http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?topic=16099&post=94961&uid=308173344359#post94961
1. Schaff’s “History of the Christian Church, Vol.2,” Persecutions, and miscellaneous after-thoughts including Joel Osteen (Peabody, MA: Hendrickson, 1996), 20-40.
2. We argued that history is important to the practitioner of systematic theology at:
http://reformationanglicanism.blogspot.com/2010/03/hodges-systematic-theology-and-tbn.html Further, we critiqued TBN and Pentecostals as having no sense of history or systematics.
3. In the apostolic age and immediate post-apostolic age, the Gospel spread over Palestine, Syria, Asia Minor, north Africa, and to the east, Edessa, Mesopotamia, Persia, Media, Bactria, Parthia, Armenia and Arabia.
4. Christianity in northern Africa flourished before the Vandals and Moslem invasions in the 7th century. Alexandria, with the largest library in the ancient world, was home to a vibrant Christian community. The Gospel spread to Lower and Upper Egypt and as far as Nubia, Ethiopia and Abyssinia. Egypt gave us Arianism, Athanasius and desert monks like Antony and Pachomius. We offered comments on Alexandrian Theology and TBN at: http://reformationanglicanism.blogspot.com/2010/03/alexandrian-theology-and-tbn.html
We also have that on file in the discussion section here.
5. As to heresies and necessary products (“necessary” we’re told), Paula White espouses her Christological heresy at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C_NHV1tBIhI In reading the early Christian literature, you won’t find stuff like this. Or Benny Hinn’s lunacies and anti-Trinitarianism at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h_a4Z1PKGXc&NR=1&feature=fvwp
6. We by-pass Schaff’s comments on the extension of Christendom to Spain, Germany, Gaul and England. A general survey is offered. This is quite a story too.
7. We do call attention to Roman Imperial persecutions: Nero, Domitian, Trajan, Marcus Aurelius, Septimius Severus, Maximinius, Decius, Valerian, Aurelian, and Diocletian, two of which were imperial wide. We refer you to Eusebius’ “Ecclesiastical History.” Persecutions were serious and severe.
8. Regrettably, Joel Osteen has no room in his mind for this. After all, he hasn’t finished one semester of college. We refer you to “Your Best Life Begins Each Morning" for a tour of depth, balance and wizardry at: http://www.amazon.com/Your-Best-Life-Begins-Morning/dp/0446545090/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1268988427&sr=8-3
He is a Word of Faith preacher (lite-variety).
9. We call attention to some modern persecutions. Just a few are noted. We might have added the reports about Nigeria also.
Planned attack on Christians in India:
http://heidelblog.wordpress.com/2010/03/18/reporta-of-a-planned-attack-on-christians-in-india/
Pakistan:
http://heidelblog.wordpress.com/2009/08/02/pray-for-pakistani-christians/
Islamo-fascists:
http://blog.christianitytoday.com/ctliveblog/archives/2009/08/pakistan_christ.html
10. TBN Health, Wealth and Prosperity preachers are pimps, profiteers and men and women who are ignorant of history, confessions, theologians, writers, liturgies or hymns. People need to preach the Gospel and warn others about these loons. And we're not going to relax on these points. They are dangerous to the health of the Church of Jesus Christ. Why are they dangerous? Because they pose as Christian leaders and people, unlettered ones, follow them. They are a cancer and must be opposed. Sleep if you wish. We at this forum won't be sleeping.
11. We close with a prayer and an hymn:
Almighty God, the Supreme Governor of all things, whose power no creature can resist, to Whom it belongeth justly to punish sinners, be merciful to those being persecuted for the name of Jesus Christ throughout the earth. We give thanks for the steadfast train of witnesses who did not yield in persecutions like Polycarp and all the English Reformers. Save and deliver us from people like Paul Crouch, Benny Hinn, Paula White and Joel Osteen. Save and deliver us and others still in the Babylonian Captivity: Grant that we, being armed with Thy strong defense, we may advance and tear down bold and arrogant arguments that insult Thy name, through the merits of Thy Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, Amen.
12. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xH2UcunPAR0
For all the saints, who from their labors rest,
Who Thee by faith before the world confessed,
Thy Name, O Jesus, be forever blessed.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Thou wast their Rock, their Fortress and their Might;
Thou, Lord, their Captain in the well fought fight;
Thou, in the darkness drear, their one true Light.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
For the Apostles’ glorious company,
Who bearing forth the Cross o’er land and sea,
Shook all the mighty world, we sing to Thee:
Alleluia, Alleluia!
For the Evangelists, by whose blest word,
Like fourfold streams, the garden of the Lord,
Is fair and fruitful, be Thy Name adored.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
For Martyrs, who with rapture kindled eye,
Saw the bright crown descending from the sky,
And seeing, grasped it, Thee we glorify.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
O blest communion, fellowship divine!
We feebly struggle, they in glory shine;
All are one in Thee, for all are Thine.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
O may Thy soldiers, faithful, true and bold,
Fight as the saints who nobly fought of old,
And win with them the victor’s crown of gold.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
And when the strife is fierce, the warfare long,
Steals on the ear the distant triumph song,
And hearts are brave, again, and arms are strong.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
The golden evening brightens in the west;
Soon, soon to faithful warriors comes their rest;
Sweet is the calm of paradise the blessed.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
But lo! there breaks a yet more glorious day;
The saints triumphant rise in bright array;
The King of glory passes on His way.
Alleluia, Alleluia!
From earth’s wide bounds, from ocean’s farthest coast,
Through gates of pearl streams in the countless host,
And singing to Father, Son and Holy Ghost:
Alleluia, Alleluia!
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