War Has Been Declared

by Jeff Archer

A few weeks ago, there was a conference held in Amsterdam, The Netherlands, in which 10,300 participants, mostly Christian preachers, declared war on non-believers and people of religions other than Christianity. Their language is quite concise and straightforward, but their message does not appear to be taken too seriously by the general public. We have no one to blame but ourselves if we revert to a new Dark Ages. The religionists have put their agenda on the table.

The following is an Associated Press story published on August 5, 2000. I will present it in its entirety and include editorial remarks (in italics) as the story progresses.

AMSTERDAM, Netherlands (AP) – A conference of world's evangelical Protestants, organized by the Rev. Billy Graham, is concluding with an uncompromising platform statement that insists "Christ is the one and only Savior of the world," and rejects liberal trends in Christianity.
(This shows that the hard-core Christians are even against those who preach Christianity in a manner which is not as militant as theirs. The statement about Christ being "the one and only Savior of the world" is ominous and final.)

The paper, called "The Amsterdam Declaration: A Charter for Evangelism in the 21^st Century" was developed from special discussions this week among 1,000 of the 10,300 participants from 209 countries and territories.

Conference leaders said it is a statement of the 1,000 who prepared it, not the conference as a whole. But it will be considered an important definition of the growing evangelical movement against more liberal versions of Christianity.

A second document, a 14-point "Covenant for Evangelists," will also be given to all those in attendance Sunday. They are being asked to sign it as a personal pledge before God to spread the word with zeal and integrity.
(The word "zeal" is used by these people in a positive manner. Unlike the Christian stealth tactics that were popular about a decade ago, the leaders of the cult of Christianity today have put their agenda on the table for all to see. There is no need for them to hide their version of what the world should be.)

Graham, who is absent from the meeting recovering from surgery in Rochester, Minn., is the first signer of the covenant.

The other document, the declaration, states that "there may well be traces of truth, beauty and goodness in many non-Christian belief systems. But we have no warrant for regarding any of these as ... separate roads to salvation."
(This is a declaration of war against non-Christian believers. If the zealots consider them to be insufficient, what do they think about non-believers? When the time for cleansing the human race of non-Christians comes, we will be at the top of the list.)

"The only way to know God in peace, love and joy is through the reconciling death of Jesus Christ the risen Lord," it says, although the message must be shared "with love and humility, shunning all arrogance, hostility and disrespect."
(This is a brought-up-to-date version of the Inquisition in which Christians persecuted non- Christians in order to "save them." This is what Christians call "love." Their love extended to the Jews and Moslems in the following manner – a Jew or Moslem could be saved by converting to Christ, after which he/she was killed and given a Christian burial. If the Jew or Moslem did not repent, he/she was killed and not given a Christian burial. Nice choices given by the Christians.)

Similarly, the declaration takes a strong conservative stance against all modern trends toward religious relativity and pluralism, in Christian churches as well as "post-modern society." It says the "western intellectual establishment" largely denies there is any absolute truth and this is "influencing popular culture throughout the world." Bit it insists that the Christian Gospel is authoritative truth "to everyone everywhere in all times."
(Let them speak for themselves. The Christian Gospel definitely is not any truth at all to non- believers, yet these self-proclaimed protectors of society have the nerve to state that something applies " to everyone everywhere in all times." In defense of other religions, at least they do not have the audacity to include everyone in their doctrines in the manner that Christians include all humankind in their dogma.)

Rejecting liberal theology, the declaration says the 66 books of the Protestant Bible "constitute the written Word of God. As the inspired revelation of God, in writing, the Scriptures are totally true and trustworthy, and the only infallible rule of faith and practice."
(Many times, I have heard Christians decry the message of fundamentalist sects as they state that their version of Christianity is more moderate. Then, they offer Billy Graham as an example of a moderate Christian whom humankind can admire. The message of Graham and his ilk made above shows that they are just as fanatic and rabid as any snake-handler in rural America. They like to con us into believing there are degrees of fanaticism in Christianity when the Christian message is vile, un-natural, inhumane and violent, despite the words of those who preach it.)

The statement affirms such classical – but often debated – Christian teachings as the Trinity, the virgin birth of Jesus, his bodily resurrection from the dead, and his personal future return as judge and renewer of all things.
(A virgin had a kid? If you believe that merde, get in touch with me. I have a piece of revenue-earning real estate [bridge] to sell you.)

It also insists that apart from faith in God, all people face "eternal destruction, separated from the presence of the Lord.
(I guess this is a fact that all non-believers must face. However, the "eternal destruction" aspect, other than normal aging, has yet to appear at my doorstep. Then again, I have two dogs and maybe the Lord is dyslexic and he thinks I have two gods.)

The document also urges an action plan in which an indigenous church will be established for every group on earth so that everyone has the chance to hear the Christian message "in a language they understand, near where they live."
(This is an interesting statement. The Conference actually stated that there were 263 indigenous peoples on this Earth who had not yet been introduced to Christ. How did they get the figure of 263 and how did they determine the actual areas? Possibly, I am one of them. A few months ago, a couple of Christians knocked on my door and attempted to introduce me to Jesus. [I guess this is according to the statement to give someone a chance to hear the Christian message "near where they live."] I told them, "No thank you." They persisted. Again, I repeated, this time in a more forceful manner, "No thank you." My two polite responses went unheeded, and they continued talking about Christ. Now it was time for me to use their own message. In a loud voice, I used a language they understood. I shouted, "Take your fucking bible-toting asses off my property now before I shove those bibles up your fucking asses!" They quickly left. Maybe that is what the Conference attendees meant by talking about Christ in a language that can be understood.)