The words that often fall on our deaf ears?

These past few weeks have been insightful, particularly on Gods providence over me and how he uses his word to manifest much greater glory. After suggesting to Becky to read up on the book of James with steadfast keenness and sincerity, she is now posting and updating her blog to certain verses and passages that convey exhortation and words that sometimes seem to fall on deaf ears. It strikes me, how easily is it for us to fall victim to skimming verses and words in the bible. Do we skim the book and only cease to extract meaning only on sentences that seem more important to us?

Certain verses from James have been coming to my attention lately, from Becky posting verses (and also from 'random' places) such as:

"But if you show partiality, you are committing sin and are convicted by the law as transgressors" (Jas 2:9)

"Count it all joy my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds. For you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance, and let it have it's full effect, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking in nothing" (Jas 1)

"So whoever knows the right thing to do and fails to do it, for him it is sin." (Jas 4:17)

It strikes me how odd it is that only now do these verses implicate more meaning and conviction to me than before. How awful is the thought of missing out on others? My thirst for his word grows even more, knowing that I failed to inscribe depth unto my heart when I read from the word. I find great pleasure to confide in a God who is eternal and never changing, and the one who ordained each and every word in the bible. How ignorant would it be from us to skim even a period from it?

I'll Be Honest

What is I'll Be Honest?

I'll Be Honest is a web site that is focused on bringing Glory to God through video testimonies of Christians who have overcome the devil in their life through the Grace of God. Everysingle person alive battles the devil on a daily basis, and it is of great encouragement to see someone else testify to the saving power of the Grace of God. IBH is also focused on spreading the renown of Jesus Christ to the world through Open-Air Preaching and evangelism so that Christ might send revival!

Paul Washer - Narrow Way of the Regenerate - Sermon Jam from I'll Be Honest on Vimeo.

Testimony of realizing the Lordship of following Christ from I'll Be Honest on Vimeo.

I'll Be Honest - What We are About from I'll Be Honest on Vimeo.

Christian Perseverance (An Exposition of Hebrews) A.W. Pink

spiritual faith eyes the Promiser, and is assured that He cannot lie. A spiritual hope embraces the promises, esteems them above all silver and gold, and confidently anticipates their fulfillment. But between the present moment and the actual realization of our hope lies a rugged path of testing, in which we encounter much that wearies, disheartens and retards us. If we are really walking in the path of God’s appointment, there will be oppositions to meet, fierce persecutions to be endured, grievous troubles to be borne. Yet, if our valuation of God’s promises be real, if our anticipation of their fulfillment be genuine, the comfort and joy they afford will more than offset and over-balance the effects of our trials. The exercise of hope will alone deliver from fainting and despondency under continued afflictions.

An Exposition of Hebrews - A.W. Pink

Boss or Father

“How can the inner workings of the heart be changed from a dynamic of fear and anger to that of love, joy, and gratitude? Here is how. You need to be moved by the sight of what it cost to bring you home. The key difference between a Pharisee and a believer in Jesus is inner-heart motivation. Pharisees are being good but out of a fear-fueled need to control God. They don’t really trust him or love him. To them God is an exacting boss, not a loving father. Christians have seen something that has transformed their hearts toward God so they can finally love and rest in the Father.”

- Timothy Keller, The Prodigal God (New York, NY: Dutton, 2008), 86.

Through The Precious Blood - Sovereign Grace Music

Through The Precious Blood (From Come Weary Saints 2008)
Words & Music by Mark Altrogge

You have ordained every breath we take
In pleasure or pain, there is no mistake
Gladness and grief, both are in Your hand
And sufferings brief carry out Your plan
And our fleeting sorrows
Will yield an endless prize
When some bright tomorrow
We’ll see You with our eyes, and

Grace upon grace flows down, flows down
Grace upon grace flows down, flows down
Through the precious blood of Christ

Father of lights, Giver of all grace
Your mercies crown our lives all our days
River of Life, quench our thirsty souls
For no true delight does Your love withhold
And in every season
We are satisfied
For just one reason
Christ was crucified, and

All good gifts, every good thing
Comes to us freely, so freely
All good gifts, every good thing
Comes to us freely, so freely
Through the precious blood
Through the precious blood

Gospel remorse

“Legalistic remorse says, ‘I broke God’s rules,’ while real repentance says, ‘I broke God’s heart.’ Legalistic repentance takes sin to Mt. Sinai, gospel repentance to Mt. Calvary. Legalistic repentance is convicted by punishment, gospel repentance becomes convicted by mercy.”

- Timothy Keller, Church Planter Manual

Everyday By Sovereign Grace Music (Album - Come Weary Saints)

In Your grace,
You know where I walk,
You know when I'll fall,
You know all my ways

In Your love,
I know You allow,
but I cannot grasp,
to bring You praise

Thank You for the trials, for the fire, for the pain
Thank You for the strength, knowing You have ordained
every day

You great power,
shone when I'm weak,
You helped me to see,
loving this place,

perfect peace is filling in my mind
and drawing my heart, to praise You again.

In my uncertainties,
Your word is all I need,
to know You are with me everyday

------

John Piper on the prosperity gospel

Grace To You

It is a blessing to have all the sermons now available to us from Grace To You, a media ministry run by Pastor John MacArthur.

LINK

A Conversation with Paul Washer

Grace Upon Grace Upon Grace

Modern hymn from Keith and Kristyn Getty

Persecution in India is 'Religious Genocide,' says Ministry

By Ethan Cole

Christian Post Reporter

Tue, Nov. 04 2008 03:31 PM EST

The persistent and vicious attacks against Christians in India have a Christian ministry leader who has been going into the persecution hotspot of Orissa state calling the violence “religious genocide.”

“This has been a religious genocide according to the U-N definition of genocide, where persistently and systematically it is planned and not stopped,” maintains Ramesh Landge, founder and director of Cooperative Outreach of India (COI), according to Mission Network News.

“It falls in that category of genocide, and we do agree with that.”

Landge, whose ministry works with U.S.-based Partners International, has been visiting the eastern state of Orissa, where the anti-Christian campaign is most fierce, to help the displaced Christians there.

More than 50,000 Christians have been displaced by the violence, and 30,000 of them live in relief camps while others hide in the jungles.

Since mid-August, over 4,000 Christian homes, churches and businesses have been destroyed by Hindu militant mobs. The number killed in the clashes, overwhelmingly Christian, range from 40 to nearly 100 depending on the source.

"There has been a lot of intimidation. There has been a lot of persecution. People have not been able to go back [to their homes],” Landge said. “If they do go back, the Hindu fundamentalists parties want them to reconvert."

But the ministry leader readily emphasized that although Christians have been suffering they have not renounced their faith and are continuing to stand strong as followers of Jesus Christ.

"This is the very first time in Indian history that such a long onslaught against Christians has taken place, and in a sustained way,” he observed. “In a way, the government was part of it. They never tried to stop it. They were just silent spectators.”

The global ministry Partners International, which supports local Christian ministries in the least Christian regions of the world, is trying to help provide relief items to the displaced, especially since winter is nearing, Landge informed.

He asks Christians elsewhere to help by praying for those being persecuted, advocating on their behalf in their respective countries, and donating to help physically ease the suffering of those being persecuted.

Related
• Over 5,000 Christians Take Protest Against Orissa Violence to India's Capital
• Indian Christians: Stop the Killing
• Missionaries Pray, Fast for God's Intervention in India
• Over 15,000 Protest Anti-Christian Violence in India
• Disturbing Stories Expose Dark Realities of Persecution

----
From The Christian Post

Celebrating Reformation Day // repost from last year

On this day, October 31st, 1517, a young monk named Martin Luther posted a proposal at the doors of Wittenburg, Germany, to debate the doctrine and practices of indulgences. This proposal is commonly called as the 95 Theses. This was not an act of defiance or provocation as is sometimes thought. Since the Castle Church faced Wittenberg's main thoroughfare, the church door functioned as a public bulletin board and was therefore the logical place for posting important notices.

So in honour of our brother, the man himself and his 95 Theses:

"Out of love and concern for the truth, and with the object of eliciting it, the following heads will be the subject of a public discussion at Wittenberg under the presidency of the reverend father, Martin Luther, Augustinian, Master of Arts and Sacred Theology, and duly appointed Lecturer on these subjects in that place. He requests that whoever cannot be present personally to debate the matter orally will do so in absence in writing.

• When our Lord and Master, Jesus Christ, said "Repent", He called for the entire life of believers to be one of repentance.
• The word cannot be properly understood as referring to the sacrament of penance, i.e. confession and satisfaction, as administered by the clergy.
• Yet its meaning is not restricted to repentance in one's heart; for such repentance is null unless it produces outward signs in various mortifications of the flesh.
• As long as hatred of self abides (i.e. true inward repentance) the penalty of sin abides, viz., until we enter the kingdom of heaven.
• The pope has neither the will nor the power to remit any penalties beyond those imposed either at his own discretion or by canon law.
• The pope himself cannot remit guilt, but only declare and confirm that it has been remitted by God; or, at most, he can remit it in cases reserved to his discretion. Except for these cases, the guilt remains untouched.
• God never remits guilt to anyone without, at the same time, making him humbly submissive to the priest, His representative.
• The penitential canons apply only to men who are still alive, and, according to the canons themselves, none applies to the dead.
• Accordingly, the Holy Spirit, acting in the person of the pope, manifests grace to us, by the fact that the papal regulations always cease to apply at death, or in any hard case.
• It is a wrongful act, due to ignorance, when priests retain the canonical penalties on the dead in purgatory.
• When canonical penalties were changed and made to apply to purgatory, surely it would seem that tares were sown while the bishops were asleep.
• In former days, the canonical penalties were imposed, not after, but before absolution was pronounced; and were intended to be tests of true contrition.
• Death puts an end to all the claims of the Church; even the dying are already dead to the canon laws, and are no longer bound by them.
• Defective piety or love in a dying person is necessarily accompanied by great fear, which is greatest where the piety or love is least.
• This fear or horror is sufficient in itself, whatever else might be said, to constitute the pain of purgatory, since it approaches very closely to the horror of despair.
• There seems to be the same difference between hell, purgatory, and heaven as between despair, uncertainty, and assurance.
• Of a truth, the pains of souls in purgatory ought to be abated, and charity ought to be proportionately increased.
• Moreover, it does not seem proved, on any grounds of reason or Scripture, that these souls are outside the state of merit, or unable to grow in grace.
• Nor does it seem proved to be always the case that they are certain and assured of salvation, even if we are very certain ourselves.
• Therefore the pope, in speaking of the plenary remission of all penalties, does not mean "all" in the strict sense, but only those imposed by himself.
• Hence those who preach indulgences are in error when they say that a man is absolved and saved from every penalty by the pope's indulgences.
• Indeed, he cannot remit to souls in purgatory any penalty which canon law declares should be suffered in the present life.
• If plenary remission could be granted to anyone at all, it would be only in the cases of the most perfect, i.e. to very few.
• It must therefore be the case that the major part of the people are deceived by that indiscriminate and high-sounding promise of relief from penalty.
• The same power as the pope exercises in general over purgatory is exercised in particular by every single bishop in his bishopric and priest in his parish.
• The pope does excellently when he grants remission to the souls in purgatory on account of intercessions made on their behalf, and not by the power of the keys (which he cannot exercise for them).
• There is no divine authority for preaching that the soul flies out of the purgatory immediately the money clinks in the bottom of the chest.
• It is certainly possible that when the money clinks in the bottom of the chest avarice and greed increase; but when the church offers intercession, all depends in the will of God.
• Who knows whether all souls in purgatory wish to be redeemed in view of what is said of St. Severinus and St. Pascal? (Note: Paschal I, pope 817-24. The legend is that he and Severinus were willing to endure the pains of purgatory for the benefit of the faithful).
• No one is sure of the reality of his own contrition, much less of receiving plenary forgiveness.
• One who bona fide buys indulgence is a rare as a bona fide penitent man, i.e. very rare indeed.
• All those who believe themselves certain of their own salvation by means of letters of indulgence, will be eternally damned, together with their teachers.
• We should be most carefully on our guard against those who say that the papal indulgences are an inestimable divine gift, and that a man is reconciled to God by them.
• For the grace conveyed by these indulgences relates simply to the penalties of the sacramental "satisfactions" decreed merely by man.
• It is not in accordance with Christian doctrines to preach and teach that those who buy off souls, or purchase confessional licenses, have no need to repent of their own sins.
• Any Christian whatsoever, who is truly repentant, enjoys plenary remission from penalty and guilt, and this is given him without letters of indulgence.
• Any true Christian whatsoever, living or dead, participates in all the benefits of Christ and the Church; and this participation is granted to him by God without letters of indulgence.
• Yet the pope's remission and dispensation are in no way to be despised, for, as already said, they proclaim the divine remission.
• It is very difficult, even for the most learned theologians, to extol to the people the great bounty contained in the indulgences, while, at the same time, praising contrition as a virtue.
• A truly contrite sinner seeks out, and loves to pay, the penalties of his sins; whereas the very multitude of indulgences dulls men's consciences, and tends to make them hate the penalties.
• Papal indulgences should only be preached with caution, lest people gain a wrong understanding, and think that they are preferable to other good works: those of love.
• Christians should be taught that the pope does not at all intend that the purchase of indulgences should be understood as at all comparable with the works of mercy.
• Christians should be taught that one who gives to the poor, or lends to the needy, does a better action than if he purchases indulgences.
• Because, by works of love, love grows and a man becomes a better man; whereas, by indulgences, he does not become a better man, but only escapes certain penalties.
• Christians should be taught that he who sees a needy person, but passes him by although he gives money for indulgences, gains no benefit from the pope's pardon, but only incurs the wrath of God.
• Christians should be taught that, unless they have more than they need, they are bound to retain what is only necessary for the upkeep of their home, and should in no way squander it on indulgences.
• Christians should be taught that they purchase indulgences voluntarily, and are not under obligation to do so.
• Christians should be taught that, in granting indulgences, the pope has more need, and more desire, for devout prayer on his own behalf than for ready money.
• Christians should be taught that the pope's indulgences are useful only if one does not rely on them, but most harmful if one loses the fear of God through them.
• Christians should be taught that, if the pope knew the exactions of the indulgence-preachers, he would rather the church of St. Peter were reduced to ashes than be built with the skin, flesh, and bones of the sheep.
• Christians should be taught that the pope would be willing, as he ought if necessity should arise, to sell the church of St. Peter, and give, too, his own money to many of those from whom the pardon-merchants conjure money.
• It is vain to rely on salvation by letters of indulgence, even if the commissary, or indeed the pope himself, were to pledge his own soul for their validity.
• Those are enemies of Christ and the pope who forbid the word of God to be preached at all in some churches, in order that indulgences may be preached in others.
• The word of God suffers injury if, in the same sermon, an equal or longer time is devoted to indulgences than to that word.
• The pope cannot help taking the view that if indulgences (very small matters) are celebrated by one bell, one pageant, or one ceremony, the gospel (a very great matter) should be preached to the accompaniment of a hundred bells, a hundred processions, a hundred ceremonies.
• The treasures of the church, out of which the pope dispenses indulgences, are not sufficiently spoken of or known among the people of Christ.
• That these treasures are not temporal are clear from the fact that many of the merchants do not grant them freely, but only collect them.
• Nor are they the merits of Christ and the saints, because, even apart from the pope, these merits are always working grace in the inner man, and working the cross, death, and hell in the outer man.
• St. Laurence said that the poor were the treasures of the church, but he used the term in accordance with the custom of his own time.
• We do not speak rashly in saying that the treasures of the church are the keys of the church, and are bestowed by the merits of Christ.
• For it is clear that the power of the pope suffices, by itself, for the remission of penalties and reserved cases.
• The true treasure of the church is the Holy gospel of the glory and the grace of God.
• It is right to regard this treasure as most odious, for it makes the first to be the last.
• On the other hand, the treasure of indulgences is most acceptable, for it makes the last to be the first.
• Therefore the treasures of the gospel are nets which, in former times, they used to fish for men of wealth.
• The treasures of the indulgences are the nets to-day which they use to fish for men of wealth.
• The indulgences, which the merchants extol as the greatest of favours, are seen to be, in fact, a favourite means for money-getting.
• Nevertheless, they are not to be compared with the grace of God and the compassion shown in the Cross.
• Bishops and curates, in duty bound, must receive the commissaries of the papal indulgences with all reverence.
• But they are under a much greater obligation to watch closely and attend carefully lest these men preach their own fancies instead of what the pope commissioned.
• Let him be anathema and accursed who denies the apostolic character of the indulgences.
• On the other hand, let him be blessed who is on his guard against the wantonness and license of the pardon-merchant's words.
• In the same way, the pope rightly excommunicates those who make any plans to the detriment of the trade in indulgences.
• It is much more in keeping with his views to excommunicate those who use the pretext of indulgences to plot anything to the detriment of holy love and truth.
• It is foolish to think that papal indulgences have so much power that they can absolve a man even if he has done the impossible and violated the mother of God.
• We assert the contrary, and say that the pope's pardons are not able to remove the least venial of sins as far as their guilt is concerned.
• When it is said that not even St. Peter, if he were now pope, could grant a greater grace, it is blasphemy against St. Peter and the pope.
• We assert the contrary, and say that he, and any pope whatever, possesses greater graces, viz., the gospel, spiritual powers, gifts of healing, etc., as is declared in I Corinthians 12 [:28].
• It is blasphemy to say that the insignia of the cross with the papal arms are of equal value to the cross on which Christ died.
• The bishops, curates, and theologians, who permit assertions of that kind to be made to the people without let or hindrance, will have to answer for it.
• This unbridled preaching of indulgences makes it difficult for learned men to guard the respect due to the pope against false accusations, or at least from the keen criticisms of the laity.
• They ask, e.g.: Why does not the pope liberate everyone from purgatory for the sake of love (a most holy thing) and because of the supreme necessity of their souls? This would be morally the best of all reasons. Meanwhile he redeems innumerable souls for money, a most perishable thing, with which to build St. Peter's church, a very minor purpose.
• Again: Why should funeral and anniversary masses for the dead continue to be said? And why does not the pope repay, or permit to be repaid, the benefactions instituted for these purposes, since it is wrong to pray for those souls who are now redeemed?
• Again: Surely this is a new sort of compassion, on the part of God and the pope, when an impious man, an enemy of God, is allowed to pay money to redeem a devout soul, a friend of God; while yet that devout and beloved soul is not allowed to be redeemed without payment, for love's sake, and just because of its need of redemption.
• Again: Why are the penitential canon laws, which in fact, if not in practice, have long been obsolete and dead in themselves,—why are they, to-day, still used in imposing fines in money, through the granting of indulgences, as if all the penitential canons were fully operative?
• Again: since the pope's income to-day is larger than that of the wealthiest of wealthy men, why does he not build this one church of St. Peter with his own money, rather than with the money of indigent believers?
• Again: What does the pope remit or dispense to people who, by their perfect repentance, have a right to plenary remission or dispensation?
• Again: Surely a greater good could be done to the church if the pope were to bestow these remissions and dispensations, not once, as now, but a hundred times a day, for the benefit of any believer whatever.
• What the pope seeks by indulgences is not money, but rather the salvation of souls; why then does he suspend the letters and indulgences formerly conceded, and still as efficacious as ever?
• These questions are serious matters of conscience to the laity. To suppress them by force alone, and not to refute them by giving reasons, is to expose the church and the pope to the ridicule of their enemies, and to make Christian people unhappy.
• If therefore, indulgences were preached in accordance with the spirit and mind of the pope, all these difficulties would be easily overcome, and indeed, cease to exist.
• Away, then, with those prophets who say to Christ's people, "Peace, peace," where in there is no peace.
• Hail, hail to all those prophets who say to Christ's people, "The cross, the cross," where there is no cross.
• Christians should be exhorted to be zealous to follow Christ, their Head, through penalties, deaths, and hells.
• And let them thus be more confident of entering heaven through many tribulations rather than through a false assurance of peace.

Sola Scriptura!
Sola Fide!
Sola Gratia!
Solus Christus!
Soli Deo Gloria!

Reformation Study Bible for Any Amount

Celebrate Reformation Week with a genuine leather Reformation Study Bible (ESV) for a donation of any amount.

Reformation Study Bible for Any Amount

The Great Goddesss Numbers

Now if any man build upon this foundation gold, silver, precious
stones, wood, hay, stubble; Every man’s work shall be made manifest:
for the day shall declare it, because it shall be revealed by fire; and
the fire shall try every man’s work of what sort it is. (1 Corinthians
3:12-13)

The emphasis today in Christian circles appears to be on
quantity, with a corresponding lack of emphasis on quality. Numbers,
size and amount seem to be very nearly all that matters even among
evangelicals. The size of the crowd, the number of converts, the size
of the budget, the amount of the weekly collections: if these look good
the church is prospering and the pastor is thought to be a success. The
church that can show an impressive quantitative growth is frankly
envied and imitated by other ambitious churches.

This is the age of the Laodiceans. The great goddess Numbers is
worshiped with fervent devotion and all things religious are brought
before her for examination. Her Old Testament is the financial report
and her New Testament is the membership roll. To these she appeals as
arbiters of all questions, the test of spiritual growth and the proof
of success or failure in every Christian endeavor.

A little acquaintance with the Bible should show this up for the
heresy it is. To judge anything spiritual by statistics is to judge by
another than scriptural judgment. It is to admit the validity of
externalism and to deny the value our Lord places upon the soul as over
against the body. It is to mistake the old creation for the new and to
confuse things eternal with things temporal. Yet it is being done every
day by ministers, church boards and denominational leaders. And hardly
anyone notices the deep and dangerous error. SOS, 153.

“Oh Lord, convict us! Forgive us! Deliver us! Amen.”

(A.W. Tozer, Tozer on Christian Leadership, October 25)

Winter Conference 2008 Support Raising Idea

So Winter Conference is about 2 months away from now and I have to somehow fund myself for the conference. I have to raise $240.

What is Winter Conference?

Winter Conference is a 5 day conference designed to encourage, train, and mobilize students to help Change the World; by being equipped for a lifetime of ministry.

Students are taught and challenged by great speakers, led into worship through praise and prayer, and motivated and challenged through seminars.

There will also be a day of outreach where students will apply what they will learn and go out to reach Toronto.

The theme this year is based from Luke 24:32 where two of Jesus’ followers had an Encounter with him that changed their lives forever. They said to each other, “Did not our hearts burn within us while he talked to us on the road, while he opened to us the Scriptures?” Luke 24:32

Date: Saturday Afternoon, Dec 27, 2008 – Thursday Morning, Jan 1st, 2009

-------------------

so for this year I decided that I will design posters with certain biblical themes or verses which can be used as a decorative piece; selling them about $15 to $25 each (just to compensate printing cost too)

May grace and peace be with you

Chelms "VAR"

The Essense of Idolatry

"The essence of idolatry is the entertainment of thoughts about God that are unworthy of Him. The heaviest obligation lying upon the Christian Church today is to purify and elevate her concept of God until it is once more worthy of Him---and of her."
-A.W. Tozer

Memorization - Hebrews (Ryan Ferguson)

Intense.

Ten Indictments (A Historical 21st Century Message)

Paul Washer preached at the Revival Conference event in Atlanta, Georgia tonight with what I believe is to be a historical staggering message for America. I encourage you to email this sermon to everyone you know and get it out on blogs etc. We are going to work on getting up photos and video of the message in God's timing. A reformation is coming and God is in charge! May we come back to Biblical Truth again and to the message of True Regeneration!

Ten Indictments (A Historical 21st Century Message) by Paul Washer
http://www.sermonindex.net/modules/mydownloads/singlefile.php?lid=17378&commentView=itemComments

Preached Wednesday, October 22nd at the Revival Conference in Atlanta, Georgia. Paul Washer delivers an urgent appeal to the Christians and churches in North America that many have been believing a false gospel and have false assurance of their salvation. He lists 10 indictments against the modern church system in America. This is a historical urgent message, tell others and spread the message. We need a reformation and revival of a biblical standard!

Delight in God

mon“Delighting in God to the Glory of God for the Good
of All People”

Paul W. Martin (Pastor at Grace Fellowship Church)

I recommend listening to this sermon at least twice.

The Blood of Jesus Christ Cleanses From All Sin

“Our sins are great; every sin is great; but there are some that in
our apprehension seem to be greater than others. There are crimes that
the lip of modesty could not mention. I might go far in this pulpit
this morning in describing the degradation of human nature in the sins
which it has invented. It is amazing how the ingenuity of man seems to
have exhausted itself in inventing fresh crimes. Surely there is not
the possibility of the invention of a new sin. But if there be, ere
long man will invent it, for man seemeth exceedingly cunning, and full
of wisdom in the discovery of means of destroying himself and the
endeavor to injure his Maker. But there are some sins that show a
diabolical extent of degraded ingenuity — some sins of which it were a
shame to speak, of which it were disgraceful to think.

But note here: ‘The blood of Jesus Christ cleanseth from all sin.’ There
may be some sins of which a man cannot speak, but there is no sin which
the blood of Christ cannot wash away. Blasphemy, however profane, lust,
however bestial; covetousness, however far it may have gone into theft
and rapine; breach of the commandments of God, however much of riot it
may have run, all this may be pardoned and washed away through the
blood of Jesus Christ. In all the long list of human sins, though that
be long as time, there standeth but one sin that is unpardonable, and
that one no sinner has committed if he feels within himself a longing
for mercy, for that sin once committed, the soul becomes hardened,
dead, and seared, and never desireth afterwards to find peace with God.”

- Charles Spurgeon, The Evil and Its Remedy

James 3

James 3:8-10

8but no human being can tame the tongue. It is a restless evil,^(A) full of deadly poison. 9With it we bless our Lord and Father, and with it we curse people^(B) who are made in the likeness of God. 10From the same mouth come blessing and cursing. My brothers,^[a] these things ought not to be so.

Quotes/Snippets

Here you may suppose the Father to say, when driving his bargain with Christ for you:

Father: "My son, here is a company of poor miserable souls, that have utterly undone themselves, and now lie open to my justice! Justice demands satisfaction for them, or will satisfy itself in the eternal ruin of them: What shall be done for these souls And thus Christ returns."

Son: "O my Father, such is my love to, and pity for them, that rather than they shall perish eternally, I will be responsible for them as their Surety; bring in all thy bills, that I may see what they owe thee; Lord, bring them all in, that there may be no after-reckonings with them; at my hand shalt thou require it. I will rather choose to suffer thy wrath than they should suffer it: upon me, my Father, upon me be all their debt."

Father: "But, my Son, if thou undertake for them, thou must reckon to pay the last mite, expect no abatements; if I spare them, I will not spare thee."

Son: "Content, Father, let it be so; charge it all upon me, I am able to discharge it: and though it prove a kind of undoing to me, though it impoverish all my riches, empty all my treasures, (for so indeed it did, 2 Cor. 8:9 "Though he was rich, yet for our sakes he became poor”) yet I am content to undertake it."

Blush, ungrateful believers, O let shame cover your faces; judge in yourselves now, has Christ deserved that you should stand with him for trifles, that you should shrink at a few petty difficulties, and complain, this is hard, and that is harsh? O if you knew the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ in this his wonderful condescension for you, you could not do it.

From Fountain of Life Opened Up, by John Flavel.

-----

His delight in the prospect of the eternal salvation of souls more than countervailing the dread he had of his extreme sufferings. Many waters could not quench his love, neither could the floods drown it, for his love was stronger than death; yea, than the mighty pains and torments of such a death.

From Christ the Example of Ministers, by Jonathan Edwards

-----

We never sent to him; he sent to us. Suppose that, after we had all sinned, we had fallen on our knees, and cried importunately, "Oh, Father, forgive us!" Suppose that day after day we had been, with many piteous tears and cries, supplicating and entreating forgiveness of God. It would be great love then that he should devise a way of pardoning us. But no; it was the very reverse. God sent an ambassador of peace to us; we sent no embassage to him. Man turned his back on God, and went farther and farther from him, and never thought of turning his face toward his best Friend. It is not man that turns beggar to God for salvation; it is, if I may dare to say it, as though the Eternal God himself did beg of his creatures to be saved. Jesus Christ has not come into the world to be sought for, but to seek that which is lost. It all begins with him. Unsought, unbidden by the object of his compassion, Jesus came into the world.

~From Herein is Love, by C.H. Spurgeon

Insomnia

I think i'm suffering from it. It has been over 3 days now; i take about 2 - 3 hours to get into sleep. help!!

Notes of Farewell

[note] Notes I handed out to my friends (6 of them) before leaving.

"The world is a circular logic,

making no sense if refracted,

a false complacency is diefied,

like a fool we are easily satisfied,

an eternal bliss exchanged for rags,

a one dimensional philosophy eventually drags,

sense perception is all there is,

so they say, who determine our duties,

a few stand against that tide,

countering and rebuking what they hide,

we are taunted like an animal,

striving emphatically to an apex sentimental"

"but i am finite and i will not satisfy,

the eternal satisfaction is beyond me,

there is a door at the end,

love will lead you on from there,"

- Chelms Varthoumlien

Interim report of Orissa FFM

INTERIM REPORT

CONCERNED CITIZENS’ INDEPENDENT FACT- FINDING MISSION

KANDHAMAL, SEPTEMBER 2008, ORISSA

Released on 25th of September 2008 at a Press Conference in IWPC, New Delhi

(Speakers at Press Conference: Prof. Manoranjan Mohanty, Prof. Kamal Mitra Chenoy, Ms. Sagari Chhabra, Ms. Seema Mustafa and Mr. Bijulal MV)

Orissa has been in the news in the recent years because of the people’s movements against the mega projects in Kashipur, Kalinganagar, Niyamgiri, Lanjhigrah, Jagatsinghpur and Paradip which have contributed to large scale displacement of people. But another trend which was growing during the past decade – the rise of communal forces led by the Sangha Parivar has taken a serious turn since the last week of August with systematic attacks on Christians in Kandhamal district and elsewhere. Christians are only 2.36% of India’s population, but have a rich tradition of founding and running the most prestigious educational and health-care institutions of the country.

However, the past couple of months witnessed violent attack on Christians in some states. Particularly, since August 24th, the Christians in Orissa have experienced the worst ever communal violence, their churches have been burnt, Christian orphanages and other institutions have been set on fire, pastors attacked, one was killed, one nun was burnt alive while another was gang-raped. All this followed the night of August 23 when the controversial VHP leader, Swami Laxmananda Saraswati and his four associates were killed by a group of armed assassins, while celebrating Janmashtmi at Jalespata Ashram.

In the wake of this continuing violence a fact- finding team of concerned citizens across the country visited Orissa. The group consisted of scholars, journalists and activists;

Members of the fact-finding Team

1. Prof. Manoranjan Mohanty, University of Delhi
   
2. Prof. Amit Bhaduri, Prof (Emeritus) Jawaharlal Nehru University (J.N.U)
   
3. Prof. Kamal Mitra Chenoy, J.N.U
   
4. Ms. Seema Mustafa, Senior Journalist & Editor, Covert
   
5. Ms. Sagari Chhabra, Film-maker & Writer, Delhi
   
6. Mr. Bijulal MV, Delhi Solidarity Group and Indian Social Institute, Delhi,
   
7. Dr. Prasad, National Campaign for Dalit Human Rights (NCDHR – NDMJ)
   
8. Mr. Vincent Manoharan, National Secretary, NCDHR, Delhi
   
9. Dr. Prakash Louis, Director, Bihar Social Institute, Patna
   
10. Mr. Prafula Samantrai, President, Lok Shakti Abhiyan, Orissa
    
11. Mr. Rajesh Jena, Advocate, Bhubaneswar

The team visited the camps and villages from 15th September 2008 to 18th and interacted with people from diverse backgrounds, religions and castes. The team also held consultations with state authorities, political party leaders and elected representatives and social workers.

The terms of reference (ToR) of this team included:

Visit the affected areas, meet the victims and enquire into the incidents/violence

Meet relevant government officials and others

Look into the role played by religious fundamentalist forces in the violence

Make recommendations to appropriate bodies

Who killed Swami Laxmananda Saraswati?

While the Maoists have claimed that they did so, the VHP insists on blaming the Christians and exacting their ‘revenge’. The fact is that the Swami was the centre of much controversy in the region and had many criminal cases pending against him and only a high level judicial inquiry can find the truth behind the killing, which was condemned by all sections of society. This was not a ToR of the team and the team did not go further into the details of this.

Villages and towns visited during the Fact-finding mission

Kalinga, Tikabali, Nuogan, Baliguda, Mereka, Paburiam Tiangia, Malikapada, Sarang guda, Pabingia, Kasipadar, Dimligud, Kasingpada, G.Udayagiri, Mandakia, Boruigia, Nilangia, Bakingia, Raikia and Phulbani.

Extent of violence:

In Kandhamal district alone 27,000 people became refugees and started living in camps, while 101 churches were attacked.

Situation In The Camps:

In G. Udayagiri block at a primary school, ‘Hathishala’ over 900 people were living in tents and in the school building. There were 269 men, 365 women, 114 girls and 153 boys. Despite the number of children, none of them received milk and all got a basic dole of ‘chidwa’ for breakfast and dal-chawal for lunch and dinner.

The following are testimonies recorded by the team. The true identities of the people met are not being revealed as they are under threat as the violence is continuing.

Testimonies of the people at camps; ‘Hathishala’ camp, G.Udayagiri:

Role of VHP & Bajrang Dal:

A woman of Raikula said “ A large crowd shouting slogans of Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad came in a mob. They broke into our house and burnt it. All our belongings are no more. In fear we ran into the jungle. We stayed there for four days with our children, who got fever and diarrohea. We did not eat for four to five days and walked over forty kilometres to get to a camp.

Another woman from Raikula said; “We were attacked by the Bajrang Dal and the RSS. They said ‘stop being a Christian and become a Hindu’. They even burnt our Church. I have been a Christian from birth. Last December, in 2007, they came with guns, ‘katras’, small axes, big axes and swords. This time on 27th August ’08 they came again and burnt everything. If we attempt to go back home they threaten to kill us.”

A man from Raikula said; “ I am a teacher in a school, about 12 kilometres from here. There are two tribes in Kandhamal; the Kandhas are Hindu and the Panas are largely Christian. We Panas have been Christians for many years and don’t want to become Hindus. Now regarding the killing of Swami Lakshmanand Saraswati, we don’t know who killed him. The Naxalites write and claim they killed him, but they suspect the Christians. They have driven us out from our land and property. The Panas belong to the Kui tribe. Here in the camp you can see, we are in a terrible condition. It has been raining for two weeks and the tents are leaking. Neither the police nor the government is taking the responsibility in protecting us.”

Killed for Returning Home:

Man from Raikula, “One man, Purender Nayak, of Nilungia, went back to see the condition of his house. They killed him and cut his body into pieces. The VHP, Bajrang Dal and RSS are coming from other districts and making the Kandhas do this. Even now, even while we are at the camp, they come outside to abduct and rape our girls. We have no hope at all”.

Orphanage attacked:

He also said, he ran an orphanage and for three days he did not know the condition of the children. “Some faithful people took them to the camps, but I still do not know the whereabouts of one girl - Taruna Pradhan aged twelve”. He also stated that the police do not respond to calls before the incident, but would come after the houses are burnt. The mob would carry kerosene and consume a local liquor ‘kalu’. He also stated that the few Kandhas who were Christian were also being driven out.

Pregnant Women:

The team met several women who were in advanced stage of their pregnancy. A woman in her pregnancy from village Raikula said “I was pregnant, but when they came I ran. I miscarried the baby.”

Another woman who is nine months pregnant, also gets only rice and dal twice at the camp. She said “They killed my father-in-law and were searching for my husband who is a pastor. They could not find him, because he had already left. The government is supporting them (the attackers).

A man asked if Christians could be shifted elsewhere where they could be kept safely. He said; “This is the work of the RSS, VHP and BJP who provide moral support, petrol and kerosene. Innocent tribals are not like them. He said 25 people related to the camp inmates had been killed.”

At the Habak High School camp, the people named the local people by name who were involved in burning their homes after forcing them to convert to Hinduism in Kiriamaha, Udayagiri.

Pastor killed along with his mother:

A man belonging to village Bakingiya, Police station area of Raikia, said “Fifty to sixty people persons attacked us. First they destroyed the church and then they came to my house. The pastor of the Baptist church was reading the Bible, they forced him to throw the Bible. He refused, they cut him with an axe and burnt him with petrol. His name was Samuel Diggal. His mother, Janamah Diggal was also burnt. She is also dead.”

A man belonging to village Rudangia Police station in G. Udayagiri stated “the mob killed Fidem Nayak, aged 52, Shashi Kant Nayak, aged 60 and Madan Nayak aged 45. All three were Christian pastors. Nobody has been arrested till today.”

Hindu preaching amity killed:

A Hindu, Dasrath Pradhan, was killed because he preached amity between Hindus and Christians. The team met his sister who told us “they first called him for a meeting and then cut his body into three pieces.” The team also met his mother who was an eye-witness to this.

The above testimonies reveal the attacks on the Christians was a pre-planned communal attack as only Christian houses were singled out and burnt. The people also told us the names of the local people involved, but they were led by a mob that came from outside and included the VHP and the Bajrang Dal.

Security Within Camps - Cause For Concern:

Security situation in the Udayagiri camp is a real matter of concern. It was reported to us that on 28 August around 7 p.m. three crude bottle bombs exploded in the camp premise. However no one was harmed since they landed in the open space close to the entrance. Some rowdy elements who came in bikes have thrown the bombs, whose identity could not be ascertained. People narrated their plight before reaching the camps. In several cases they were forced to stay in the forest with out food or proper clothing to protect themselves from cold. Many of them were forced to leave their villages with no time left but to save lives. It was reported to us that some people in their own village colluded with outsiders (names of the perpetrators of violence as reported, are with the team) and mobs of nearly 500 strong most of them wearing saffron head bands with weapons like guns, swords and other sharp weapons came in large numbers to chase all those who were unwilling to convert to Hinduism. Many people were forced to convert to Hinduism in fear and were asked to burn the bible as the first step of ‘conversion’ in many cases. Tonsuring, taking an oath to remain in Hinduism and drinking ritual water for purification were the other practices imposed on them.

Hubbacka High School Camp G. Udayagiri

At the time we reached this camp where the largest number of families were staying, the officials informed us only three policemen of the CRPF were at the gate. It was reported to us that the state police had earlier committed dereliction of duty by letting an anti- social element enter the camp on September 06 around 10 a.m., who threatened the inmates.

This person was identified as one of the perpetrators of violence in a village, from where many were living in the camp. He was held by the police, taken to the police station, right opposite to the camp, and later let off by them without registering an FIR. It was alleged that later, this person went to a police station 23 kms away from Udayagiri, where he registered a complaint against a few people in the camp who helped the police detain him while he was creating mischief in the camp. Conditions under which they lived in the forests at the time of organized violence were similar to that of the first camp. The people said that the number of victims as appeared in media doesn’t reflect the truth. A group of four persons instantaneously recollected the name of five men killed between 25 August to 28 August in gram panchayat Kathinga alone.

Dasrath Pradhan age 35-38 25 August

Bikram Naik 38 28

Parkhita Naik 33 28

Trinato Naik 42 25

Dibya Singh 32 25

Visit to the villages and towns in Kandhamal district where violence had occurred:

The team visited several villages in Kandhamal district. The villages were: Villages visited during the Fact-finding: Kalinga, Tikabali, Nuogan, Baliguda, Mereka, Paburia,m Tiangia, Malikapada, Sarang guda, Pabingia, Kasipadar, Dimligud, Kasingpada, G.Udayagiri, Mandakia, Boruigia, Nilangia, Bakingia, Raikia and Phulbani.

Only Christian Houses And Churches Gutted:

We saw several villages with Christian houses gutted but did not see any Hindu houses that were gutted. Several churches were extensively damaged. This also shows the intensity and nature of the one-sided orchestrated attacks.

Team threatened & blockaded

At Bakingia village there is extensive gutting of a large number of houses. It is clear that a large amount of petrol or kerosene has been used as the damage is extensive. In some houses there are locks; which implies that the mob jumped through the roof to burn the inside of the house. All the houses belong to the Christians and at the end of the road a Church is badly damaged; its brick structure has been broken down. No one is willing talk “We were not here; we have seen nothing” is the standard response. As we take photographs, a group of nearly forty women surrounded us with lathis – sticks and umbrellas. They blocked our exit with large stones, so we are unable to leave the village. They call us ‘foreigners’. They eye us with aggression. Very reluctantly the group allows us to leave. As we drove further, the road was blocked by huge stones; we managed lift some of them for our vehicles to drive up. At the end of the road we noticed a van full of men. They drove into the village giving us sullen looks.

Justification for violence given:

In Nilingia in G.Udayagiri several Christian houses had been gutted and a church has been damaged. Panima Pradhan a Kandha justified the burning of the Christian houses. Her body language was aggressive, pointing at the poster of the swami outside her house she said “ Why was he killed?” When we ask her the connection between her neighbour’s house being gutted and his death she responds “Why did they run away, that is why their houses were burnt.” A group of about twenty people kept a watch on us, as we walk away.

Meeting the officials:

It was also clear from the testimonies given by the people that the attacks were well planned and the police movement was blocked by the blockade of roads. In one case the police officials said that ‘it took the six hours to travel eighty kilometres’, which was the case for all the four days since the violence began. All these indicate the pre-planned nature of the violence and the ability of the perpetrators of violence to ‘effectively’ take over the law and order situation in their control.

Dereliction of Duty:

While the mayhem took place, the police was a silent spectator. Only in one instance, the CRPF fired at rioters killing two. While the state government repeats its alibi that it was short of police and had not got the paramilitary forces required; that is 10 battalions instead of the 4 CRPF battalions dispatched. This argument does not hold water. To maintain the law and order of just one district, the Orissa police forces along with 4 CRPF battalions were enough, if stopping communal violence was really the aim.

The district officials were not in a position to tell the team of the number of arrests. They also informed us that they are working in accordance with the Supreme Court direction on maintaining law and order. On enquiring on the general complaint from the people regarding many instances of inaction and dereliction of duty by the state police while controlling violence, the district officials said that arrests cannot be done in many situations ‘because if arrests are made the situation would have further deteriorated’. Such statements are self-explanatory and proves that the police was not undertaking the primary responsibility to stop violence by booking the culprits.

The team also met the DIG police R.P Koche, the Revenue Divisional Commissioner, Satyabrat Sahu, under whose jurisdiction comes the Kandhamal district including its law and order and the refugee camps. Team also met Madhusudan Padhi, Commissioner cum Secretary, Dept. of Higher Education. After being initially told that they were not present at the circuit house in Phulbani, the officials finally agreed to meet us.

Where are the internally displaced people going?

Mr Sahu, said :”At the peak there were 27,000 people in the camps now there are only 17000 don’t you appreciate this?” While the number in the camps may have reduced by ten thousand people, the fact is that the people are not returning home, due to continuing terror and their psychological insecurity. In reality, it appears that, they are leaving the inhospitable conditions in the camps for undisclosed destinations and could well become the homeless of India.

Improper Collection of data:

Mr R.P Koche the DIG police shared statistics of the police. The data recorded by the state, showed 2863 houses burnt yet showed only 230 criminal cases registered. When asked why no arrests had been made we were told; “it would increase the tension in the area.” The police has recorded only 35 cases of injury whereas a visit to the camps reveals that the incidence of violence was much higher. In other words there is improper collection and recording of data.

Lack of Nourishing Diet for Children and Pregnant Women:

Mr. Madhu Sudan Padhi, IAS, specially stationed at Phulbani ridiculed the use of the word “refugees” and asked if the team knew the definition. When told there were several women who were in an advanced stage of pregnancy in the camps who should get special diet and medical attention he proudly announced; “already twelve children have been born in the camps. You are telling us nothing new.” Requests that at least the children and pregnant women get milk, have not been not acceded to until now as far as we know.

History:

The tensions within Orissa and specifically within Kandhamal are not new. On 22 January 1999, the Australian missionary Graham Stuart Staines and his two minor sons were burnt to death by a crowd in Keonjhar district. Again on 9th September, 1999 Father Aruldoss was killed by fundamentalist groups and on 24 December ‘07 as the Christians were preparing for Christmas, Hindutva forces unleashed a reign of terror against them. The violence continued for a month as hundreds of houses, institutions and property were destroyed and several were killed. In the last decade, violence against minority groups in Orissa has included social and economic boycotts, forced conversion – ‘ghar wapsi’, intimidation, murder, arson, rape, looting and other extra-legal actions.

Underlying Tensions:

In Hinduising Adivasis and polarising relations between them and Dalits in the area, the Sangh Parivar has engineered a rivalry between Kandha Adivasis and pana Dalit Christians in Kandhamal, instigating against the latter’s campaign for scheduled tribe status. Dalit Christians under the law forfeit their right to affirmative action. In current law, Paragraph 3 of the Constitution (scheduled castes) order, 1950 held caste and religion to be mutually exclusive; ‘no person who professes a religion different from the Hindu (later amended to include the Sikh or the Buddhist) religion shall be deemed to be a member of the Secheduled Caste’ (Ministry of Law and Justice, 2006.) In other words, Dalits who convert to Christianity are divested of scheduled caste status and affirmative action afforded by the state via the ‘reservation’ system. This Christian leaders contend, impacts the ability of Dalit Christians to secure resources routinely controlled by those from upper caste backgrounds. Dalit converts to Hinduism are not denied such rights.

State institutions are in internal disagreement over the issue of affirmative action for religious minorities. Responding to a writ petition the Supreme Court asked the government for arguments and guidelines on broadening the assistance of reservation to scheduled castes that convert to Christianity. The government deferred the issue to the Ranganath Mishra National Commission for Linguistic and Religious Minorities. The Mishra report advocated the benefits of reservation to Dalit converts to Christianity and Islam and that religion be disassociated from scheduled caste status in implementing affirmative action. In 2007 the Supreme Court referred the matter back to the Central government , which remains pending. The Pana Christians in Kandhamal have been demanding Scheduled Tribe status.

Fascisation of Orissa:

Orissa’s population is 36.8 million (census 2001) and Christians are only 2.4% of the state’s population. Hindutva mythogises the demise of Hinduism raising the bogey of ‘conversion’ and creating a fear that Christianity will swamp Hinduism. Hindu cultural dominance organises Hindu nationalism. The Sangh parivar seeks to build a cadre that targets Christians, Muslims, and Dalits. This conflict has been camouflaged as a tribal versus Dalit one; it is essentially the Hinduised tribals enacting violence against Dalit Christians. The RSS has 6000 shakhas in Orissa with 1, 50,000 cadres. It has 391 Saraswati Shishu Mandir schools, with 1,11,000 students preparing for future leadership. Vanvasi Kalyan ashram runs 1,534 projects and schools in 21 adivasi concentrated districts. The sangh has initiated 1200 Ekal Vidyalayas in Orissa. The structure to spread the concept of Hindutva is wide.

Political Economy of Orissa:

The Sangh Parivar’s agenda is enabled by some staggering inquities in the state. 47.15% of the total population lives in poverty while 57% of the rural population is poor. In Orissa, about 2.5 hectares of irrigated agricultural land is required for a family of five to meet subsistence, while an average family owns about 1.29 hectares. Kashipur, Bolangir and Kalahandi are known for hunger, malnutrition and starvation deaths.

Timing of the attacks:

The timing of these anti-Christian attacks is not an accident. With elections around the corner, the Sangh Parivar is striving to cause communal polarization in the society and polity, so that Hindus impacted by the propaganda, would support Hindutva and the BJP. The fact that these attacks have started in end August, almost in tandem, with similar characteristics is clear evidence that these were pre-planned and directed to the same aim: Hindu polarization leading to BJP victories in the coming State and General Elections scheduled for early 2009.

Recommendations by the team

For Central Government:

1. A warning under article 355 is not sufficient; the Centre should issue precise directions under Articles 256 and 257 directing the Orissa state government to take necessary action to curb violence expeditiously.
   
2. Central Government should declare the entire Kandhamal district as an area of communal disturbance and issue directions to the State Government under article 355 for immediate action of the State Government for curbing this internal disturbance.
   
3. CBI enquiry should be ordered to enquire and investigate the killing of Swami Lakhmananda Saraswati and the violence perpetrated after that.
   

For State Government:

1. The State Government should take all necessary immediate steps to bring normalcy to the district of Kandhamal.
   
2. Preventive arrests as well as FIRs must be lodged so that the perpetrators can be brought to book and speedy trial should be initiated to punish them
   
3. The Government officials should be booked for the dereliction of their duty and the wilful negligence in protecting the victims and stopping the violence.
   
4. The impunity being enjoyed by both the Hindutva fundamentalist forces should be cracked by proceeding legally against them.
   
5. State Government should allow the free entry of civil society and human rights organizations into Kandhamal district to have their assessment and also to help the victims.
   
6. The State Govt should provide police protection to Churches and institutions and also the areas where Dalit and Tribal Christians live.
   
7. The Relief camps should be kept going and infact improved in terms of providing adequate and nutritious meals to those who are housed there. Pregnant mothers and children in the camps should be given extra care in the camps. Sanitation and medical facilities should be improved in the camps. Free medical treatment should be provided to those who got injured during the attacks. Special classes should be conducted for children.
   
8. Confidence building measures should be chalked out by the government before the victims return to their homes.
   
9. Govt should provide police protection for those who are prepared to go to their places.
   
10. The damaged and burnt houses should be rebuilt by the government enabling the victims to go there.
    
11. Extensive and proper damage assessment should be done by the government with the help of civil society organizations and govt should ensure full compensation .
    
12. Govt should follow the directions given by the Orissa High Court and Supreme Court of India.
    
13. Govt should ban the entry of the VHP, Bajrang Dal and RSS into Kandhamal district.
    
14. An all party meeting should be organized to have Peace Committees formed for the State, District, Block and Village levels where civil society organizations should also be included as committee members.
    
15. The Panchayat heads who were involved in inflicting violence should be brought under the law.
    
16. A long term strategy should be worked out to render justice to the victims and to promote peace and secularism in Orissa.
    

(On behalf of Independent Concerned Citizens’ Fact finding Team)

Contacts: 9968161012 / 9868165471 / 26680883

Creation or Traducianism? by Dr. Francis Turretin

Creation or Traducianism
The Scholastic Reformer explains how the soul is created.
by Dr. Francis Turretin

Thirteenth Question: The Origin of the Soul

Are souls created by God, or are they propagated? We affirm the former and deny the latter.

I. Although there are various opinions of theologians and philosophers about the origin of the soul, yet principally there are two to which the others can be referred: one asserting the creation, the other the propagation, (traducem) of the soul. The former holds all souls to have been immediately created by God and by creating infused; thus to be produced from nothing and without any preexisting material. The latter, however, maintains that souls are propagated. The former is the opinion of almost all the orthodox (with many of the fathers and Scholastics). The latter is embraced by the Lutherans. Tertullian was the author of propagation (traducis) in Treatise on the Soul (ANF 3:181-235), whom the Luciferians and many of the Latins followed. Augustine suspends his judgment (epechei) on this point and, although often discussing the question, still would not determine anything about it (cf. Letter 166 "To Jerome" [FC 30:6-31]; Letter 190 "To Optatus" [FC 30:271@881; The Retractions 1.1 [3] [FC 60:9@101). He testifies that "he still did not know what was to be held" (ibid., 2.82 [561 [FC 60:244; PL 32.653]).

II. Those who believe in propagation do not all think and speak together. Some hold the soul to be propagated from the semen of the parents and produced from the potency of matter. But this is rejected by most as less likely because if it de, pended upon the virtue of the semen, it would also be corporeal and subject to corruption. Others hold it to be from the soul of the father by propagation, yet in a manner inscrutable and unknown to us (Martinius, Miscellanearum Disputationum, Bk. 3, Disp. 7 [1603], pp. 541-42). Others maintain that the soul of the father procreates the soul of the son from a certain spiritual and incorporeal seed (as Timothy Bright). Finally, others (the more common opinion) think the soul is propagated by the soul, not by a decision and partition of the paternal soul, but in a spiritual manner, as light is kindled by light (so Balthasar Meisner and most Lutherans).

III. However, we endorse the creation of the soul: (1) from the law of creation; (2) from the testimony of Scripture; (3) from reasons. (1) From the law of creation, because the origin of our souls ought to be the same as of the soul of Adam; not only because we ought to bear his image (1 Cor. 15:47, 48), but also because his creation (as the first individual of the whole species) is an example of the formation of all men (as the wedlock of our first parents was an example for the rest). But the soul of Adam was created immediately by God, since "he breathed into his nostrils the breath of life" (Gen. 2:7). Thus it is evident his soul was not produced from potent material, but came to him extrinsically through creation and was infused into the body by the breath of God himself. Nor ought it to be objected that we cannot argue from Adam to ourselves because the same thing might be said of the origin of the body (which nevertheless is not the case, since ours is generated from seed, while that of Adam was created from the dust of the earth). Although there may be a disparity by reason of the efficient cause on account of the diversity of the subjects (because as the body is elementary and material, it can be produced by man through generation; but the soul, being immaterial and simple, cannot spring from any other source than God by creation), yet with respect to the material cause a comparison may rightly be made. For as the soul of Adam was created out of nothing, so also are the souls of his posterity; and as his body was formed of the dust of the earth, so also our bodies from seed (which itself also is earthly and material). Therefore the mode of action with respect to Adam was also singular, yet the nature of the thing is the same in both cases. This is confirmed by the production of Eve herself whose origin as to the body is described as from a rib of Adam, but of the soul no mention is made. Hence it is plainly gathered that the origin of her soul was not different from that of the soul of Adam because otherwise Moses would not have passed it over in silence (his purpose being to describe the origin of all things). And Adam himself would have mentioned this origin, yea he would have declared it specially; he would have said not only "this is bone of my bones," but "soul of my soul" (Gen. 2-23). This would have set forth more strongly the bond of wedlock, which should be not only in the bodies, but also in the souls. Finally, if Adam's soul and ours had a different origin, they could not be said to be of the same species because his was from nothing. Ours, however, would be from some preexisting material wholly dissimilar.

IV. Second, from the testimony of Scripture, in which God is spoken of as the author and Creator of the soul in a peculiar manner distinct from the body: “Then shall the dust return to the earth as it was: and the spirit shall return unto God who gave it.” (Ecc. 12:7). Here a manifest difference is marked between the origin and the destruction of the body and the soul. The one is said to return to the dust (whence it was taken); the other, however, to return unto God (who gave it). Therefore since the body returns thither whence it had its origin, so also the soul. This is more clearly confirmed by the fact that God is said to "give the spirit" (which cannot be understood of the common giving by concourse with second causes). For he also gives the body itself no less than the soul because he is the first cause of both (nor would he well be said by antithesis [kat'antithesin] to have given the spirit). Rather this is understood concerning the proper and peculiar mode of origin (which does not belong to the body). Nor ought it to be said that this is to be referred to the first creation of Adam. The scope, the words and circumstances of the text prove that it treats of the ordinary birth and destruction of men. Accordingly their bodies return to the dust (i.e., to the earth) whence they were taken, while their spirits return unto God, the judge, who gave them (either for glory or for punishment).

V. "The word of the Lord, which stretcheth forth the heavens, and layeth the foundation of the earth, and formeth the spirit of man within him" (Zech. 12:1). Whence a multiple argument is drawn for the creation against the birth of the soul (psychogonian). (1) He is said to form the spirit of man within him; therefore he ought to produce it immediately without the intervention of man. (2) The formation of the spirit is joined with the stretching out of the heavens and the founding of the earth, as of the same order and grade. Therefore since the former two are works of omnipotence, made immediately by God and without second causes, so the last ought to be also. Nor can this be referred to the mediate production of God because thus man would be admitted to a participation of causality, which the text does not allow (since it asserts the production of the soul as well as that of the heaven and earth to be peculiar to God). However, this is falsely restricted to the first production of man since it ought to be extended equally to all. Hence when it speaks of the production of the soul elsewhere, the Scripture does not use the singular (as if referring to the one soul of Adam), but the plural (Ps. 33:15; Is. 57:16). But man here is not taken individually for Adam, but specifically for any man.

VI. "We have had fathers of our flesh which corrected us, and we gave them reverence:shall we not much rather be in subjection unto the Father of spirits, and live?" (Heb. 12:9). And Peter calls him in a peculiar manner a "faithful Creator of souls" (I Pet. 4:19). In Num. 16:22, God is called 'the God of the spirits of all flesh.' So too Is. 57:16: "For I will not contend forever, neither will I be always wroth: for the spirit should fail before me, and the souls which I have made.' Now why should God be called "the Father of spirits" in contradistinction to "the fathers of the flesh” unless the origin of each was different? And yet if souls are propagated, the parents of the body and the soul should be the same. Indeed "the flesh" here cannot signify the old man or inborn corruption because then it would not be opposed to spirits (pneuniasi) in the plural, but to spirit (pneumati) in the singular. Rather it designates the body, and they are called 'fathers of the flesh" who generate the flesh. So the word "spirit" ought not to be referred to spiritual gifts (which are not treated of here), but to the other part of man opposed to the body. Nor can the omission of the pronoun hamon (with respect to the flesh) be a hindrance because it is to be repeated apo koinou (since he speaks about the same according to the principles and origin of the diverse parts). Hence in Num. 16:22, he is called "the father of the spirits of all flesh" (i.e., of all men). Again he cannot be called "the Father of spirits" mediately, as he is called "the father of the rain" (job 38:28) because he is its author (although not immediately). Thus the antithesis between the fathers of the flesh and the father of spirits would not stand, and the force of the apostolic exhortation to afford greater obedience to God than to earthly fathers would fall. Nor if the concourse of God is not excluded from the production of the flesh (although attributed to earthly fathers because he is the universal first cause), ought the concourse of man in the production of the spirit to be excluded (because he is the particular second cause).

VII. Third, the same thing is proved by arguments from reason. The soul is propagated by generation, either from both parents or from one only; either as to its totality or only as to a part. But neither can be said. Not the former because thus two souls would coalesce into one and be mingled. Not the latter, for if from one (either the father or the mother only) no reason can be given why it should be propagated by the one rather than by the other (since both parents are equally the principle of generation). If the whole is propagated, then the parents will be without it and so will be deprived of life. If a part, it will be divisible and consequently material and mortal. Nor can it be reasonably replied here that neither the whole soul nor a part of it is propagated, but a certain substance born of the soul and (as it were) an immortal seed of the soul. For it is taken for granted that there is a seed of the soul by which it either generates or is generated; yet such a seed cannot be granted (which does not fall from the soul), and therefore proves it to be material and divisible.

VIII. Again, all modes of propagation are pressed by the most serious difficulties; nor can they be admitted without overthrowing the spirituality of the rational soul. Not the first, which is held by those who consider the soul to be produced from the power of seed so that it is begotten with the body. For the effect cannot (in the total genus) be more noble than its cause; nor can things corporeal and elementary be so elevated as to produce a spiritual and rational thing. If generated from seed, with the seed also it will be corrupted. Men and brutes would have the same origin and consequently the same destruction. Not the second, which is held by those who think the soul of the son to be from that of the father in a manner inscrutable and unknown by us. This entangles rather than unfolds the matter. For the father produces the son either from some preexistent matter or from none; not from none because he would thus create; not from some because either it would be the corporeal substance of a seed (which has just been proved to be false) or it would be a certain spiritual substance of the soul (which again cannot be said). This is true because that spiritual substance is made either from the whole soul of the father or from a part only. Not from the whole because thus the soul of the father would vanish and be converted into that spiritual seed. Not from a part because thus the soul of the father would be divisible into parts, and because that substance is corruptible and perishes in the very instant the soul is produced. But then it will no longer be a spiritual or incorruptible substance. Thus it would follow that there are two spirits in the begotten man: the soul of the son and the spiritual substance from which his soul was produced. Besides, it is repugnant to the nature of seed for it to remain after the generation of the thing (because it ought to be transmuted into what springs from the seed).

IX. Not the third even though it may seem preferable to others. They hold that it is said to be propagated not by alienation, but by communication (as when light is kindled from light without any division of the other). (1) But the communication made of one and the same thing and without any alienation occurs only in an infinite and not in a finite essence (in which the same numerical essence cannot be communicated to another, but a similar only is produced). (2) The soul of the son cannot be produced from that of the father; neither terminatively (because the terminus a quo perishes, the terminus ad quem being produced), nor decisively (because the soul is without parts [ameristos]), nor constitutively (because the soul of the father is not a constitutive part of the soul of the son). (3) The similitude of the light does not apply. Besides the fact that the flame and candle are corporeal substances (while here the subject is a spiritual), it is certain that light is produced from the potency of the material. Nor can it be kindled without a decision of fiery particles transmitted from the lighted to the extinguished torch (which cannot be said of the soul).

X. Since, therefore, the opinion of propagation labors under inextricable difficulties, and no reason drawn from any other source forces us to admit it, we deservedly embrace the option of creation as more consistent with Scripture and right reason. This was also evidently the opinion of most of the heathen philosophers themselves. Hence the following expression of Zoroaster according to Ficinum: "You must hasten to the sunlight and to the father's sunbeams: thence a soul will be sent to you fully enslaved to mind" (Chre speudein se pros to phaos, kai pros patros augas Enthen epemphthe soi psyche! polyn hessamenif noun, Theologia Platonica de immortalitate animorum 10 [1559], p. 160). Aristotle asserts that "the mind or intellect, and that alone enters from without, and is alone divine" (ton noun thyrathen epeisienai kai theion einai monon, Generation of Animals 2.3.27-28 [Loeb, 170-711). Cicero says, "No origin of the soul can be found upon earth for there is nothing in the soul mixed and concrete that seems to be or born from the earth and made.... Thus whatever that is which perceives, knows, wishes and flourishes, is heavenly and divine and on that account must necessarily be eternal" (Tusculan Disputations 1.66 [Loeb, 76-791).

XI. God is said to have rested from all his work (Gen. 2:2), not by retiring from the administration of things, but by ceasing from the creation of new species or individuals (which might be the principles of new species). Thus he works even now (Jn. 5:17) by administering the instituted nature and multiplying whatever was; not, however, by instituting what was not. Now the souls which he creates every day are new individuals of species already created.

XII. Although the soul is not propagated, the divine blessing given at first (Gen. 1:28) does not cease to exert its power in the generation of men. For God always cooperates with the generators and the generation, not only by preserving man's prolific power, but also by infusing the soul into the disposed body.

XIII. It is not necessary in order that man may be said to generate man that he should generate all natures or essential parts of the compound. Otherwise, the blessed virgin did not beget true God and man. Rather it suffices that he prepares and works up the material and renders it fit for the introduction of form and attains the union of the soul with the body (by which man is constituted in his being as man and is made such a physical compound). For generation tends to the compound, not however to the production of both parts. As man is said to kill a man (who dissolves the union of the soul with the body although he does not even touch the soul), so man generates man because he joins together those parts from which man springs although not a soul-begetter (psychogonos). Nor ought he who generates the whole man to be forthwith the producer of the whole of man.

XIV. Adam can be said to have begotten man after his own image, although he did not produce the soul. The cause of the similitude is not the propagation of the soul, but the production of bodies of the same temperament with the parents. For from the different temperament and humors of the body, different propensities and affections are also born in our souls.

XV. When souls are said to have "gone out of the loins of Jacob" (Gen. 46:26), they are not understood properly, but synecdochically for the "persons" (a most usual manner of expression with the Scriptures). Moreover, there was no need that Jacob should contribute anything to the production of these souls. It suffices that he concurred to their conjunction or subsistence in the body mediately or immediately. Therefore they are said to have gone out, not as to being or substance simply, but as to subsistence in the body and union with it.

XVI. Although Christ was no less in Abraham (according to the flesh) than Levi (who was tithed in his loins, Heb. 7:9-10*), it does not follow that Levi was in him according to his soul (so that the soul of Levi was propagated and that a distinction may be preserved). Rather Levi (with respect to person) was in Abraham according to seminal mode and the natural powers of the father and mother (from whom he was to be bom). But Christ was in him only as to the human nature with regard to the mother; not, however, as to his divine nature and person. Thus his person could not be tithed; but as a superior he tithed Abraham and blessed him in Melchizedek (his type), not as man, but as the Mediator, God-man (theanthropos), performing a kingly and priestly office.

XVII. The propagation of original sin ought not to cause a denial of the creation of souls and the adoption of propagation because it can be sufficiently saved without this hypothesis (as will be demonstrated in its place). Although the soul is not materially from Adam (as to substance), yet it is originally from him as to subsistence. And as man is rightly said to beget man (although he does not beget the soul), so an impure progenerates an impure, especially (the just judgment of God intervening) that by which it was established that what he had bestowed upon the first man, he should at the same time have and lose for himself as well as his posterity. Now although it is curious to inquire and rash to define why God infuses a soul tainted with sin and joins it to an impure body, it is certainly evident that God did not will (on account of the sin of man) to abolish the first sanction concerning the propagation of the human race by generation. Thus the order of the universe and the conservation of human nature demanded it.

Courtesy of A Puritans Mind