Christian Perspectives on Peak Oil

joelcolorado · Intermediate Crude Joined: May 25, 2008 Posts: 683

I have to tell this story. Please dont be offended.

I used to go to a small town for business. I was talking to a man there and he said that the Ass of God church was having a social. I was perplexed until I drove by and sure enough, the sign said,
Ass of God.

It seems they didnt have enough letters to properly spell it out. It was so funny as those ppl were so proper and would have been embarrassed to think what others thot.
hah

joelcolorado · Intermediate Crude Joined: May 25, 2008 Posts: 683

Is Barack Obama the anti christ? Please discuss why he is and why he is not. I like to hear the discourse from the smart ppl on here. I know he says what the antichrist claims to say. Peace and safety yet the most liberal senator on record.

Ludi

No, he isn't the AntiChrist. He's just a guy.
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Ludi

Here's an article which gives some reasons Obama is not anti-christ:

http://exploringourmatrix.blogspot.com/2008/06/how-i-know-barack-obama-is-not.html

Here's another:

http://www.snopes.com/politics/obama/antichrist.asp
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POAlex · Last edited by POAlex on Sun Jun 29, 2008 7:29 pm; edited 1 time in total

Only the Lord knows if Obama is the Beast or not, however I should point out that James McGrath's explanation of those Scriptures is very misleading, Ludi.

I'd recommend watching these short videos, as they do a good job of explaining the beasts of Daniel and the seven headed beast of Revelation. All point, without a shadow of a doubt, to a final world kingdom led by one man. In the Bible he's called the Beast, the Man of Sin and the Son of Perdition. This is who the world commonly refers to as the Antichrist.

Alex

POAlex

mystiek

Its unlikely Obama is the antichrist-but definitely cant say no until the antichrist is revealed. I do believe that Obama is a typical politician and would be receptive to the antichrist's involvement/control of America. I hate to get political, but no matter who gets in, despite all their wonderful promises-the Washington system and special interests pull to get their way. We are seeing this with this foolishness about oil. The oil embargo in the early 70's was a wake up call to be energy independent, but the wealthy oil people had to continue make their fortune while sending this country to the horrible situation its in now. So, I don't have alot of confidence in any of our presidential choices. I will still vote....

Peleg · Heavy Crude Joined: May 20, 2008 Posts: 391

Well, that was refreshing. A week away from Po.com and I feel almost human again. Hopes for the future starting to revive....yup.

I think I will probably only stop in once a week or so now to catch up on this thread and maybe make a few comments.

So, the week as I saw it

-$142

-Saudi's finally come clean about upward price pressures

-The Down Jones lives up to it's name

-The Fed stood pat and with poker face in place, everyone else felt a little queezy.

Is Barack the antichrist? Alot of people in western politics today have resumes that might make them candidates, and it is novel to try to say who it is, but it is not helpful.

I would point out that the Prophet Elisha was told to annoint Hazael to be king over Syria (1 Kings 19:15.) What!

Try to understand, 'the earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof.'

I think on energy and foreign policy Obama is the better man, and I mean by that that his policies sho more wisdom. McCain is more of the same, he is 'stay the course part II.' I am concerned about Obama's stand on abortion and gay marriage. Now I know that I am not responsible for the sins of others so long as I speak the truth in love. Abortion is a sin, homosexuality is a sin. Jesus died to forgive sins and He was raised from the dead because His sacrifice was sufficient. I really am not one of those least of two evils sort of guy, and therefore I do not intend at this point to vote, however, I do actually believe that Obama is going to be the next President, and because of that we ought to stay engaged. Currently I have some confidence that Obama is running in the middle because he is understanding the moderate road that must be taken for the country to move forward at all, even though he has voted very liberally in the past.

The fact is we have hit on an issue in gay marriage that can never be accepted by those who believe the Bible, but in truth it will never cease to be an issue for gays and lesbians. We seem to have come to the place where the straw that breaks the camel's back is slowly floating down out of the air above. Someday soon it is going to land on the already massive burden of this beast and all four legs are going to go out in a fit.

I had proposed that perhaps the idea that marriage was one and the same thing in every venue could be dropped so that everyone no matter their purpose could enter into a civil union for tax and dependcy purposes, and then those whose 'union' is also something which a particular church and pastor wish to bless can be confident that within their faith they are 'married.' This plan extricates the State from being responsible for 'gay marriage' as a sin against God, and it causes every church and pastor who validates same-sex unions to stand before God on their own. The issue which divides can be allowed to divide. Christians will have to realize that God is strong enough to protect our families in the midst of the Roman Empire.

The reason this is difficult is this. Some believe that by knowing that a law allows two people to obtain benefits who are together because of their same-sex attraction, we are somehow guilty of the sin of ommission. That is we have sanctioned the sin of homosexuality by having a law that says 'Any two people of sound mind and of legal age can enter into a civil union for the purpose of declaring a dependency or partnership which can confer these rights: tax credits for dependents etc.'

That is the crux. So let me ask the question as plainly as I can again and see what you guys think.

Is it a sin, to be a citizen at peace with a nation whose laws say that

a)[the marriage] any pastor who wishes to can perform gay weddings so long as that pastor is willing to make it his own assertion that God has blessed that union

b)[the civil union] any two people of legal age and of sound mind can enter into a civil union and recieve certain benefits.

Now, since we claim to believe in religious freedom, (a) is supposedly out of our hands. We do not have to associate with those who blaspheme God, but the parable of the good samaritan suggests we should not place a litmus test on mercy. Now (b) can be resolved by letting the government 'divorce' itself from marriage once and for all, and simply recognize a legal status of dependent to which any person of legal age and sound mind can enter into legally.

I am not claiming that is the answer. I am claming we need to find an answer or this issue is going to hurt alot of people. I think if there are no theological grounds for rejecting the direction I am proposing it should be considered so that by removing the implied guilt, the freedom of religion is preserved while liberty is also preserved. This is not something we would do in any way to insult or undermine God, rather to avoid cases where photographers are fined because they will not shoot a gay wedding, they can simply say, 'it is my religious conviction not to do this.' And that is the end of it.

I see two dangers for America coming out of the issue around gay-marriage. I see the far left already using tactics that are terrifying to average Christian families and business owners: suddenly showing up and forcing gay into lives that are not hateful but respectfully exercise their right to believe God does not condone the gay lifestyle. This would have increased if the hate crimes laws were able to come here th way they are now in Canada. The other danger I see is not from true Christians, who really are wanting the best for the country and do not hate anyone, but from those who are Christian but not at all averse to takin' some skin once in a while. Because it won't take too many cases of people being harassed by homosexuals that a massive backlash will begin. At best open LGBT is 2% of the population. When 140 million middle Americans decide enough is enough, it will be. That is why I think it is very wise for politicians on both sides to sit down with some doctors of jurisprudence, get all the far far away nonsense out of the room and work out a solution that helps society live at peace. That cannot happen by pitting the freedom of religion against equal protection, it is a train wreck waiting to happen.

That said, my sense is that peak oil is going to be in every paper and on every news broadcast in the land before the election. I think this summer and fall will hold at least a few startling events on the energy front to which every heart will be paying attention.

POAlex · Last edited by POAlex on Mon Jun 30, 2008 8:12 pm; edited 2 times in total

Hey Peleg,

Good point about Elisha and Hazael. As Christians, we have to remember to render unto Caesar that which is Caesars. Or as Jesus said to Pilate in John 19:11 "Thou couldest have no power at all against me, except it were given thee from above".

The LORD rules Sovereignly and if the people would heed the promise and warning of 2 Chronicles 7:14, which states, "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land" we wouldn't be in this mess.

I'm just curious, what are your thoughts on Ezekiel 38 in light of today's Iran/Russia situation?

In Christ,
Alex
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joelcolorado · Intermediate Crude Joined: May 25, 2008 Posts: 683

The bible says that God is not a man.....so we need to quit limiting Him with mans weaknesses. He created the worlds as we know them, space and all it holds. I believe He can finish this thing and keep His people. One way or another.

We get to thinking God has to do it that way or this, when we know He can do more than we ask or think, more than we can imagine and more than man can ever dream of. What kind of God are YOU serving.

Moses just saw His back and his face shown for many days. What kind of being must He be.?>

mystiek

Our Sunday morning sermon was based on that verse out of 2 Chronicles. If only our countries would heed this advice. Ezekiel 38 is falling into place. Dr. Grant Jeffrey has a good section on the War of Gog and Magog in this book the "Prince of Darkness, antichrist and the new world order".

joelcolorado · Intermediate Crude Joined: May 25, 2008 Posts: 683

All the studies and books on the end times does not MATTER one whip stitch. It really does nothing for our faith but tends to make us feel safe in some ideology. I have even seen christians use end times beliefs to lord it over the sinners as they will escape and the poor sinners will be left here. THAT is not the heart of God.

What would Jesus REALLY do. Yes warn of impending judgement but its the grace of God that brings men to repentance. You cannot scare anyone into heaven.

If we were as concerned about the lost as we are about church monkey business, the world would be reached. How long has it been since you have wept over those who are lost and going to hell.

Most christians never have experienced that and its a sad thing. THAT is the heart of God. Until we allow the Holy Spirit to move in us to that extent, we have not really come to the fullness that is intended.

mystiek

Eschatology is a subject addressed in God's Word, so this is something to be studied like everything else in God's Word. If God didn't want us to study this subject then He would not have put it in His Word.

joelcolorado · Intermediate Crude Joined: May 25, 2008 Posts: 683

good lord....you missed the point entirely..

mystiek

No, I got your point, I'm making my own point.