Friday, 6th November 2009
Crosses instead of cribs for Christmas?
The debate about the presence of the Crucifix in public places is not new for Malta. I remember there was such a debate during the Mintoff era. I don't remember whether the grand old man of Maltese politics removed the Crucifixes from government offices, or just hinted that he could do that or it happened that people suspected he wanted to do that.
I distinctly remember, though, that the subject was hotly debated. The Times of Malta (I think it was still legal to use the word Malta at that time) concluded the discussion by publishing several letters on the same page. The intended title was to be "Crucifixes in public places." Unfortunately, the "l" was left out from the word "public" and the heading had a totally different meaning, undoubtedly very different from that of the sub-editor who devised it.
This year the debate has been revisited with a vengeance.
The enlightened Chaplain
Timesofmalta.com on October 21 published a story titled "University denies crucifixes are being removed." I was overjoyed to read the comments of the University Chaplain, Fr Michael Bugeja SJ. We need more level headed priests like him. I don't know of many who would have given such a precise, concise, balanced and enlightened answer. Read on if you missed it.
"University Chaplain Michael Bugeja said the rumours arose because while crucifixes hung in most of the older lecture rooms, the newer ones never had them.
Fr Bugeja has no problem with the current situation. "I don't think it's an issue. We don't need one in every room. We have many crucifixes around the University, even in the offices. As it stands, it shows a sense of openness to all religions," he said.
"We have a healthy balance where the Christian community does not impose itself of the others, and where the non-Christian community does not impose itself on us. I think this is a very positive sign."
Fr Bugeja also argued that if students needed a crucifix in every classroom to celebrate their faith, he would start to question their intentions."
The war of the comments started immediately and Fr Bugeja was the target of some of commentators. One even said that she doubts his intentions! Reading some of the comments, scared me to death. There is so much fundamentalism around - religious and secular as well.
This was just the appetiser for what was to come ... ....
Banning the Crucifix
The seven wise men who sit on the bench of the Court of Human Rights in Strasbourg showed that they share none of Solomon's wisdom while dispensing justice. I criticised this decision in my comment to TVM on the same day the misguided and appalling decision was delivered. I described it as a shameful decision. On that subject I will also comment in my column in The Sunday Times.
Here I would like to comment on some of the similarly shameful comments that were written beneath different news items published in timesofmalta.com. Crass ignorance, bigotry and intolerance are the order of the day. Read on.
R. Zabbar wrote: It is an EU law not to hang any religion symbol in public rooms, so if you accept European money, you need to accept the European law.
Douglas Bagnall "Now you are finding out what you really voted for and why we English do not want it but have had it forced on us by Blair and Brown."
I will not comment on the atrocious use of the English language but on the factual incorrectness. It is not true that there is such an EU law. It is not true that the decision was taken by the EU.
The European Court of Human Rights is an institution of the Council of Europe and not of the EU which had nothing to do with this decision. This mistake was also made by our national TV station which said that the decision was taken by the European Court of Justice! A similar mistake was made by ANSA which said that the decision was taken by the highest court of the EU.
A certain Paul Bonnici said that the "Muslims must be very happy now" and Charles J Buttigiegwrote that the Court succumbed to Islamic treaths. It seems that they do not know that the court case was not instituted by a Moslem but by a Finnish atheist.
Charles J. Buttigieg solemnly suggested that "We should erect a mega crucifix near the breakwater to serve as a notice to Muslims and other denominations that we are a Christian Country and if they get offended by the sign of the cross it's just hard luck to them." Should Mgr Cremona book the date for the blessing of the ultra-Christian monument?
A certain Deo Catania said that Malta would be better if we got rid of all the Muslims. What about Maltese Muslims, don't they have the right to stay in their own country as much as you have?
This is just a very small sample but enough to prove my point.
Cribs and Crucifixes
Usually at this time of year, we Christians would be thinking of the cribs that we should use for Christmas time. We are today discussing the Crucifix instead. In fact, both are very closely related. One led to the other. Both of them show Christ - God and man - at a particularly vulnerable moment in His life. Birth and death are two vulnerable moments for all of us.
Christ turned these vulnerable moments into salvific ones. He saved us through the vulnerability He assumed but which we humans unfortunately abused. The vulnerability of Christ turned out to be His greatest strength as through it He saved us. His vulnerability triumphed in His Resurrection.
It is shameful that His vulnerability is being exploited by and crucified again by the seven judges of Strasbourg. However, we act in a more shameful way when we do not live according to the words and actions of Him who was born and died for us.
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Comments
The Bible is a heritage and a gift from God to mankind, but it's written by man, in his language, and thus, it looses some of it's forms. For instance, children's Bible obviously differs from the unabridged one, which differs from the Vatican Archives collection. That said, it's point still stays the same.
"PhD clowns"
Oh, I'm sure you're just lonely hermit, are you?
"It could be money, statues, political systems"
Do add "religion" to your list next time.
"Religion is the object you hope for, live and die for" Sure, also add "kill for" to the list.
"When Alexander led his arm..."
I'm sure that you are wrong. For instance, right now there's an army..erm..majority, which I'm not a part of.
"...leads to turmoil and calamity. "
I certainly do not.
"All heaven is interested in the cross of CHRIST, all hell terribly afraid of it "
Oh I'm sure you've been in both places to survey the inhabitants, did you?
Only one religion that God excepts James 1:26-27
Brethren do you know the definition and the essence and the substances of what religion is? It’s history and it’s origins. look not in the Webster dictionaries for it’s interpretation, for today everything is being interpreted different.
Good is being justified as evil and evil is being justified as good
They have removed and renamed the landmarks.
First those advocates of human rights how can we take them serious? If these professors cant even recognize their own species {ABORTION} or nether take any action against the persecution of thousands of Christians that are being killed around the world by Muslims today. How can we take these PhD clowns seriously. Why not Dear Malta cash out the token that President Roosevelt gave, and the George Cross too and get out of the European Community, for it is a Community of Nicolaitans
Put your hope in God alone and not men. Return to Christ and he will heal you.
Second, You do not understand religion because you desire and trust in darkness and not light and so you do not see the colors being mixed to justify a new thing.
Religion is simply “A series of beliefs” leading to every thing that takes over your heart, what you trust and hope in and love, what you admire, follow and worship is a religion.
And to gather it up all together is nothing other than a series of ideologies mixed with one other. It could be money, statues, political systems or whatever And in final analysis we are left with what is truth and what is lie. What is darkness and what is light.? Things that cannot mix with each other.
But we must come closer still to understand religion for that which is in your heart and mind comes from a religion from which root Adam and Eve eat. For they believed the adversary rather than God.
That is the root of all religion yet God in his Mercy separated it and gave mankind Hope. Again Gen 3:15
But that root of that poisonous wild vine sprouted up again with Nimrod, Samiramis and Tammus which
Went through time by ten thousand names.
Religion is the object you hope for, live and die for, The question remains “ for whom Sake“? which insinuate the Motive.
You know that if we do a thing for the sake of a person, several considerations may work together to make our motive powerful, that we may be willing, not only to do some things, but
many things; yes all things, for the sake of the individual admired or beloved.
The first thing which will move us to do anything for another’s sake is his
person, with its various additions of position and character. The excellence
of a man’s person has often moved others to high enthusiasm, to the
spending of their lives; to the endurance of cruel deaths for his sake. In
the days of the old battle, if the advancing column wavered for a single moment,
Napoleon’s presence made every man a hero. When Alexander led his army,
there was not a man in all the Macedonian ranks who would have hesitated
to lose his life in following him. And so it goes in all ideology ‘for Whom sake’
For the sake of Rome, Mohammed, human and animal rights, Political systems, For the sake of this party or that, For the sake of expeditions, Science, Health, for the sake of believing in not believing,
for the sake of a name and the list goes on for the sake,
for the sake, and those who are for self sake are forced in one way or other to go along.
And when these are mixed you have a confusion that leads to turmoil and calamity.
People forget that the universal Law is what one sows he will reap, they do not meditate in the Laws of God.
For they love darkness rather than the light.
See the Bible is more perfect than the simplicities of mathematics, it has not a single error, not even the spacing between it’s words. Nations are afraid of it even today for it frees and changes people to the better.
It was not written in English, Arabic, Latin or whatever but it was written in Hebrew, Greek and a little Aramaic in the book of Daniel.
Like mathematics, it’s words sum up to a perfect harmonious equation confirmed not only by creation itself but even by the turmoil and calamity of the world, even what men invents, for it is a living book contemporary to the times. And all this is a witness and the proof against those
who refuse to believe in Jesus Christ.
For instance look at the television besides the Law and the Prophets for these you neglect, and spent more time in front of that box which is witnessing against you.
You are in front of the television, your existence is in the physical realm, yet you are looking at other realm not spiritual but that of electronically
You see your rulers or any ruler that matter your interest; of any nation
you see the exact image and voice
You know that image is him and is real
Yet you never met him directly or seen him in person. {in the flesh}
God became man for us, from the Spiritual Realm he came down to the Physical Realm, the rest you know the story.
Jesus said if you saw me you saw the father.
Faith comes by hearing and hearing by the word of God. Be child like and believe the Bible.
Make it your Constitution and never let a day pass over your head without a visit to the garden of Gethsemane and Calvary Cross.
At the invention of the television The world should have stood still and knew God.
All heaven is interested in the cross of CHRIST, all hell terribly afraid of it
While men are the only beings who more or less ignore it’s meaning.
The working-class has dignity even if it is relegated to underdog status. Simply because it understands that anybody who has to work for a living IS working class. Make no mistake about that. Where would the elite be without the 'riff-raff' class 'cleaning up their mess'? The Maltese, as a nation, need to get a grip and move on. Something in the country is not working. Identify the malaise, medicate it, and attain maturation. Keeping in mind of course that medicine tends to taste bitter. Not unlike an act of humility in fact. Try it. What have you to lose but your pride (one of the seven deadly ones, if I remember correctly).
Ma ninsews, li l-bniedem jekk toqorsu, joqmos (people react when you pinch strike and vilify them. They do that because they have dignity).
continued
Mintoff opposed all those people who cannot digest his regime.I, wonder if you was really living those mintoff,years of either I, am with you ,or I, am a public enemy no 1.
Mintoff brought hardship to many good people, by taking their property,and giving it to the labour party clubs,and this is a fact.How can I, forget those days, when we had to listen to him for long hours in our local tv,and always telling us to fastened more our belt. There were times when we had to buy our daily needs in goods coming from china.How can we forget all this. The fight with the church was only a political one,a personal fight with the late archbishop,which later resulted with labour thugs bullying all those who opposed him.
Those were the days we were living under mintoff regime.Attacking everyone ,even on a personal public debate like he did to Dr, Borg Olivier,a man that never attacked anyone ,but
mintoff molested him with his personal attacks.This is the whole truth,and we cannot forget all this.How can the people forget those years.
Kienet twila l-glieda biex mohh il-poplu fl-ahhar infetah imma ghal Grazzja t'Alla ntrebhet grazzi ghal nies bhal Mintoff, Ellul Mercer u eluf ohra li gew ippersegwitati u umiljati fis-snin 60.
There are some who are figs, and some olive trees and none can produce each other’s fruit
Yet we all can borrow from one other and this is not for self but for you, And all, for the glory of God
for faith in Christ excludes self.
We do not except glory, praises and no thank you.
We take that name of unworthy servants doing our duty for Christ Sake
If the world loves us and vial men applaud us then we know we’re in the wrong
For the world loves it’s very own. Yet like true servants of the Lord we tell you do not look for your hope or follow us, but like every true prophet and servant of God we proclaim look at the one who was nailed for you on the Cross.
There are many imposters, wolfs in sheep clothing who mankind have been warned. They too acknowledge the Son and Word of God, yet one said take up your sword and follow me the other sits on high, as high priest on the seven hills.
like Nimrod, Samiramis and Tammus all great hunters of men souls. Bats that never wanted to come out into the light for they loved self’s and wanted men to follow their name. lovers of darkness rather then Christ.
Satan has many, many religious teams in his arsenal and he plays them against one other once in a while to derail the strait walk of men to that beloved gate, till one day he will unite them together and place his mark on them whose souls desired darkness rather then light. Who like Esau exchanged their blessing for a season of pleasure in sin.
REPENT and believe in Jesus Christ
Whoever believes in him is not condemned, but whoever does not believe stands condemned already because he has not believed in the name of God's one and only Son.
John 3:17-19
Religions exist and they give guidelines. Evil doers belong to these religious institutions but still, they do evil. Religion tries and fails to sugar the pill that is the Human Condition, it offers an antidote, a carrot. But it does not convince. In the meantime, people, and their varying expressions of evil, do what people do and leave religion for a later date. And even the 'pious' are evil. They want the wayward to join them. Because they are insecure (operative word) with their churchy antidote so they want all to join them for some semblance of safety (in numbers). And it doesn't work. Because it cannot. The Human condition needs a more realistic approach. Could even be a very bitter pill. And no sugar-cane will allleviate, not even as a palliative.
Part 1
Lord have mercy for Christ sake, For Christ sake, For Christ sake
We are all guilty for our sins without exception,
God is holy, Pure and Just. And there is no room in him for change for he is perfect
God loves us not because the savior died but the savior died because the father loved us
No one can boast or set rest upon their feelings, their self righteousness, their resolution, their goodness of heart or their prayers but now that the Holy Spirit has shown them the desperate evil of their hearts
they dare not offer any other plea than this — “For Christ’s sake.”
They look, and there is no man to succor; they cast their eye around, and there is no helper, and
their heart knows neither peace nor hope till they behold the person and
sacrifice of Jesus Christ,
and then straightway their mouth is opened with
arguments, and they can plead with God with prevailing reasons, saying,
“For Christ’s sake, for Christ’s sake, have mercy upon me.” Indeed,
beloved, this is the only argument which can prevail with God in prayer.
whether the prayer comes from saint or sinner. It is true that God did not
originally love us for Christ’s sake, for his electing love was sovereign and
absolute: the Father loved us not because the Savior died, but the Savior
died because the Father loved us from before the foundation of the world.
Nevertheless the one only channel of communication between a loving
Father and his elect people is the meritorious and glorious person of Christ.
The Father gives us no privilege except through his Only-Begotten, nor are
we looked upon as accepted or acceptable, except as we stand in and
through our Lord Jesus, accepted in the Beloved, perfect in Christ Jesus.
Thanks for agreeing ... but I am sure that there will plenty of opportunity for disagreement :)
Now, if I can get this in before the topic is changed, I'd like to ask:
For how many years will Fr. Joe be castigating Prime Minister Lawrence Gonzi for the unforgivable sin of transforming the tiny perfect Catholic country into a secular state?
Will Dr. Gonzi be joining the old Labouites at the "mizbla" for his burial? (Heck, he might wish he were an atheist!).
Yes, there are some very interesting times ahead!
I was commenting on a statement made by another contributor based apparently on Dawkins’ documentary. The title was formed by the BBC team because people of that journalistic calibre are wily enough to leave it to the viewers to decide on the soundness and veracity of the content. If anything, the question mark is a not-so-subtle hint to viewers to question and challenge the content. You also state that Dawkins does not believe that religion is the root of all evil. If your reading of Dawkins leads you to the conclusion that Religion has been used by many to improve the human lot and abused by others to hurt in all sorts of vile ways other human beings, we are in agreement in our view of history. Much evil has been done in the name of religion – and equally in the name of liberty, fraternity, equality, the law, love, ideologies, territorial expansion, racial purity, nationalism and other aspects of human life. Then, perhaps, we can agree on my statement that the root of all evil – and of all good - is found not in extraneous factors but in the hearts and minds of human beings.
Who are going about to establish your own righteousness,
You, who are too polite to follow the LORD JESUS CHRIST in sincerity and truth,
You, who are all for a little show, a little outside work, who lead moral, civil, decent lives,
Christ will not know you at the great day,
but will say unto you O ye Pharisees,
Was there any place for me in your love?
Alas you are full of anger and malice, and self -will
Yet you pretended to love and serve me, and to be my people, but, however, I despise you;
I who am GOD, and knows the secret of all hearts;
I; who am Truth itself
The faithful and true witness say unto you,
“Depart from me, you workers of iniquity, into that place of torment, prepared for the devil and his angels.”
I would very much like to disagree with your comments however, at least this time around, I can only agree.
Please continue blogging.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=okd3hLlvvLw
To allay our anxieties - I think I've been here before, but, here goes! - we're told that there's but one God. Therefore, all inclusive worship's attainable. Glaring track-records have shown that religion. equals.identity.equals.vulnerability.equals defence of the tribe.equals.war. So, the claim of a single God is but theory. In practice, each tribe has a different god. Like an Armani shirt, one to die for. So much for one god. If there were no religion, punto e bast, there MIGHT be peace. I'm no seer. Simply because our view of ourselves, others, the planet would be a humbling experience. None of the everlasting life nonsense. Different, healthier perspectives. Alternatively, just one religion for the whole planet. I have my doubts. There'll always be dissidents and stirrers among any group of arrogants. Especially if they practise extreme punishment to attain/retain control. And with no leanings towards innovations and looking forward, I bet such a set up had better not be prayed for as, in no time at all, there will be more cadavers lying down than walking. Be careful what you pray for as we say in UK.
The title of the documentary is in question form, and it was not chosen by Dawkins. Dawkins never concludes that Religion is the root of all evil. Actually, if I remember correctly, he said he did not like the title at all, since he does not actually believe that Religion is the root of ALL evil.
The title of the documentary was chosen by the BBC.
"Dawkins' statement" is not at all an oversimplification at all, for the simple fact that he never even made the statement. And you can't oversimplify nothing.
I firmly believe the worst persecutions and crimes against humanity were made in the name of religion."
Please let us not generalise. Many crimes, massacres and persecutions have been done in the name of religion. But not all - and perhaps not the worst. Think of the deportation of millions of black Africans to the Americas; the exploitation of 'natives' by colonial powers, the wholesale massacres of Genghis Khan, the genocide of Rwanda, the apartheid system, the Holocaust, the millions enslaved in Soviet gulags, the millions killed in wars started for power politics, the caste system in India, the genocidal policies of the settlers in the Americas, the abject poverty side by side with exorbitant wealth, the exploitation of women through the ages, the enslavement of a population by Pol Pot. I can name more if I had more space. Anybody with a good knowledge of history knows that Dawkins' statement is a gross oversimplication. The root of all evil has to be found not in extraneous factors like religion or politics but inside every one of us. We are the root of all evil - and of all good.
Watch Richard Dawkins' documentary: "Religion-the root of all evil?"
I firmly believe the worst persecutions and crimes against humanity were made in the name of religion.
There are facts, distortions of facts, and pure fabrications, of which, the latter two constitue the norm in politics.
You have your own experiences which I will not dispute, and I have mine which extend to the time when you weren't yet a glimmer in your parents' eyes.
But this blog is about the "innocuous symbol such as the crucifix."
That symbol happens to be a religious symbol and as such, it does not belong in a public place. Remember; the EU is a secular state. Italy is a member of the EU; so is Malta. States apply for membership to the EU, not the other way round. Think before you leap!
The ECHR judges' decision is, in essence, the application of the Golden Rule. It is fair because it recognizes that all citizens have equal rights.
Their decision does not infringe on anyone's right to worship, or to attend church, or to study in a religious school, or to practice religion in one's own privacy. It merely establishes that public places are just that: public, to be enjoyed equally by all citizens of all religious beliefs or non-belief.
Why is it so hard to accept that?
And of course, one cannot. Any more than I can prove otherwise. But the earth is not flat and there is such a thing as implausibility. The Church has has its say for long enough. There are now people ready and willing to redress that. People who are rightly more concerned with the salvation of their skin because for them, salvation of the soul is a fantasy too far, too abstract. They prefer to leave that sort of chaotic abstraction to a Jackson Pollock. They do not have a following of billions, no reference book, they stand alone, with no props. Painful but not impossible. The reward is a clarity beyond one's wildest dreams. I have my opinions and declare where I am coming from. People can listen. Or not. Take it on board. Or not. Simple as bonjour.
I have nothing against religion or its symbols. Certainly a hatred that would rebound on me, like anything negative, I would not dream of encouraging. I am an athe
ist. I do not do hate like I don't do much that so-called practising christians do. I do justice big time. That is tough in an unjust world.
Whoever it was that said that religion is the opium of the people was spot on. It is anaesthesia. In effect - knock-on effect, see above - it distorts one's view of life because it adherence to it, and the tough rules and regulations that go with it, promise rewards beyond one's wildest dreams. To claim that we will rise after death because He did....prove it!
continued.
A more certain way to attack religion is by favor, by the comforts of life, by the hope of wealth; tax exempts and so on, not by what reminds one of it, but by what makes one forget it; not by what makes one indignant, but by what makes men lukewarm, when other passions act on our souls, and those which the Bible inspires are silent. In the matter of controlling and changing or bringing in other religions, government favors are stronger than penalties.
Man being man.
When we are in sin we live to self, but when we are renewed
we live to God. While we are unregenerate, our principle is to seek our
own pleasure, our own advancement; but that man is not truly born again
who does not live with a far different aim from this.
Change a man’s principles, and you change his feelings, you change his actions.
Now the Grace of God changes the principles of man. It lays the axe at the root of the tree. It does
not saw away at some big limb it does not try to alter the sap; but it gives a
new root, and plants us in fresh soil. The man’s inmost self, the deep rocks
of his principles upon which the topsoil of his actions rest, the soul of his
manhood is thoroughly changed, and he is a new creature in Christ.
“But,” says one, “I see no reason why I should be born again” Ah, poor creature,
it is because you have never seen yourself. Did you ever seen a man in the
looking-glass of the Word of God — what a strange monster he is. Do you
know, a man by nature has his heart where his feet ought to be that is
to say, his heart is set upon the earth, where he ought to be treading it
beneath his feet; and stranger mystery still, his heels are where his heart
should be, that is to say, he is kicking against the God of heaven when
he ought to be setting his affections on things above.
Man by nature when he sees clearest, only looks down, can only see that which is beneath him,
he cannot see the things which are above; and strange to say the sunlight of
heaven blinds him; light from heaven he looks not for. He asks for his light
in darkness. The earth is to him his heaven,
and he sees suns in its muddy
pools and stars in their astrological filth. He is, in fact, a man turned upside down. The
fall has so ruined our nature, that the most monstrous thing on the face of
the earth is a fallen man.
The ancients used to paint griffins, dragons, chimeras as today the movie industrial produces all sorts of fictional hideous things but if a skillful hand can paint or a camera can picture a man accurately none of us would look at him for it is a sight that none ever saw except the lost in hell; and that is one part of their intolerable pain, that they are compelled always to look upon themselves
Now, then, Pray and confess your sins earnestly not to saints and priests but to God alone {Job 5:1}“repent” and let your heart and mind’s eye look to Christ alone and not religion, for unless you are converted and become like little Children This Child is not born to you and the son was never given to you.
When you pray you talk to God but when you read the Bible God talks to you.
Fair enough. I understand. You will always find people who are enraged at innocuous things or happenings.
Take the "controversy" (featured in today's Times) on the photoshoot (no nudity, just to be clear) at the cemetery, for instance. There are unreasonable people in both camps (atheist and religious)...and how could it be otherwise? We are dealing with humanity after all.
How can you back it up?
No Kenneth I did not ignore your comment, and the fact that I did not reply is because your comment was quite balanced, therefore, I was not moved to react, such as happens when somebody rubs you the wrong way.
However, in your closing paragraph you yourself say, “I am not saying that there are no people who would like to eliminate all forms of religious expression…” and it was at these very people that I was addressing my comment. Unfortunately people, who bear such a strong grudge against the Church, will extend their hatred to anything that has to do with religion, and the crucifix hanging in a classroom is a sure target, for the fact that they could use the same argument that you propound. But the ulterior motive would be much more serious and have far graver repercussions on the Christian faith.
Yes, once all religions are banned.
Apparently you have ignored (or did not get the point of) my earlier comment addressed to you. Read it. It answers your first question (the one starting with "What I cannot understand is how an innocuous symbol...".
But is society prepared to meet Her half way?
Whatever the Church teaches has the good of society in general at heart but we seem to be such a selfish lot that all we think about is our immediate interests. And we’d better start to believe it and do something about it for we cannot afford to keep going downhill. We need somebody to hold the reins or else we risk bolting away doing harm not just to ourselves but to society in general.
Can’t we remove the veil that is obstructing us from seeing what is staring us in the face? Need I point out all the problems that surround us? - No I don’t need to - We all know about them but we choose to ignore them. Pity!!!
What I cannot understand is how an innocuous symbol such as the crucifix could rouse so much ire!
What is the real problem here? Is it an animosity directed at the Christian religion as such, or is it an abhorrence of the Church and its administration, a Church made up of human beings prone to mistakes as all of us here?.
If it is the latter (which I would think it is) then I believe there have been enough strong, antagonistic verbal and literary messages sent out to Her. I feel sure that all these attacks will not be allowed to pass by without being addressed and maybe a lot of good will emerge from discussions within the Church itself.
Continued....
I don't agree that any public building should carry a symbol of any religion, but since our Constitution defines us all as Catholics I'm afraid we're rather stuck. I really hope the ECHR looks into that too.
It's a real pity that when Mintoff was working for the separation between state and church he did not jump on the opportunity to remove that clause, or whatever it's called, from the Constitution. Yet at least he was the first person in Malta to educate people and to help them rethink the Church's position as an absolute authority.
What is the big deal, Mr. Zammit? Quite a lot of bloggers seem to substantiate their comments by referring to a past so remote as to be consigned to history. At least in this blog we are made aware of events that all of us have lived through, and which are still a mark that has not been erased. (Not that it ever will, for those times have left more than a mark. Rather they have left a legacy.)
I have lived through those times and remember what parents had to go through to be able to carry on giving their children a church school education. To be sure, I had offered the availability of my garage so that lessons could not be interrupted when church schools were constrained to close down. So I have experienced it quite closely and that is why I am bound not to ever forget.
"What makes you think it would be any different - man being man?"
That's precisely the point. You don't have to go far for a perfect example of what you mean ... just re-read the opening paragraph of this blog. After 30 years, Fr. Borg is still hammering away at Dom Mintoff. And that's from a prelate who preaches forgiveness and love! Just imagine what the less-than-holy are capable of doing.
As for the ECHR judges, better get used to their decisions, because contrary to what Fr. Borg and some other pundits are implying, their judgments have to be obeyed. As of December 1st, the Treaty of Lisbon will come into effect. One of the top priorities of the (new) EU is to accede to the European Convention on Human Rights. This will happen in the very near future. Once that is done, then all judgments by the ECHR will be enforced by the EU. The only way out is to opt out of the Union.
Here's what to expect: Divorce legislation; decriminalized abortion; Gay Rights enforced; and that section of the Maltese Constitution making Catholicism Malta's official religion, repealed.
Fr. Borg will have a lot to write about :)
Brethren thank you for having me on for I love your souls, What shouts in heaven if I take a lamb on my shoulders to it’s pearly gate there be. And when the Lord asks where did I get it, I can say from the rocky land. For he sends his servants to labor and scatter his seed where ever he wishes, some on fertile ground where the Gospel is preached and Christ Name is Hymned, where a thousand souls come to him others not so, so fertile but from what I perceive here in Malta is a rocky ground. For Christ name is not hymned but blasphemed. Malta should blush and be ashamed of this. Is it possible that a dog’s righteousness surpasses that of a man for a dog recognize his master and when his master is attacked he will open his mouth. But you people do not know God, and those who do are silent. Oh What bells will ring in Heaven if just one open his heart and let Christ in.
how can the grace of God be in one knowing he is saved and have no Ernest desire for other to be saved? Such a person is not saved.
Should one of you on judgment day looks at me and tells me I knew the truth but did not tell it, I knew the way of Salvation, Had the message of pardon for your souls to give to your ears and kept it under my pillow. Or smoothed it over as not to let the truth offend you. Far be it from me.
There is no one good said the Lord, no one right, not even one, saying your going to heaven because your good person is making God a liar when that is the only thing God is not capable to do.
Beside the law teaches you if you let it. Oh no your blood will not be on my hands but on your own head. See God does not sent no one to hell but people sent themselves there.
Oh how I desire to weep for your souls so that I can saturate the seed with my prayer and tears but you are not willing To open your heart and let Christ in. be Child like believing, in his word. For who else can you trust and believe if it is not your maker.
Brethren if you are lost it is not from any want of grace, or wisdom, or power in the father.
If you perish in Hells torment it is not because God is hard to move or unable to save, if you are a cast away it is not because the eternal refused to hear your cries for pardon or rejected your faith in him, on your own head be the blood if your soul be lost, if you starve you starve because you want to starve, for the Bread of Life Christ is hymned all around Read and believe your bibles.
Earlier on I had a sermon all to myself from the delectable Joseph Galea. I was only helping him identify himself because he was anxious about being taken for another. But was he grateful? No sireeee! But he has excelled himself fairly well with his unique brand of stamina. Keep it up Joe. We love you, really we do.
He's having us on. Let him preach.
Apologies accepted :). Maybe I went all out against you which is not fair, but please bare in mind that I have gone through this all my life with my father even not accepting me, priests and religions teachers trying to ruin my studies, and even work issues.
What I'm trying to always say here (The Times forum) is that people with different religions can live together given that they practice their rituals, etc in their own home or worship places. But it is essential to keep the state neutral.
You see? I'm a good boy after all :))
How about getting off your pulpit now?
The way of life is like traveling among the Alps. Along the mountain path one is constantly exposed to the slipping of the foot. Where the way is high the head is apt to swim, and then the feet soon slide; there are spots which are smooth as glass and others that are rough with loose stones, and in either of these a fall is hard to avoid. He who throughout life is enabled to keep himself upright and to walk without stumbling has the best of reasons for gratitude. What with pitfalls and snares, weak knees, weary feet, and subtle enemies, no child of God would stand fast for an hour were it not for the faithful love which will not suffer his foot to be moved.
Sorry Kurt! I really put my foot in it this time. I do apologize. Sincerely!
I do so wish for peace in this world of ours. All we seem to be faced with is depressing news and I am sure we were not meant to live our life through in constant fear of one thing or another – Am I being too pessimistic???
Man has been his own enemy all throughout history, for man is ever ready to create an enemy almost as if that is his purpose in life – to fight his enemies. Can we ever hope for harmony among all people?
Dear Soul we can make no atonement to a violated Law we have no inward holiness of our own
The Lord Jesus is the Lord our righteousness
Cling not to such beggarly elements, such filthy rags, mere cob webs of pharisaical pride, but look to Him who has wrought out a perfect righteousness for his people.
You find it a hard task to come naked and miserable to Christ but if you come at all you must come thus…
There must be no conditions, Christ and Christ alone must be the only Mediator between God and sinful men, no miserable performances may be placed between the sinner and the savior. Let the eye of faith be ever directed to The Lord Jesus Christ and I beseech him to bring every thought of your heart into captivity to the obedience of our Great High Priest. Who sits at the right hand side of God interceding for us.
Whoever know themselves and God, must acknowledge that Jesus Christ is the end of the law for righteousness and perfect justification in the sight of God to everyone that believes and that we are to be made the righteousness of God in Him, This and this only, a poor sinner can lay hold of as sure anchor of his hope. Whatever other scheme of salvation men may lay, I acknowledge I can see no other foundation whereon to build my hopes of salvation, but on the rock of Christ’s personal righteousness, imputed to my soul.
Apparently you and most others are missing the point of this whole case. Many are wrongly thinking that the removal of crucifixes from government schools (and only government schools, not church or private ones), is being demanded because it offends non-believers or believers in other religions. While a small minority may find a crucifix "offensive" (I do not count myself as one of them), this is not actually what this is about.
The true reason why this issue was raised is only because a crucifix in classrooms (in government schools) gives a strong impression that the school is a Christian school where government schools should be secular and apart from voluntary Christian religion classes, should be free from religious influence. Of course, there is absolutelty no reason to object to a crucifix in a school chapel (where there is one).
I am not saying that there are no people who would like to eliminate all forms of religious expression (just as there are people who would stifle free-speech, especially if spoken by secularists or atheists). However, this is not what the ECHR case was about.
-stilled the sea by his power;
-raised El-Asarus (or Lazarus) fro the grave;
-delivered a Sermon on the Mount;
-was crucified next to two thieves;
-was buried in a tomb;
-was sent to Hell and came back "three days" later (although Friday night to Sunday morning is hardly three days!);
-had his resurrection announced by women;
-is supposed to return for a 1000-year reign;
-known as KRST (or Christ), the anointed one;
-has been called the good shepherd, the lamb of God, the bread of life, the son of man, the Word, the fisher, and the winnower;
-is associated with the zodiac sign of Pisces (the fish);
-is associated with the symbols of the fish, the beetle, the vine, and the shepherd's crook;
-was born in "the place of bread";
-was transfigured on the mount;
-was identified with the Tau (cross);
Then that's Horus, ancient Egyptian divinity born 3,000BC, the original one and not a copy cat. Btw the catacombs of Rome have pictures of the infant Horus being held by his mother, not unlike the modern-day images of "Madonna and Child."
Sorry but if I had to believe if in somebody with these characteristics:
-conceived of a virgin;
-the "only begotten son" of a god;
-whose mother's name was Meri (or Mary) and father's Jo-Seph (or Joseph);
-foster fathers were of royal descent, born in a cave;
-had his coming announced to his mother by an angel;
-his birth heralded by a star in the East;
-born December 25th;
-had shepherds witnessing the birth;
-was visited by "three wise men";
-Herut (or Herod) tried to have him murdered;
-to hide from Herut an angel tells his father to "arise and take the young child and his mother and flee"
-when come of age, he has a special ritual called a Bar Mitzvah;
-was 12 at this coming-of-age ritual;
-doesn't have any official recorded life histories between the ages of 12 and 30;
-baptized in a river at the age of 30 whose baptizer was later beheaded;
-taken from the desert up a high mountain to be tempted by his arch-rival and successfully resists this temptation;
-has 12 disciples;
-walked on water, cast out demons, healed the sick, and restored sight to the blind;
You see atheism as a threat? Oh thanks that's a good way how to accept people like me. SinceI'm an atheist it's possible you're depicting me as a non-loving person, selfish, maybe a robber and a potential murderer... yep like a priest once accused me by just knowing that I don't go to church
Hardly!!!
But Cheers to you too Joe :-)
Joseph Galea, - no, not you, the other Joseph Galea, the one who gave me a looooong lecture. Sorted!
Thank you for reminding me that christmas is round the corner, x number of shopping-days to go. Don't forget Joe, no xmas trees. They are an Anglican tradition. Stick to waxen effigies. They may be out of fashion (or forbidden) after this crhristmas coming. So make the most of it.
PS We celebrate the winter solstice. All those fancy, meaningless cards, such waste of trees and paper and postage - yuck!!!!!!!! A bottle of cherry brandy is more my thing. Cheers!!
What makes you think it would be any different - man being man?
Brethren you do not know what you are uttering What, “unity of all religions” yet again it is prophesized
In the book of revelation {Rev13}
But where it is a matter of true religion, ‘those who abide in Jesus Christ alone“, there can never be a unity. God will never allow it. [Gen 3-15}why presume you are his when your not. Can righteousness dwell with unrighteousness, light with darkness, holiness with ungodliness, the seed of the serpent with the seed of the woman, what happened to common sense? Give yourselves in reading and believing the Bible, and stop looking else where for your hope.
As for Mr. Xuereb I see you are not only out of context but out of content too, I see you have a morality and am sure your type want to celebrate Christmas and all of Christ holidays when you have no right to do so. for let’s face it, you do not believe in him and you made yourself an enemy to him, so why celebrate his feasts besides that child was not born to you and that son was not given to you, but to us,{ not to them.} {Isaiah 9:6}
As for my id I am not looking to make a name for myself, I’m a very simple person but if I had to choose one, will be “Mr. new man“, For I was blind, but now I see, I was lost and he found me, I was dead and with a faith look at that blessed CROSS I’m alive. Praise be the Lord, My GOD Jesus Christ.
Yet again, Come Mr. Xuereb, for Jesus Christ came for such like you, he did not come for the selfrighteous.
Should your eternal existence be a matter of concern to you, should you rest content knowing God is angry at you, when heaven and hell are in question.
Will you sell your eyes for a million dollars? of course not your eyes are precious to you . How much more is your eternal Soul.
The gospel is an announcement that God is prepared to deal with guilty
man on the ground of free favor and pure mercy. There would be no good
news in saying that God is just; for, in the first place, that is not news-we
know that God is just; the natural conscience teaches man that.
That God will punish sin and reward righteousness is not news at all; and if it were
news, yet it would not be good news, for we have all sinned, and upon the ground
of justice we must perish.
But it is news, and news of the best kind,
that the Judge of all is prepared to pardon transgression, and to justify the
ungodly. It is good news to the sinful that the Lord will blot out sin, cover
the sinner with righteousness, and receive him into his favor, and that not
on account of anything he has done, or will ever do, but out of sovereign
grace. Though we are all guilty without exception, and all most justly
condemned for our sins, yet God is ready to take us from under the curse
of his law, and give us all the blessedness of righteous men, as an act of
pure mercy. Remember how David saw this and spoke of it in the 32 psalm
This is a message worth living for and dying for,
that through the covenant of grace God can be just, and yet the justifier of
him that believeth in Jesus; that he can be the righteous Judge of men, and
yet believing men can be justified freely by his grace through the
redemption that is in Christ Jesus. That God is merciful and gracious, and
is ready to bless the most unworthy, is a wonderful piece of news, worth man’s spending a hundred lives to tell.
But the gospel tells us much more than this, namely, that in order to his
dealing with men upon the ground of free favor, God the Father has
himself removed the grand obstacle which stood in the way of mercy. God
is just; that is a truth most sure; man’s conscience knows it to be so, and
man’s conscience will never rest content unless it can see that the justice of
God is vindicated. Therefore, in order that God might justly deal in a way
of pure mercy with men, he gave his only-begotten Son, that by his death
the law might receive its due, and the eternal principles of his government
might be maintained. Jesus was appointed to stand in man’s stead, to bear
man’s sin, and endure the chastisement of man’s guilt.
How clearly Isaiah state this in his 53 chapter! Man is now saved securely,
because the commandment is not set aside, nor the penalty revoked; all is
done and suffered which could be exacted by the sternest justice, and yet
grace has her hands untied to distribute pardons as she pleases. The debtor
is loosed, for the debt is paid. See a dying Savior, and hear the prophet say,
“The chastisement of our peace was upon him, and with his stripes we are
healed.” Here, too, everything is of grace. Brethren, it was grace on God’s
part to resolve upon devising and accepting an atonement, and especially in
his actually providing that atonement at his own cost. There is the wonder
of it: he that was offended himself provides the reconciliation. He had but
one Son, and sooner than there should be any obstacle in his way as to
dealing with men on the footing of pure grace, he took that Son from his
bosom, allowed him to assume our frail nature, and in that nature permitted
him to die, the just for the unjust, to bring us to God.
The writer does not specify which show this was. If it was the same one I saw, the general impression among many people was that Fr Gouder stood out for his courtesy and dignity, and the soundness of his arguments. At the end of the programme, I felt so grateful there was someone who could speak up on behalf of the (hierarchical) Church with so much genuineness and sincerity.... Unless the "being mauled" is a tongue-in-cheek remark - in which case I apologise for not realising it is a joke.
Don’t people who aren’t Christians like us expect us to respect their Holy images like we expect them to respect ours?
Don’t Muslims and Jews get hurt when we refer to them as ‘Enemies of the Cross’? Are we or are we not aware that the Muslims have equal respect for Christ (Isa) as they have for the prophet Mohammed? Are we aware that in spite of their religious respect for Jesus they consider the crucifix and Islamic symbols offensive because Islam considers all religious symbols as profane? Of course I’m against the ECHR’s last ruling but this should be a lesson to all to do to others as we expect them to do to us.
Mr. Mifsud, speaking for myself, which is not necessarily how others would view it, I would not be offended for I am very much in favour that there should be a unity of religions. Actually I would not even mind if an overview about other religions forms part of the curriculum. I should think it would only be a plus to have some general knowledge about them. We mostly fear what we are not knowledgeable about!
The ‘Crucifix’ issue, however, was no started by a person who embraces a different religion from mine but by an atheist hell-bent on an anti - Christian crusade.
It is high time that all religions come together and find common ground from where they can stand up against the looming threat of atheism.
When Malta stood up as little as she is, it was “ faith in the cross that saved her, and by her Europe {against the ottoman Empire and the Axis of world war11}
The 8 points of the Maltese cross represent the Bible which theme is redemption in Christ alone.
It is the map so theologians will not get lost.
{1} The law “Foundation is laid in Christ“ {Genesis-Deuteronomy}
{2} History “Preparation for Christ” {Joshua-Esther}
{3) Poetry “Aspiration for Christ” {Job-Song of Solomon}
{4} Prophecy “Expectation of Christ” {Isaiah-Malachi}
{5}Gospels ‘The Manifestation of Christ {Matthew-John}
{6} Acts “ The Propagation of Christ”
{7} Epistles {Interpretation and Application of Christ {Romans-Jude}
{8] Revelation { The Consummation of all things in Christ}
Brethren our battle is not against flash and blood but against principalities
Malta must strive for the truth.
Not only lift up the cross with your very ownlife’s but teach the bible to your children if you love their souls.
Ok ejja nghidu li m'ghandux ikun offensiv ghax miet fuq is-salib etc etc. Nibda bhas-soltu billi nghid li jien Malti daqsek. Jekk jien inkun f'post pubbliku, u jien ta opinjoni religjuza differenti minnek, bir-ragunament tieghek jien ghandi dritt inwahhal simbolu ta divinita minn tar-religjon tieghi li ghalija kien ezemplari? Hekk jew b'hekk mhux se joffendik hux
Tista tiddefinixxi "taghna" jekk joghbok habib? Jien Malti bhalek siehbi u nhallas it-taxxi bhalek imma m'inhix nisrani. Ghandek idea minn xiex jaghddi min ikun ta religjon differenti hawn Malta? Ippruvaw ihassruli studju, karriera, missieri ma riedx jaccettani, etc. Hekk sew? Wahhlu kemm trid mad-dar tieghek is-salib, dik darek u naqbel 100% mieghek li taghmel li trid. Kull ma qed jitolbu nies bhali hija n-NEWTRALITA f'postijiet pubblici. Immagina kieku tkun l-isptar (nispera ma tkunx ta jigifieri) u nwahhallek turban mal-hajt quddiem is-sodda, kif thossok?
Ipprova ifhem li hawn mhux qed nghidu nistabilixxu simbolu ta religjon ohra, imma bilanc. Ftakar li hawn min hu Malti bhalek u mhux kattoliku. Kieku ghedtli naqlahom ghal wicc barrani, ma naqbilx. Imma ahna nitkazaw bil-pajjizi musulmani u nghidu kemm ghadhom lura ghax ma jaccettawx opinjoni religjuza ohra u ha nibqghu bhalhom?
L-ahhar haga, hawn nara hafna il-kliem "ahna pajjiz kattoliku". Kwazi nofs li jghidu li huma kattolici ma jmorrux quddies u cert li iktar minn nofshom m'humiex kattolici prattikanti, inkluzi membri tal-kleru. Bi prattikanti nifhem li ssegwi t-talim nisrani, twettaq mux tparla biss. Dawk jinghaddu mal-kattolici? Ghax allura f'dak il-kaz, kif qaluli kemm il-darba, jien kattoliku iktar mill-kattolici!
Jien kont dejjem bniedem kwiet f'din id-dinja, imma ddum kwiet sakemm ihalluk. Sa fejn naf jien li tkun nisrani ma tfissirx li ghandi nkun iblah u naqla go fija ghalxejn b'xejn. Ghax l-istorja tal-Kurcifiss hija biss mossa biex iweggaw in-nies nsara. Jien mis-sena d-diehla ser imwehhel Kurcifiss jixghel fil-Gimgha Mqaddsa haga qatt ma ghamilt imma hekk ser naghmel halli jekk hawn minn jiddejjaq bis-simbolu taghna l-insara jiddejjaq. naf li forsi mhux l-aqwa ghemil nisrani, imma izejjed kollu zejjed. Il-kurcifiss apparti li huwa simbolu tar-religjon taghna huwa wkoll parti mill-Kultura, storja w tradizzjoni taghna l-maltin. Mhux lest naccetta ebda skuza li jwegga n-nies ateji ghax bl-istess ragunament taghhom jekk huwa l-kaz dawn in-nies jisthu li huma maltin u ma jaccettawx l-istorja w l-kultura taghna allura ghalfejn jghixu f'Malta.
Haga ohra f'pagna ohra Mons Gouder kiteb dwar din il-kwistjoni, Dan il-qassis jidher li ma jridx ebda kompromess fuq il-festi, mela ha nkomplu nitilfu n-nies ghax hekk ser jigri, minflokk inzommu l-merhla maqghuda b'daqxejn sens komun u nifhmu li mhux kull lokal huwa fl-istess keffa, li hemm hafna tajjeb u mhux kollox hazin, imma b'dik l-attitudini mhux ha taslu mkien anzi nkwiet gej.
Grazzi u nawguralek
The crucifix issue is just the tip of the iceberg, these people and when I refer to these people I mean all those (few in all honesty) that want the crucifix removed in these islands, just want to destroy anything thats catholic. They will resort to whatever strategy is convenient for them, they can pretend to be catholic but in all truth they hate anything the christian faith stands for. They manipulate anything even history, Today about Roamers piece a certain blogger commented that Hitler caused WWII in the name of Christ and because of the church.
The issue of the crucifix is just an excuse they want to remove anything that reminds them of Christ and his teachings. Mintoff was anticlerical but he's catholic, these people I refer to are anticlerical and against Christ. Hypocrites of the worst kind, always ready to attack the church either if its abortion, festa petards, crucifix, Nadur carnival, divorce etc. For them catholics and the church have no rights because they consider themselves illuminated and open minded, in all honesty these kind of people I hope not to find among my neighbours as they are capable of anything.
The Strasbourg judges are no weaklings like Pilate. They are rather strong-willed just like the snobbish Pharisees who like to be seen in public places and be surrounded by yes-men. The proper analogy with Pilate is the licentious Silvio Berlusconi if he bows to Strasbourg.
To add insult to injury Gouder shrewdly suggests that when the hero is convinced of his sound arguments he never ought to succumb to political correctness and will not consult the mob. Perhaps he is seeing himself as a soft target after being mauled in a recent talk show on TV.
Rev. David Muscat
neutral or intermediate class.
The twenty-first verse says, “He that hath my
commandments, and keepeth them, he it is that loveth me”; and the twentyfourth
verse says negatively, “He that loveth me not keepeth not my
sayings.” Evidently there are two sorts of persons in that part of the world
which is visited by the gospel: he that loveth Christ, and he that loveth him
not. If you once hear the gospel you can never be indifferent to it; you
must either be its friend or its foe, its disciple or its opposser.
When I was a little girl I remember being taken to a textile shop where, displayed quite prominently, there was an image of a Hindu deity, sitting in a lotus position, whose head was that of an elephant. I was fascinated by its incongruity and I always looked out for it whenever I revisited the shop. The image has stayed with me throughout the years but it did not affect me in any way except that it had aroused my curiosity as to what it represented. I do not think that had it been displayed in my classroom that image would have made me change my religion.
I believe that the strongest influence is the family especially since children are allowed to be exempted from attending catechism classes. What I fear is that there is an anti – Christian movement which is not set in motion by other religions but rather by those who profess themselves to be “free” from any religion.
What could be the driving force behind it? I wonder!
What I am getting at is why a crucifix hanging in a room would be so offensive. If it is the gory spectacle of a man dying an ignominious death, one wonders whether one could compromise by retaining the cross without the figure.
To be sure, it would be a shame, and to even suggest it, somehow, makes me feel I am being unfaithful to God - very much like obliterating the face of a loved one from a picture only because somebody objects to it being there. To somebody who cares, however, the obliterated face would take on a much more lasting memory for the face would be impinged in the mind’s eye.
The crucifix has suddenly become very popular - Anything for a topic to discuss – but the cross (as against the crucifix) has always been very popular as a trinket to wear on a chain around the neck. For us Christians it is a symbol of our faith and is worn with a certain reverence but unfortunately very often it is just worn as an adornment shorn of its religious connotations. The fact that some examples are so artistically designed, to the extent that they verge on losing their basic shape altogether, makes them all the more attractive.
Continued….
Vulnerable at birth and death indeed. Christ was born in a manger and hounded. Very vulnerable. At life's end, he was tortured and crucified. Very vulnerable. Vulnerability personified. But he was the son of god. So he resurrected himself.
We are all vulnerable at birth and death. Me in particular. When I die, I die. I am going nowhere. I feel so humble already and I'm not ready to go yet. Could be tomorrow though. Punto e bast. Others are not so vulnerable. They believe in a fanciful life that lasts like forever. For me one life is enough. In fact more than enough. The human species is an event that might not have happened. But it did. We did not ask to be born. But we were born. We can only make the most of it, for all it's worth, with a sentient sense of justice. And grin. And bear it.
these difficulties are what is meant by “the cross.” There are difficulties in
the way of making a profession of faith in Jesus, and of walking worthy of
it; and these difficulties are a burden too heavy for flesh and blood to carry.
Only grace can enable us to take it up; and when we do take it up, we are
fulfilling the words of the text, “Take up the cross, and follow me.”
This article took more than 400 words so please read it from bottom up.
carry the cross after Christ on earth shall never be permitted to wear the
crown with the in the land that is beyond the stars.
The chief business of a Christian is to follow Christ. You may sum up all
his life in that expression. He has Christ in him, Christ gives him new life
from day to day, and the very way in which that life expends its force is in
the following of Christ. I would, dear friends, that you and I would aim at
so following him, as to gain a distinction for the closeness of our walk; for
there are some in heaven of whom it is written, “These are they which
follow the Lamb whithersoever he go.” There are He who seem to
follow him but partially. There are many wanderings and many
inconsistencies in their life; but thrice blessed shall he be who, like Caleb,
follows the Lord fully, and with purpose of heart puts his foot down in the
very footprints of his crucified Lord. If you are a disciple of Jesus, your
chief business is to follow Jesus.
YOUR mind’s eye can see that procession yonder. Notice it carefully. At
the head of it there walks One whom we rightly call Master and Lord; you
may know him by the prints of the nails in his hands and feet. I observe that
he carries a cross, and that it is a very heavy one. Do you see the long line
following him? They are all those of whom the world was not worthy. That
line has been continued even to this day, and will he continued until the
present dispensation shall close. As you watch these different followers of
Christ in the procession, one thing will strike you, — that, however much
they differ in some respects, they are all alike in one thing, — every one of
them carries a cross. There is no exception to this rule; from the Master
down to the last disciple, it is a procession of cross-bearers. The day will
come when there will be a transformation scene, and you will se all these
cross-bearers transformed into crown-wearers. But, rest assured that the
old motto, “No cross, no crown,”
see things in biblical principals that they could apply to their life’s.
Knowing it can cost me six months in prison and perhaps my life yet I cant get it published.
Know this that one day each will answer to God.today you might not fear him but tommorow you will.
Joseph galea
So although the European Courts of Justice is not the EU, it is a half-baked statement.
The European Court of Justice (ECJ) Created in its present form by the Treaty of Rome in 1957, it emerged originally from the ECSC. See : http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1O46-EuropeanCourtofJustice.html
In conclusion, it was the EU member states that approved the institution of the ECJ, and of course the Judges that form part of this institution.
The question is, where did we go so wrong?
Many, Many Happy Returns!!!
You'r only as old as you feel.
At least that is what I LIKE TO THINK :-))
If it is of Mercy it cannot be of works and if it is of works it cannot be of mercy.
The Christian is not a tree by himself but only a branch, his good works are not his own but Christ’s Sapp working in him. Remember the Law Psalm 19:17
To associate the name Catholic with the name Christian only reflects that nether you know scripture nor it’s history. In theology there is noting new except that which is false. Theology was always as where and when Jesus and his apostles have left it.
This articel of love was over 500 words and though i tried to do my duty to christ I had to submit it in three parts.
The Cross must be in your heart first before Jesus can be in your Life
Insinuating Christianity and Catholicism are the same because both wear the cross. Is like mixing light and darkness which from the First day God have separated. Those who forget history are dammed to repeat it. Remember the Roman Catholic History how they cooked on a slow flame those Christians who held and believed and trusted only in their Bibles, what happened to them as Christ said it if they persecute me they will persecute you also.
Again The cross must be in your heart first before Jesus can be in your Life. For whatever passion is in your heart, that is your hope and god.
Having the cross hanging from your chest while your faith and salvation looks to statutes and creatures for your hope instead of God’s very own Word Jesus Christ
Is only disgracing his name. murdering souls. Sending them to an eternal hell where the worm never dies By directing them to other gospel and other jesus.
She must examine itself and hold to biblical scripture alone and not other religions. Who like nimrod they want to look east at the rising of the sun, but want to make a name for themselves by building a tower of false doctrines. To keep mankind under their Authority for their hope.
The Bible alone must be thought in our school systems For unless Malta wakes up, and comes to the light it will suffer the wrath of God that is to come.
As it is now Malta and those nations Who joined the European Community are no more but only names, Becoming states under the control of what is to come. The United States of Europe. With one president and governors, as what was, the Roman empire, and the United States of America is now. One New World order striving for one religion. Those True born again Christians who study Scripture know what Prophesy had to say. And today we see it at the horizon, And unless those priests wake up and discern the difference between the Christian faith and
Exactly, there's no religious tolerance in Malta. I've said this many times here as I experience this every single day of my life. That's something really shameful!
With the same logic, I have the right to believe. I have the right to be influenced.
Has anyone really been offended by a cross in classroom? Has anyone failed his/her exams due to this sign? Has anyone ended up with a depression because of this Man hanging from a cross? Come on. Get real. Secular persons want to be tolerated (and YES they should) but then, secular persons need to respect people who have faith. They need to accept the culture and the tradition of one's country even if it is not to their ideologies.
Using once more the same logic, can the British Embassy in Malta stop hoisting the Union Jack? I have to pass each and every morning, and i must say that seeing this flag i feel upset and disturb thinking of all utrocities which were committed in the Africian continent by the country which hoist this flag.
As if!
The comments that have poured in following the sad news are a telling manifestation of the Mediterranean hot temper. One cannot judge by these initial comments how man would, in fact, react upon further consideration. I hope, at least, that the authorities would tackle the matter in a responsible way for the good of all.
The dark ages belong to the past and should stay there. Hysterics does nobody any good and retaliation never proved the best strategy.
How can you say that those that that not not living according to jesus are acting shamefully? Is this your religious tolerance? I never asked for anyone to die for me in the first place!
Why don't you turn the situation around? How would you feel if you had to go in a public place and have a 'There is probably no God' sign in every room? would you call that the product of a pluralist society? I should have the right to be free from religion and that includes being free from its influence too!
I fully agree to the contents of your contribution, but let's be fair, even the same Christian/ Catholic Church somehow contributed to defacing the cross when the expression of the pain that brought our salvation was turned into a sign of power ( is-salib tad-deheb li jilbsu il-kanonci u l-monsinjuri) u with their restriction how some clergy and faithful reacted.
Hope you had a good celebration on your birthday - all the best
Siehbek - Toni