If you are not for me, you are against me" Matthew 12:30 Luke 11:23. Jesus says, "Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters".
Despite what Grok, META, Gemini, NYT, CNN, all members of the Evidence Industrial Complex say the biggest threat to China, Russia and India is not the United States but Christianity
Christianity is the biggest threat to Democrats, Communists, socialists and Authoritative regimes for two reasons:
1. There's about 2.6 billion Christians in the world 🌎- not counting the millions underground in China, Russia, Islamic countries and in Authoritative regimes
2. Christians' ultimate country/home is heaven. Primary alliance is to God, Family Country, in that order.
" The LORD is our God, the LORD alone!
Therefore, you shall love the LORD, your God, with your whole heart, and with your whole being, and with your whole strength.
Take to heart these words which I command you today. Keep repeating them to your children. Recite them when you are at home and when you are away, when you lie down and when you get up. Bind them on your arm as a sign and let them be as a pendant on your forehead. Write them on the doorposts of your houses and on your gates. Deuteronomy" 6:4
Authoritative regimes demand their only allegiance be to dear leader.
My concern is not whether God is on our side; my greatest concern is to be on God's side, for God is always right.” ― Abraham Lincoln
As Margaret Thatcher might say, "Europe was created by history." America was created by God." Democrats, Muslims, Communists, Authoritative regimes' values are not compatible with Founding American Culture. You can work to make a more perfect union, not to fundamentally transform it.
Ephesians 6:10–17 outlines the concept of "spiritual warfare" in Christian theology. A war of this kind does not involve physical violence but is a constant, unseen battle against spiritual forces of evil. It is fought through faith, prayer, and adherence to Christian principles.
A war fought with spiritual armor looks like a life of active faith in the face of inner and external attacks.
The real battle
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| Peter Kreeft |
Mental and emotional distress: Attacks of anxiety, fear, confusion, and despair can be spiritual attacks meant to undermine faith.
Temptation: The enemy may intensify temptations toward sin to cause a believer to stray from God.
Division and conflict: Spiritual attacks can cause strife and division within a church or family by fueling pride, offense, and unresolved issues.
Unusual adversity: The sudden onset of hardships and trials can be an attempt to wear down a believer's resolve, similar to the story of Job.
Spiritual apathy: A loss of desire for prayer, worship, or fellowship with other believers can be a sign of a spiritual attack.
How to stand and fight
The passage describes how to engage in this war by putting on the "whole armor of God" to stand firm against the devil's schemes. This means engaging in a struggle to maintain holiness, peace, and faith.Evangelization
The most powerful force for evangelization in the first decades and centuries of the Church’s life was precisely the goodness of the Christian people.
That wonderful remark reported by Tertullian: how these Christians love one another. That’s what galvanized the world. That’s what grabbed the attention of the pagan society. In the time when unwanted children were simply exposed on the mountain side. At a time when the sick and the poor were simply left by the roadside. Christians cared, not only for their own, but they cared indiscriminately for anyone who was in need. It was the goodness, it was the radicality of the Christian life that got the attention of the world" - Bishop Robert Barron
Defensive weapons
The belt of truth: A commitment to God's truth, rather than hypocrisy, holds all the other pieces of the armor together. It protects against the lies and deceptions of the devil.
The breastplate of righteousness: Righteous living—right actions and moral virtue—protects the heart from attacks of condemnation and shame.
The shoes of the gospel of peace: Having your feet "shod with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace" means standing on the firm, solid foundation of the good news of Christ, even when attacked with uncertainty.
The breastplate of righteousness: Righteous living—right actions and moral virtue—protects the heart from attacks of condemnation and shame.
The shoes of the gospel of peace: Having your feet "shod with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace" means standing on the firm, solid foundation of the good news of Christ, even when attacked with uncertainty.
The shield of faith: Faith is a protective shield that can block and "quench all the flaming arrows of the evil one"—the temptations, doubts, and accusations sent by the enemy.
The helmet of salvation: The assurance of your salvation in Christ protects your mind from lies and despair, giving you hope for ultimate victory.
Offensive weapons
The sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God: This is the only offensive weapon mentioned in the list. The Word of God is used to counter the enemy's lies, just as Jesus used scripture to rebuke Satan's temptations.
Prayer: The passage concludes by urging constant prayer for alertness and perseverance. Prayer is a crucial and powerful weapon for communication with God and strengthening yourself and other believers in the battle
This "war" is therefore a persistent, inward effort to cling to God's truth and power in the face of spiritual opposition. It is not about fighting human enemies but about resisting the schemes of evil through righteousness, faith, and dependence on God.
We have all seen pictures of the Christ on the Cross
But have you seen pictures of Him after the scourging at the pillar? Mel Gibson's the Passion of the Christ is the closest depiction, and that is not even close.
If you as any AI platform to draw a picture of Christ after the scourging, they'll all refuse, because it is so barbaric.
Instead, here's a description,:
The scourging of Jesus, as described in historical and biblical accounts, was a brutal form of punishment administered by the Romans, known as flagellum. The scourge, typically made of leather thongs embedded with sharp objects like small bones, metal, or stones, was designed to inflict maximum pain and damage. Based on this description, here’s a detailed but concise depiction of what Jesus’ body might have looked like after such a scourging:
If you as any AI platform to draw a picture of Christ after the scourging, they'll all refuse, because it is so barbaric.
Instead, here's a description,:
The scourging of Jesus, as described in historical and biblical accounts, was a brutal form of punishment administered by the Romans, known as flagellum. The scourge, typically made of leather thongs embedded with sharp objects like small bones, metal, or stones, was designed to inflict maximum pain and damage. Based on this description, here’s a detailed but concise depiction of what Jesus’ body might have looked like after such a scourging:
- Skin and Flesh: His body would be covered in deep, ragged lacerations and contusions. The leather thongs with sharp bones would tear into the skin, ripping away layers of flesh with each strike. Large areas of his back, shoulders, sides, and possibly legs would appear raw, with exposed muscle tissue in some places. The wounds would range from superficial cuts to deep gashes, depending on the force and number of lashes.
- Blood Loss: The scourging would cause significant bleeding, with blood streaming from multiple wounds across his body. The repeated strikes would likely cause blood to pool and drip, leaving his skin slick and stained red. This could lead to a pale, ashen complexion due to blood loss and shock.
- Bruising and Swelling: Beyond the cuts, the blunt force of the thongs would cause severe bruising and swelling. The small sharp bones could embed in the skin or cause jagged tears, leading to additional trauma around the wounds. Hematomas (pools of blood under the skin) might form, creating dark, swollen patches.
- Musculoskeletal Damage: The force of the blows could bruise or even fracture underlying tissues, such as muscles or ribs. The sharp bones might nick or chip at bones in some areas, particularly if the scourging was prolonged.
- Overall Appearance: Jesus’ body would likely appear mangled and disfigured, with little intact skin remaining on the scourged areas. The wounds would be irregular, with torn flesh hanging or clumped with blood and tissue. His posture might reflect exhaustion and pain, as the trauma would weaken his ability to stand or move without agony.
- Historical Context: Roman scourging was notoriously brutal, often limited to 39 lashes (the Jewish limit) but sometimes more under Roman law. The goal was to weaken the victim significantly, sometimes to the brink of death, before crucifixion. The Shroud of Turin, believed by some to depict Jesus’ body, shows marks consistent with such a scourging—over 100 wounds, primarily on the back, with dumbbell-shaped marks suggesting a multi-thonged whip with weighted tips.
Today's AntiChristian arguments are nothing new
Porphyry was a Neoplatonist philosopher who compiled a sophisticated and systematic critique of Christianity that drew upon earlier anti-Christian arguments. His key arguments included: The integrity of the Gospels: He highlighted alleged contradictions between the Gospels, suggesting the accounts of Jesus's life were fabricated by "unskilled" authors.The divinity of Jesus: He attacked the Christian claim of Jesus's divine status, arguing that Jesus was merely a human figure.
Magical acts: He dismissed the miracles of Jesus and his followers as nothing more than ordinary magical arts, performed by others like Apollonius and Apuleius.
False prophecies: He challenged the historicity of prophetic books like Daniel, arguing that they were written after the events they supposedly foretold.
Tertullian preemptive responses
Yet, Tertullian's had already addressed Porphyry's, and today's charges against Christianity
In his writings, Tertullian defended the reliability of Christian scriptures and teachings. In Prescription Against Heretics, he established the "rule of faith" based on the apostolic tradition, arguing that the Church's unbroken lineage from the apostles guaranteed the authenticity of its teachings and scriptures. This countered any claims that the Gospels were later inventions.
On the nature of JesusIncarnation: In On the Resurrection of the Flesh, Tertullian passionately defended the doctrine of the Incarnation—that Jesus was both divine and fully human. He argued that the flesh was essential to God's plan of salvation, writing, "the flesh is the very condition on which salvation hinges". This idea was central to undermining arguments that treated Jesus's humanity as unimportant or illusory.
The Trinity: In Against Praxeas, Tertullian formulated and defended the concept of the Trinity, arguing that God exists as three distinct but unified persons. This was a direct refutation of any attempt to reduce Jesus to a mere human.
On magic and miracles
In his Apology, Tertullian addresses the pagan claim that Christians used magic. He asserted the superiority of the Christian God over all other gods, which he categorized as demons. For Tertullian, the miracles of Jesus were a display of divine power, entirely distinct from and more powerful than pagan magic. He famously challenged Roman authorities to present a Christian exorcist who could force a demon to confess the truth.
On prophecy and divine tradition
In Against Marcion, Tertullian vigorously defended the Old Testament, which Marcion rejected. By arguing for the unity of the Old and New Testaments, Tertullian provided a strong foundation for a Christian tradition rooted in ancient divine prophecy. In doing so, he countered Porphyry's later attempts to dismantle the prophetic timeline. As Tertullian argued in his Apology, the fulfillment of ancient prophecy in Christ served as proof of Christian truth.
The blood of the martyrs
One of Tertullian's most powerful counters to Roman persecution and pagan criticism was his appeal to the fortitude of Christian martyrs. He argued that their willingness to die for their faith, even when faced with brutal torture, proved the truth and moral superiority of Christianity. This was a vivid, real-world refutation of accusations that Christians were immoral. His famous phrase, "The blood of Christians is seed," perfectly encapsulated this idea.
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