"THE FOUNDATION WHICH ELEVATES OUR SOCIETY"

(by Chaplain David C. Causey, USA - pictures added)

An article appeared yesterday (22 August 2016) about a 16^th Century church which was built at the command of Hernan Cortez after he conquered the city of Cholula.  For the site of this particular church - La Iglesia de los Remedios - the builders chose the top of a prominent hill which rose abruptly from the surrounding plain.  This church has served the community for nearly 500 years. 

However, in 1910, when the town began excavating at the base of the hill to build a mental hospital, workers made a stunning discovery.  The hill, upon which the 500-year-old church was built, was no hill.  It was a monstrous pyramid.  In sheer volume it is the largest pyramid in the world, nearly 1500 feet wide at its base and 200 feet high.  Actually, the pyramid was a succession of pyramids built on top of each other by different rulers as the land changed hands from the Teotihuacans to the Olmec-Xicallancas to the Toltecs to the Aztecs.  Construction on it began about 300 BC.  By the time Cortez arrived the pyramid was so covered with dirt and vegetation that it was mistaken for a hill.  This mistake actually preserved it, for Cortez destroyed most of the other religious monuments in the area.

Something struck me about this story.  It dawned on me that the builders of La Iglesia de los Remedios had no idea that its foundation had been laid hundreds of years earlier - by the very religions which they repudiated.  They were completely ignorant of the fact that the religious devotion of pagans was responsible for lifting their Christian temple so high above the earth.

This is symbolic of what is now happening in our nation culturally.  But it is happening in reverse.  In post-Christian America the very mention of Christ or the church in public schools and universities conjures up images of intolerance, ignorance, book burnings, slavery, and lynching.

A steady drone of anti-Christian propaganda has blinded us to the positive influences of Christianity.  For instance, the very spread of Christianity resulted in the establishment of thousands of hospitals and charitable organizations worldwide (e.g. The Salvation Army – which assists nearly ten million families annually, the Red Cross, World Vision, Food for the Poor, Habitat for Humanity, etc.).  The abolitionist movements in both Great Britain and the United States were spear-headed by devout Christian believers.  In fact, two-thirds of the membership of abolitionist organizations in the US at the time of the Civil War consisted of Christian Clergy.   The modern Civil Rights movement began in the churches, not in academia or government or the media.  

From its beginning Christianity influenced culture in a positive way.  The rise of Christianity in the Roman world led to the cessation of such despicable practices like infanticide (i.e. the daily discarding of hundreds of newborns – mostly female), the bloody gladiatorial games, abuses of women (e.g. brutalizing women, widow burning, foot binding), atrocities against slaves, cannibalism, and the general disregard of human life.  Of course, by today’s reasoning Christianity was guilty of interfering with indigenous cultures and imposing its view of morality of others.  By today’s twisted logic it would have been better if all those human rights abuses, baby-killings, gladiatorial games, cannibalism, and the abuse of women had continued.  Perhaps that’s why, in a society which now repudiates Christianity, those very abuses are returning.

 Many Americans have also overlooked the fact that the concept of universal education and literacy likewise came from the Judeo-Christian faith.  Before the American Revolution John Adams made the observation that, in a very religious New England, an illiterate man was as rare as a comet.  Schools were everywhere, in every town, educating every child.  And they were all begun and operated by the various churches in colonial America.  In fact, the first 123 colleges in America were established by churches.  Harvard, Yale, Princeton, Dartmouth, and Brown Universities were all started by churches – some for the express purpose of training ministers of the gospel.

Nor should it be overlooked that the greatest scientists, from Francis Bacon onward, have predominantly been Christian believers.  Isaac Newton, Joseph Lister, Louis Pasteur, Lord William Kelvin, Johannes Kepler, Nicolaus Copernicus, Carolus Linnaeus, Blaise Pascal, Rene Descartes, Robert Boyle, Michael Faraday, Charles Babbage, Richard Owens, Max Planck, Gregor Mendel - and even Galileo Galilei – were all believers in the God of the Bible.  I should also mention that Galileo’s astronomical observations did not conflict in any way with biblical doctrine.  It only conflicted with the astronomical position first postulated by Claudius Ptolemy, a Greco-Egyptian astronomer, 1,400 years earlier.  The Roman Church had simply accepted Ptolemy’s prevailing view of the universe (a geo-centric view), and that’s where the conflict arose. 

In reality, the Judeo-Christian faith elevated society by proclaiming the value of human beings as created in God’s image, by teaching the brotherhood of all men, by defending women and children from abuses, by promoting education and literacy, by promoting a view of the universe that is governed by natural laws which the Creator Himself established, and by laying the foundations for law and government in the Ten Commandments and the Sermon on the Mount.  Would you believe that even the concept of three branches of government (legislative, judicial, and executive) comes from the Bible?  Check out Isaiah 33:22. 

In other words, our modern godless culture benefits from the foundation laid by the Judeo-Christian faith which preceded it.  All of us benefit from the values and faith of the Bible which we condemn as tyrannical.  Beneath our modern society lies a mighty, rock-solid pyramid – the Judeo-Christian faith.  Don’t be too quick to sweep it away.  All other foundations are shifting sand.

PRAYER:  Almighty and merciful Father, please bless the United States of America.  Please forgive our many sins.  Please heal our land of its divisions and its spiritual and moral sickness.  O God of our fathers, send forth Your Divine Spirit to turn our hearts to You in faith and repentance and to each other in love and reconciliation.  Please bless America and make her citizens spiritually sound and morally straight.  Raise America to true greatness and grant her supreme success as Your torch of freedom and Your instrument of peace throughout the world. Amen.

 (Information from:  http://www.foxnews.com/science/2016/08/22/world-largest-pyramid-is-hidden-in-mountain-in-mexico.html; http://mexonline.com/cholula-pyramid.html; https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uHLioeL9dYk; http://www.faithfacts.org/christ-and-the-culture/the-impact-of-christianity; http://www.godandscience.org/apologetics/sciencefaith.html)

Christianity - Does it Sanction Slavery?

Christianity Sanctioning Slavery

Now consider the question of Christianity sanctioning slavery.  Such arguments that postulate such as being so take a slanted if not critical view of Christianity and of the Church.  Such a view is found in the source referenced at the end of this posting and prompts this discussion.  One would not be surprised that the writer chooses a few Scriptures from across several hundreds of years and from two cultures in his attempt at making his point. 

While it is true that no one can legitimately argue that slavery was unknown to those of Judeo-Christian faiths, there is much more to be considered in the discussion.  For example, one must exercise some caution in viewing the cultures of the Old Testament and of the Greco-Roman period with 21^st Century eyes, attitudes, and assumptions.

Aristotle and Slavery

Not unimportant to the discussion is this.  Often those who reject Christianity or at least seek to disparage same will hearken back to the Greek Philosophers such as Aristotle.   

It is interesting that he endorsed slavery believing that some are born to be slaves and some born to be freemen.  He called those born to be slaves as “living tools.”  Thus they were little more than chattel to those who thought similarly.

 He was not alone for Plato and Homer thought similarly.  I wonder why the critic of Christianity does not seek to invalidate the thinking of the Greek Philosophs based upon the same criterion?

Christianity Ended Slavery

While the antagonist points to Christianity and in doing so seeks to decry its relationship with the slave trade, at least it was those of Christian persuasion who actively worked to end slavery.  To be sure they were opposed by others who named themselves as Christians.  Certainly such is one of the failing of 19^th Century Christianity.

It should be noted that slavery existed long before Christianity came upon the scene of history.  Not only did it predate Christianity, it also predated the inception of Judaism.  In fact slavery was such a common practice in the cultures in which Judaism and Christianity were located, that it found few if any critics outside Israel and the Church. 

Truth be told it was those of Quaker belief and conservative Christians who took to heart and then to action the notion of equal treatment of all which is found in the Scriptures but conveniently ignored by those who make such claims against Christianity.  It was slavery as in other matters, when the pulpits of America and of other western countries thundered with messages that decried the evils thereof that things began to change. 

Such was not without precedents throughout history.  For example, one of the Apostle Paul’s personal letters, Philemon, was written for the purposes of the restoring of a relationship between two fellow Christians one a slave the other a master.

The Influence of Judeo-Christian Ethics on Government

As well it should be noted that it is nations whose governmental ideals were built upon Judeo-Christian ethics that ended slavery.  Such cannot be said for other government systems.  An example is found in and among several Muslim countries where at his writing there is an active slave trade.  Curiously the secular atheists make no criticism of those so involved.  It must be that they are too busy criticizing those who were instrumental in the abolition of such.

Current Slave Trade

Such selective focus and the lumping of all Christians into one monolithic “glump” is neither fair to the discussion nor is it logical.  It is tantamount to saying that because some doctors are inept all doctors are inept.  No one would accept the logic of that argument, so too those who lump all Christians together and then heap blame upon them for some misdeed or another are not logical.

However, there is a greater problem and that is the degree to which the secularist ignores the current slave trade.  It is well and good that one point out the failings and evils of the Church in the past but would it not be more profitable for such efforts to be expended in seeking the end to slave trade today?  

Whether it be the slave ships, fishing off of the coasts of Africa, the Christians being sold into slavery by Muslims, or those held in bondage for sex trade purposes, slavery does exist today.  Does this deplorable situation not deserve attention by those who level such accusations against the historical church?  Once again we might well have an example of one's biases blinding such a person to present realities.

The Secularist’s Mixed Message

A certain disconnect exists among those who criticize the Church for not acting earlier.  On one side there is the notion that it is wrong to interfere with the culture in which said Church is located.  The modern manifestation of that is in the separation of church and government movement.

On the other hand, those same voices are critical of the Church for not taking a more militant stand against slavery in the Greco-Roman period.  The reality is that slavery in that culture was far different than it is today.  For example, one reads about the treatment of slaves in the Old Testament and it is clear that such treatment is to be within certain limits.

Background

To see the list of subjects to be discussed in this series see my blog (Christianity – Is it a Faith Driven by Fear? http://alviesthots.blogspot.com/2012/11/christianity-is-it-faith-driven-by-fear.html).  Contained within that blog is a reference, 20 Reasons to Abandon Christianity and in that reference is a list which is the springboard from which this subject has been discussed.

"Okay, You Convinced Me, I No Longer Believe!"

Yes, that is true, I no longer believe.  What, how could this be?

You Cannot Show Me!   

You cannot show me and therefore you cannot prove to me and therefore I no longer believe.

No longer do I believe in some physical things.  For example, no longer do I believe in wind, show me wind!  Show me microwaves.  Show me radio waves.  What does electro-magnetic energy look like.  Show me a light wave-particle.  I have never seen one of these things therefore none of these things exist.

Oh then there is theoretical mathematical physics theory.  Draw me a picture of theory. Or maybe you could tell me what theory feels like.  Is it course or smooth--certainly you must have touched it.

No longer do I believe in good, show me good!  Show me love, when I touch love what does it feel like!  Prove to me rationally that love exists, quantify it for me.  Give me a formal proof that love exists.  Show me what kindness looks like.  What color is patience or what does it taste like?  So if I cannot rationally understand it, measure it, or sense it I no longer am going to accept its existence.

If you can give me a picture of any of these things I will gladly put it up where now exists a black (absence of color) square!   These things are simply absent.  But there are many more!

No longer do I believe in trust.  For the same reasons, trust simply does not exist.  What I mean is no one can show me trust, paint a picture of trust, rationally prove trust.  Therefore, trust does not exist.  Want more of what I no longer believe?  I am convinced that even believe does not exist.  Show it to me, what does it sound like, look like, feel like when touched.

One can readily see that much of what people argue gives quality to life is not longer existent in my life. Oh, there you are two more.  Draw me a picture of life.  Is it big or small?  What color is life?  Show me the other one, quality.  What does quality taste like?  Have you touched quality?  Paint a picture of quality.  "Can't do it," you say.  Okay then give me measurable formal proof or a formal rational argument that proves quality!  See you cannot do it so therefore quality goes on my list of things that no longer exist. 

Well now you may argue that Alvie has completely lost it, gone over the edge of mental-emotional health.  Okay then explain to me "it."  Draw me a picture of "it" whatever that is.  Prove to me the existence of mental--have you seen it, tasted it, etc.  If you cannot show it along with emotion to me then obviously I've not gone over any edge for if the descriptors do not exist then the edge does not exist.  There is no edge to go over!!!

Of the millions and millions of images and videos on the www, there are none of these things and therefore they simply cannot be proven or experienced and so in my new belief system they simply do not exist.

What a hopeless mess in which to live you say.  Well, then, what is hopeless?  Show it to me.  Drop on by the house with a piece of hopeless for me to see.  Do you have a formal proof?  Give me a rational argument for hopeless or any of these other things.  Oh, before I forget, the one who says that they do not agree and yet cannot prove these things tempts being arrogant for they postulate that their "I believe" will count for more than my "I no longer believe."

Besides, they do not know what it is like to "no longer believe" while I know what it was like "to believe" in these things so again, they are bested in the argument. So therefore, since none of these things exist and you argue that you "believe," whatever that is, you are then setting yourself up as an the authority for their existence and that means that you value your authority more than my authority for saying that they do not exist and such makes the one who counters my claim nothing more or less than arrogant.


Argument by Outcomes:

Simply stated we can know that these and other thing exist not because of formal measurable proof, not by rational explanation, not by some sense experience or another but by outcomes.

For example the microwave heats water, I can experience the outcomes of wave-particle light frequencies, mathematical concepts such as number make logical sense even though one has only seen the script representative of a particular number, and the way of a man with a maid gives ample proof of love.  The list goes on and on of how we cannot sense or in some cases define a reality such as those listed above.

If you then can accept the reality because of the outcome, it is not too much of a next step to look at faith in these terms.  The following does not apply to people who call themselves Jewish or Christian but to those who follow the teachings of the Jewish Torah and the Christian Scriptures.  It will be mostly termed by that which I am most familiar, Christian.


The Veracity of Being a Christ Follower:
 
Scrutinize those who are Christ followers, no matter their particular label (Liturgical or not) and you will find that amidst all of the differences in tradition and practice, there has been a history of service, even at the risk of life.

It was in the "glory" of Rome and little girls were often left out in the elements to die of exposure.  Christians would go to the garbage dumps of Rome and take in these little babies and raise them as a part of their own families.

It was during the Black Plague, that Christians took in and took care of the sick and dying often in the course of those activities losing their own lives.


In Nazi Germany it was a Christian Pastor, Dietrich Bonhoeffer who openly withstood Nazism and paid with his life.  It was not uncommon in the concentration camps for Christians to take the place of another in the death chambers.  How many of other faiths took such courageous actions.

Looking at today's plethora of religions, you find that by enlarge there is only one which has as a central plank selfless service.  It is only one that calls upon the individual to live up to their full God given potential and it is not the Muslim, nor the Buddhist, nor the Hindu.  It is those of Judeo-Christian Faith.

It is not hard to find and read the biographies of Christian missionaries who packed what they would need at their place of service in their coffin and embarking upon the ship, knowing that their feet would never again stand upon the soils of their homeland. The only vision that was greater than their final glimpses of their homes and families was that of their place of service.

Many military bases have a memorial if not a chapel dedicated to the memory of four chaplains who gave away their life preservers to soldiers and sailors and went to their death, arms linked, and praying in their own tradition.  One Jew and three Christians.  They are not alone in those who have given their all in serving those to whom they are called.

While the Muslim even today seeks to over throw more peaceful cultures with violence, it is the Christian who goes in harms way to provide care for the downtrodden, the out cast, and the one who is in bondage.  Keep in mind Mother Teresa was not a Buddhist nor a Hindu, nor a Muslim, but a Christian woman who made the choice to spend her life in service to the lower castes of India.  She is the one who is known for her service but there were and are multiplied millions who throughout the years of church history and even today go and do the same.

Untold thousands upon thousands of pastors work to pay their own way and not be a burden on those they serve.

Many Christ followers today travel the world to serve, even in cultures hostile to their message.  Quietly serving those who are in physical, mental, emotional, and relational need.

A college classmate of mine went behind the Iron Curtain and served those in need at personal peril.  Another serves today in a place that if discovered would at the very least be deported or even killed.  Why do they go?  Simply they go because the heart changed by Jesus Christ is touched by the needs of the downtrodden, the uneducated, the sick, those in jail and other kinds of bondages and they go and go and go and go.

How and why is it that the opponents of Christian faith conveniently look past the indications of the veracity of the Christian way and look at the excesses to bolster their case?  How is it that they focus upon Northern Ireland, the sale of Indulgences, the Inquisition, the Crusades, and deviant doctrine that leads to erroneous and destructive actions and fail to see that there is a vast wealth of good done by those of Judeo-Christian faith in general and Christ followers in particular?  In fact, put on a balance the good would far outweigh the bad.

How is it that they can champion their atheistic beliefs, view people of faith as out of touch with reality and conveniently look past those atheists like Hitler, Stalin, Mao, Pal Pot, and the like?  

It is Christians who even though defamed, physically attacked, and tortured when given the opportunity to respond, returned kindness to their captors.  Often those very captors and abusers have been so touched by the response of the Christians they in turn became Christians and were killed.  

It was Christians who started most higher level academic institutions (Oxford, Yale, Harvard, Cambridge etc.); Christians gave to the world hospice that gave rise to hospice, hotels, and hospitals (Council of Nicaea 325 AD); Christians gave us foundational science; the reason the Red Cross has a red cross symbol is that it was begun by Christians;  there is the YMCA--Young Men's Christian Association; and the list goes on.


Social movements?  Christians are responsible for the abolition of slavery; intervening in the selling of young girls into the sex trade, and here again the list goes on and on.  Even today while politicians and governments talk, it is Christians who are there even though in personal peril seeking to buy back young girls and even interrupting other forms of human trafficking.

As well, it does one well to remember that Christians were the ones who came to the new world to further the gospel and settled this land.  It was Christians who laid the legal foundations for our country and it was the black robed regiment that the Brits feared more than the Revolutionary Army.  See http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dlfEdJNn15E for a brief history of Christianity in America.

It seems to me that the prudent would take a look, a very serious look at the Christ followers who have so much good and yet remain under greater attack than any other philosophy, belief system, or whatever.

Even today there are multiplied millions across the earth who are becoming followers of Jesus despite living in repressive cultures.  Why would people who know that to become a Christ follower is to tempt the possibility of being martyred still by the millions turn to follow Him?  And yes in answer to your questioning thought, they die by the scores for their decision.

Conclusion: 

It follows then that if you can argue by outcome for the veracity of wind, love, kindness, belief, etc., then by that same sort of argument you should be able to argue by their activities for the veracity of the Christ follower and then by implication the veracity of the existence of a Christ.