Noahide
The Noahide is law that proceeds the Ten Commandments. Ben Shapiro wrote about this code in two articles http://www.townhall.com/columnists/benshapiro/bs20031231.shtml His summary of these laws reminded me of the stories of Cornelius and the Centurion of Capernaum.
The motto of the Order is based on the words St. Peter, as he spoke of Cornelius the Centurion... Fear God and do what is Right” -- anyone who does so regardless of nationality is acceptable to God. Mr. Shapiro points out that Jews are not evangelical. A Gentile like Cornelius and the Centurion of Capernaum could hardly become Jews, especially as Roman officers. Yet they observed a way of life that was respected by the Jewish people. They were Godly men who supported the efforts of the local Jews in their worship, and as they were able, worshipped God also and contributed to the worship of God materially.
I believe that these two centurions may well have been regarded by the Jews of old as men who observed the laws of the Noahide, and both were recognized and saluted by Jesus and Peter, as well as the Jewish leaders of the Synagogue, as being devout and faithful.
CS Lewis in his book the Abolition of Man wrote that those who followed a code from God would see God in the end. I believe that too, for as Jesus said, many will come from the East and the West to sit with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. In the parable of sorting the sheep and goats, it was clear that God accepts those who do right and show mercy regardless of whether they believed they had served Him. How can we expect less?
God’s ways are not man’s, and his mercy is not bounded by what we do or fail to do. We witness this great mystery on Calvary when Jesus spoke from the cross and asked God to forgive those who mocked, beat, and crucified him saying, “Forgive them, for they know not what they do.” The centurion who had guarded Jesus from the time of his arrest, through His trials and tribulations, glorified God that day on Calvary and said, Certainly this was a righteous man [Luke 23:47] He too was accepted for Jesus said,
Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God:
Write us at Mail@OrderofCenturions.org
2003/12/31
2003/12/30
Centurion – Thomas Jonathan (Stonewall) Jackson
I had the opportunity to watch “God’s and Generals” this Christmas season. I’d read the book previously, but the movie focused its attention on General Jackson – one of Armerica's most successful battle commanders. As I watched, it occurred to me that General Jackson’s life as a Christian Soldier is an outstanding example for the Order. I’ve added his name to the list of Centurions in the Church Expectant that we recognize. A letter that General Jackson wrote during the Civil War clearly shows he was a man who Feared God and did what he believed was right – a man of integrity, honor and humility.
TJJ to Rev. (Dr.) Francis McFarland, Augusta Co., Virginia
Date: 1862 July 3
July 31st, 1862
My dear Doctor,
I am very grateful to you for your prayers to God for the success of the operation which God has entrusted to me. Please continue to pray for me and for the success of the troops entrusted to me. It cheers my heart to think that many of God's people are praying to our very kind Heavenly Father for the success of the army to which I belong. Without God's blessing I look for no success, and for every success my prayer is, that all the glory may be given unto Him to whom it is properly due. If people would but give all the glory to God, and regard his creatures as but unworthy instruments, my heart would rejoice. Alas too frequently the praise is bestowed upon the creature. Whilst we must not forget the superior importance of spiritual victories, yet I trust that you will under God's direction do what you can in securing the prayers of His people for the success of our arms, especially for the success of them which are entrusted to me, an unworthy servant, but who desires to glorify His name even in my present military calling. My trust is in God for success. Praying for a continuation of your usefulness I remain your much attached friend
T. J. Jackson
http://www.vmi.edu/archives/jackson/tj620731.html
Write us at Mail@OrderofCenturions.org
I had the opportunity to watch “God’s and Generals” this Christmas season. I’d read the book previously, but the movie focused its attention on General Jackson – one of Armerica's most successful battle commanders. As I watched, it occurred to me that General Jackson’s life as a Christian Soldier is an outstanding example for the Order. I’ve added his name to the list of Centurions in the Church Expectant that we recognize. A letter that General Jackson wrote during the Civil War clearly shows he was a man who Feared God and did what he believed was right – a man of integrity, honor and humility.
TJJ to Rev. (Dr.) Francis McFarland, Augusta Co., Virginia
Date: 1862 July 3
July 31st, 1862
My dear Doctor,
I am very grateful to you for your prayers to God for the success of the operation which God has entrusted to me. Please continue to pray for me and for the success of the troops entrusted to me. It cheers my heart to think that many of God's people are praying to our very kind Heavenly Father for the success of the army to which I belong. Without God's blessing I look for no success, and for every success my prayer is, that all the glory may be given unto Him to whom it is properly due. If people would but give all the glory to God, and regard his creatures as but unworthy instruments, my heart would rejoice. Alas too frequently the praise is bestowed upon the creature. Whilst we must not forget the superior importance of spiritual victories, yet I trust that you will under God's direction do what you can in securing the prayers of His people for the success of our arms, especially for the success of them which are entrusted to me, an unworthy servant, but who desires to glorify His name even in my present military calling. My trust is in God for success. Praying for a continuation of your usefulness I remain your much attached friend
T. J. Jackson
http://www.vmi.edu/archives/jackson/tj620731.html
Write us at Mail@OrderofCenturions.org
2003/12/23
Christmas under Siege
Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God. Luke 12:8
Fox News has recently highlighted this seasons assaults on Christmas. Anyone concerned about this attack on Christmas and our Freedom of Speech and Expression of Religion as a people should visit the article featured today on Town Hall, Foiling Those Evil Grinches. There is good news there with a list of successful actions countering the anti-Christmas campaign. If you are concerned, as we are, please take a look at this article. Consider the right thing to do, perhaps an email to your Congressmen to replace the 'Holiday Tree' at the Capitol with a 'Christmas Tree', and put Christ back in Christmas.
Write us at Mail@OrderofCenturions.org
Also I say unto you, Whosoever shall confess me before men, him shall the Son of man also confess before the angels of God: But he that denieth me before men shall be denied before the angels of God. Luke 12:8
Fox News has recently highlighted this seasons assaults on Christmas. Anyone concerned about this attack on Christmas and our Freedom of Speech and Expression of Religion as a people should visit the article featured today on Town Hall, Foiling Those Evil Grinches. There is good news there with a list of successful actions countering the anti-Christmas campaign. If you are concerned, as we are, please take a look at this article. Consider the right thing to do, perhaps an email to your Congressmen to replace the 'Holiday Tree' at the Capitol with a 'Christmas Tree', and put Christ back in Christmas.
Write us at Mail@OrderofCenturions.org
2003/12/19
No Evil in this World?
The LORD loves those who hate evil; he guards the lives of his faithful; he rescues them from the hand of the wicked. Psalm 97:10
I watched Bill O’Reilly as he read a letter from a viewer who claimed that neither Saddam Hussein or any man was Evil, but men only had a different viewpoints (not verbatim, but what I gathered from the letter). O’Reilly didn’t think much of this and flashed up a photo of Hitler and Pol Pot.
That sort of thought has pervaded our modern society. At Syracuse University I took and Ethics Course conducted by a self-declared Secular Humanist. His hero was a man by the name of B.F. Skinner. Skinner, as I recall, maintained that people don’t do evil, they are simply a product of their environment and behave accordingly. Skinner trained pigeons to fly messages during the war, and afterwards generalized his observations of the behavior of pigeons to men. An argument follows from this belief that therefore we should not punish anyone, but incarcerate them while we rehabilitate them to return them to society. Furthermore, these people are not evil, they are actually victims themselves. We ought to place them in an Adjustment Center where we can talk to them about how society caused them to act the way they did. Then we offer them a college education to get a new start.
President Bush said that he thought Saddam should receive the ultimate sentence. Let’s see, for those who follow Skinner’s theory that might be translated into five years of house “arrest” with a concurrent degree in Nuclear Engineering, all the while receiving periodic counseling from an enlightened psychologist who could declare to the world that Saddam was cured.
Make no mistake about it, Saddam Hussein is an EVIL man on the caliber of Stalin, Hitler, and Pol Pot. His sickness is from Evil and there is but one cure… Jesus who is able to cast out evil – The Real Cure has a formula, (Confess + Repent + Accept = Forgiven) + (Abide) = Cured. (BTW: Being cured does not erase temporal consequences, remember David?)
Write us at Mail@OrderofCenturions.org
The LORD loves those who hate evil; he guards the lives of his faithful; he rescues them from the hand of the wicked. Psalm 97:10
I watched Bill O’Reilly as he read a letter from a viewer who claimed that neither Saddam Hussein or any man was Evil, but men only had a different viewpoints (not verbatim, but what I gathered from the letter). O’Reilly didn’t think much of this and flashed up a photo of Hitler and Pol Pot.
That sort of thought has pervaded our modern society. At Syracuse University I took and Ethics Course conducted by a self-declared Secular Humanist. His hero was a man by the name of B.F. Skinner. Skinner, as I recall, maintained that people don’t do evil, they are simply a product of their environment and behave accordingly. Skinner trained pigeons to fly messages during the war, and afterwards generalized his observations of the behavior of pigeons to men. An argument follows from this belief that therefore we should not punish anyone, but incarcerate them while we rehabilitate them to return them to society. Furthermore, these people are not evil, they are actually victims themselves. We ought to place them in an Adjustment Center where we can talk to them about how society caused them to act the way they did. Then we offer them a college education to get a new start.
President Bush said that he thought Saddam should receive the ultimate sentence. Let’s see, for those who follow Skinner’s theory that might be translated into five years of house “arrest” with a concurrent degree in Nuclear Engineering, all the while receiving periodic counseling from an enlightened psychologist who could declare to the world that Saddam was cured.
Make no mistake about it, Saddam Hussein is an EVIL man on the caliber of Stalin, Hitler, and Pol Pot. His sickness is from Evil and there is but one cure… Jesus who is able to cast out evil – The Real Cure has a formula, (Confess + Repent + Accept = Forgiven) + (Abide) = Cured. (BTW: Being cured does not erase temporal consequences, remember David?)
Write us at Mail@OrderofCenturions.org
2003/12/15
Joe Lieberman, --- ‘Praise the Lord”
“Joe Lieberamn the most consistently anti-Saddam of the Dems, was also the most enthusiastic. "Praise the Lord," he said. "This is something that I have been working on with a lot of other people, advocating and praying for, for more than 12 years since the Gulf War of '91."” [WSJ Opinion] .
Amen We praise the Lord for men like Mr. Lieberman for their integrity. He seems to be a wise man of conviction; and his words and deeds appear to be honorable, true, and pure; and represent the best of our nation.
Write us at Mail@OrderofCenturions.org
“Joe Lieberamn the most consistently anti-Saddam of the Dems, was also the most enthusiastic. "Praise the Lord," he said. "This is something that I have been working on with a lot of other people, advocating and praying for, for more than 12 years since the Gulf War of '91."” [WSJ Opinion] .
Amen We praise the Lord for men like Mr. Lieberman for their integrity. He seems to be a wise man of conviction; and his words and deeds appear to be honorable, true, and pure; and represent the best of our nation.
Write us at Mail@OrderofCenturions.org
2003/12/14
We Got Him Alleluia. Thanks be to God.
For he that is mighty hath done … great things; and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. He hath showed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats -- Luke 1:49
Almighty God, Commander of the Host, protect and guide our troops and strengthen the good people in Iraq in rebuilding their nation so that the dignity of every human being may be honored and freedom and justice may prevail; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
A toast to the men and women of the Fourth Infantry Division!
Write us at Mail@OrderofCenturions.org
For he that is mighty hath done … great things; and holy is his name. And his mercy is on them that fear him from generation to generation. He hath showed strength with his arm; he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. He hath put down the mighty from their seats -- Luke 1:49
Almighty God, Commander of the Host, protect and guide our troops and strengthen the good people in Iraq in rebuilding their nation so that the dignity of every human being may be honored and freedom and justice may prevail; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
A toast to the men and women of the Fourth Infantry Division!
Write us at Mail@OrderofCenturions.org
2003/12/13
Bush – Did the right thing
George W. Bush decided that contracts to rebuild Iraq would go to those who participated in and supported the Liberation -- opponents would be barred. Bush said that it was the right thing to do. Bush is right.
European and American critics think Bush should open the contracts to all – not just those who supported Operation Iraqi Freedom. Bush said at the beginning, if you aren’t with us, you are against us -- Fair Warning. Evidence gathered during the war indicates that some of those countries complaining may actually have been dealing with Iraq against UN resolutions and selling Iraq military items.
In the Order of the Centurions, part of the motto is “Do What is Right”. A close look at the original Greek in the scriptures uses the word “Dikaiosune” for “right.” Strong defines it as “1. state of him who is as he ought to be, righteous, the condition acceptable to God: a. The doctrine concerning the way in which a man may attain a state approved by God b. integrity, virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness of thinking, feeling, and acting. 2. In a narrower sense, justice or the virtue which gives each his due.” It is, of course, the secondary sense that so applicable in this situation.
I cannot imagine taking an army into harm’s way with my men under fire while a group of people hurl insults at me, condemn me, and comfort the enemy; and then expect that I have some obligation to include them in the reconstruction of the vanquished to their financial benefit. There would be nothing “Just” about that – it might be politically wise, it might be benevolent, but not right.
Take it out of the political realm for a moment and look at it as one would in business. Let’s say you make a very risky investment. Your competition does all it can to obstruct you in your purpose while your associates also place themselves at physical and fiscal risk in joining with you. When you have succeeded you announce that you intend to share a good portion of the financial rewards of the hard-earned victory with your competition. Why? Do you think they will like you and join you in future endeavors? Your cohorts will think you are nuts – that you lack “correctness of thinking.” Your competition would no doubt celebrate, but would not think you any more “Just” than would your heretofore associates. Your competitors would have no economic motivation to place anything at risk for you in the future. You seem to be willing to bear all of the risks and their insults as well, and then treat them as if they had all along supported you.
Ironically, the Democrats have historically supported this “rule” as “right”. According to the Random House Dictionary of Quotes, in 1832 Senator William Learned Marcy (1786-1857) of New York was the first man on record to quote this obviously older rule when he said in Congress that, “they (the Democrats) see nothing wrong in the rule that to the victor belong the spoils…"
Write us at Mail@OrderofCenturions.org
George W. Bush decided that contracts to rebuild Iraq would go to those who participated in and supported the Liberation -- opponents would be barred. Bush said that it was the right thing to do. Bush is right.
European and American critics think Bush should open the contracts to all – not just those who supported Operation Iraqi Freedom. Bush said at the beginning, if you aren’t with us, you are against us -- Fair Warning. Evidence gathered during the war indicates that some of those countries complaining may actually have been dealing with Iraq against UN resolutions and selling Iraq military items.
In the Order of the Centurions, part of the motto is “Do What is Right”. A close look at the original Greek in the scriptures uses the word “Dikaiosune” for “right.” Strong defines it as “1. state of him who is as he ought to be, righteous, the condition acceptable to God: a. The doctrine concerning the way in which a man may attain a state approved by God b. integrity, virtue, purity of life, rightness, correctness of thinking, feeling, and acting. 2. In a narrower sense, justice or the virtue which gives each his due.” It is, of course, the secondary sense that so applicable in this situation.
I cannot imagine taking an army into harm’s way with my men under fire while a group of people hurl insults at me, condemn me, and comfort the enemy; and then expect that I have some obligation to include them in the reconstruction of the vanquished to their financial benefit. There would be nothing “Just” about that – it might be politically wise, it might be benevolent, but not right.
Take it out of the political realm for a moment and look at it as one would in business. Let’s say you make a very risky investment. Your competition does all it can to obstruct you in your purpose while your associates also place themselves at physical and fiscal risk in joining with you. When you have succeeded you announce that you intend to share a good portion of the financial rewards of the hard-earned victory with your competition. Why? Do you think they will like you and join you in future endeavors? Your cohorts will think you are nuts – that you lack “correctness of thinking.” Your competition would no doubt celebrate, but would not think you any more “Just” than would your heretofore associates. Your competitors would have no economic motivation to place anything at risk for you in the future. You seem to be willing to bear all of the risks and their insults as well, and then treat them as if they had all along supported you.
Ironically, the Democrats have historically supported this “rule” as “right”. According to the Random House Dictionary of Quotes, in 1832 Senator William Learned Marcy (1786-1857) of New York was the first man on record to quote this obviously older rule when he said in Congress that, “they (the Democrats) see nothing wrong in the rule that to the victor belong the spoils…"
Write us at Mail@OrderofCenturions.org
2003/12/12
Do What is Right – The Creeds
[2Tim 4:3-5 For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths. As for you, always be sober, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully. NRSV]
Centurions are committed to always seeking to do the right thing. The question then is, What is right – how shall we know? The early Christians were trained before baptism in a creed (from the Latin verb “credere”, to believe.) A great site to learn more about the creeds and to compare them is to be found at Christian Classics Ethereal Library. This particular link provides a chart where on can compare and contrast the various creeds: http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/creeds2.iii.i.xiv.html.
[An example of this contrast is the use of the word “Apostolic.” According to the chart, it had never been used in any of the historic creeds when it was added by the 2nd Council in AD 381]
In one place an article on this web site asserts, ” The creeds … were not to be written on paper, but to be engraved on the memory, and to serve to the baptized Christian as a viaticum for his journey through life, by which he might test the doctrine of any other teacher.
When a Centurion hears of a teaching that departs from the creeds, he should be very wary of the teaching and the teachers. Many clergy present false teachings about the Virgin Birth, Resurrection, Evolution, End Times, etc., which are in conflict with the creeds. Centurions should reject and denounce those teachings and rebuke the teachers. Defend the Faith -- That is the right thing to do.
Comments? Write Mail@OrderofCenturions.org
[2Tim 4:3-5 For the time is coming when people will not put up with sound doctrine, but having itching ears, they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own desires and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander away to myths. As for you, always be sober, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully. NRSV]
Centurions are committed to always seeking to do the right thing. The question then is, What is right – how shall we know? The early Christians were trained before baptism in a creed (from the Latin verb “credere”, to believe.) A great site to learn more about the creeds and to compare them is to be found at Christian Classics Ethereal Library. This particular link provides a chart where on can compare and contrast the various creeds: http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/creeds2.iii.i.xiv.html.
[An example of this contrast is the use of the word “Apostolic.” According to the chart, it had never been used in any of the historic creeds when it was added by the 2nd Council in AD 381]
In one place an article on this web site asserts, ” The creeds … were not to be written on paper, but to be engraved on the memory, and to serve to the baptized Christian as a viaticum for his journey through life, by which he might test the doctrine of any other teacher.
When a Centurion hears of a teaching that departs from the creeds, he should be very wary of the teaching and the teachers. Many clergy present false teachings about the Virgin Birth, Resurrection, Evolution, End Times, etc., which are in conflict with the creeds. Centurions should reject and denounce those teachings and rebuke the teachers. Defend the Faith -- That is the right thing to do.
Comments? Write Mail@OrderofCenturions.org
2003/12/11
Endorsement The Order of Centurions heartily commends Martin Roth Christian Commentary to all. His insightful commentary is a sterling witness to the Right application of Christian principles in assessing current issues and events. Of particular interest to Centurions - see the Christians & War section
Comments or thoughts? Please write Mail@OrderofCenturions.org
Comments or thoughts? Please write Mail@OrderofCenturions.org
2003/12/10
Contacting the Order The email for the Order of Centurions is mail@orderofcenturions.org. Please write if you have any suggestions or comments, or would like to partipate in this forum.
2003/12/09
Welcome Centurions. Centurions is a forum intended for members of the Order of Centurions and visitors with an interest in considering the deeds and words of Brothers in Arms from the past and the issues of the day. A beginning is to visit the Order of Centurions site. It will provide the reader with a good understanding of this order and the purposes of this forum.
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