MARIOLATRY: The message is inside!

Editor’s note: If perhaps we have Catholic subscribers, it’s not The CRIB's intent to offend with this illustration; it’s simply our intent to propagate the truth as we know it; and, from a conservative, evangelical point of view, the worship of Mary is a form of idolatry.

Our hope is that our Catholic friends will consider the illustration’s aim and, perhaps, see why we believe what we do. We, on the other hand, are anxious to hear their apologetic concerning Mary as well.

A friend said worshiping Mary (revering her as divine) was refusing to open a letter from a special person because the envelop so impressed you. The envelope has the right “address,” the correct “return address,” and the correct postage but remains unopened.

My friend explained no matter what you like or don’t like about an envelop, it’s what inside that matters.

Mary knew who the letter within her was from, she also knew who it was for, and that the postage was prepaid … it was and is the content of Mary’s envelop which matters.

Christianity, Illustrations,
Mariolatry, Religion

HUMILITY: Reality is not always observable!

"The sacrifice pleasing to God is a broken spirit. God, You will not despise a broken and humbled heart."

Psalms 51:17 [HCSB]

One day as my wife and I approached a local on ramp to the I-10 in Pomona, California, we were almost blind-sided by another driver. The on ramp was a double-lane on ramp.

We had been stopped at a light across the street from the access ramp and approached it with other traffic from both traffic lanes. For some reason the car to our left and in front pulled into our lane … evidently believing the lane to be empty.

We assume he didn’t realize our lane could enter the freeway along with his. We also assume, he couldn’t see us due to a blind spot. At any rate, he almost sideswiped us.

Blind spots are areas of reality not directly observable for one reason or another.

Philosophical and theological blind spots are inconsistencies in the thought process and are not partial to the host. We have them in every walk and activity of life; many can only be revealed by God … but all are hazardous to out health.

In fact, the highways of life are littered with wrecks caused by both kinds (e.g., cults, false religions, despotism, fascism, TM, psycho-babble, political correctness, activist justices, the United Nations, peace in Jerusalem, the Inquisition, etc.).

The most certain antidote for blind spots available to man is humility and circumspection.

Christianity, Humility,
Illustrations, Religion

INCARNATION: God's End Run Around the Enemy!

DON’T TAKE WOODEN NICKELS: [2 John 1:7]

A Zimbabwean bus driver, transporting inmates from a mental hospital in Harare to another in Bulawayo, stopped at a bar for a drink. Returning to his bus, he discovered all 20 of his wards had escaped.

Fearing the consequences, the driver went to a nearby bus stop and offered a free ride to everyone who wanted one; he then delivered them all to Bulawayo. Hurriedly, he informed hospital workers the patients were very agitated and making bizarre claims. It took the hospitals three days to discover the deception. [Pat Miller via GCFL ( www.gcfl.net ), October 17, 2002]

The Bible says,

"… many deceivers have gone out into the world, those who do not acknowledge Jesus Christ as coming in the flesh. This is the deceiver and the Antichrist."

In these last days, we see the high and the low, the rich and the poor, the knowledgeable and the ignorant alike earnestly deceiving all comers.

These deceivers travel along The Way, picking up anyone wanting a free ride to eternity, delivering them to Satan. When it's finally too late, their agitation and protestation will be ignored.

There is no free ride into eternity; eternity is only entered through the flesh on the One who dwelt among us [John 1:14] and by whose Name we must be saved [Acts 4:12]. Deceivers abound; don’t be deceived.

FALSE TEACHING: Untrue From the Beginning!

MUSEUM OF SELF: [Romans 1:20]

In recent years, several art museums in Europe and the United States have discovered that not a few of their “masters” were actually reproductions. Apparently, in many cases, the phonies were better than the originals … which evidently attracted attention. Regardless, whether they were better or not, they simply were not from a master’s hand.

Today, secular humanists are being frustrated in their efforts to diminish God and elevate man; it seems several of their theories have fallen upon hard times after examination by their own scientists.

The fakes failed to provide the needed proof of their authenticity; they could not show the Creator’s fingerprint. Only the original work of the Creator-Master offers evidence of His hand; fakes never will, even if hung on the walls of man’s Museum of Self for centuries.

TRUST: In God We Should!

BRIDGES OVER TROUBLED WATERS! [James 3:1; other topics - Ethics, fidelity, fiduciary honor]

May 26, 2002, was a beautiful Oklahoma morning, the sun rising in the East as his 18-wheeler ascended the rise to the bridge spanning the Arkansas River. At 60 mph, there just was not enough time to react as he realized the bridge was gone.

In the words of an eyewitness, “It was just like watching one of those movies where the truck is just hanging there in the air.” That was before it plunged into the maw of the bridge collapse.

What happened? For some reason a barge captain lost control of his fully loaded barges, allowing them to drift into the dual concrete supports under the Western end of the bridge. Without warning, the bridge groaned and fell to the water some forty feet below. The 18-wheeler and its driver disappeared into the depth.

An obvious parallel exists with Adam’s failure in the Garden of Eden, but I see a more contemporary analogy.

Everyday, all day, the citizens of this “third rock from the sun,” cross bridges spanning the common dangers of life. At any moment, a vessel traveling beneath one of those bridges could veer out of control and destroy the supports they take for granted.

For example: a disease might smash a column out from under one of life’s travelers; an accident might swerve into a support pillar on another of life’s voyagers, perhaps causing the loss of a loved one; or unemployment might yank the entire support structure out from under a whole family of life-trekkers.

However, these are random, unintentional events. If, as some suggest, the barge captain failed in his fiduciary responsibilities, that’s a horse of another color.

Unfortunately, we have amongst us, in the spiritual community, those whose intentional behaviors and philosophies are not only dangerous but are abject violations of community or public trust.

We have godless theologies (Unitarians), materialistic spiritual communities (Binny Hinn, "name-it, claim-it"), murdering pro-lifers, insurgent supporting organizations (NCC), subversive doctrine (Liberation Theology), pedophilic youth pastors, predatory priests, shepherd abusing sheep, adulterous pastors, and Enron-like denominational leaders (Arizona Baptist Foundation).

These perpetrators of wrong are not only wrecking havoc on the bridges of life but are destroying the foundations of the ages, bringing down the Bridge of Life, which leads to eternal life. God help us!

DISCERNMENT: It's all about using common sense!

FOLLOW THE BOUNCING BALL: [Acts: 17:11]

Now these were more noble-minded than those in Thessalonica, for they received the word with great eagerness, examining the Scriptures daily to see whether these things were so.

When I was a teen ... way back before the flood ... me and my friend Methuselah would go to the movies together. During the intermission ... for those of you under fifty, an intermission was a break between movies ... the theaters showed newsreels, cartoons, and commercials for their concession stand.

Some of the cartoons and commercials had lyrics to songs scrolling across the bottom of the screen, a pong ball bounced from note to note acting as a surrogate conductor, leading all of us in singing the silly little ditties.

What amazed me was how many of us actually sang; like little robots we joined in on the first bounce, not realizing we had a choice.

Many in the Church today are like those of us who responded without realizing we had minds of our own ... we were naive and trusting.

I'm not suggesting Christians should not trust their leader's teachings, but they are naive and should be discerning.