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« Reply #1 on: October 31, 2017, 04:39:20 PM » |
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The Patriot Post Digest 10-31-2017
From The Federalist Patriot
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Luther’s influence extended far beyond these 95 theses, however. While in hiding from Catholic authorities, he accomplished his greatest work — translating the Bible into German for the first time. In doing so, he unified the various German dialects into a common language, making the Word of God accessible for the first time to the common man, and in doing so stripping the Catholic priesthood of its aura of primacy and mystique as intermediaries with God. The invention of the printing press in 1453 helped Luther to spread his message throughout Germany, and eventually throughout Europe.
The Catholic Church, which dominated Europe in almost every way, did not take lightly Luther’s teachings, which undermined its authority and therefore its power. It persecuted Luther for the rest of his life, along with other reformers like William Tyndale, a British priest and scholar who translated the Bible into English after having been denied permission to do so by the Bishop of London (who claimed such translations were illegal). For this disobedience Tyndale would pay with his life, strangled and then burned at the stake in 1536, even in death praying for enlightenment for his executioner24.
The schism between the Catholics and the Protestants would rend Europe with violence for centuries. In 2016, Pope Francis asked for forgiveness from Protestants and other Christian churches for the Catholic Church’s persecutions.
Ironically, in Western Europe, the home of the Protestant Reformation, today the schism between Protestant and Catholic has given way to apathy, or even antagonism, toward Christianity. While the majority of Europeans still identify as Christian, it’s only nominally so. Ever more they reject Christianity as the moral foundation of their society. Whereas faith was once the dominant force in German life, and European life more broadly, that has now been replaced with an almost totally secularist view. This trend is evident, for example, in the policies of German Chancellor Angela Merkel25, a self-professed Lutheran who allowed in roughly a million refugees from the Middle East on the basis of her Christian faith, who nevertheless tends toward secularism in policy matters.
Interestingly, it is immigrants from North Africa and the Middle East who are providing resurgence in the faith. In Amsterdam, for example, the majority of the 350 churches in the city are led by immigrants who, having fled persecution in their native lands, now embrace Protestant Christianity in their adopted homelands.
This illuminates an interesting parallel with the birth of Christianity itself. The gospel of Christ was first brought to the Jews, who rejected it and persecuted its followers, and was then taken to the Gentiles. Likewise, in our day, even as Europeans, heirs to the Protestant Reformation, have largely turned their backs on their inheritance, immigrants to their lands are adopting the Christian faith as their own, and in doing so, transforming one soul at a time.
The Bible oft reveals that the Lord works in mysterious ways. The history of the world was transformed by the teachings of a humble Nazarene carpenter’s son. Even for those who doubt the divinity of Christ, His impact on the world is beyond dispute.
Fifteen hundred years later, Martin Luther, a humble monk, sought to better understand the true nature of the teachings of Christ, rejecting what he saw as errors in Catholic teachings. In publishing his thoughts, he transformed the world yet again, even laying much of the intellectual foundation26 for the American embrace of individual liberty. Though many may dispute whether his legacy is one of good or ill, none can dispute that, like his Master, Jesus Christ, Martin Luther’s influence has been felt long after his death.
MORE ANALYSIS FROM THE PATRIOT POST
Clinton Wrote the Book on Greed31 — Hillary’s book tour is full of blame, recriminations and, above all else, cashing in on her fame.
Judge Shouldn’t Fall for Bergdahl’s Faux Apology32 — Bergdahl was unfairly rewarded once. The presiding judge shouldn’t add insult to injury.
Irony Alert: MLB Anthem Kneeler Arrested33 — The one thing you won’t see is anthem kneelers protesting the actions that make some of them inmates.
Video Fear vs. Risk (Why We Worry About the Wrong Things)34 — Reason’s John Stossel goes to Times Square and asks people what scares them. But we’re safer than ever.
BEST OF RIGHT OPINION
Rich Lowry: Don’t Fire, Don’t Pardon35
Cal Thomas: Sexual Harassment: Shocking but Not Surprising36
Tony Perkins: Judge Okays Lethal Injunction for Troops37
Stephen Moore: Five Biggest Reasons to Hate the IRS Tax Code38
James Shott: Should We Sanitize America’s History, or Not? That Is the Question39
For more of today’s columns, visit Right Opinion40.
OPINION IN BRIEF
Cal Thomas: “It should surprise no one that when it comes to sexual harassment, members of Congress and their staffs are treated differently from the rest of us. The Washington Post notes a law in place since 1995 under which anyone accusing a lawmaker of sexual harassment can file a lawsuit, but only if they first agree to go through counseling and mediation, possibly lasting several months. If you think that’s a double standard and outrageous, it gets worse. Should a settlement occur — and many don’t for the same reason women are fearful of accusing bosses in every profession — the member doesn’t pay. You and I do. The money comes from a special U.S. Treasury fund, and the payments are confidential. In other words, taxpayers are subsidizing boorish, even criminal behavior to protect the reputations of our great leaders, who can’t be bothered with the standards they set for the little people they are supposed to serve. The Post found that while most settlements are small — compared with the tens of millions paid by Fox News — the amount still totaled $15.2 million paid to 235 claimants from 1997 to 2014. Rep. Jackie Speier (D-CA) had it right when she told the newspaper, ‘It is not a victim-friendly process. It is an institution-protection process.’ Is there any member of Congress who can defend this? If so, they should be voted out of office. If not, the members should be subject to the same laws as everyone else and forced to pay settlements out of their own pockets, and then voted out of office.”
SHORT CUTS
Insight: “One evening, when I was yet in my nurse’s arms, I wanted to touch the tea urn, which was boiling merrily… My nurse would have taken me away from the urn, but my mother said ‘Let him touch it.’ So I touched it — and that was my first lesson in the meaning of liberty.” —John Ruskin (1819-1900)
Upright: “With special counsel Robert Mueller unveiling his first indictments and a plea deal in the Russia case, President Donald Trump should do what’s hardest for him — nothing. … Trump is at more peril from his own reaction than from any of the facts that have been uncovered by Mueller, congressional investigators or the press to this point. If he were to fire Mueller, he’d endanger his presidency — and perhaps over nothing.” —Rich Lowry
Case closed? “We know everything we need to know, we just have to make sure that members of Congress do their jobs and hold the president accountable.” —Hillary Clinton declaring the Russia investigation over now that it’s turned inconvenient for her
Delusions of grandeur: “I think I will maybe come as the president.” —Hillary Clinton on what she’ll dress up as for Halloween
Dumb and dumber: “The Economy Can’t Grow Without Birth Control.” —Bryce Covert in The New York Times
Village Idiots: “If you’re a white person who says they’re engaged in dismantling white supremacy but you’re forming a white family [and] reproducing white children that ‘you want the best for’ — how is that helping [and] not part of the problem?” —City University of New York professor Jessie Daniels
Braying Jackass: “I love a cheap shot.” —Jimmy Kimmel on his philosophy of comedy
And last… “The vestry of Christ Church, a 244-year-old Episcopal Church in Alexandria, Virginia, has voted to remove two large plaques honoring George Washington and Robert E. Lee. Both men worshiped at Christ Church. … Here’s my suggestion for Halloween: If you live in a liberal neighborhood, dress your kids up as Washington and Jefferson and watch your neighbors run and hide!” —Gary Bauer
Join us in daily prayer for our Patriots in uniform — Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and Coast Guardsmen — standing in harm’s way in defense of Liberty, and for their families. We also humbly ask prayer for your Patriot team, that our mission would seed and encourage the spirit of Liberty in the hearts and minds of our countrymen.
Semper Vigilans Fortis Paratus et Fidelis
Nate Jackson, Managing Editor
Mark Alexander, Publisher |
