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The Trumpet Herald

Giving the trumpet a certain sound

September 2007

Concerned About Papal Proclamation?


Regarding Papal document issued in July reaffirming Catholic teaching about the "one true church," a commentator for CNN wrote:

Protestant leaders: Don't buy into the foolishness. Let Pope Benedict XVI keep running off at the mouth and making pointless declarations. If you keep bringing good news to the poor, setting the captives free and assisting those who seek to know Jesus, then you'll make more headway in doing the work of Jesus than any 16-page document will. ("Commentary: Pope's comments irrelevant to non-Catholics," www.cnn.com, July 13, 2007)

The lead paragraph was:

Non-Catholics who are up in arms of the proclamation by Pope Benedict XVI that the only true church in the world is that of Catholicism shouldn't even bother getting upset. Just chalk it up to an old man trying to get a little attention. (ibid.)

Inspired Commentary

The level of concern that is appropriate over the Papal proclamation (see the August 2007 Trumpet Herald) might depend on one's understanding of the possibility of those words being backed up by physical force.

The Roman Church now presents a fair front to the world, covering with apologies her record of horrible cruelties. She has clothed herself in Christlike garments; but she is unchanged. Every principle of the papacy that existed in past ages exists today. The doctrines devised in the darkest ages are still held. Let none deceive themselves. The papacy that Protestants are now so ready to honor is the same that ruled the world in the days of the Reformation, when men of God stood up, at the peril of their lives, to expose her iniquity. She possesses the same pride and arrogant assumption that lorded it over kings and princes, and claimed the prerogatives of God. Her spirit is no less cruel and despotic now than when she crushed out human liberty and slew the saints of the Most High. (The Great Controversy, p. 571)

President May Veto Hate Crime Bill


A "hate crimes" bill has been making its way through the US House of Representatives and the US Senate. Although there may be enough votes to pass a bill out for the President's signature, it may not get a presidential signature.

WASHINGTON (BP)--President Bush will veto legislation to expand hate crimes protections to homosexuals and transgendered individuals, even if he has to reject a defense authorization bill, the White House says.

"The qualifications [in the bill] are so broad that virtually any crime involving a homosexual individual has potential to have hate crimes elements," said White House spokesman Tony Fratto, The Washington Times reported Aug. 7. "The proposals they're talking about are not sufficiently narrow." ...

Sen. Edward Kennedy, D.-Mass., has filed a hate crimes measure he is sponsoring as a possible amendment to the Department of Defense authorization bill. ... ("White House promises hate crimes bill veto," Baptist Press (www.bpnews.net), Aug. 7, 2007)

Inspired commentary

While we are certainly opposed to violence against homosexuals, this bill seems to be an effort by some to elevate the status of homosexual behavior by special protection.

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; 1 Timothy 3:1-4

Financial Market Fears


Global financial markets have been shaken by fears that the home mortgage credit problems will spread to other sectors of the US economy.

NEW YORK (AP) -- Wall Street skidded further Friday as investors again succumbed to anxiety over tight credit conditions even after the Federal Reserve said it would do all it can to "facilitate the orderly functioning of financial markets." The Dow Jones industrials came off of their lows after the Fed added a second dose of liquidity to the markets.

The market, which has been gyrating for weeks over fears that credit is drying up, began to pare its losses after the Fed's latest injection of cash into the banking system Friday. The day's declines, however, showed the depths of fear that have investors yanking money out of stocks.

The Fed added another $16 billion in liquidity to the market at midmorning Friday, supplementing the $19 billion added earlier in the day. ... [The total for the day wound up at $38bn from the Federal Reserve.]

The Fed stepped in after the same occurrence Thursday, injecting a larger-than-normal $24 billion in temporary reserves to the U.S. banking system. ...

Confidence has been shaken worldwide. In Asia, which had largely missed the worldwide pullback Thursday, stocks skidded after regulators including the Bank of Japan added liquidity. The European Central Bank for the second day added cash to its money markets. ("Stocks Fall As Credit Concerns Persist," Associated Press, Aug. 10, 2007)

Inspired Commentary

One of the prominent sources of the current economic turmoil relates to opportunistic striving for personal wealth by investors and those who advise them. The now-expired boom in the sub-prime mortgage market (and perhaps the related rapid inflation of housing prices) encouraged housing debt by many who are now experiencing foreclosure. Jesus taught about where Christians ought to accumulate wealth:

Therefore take no thought, saying, What shall we eat? or, What shall we drink? or, Wherewithal shall we be clothed? For after all these things do the Gentiles seek:) for your heavenly Father knoweth that ye have need of all these things. But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. Matthew 6:31-33

Book of Faith Initiative


The Evangelical Lutheran church seems to be saying, "know what the Bible says, but don't do what it says, at least what it literally seems to be saying."

The five-year Book of Faith initiative is intended to boost study of the Bible throughout the 4.8 million-member church. It is also a response to church research that shows 32 percent of Evangelical Lutherans believe the Bible is the inerrant word of God, which is not the position of the Evangelical Lutheran church.

"In our culture, particularly around issues of immorality, the prevailing understanding tends to be a literal understanding of Scripture, which is not a Lutheran understanding," said Presiding Bishop Mark Hanson. ("Lutheran church out to tackle biblical illiteracy," www.chicagotribune.com, Aug. 24, 2007)

Inspired Commentary

They do well who approach the Scriptures with profound reverence.

All scripture is given by inspiration of God, and is profitable for doctrine, for reproof, for correction, for instruction in righteousness: That the man of God may be perfect, thoroughly furnished unto all good works. 2 Timothy 3:16, 17





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