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I’m an Anglican Priest in the Diocese of Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island (my pronouns are he/him/his) and I get to serve in the Parish of St Margaret of Scotland, in the beautiful city of Halifax, NS, that sits on the ancestral and unceded territory of the Mi’kmaq people. Email me at [email protected] and I will do my best to respond.
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Fast Food Christainity…. Now, that surely seemed an appropriate term. Rev. Ed is a gifted and creative spiritual teacher. I'm so grateful to have found this channel a few months ago.
Rev Ed, I'm an Australian Catholic and absolutely love your videos and the messages you espouse. I'm a recent subscriber (within the past few weeks) and subscribed from the very first video of yours that popped up on my home page. Thank you for all that you do!
I don't know about democracy or republic, but the way the tribes related to each other and to a central organization was a form of Federalism.
I want to THANK YOU! I quit secular religion 20 years ago because what I was hearing didn't match what I read or interpreted on my own. You have given me hope❤
The "most expedient" prayer comes from the Book of Common Prayer, morning service if I recall.
Before Jesus faced death, He told His followers to do one last thing. I really really really think that this is the foundation of everything He wants us to do:
John 13:34
“I give you a new commandment: love one another. As I have loved you, so you also should love one another.”
This is literally the answer to every shade of gray. It’s the simplest Christian concept.
Jesus criticized pharisees and saducees and their laws. God gave scripture about the need for a government, justice to prevent Chaos and to have order. God is a God of order.
My apologies, Rev Ed, I will respectfully disagree with you. Religion, specifically the Catholic Church, is absolutely to blame for our current predicament. It’s not the “what” these people believe, it’s the “how” they go about believing it. They have been taught (indoctrinated, if you will) to believe in something in the absence of evidence or proof. These people were ripe to be harvested by a career conman who is experienced in “the art” of taking advantage of paranoid, gullible people. Since tRump lacks morals and ethics, he will
(and does) easily prostitute his message to fit what these lost people need to hear.
The really sad thing for me is that he is doing this in 2024. This current crop of rubes really should know better. In 1930’s Germany, Hitler was able to point out real struggles and, through empty promises, convince his people that he will take care of every problem. Mr Trump and his henchmen convinced enough people that there ARE big problems (paranoid!) he will fix.
Thanks, Rev
As far as the United Kingdom is concerned, it is right and proper for Christians to endorse the Monarchy in these present times, for the Monarchy has been transformed into a Constitutional Monarchy, where although it is Head of State, legislative power is given to a democratically elected government, so it is not an absolute Monarchy. Power is limited by the constitution.
As my non believing brother said to me long ago, " I hear you concerning Jesus, BUT my biggest gripe with you Christians is that your walk don't match your talk. " American Christian nationalism supporting an egocentric narcissist? A travesty for the witness of Christ! A stumbling block for all sincere seekers looking for the meaning and purpose of life.
Before hearing the whole post , once Adam and Eve were kicked out of the Garden of Eden, were they not given "free will " ?
Knew a woman who always prayed to God to let her know which shoes to buy. So yes, fast answers mattered to her in a ridiculous way. Clearly absurd.
On the other hand, the concept of “training” is not working for me either Rev Ed. Can we think of a better word? Or maybe a better way to explain this one?
Finally, just thinking, folks who don’t know where their next meal is coming from, even just planning for next week, would really appreciate some fast answers. Fast food is often the answer. I haven’t felt pity for many folks on the political spectrum opposite of mine lately, but this sermon did it. Expediency is so often the only possible answer. Food, as it were, for thought.
Reverend Ed, I agree with most of your take here, but there were examples of much more egalitarian systems within knowledge during the writing of the scriptures. These were literate, learned people, so they likely knew how the Roman Republic worked before Augustus (especially since Augustus liked to pretend that he was just 'first among equals' in the Senate) and had read of the democracy in Athens prior to Alexander. These still fell short in several ways, particularly toward subject people's, to whom franchise was not extended, but the scriptures could have endorsed the general idea.
Sad that you’re foolish enough to think he’ll be a dictator.
❤
So insightful
I don't think their taking action suggests they've given up on God. Certsinly, taking action should be in accord with God's Word, and I'm guilty of failing in this regard as well, but after so long waiting, one starts to wonder if God is saying, "You take action"
Waiting patiently sounds good, but when the waiting is killing you, you start to wonder. Prayers.
I think what you said makes sense given how many excellerationists you see that think they can speed up a second coming. Why they don't care what happens to the climate. My gramp would speak in terms of nature being a sort of art made by God and I think creationist Christians would agree with that so why do we see so many people bent on the destruction of the environment and by extention the people who aren't like them that exist if we are all made in God's image as they claim to believe why do we not try to preserve life that exists in the world right now to do our best to preserve health and make sure people can eat and have shelter. It seems like the Christians with the most capital are the most willing to cherry pick the clueless parts of the Bible to grow and maintain their individual power at the expense of the rest of humanity and creation that are gods design and that just makes no sense to me at all.
Ed, the Remnant will remain.
A Melchizedek weighs in on Democracy:
71:2.1 (801.13) Democracy, while an ideal, is a product of civilization, not of evolution. Go slowly! select carefully! for the dangers of democracy are:
71:2.2 (801.14) 1. Glorification of mediocrity.
71:2.3 (801.15) 2. Choice of base and ignorant rulers.
71:2.4 (801.16) 3. Failure to recognize the basic facts of social evolution.
71:2.5 (801.17) 4. Danger of universal suffrage in the hands of uneducated and indolent majorities.
71:2.6 (801.18) 5. Slavery to public opinion; the majority is not always right.
71:2.7 (802.1) Public opinion, common opinion, has always delayed society; nevertheless, it is valuable, for, while retarding social evolution, it does preserve civilization. Education of public opinion is the only safe and true method of accelerating civilization; force is only a temporary expedient, and cultural growth will increasingly accelerate as bullets give way to ballots. Public opinion, the mores, is the basic and elemental energy in social evolution and state development, but to be of state value it must be nonviolent in expression.
71:2.8 (802.2) The measure of the advance of society is directly determined by the degree to which public opinion can control personal behavior and state regulation through nonviolent expression. The really civilized government had arrived when public opinion was clothed with the powers of personal franchise. Popular elections may not always decide things rightly, but they represent the right way even to do a wrong thing. Evolution does not at once produce superlative perfection but rather comparative and advancing practical adjustment.
88:3.4 (970.5) The insignia of priestly and kingly office were eventually regarded as fetishes, and the fetish of the state supreme has passed through many stages of development, from clans to tribes, from suzerainty to sovereignty, from totems to flags. Fetish kings have ruled by “divine right,” and many other forms of government have obtained. Men have also made a fetish of democracy, the exaltation and adoration of the common man’s ideas when collectively called “public opinion.” One man’s opinion, when taken by itself, is not regarded as worth much, but when many men are collectively functioning as a democracy, this same mediocre judgment is held to be the arbiter of justice and the standard of righteousness.
[from Papers 71 and 88 in the Urantia Book]
Sobering words indeed!
On "training people to want a dictator or king…" actually, it is our animal inheritance that did that. As apes (or lions etc.) might makes right, period. For members of the tribe who are not the strongest among them to have a say in how things are run, expands the groups options for how to approach any situation, as in 'two heads are better than one' kind of thing. And this is a good thing, but hard for the most powerful to accept.
And then there's the voice of our Divine Father-friend within that prompts all people to seek better ways of doing things, but if someone, or some group, is the one deciding how things should be done, that interferes with being divinely led.
This question ignores the underlying desire of the Christian Nationalists, which is white pride. In this case (the last election), it was both about racism and sexism. Too many white people, trained to respond to white male dominance, were unwilling to step outside their comfort zone and consider someone who did not fit the stereotype of their leader.
1 Samuel 8 seems to be relevant here too, where Samuel tries to convince the people "you don't want a king", and then after he tells them why they shouldn't want a king and they keep insisting on a king, God says "it's not you they're rejecting, it's me."
Disappointed you did not address the “blind” part. Faith must be open-eyed. If blind faith is desirable, why did Jesus heal the blind? To paraphrase Terry Pratchett, God does not require that we think of Him/Her, but does require that we think.
Maybe the only kind of leader who can give them what they want NOW is one who takes the low road.
God grant me patience and I want it NOW!!
He who controls the past, controls the present. He who controls the present, controls the future. Disinformation on social media may turn out to be the most powerful force in the world.
How many people here understood what Trump meant when he said he would be a dictator for one day? Anyone?
Democracy originated among the Greeks prior to Jesus time. The Roman Republic had a functioning senate prior to its slip into blatant tyranny and imperialism prior to Jesus time. So yes, knowledge of democratic approaches to government were known in Israel at the time of Jesus.
Given all the pardons Biden is , and will be handing out, for those who took part in illegal activities to try and eliminate Donald Trump as a candidate, common sense dictates that the people who voted for him voted for LAW and ORDER and the punishment of this criminal regime called the Biden administration. If you think Trump is a dictator for prosecuting these criminals then you probably also thought your parents were dictators for grounding you because you stole something and got caught.
So, how if/when churches (or religion in general) demand praise of a heavenly dictator for generations, why is it so hard to believe that some who believe that, would apply that to a person?
Based on the title I thought this video was about Chick-fil-A. No joke.
In the ancient times I guess the nearest place with a democracy would have been Greece.
They have given up on God of the Bible … instead, they follow the God of prosperity preachers cause that's the God who gives them what they WANT and not what they need.
An acquaintance of ours would speak of an ABUNDANCE. They were not speaking of abundance of love but that God would provide an abundance of money and possessions, right out of the prosperity gospel.
Their orange messiah will soon make things so expensive they can’t afford ANY food at all!!😊
I appreciate and agree with what you're saying as it relates to the "divinely anointed." The political reality down here in the states below is that the Speaker of the US House of Representatives has publicly stated that he believes he is chosen by the divine to lead and the members are so selected, as well. By whom I ask. Moloch ‽
I have always said this. People want it easy instead doing what Jesus said go out and make disciple. I said lazy christians. Good message.
Throughout history, Christian denominations have always favoured autocratic rulers that are aligned with their denomination.
Let's take just two examples. Anglicanism only came about because an English king wanted a Church that didn't challenge him and for the next four centuries, Anglicanism was the loudest cheerleader for British Imperialism, applauding every single atrocity committed by that Empire…
In the early 1970s, backed by the US and US Evangelicals, General Pinochet overthrew the democratically elected government of Salvador Allende in Chile. Pinochet went on to rule Chile in an incredibly brutal fashion for over two decades. Despite, or maybe because of the horrific nature of his regime, he was continually supported by both the Roman Catholic Church AND by US Evangelicals. Are Torture, Oppression and Murder of one's citizens dictated by Christian teaching? Because Pinochet did ALL those things and NEVER lost the support of the Christian denominations.
Like it or not, but Christian denominations, throughout history, have ALWAYS favoured autocratic monsters over people's rights and lives…
In 2000 The Simpsons predicted Trump would bankrupt the country. Easy call because bankruptcy is what Trump does best. So that's still coming.
They think it's the second coming of Jesus.
Trump is saying the things he does about Trudeau in the same way that he does anyone that he wants the citizens of the United States to turn against Kamala Harris Biden the Democrats now Trudeau, he wants to take over Canada, don't fool yourself into thinking that this is just bullying. He has already started his campaign.
The problem with dictators is that they DON’T do what you want; they make you do what THEY want. Or else. Dictators imprison and torture political opponents, and it doesn’t take much for you to become an opponent of the régime. Just criticize the dictator once or twice, and you’ve crossed the Rubicon. Americans are naïve about dictatorship, but they should look at the Syrians who are dancing in the streets because Bashar Al Hassad is gone, and they’re free now. That regime was brutal. American Christians who want a dictator think that as long as Trump does what they want they’ll be good, but he won’t. He’s told people more than once that he doesn’t care about them; he just wanted their votes. Now he’s got them, he’s going to do what he wants, and if he or his minions scrap Medicare and Social Security many Americans are going to feel as though the rug has been pulled from under their feet. And good luck if you organize a protest against a dictator.
Becarful with that title .. It's God's name . Jesus is the equalizer ..Amen
I’ve watched these videos for quite some time, not once have I ever felt I was being told to put blind faith in a god. I wouldn’t keep coming back if I had.
Jesus favoured separation of church and state: Mark 12:17(ESV) "Render unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's" and Matthew 22:21 (KJV) “Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's.
Trump and Musk are now in control of our economy so bye bye america. Greed has allowed us to fall for dictatorship
My issue with religion is that it trains people to believe that faith without evidence – and even in the face of contradictory evidence – is a a VIRTUE .
Virgin birth, resurrection, deities, Heaven, Hell, afterlife, Satan, angels…it’s one thing to believe in some or all of these things as a personal philosophy, but religions have taught through the ages that believing these things are good, not believing them are evil.
If people are told it’s completely fine to believe a man rose from the dead not based on evidence, not based on critical thinking, but because they trust the people who told them this, or because everyone around them believes this, or because they really, really feel in their hearts that it’s true, and that believing this makes them good people, why shouldn’t they believe an election was stolen, despite no evidence? Why shouldn’t they really really feel that immigrants are eating cats and dogs? Religions have taught people their whole lives that the most important beliefs don’t require evidence. They just require faith.