Why did the founding fathers of the United States consider egalitarianism to be such a necessary value? True egalitarianism is based on tolerance for differences. It is a principle of integrity much more than a rule of law. The antithesis of egalitarianism is judgment. Judging others does not define them. It defines you.
My friend’s grandmother went to the same university in which Albert Einstein taught. Einstein had a friend who was a psychology teacher. This teacher made his judgmental and racists students do a very embarrassing exercise as a class assignment. They had to go up to student on campus that they disliked and say, “What about you don’t I like about myself?”
People often mistake judgment for prudence. Choosing not to hang out at bars with chronic alcoholics when you’re an abstainer is prudent. Condemning people for being alcoholics is judgment.
Of course, choosing not to judge does not mean associating with people with whom you don’t have much in common. You have a right to choose your companions. Poets and wrestlers need not be friends. They choose different ways of expressing themselves about the values of life. This does not mean that either group has the right to condemn the other.
Why is judgment inimical? Since it is so much part of society, existing subtly, almost undetected, it appears innocuous enough.
First of all, we never know all the facts. When someone is an alcoholic, for example, it is because they are seeking to bury a deep pain. Since we don’t know the story of that pain, we can’t really comment on it.
Judgment also does not help the judged; and it pollutes your own free spirit. It results in gossip, slander, and, if the judger is powerful enough, in persecution.
Second, our view of the world is not the only one that is correct. For a man of one religion, the church of another is not his sacred ground. As Arthur Schopenhauer put it, “Everyone takes the limits of his own vision for the limits of the world.”
Third, it prevents forgiveness when boundaries are crossed. And resentment corrupts the person who resents, diminishing their good-will and light-heart.
More significantly, however, when we choose to judge another, there is something about ourselves that we are hiding from.
As Carl Jung expressed it, “Everything that irritates us about others can lead us to a deeper understanding of ourselves.”
The opposite of judgment is the decision to be free. Releasing judgment gives you and the other the opportunity to be free.
We have to understand that with billions of people on the planet, it’s going to be remarkable to find a majority who share exactly the same values that you do.
Joan of Arc was burned at the stake because of judgment.
Jesus Christ was crucified because of judgment.
The great pogroms of the world, where millions have been tortured and killed are due to judgment.
Judgment is the energy of intolerance. When exercised fully, it leads to much suffering.
When a law court judges someone, it is not the same thing. This is a completely different meaning of the word. Evidence is collected, reason is marshaled, and decisions are made about an infraction that is based on what is fair in the eyes of the collective rule.
The judgment I refer to, the one with the sinister side, is the condemnation of another for not sharing the same values. This resentment then leads to subtle or overt expressions of hatred. Egalitarianism is often defined as equality before the law, but it may be wiser to broaden this definition to include equality to be free to be different.
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Saleem Rana got his masters in psychotherapy from California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, Ca., 15 years ago and now resides in Denver, Colorado. His articles on the internet have inspired over ten thousand people from around the world. Discover how to create a remarkable life
Copyright 2005 Saleem Rana. Please feel free to pass this
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My first experience in music ministry happened fairly soon after
I first picked up a guitar at 15 years of age. I knew about 20
chords and could play a few songs from a new songbook titled
Scripture in Song. Fortunately most of the songs were in
guitar-friendly keys.
There were four of us who played guitar in a small country
Baptist church. I know one song we dreaded was “Rise and Shine”
(’God said to Noah there’s gonna be a floody floody…’). The
chords were simple, but the strumming rhythm was a real wrist
breaker.
After church we would retire to one of our homes and listen to
the latest Larry Norman or Randy Stonehill album, and try to
work out the chords and guitar licks. As Bryan Adams sang, ‘I
played it till my fingers bled…those were the best days of my
life’. The songs were simple and we’d try and embellish them
with influences from progressive rock bands like Pink Floyd and
Yes. However there’s a limit to what you can do with a $20 nylon
string guitar. Sometimes this went down well. At other times
some of the elders would warn us of the dangers of getting so
caught up in the music that we forgot the main game. In their
quirky country ways, they had a point.
In the years since then I have enjoyed being part of many
different music teams. My studies meant I moved around a fair
bit, so I was part of a number of churches. Some were well
resourced and it was a struggle to get to do what I loved,
whereas others were small and welcomed whatever help they got.
When the Willow Creek team first came to Australia I witnessed
what was possible with a dynamic, creative and well-resourced
team. However, my frustration was that the models of music
ministry I was seeing presented by big, well-resourced, upper
middle class churches was simply not achievable in the majority
of churches.
This sparked my interest in training and developing churches
without these kinds of resources. The problem was to distil from
20 years of experience ‘what things really mattered’. What were
the issues that could make or break a music ministry, whether in
a mega church or a church struggling to survive as demographic
change followed its course?
Since then I’ve had the privilege of speaking with hundreds of
music ministers and team members here in Australia and from
overseas. From those conversations, these are what I believe are
the 12 “biggies” for creating an effective music ministry.
Notice that I said effective, not “successful”. Many people
equate success with big budgets and large teams. An effective
music ministry can be one talented and gifted person doing what
they do in harmony with their church and surrounding community.
So here they are:
1. Music is valued as a gracious gift from God, given for our
enjoyment, as well as being a strategic tool for strengthening
believers and reaching unbelievers.
2. The ministry team should have a biblical understanding of the
nature of worship, music, church and Christian experience.
3. Music ministry takes place in the context of a church with a
shared understanding of its purpose and mission.
4. The music team are servants with a clear understanding and a
passionate commitment to the part they play in that mission.
5. The music ministry is a team who: a. work together towards
common goals. b. love and support one another. c. deal
biblically and appropriately with conflict. d. have clear,
mutually agreed, written standards explaining what is expected
of members. e. receive regular training and teaching in
theology, practical musicianship and teamwork.
6. Music takes place in the context of prayerfully and carefully
planned services with an emphasis on cultural relevance,
excellence, biblical content, personal authenticity and
vulnerability.
7. Music team leaders are involved in the planning and
programming of services and special events.
8. The repertoire is regularly and systematically reviewed to:
a. assess its content, ease of singing and relevance. b.
evaluate and recommend new songs before they enter the
repertoire.
9. The music ministry has adequate financial support within the
church’s existing resources.
10. Human resources are used effectively and supplemented by
appropriate use of technology such as CD’s, DVD’s MIDI or
backing tracks where required.
11. The church supports and encourages local and “lesser known”
writers by using their material where possible and helping them
to develop skills and access training opportunities.
12. The music ministry obeys the letter and the spirit of the
law regarding copyright and performance rights.
I’ve distilled these into a quick assessment you can use to see
where you and your church are at in terms of ministry. You can
download this assessment as a PDF document here. It will give
you 60 quick ideas to improve your music ministry.
http://www.insideoutmusic.net/products/12_marks.html
As Hitler clearly outlined his plans in Mein Kampf (and furiously put them into practice his first opportunity), so the United Nations passed an ominous resolution in 1947 concerning the fate of Jerusalem: UN Resolution 181 demands the Holy City submit to the status of an “international city.” That’s a glorified term for ENEMY OCCUPATION!
The Vatican was behind this vile idea and persuades her puppet politicians to support it. Jesuit-fascists have been laying in wait, patiently working underground, eager to emerge and spring their GRAND DESIGN upon an unsuspecting world: GERMANY’S FOURTH REICH - the revival of the so-called Holy Roman Empire!
Captive Jerusalem - held hostage to foreign ideas and alien restraints - would be subject to remote control by an imposed “GOVERNOR” and his entourage of “INTERNATIONAL OFFICERS.” These proposed ministers of Church and State are to be neither citizens of Israel or Palestine. Watch for these seats to be filled with dormant monarchs from Europe (Part III. City of Jerusalem).
The Bible brands this counterfeit “King of kings” as THE BEAST! (Rev.13:18, 17:12). Such a royal European “governor” (promoted by the pope, endorsed by the Vatican, and stamped with the German mark of approval) - an anointed Merovingian Messiah - will wage an unholy war against all opposition! This modern Antiochus Epiphanes (”god in the flesh”) will strike the “Time of Jacob’s Trouble” and unleash the “Great Tribulation” of WWIII!
This blueprint of the Beast is laid out before our very eyes, yet precious few take it seriously - for now. Many ridicule any idea of a threat from Fortress Europe and most probably won’t wake up until it’s too late!
Normally, even the most liberal Jews are against any division of Jerusalem. But these are not normal times! Some Jews were prophesied to sell out their people and homeland! Why? They’ll fall for EUROPE’S BIG LIE of “peace and security.” Meanwhile, Europe flatters such KAPOS OF COMPROMISE and appeasement, stroking their egos with political attention, promising them a place in the “New Jerusalem” while setting Israel up for a fall.
However, other Jews might be misled by this false messiah; a Germanic governor, the “Great King” claiming descent from the Royal House of David. After all, isn’t a scion of King David destined to rule? Yes - but according to the Torah, the Holy Bible - not as a bloody sword and servant of the Catholic Church! To help clear up any confusion, the Great God of the Bible promises to call upon Two Witnesses - in the bold spirit of Elijah - to testify against Europe’s counterfeit kingdom and expose it for what it is: a LIE FROM HELL!
The accursed UN Resolution 181 has laid the groundwork for the fulfillment of many prophecies! It stretches the mark of the Crusader-Kingdom’s borders to include 100 square miles around Jerusalem. We can expect such an area to be flooded with peacekeeping troops - “an army of peace.” The Bible calls the bluff of the Beast’s buffer zone and forewarns it signals Jerusalem’s attack (Luke 21:20).
We should watch for a string of events - rigged by Germany and the Jesuits (who control Europe) - to gear up for a European onslaught! The Jerusalem theater of war is being prepared right now as Germany and the Vatican push for a bloody “Palestinian” state! They plan on wiping Israel’s God-given name off the map! (Ps. 83).
This evil European intrigue knows full well that such a state of chaos and confusion will destabilize the region! That’s exactly what they want! Europe plans on riding in on their white horse as the Savior - disguised as “peacekeepers” to prevent WWIII. They’ll rush to the scene and appear as “mediators” to stop the madness. However, their white horse is a Trojan Horse that will shock and betray both Arab and Jew!
To invite the Europeans into the Middle East is an invitation for disaster! Their white horse will turn blood red when the wild beast tramples Jerusalem! Europe’s new crusade will forcibly impose their German mark, the Vatican’s false vision of peace, upon the Middle East! Fatima’s folly will engulf the world with nuclear flames! The marionettes of Mariolatry (wolves in sheep’s clothing) will be held responsible for such a holocaust! The Two Witnesses will take the stand in Jerusalem before a world court to condemn them! (Micah 6:2).
The European combine - driven by Germany - is about to thresh the nations! They are on an unholy mission to fulfill their false religion. Their self-righteous and misguided zeal will deal harshly with all who dare oppose their heresy and hypocrisy! Ironically, Jerusalem is the threshing floor that will eventually blow them away! (Micah 4:12). The real Jesus (Yashua in Hebrew) will soon make the Catholic chaff history! The God of Israel will rebuke them from His holy mountain, the Temple Mount - and grab the Beast and False Prophet by the scruffs of their neck and throw them into the Lake of Fire! (Dan. 2:35). The Holy One of Israel will purify the Earth of their evil presence and rid Jerusalem of their Roman occupation! (Malachi 3:3).
Before this wondrous Jubilee celebration, making null and void every asinine agreement and treacherous treaty, announced by the Two Witnesses: coveted Jerusalem will be “established as a corpus separatum (separate body) under a special international regime and shall be administered by the United Nations.” In other words, the Crusader-Kingdom of Jerusalem will have been restored! With European royals who hail from the House of David to boot! They’ll have ripped out and stolen the heart of Israel (Jerusalem) for their occult purposes! They’ll have seized the coveted crown jewel (the Temple Mount) to adorn their delusion and mount their offensive!
The accursed UN Resolution 181 enables the “Governor” of Jerusalem, who is exposed as a Beast, to seize emergency powers in the event of any threat, real or imagined, as he deems necessary. How convenient! All he has to do is create a crisis! This sets the stage for Jerusalem’s Crusader-King to become a DICTATOR!
This Dictator will be given a free hand to break bones under Security measures (Section 4): To keep law and order within the City, with focus on the holy sites, the Governor “shall organize a special police force; the members of which shall be recruited outside of Palestine (European Rapid Deployment Force). The Governor shall be empowered to (spend whatever is)necessary for the maintenance of this force”.
Jerusalem’s Governor-Dictator can make or break his own rules! Basically, under the cloak of protection/security clause, a serious security breach, the governor can become a virtual dictator if he feels his administration is hampered or threatened; he can veto any bills that he considers inconsistent with his paranoid sense of security. He’s offered the powers of darkness, the kingdoms of this world, by exerting his “Special powers of the Governor in respect of the Holy Places in the City and in any part of Palestine. The protection of the Holy Places located in the City of Jerusalem shall be a special concern of the Governor; The Governor shall be empowered to make decision on the basis of existing rights in cases of (religious) disputes he may be assisted by a consultative council of representatives of different denominations (or he may not!).”
In other words, this Governor-Dictator - in his hour of darkness - can do what he wants, whenever and wherever he wants, not only in Jerusalem but throughout the Holy Land, with special emphasis on religious issues and sacred sites! The Devil stays focused whether or not God’s People do: He knows the great and holy importance of Jerusalem to God and His Prophets. Jerusalem is the bottom line of any “peace process.” It bears God’s own signature. Satan fought to seize God’s throne in Heaven and now he’s after his seat on Earth: Jerusalem’s Temple Mount!
The Governor-Dictator of Jerusalem will closely monitor and control freedom of worship and freedom of access: UN Resolution 181, Chapter 2: Religious and Minority Rights (1) reveals that “Freedom of conscience and the free exercise of all forms of worship, subject only to the maintenance of public order and morals, shall be ensured to all” - in other words, if militant Muslims threaten to riot or wage war when Christian-Zionists or Jews are finally free to worship upon the Temple Mount, such religious liberty - for “maintenance of public order” will be DENIED! The sacrifices (soon to start) will be forcibly stopped!
The Governor-Beast power, his administration from Hell, is supposed to last for an initial trial of ten years. (The Nazi Reich lasted for twelve). History warns that “absolute power absolutely corrupts.” Who is so foolish to believe that someone with such sweeping powers would relinquish self-control? The Nazi March of Folly won’t stop on its own accord, especially when Jerusalem’s dictator can declare a state of emergency and slam the door shut for dissent, case closed, fate sealed. The Bible reveals the worst of it will last three and a half years, during which time some will receive shelter from the Storm, a safe haven from the Holocaust (Isa. 26:20, Rev. 12:14).
The Two Witnesses will be offered divine immunity (during God’s witness protection program of three and a half years) to enable them to bluntly reveal the dark secrets that hide behide the Vatican’s veil (Isa. 47). They’ll speak the plain truth, an outspoken message with miracles, and then God will permit their murder (Rev. 11:7). God will not permit anyone to touch them - his anointed - until after they’ve had ample opportunity to plead their case before the nations (Ps. 105:15). Then after three and a half days they’ll be back with a vengeance! Their earth-shaking resurrection to mortal life will be in full view of a captive audience who will watch their flight departure to join the chosen few waiting (in the wings of the wilderness) for the imminent arrival of our King - the real Jesus Christ! (Rev. 11:11).
In summary, the brute Beast and False Prophet (a counterfeit Elijah who will promote and induct the false messiah/governor into office) will soon take center-stage. However, the Two Witnesses will shine the spotlight on these mortal men and expose the wannabe divine “emperor has no clothes” (Rev. 13:18).
UN Resolution 181 is the blueprint of the Beast! It reveals its evil intentions like Hitler’s Mein Kampf exposed his warped will for the whole world to read and heed - if only they had. It is Europe’s Final Solution for Jerusalem, Israel and the Middle East.
Germany and the Vatican push for a prickly “Palestinian” state since they know they can enter the great divide, the Great Rift, with the “Great King” when both parties demand Jerualem for their own and possess it; they intend to ride the wave of the “Palestinian” state with the Vatican crest! They’ll use this Resolution as a ruse to enter the breach and consolidate their hold! Then they’ll abruptly dismiss with it (having seized dictatorial powers) and bare their poisonous, ugly fangs!
The Beast-Dictator will overwhelm all mankind, yet target the Anglo-Saxon Israelites and Jews to bear the brunt of his wrath. His nuclear scourge will crucify and behead our position as “leader of the free world.” This mystic “Governor” of Jerusalem’s conjured Kingdom (summoned from the abyss of Catholic history) will command EUROPE’S NEW CRUSADE with an unimaginable fury. His unheard of hatred, barbaric hostility and primitive blood-lust will jolt even the jaded! The dark powers of the Beast know that this is their last chance, the last round, before the coming of the Heavenly King of the Jews, the Holy One of Israel!
The Two Witnesses will soon rise and shine in a world of darkness (Isa. 60:1). These two prophets - one in mind and purpose in the spirit of Elijah - will prepare the way for the brilliant descent of our God-King from the sky, not from Europe or the earth (Dan. 7:13). The Two Witnesses will herald the coming of the legitimate heir to King David’s Throne in Jerusalem who will destroy the bastard from Babylon! The abominable blueprint of the beast will be history and the Torah will show us the way, as we worship in the Royal “House of Prayer for all nations!”
David Ben-Ariel, a Christian-Zionist writer and author of Beyond Babylon: Europe’s Rise and Fall, shares a special focus on the Middle East and great interest in Jerusalem, reflected in hard-hitting articles that help others improve their understanding of that troubled region. Check out Beyond Babylon.
Col. 2:6-10 “As ye have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk ye in him: Rooted and built up in him, and stablished in the faith, as ye have been taught, abounding therein with thanksgiving. Beware lest any man spoil you through philosophy and vain deceit, after the tradition of men, after the rudiments of the world, and not after Christ. For in him dwelleth all the fulness of the Godhead bodily. And ye are complete in him, which is the head of all principality and power:”
“As you have therefore received Christ Jesus the Lord”
In order to know and understand completeness the first requirement is to receive Jesus. This is done by first a revealing of Jesus to us. In the book of Isaiah. 40:3-5
“The voice in the wilderness; prepare the way of the Lord; make straight in the desert a highway for our Lord, Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low; the crooked places shall be made straight and the rough place smooth; the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together; For the mouth of the Lord has spoken.”
This scripture by the prophet Isaiah was fulfilled when Jesus came to John the Baptist. John was the “voice in the wilderness.” This is an example of the revealing of Jesus - To continue in the first chapter of the Gospel of John in verse twelve it says ‘But as many as received Him, to them he gave the right to become children of God, even to those who believe in His name. The foundation that must be laid deals with our relationship to Jesus. Do you reject? Do you accept? It is God’s desire that you accept Him. You must individually receive Jesus Christ as our Savior and Lord then you can begin to know His perfect plan for our life.
“..so walk in Him.”
Once you receive Jesus into your life it is important that you “walk” with Him. How can two walk together unless they agree with one another? A walk implies movement in a particular direction most likely with a particular purpose in mind. The path that Jesus laid when he went to the cross, died, resurrected and ascended into heaven lead to the Father in Heaven. If you keep your eyes on Jesus. Which can be accomplished though several means. These include Bible Reading, Fellowship, Praying, and Worship. You need to walk with Jesus. The scripture points out that Jesus is the Word. A walk requires many steps to reach your destination. So is the Christian walk made up of many steps. Every moment requires an action that will lead toward heaven.
“..rooted..”
“He shall be like a tree planted by the rivers of water, that brings forth fruit in its season, whose leaves also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.” (Psalm 1:3) A healthy tree must have a stable root system. Not only does the root provide nourishment it gives stability. It is the Spirit of God that gives your resurrected soul the feeding required for completeness. Prayer is needed to insure that you are being filled. Prayer is an act of communication. This is talking directly to God. Prayer binds the relationship between the believer and the Lord Jesus. Along with a healthy relationship comes stability. A once devastated life can be made complete by being rooted in Jesus Christ.
“..Built up in Him and established in faith, as you have been taught.”
Earlier in this discussion I shared with you the foundation in a Christian’s life. This required simple faith to receive Jesus as your Savior. Once the foundation is laid it is time to build. Building a complete life requires four basis things.
1. Prayer,
2. Reading the Bible,
3. Fellowship with other believers and finally
4. proclaim the Gospel.
Look at each of these principles as four rooms that you need to build in order to know the completeness that God wants for us.
“Abounding in it with thanksgiving.”
You must appreciate what God did by sending His son to die for your sins. He paid the penalty that you deserved to pay. Unfortunately those that reject the Gospel message will have to, on their own, pay the price. The sad part is people who don’t believe in Jesus don’t have enough in their “Spiritual Bank Account” to pay for their sins. The tragedy is this: they could have some else pay. Someone who has enough resources to pay. It comes through one person and that is Jesus Christ who is God in the flesh. If you had to pay for your sins the most you could do id spend an eternity in hell. But, give thanks to God that Jesus is the Savior of the world! Thank Jesus that he bore your sin and paid the ransom due on your life. He redeemed you. For this very reason you should be thankful.
“..beware..”
Beware lest anyone cheat you through philosophy and empty deceit, according to the traditions of men, according to the basic principles of men, and not according to Christ. The road to completeness has its challenges; daily the world hits your senses with ideas that are contrary to God’s will. That is why Paul the apostle writes, “beware”. This means you need to watch that the enemy does not trick you. All the prior steps protect the elect. It makes them away of the bumps and potholes in the road. Knowledge of the Word is your best defense against the attacks of the enemy
“Fore in Him dwells all the fullness of the Godhead bodily; and you are made complete in Him who is the head of all principality and power. Jesus is the name above all names.”
It is only through the power of the resurrection that you can truly experience completeness.
About the Author
This article is an excerpt for the book titled “Building a House of Worship”. For more information on how you can get your copy of this book go to…
http://www.mediatunes.com/bhow/bhow.php
