EPISODE 20 LINKING THE PAST AND THE PRESENT
PART 3 AMERICA AND THE CREATOR’’S IDENTITY TO BE ADDED
PART 4 WAR AND TRUE PEACE IDENTIFY THE CREATOR TO BE ADDED
EPISODE 20 LINKING THE PAST AND THE PRESENT
The greatest change in human history began as time shifted from B.C. to A.D.. Jesus is the center of human history. The Creator established a nation in 2000 B.C. as a platform for communicating the relationship between God and man. Jesus became the living example of the Creator’s truth and love. His life, death and resurrection completed the foundation laid in Israel. His communication through Israel was for the entire world. It has brought revolutionary changes.
KINGS TO DEMOCRACIES (Government)
Israel became an example of the dangers of government power. The most reliable power is obedience to the Creator’s laws. Giving power to a king caused Israel to split into two nations. The king had abused his power.
Powerful kings formed empires.
SLAVERY TO HUMAN RIGHTS
In the 1700s A.D. an English author addressed the “divine right of kings.”
He concluded that all men are rightfully slaves of their king. But something had changed. The culture had gained respect for the truth of the Bible.
Another Englishman, John Locke using the Bible as his source, showed that the Creator had warned the Israelites against giving power to a king. Thomas Jefferson gave John Locke credit for the concepts of democracy that shifted power from kings back to the people.
The Bible is the basis for our human rights. The limitation of government power is contained in our Declaration – “We are endowed by our Creator with certain inalienable rights.” Our Creator is the foundation of our freedom.
EMPIRES TO NATIONALISM (Economics)
A huge economic shift was changing the world. For millenniums kingdoms became great by conquering their neighbors, taking slaves to do their work and forcing their captive provinces to pay taxes. Empires were built by conquest.
America became the new example of nationalism. It took time to separate from the world’s traditions. America does not use its dominance to take territory or slaves. It respects the sovereignty of other nations. How have we become powerful?
AGRESSION TO INDUSTRIALIZATION
The Creator took a major role in the change. The Bible, with the invention of the printing press, was translated into the languages of the
people. As Christian values spread, so did the biblical knowledge of our world.
The Creator had provided the steps to the birth of modern science. First, the existence of laws governing the universe; second, mathematics shown as the key to understanding the universe; third, the origin of the scientific method; fourth, the existence of universal laws, and the birth of modern science.
The four steps led to the industrial revolution. The new world economy changed from conquest - to science, technology and entrepreneurship.
HEDONISM TO CHRISTIANITY (Morality)
The Roman Empire is an example of the emptiness of pleasure without moral boundaries. It is a self-defeating cultural epidemic that destroys the value of life, and the survival of nations.
Christianity brought the meaning and values that created a civilized Western world.
LAWS TO LOVE
The view of life that brought hope to the world was a result of our Creator’s training. When we train our young children we set up rules of do’s and don’ts. As they mature we expect them to recognize their parents’ love. The guidance of rules is replaced by the guideline of love.
Israel, God’s chosen nation, was given many rules and laws. Jesus completed truth with love. A mature person or nation loves their Creator, and loves the people He created.
This is how the world is changed.
We will consider America’s example next.
PART 3 AMERICA AND THE CREATOR’’S IDENTITY TO BE ADDED
PART 4 WAR AND TRUE PEACE IDENTIFY THE CREATOR TO BE ADDED