@JGoldman10,
I heard a sermon on In Touch (the televangelist thing with the old guy) today, where he was talking about Christmas. It was a pre-recorded episode so it was supposed to air earlier. He was basically discussing the "take down the manger scene, it's offensive" mindset.
The world is offended by Christianity. They don't want people to love our enemies.
They call them racist because they call out the secular world and its attachment to idealism and social justice, and how this stuff slowly makes nations into hellholes, because rather than us going out into the world and importing our good fortune to other countries, they want to bring their bad fortune to us. Yes, that really is how it works. You take immigrants, you take their problems, if you want to help their country then you help them where they live (rather then exporting the brightest and best leaving only the most desperate, which makes the country struggle more; or worse, exporting all your criminals so we have to deal with them). But I don't hate immigrants. I hate the human trafficking that poses as humanitarianism. I hate the love of Islam, which is clearly a toxic ideology that oppresses women. I hate the ideologies of oppression, not the people.
Immigrants are not our enemies. Muslims are not our enemies. Because people are not our enemies and deserve our love. It's the sick slavery and oppression that gets a free pass, and which people fawn over, while castigating Christians for wanting this **** to stop.
"For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." -Ephesians 6:12
So how come there has never been a month-long observance for Christians? Because first of all, Christians don't want or ask for such festivals. Their kingdom is not this world, and they are called to be in the world but not of the world, so the idea of making others celebrate their month is something those who want earthly power will do. Second of all, the powers of this world hate what Christianity represents and have been trying to destroy it since day one. This is why it gets no special observances. Third, they don't have any festivals of religious events that last a month.
But you say, what about Constantine? He accepted the Christians, right? And there's rules for Christians to accept the leaders of this world. Yes, and why is that? It's because the leaders of this world do not matter (John 18:36). Jesus tells us a parable.
Quote:33 “Hear another parable. There was a householder who planted a vineyard, and set a hedge around it, and dug a wine press in it, and built a tower, and let it out to tenants, and went into another country. 34 When the season of fruit drew near, he sent his servants to the tenants, to get his fruit; 35 and the tenants took his servants and beat one, killed another, and stoned another. 36 Again he sent other servants, more than the first; and they did the same to them. 37 Afterward he sent his son to them, saying, ‘They will respect my son.’ 38 But when the tenants saw the son, they said to themselves, ‘This is the heir; come, let us kill him and have his inheritance.’ 39 And they took him and cast him out of the vineyard, and killed him. 40 When therefore the owner of the vineyard comes, what will he do to those tenants?” 41 They said to him, “He will put those wretches to a miserable death, and let out the vineyard to other tenants who will give him the fruits in their seasons.”
If we try to upset the powers of this world, we are really saying that our kingdom is an earthly one. Christians should not vote at all, they should not participate in the electoral process. The entire thing is a sham (you're expected to believe that 49 people against and 51 people for an issue is at all fair to the 49 against). Instead, we must accept that this world is imperfect, and do our best for the people around us instead. God will uphold the mandate of heaven. If people are oppressed, he will seek justice. But it is not our place to rush the process.
So what about Constantine? As for Constantine, may leaders in this world tried to bribe or corrupt Christianity. Christians were persecuted in the early church, and stood strong in their faith. They wandered the land, and preached throughout the people, enduring punishment and torture. 300 years of this hadn't worked. So the tactic Constantine tried (telling this great anecdote about his dream and his conversion, but I don't buy it) was to basically offer the church prosperity, clog it with hierarchy, and hope that it would eventually assimilate into Roman paganism. This became the Catholic church. While the pre-Catholics were vital and wandered the land making converts and helping people, the Catholics created a centralized system swamped with bureaucracy.
This below is closer to what the church should be doing, and they're not even Christian! Here the prayers and concerns, and go out and help people.
Quote:An aspect that separates Konkokyo as a unique way is "Toritsugi" which means mediation. In Konkokyo, Toritsugi (Mediation) is a spiritual practice for people to establish a communication link between themselves and Tenchi Kane no Kami. One can receive Toritsugi by a Konkokyo minister, generally at a Konkokyo church. A visitor enters the church, sits in front of the minister, and says whatever is on their mind. It can be a request to resolve a problem, or a word of thanks.
In Toritsugi, after the visitor says everything they have wanted to say, the minister relays the visitor's words to the spirit of Ikigami Konko Daijin (the spiritual formal name of Bunjirō, who was first taught Toritsugi by Tenchi Kane no Kami) in prayer. Ikigami Konko Daijin then helps the minister to further relay the words to Tenchi Kane No Kami.
Tenchi Kane no Kami then replies their message to the minister, who will then relay it back to the person.
By understanding the message of Tenchi Kane No Kami's teachings and advice, the visitor can receive guidance to their issues, or feel relieved from anxieties knowing the deity has heard their words. Toritsugi can help the person put a problem into perspective and find solutions from within their own hearts.
Tenchi Kane No Kami asks people to understand their teachings, thus to make people become aware of their relationship with the Universe and the ways of the Universe. By working within the framework of the laws of the Universe instead of going against it, people can avoid troubles which lead to suffering. While Toritsugi at churches is typically performed by ministers, lay members are also encouraged to perform Toritsugi in their daily lives to help others. When they meet people who are suffering, the Konkokyo way is to listen to their problems, support them, and pray for their wellbeing and happiness. Tenchi Kane no Kami wishes for all people to become a mediator and help others.
Konkokyo has churches where people can go to worship and pray. Though Konkokyo believes that Tenchi Kane No Kami is everywhere, and followers of the way can talk to the deity anytime and anywhere, the church is a place to receive assistance and guidance through Toritsugi, and for people to focus their prayers, to appreciate blessings, apologize for any irreverences they may feel they have made, as well as be a safe and calming center for people to visit.
"This is my father's house, but you have made it a den of thieves." Christianity should be going out, and talking to people, yes even while this pandemic is going on. Right now is when people need to talk to other people. Instead, the bishops are telling people not to have communion, not to sing, not to gather. Even online, they are not to sing, lest they superspread joy or something. These bishops are thieves, bankrupting the church, and then selling the building that remains. They are murderers, killing the hope of the church, and driving people to despair. People are literally committing suicide because their lives have no purpose right now. These buildings are not important. Let that land burn to the ground. The book of Christianity is not important. Burn the Bible if you hate it so much. The priests are not important, this hierarchy got in the way of worship. But to have people actively prevented from gathering, to be isolated until they give up hope? No, that's criminal.