The 21st Century Context of Our Mission

Radical Islam and Fundamental Atheism We face twin conflicts: 1) Fundamentalist Atheism in the West 2) Radical Islam from the East

Fundamentalist Atheism War in the West

Death of God “When people stop believing in God, they don’t believe in nothing, they believe in anything.” G.K. Chesterton http://209.85.141.104/search?q=cache:0_brtOwV3UAJ:www.quotedb.com/quotes/509+G.K.+Chesterton+%2B+When+people+stop+believing+in+God,+they+don%E2%80%99t+believe+in+nothing,+they+believe+in+anything&hl=en&ct=clnk&cd=1&gl=us

Jeremy Rifkin "We no longer feel ourselves to be guests in someone else's home and therefore obliged to make our behavior conform with a set of preexisting cosmic rules. an American economic and social theorist, writer, public speaker, political advisor, and activist. Rifkin is president of the Foundation on Economic Trends and the bestselling author of 20 books about the impact of scientific and technological changes on the economy, the workforce, society, and the environment.

Jeremy Rifkin It is our creation now. We make the rules. We establish the parameters of reality. We create the world, and because we do, we no longer feel beholden to outside forces. We no longer have to justify our behavior, for we are now the architects of the universe. We are responsible for nothing outside ourselves, for we are the kingdom, the power, and the glory forever."

Fundamentalist Atheists War in the West

Atheism’s New Definition Old Definition – disbelief in God New Definition – Anti-theism Militant Atheist Secular Fundamentalist Dogmatic Atheism – no discourse with opposing views Not content with level playing field of ideas - freedom of religion Freedom from religion Stamp out all religious beliefs Ideological tyranny

Our Rights Do Not Come From God “Our rights do not come from God, your honor, and you know that. They come from man... That’s your faith, that’s my faith, but that’s not our country. Our laws come from collective agreement and compromise.” Chris Cuomo - TV Journalist on CNN Brother of NY Governor Andrew Coumo Debating Alabama Chief Justice Roy Moore

Hostility To the culture of the kingdom of God Truth Beauty Goodness To three basic institutions Family (basic building block of society) Governance of/by free men and women Freedom of Conscience Freedom of Religion Freedom of the Press Church

The State - “The New Parents” “How much do we regard children as being the property of their parents? It’s one thing to say people should be free to believe whatever they like, but should they be free to impose their beliefs on their children?” Richard Dawkins The God Delusion Is there something to be said for society stepping in? What about bringing up children to believe manifest falsehoods?” “Isn’t it always a form of child abuse to label children as possessors of beliefs that they are too young to have thought about?”

(Some) Areas of Attack The Family Who has responsibility for children (Dawkins) Parents or the state Redefining marriage Anti-Natal movement Political Correct/Cultural Relativism

Albertos Polizogopoulos “It has become a scary time to be a Christian professional in Canada. In 2014, lawyers and doctors were targeted by their own professional associations for direct attack because of their religious beliefs” On January 9, 2015, a Canadian constitutional lawyer, Albertos Polizogopoulos, wrote an article in The Cardus Daily titled “Christian Lawyers and Doctors Need Not Apply.”

Canadian “Legal Leaders for Diversity” excludes Christians and others who disagree

T.W.U. target of Religious Freedom For Christian lawyers, the first salvo was fired at Trinity Western University’s law school. TWU, which exists to “develop godly Christian leaders” in a variety of marketplaces, requires its students and staff to sign a Community Covenant. This pledge, based on religious beliefs, to abstain from certain activities and behaviors during their time at TWU, includes the use of alcohol on campus, viewing pornography, and “sexual intimacy that violates the sacredness of marriage between a man and a woman.”

Arlene’s Flowers VIDEO

Aaron and Melissa Klein Bakers who are Christians in Oregon – Sweet Cakes by Melissa Declined to bake a wedding cake for a lesbian couple Have been sued by the state of Oregon Face penalty of $75,000-150,000 and closure of their business and possible confiscation of their property For more on this see DM&F Is Christian Freedom Disappearing in Canada?

Political Correctness Gone Awry

Rotherham rape victim - 1,400 girls were raped Gave birth to 100 babies, others aborted Some sold into marriage with Muslim men

Rotherham Rapists

Image of Political Correctness, Rotherham, England Rotherham City Council head Martin Kimber South Yorkshire’s Chief Constable David Compton For more on this see DM&F post Post-Christian Tolerance Dismissed the Rape of 1,400 English Girls

Radical Islam War from the East

ISIS in Syria and Iraq ISIS strategy is different than Al Qaida. ISIS wants to conquer and hold land. In April the US State Department resumed sending non-lethal aid to Syrian rebels recently and the delivery included 43 Toyota trucks who gave them to their partners, ISIS, who are fighting with them against President Assad.

ISIS in Iraq 11,000,000 Muslims killed by Muslims since 1948

Christians are fleeing Iraq/Syria 100,000 Christians killed by Radical Muslims each year for the past 10 years in the Middle East Fleeing Iraq: in 2003 1,500,000 Christians in Iraq In 2013, 450,000 Christians in Iraq ISIS Kidnapped 260-370mAssyrian Christians

Christians Fleeing Mosul . Mosul has had a church for 2000 years until June 24, 2014 when ISIS entered the city On July 19, the Islamic State gave Christians 12 hours to convert to Islam, pay a protection tax, or die. 45 Christian institutions the Islamic State destroyed or occupied. Samer Kamil Yacub, age 70, was alone when four Islamist militants carrying AK-47s arrived at his front door and ordered him to leave the city. Twenty of his Moslem neighbors persuaded ISIS not to kill him, because he refused to leave his lifelong home.

Yezidi women captured by ISIS Faith of the Yazdi’s is 1000 years old 50,000 Yazidi flee homes in Iraq 3000-5000 Yezidi men killed 5000-7000 Yazidi women and children have been kidnapped

Orthodox Christian Martyrs Beheaded by ISIS

Boko Haram – Baga, Nigeria Ethnic cleansing - estimated 2000 dead and 30,000 refuged in one Boko Haram attack in January - World was focused on the Charlie Hebdo massacre

Attack on Church in Pakistan

The Christian’s Response The Great Commission

The Conflict The conflict between Jihadists and the infidels – believing Jews and Christians on the one hand and secularists on the other, is not about borders and armament. It is about ideas and ideals. It is a conflict of: Spirit Morality Ideas - worldview

Three Competing Narratives Atheistic-Materialism Radical Islam – Jihad Judeo-Christian Theism

What is the solution?

on earth as it is in heaven. …” What Is the Solution? “Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name, your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. …” The Kingdom of God is: - Simple – love and serve your neighbor * Disciplines of Love * Seed Projects - Profound- the culture of the kingdom. a Or from evil; some late manuscripts one, / for yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever. Amen. The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Mt 6:9-13

Christ and Him Crucified Kingdom Offensive Christ and Him Crucified Thy Kingdom Come Truth Goodness Beauty Atheism Islam

Freedom – Our Driving Vision “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery. …You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature rather, serve one another in love. The entire law is summed up in a single command: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.’” Apostle Paul Galatians 5: 1, 13-14 The Holy Bible : New International Version. electronic ed. Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 1996, c1984, S. Ga 5:1, 13-14

Manifesting the Culture of the Kingdom of God Truth—Reflects God’s physical and metaphysical laws Goodness (Justice)—Reflects God’s moral laws Beauty—Reflects God’s aesthetic laws Douglas Jones and Douglas Wilson Angels in the Architecture, p. 18 Unity and Diversity in the Godhead and in Trinitarian Culture - Truth is Good and Beautiful - Goodness is Beautiful and Truthful - Beauty is Good and Truthful

The Cultural Trinity Unity and Diversity in the Godhead and in Trinitarian Culture Truth is Good and Beautiful Goodness is Beautiful and Truthful Beauty is Good and Truthful