair, Dr. Hawkins was not asserting these ideas independently. Her statements echo those of Pope Francis' who also recently affirmed that both Christians and Muslims worship "the same God".

The issues seem to have been convoluted or intertwined, until the person casually associated with religious doctrines and tenets of faith, assume that the only issue is the wearing of the hijab. In fact in Dr. Hawkins' statement and press conference, this is the primary and initial point of focus. Her theological assertion is downplayed, but I believe that her theological position is the primary, if not the only issue at hand, as you will see in this post. 

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Sexual Abuse & Silence STILL Doesn't Mix

Catholic Archbishop Robert Carlson claimed in a recent sworn deposition and testimony, that in the 80's, while he was Chancellor of the diocese of Minneapolis and St. Paul, that he was unaware that sexual molestation of minors, or pedophilia was a crime.
 

How convenient it is to forget events and remain silent about what you know when your back is against the wall...For the Catholic Bishop in the video, I think with all that he didn't know, it probably would have been more easy to ask him what he did know...That list may have been much more short and simple to understand.

While it is difficult to remember details to conversations and actions that occurred nearly 30 or so years ago, it is all too corporately acceptable to hold to ignorance and obfuscate when all else fails...The only problem is that whatever was true then, should be true now and only a 'lie" needs to be "touched up" or refreshed.

~~My Mock Interview With Carlson~~

Me: Bishop, since you seem to have forgotten so much, do you know or remember the WORD of God? 

Bishop Carlson: I don't remember that either? 

Me: Well that is obvious...I just thought you may have forgotten that you forgot and remembered by now.... 

Bishop Carlson: Well, that makes sense...I think I remember that...

Arguably, his deposition seems to be a crime itself. It is it below, if you have about 3 hours to kill... but first...

The COGIC Challenge....

Burnett Testimony In High Profile Case

I was deposed in a setting of this sort. I was deposed regarding events that I had not witnessed, but was versed on when it came to sexual abuse and certain actions and procedures within our church. Except, my deposition was much longer...it was about 5 hours. 

Before I could complete the final 2 hours, the church...YES the Grand Ole COGIC SETTLED with the persons who were suing them, and in the process, demanded a gag order, or an order of silence upon the "victims" or "plaintiffs" with whom they settled. In other words, the church took out the Grand Ole Checkbook, the victims got paid, shut-up according to order, and my 5 hours never saw the light of day. That's OK.

Gate-Way To The Midwest

Now, it is interesting that this Catholic Bishop, is now in St. Louis, MO.  For those who don't know, St. Louis is the current home of the COGIC Holy Convocation. The Holy Convocation is COGIC's largest and most important annual convention or meeting. 

My question is will COGIC, since it presents such an influential event in St. Louis, MO.,  make a statement condemning sexual abuse of all kinds? Since they have failed to do so previously even regarding atrocities which have arisen from our own ranks, I would implore and urge officials that understand the seriousness of these issues to make and take a stand.   

I CHALLENGE COGIC to SPEAK UP and take a position on this matter and other matters of sexual abuse in favor of victims rights. Further, I CHALLENGE the leaders of our church to take an open stand against abuse or all forms both inside and outside of the church and take a vocal and active role in bringing deliverance, help and healing to the VICTIMS (Remember those who have been damaged by the perverted actions of others?)

I have done my best to make this so and will continue to advocate as strongly as I am able. I Am My Brother's Keeper Christian Advocacy Council, plans to speak up once again at the 2014 Holy Convocation. It is my hope that our COGIC officials will join me in this effort and also take a serious look at the victim's advocacy proposal that I have presented to certain "high level" officials within the church. 

It is ABSOLUTELY foolish to continue to do the same thing and expect different results... Do the right think and make molesters and predators know that their day is ended!

Blessed!

Bishop Carlson's Full Deposition  

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The "Business" Of Church

Matthew 21:12-13 ~ 12- And Jesus went into the temple of God, and cast out all them that sold and bought in the temple, and overthrew the tables of the moneychangers, and the seats of them that sold doves, 13-And said unto them, It is written, My house shall be called the house of prayer; but ye have made it a den of thieves.

Although there is a healthy debate even among Christians as to whether the "church" as we know it today was ever supposed to be the "church" as we have become used to seeing it, or even whether Jesus came to establish a religion at all, one thing is for sure, whatever the church and religious practice associated with the church once was, it is hard pressed to continue to be that and as a result has lost it's luster in a ever increasing mine-field of church and even secular "alternatives".

In short, the rise of relative moral values, increasing secularism, and the desire for social relevance are among some of the more pervasive issues that the church faces. That doesn't even begin to touch on the ever increasing moral failures of some of the leaders and adherents of the church. All of these things have made the church, the modern physical church, a very difficult landscape for the average person to navigate.

Church, The Business

Then add the "business" of church to the mix. There has always been a business aspect to serving God through the corporate entity called the church. Even within the first church people sold what they had that the needs of the corporate group might be met (Acts 4). Under the Levitical system, sacrifices and offerings cost and had value. In Jesus time, ministry under the Temple System had become big business. Scripture records that Jesus drove out the "moneychanges" at least twice during his ministry (Matt. 21:12-13, John 2:14-15) and reprimanded temple leaders for their excesses. I believe, and have further taught, that Jesus did this at least annually as a symbol of his office and in expectation of what the religious Jew would have understood as the special authority associated with the Messiah who was expected to appear in every generation. By the time of Jesus, to say that the Temple and the people were being abused would have been an understatement. What was being done was not in accordance with what God had commanded and not in line with what he expected from those who would serve HIM. The poor were to be ministered to, not taken advantage of. The very fact that the nickname of the Temple at that time was "Herrod's Temple" indicates that money and evil associations had began to rule the day even in what should have been the most sacred of places.  

Show Me The Money!

From the historical position of Catholic "indulgences" to modern mega church "sacrificial gifts", to $50 million dollar plus places of worship, not to mention $250,000 monthly TV programming budgets. As we already know, on any given Sunday at mini-mega local churches offerings of the faithful can exceed $20,000. Big business exists within and surrounding the modern church. Much of the raised funds are delivered to folk

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May 2011 John Jay Report On Catholic Clergy Sexual Abuse Still Being Examined

Recently, in performing some additional research for I Am My Brother's Keeper Christian Advocacy Council, I came across a 2011 report from the John Jay College Research Team, which did one of the most comprehensive studies in recent times into the nature of clergy sexual abuse and misconduct within the Catholic Church. 

The results of the study were amazing and the information and suggestions that arose from it will be examined for years. There were some interesting notions, which I thought are apropos to our time and efforts in both understanding the mindset which has facilitated abuse within the church and understanding the urgency of delivering restoration of those who have been victimized and are hurting. one thing is for sure, if we look at this as simply a "Catholic issue", then we have missed the boat. This is a Christian faith issue and no matter what church one may attend, there are problems, whether one is aware of them or not. 

Examination

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President Obama, Adolf Hitler & The "Catholic Conscience"...Really???

Bishop Daniel Jenky
Peoria, IL.

The Peoria, IL. Diocean Bishop of the Roman Catholic Church, Bishop Daniel Jenky, took the time to rally the community at the annual Call to Catholic Men of Faith march last Saturday April 14th. It seems that Bishop Jenky has joined a host of other even more prominently known Catholic leaders, such as Cardinal Timothy Dolan of New York, in condemning the Obama administration over the issue of mandatory contraception coverage within the health care law.  

It really is interesting because the administration courted Catholics in particular, prior to the election, even providing reassurance that it wouldn't infringe upon religious liberty and freedoms only to do a complete 180 on the issue currently. 

Among other statements, he encouraged fellow Catholics by stating the following:

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In The Defense Of Marriage

American Catholics Call All To Defend Marriage And Reject Notions Of Bigotry

In a Jan 12th, 2011 release, the American Conference Of Catholic Bishops released a statement calling on all Christians and all people to defend the traditional views of marriage as being between one man and one woman as well as reject the notion commonly promoted by the homosexual extremists that those who oppose gay marriage are bigoted. Outlining the problem as being beyond the Catholic Church and its agenda, the latter part of the statement said:

"For example, in New Jersey, the state cancelled the tax-exempt status of a Methodist-run boardwalk pavilion used for religious services because the religious organization would not host a same-sex "wedding" there. San Francisco dropped its $3.5 million in social service contracts with the Salvation Army because it refused to recognize same-sex "domestic partnerships" in its employee benefits policies.Similarly, Portland, Maine, required Catholic Charities to extend spousal employee benefits to same-sex "domestic partners" as a condition of receiving city housing and community development funds. 

In short, the refusal of these religious organizations to treat a same-sex sexual relationship as if it were a marriage marked them and their members as bigots, subjecting them to the full arsenal of government punishments and pressures reserved for racists. These punishments will only grow more frequent and more severe if civil "marriage" is redefined in additional jurisdictions. For then, government will compel special recognition of relationships that we the undersigned religious leaders and the communities of faith that we represent cannot, in conscience, affirm. Because law and government not only coerce and incentivize but also teach, these sanctions would lend greater moral legitimacy to private efforts to punish those who defend marriage."

In essence the statement introduces the notion that the government, by redefining marriage, as President Obama has committed and vowed to do, vicariously become agents supporting religious discrimination. In

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When "Gay Day" Comes Your Way - The Homosexual Rite Becomes Law Pt. 2

Catholic Smackdown In Illinois 

Harvey Grossman

 "Studies show gay and lesbian couples do as well as parents as opposite-sex couples,"..."They (Catholic Charities) do not have the right to impose religious values on those who are wards of the state," ~ Harvey Grossman, Legal Director  ACLU Illinois

I previously spoke of a Presidential candidate and his promises in "When Gay Day Comes Your Way -The Homosexual Rite Becomes Law", sharing information as to why any community, state, and the country should not consider legalizing homosexual marriage. In that article I pointed out the atrocities suffered by Dr. David and Tonia Banner when it came to the right of the state (Massachusetts) to educate their children in a manner consistent with the law. Let's just say that parental "rights" to educate a child otherwise within the public school system doesn't exist!

You see, when gay marriage is the law, the public school system has the RIGHT and even the MANDATE to teach your children that gay sexuality is valid and that marriage between gays are just as admirable as marriage between heterosexual couples, simply because it is the law. In fact, isn't that the exact position of our President  just a short time ago to the Human Rights Campaign? As a reminder here is what he said then:

"My expectation is that when you look back on these years, you will see a time in which we put a stop to discrimination against gays and lesbians whether in the office or on the battlefield. You will see a time in which we as a nation finally recognized relationships between two men or two women, are just as real and admirable as relationships between a man and a woman." ~ President Barack Obama 10/10/2009 Address to The Human Rights Campaign

This theory, that homosexual relationships are "just as real and admirable" as relationships between a man and a woman, was introduced to and felt within Illinois. In a landmark decision, Illinois Circuit Court Judge, John Schmidt, recently held that foster care placement agencies within Illinois that are bound by a religious code of ethics and closely held religious beliefs against homosexual civil unions, are, for the most part, out of business, or at least cannot expect State funds as compensation for their services.  

The Peoria Journal Star reports that the Illinois Department Of Children & Family Services (DCFS) previously paid Catholic Charities of Illinois $30.7 Million annually for the placement of 15,600 foster children through 4 operating units in Illinois. Those units or agencies are located in Peoria, Joliet, Belleville, and Springfield.. The Catholic Charities of Peoria, which is the largest operating unit of the four,  had a $24 Million

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Eschatology & Anti-Christ Speculations Pt. 1

One of the things that false prophet Harold Camping did was brought to light the underworld of biblical positions regarding Christian eschatology. Some have taken advantage of the climate presenting highly questionable and particularly strained eschatological positions as if they were "revelatory" in nature. In other words some folk are preaching bad eschatology as if God has suddenly revealed something new or something unheard of within Christianity. The other problem is just simply bad doctrine and a misapplication of fact.
  

Wikipedia maintains that the word eschatology comes from the Greek word meaning "last" and "study": ἔσχατος, last; and λογία, lit. discourse and  is the study of the end of things, whether the end of an individual life, the end of the age, or the end of the present world and beginning of the World to Come, from a Christian perspective.

Understanding Christian eschatology is a complicated subject and one that revolves around what is called the apocalyptic literature of Daniel, Zechariah, Revelation to name a few books, and many of the apocalyptic sayings of Jesus contained within the gospels.

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Clergy Sexual SINS Pt. 1

I wonder how many ministers are outraged at his?

A series of recent allegations began when a lawsuit was filed claiming that Rev. Lawrence Murphy (who died in 1998) admitted to diocese officials in the 1990s that he molested over 200 boys while working at St. John's School for the Deaf in St. Francis, Wisc., for 25 years from 1950 to 1975. This was after other allegations of sexual abuse had arisen among the priesthood in Germany where 4 Priests and 2 Nuns are said to have been responsible for the physical and sexual abuse of over 300 former students who were children at the time. In fact the Pope admits to having slapped children on occasion but claimed that such practice was common place and not considered abuse by German standards.

Aside from the horrible crimes of physical and sexual sexual abuse perpetrated by these leaders, another crime was committed when, during the 1990's,  after reviewing letters from two Wisconsin bishops rendering the priests former crimes, the administrating Bishop, Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger, now Pope Benedict XVI, asked for for a secret church trial and ultimately granted extreme leniency in dealing with the crimes of Murphy.

According to ABC News, the following note is said to have been the reason why then Cardinal Ratzinger granted this leniency to the criminal priest:

"I have just recently suffered another stroke which has left me in a weakened state. I have repented of any of my past transgressions, and have been living peaceably in northern Wisconsin for 24 years. I simply want to live out the time that I have left in the dignity of my priesthood."  ~ Former and the late rev. Lawrence Murphy to Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger. 

There was so much mercy extended that the crimes of this priest (which were revealed during a secret trial) were neither reported, handled, or addressed in any sufficient manner other than shuffling off the priest to another location and keeping quiet.

One Can't Escape The Judgement Of God

Covering crimes and serious negligence has led to the current scandal and seemingly blasphemous chorus from individuals calling for the Pope himself  to step down because of his irresponsible and untrustworthy actions.

Numbers 32:23 ~ "But if ye will not do so, behold, ye have sinned against the LORD: and be sure your sin will find you out."

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