Tom Salinger wrote:
Padremike, you will know a tree by its fruit, yes? To put this into prospective are your words: "... If someone would have told us America would become as hedonistic and decadent as it is today..." Why has America's fruit become bitter and poisonous? Because of its roots. We defied Romans 13: " Let everyone be subject to the governing authori5ties, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. 2 Consequently, whoever REBELS against the authority is REBELLING against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves." And their nation. Next, we allowed the heinous practice of slavery as integral to the formation of our union. Next, we made all others that were not White male property-owners (women, blacks, Native Americans, Mexicans, and white laborers) as Second-class citizens or without any rights.
Humanity was not good before and is worse now. The situation in America and the world has not changed.
Padremike, you will know a tree by its fruit, yes?... (
show quote)
Slavery was alive and well in the time and place of Christ. Do you recall what Saint Paul said about slavery and about one particular slave by name? Today, as a distraction of even greater evil, slavery, specifically slavery only of blacks coupled with radical charges of racism, has been portrayed as the greatest of all sins. Balderdash! Slavery and racism doesn't even merit an honorable mention compared to the premeditated murder of innocent children in the womb. Yet how many people consider abortion a right? How different is that from those who once thought owning slaves was a right? These issues aside, Christ redeemed all mankind, both sinner and saint, free man and slave, but only to those who freely choose Him. Adam broke only one commandment and lost paradise. How many have we broken? It is imperative to daily confess our sins and seek forgiveness and absolution. To do otherwise is to show great disrespect to the sacrifice made by Christ. Yet we remain free to reject the greatest expression of love in all history and become slaves to sin. America has become spiritually constipated and in this we find all our failings. Until life becomes so fearful and evil, until as a nation we are finally driven to our knees for help, life will not improve but progressively get worse.