Our Society

Our Society

“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole  duty  of man. 
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” 
Ecclesiastes 12:13,14.
I am a firm believer in God. A God, both believers in Him and those who do not, will answer too.
Abba Hillel Silver wrote,
“Faith in God is the strongest bulwark of a free society.  Human freedom began when men became conscious that over and above society and nature there is a God who created them...who fashioned them in His likeness, and that they are, therefore, possessed of intrinsic and independent significance and are endowed, as individuals, with original and irrevocable rights and authority.”
                                                                                                                Abba Hillel Silver
It is only when men ignore there is a God who will one day judge them, or twist God’s truths to suit their own way of thinking, that society sinks into conflict.  Sadly when this happens innocent people die. We only have to look at world war two to see this.
Ten million plus dying in death camps fifty-six million plus dying overall in the war, soldiers and civilians.
It is happening to day as Terrorist groups around the world are twisting the truths of God to justify what they are doing.
But it doesn’t stop there. Men, women and children are dying in various kinds of violence on the streets of towns and cities around the world. The result of people who could care less about the consequences and God.
Governments pass laws, imprison law breakers but it seems to no avail. Many countries still have the death penalty yet crime still continues on.
Millions if not billions of dollars are spent on counter terrorism yet the terrorist groups continue their evil ways.
Despite all our scientific and social advancements over the centuries man still has a propensity to find ways and justify ways to cause harm to his fellow man.
Rabbi Benjamin Blech wrote,
“In the aftermath of Nazi Germany we must once and for all understand that culture and crematoria are not mutually exclusive.  Scientific progress does not ensure moral protection, nor can secular humanism produce saints.  People will always find reasons to justify any kind of behaviour.”
Rabbi Benjamin Blech, congregational rabbi and ancient professor of Talmud, Understanding Judaism.  The Basics of Deed and Creed (1991)
To my mind this is what happens when God is pushed out of the picture. When people turn from the moral teachings of God.
Man needs moral absolutes and to realize that there is more to life than this world. That life does not end in the death of the body.
That what a person does here will be judged ultimately by God.
Throughout the centuries man has slowly turned from God. Man has set himself up as the supreme being. The result is the world as we know it is slowly heading down hill toward a lake filled with fire and brimstone.
Sadly I believe that until the world turns back to God that decline will continue to happen.
Christians believe that one day Jesus will return to judge the world. That he will return to rule and reign bringing peace to the world.
Until then I believe the only way we have even the slightest hope for any kind of peace is by obeying the words of Ecclesiastes who wrote,
“Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole  duty  of man. 
For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.” 
Ecclesiastes 12:13,14.
Please think about it.

A Note On Terrorism

A note on Terrorism
Jesus when asked
“Teacher, which is the greatest commandment in the Law?” 
Jesus replied: “ ‘Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  This is the first and greatest commandment.  
And the second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’  
All the Law and the Prophets hang on these two commandments.” 
Matthew 22:37-40.
The world is going through some perilous times, with terrorist attacks all around the world. The world is essentially at war. Still it’s no different than any other war.
I was born in England just after world war two. My father served with the British army in North Africa, Italy, Belgium and Germany from just prior to the war until just past the end. A little over six years fighting against the Nazis and their allies. During that time he lost some close friends.
My mother lived in England throughout the blitz. Several of her friends died due to the bombings.
Still when they talked about the war it wasn’t about the bombings although it did come up from time to time. What they did talk about was the good times. The fun they had.
Life continued on. Yes the bombers came over dropped hundreds of tons of bombs blew up houses, put huge craters in the road and killed people, but life went on.
Not only that but it brought people together. It made them more determined than ever to defeat their enemy.
The terrorist today may not be using high flying bombers, but the bombers they use still kill innocent people. At the same time life goes on and each bombing or act of terrorism brings the peace loving people of the world together.
Especially it seems since the beginning of the twentieth century our world has become a cold, cold place.
Materialism has it seems replaced true faith as the religion of choice. People have turned far from God. Many young people such as those who have turned to terrorist groups seem to be disenfranchised with the western world in particular.
It’s no different from world war two when Hitler seen the pain, suffering and impoverishment, the treaty that ended world war one left Germany and its people in. Hitler used all the negatives the western democracies had imposed on Germany as a rallying point. Promising the German people prosperity and a renewed pride in themselves. Not only that, he at least in the beginning delivered.
Sadly his hatred of the Jews and others dragged the German people into destruction.
ISIS, Al-Qaeda, Al-Shabaab, and other terrorist organisations will sadly bring their followers also to destruction.
As a Christian I believe there is a solution to the problem or terrorism. Faith in God and faith in Jesus Christ.
The principles of Christ, Love for God, for ones neighbour, and even ones enemy are essentials to the building of a fair and just society.
These terrorist claim they are from God but they are not.
Abba Hillel Silver wrote,
“Faith in God is the strongest bulwark of a free society.  Human freedom began when men became conscious that over and above society and nature there is a God who created them...who fashioned them in His likeness, and that they are, therefore, possessed of intrinsic and independent significance and are endowed, as individuals, with original and irrevocable rights and authority.”
             Abba Hillel Silver
These terrorist groups today are not of God they are the work of Satan. If they were of God they would recognize the rights of the individual. They would be showing love to their fellow man, not sowing hate.
And here’s something else for those who would say they are from God but are not, to consider,
Jesus said,
“You have heard that it was said, ‘Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’  
But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be sons of your Father in heaven. He causes his sun to rise on the evil and the good, and sends rain on the righteous and the unrighteous.  
If you love those who love you, what reward will you get? Are not even the tax collectors doing that?  
  And if you greet only your brothers, what are you doing more than others? Do not even pagans do that?  
Matthew 5:43-47
Think about it.