In the 15th century, the Roman Catholic Church would prevent the ordinary folk from getting their hands on the scriptures. This allowed them to have a free reign in creating their own set of rules and practices. For example, "indulgences" was coined up where people were told that their loved ones were purgatoried somewhere between heaven and hell and had to pay the church a sum of money so that that loved one could be freed and enter into heaven.
Without access to the Bible, the common people had no choice but to listen to the priests and take their word as gospel truth.
In other words, decisions were being made on the people's behalf.
And that was why God raised Martin Luther, who started the Reformation movement to protest against these man-made rules and regulations, and to put the Word of God back in the hands of the common folk, so that they could see for themselves what it really said.
Fast forward to the 21st century, and alas, censorship is still very much at work. Let me explain...
Among the groups I subscribe to in Facebook (FB) are the following:
New Creation Church (NCC)
Paya Lebar Methodist Church (PLMC)
The Next Generation (TNG)
I have on occasions been posting to these FB groups links to my blog entries, which are thought-provoking and eye-opening. People can read them and then decide for themselves whether these entries make good sense or are just a load of utter rubbish.
Well, it seems that these choices are being made on people's behalf. While the adminstrator of the NCC FB group has not seen the need to practice any form of censorship, the one of the PLMC FB group has gone the other extreme to disallow any form of feedback there. The TNG FB group falls somewhere in between in that they allow links and wall posts, but someone mysteriously removes those considered objectionable after a couple of days.
I have just posted this link to the "101 Biblical Scandals" (which you see on the right) onto TNG FB group. Let's see how efficient the "Censorship Board" ia in removing it :-)
[Afternote 1: the link was removed within 24 hours. Let's congratulate him on a job well done. It will be only a matter of time before they started to ban any form of links, posts, etc...]
But what takes the cake is PLMC FB group. They now disallow any form of postings, be it links, or posts or wall. Maybe the administrator of the group was told about the recent vandalism case, and may have been told that my posts are an online form of vandalism?
Whatever the case may be, decisions are being made on behalf of others ala the Catholic Church during Luther's time. I have only this to say in response, if God is the one behind the Gospel Revolution, no demon or deacon can stop it from spreading. Amen?
[Afternote 2: discovered there was a FB link from TNG to WorshipSG. I have started a discussion topic of the "101 Biblical Scandals" there, and I won't be surprised if that disappears into the twilight zone within 24 hours too :-)]
1 comment:
Joel2:18-20 (MSG) phrases God's Word interestingly -
"Look, listen—I'm sending a gift:
Grain and wine and olive oil.
The fast is over—eat your fill!"
The fast is indeed over as the bridegroom has already come for His bride... but why are some leaders still keeping their people from feasting on the grace of our LORD Jesus Christ? Why are they keeping their flock from their portion?
Ps 81:10 says - "I, the LORD, am your God, who brought you out of Egypt. Open your mouth and I will feed you." Praise Jesus!
May those who hunger spiritually for more of Him keep opening their hearts to the Grace message of Jesus despite wrongful leadership, so that He can feed them with food that is needful to them. AMEN!
Let us never forget we have been freed from Egypt and have been brought into the promised land through our LORD Jesus Christ. Let us not be foolish but understand what the LORD's will is. (Eph 5:17)AMEN!
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