Philippians 3:18 (For many walk, of whom I have told you often, and now tell you even weeping, that they are the enemies of the cross of Christ:
19 Whose end is destruction, whose God is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things.)
The death in the city of Paris reeks around that cathedral, and the Roman Catholic Church today reeks of Satanism, witchcraft, and pedophilia in the halls of the Vatican. It would have been much better to have to watch Saint Peter's Basilica burn down than Notre Dame.
Thus, I share with you the impressions of a reader of this journal. I can identify greatly with this brother.
Wow, what a rare pleasure to see their huge stone pile burn down right before Ishtar Day (Holy Week and Easter when Christendom celebrates the resurrection of Christ on a Babylonian Holiday). Makes one want to exclaim, "There is a God!" although we've never had any doubt of that, or of what His name is.
It would've been something to have been a Christian adult on May 14, 1948 when Israel reappeared in one day, just like it is prophesied in the Bible. I think I'd have dropped to my knees, gave thanks, and then had a drink or two to celebrate. But by not having come of age until the mid 1960s, Israel had already been a fact of life to me for a long time, so until I became a believing dedicated Christian, in my miniscule mind Israel could've easily been rubbed out, and whomever wanted to could've blasted open the East Gate of the ancient city of Jerusalem. But as things stand, Israel isn't going anywhere soon, and the East Gate will remain firmly closed until Jesus enters by it.
It makes me happy to think of our county sheriff hearing from his grandmother that he was born into the world after Israel had been reestablished, and what that meant for us. We Christians have some very strong ties to the ancient land and the Holy City that we don't normally think upon to make us happy.
When I worked in Chandler, AZ for the 3 months of winter (2009-10), I attended Orthodox Jewish services in their synagogue so that I could be around people who loved Israel. One guy would read a big Torah scroll to the congregation while using a pointer, while flanked by two witnesses. After the Torah reading, we would all link arms or put our hands on each others' shoulders while dancing and singing to show our happiness over having the Torah given to us. If that isn't something to be genuinely happy about, then nothing is.
Celebrating Communion even in an independent Bible church (aka, a 501 Corporation), is a most dour little ceremony so silent you could hear a pin drop where we get literally a crumb of bread and a thimbleful of wine or grape juice. Plus, when it's over with, it's still deathly quiet. Christians should erupt in joy over the fact that our sins are forgiven and we're headed for Heaven. You'd be able to spot right away which people in the assembly weren't Christians, because they'd demonstrate no joy over having the Bible and forgiveness from God. Today, we humble around so pitiful looking. See, I'm so happy that I'm celebrating by writing to you because I can't think of a better way to express my thankfulness.
Hopefully, there are Catholics today who are dismayed that God would allow the huge cathedral to go up in flames. They might then be questioning what they really need to do if they want to be saved, instead of entering in to a stone pile to have a wafer and count beads.
These comments are very useful to cause true Bible believers to examine themselves. Are we loyal to Jesus Christ, or are we loyal to stone piles and denominations? Are we moved by a building, in which all manner of superstition is exalted, or are we moved by the guy downtown who sits against a wall with a cardboard asking for help, and who has no shoes?
I read all the boasting of how quickly Notre Dame will be restored. The President of France is making large boasts, and billionaires from around the world, men who do not give a flip about the Gospel of Jesus Christ, are having a contest to see who can throw the most money into the collection to restore the church. All of this, in spite of the fact that Notre Dame is not the Church on Jesus Christ. The Church which Jesus died for on the Cross, and the Church he built, needs no restoration.
Matthew 16:18 And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
If you really want to build a church, find someone you know who has not yet confessed Christ as Savior, and give them the Gospel from the Gospel according to John in the Bible.
