We managed to get to church yesterday. It was a challenge: I managed to get on the wrong branch of the U bahn, and then had to take an above ground train to Potstammer Platz, then had directions to the church.
Which was weird. It was an international (read: Southern) service with a Bapticostal surface. Our neighbours on one side were a couple of drunk germans, and on the other side a black couple who sounded as if they came from New England. The sermon was standard, mechanical, but with odd claims, like we would live to 100. Something in it rang hollow to Robyn: I was too busy taking theological points and trying to work out if my discomfort was cultural.
For in NZ, we don’t do things that way. Even our Pentecostal churches are more restrained.
And I have to recall that culture is neutral: but the faith is not.
14Therefore, my dear friends, flee from the worship of idols. 15I speak as to sensible people; judge for yourselves what I say. 16The cup of blessing that we bless, is it not a sharing in the blood of Christ? The bread that we break, is it not a sharing in the body of Christ? 17Because there is one bread, we who are many are one body, for we all partake of the one bread. 18Consider the people of Israel; are not those who eat the sacrifices partners in the altar? 19What do I imply then? That food sacrificed to idols is anything, or that an idol is anything? 20No, I imply that what pagans sacrifice, they sacrifice to demons and not to God. I do not want you to be partners with demons. 21You cannot drink the cup of the Lord and the cup of demons. You cannot partake of the table of the Lord and the table of demons. 22Or are we provoking the Lord to jealousy? Are we stronger than he?
23“All things are lawful,” but not all things are beneficial. “All things are lawful,” but not all things build up. 24Do not seek your own advantage, but that of the other. 25Eat whatever is sold in the meat market without raising any question on the ground of conscience, 26for “the earth and its fullness are the Lord’s.” 27If an unbeliever invites you to a meal and you are disposed to go, eat whatever is set before you without raising any question on the ground of conscience. 28But if someone says to you, “This has been offered in sacrifice,” then do not eat it, out of consideration for the one who informed you, and for the sake of conscience — 29I mean the other’s conscience, not your own. For why should my liberty be subject to the judgment of someone else’s conscience? 30If I partake with thankfulness, why should I be denounced because of that for which I give thanks?
31So, whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do everything for the glory of God. 32Give no offense to Jews or to Greeks or to the church of God, 33just as I try to please everyone in everything I do, not seeking my own advantage, but that of many, so that they may be saved.
1Be imitators of me, as I am of Christ.
But, you say, that we don’t sacrifice food or have religious aspects to this. Well, we do. Firstly, a fair amount of food is, at least in my country, killed under halal regulations for the export trade. I try to avoid this[1]. Secondly, the sacrifices we are now making are not animals, but people, for the cause of our ideologies. I have seen people die from HIV, and the new medications are not without side effects — more that the antipsychotics and antidepressants I prescribe when I’m working. But the idoeology of equality means that public health has to break down.
The rules of quarantine, contact tracing, exist for a purpose. They are mandatory, by law, for infections disease. But ideology is idolatry, and it is far better to sacrifice a few hundred poor homosexual and Haitian so that the legislature can feel good.
The measure also applies to those who give blood without telling the blood bank that they are HIV-positive.
Modern medicine allows those with HIV to live longer lives and nearly eliminates the possibility of transmission, according to state Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco) and Assemblyman Todd Gloria (D-San Diego), authors of the bill.
“Today California took a major step toward treating HIV as a public health issue, instead of treating people living with HIV as criminals,” Wiener said in a statement. “HIV should be treated like all other serious infectious diseases, and that’s what SB 239 does.”
Supporters of the change said the current law requires an intent to transmit HIV to justify a felony, but others noted cases have been prosecuted where there was no physical contact, so there was an argument intent was lacking.
The current ideologies and false religions we should avoid. Completely. Let them fall: let them fail, and ensure that the rubble bounces. We cam tolerate those who live not as us: we cannot tolerate those who insist that we deny the word of God. In the church,
Outside, we need to pray for our nations. Our ideologies have done as much damage ans any idol worship, and are cheaper, for there is no need to make graven images, Our elite have turned from Christ, and the consequences of their policies are dire for our tribes, our nations and oru families.
Do not be them. Do not be like them.
- Pork is never Halal. And it is tasty.
I missed that one. -rolls eyes- Too busy pounding my head on the desk after we declared ourselves a sanctuary *state*. To which immigration said, “guess we’re just going to have to do raids again then, it sure was nicer when we could just pick ’em up from county jail…”
Generally speaking, if you just expect the worst from our state gov’t, you’ll reduce your unpleasant surprises to a minimum.