Author Topic: Powers, Principalities, Prayer & ’78 Chryslers (1)  (Read 1277 times)

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Online Pandora

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Powers, Principalities, Prayer & ’78 Chryslers (1)
« on: June 29, 2011, 08:56:48 AM »
I do love Ann Barnhardt and I can't thank Charles Oakwood enough for the introduction.

Quote
I get a steady stream of emails from people telling me that I’m not really Christian because

A.) I’m Catholic and Catholicism is a pagan cult and
B.) If I was really a Christian I would know that nothing in the world matters and all of my actions are a complete waste and a distraction from the only truly Christian activity, which is prayer.

In regards to point A, all I can say is “thank you” for letting me know, because I’m obviously not very well read, struggle with abstract and critical thought and am an extremely gullible follower-type. I just became Catholic for the Bingo.

With regards to point B, the scripture passage used to justify the whole Quietism heresy, which is what that argument is, is good old Ephesians 6:12.

“For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood; but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the world of this darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high places.”

First, in a nutshell, Quietism is a Christian heresy that declares that man’s highest perfection is physical and mental self-annihilation wherein the individual no longer thinks, wills or acts on its own account. It is a total and complete passivity during one’s earthly life, made to sound pious by claiming that this passive state is “prayer”, when it is really a Hindu-Buddhist nihilistic meditation. God did not make man so that man might NOT exist. God made man so that we might participate in the Triune Godhead, the entire essence of which is “To Be”, “To Love” and “To Reason”. Quietism is like going to Rocky Mountain National Park on the most beautiful day of the year and then locking oneself in a Porta-John. Enjoy that scenery and fresh air, Tiger.

Now to Ephesians 6:12. Ephesians 6 is quite possibly the most militaristic, kick-butts-and-take-names passage in the New Testament. If I may be permitted to make a Taco Bell simile, the imagery is Seal Team Six crossed with a Spartan Phalanx, all wrapped in the Chalupa of the Church Militant. What Ephesians 6:12 is saying is that the power behind the earthly flesh-and-blood enemy is satan and his demons, and we must be mindful of that fact at all times, using prayer to fortify ourselves against their attacks on our spirits, which can lead directly to despair and a loss of faith as we fight the good fight on earth. People misread this verse to say that we need not worry AT ALL about flesh and blood enemies, when it says no such thing. It is saying that when we engage flesh-and-blood enemies we must remember that the drivers of those fleshy enemies are demons that we can’t see. In other words, AMBUSH, AMBUSH, AMBUSH!

We know that Ephesians 6:12 is talking specifically about demons because of the words “principalities, powers, and rulers.” The realm of angels are divided into three Spheres with each Sphere consisting of three sub-types of angels. Even if you think this is starting to sound goofy and a little too “fairy tale” for you, stay with me, because this gets FASCINATING. Because satan and demons are fallen angels, they are organized in exactly the same way as angels. God made them, and they are what they are except that they have freely chosen to pervert themselves into evil agents.

The First Sphere of angels consists of Seraphim, which surround the Throne of God. Next are the Cherubim, which act as guards. In scripture they guard both the Throne of God and the Tree of Life. Since Jesus is the Fruit of the Tree of Life, it makes sense that Cherubim were standing guard for Him when Adam and Eve were expelled from the Garden. Wait, you didn’t know that Jesus and the Eucharist was in the Garden? You didn’t know that it was God’s will for humanity to physically consume Him as Divine Food even before the Fall? You didn’t know that Jesus (the edible Fruit) nailed to the Cross (the Tree of Life) was the re-establishment and re-invitation for humanity to re-enter the Garden and eat? Yeah, it’s pretty amazing the stuff you can learn playing Bingo.

The third class in the first sphere are called “Thrones” or sometimes “Wheels”. They are living symbols of God’s Justice and Authority. Within the last hundred years or so, some very trippy heretics have taught that they are UFOs/space aliens. They are not amused by this.

The Second Sphere consists of heavenly governors. First come the Dominions, who regulate the duties of lower angels. Next come the Virtues who supervise the workings of the cosmos and physical universe. The Virtues are big physics buffs except they have no body odor and can totally talk to girls if they need to do so. Could it be that the demonic equivalent of the Virtues are behind natural disasters? Hmmm. That would explain quite a bit, wouldn't it. Finally come the Powers, who are mentioned in Ephesians 6:12. They are – get this – the bearers of conscience and keepers of history. They are WARRIORS whose duty is to oversee the distribution of power among men. And remember, all of these classes of angels have demonic counterparts. Is it all starting to make sense now?

Finally, the first class in the Third Sphere consists of Principalities or Rulers, which are specifically mentioned in Ephesians 6:12. Their job is to oversee groups of people and to inspire people in art and science. In other words, they put good ideas in men’s heads. And yes, they have demonic counterparts, which is what St. Paul is so strongly warning us to be aware of and to defend ourselves against. AMBUSH, AMBUSH, AMBUSH!

Next are the Archangels who are the guardian angels of nations and countries and are concerned with politics, military matters, commerce and trade. What? You think they aren’t involved in those things? You think they just fly around and play with each others’ hair? Remember once again that there are demonic counterparts here as well - as there are in the last group, Angels, who are our personal guardian angels. It is comforting to think that we have a super-awesome celestial being covering our six, but this also means that we have at least one demon working on us too. My guardian angel probably wants to turn me over its knee and give me a good spanking. He’ll have to get in line.

Do we now see that St. Paul wasn’t telling us to ignore the world in Ephesians 6:12, but rather to keep one eye on the world and one eye on the demons driving the world from their “high places”? This is why we must “pray at all times in the spirit” (verse 18), because we are fighting a war with two very real fronts that MUST be engaged simultaneously. Ignore one front and the other WILL defeat you. More on this and the ’78 Chrysler (not that you don't see EXACTLY where I'm going with that) later this week.
"Under certain circumstances, profanity provides a relief denied even to prayer." - Mark Twain

"Let us assume for the moment everything you say about me is true. That just makes your problem bigger, doesn't it?"

Online Libertas

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Re: Powers, Principalities, Prayer & ’78 Chryslers (1)
« Reply #1 on: June 29, 2011, 11:57:53 AM »
Heh, good stuff.

And I couldn't agree more, reading Ann is such a treat!

 ::thumbsup::


ETA - “For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood; but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the world of this darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high places.”

Amen!
We are now where The Founders were when they faced despotism.

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Re: Powers, Principalities, Prayer & ’78 Chryslers (1)
« Reply #2 on: July 11, 2011, 12:59:39 PM »
She has a flair that catches attention and then tells it like it is, that's for dang sure. Thoughtful, and unvarnished.

I sure wish she'd use a blog that links from the front page to an archived post. It's standard practice these days, and makes searching and linking so much more user friendly.
"A strict observance of the written laws is doubtless one of the high duties of a good citizen, but it is not the highest. The laws of necessity, of self-preservation, of saving our country when in danger, are of higher obligation. To lose our country by a scrupulous adherence to written law, would be to lose the law itself, with life, liberty, property and all those who are enjoying them with us; thus absurdly sacrificing the end to the means."

- Thomas Jefferson

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Re: Powers, Principalities, Prayer & ’78 Chryslers (1)
« Reply #3 on: July 11, 2011, 01:09:26 PM »
She has a flair that catches attention and then tells it like it is, that's for dang sure. Thoughtful, and unvarnished.

I sure wish she'd use a blog that links from the front page to an archived post. It's standard practice these days, and makes searching and linking so much more user friendly.

Permalinks.  Many people must have requested she do so because some little time ago she wrote it ain't gonna happen.  No reason given, IIRC.
"Under certain circumstances, profanity provides a relief denied even to prayer." - Mark Twain

"Let us assume for the moment everything you say about me is true. That just makes your problem bigger, doesn't it?"

Online IronDioPriest

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Re: Powers, Principalities, Prayer & ’78 Chryslers (1)
« Reply #4 on: July 11, 2011, 01:16:14 PM »
She has a flair that catches attention and then tells it like it is, that's for dang sure. Thoughtful, and unvarnished.

I sure wish she'd use a blog that links from the front page to an archived post. It's standard practice these days, and makes searching and linking so much more user friendly.

Permalinks.  Many people must have requested she do so because some little time ago she wrote it ain't gonna happen.  No reason given, IIRC.

Yeah, permalinks is the word. I wonder why no permalinks? I would surmise it might be a vulnerability issue, except that she posted her address and dared Muslims to attack her for burning their asswipe/holy book. Certianly she's not afraid of any exposure that might come from permalinks - if there even are any exposures.
"A strict observance of the written laws is doubtless one of the high duties of a good citizen, but it is not the highest. The laws of necessity, of self-preservation, of saving our country when in danger, are of higher obligation. To lose our country by a scrupulous adherence to written law, would be to lose the law itself, with life, liberty, property and all those who are enjoying them with us; thus absurdly sacrificing the end to the means."

- Thomas Jefferson

Offline Alphabet Soup

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Re: Powers, Principalities, Prayer & ’78 Chryslers (1)
« Reply #5 on: July 11, 2011, 01:34:53 PM »
Quote
No reason given, IIRC.

I suspect that it's a "tone" thang... ::thumbsup::

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Re: Powers, Principalities, Prayer & ’78 Chryslers (1)
« Reply #6 on: July 11, 2011, 01:36:50 PM »

There's no history, no archive, after it's off the front page it's gone. 
I mean, how are you going to find it?


Online Pandora

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Re: Powers, Principalities, Prayer & ’78 Chryslers (1)
« Reply #7 on: July 11, 2011, 03:52:42 PM »

There's no history, no archive, after it's off the front page it's gone. 
I mean, how are you going to find it?



You're not and she obviously wants it that way, the reason/s for which she isn't saying.

It's "free ice-cream", so I take what she offers and leave it at that.
"Under certain circumstances, profanity provides a relief denied even to prayer." - Mark Twain

"Let us assume for the moment everything you say about me is true. That just makes your problem bigger, doesn't it?"

Online Libertas

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Re: Powers, Principalities, Prayer & ’78 Chryslers (1)
« Reply #8 on: July 11, 2011, 05:32:17 PM »
More scoops please!

(I'm addicted)

 ::thumbsup::
We are now where The Founders were when they faced despotism.