Death.

"For the wages of sin is death." Romans 6:23 (NRSV)

This passage in the letter of St. Paul to the Romans is the basis of black magic and Satanism.

Devil-worshippers in our popular culture tell us to sin in the hope that we will die to God and be damned to hell. 

This may not be in line with the reality but the damage done in the devil's name remains.

They tempt you and curse you.

And they tell you to do all the wrong things.

The result is untold suffering.

But God is merciful.

He is patient and forgiving.

Pray to him to deliver you from evil.

[Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission.  All rights reserved.]

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Devil-Worship.

There may not be a literal devil.

But that does not mean that there are not people who believe that there is.

Rock musicians, entertainers, and sports men and women sell their souls as set out in the writings of Aleister Crowley an others.

They think that the devil can grant them fame, fortune, and sexual gratification in return for their souls.

And they curse and poison unsuspecting listeners and watchers.

Subliminal messages and images are hidden behind a mask of glamour and popularity.

They corrupt you and tempt you.

And they tell you to do all the wrong things in the hope that your soul will be damned to hell.

The result is extreme suffering.

Drugs and divorce alone have ruined three generations.

So be more discerning in your listening and watching.

Be aware.

And beware!

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The Way of the world.

The way of the world is governed by fear.

Fear of poverty, fear of failure, fear of loss.....

And the remedy for this is faith.

Faith that God will provide, faith that there will always be enough, faith in God's Love.....

Jesus told the rich ruler to sell all that he owned and give the money to the poor.

But he could not.

He was afraid.

And he did not believe that God would provide.

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Love.

The inmost nature of God is Love*.

God loves us.

To be loved is good.

But to love is even better.

Loves comes from an infinite source within our hearts.

The more love we give the more love there is to give.

Love God and love your neighbor.

Then you will be in love all the time! 

"God is love, and those who abide in love abide in God, and God abides in them."  1 John 4:16 (NRSV)

(*Baghavad Gita Ch.XVIII)

[Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A,, and are used by permission.  All rights reserved.]

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Sheep.

Jesus had compassion for the people "because they were like sheep without a shepherd."  Mark 6:34 (NRSV)

By this he meant that they were oppressed by their leaders and misled by their priests.

Therefore they were "like sheep without a shepherd."

And it is like this today.

People are oppressed by the rich and powerful and misled by their religious leaders.

Jesus said that the world did not know God.

We did not know the steadfast love and care of God.

Because our priests preach fear, guilt, judgement, punishment, and hell.

This creates a false image of God.

And leaves most of us without comfort.

But God is real.

He is reliable and faithful.

His Love is Eternal.

And His Salvation is Forever.

 

[Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are used by permission.  All rights reserved.]

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Scapegoats.

Right-wing Christians and Conservatives have created scapegoats to whitewash their involvement with Satanism.

QAnon and Neo-Nazis combined with Evangelical Christians to promote the Trump January 6 insurrection.

Satanists in the media and entertainment backed up the right-wing grab for power.

But the right-wing has created scapegoats for its involvement with evil.

Hippies and Gays are blamed for Satanism in the music industry.

And immigrants are blamed for social inequalities.

And so evil is deflected onto left-wing politicians and their supporters.

Scapegoating is a well-known tactic of right-wing political forces.

Hitler said that embracing the scapegoat provided Moral Ease for the majority. 

And this is what it does for Conservative Christians and their supporters.

So examine your attitude to Hippies, Gays, and immigrants.

And see whether you are endorsing right-wing scapegoats.

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Out of Darkness.

God calls us out of darkness.

The darkness is our ignorance, our unknowing.

We are not enlightened when we are born.

We learn through our experiences.

The world teaches us cynicism and fear.

But there is a God.

And His Light will enlighten us.

Compassion, Non-Violence, and Love

But there is evil lurking in the darkness.

And they will try to corrupt you.

Try to control you.

To induce a fall from Grace.

But, "The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it."  John 1:5 (NRSV)

And so have faith in God.

Trust in Him.

And follow His voice.

He will lead you out of darkness.

[Scripture quotations (marked NRSV) are taken from the New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright © 1989 by the Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the U.S.A., and are use by permission.  All rights reserved.]

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