REMEMBERING THE MARTYRS – THE WALDENSES

Excerpts from the book… MARTYRS MIRROR

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“AN ACCOUNT OF THOSE WHO SUFFERED IN THE FIFTEENTH CENTURY:”

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“The times in this century are distressing. The places of the world, though very large, are nevertheless very small and narrow for the pious. The holy confessors of Jesus, who seek to live according to the Gospel, find no rest anywhere. It seems that the earth, which ought properly to be a dwelling place for the good, is possessed only by the wicked.”

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“It is time that we begin to give some account of this matter, lest some should doubt what we have said.“

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THE WALDENSES

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“A GREAT NUMBER OF CHRISTIANS CALLED WALDENSES, BURNT FOR THE FAITH, IN FLANDERS, A.D. 1421”

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“Now, when the children of light, who confessed the doctrine of the Waldenses, in the midst of the darkness of popery, began to lift up their hands more and more, in the Flemish countries, and to combat with the power of the Word of God the errors of the Roman church, and to reject principally papal authority, the mass, transubstantiation, pilgrimages, the invocation of saints, purgatory, infant baptism, the swearing of oaths, revenge towards enemies, etc., as we stated concerning the belief of the Waldenses, in the account for the eleventh century; the prince and king of darkness, through the instrumentality of his satellites, laid his hands on them, and ultimately brought the matter so far that very many who would in no wise, neither for life nor for death, apostatize, were condemned to be burnt alive, which was also done with them; and thus they endured the trial of their faith with great steadfastness, in the fire, at Donau, in Flanders, in the year 1421. Wherefore the captain of the faith, Jesus Christ, shall hereafter eternally crown them, as pious champions, with the unfading crown of honor, according to His promise, “Be thou faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life” (Revelation 2:10).”

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The information found at the link below was brought to my attention by Tom at https://excatholic4christ.wordpress.com. Pope Francis speaks of “ecumenical advancements” between Rome and the current Waldensian community. How things have changed and surely not for the better. 😢

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.catholicnewsagency.com/amp/news/pope-francis-asks-forgiveness-of-christian-group-over-historical-persecution-43232

AND THEY THAT WEEP…

1 Corinthians 7:30  And they that weep, as though they wept not; and they that rejoice, as though they rejoiced not; and they that buy, as though they possessed not;

Barnes:

As though they wept not – Restraining and moderating their grief by the hope of the life to come.

As though they rejoiced not – Not rejoicing with excessive or immoderate joy.

As though they possessed not – It is right to buy and to obtain property. But it should be held with the conviction that it; is by an uncertain tenure, and must soon be left. People may give a deed that shall secure from their fellow man; but no man can give a title that shall not be taken away by death.

Our lands and houses, our stocks and bonds and mortgages, our goods and chattels, shall soon pass into other hands.

Other people will plow our fields, reap our harvests, work in our shops, stand at our counters, sit down at our firesides, eat on our tables, lie upon our beds.

Others will occupy our places in society, have our offices, sit in our seats in the sanctuary.

Others will take possession of our gold, and appropriate it to their own use; and we shall have no more interest in it, and no more control over it, than our neighbor has now, and no power to eject the man that has taken possession of our houses and our lands.

Secure therefore as our titles are safe as are our investments, yet how soon shall we lose all interest in them by death; and how ought this consideration to induce us to live above the world, and to secure a treasure in that world where no thief approaches, and no moth corrupts.

Barnes:

The Christian will soon know all about heaven. He will soon be there. He begins no day with any certainty that he may not close it in heaven; he lies down to rest at no time with any assurance that he will not wake in heaven amidst its full and eternal splendors.

ARE YOU SAVED AND ON YOUR WAY TO HEAVEN?

WAR, A COMMON QUESTION…

Originally posted in 2008, reposted with editing.

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A common question when discussing a born again Christian’s participation in war …

“Regarding war, how do you think from our Christian point of view, what we should have done with Hitler or a Stalin? Are we not allowed to fight evil men and women? Or are we to stand on the sidelines praying?”

A Biblical answer …

The people in the true story at the link below were Baptists. They were about their Father’s business in the midst of Nazi occupied Yugoslavia during WW2. The father/husband was an evangelist who eventually started and pastored a church. His wife was a praying woman, and like her husband, received tangible answers to prayer which ministered to the needs of many. They prayed for friend and foe alike. They never picked up a weapon nor killed anyone. The modern day church has lost it’s way and has apostatized from basic Christian teaching.

We, as Christians, are called out out of the world to be peacemakers and ambassadors for Christ. There is a great conflict of interest between a born again Christian, who is an ambassador for Christ, and the military goals of any nation.

See  … OF WHOM THE WORLD WAS NOT WORTHY

John 18:36 Jesus answered, My kingdom is not of this world: if my kingdom were of this world, then would my servants fight, that I should not be delivered to the Jews: but now is my kingdom not from hence.

2 Corinthians 10:4 (For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal, but mighty through God to the pulling down of strong holds;)

Matthew 26:52 Then said Jesus unto him, Put up again thy sword into his place: for all they that take the sword shall perish with the sword.

2 Corinthians 5:20-21 Now then we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God did beseech youby us: we pray you in Christ’s stead, be ye reconciled to God. For he hath made him to be sin for us, who knew no sin; that we might be made the righteousness of God in him.

2 Corinthians 5:18 And all things are of God, who hath reconciled us to himself by Jesus Christ, and hath given to us the ministry of reconciliation;

A thought to ponder… What if in a conflict there are born again believers on opposing sides? Should we be fighting each other either within our own country or in a foreign war? Do we, when we participate in war as born again Christians, put ourselves in a position that it would be possible to kill a brother or sister in Christ?

WHY JESUS CHRIST IS AGAINST THE ROMAN CATHOLIC PRIESTHOOD!

Throwback Thursday: Rick Warren and Rome

Welcome to this week’s “Throwback Thursday” installment. Today, we’re going to revisit a post that was originally published back on March 4, 2016 and…

Throwback Thursday: Rick Warren and Rome