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is the end of poverty possible?
Many of you may have seen the recent Christian Aid posters, which have done a fantastic job in raising our sights and expectations in the fight against poverty.
Today's ad in The Independent is a simple but profound piece of inspiration. in the same way Paul does at the start of his letter to the church in Colossae, sometimes it's just good to be reminded of the good things that have happened and continue to happen, as an antidote to a media that focuses only what is scandalous or tragic. As Paul said, "All over the world, the gospel is bearing fruit". That continues to be true whether we see it in front of our faces or not. The speed of de-secularisation worldwide is huge.
So back to the advert... in response to the statement, "Ending poverty is too big a task", it said..
It's no bigger than eradicating smallpox.
It's no bigger than liberating Europe from the Nazis.
It's no bigger than putting a man on the moon.
It's no bigger than bailing out the banks.
It's no bigger than abolishing slavery.
It's no bigger than ending apartheid.
It's no bigger than bringing down the Berlin Wall.
It's no bigger than creating the internet.
It's no bigger than digging a tunnel to France.
It's a big ask, but I really believe it is possible. In fact I know it's not just possible - It is in fact promised. There will be a time when there is no more sin, sickness and suffering, and incredibly we are invited to be partners in bringing it about. Kingdom come.
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Andy Flannagan, 28/07/2009 |
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| | Tim Wright (Guest) | 06/08/2009 09:33 | | Hi,
Just come across your blog and was wondering what your thoughts on what are the top 2-3 issues that Christians in the UK should address. I think i know what one of them would be from your blog, just curious what some of the others would be?
Tim Wright
| | | JBK (Guest) | 09/08/2009 11:33 | | OH NO!!! The Christians are Coming. To come into our lives wihtout any interest or reference to our homes, families and persoanl circumstances and cultures and impose their needs and values on our lives. I'm just a piss poor peasant here to play the quiet quivering hamster to your vivisectionsist impositions on my culture. Lets make everyone white, middle class and educated and patroising. Oh Yes. I'm too stupid to have a degree. I am also not the kind of person that God would want. God has made women like me so disgusting christian males can practise their violence and vile practices on and people like me are for the Burning. So between violence and sexual assualt and perversion and the patting and petting of indulgent sychophants there is not much difference. Don't you think we are a little sick of your adminsitrations on our lives. From raping and incarcerating my grandmothers in Workhouses and making them give birth there. To abuse by all memebrs and christian elders as a child to being pissed on by a pastor when I was homeless there is not much. I am now took fucked up mentally physiaclly and emotionally to want you or your opinion anywhere near me. I also think that God must be a baby fucking, make me eat your shit and piss battering bastard. Give me another choice. I've never seen one. other than I must forgive or I will burn and suffer in Hell for ever more. Doesn't sound much different to Christianity. SORT YOURSELVES OUT FIRST. You are the most wicked and evil self deluded lot I have ever met. Also fuck children while speaking in tongues as it absolves you from sin. Set of sick bastards. The rest are incredibly naive and useless. and NO I don't need a cuddle. Never met Love in a Man, or God in a Christian or Christ in Christianity. Like fuckign prostitutes with razor blades. I got covered in blood when I was three. Told by you it was your way to teach me a lesson. I had to be good Suck your dick or the same would happen to me. FUCKING BASTARDS.
| | | sarah (Guest) | 30/09/2009 12:23 | | JBK...you are really hurting, and i am so sorry that people bearing Jesus name did this to you..
please please please do go to Looking for God website...shout and rant at God, He loves you so much and weeps at the hurt you recieved from those who didnt love you or Him enough....i dont know what else to say but please please dont let this put you off your loving HeavenlyDad and be healed you beautiful precious person xxxxxxxxx
| | | Al Kafir (Guest) | 11/04/2010 16:01 | | You have had 2000 years of your “faith” to end poverty and achieved absolutely nothing. History shows us that religion has been the cause of the vast majority of all conflict, misery and poverty. I won’t even bother going into the crusades, witch hunts etc. For the vast majority of time everybody had to “believe”, otherwise they would be burnt at the stake, stoned, buried alive, whatever, there was no choice. Now people do have a choice and your claim that “The speed of de-secularisation worldwide is huge”, is a bit disingenuous. On the contrary in the western world we are becoming much more secularised. You are correct to say that in third world countries such as Africa, religion is gaining ground, but I’m sure you fully understand why this is. It is because as usual religion preys on the weak, ignorant and uneducated. In the west, the only way you can get people to believe your nonsense is by getting them young and indoctrinating them in your faith schools and churches. Help the poor? You prey on the poor and take whatever they have to build your churches to further your own agendas in these third world countries. What’s the use of a church to someone who is starving, you shouldn’t even be worshipping in church, what was it your Nazarene said in the sermon on the mount? You’re all history, it’s just a matter of time. Wake up and smell the secular coffee!- cheers
Al Kafir
| | | Al Kafir (Guest) | 12/04/2010 10:28 | | I'm sorry but I just read your list of things that have been eradicated and want to point out what religions did to address these issues.
1.Eradicating smallpox- The Catholic church told the victims of this horrible disease that the smallpox vaccine was not to be used, it was evil and interfering with god's plan, thereby condemning thousands to their deaths. This is similar to their current stance on condom use to address the AIDS virus, currently condemning millions to death- the church should be prosecuted for Genocide!
2.Liberating Europe from the Nazi's- The Catholic church collaborated with the Nazi's in many ways. They gave the Nazis lists of the Jewish from parish records, they celebrated Hitlers birthday, instructed all Catholics to not oppose the regime. They squirrelled Nazi's away to South America amongst other places at the end of the war and the current pope was in the Hitler youth.There was much collaboration with the Nazi's as they also blame the Jews for killing their "Christ".
3.Putting a man on the moon- that was due to SCIENCE- something that religions are against in so many areas, such as stem cell research for one which would help alleviate the suffering of millions from diseases such as parkinson's, Alzheimers and many other conditions. Religions are anti-science.
4.Bailing out the banks- This was a good thing????!!!!
5.Abolishing slavery- The bible not only condones slavery but gives instructions on how you should treat your slaves.This biblical warrant was used as justification for centuries and by the Confederacy during the American Civil war.
6.Ending apartheid- Again see above and again justification of this is taken from the bible.Only the son's of Adam/Abel (white) are to inherit the Earth, not the sons of Cain (black mongrels-apparently)
7,8 and 9 are all down to Democracy, rationality and science and nothing to do with religion.
As you can see any advances made are down to science, reason and rationality, religion only hinders at best and is positively evil at worst. Just sod off with your backward beliefs and keep them to your retarded selves.
| | | Al Kafir (Guest) | 12/04/2010 21:23 | | Sorry for that last sentence it was uncalled for and spoken out of anger.
| | | Steve Jones | 15/05/2010 20:34 | | Wow there is some mixed up misunderstandings of the Bible here? Unfortunately religion does have a lot which is not to be desired, when it has been twisted by man. Jesus gave 2 commandments whch summned up all the laws of the Bible and teachings of the prophets. Love thy God with all thy heart, mind and soul and the second is like it, Love thy neighbour as yourself. Anything that does not come from these teachings are not of God.
Blessings Steve
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