The Trend of the Anti-Christ

 

After reading two news articles from the United States recently, this writer feels that the influence of the Anti-Christ - whether through open or hidden anti-Christian thought - is relentlessly and widely expanding.

 

In the City of Las Cruces in New Mexico State, the citizens have been waiting for a judgment from the Federal Court. That is because in 2003 a retired teacher by the name of Paul Weinbaum filed a lawsuit in the court accusing the public school board of using an emblem that consists of 3 crosses (The school board has used this emblem for years). The emblem with the crosses can be seen everywhere on public schools and city government buildings. The plaintiff declared that the school board is using public funds to promote a religion (Christianity), and this contravenes the First Amendment of the country¡¦s Constitution. Weinbaum feels that he and his school-age daughter could not tolerate the agitation of this emblem, and argues that his fight is not against religion, but for the Constitution. According to the research of History Professor John Hunner of the New Mexico State University though, the original meaning of the name ¡§Las Cruces¡¨ in Spanish is in fact ¡§the crosses¡¨ (plural). If you were a Federal judge, would you ask Weinbaum if he intends to sue the city government as well because they shouldn¡¦t have adopted that name for the city? This fulfills what Jesus Christ said, ¡§If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.¡¨ (John 15:18) and, ¡§But this is to fulfill what is written in their law: ¡¦They hated me without reason.¡¦¡¨ (John 15:25)

 

The citizens of Minnesota recently voted in Democrat Keith Ellison as their Congressman. He is the first black Muslim Congressman in American history. Ellison, who is 43 years old and a lawyer, received much support from his constituents and the country¡¦s Muslim community. He pronounced that at his Congressional swearing-in ceremony, he would apply the religious freedom afforded him by the Constitution and use the Koran instead of the Bible as the basis for his oath of office. On the one hand, the election of Ellison as a Congressman by the Americans certainly expresses the freedom and democratic spirit of their electoral system. On the other, the first Muslim to enter the Congress makes quite an appropriate propaganda tool for the U.S. government to proclaim to the Islamic world America¡¦s inclusiveness of different cultures and religions. Yet some current affairs commentators believe the U.S. government is facing a more serious confrontation than the 911 terrorist attack, because the status and value of traditional Christianity are being challenged. We cannot help but ask: will this newly-minted Congressman who is entering the legislature under his green election banners, use political correctness as the justification to force his will on the country by brandishing the public opinion of a minority of Muslims, and continue to challenge and marginalize the traditional core value of Christianity in America? It appears that the battle of the Blue camp and the Green camp (as in Taiwan) could happen on the soil of the U.S. as well!

 

The above news reports reflect the current trend of the U.S. to gradually forsake God. The situation in Canada is similar. We are in an age of extreme individualism that abuses the exercise of freedom, democracy and human rights. Seeking only political correctness and profit above all, those in power do not hesitate to bury their morality and conscience and discard the substance of traditional Christian beliefs. Because of the multicultural make-up of society and to ensure ethnic harmony, the government becomes hyper tolerant towards the extravagant demands of minority groups, and considers all religions as equal and moral standards as relative, that there is not one true God, and that the Truth is not absolute. On the one hand this trend confuses the perspective of people towards Christian belief, and on the other continually weakens the significance of Christianity on the nation¡¦s laws. That is what worries us.

 

¡§We know that we are children of God, and that the whole world is under the control of the evil one. We know also that the Son of God has come and has given us understanding, so that we may know Him who is true. And we are in Him who is true¡Xeven in His Son Jesus Christ. He is the true God and eternal life.¡¨ (1 John 5:19-20)

 

By: Daniel To