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Thank you for your letter in response to our Evangelistic article Gifts and Giving.
As a Bible-based Mission we vigorously oppose paganism on every level. As you will see from our articles on our website and the books and materials we promote. We want nothing to do with drunkenness, debauchery, idolatry or occultism. We seek to use every opportunity for Evangelism and discipleship.
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The Church needs Reformation and Revival and so do our calendars. Many people thoughtlessly adopt occultic calendar events such as May Day and Halloween and celebrate humanistic holidays such as Women's Day, Human Rights Day and Youth Day. Many happily celebrate their country's Independence Day and their own birthday. Let us rather celebrate things that are thoroughly Christian.
There are no end of negative stories, theories and accusations against every aspect of Christian culture and our Christian calendar. However, having carefully examined and studied these matters, I am convinced that the critics of Christmas are wrong. Christmas can be a thoroughly Christian holiday and a wonderful opportunity for discipleship within our families and Evangelism to friends, family and even strangers around us. From all of my contacts on the ground, in the Middle East and in Syria, there seems no doubt that ISIS was funded, armed and supported by Saudi Arabia, Qatar and the US government, to topple the secular government of Assad of Syria.
There is also no doubt that the vast majority of Christians in Syria support Assad. His and his father's government have steadfastly protected Christians and suppressed the radical Islamicists Jihadists in Syria. Six percent of the population of Syria are Christians, one of the highest percentages in the Middle East. I have seen photographs of churches packed with Syrian soldiers and large crowds of Christians walking with crosses and pictures of Assad. I have also received letters from church leaders in Syria, supporting Assad as their protector from the radical Islamic Jihadists. There has also been a number of films of Assad and his wife visiting churches and celebrating Christmas with Christians in Aleppo, since its liberation from the ISIS terror. We know it is an extremely thorny issue and I am aware that I have many good American friends who are deeply divided over how to vote, or not to, in the upcoming Presidential Elections.
Far be it from me, as a foreigner, to want to interfere in internal politics of America. Of course, we are involved in Voter Education and produce Biblical Issues Voters Guides here in South Africa, Zambia and Namibia. However, as the United States is the world's premiere superpower and as the American government has, for most of the last century, seen itself as the world's policeman and interfered aggressively in wars and conflicts throughout the globe, more recently becoming an extremely destructive international bully, US Presidential Elections has a very direct and personal bearing upon Bible-believing Christians almost anywhere, but particularly in Africa and in the Middle East. Greetings in the precious Name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Thank you for your letter and question. Yes, I am sure that some people would be offended by the things that I say concerning the ANC. Perhaps you have not appreciated the fact that our country that has been hijacked, invaded, looted and exploited by these ruthless Marxist revolutionaries. The ANC legalised abortion, pornography, prostitution and perversion - against the express will of the vast majority of the population. Nelson Mandela inherited the super power of Africa and wrecked it. Our currency was once stronger than the US Dollar and the British Pound. After decades of sanctions, terrorism and war, the Rand was down to about 2 to the Dollar when Mandela was made president of the country.  Our articles, 'How the Reformation Changed the World' and 'Here I Stand' received many responses from around the world, mostly very positive. However, there were also some friends who responded in surprise that we could have so positively quoted from Martin Luther, because from what they had heard, he was anti-Semitic and responsible for terrible atrocities against the Jews.
Character Assassination I was even directed towards websites that are dedicated to depicting Luther as an "anti-Semite" who "laid the foundations for the holocaust!" WHAT CAN WE DO ABOUT NOISE POLLUTION CAUSED BY MOSQUES CALL TO PRAYER IN OUR NEIGHBOURHOOD?10/10/2017 Greetings in the precious Name of our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ.
Yes, mosques can create disruptive noise pollution by their electronic loud speaker calls to Islamic prayer. That is not allowed in every municipality. It does depend upon local legislation. However, I can say that there is nothing in the Quran that requires mosques to use electronic PA systems for their call to prayer. Of course, electricity had not been invented when the Quran was written. All that the Quran requires is for one of the imams to climb up the minaret and to use his voice to call the faithful to prayer. You ask an important question: Can a Christian practice martial arts? My immediate answer is yes, with caution. There are many types of martial arts, and of course, some are wrapped up in Eastern mysticism and therefore should be shunned.
However, not all marital arts are religious in nature. There is nothing wrong with a Christian being a soldier, or being trained and prepared to defend themselves. In fact the Westminster Confession of Faith requires all lawful studies and endeavours to preserve life and property. (See Faith and Firearms article). WHY ARE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT A LION BEING SHOT? WHAT ABOUT ALL THE BABIES KILLED THROUGH ABORTION?10/10/2017 In the furore over the luring of popular lion Cecil, out of the Hwange Game Reserve to be shot by a bow hunter we have had numerous people ask us these questions. This is my response:
The Scripture is clear: "A good man is kind to his animals but the wicked are cruel to theirs." Proverbs 12:10. Cruelty to animals is by definition, wicked. Matthew Henry's Commentary on this verse reflects traditional Reformed Christian teaching. Creation and Stewardship First and foremost, all animals belong to God (Psalm 50:10-11). They are God's animals and we are accountable to our Creator, for how we treat them (2 Corinthians 5:10). The Doctrine of Creation requires us to prize and value God's creatures (Genesis 1:24-25). The Creation Mandate makes clear that we are accountable to God for how we improve and care for His Creation (Genesis 1:28). Thank you for your letter.
In the Book of Amos, it is notable that Moab is condemned for burning the bones of the king of Edom. This failure to respect the remains of the dead will cause the Lord to "send a fire upon Moab and it shall devour the palaces…" (2:2). Cremation of the dead was common practice amongst the ancient Greeks, Romans and Vikings. However, once these nations were converted to Christ they ceased to cremate their dead and began the practise of Christian burial. |
"And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth.
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.” Matthew 28: 18-20
Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Amen.” Matthew 28: 18-20
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