Showing posts with label The Cross. Show all posts
Showing posts with label The Cross. Show all posts

Saturday, June 09, 2018

Bavaria Requires Crosses on All Public Buildings. Church Leaders Disagree


German Christians debate whether conservative state’s new law honors or hijacks the core symbol of their faith.


Griffin Paul Jackson June 07, 2018 3:44 PM



Image: Philipp Guelland / Getty Images

Bavarian Alpine Riflemen celebrate Mary as patron of their German state on May 6, 2018. The Catholic group upholds Bavarian folk traditions.





“A clearly visible cross must be placed in the entrance area of every service building to serve as a reminder of the historical and cultural influence of Bavaria.”

So reads a controversial new law introduced in Germany’s second-most populous state.

Markus Söder, premier of Germany’s Christian Social Union party (CSU), was the driving force behind the new law, which went into effect on June 1 and has caused a schism between church and state leaders.

Söder called the ruling an “affirmation of our cultural and historical, as well as spiritual values.” He acknowledged the cross is “primarily a religious symbol,” but also said it is foundational to the secular German state.

The law is viewed by many as an effort to lock down conservative voters in the run-up to state elections this October. The CSU currently dominates the state’s legislature, but some of its core constituency has been lured toward the anti-immigration Alternative für Deutschland party (AfD) in light of more than 1 million refugees—most of them Muslims from the Middle East and North Africa—who have flooded into Germany over the last few years.

The decision, which was accepted in April and has now been implemented, is a key component in an attempt to bring voters back.

In Bavaria, where more than half of the population is Catholic and 1 in 5 are Protestants (while 4% are Muslim), the move to promulgate crosses in public spaces is popular. More than 56 percent of residents favor the decision, though only 29 percent of Germans nationwide do likewise, according to a poll for the Bild am Sonntag, Germany’s largest Sunday newspaper, and cited in the Independent.

Some of the greatest opposition within Bavaria has actually come from church leaders. The highest officials in both the Bavarian Catholic and Protestant churches came out against the law.

“If the cross is only seen as a cultural symbol, it has not been understood,” said the head of the Catholic German Bishops’ Conference, Cardinal Reinhard Marx, according to the Süddeutsche Zeitung.


Saturday, December 06, 2014

The Man of Sin, the Son of Perdition


"Let no man deceive you by any means; for that day shall not come except there come a falling away first, and that man of sin be revealed, the son of perdition." — 2 Thess. 2:3.

The Man of Sin, the Son of Perdition

by Thomas Manton

The Third of 18 Sermons on 2 Thess. 2:3

Sermons 1-3 together in Word format PDF format

(A segment of the sermon):
(3.) Judas betrayed Christ with a kiss, under a pretence of honouring him: Luke 22:48, 'Jesus said unto him, Judas, betrayest thou the Son of man with a kiss?' Antichrist is a true adversary of Christ, though he pretend to adore him; as those that murdered the present prophets would by all means beautify the tombs of the prophets deceased, and bear a respect to their memories, Mat. 23:30. He pretendeth to be his servant, yea, a servant of servants, but is really his enemy. The apostle telleth us of some that were' enemies to the cross of Christ,' Phil. 3:18. Who to appearance such friends to the cross as the rabble of nominal Christians? But they are opposers of his spiritual kingdom, the virtue and power of the cross. You have crucifixes everywhere, painted, carved, gilded; they are ready to worship the cross with a holy worship; they set it in their temples, altars, wear it in their bosoms, and wherever they meet it show it reverence, adorn it with gold, silver, and precious stones. Their popes and prelates have it carried before them; and are not these friends of the cross? No; they live a worldly, sensual life, and all their religion tendeth thereunto; therefore enemies of the cross of Christ, because they mind earthly things. This is right antichrist-like, to betray Christ under a show of adoration.


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Thursday, December 04, 2014

The company now presented the appearance of a Catholic procession...


That night I dreamed that I was in Battle Creek looking out from the side glass at the door and saw a company marching up to the house, two and two. They looked stern and determined. I knew them well and turned to open the parlor door to receive them, but thought I would look again. The scene was changed. The company now presented the appearance of a Catholic procession. One bore in his hand a cross, another a reed. And as they approached, the one carrying a reed made a circle around the house, saying three times: “This house is proscribed. The goods must be confiscated. They have spoken against our holy order.” Terror seized me, and I ran through the house, out of the north door, and found myself in the midst of a company, some of whom I knew, but I dared not speak a word to them for fear of being betrayed. I tried to seek a retired spot where I might weep and pray without meeting eager, inquisitive eyes wherever I turned. I repeated frequently: “If I could only understand this! If they will tell me what I have said or what I have done!”

I wept and prayed much as I saw our goods confiscated. I tried to read sympathy or pity for me in the looks of those around me, and marked the countenances of several whom I thought would speak to me and comfort me if they did not fear that they would be observed by others. I made one attempt to escape from the crowd, but seeing that I was watched, I concealed my intentions. I commenced weeping aloud, and saying: “If they would only tell me what I have done or what I have said!” My husband, who was sleeping in a bed in the same room, heard me weeping aloud and awoke me. My pillow was wet with tears, and a sad depression of spirits was upon me.


Testimonies for the Church, Volume 1, p.578





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Saturday, June 21, 2014

Adventist - Catholics


As prophesied by E. G. White, 
God's messenger to the SDA Church.
The CROSS in your church was not a coincidence 
It did not happen by chance.

Prophecy:
“That night I dreamed that I was in Battle Creek looking out from the side glass at the door and saw a company marching up to the house, two and two. They looked stern and determined. I knew them well and turned to open the parlor door to receive them, but thought I would look again. The scene was changed. The company now presented the appearance of a Catholic procession. One bore in his hand a cross, another a reed. And as they approached, the one carrying a reed made a circle around the house, saying three times: "This house is proscribed. The goods must be confiscated. They have spoken against our holy order." Terror seized me, and I ran through the house, out of the north door, and found myself in the midst of a company, some of whom I knew, but I dared not speak a word to them for fear of being betrayed. I tried to seek a retired spot where I might weep and pray without meeting eager, inquisitive eyes wherever I turned. I repeated frequently: "If I could only understand this! If they will tell me what I have said or what I have done!" Testimonies for The Church Vol. 1 p. 578, January 29, 1867

Fulfillment:
“You've waited more than 150 years for the Church to adopt an official, worldwide corporate identity. Fortunately, there is no need to wait any longer for your sign.”
“Positive ID is the officially licensed supplier for the Seventh-day Adventist logo accessories so we can guarantee that your signage complies with the strict global identity standards required by the General Conference.” Ministry Magazine July 1997 {back cover].

“The years 1996 and 1997 will go down in Seventh-day Adventist church history as the era during which our church adopted and Implemented a unified corporate image.” Ministry Magazine p. 31, July 1997. Actually the portrayal of a cross in an engraved gold medallion as a symbol of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and was given to the pope did already exist in 1977.

“The book presented was the Adventist missionary book Faith in Action, and the medallion was a gold-covered symbol of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. The medallion is an engraved witness to the Adventist faith in Christ as Creator, Redeemer, and soon-coming Lord, in the cross and Bible…” Adventist Review August 11, 1977. But it was not until 1996 when it was finally implemented and adopted as a world wide, corporate identity. 

“The explanation of the church's corporate (logo) identity is on our web site at www.adventist.org.  It was voted several years ago (1996) by the Executive Committee of the General Conference during its Annual Council. It expresses our beliefs and has been discussed by several focus groups before it was taken for a decision… Nobody required anybody to do what we did. Representatives from the world church, in council, discussed the logo, which, by the way, includes a full name of the church, and agreed that this is what we will do.” Letter of Ray Dabrowski, Communication Director of SDA Church World Headquarters, Wed, 27 June 2001.

There it is, the exact fulfillment of Ellen G. White's dream in Testimonies for the Church Volume 1, page 578 (1867) . That this [SDA Church] will carry or raise-up the standard of Rome that portrays a pagan cross thus following the track of Romanism. Please see also Testimonies to Ministers page 362.


Is the cross a Christian symbol?

“Papists place crosses upon their churches, upon their altars, and upon their garments. Everywhere is seen the insignia of the cross. Everywhere it is outwardly honored and exalted.” Great Controversy page 568

“The cross was associated with the power of Rome.” Desire of Ages page 416

“The badge of Christianity is not an outward sign, not the wearing of a cross or a crown, but it is that which reveals the union of man with God.” Ministry of Healing page 470

“The cross is recognized as one of the most important symbols of the Roman Catholic Church. It is displayed on top of roofs and towers. It is seen on altars, furnishings, and ecclesiastical garments. The floor plan of the majority of Catholic churches is laid out in the shape of the cross. Catholic homes, hospitals, and schools have the cross adorning the walls. Everywhere the cross is outwardly honored and adored – hundreds of ways!” Babylon Mystery of Religion pages 39-40
What is Roman Catholic Church's power?

"QUESTION: How prove you that the Church hath power to command feasts and holy days?

ANSWER: By the very act of changing the Sabbath into Sunday, which Protestants allow of and therefore, they fondly contradict themselves by keeping Sunday strictly, and breaking most other feasts commanded by the same church.

QUESTION: How prove you that?

ANSWER: Because by keeping Sunday they acknowledge the Church's power to ordain feasts, and to command them under sin."

The Douay Cathechism, page 59.


What is Christ's badge according to the SDA church?

"His (Christ's) badge was a cross, not crown." Adult Teachers Sabbath School Bible Study Guide, Apr-May-June 2005, page 76, Teachers Edition.

“…As is the mother so is her daughter …” Ezekiel 16:44

“But Babylon the harlot is the mother of daughters who follow her example of corruption. Thus are represented those churches that cling to the doctrines and traditions of Rome and follow her worldly practices…” Spirit of Prophecy Vol. 4 p. 233

“In the balances of the sanctuary the Seventh-day Adventist church is to be weighed. She will be judged by the privileges and advantages that she has had. If her spiritual experience does not correspond to the advantages that Christ, at infinite cost, has bestowed on her, if the blessings conferred have not qualified her to do the work entrusted to her, on her will be pronounced the sentence: “Found wanting.”… What stronger delusion can beguile the mind than the pretense that you are building on the right foundation and that God accepts your works, when in reality you are working out many things according to worldly policy and are sinning against Jehovah? … Who can truthfully say: “Our gold is tried in the fire; our garments unspotted by the world”? I saw our Instructor pointing to the garments of so-called righteousness. Stripping them off, He laid bare the defilement beneath. Then He said to me: Can you not see how they have pretentiously covered up their defilement and rottenness of character? ‘How is the faithful city become an harlot? My Father's house is made a house of merchandise, a place whence the DIVINE PRESENCE AND GLORY HAVE DEPARTED!” Testimonies for the Church Vol. 8 p. 247-250, April 21, 1903

“A virtuous woman represents a pure church, a vile woman an apostate church. Babylon is said to be harlot...” Spirit of Prophecy Vol. 4 p. 233

Mrs. White said in 1893, “at the present time,” do not call the church Babylon (Testimonies to Ministers, page 50). That was in 1893. But 10 years later, in 1903 the church became a harlot or Babylon. In 1893, it was a man [AW Stanton] who said that the church is Babylon, but in 1903 it was God through EG White who said that the SDA church is harlot or Babylon .

“Are we hoping to see the whole church revived? THAT TIME WILL NEVER COME.” Selected Messages Vol. 1 p. 122

“And thou, Capernaum [Seventh day Adventist, who have had great light], which are exalted unto heaven [in point of privilege], SHALT BE BROUGHT DOWN TO HELL…” Review and Herald p. 69, August 1, 1893

“And I heard another voice from heaven, saying, Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues.” Revelation 18:4

“Likewise greet the church that is in their house.” Romans 16:5


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Wednesday, April 18, 2012

Pilgrimage to the crosses

7th April 2012 4:00 AM


Easter worshippers gather near the crosses at Coleyville after the Good Friday service.

ABOUT 700 adults and children from many different churches worshipped together at the traditional Crosses on the Hill service at Coleyville yesterday.

The Combined Churches Good Friday committee chairman Bill Catlow said the 15th annual Easter event had been "tremendous".

"This service is breaking down the barriers of denominations. It's a special day in the Christian calendar," Mr Catlow said.

"Every year we're increasing in people. Our family is growing.

"On the committee we've got the Lutheran church, the Church of Christ, Baptist, Seventh Day Adventist and I'm a Congregationalist.

"We had people at the service from the Roman Catholic church.

"The men's choir from the Brassall Congregational Church were tremendous."

Harrisville Adventist Church member Loretta Uprichard has attended the Coleyville service for the past three or four years.

"It's different from a lot of services," she said. "It's out in the country, and has a view.

"The day was beautiful with a breeze blowing through the tent."

Guest speaker at the Crosses on the Hill, Dr Gordon Moyes, will address the topic Finding a Central Reference Point at Harrisville School of Arts, Queen St, at an Easter Saturday breakfast today from 7am.

He will also speak on Easter Sunday at 6.30pm at the Congregational Church, Jellicoe St, Brassall.



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Thursday, October 28, 2010

Whosoever doth not bear his cross?

And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
Luke 14:27





















And whosoever doth not bear his cross, and come after me, cannot be my disciple.
Luke 14:27
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I am definitely sure that Jesus was not referring to wearing a crucifix when he spoke of bearing a cross.
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Arsenio.
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Note: A few of these pics are from http://starcrosses.blogspot.com/
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