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Why is Christianity Such an Easy Target for Ridicule and Attack?

It seems to me that we Christians and our faith are constantly under attack. It just appears that it is OK to belittle Christians, and there are really no repercussions to those who perpetuate the onslaught. The media loves to do it, the political left finds pleasure in it, and of course the Muslims won’t tolerate us. It appears as well that our own government is becoming increasingly secular despite the words “In God We Trust” that everyone carries around with them.

Christian persecution is not a new invention. It started with the agony that Christ himself had to endure and continues with all of the martyrs since. Biblically speaking, Christ told us that we would be persecuted for His name’s sake. {Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.(Matt 5-11)}. This persecution comes in many forms. The assault on Christians in the United States may be somewhat different that those on the Coptic Christians in Egypt since the Arab Spring.I have done my own analysis on this particular issue and wanted to share it with you. I think it boils down to this: God is love. {Whoever does not love does not know God, because God is love.(1 John 4:8)}.  The believers in God love life and they embrace life for the joy it brings. This joy brings with it patience and kindness. {But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. Against these things there is no law.(Gal 5:22-23)}.

But you have to understand that the world in not patient. It is very impatient. And who did God give this world to for it’s management? That’s right, satan. {I will not say much more to you, for the prince of this world is coming. He has no hold over me.(John 14:30)}.  God can take this world from satan and snuff him out in an instant. But he doesn’t. Why? Because He wants you to overcome. {Who is it that overcomes the world? Only the one who believes that Jesus is the Son of God.(1 John 5:5)}.

The devil has come to steal and kill. The devil is very impatient. He does not like tolerance. He has made it so the world revolves around sin, and the wages of sin is death. {For the wages of sin is death, but the gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.(Rom 6:23)}. So this world is sinful in nature and wants to rob you of your joy and bring death. See the difference? Christ came to bring life and give it more abundantly. {The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.(John 10:10)}.

Many years ago I was an insurance agent and also sold investments such as mutual funds. In my training and licensure by the National Association of Security Dealers (NASD), I learned that by age sixty five, most people have about as much money as they did when they were sixteen. The onslaught of costs over a life time will leave the average person penniless. The world system is meant to keep you down.  Its the devil’s plan and he runs the show here on this earthly plane.

I understand that the poor will always be with us. {The poor you will always have with you, but you will not always have me.(Matt 26:11)}, but I am talking about hard working people who toiled for a life time. But that is the way the world works. That’s the way governments work. That is the way satan works. That is why as Christians you have to understand that you are in this world, but not of it. {If you belonged to the world, it would love you as its own. As it is, you do not belong to the world, but I have chosen you out of the world. That is why the world hates you.(John 15:19)}.My conclusion is that God is love. Love brings life and life produces joy, patience and tolerance. The world brings sin. Sin develops hate which brings forth intolerance and death.

Any one in the public eye wouldn’t think of saying something really provocative against the Muslims for fear they would be threatened  or killed. They would probably be right!  But no one is going to fear a lone wolf Christian going after them or a Christian group putting a bounty on someone via their website.  You see, it is all about God who gives life and promotes love and satan who brings death by promoting hate.

In His Grip,

Dr. Gary Tryzbiak

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FLYER 4

The Sir Arthur Lewis Institute of Social and Economic Research (SALISES) at the University of the West Indies, Mona Campus, Jamaica, under its flagship 50|50 research project, will host a conference entitled: LAW & JUSTICE IN THE COMMONWEALTH CARIBBEAN: The Post-Independence Experience. In observance of the fiftieth anniversary of the independent movement in the Anglophone Caribbean, the 50|50 project is designed to review the past fifty years and look ahead to the next fifty. In keeping with this concept, the Law & Justice Conference will examine law, legal institutions and justice in the context of post-independence Caribbean societies.  Although law is the springboard for this conference, the themes include a variety of other disciplines which can help to explain and bring meaningful perspectives on the law as a feature of post-independence societies.  Participants will include academics and researchers, legal practitioners, policy-makers, members of civil society groups who are concerned with governance and ethics, human rights, the justice system, and the role of law in development.

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Assembly 2012 – Stewards.Volunteers – Information

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Call for Paper

Spicewriter.wordpress.com _{Haiti special project and discussion.}

Submission Guidelines and Requirements

Who can submit?
Currently enrolled undergraduate and graduate students are invited to submit to Spicewriter.wordpress.com. Work completed while enrolled at a university is also acceptable.

What are the length requirements?
There are no formal length requirements, however it is unlikely that we will accept submissions below 1,500 words. Most submissions are between 2,500 and 7,000 words. Longer works are also considered.

What citation style should I use?
Format in-text references, endnotes, and reference lists according to APA guidelines. Submissions without complete and proper citations will not be considered.

Also we are considering a Caribbean Citation Manual, a new citation style that will be uniquely for Caribbean humanities tertiary departments.

“Opinion” pieces are also welcome.

Persons are expected to be honest as they submit they papers, essay, etc.

What topic areas are considered?
As a place for theological issues, we accept submissions on a wide range of academic topics generally, but this year as we commemorate “Haiti’s 7.0” we prefer papers dealing with Haiti’s experiences and practical projects that can help the people in Haiti.

Submit your papers electronically to sohcomm@gmail.com. Word,pdf,RTF are welcome.

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WEA Plans Egyptian Summit, Calls for Worldwide Prayer

New York, NY – January 25, 2012

Exactly one year ago, Egypt experienced the start of a revolution that resulted in the ousting of its former president Hosni Mubarak and changed the nation’s political landscape permanently.

Today Egyptians all across the country are remembering the revolution’s first anniversary which brought about an opportunity for democracy although overall feelings are tinged by fear of uncertainty over the country’s future.

The World Evangelical Alliance, representing the global family of evangelical Christians has been carefully monitoring the situation. On several occasions this year, senior WEA leaders have visited Egypt and spent time interacting with key national leaders to help determine how the global church might best respond to this dynamic and quickly changing situation.

At the request of Christian leaders in Egypt, the WEA has agreed to facilitate an Egypt Summit in Washington DC to take place on February 7-8. At this invitation-only summit, Egyptian Christian leaders will provide an analysis of their current reality and provide a framework of how best organizations/churches/foundations etc. can partner with the Church in Egypt at this critical time of transition.

On this day marking this critical moment of the Revolution’s 1st year, WEA Secretary General Dr. Geoff Tunnicliffe said,  “the WEA is calling on our global community to stand in united prayer with our sisters and brothers in Egypt at this crucial time in Egypt’s history.”

With the Egyptian Army currently in power and the Islamic Parties aligned together against all the other parties, especially the Revolution and liberal parties – who insist on continuing the revolution and asking the Army to step down immediately – the term “unfinished revolution” could spark clashes between the two sides once again.

Moreover an indication of this rivalry and rift took place at the first elected Parliament session on Monday, January 23rd where members of the Islamist party “re-worded their oaths pledging allegiance to God’s law, as opposed to members of the Liberal party who pledged themselves not to the constitution but to continue the anti-Mubarak revolution”, reported the Christian Post.

The WEA asks Christians to pray with Christians in Egypt for a peaceful transition within the country and for cooperation among all other parties in order to achieve equality, freedom and justice in the nation.

By God’s grace, we seek genuine democracy, in which all Egyptians, including the sizeable Christian community, can play their full part.

The WEA is the largest global evangelical body with a network of churches in 129 nations and an alliance of 100 international organizations representing over 600 million Christians worldwide. It representatively speaks as a trusted voice on behalf of global evangelicalism, connects diverse Evangelical church networks and ministries for effective collaborative action, and actively equips their needs with valuable resources to optimize their impact. For more info e-mail at newsservice@worldea.org or go toWorldea.org .

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CBF MID-TERM ASSEMBLY POSTER

 

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Allen Forte Leadership-1

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media@wcc-coe.org  Contact:             +41 79 507 6363      

For Immediate Release -November  2011

Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, WCC general secretary speaking at a seminar on Creation and the Climate Crisis in Copenhagen, 2009

Considering climate change a “root of ethical crisis”, the World Council of Churches (WCC) general secretary, Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, calls the United Nations Conference on Climate Change COP 17 a “last opportunity for the international community to be responsible in addressing climate change” and urges positive outcomes from the event.

In a statement issued for COP 17, taking place from 28 November to 10 December in Durban, South Africa, Tveit, on behalf of the churches, makes strong recommendations calling for visible outcomes and supporting the interests of vulnerable communities affected by climate change.

“Since the early 70s the WCC has been advocating for building sustainable communities. This is even more relevant today, when it has become imperative to build a low-carbon future. This is a must to improve the living conditions for all through sustainable energy means,” says Tveit.

“Churches witness in their congregations how climate change is affecting lives and livelihoods of entire societies, as well as the earth created by God. Peoples’ rights are threatened, environments are destroyed, the whole creation is groaning,” he added.

At Durban, Tveit hopes for a stronger contribution by the churches and other activists motivated by their faith. He says, “This time in Durban, religious communities, especially from Africa, have come together in various ways to express that climate change is also a moral and spiritual crisis. We proclaim together: We have faith. Act now for climate justice.”

To read full text of the statement, click here.

Read also: Working for eco-justice is the mission of church

Water crisis in Tuvalu WCC programme on climate change and eco-justice

The World Council of Churches promotes Christian unity in faith, witness and service for a just and peaceful world. An ecumenical fellowship of churches founded in 1948, today the WCC brings together 349 Protestant, Orthodox, Anglican and other churches representing more than 560 million Christians in over 110 countries, and works cooperatively with the Roman Catholic Church. The WCC general secretary is Rev. Dr Olav Fykse Tveit, from the [Lutheran] Church of Norway. Headquarters: Geneva, Switzerland.

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INFORMATION SERVICE Baptist World Alliance Eron Henry, Associate Director of Communications Neville Callam, General Secretary Website: www.bwanet.org Email: communications@bwanet.org Phone: +1 703 790 8980 Fax: +1 703 893 5160 November 21, 2011 For Immediate Release

Africa elects new leadership

Lagos (BWA)–A new slate of leadership was elected by the All Africa Baptist Fellowship (AABF) during its 7th Assembly in Lagos, Nigeria, from November 16-20.Isaac Durosinjesu Ayanrinola, director of the Missionary Organization Department of the Nigerian Baptist Convention (NBC), was elected AABF general secretary to succeed Harrison Olan’g, vice chancellor of Mount Meru University in Tanzania. Olan’g had served as acting general secretary since 2007, following the death of AABF General Secretary Frank Adams of Ghana in December 2006. Ayanrinola has served the NBC in various capacities since 2003, and was previously a minister of mission and evangelism and an associate pastor at two Baptist churches in the state of Kentucky in the United States. He holds bachelor’s degrees from the Nigerian Baptist Theological Seminary in Ogbomoso and the American Baptist College in Nashville, Tennessee, in the US; and Master of Divinity and Doctor of Missiology degrees from the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Kentucky. In his response following his election, Ayanrinola said his objectives for the AABF are the fostering of unity, the mobilizing of resources, networking for effective communication, and connecting “rich opportunity with rich resource;” and that the overall aim is uniting African Baptists “to fulfill the Great Commission.” Michael Okwakol, senior pastor of Agape Baptist Church in Kampala, Uganda, founder and president of African Church Empowerment Ministries, and immediate past chairman of the Eastern sub region of the AABF, was elected AABF president. He succeeds Paul Msiza, a vice president of the Baptist World Alliance, chair of the Local Arrangements Committee for the 2015 Baptist World Congress to be held inDurban, South Africa, and former general secretary of the Baptist Convention ofSouth Africa. Okwakol shared three imperatives that the AABF should follow. Like Ayanrinola, he made a plea for unity. “God is concerned that we be one,” he told the gathering of African Baptist leaders and delegates. He said also that the AABF, its leaders and members should be engaged in service. “We are servants,” he said. The goal should be to “work for all people. There are no chiefs out there.” The new AABF president made a call for African Baptists to be an example to others in their communities and countries. “When we do, they will do what we say,” he declared. Two vice presidents were elected, Enoch B. Dusingizimana, president and general secretary of the Community of Christian Churches in Africa, based in Rwanda, andAngelo Scheepers, general secretary of the Baptist Union of Southern Africa and immediate past chair for the Southern Africa sub region of the AABF. Moses Adebayo, treasurer of the NBC, was elected to that position for the AABF. Msiza expressed gratitude to the NBC for offering to provide housing and an office for the AABF general secretary at full cost for the next four years. Ayanrinola is to be presented to the Executive Committee of the BWA to be confirmed as BWA regional secretary for Africa. -30-

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INFORMATION SERVICE Baptist World Alliance Eron Henry, Associate Director of Communications Neville Callam, General Secretary Website: www.bwanet.org Email: communications@bwanet.org Phone: +1 703 790 8980 Fax: +1 703 893 5160 November 17, 2011 For Immediate Release Hope amidst crisis Lagos (BWA)–Africa is facing a series of challenges but Africans should have hope and not be afraid. This was a theme echoed by several speakers at the 7th Assembly of the All AfricaBaptist Fellowship (AABF) in Lagos, Nigeria, which runs November 16-20. AABF President Paul Msiza of South Africa, in giving the presidential address on the morning of November 17, acknowledged that Africa faces political instability in a number of countries, suffers from corrupt leadership and the oppression of minority and marginal groups. He emphasized that the days of blaming colonizers for Africa’s problems are long past, “because we are independent for too long to be blaming colonial powers.” He admitted that many problems are external to African nations, including the recent global economic and financial crises and the effects of the problems in the euro zone on Africa. He bemoaned widening commercialization, “including the commercialization of our humanity,” and that “the world has lost what it is to come together as a community.” But despite all these problems, Africa and Africans have a bright future. “Even when the world seems to be falling apart, God is still in control, God is on the throne, God is still Lord of Lords,” stated Msiza, who is also a vice president of the Baptist World Alliance (BWA). Reuben Chuga, president of the Baptist Theological Seminary in Kaduna, Nigeria, the keynote speaker at the opening service on the night of November 16, said that Africa is, at this time, “in a frightening place because of all the problems,” yet Africans should not be afraid “because God is powerful, yet personal.”  He indicated that many are afraid because of their troubling situation and because of an uncertain future, but persons can overcome fear if they recall that God knows our situation, God knows and controls tomorrow, and that God gives second chances. Bible study presenter Jerry Akinsola of the Nigerian Baptist Convention said that the continent is suffering from corruption, wars, famine, diseases, and illiteracy, among other concerns, and that if Africa is to fulfill its potential, “the church of Jesus Christ must be in the forefront. We must hear the Spirit and respond to the cry of the captives calling us to come to their ‘Macedonia.’” He insisted that “the church that is not moved by the needs of men or the plight of the oppressed is either not hearing the Spirit or it is resisting the Spirit.” Olorunnimbe Mamora, a senator in Nigeria’s parliament and a member of Christ Baptist Church in Lagos, declared that though parts of Africa are under siege and are suffering from strife and poverty, Christians, as light of the world, can and ought to make a difference in the lives of persons. Msiza said that the AABF, which is one of six regional fellowships of the BWA, “is on the rise.” He noted the great work being done by the women’s and youth departments of the regional body, and encouraged the men’s department to become more active and involved. He said that more work needs to be done by the regional body to help strengthen weaker sub regions within Africa and that the organization should establish a department devoted to children’s ministry. Among leaders attending the AABF assembly is BWA General Secretary Neville Callam who is slated to make several presentations during the five days of meetings, including being keynote speaker at the closing service where a new AABF leadership team is to be installed into office. -30-