spiraling downward

And needle sharing.

 

Jer 17:9 The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?
The unregenerate man does evil continuously, which can mean, unrestrained, and this depravity is simply evidence.

 

As a student of history I truly believe those who do not remember history are condemned to repeat it, ie. Hitler not studying Napolean's dismal invasion of Russia and why it failed.

I really think we should start studying Roman history. One of the greatest empires of the world, as the US is today, was at its peak during the time of Christ and could have embraced Christianity, morality, and had a serious and lasting Pax Romana (Roman Peace). But instead they ridiculed Christianity, and religion as a whole, thought they knew what was best, their arrogance and immorality was their undoing and relatively speaking were not much unlike our society today. Greed and power became the gods of the rich and famous of the day. Their flawed science and philosophy was all about self.

Many striking similarities. Our chariots are a little bit better today though! :tongue3: :laugh:

 

They did embrace Christianity. More so than our nation, which does not have an official religion. After Constantine, Christianity was the official religion of the Roman Empire.

The Pax Romana came before that. The fall of Rome came after. I don't see much of a lesson in this, except for the words whispered to each Roman victor during his triumph:

"Remember, you are mortal."

We should remember, that only God is truly good, and only God endures in this world.

Perhaps. It seems governments cannot solve their problems by having an official religion.

 

I get it, too. But whenever people "get it" they are called homophobes. :tear:

 

3-page warning: This thread will be closed no sooner than 5:45 p.m. ET by one of the moderators.

Lady Eagle

 

He, not necessarily they embraced Christianity, and even that is debatable. He never recanted his title as Pontifex Maximus, the highest postion in Ancient Roman Religion, having nothing whatsoever to do with Christianity and was completely pagan. Interestingly enough, today, that is the same title the Pope carries, although not many really know where it came from. Constatine, no doubt, favored Christians and ended the persecutions under previous rulers. It is alleged, by church fathers, that he did convert on his death bed, but of course impossible to verify. Personally I hope so, definitly another character from history I would love to talk to in heaven! He achieved much of his power though through, what he considered sound advice from pagan soothsayers and this affirmed in him the accuracy of pagan prophecy. His belief in Pagan divination is confirmed by legislation calling for the consultation of augurs (pagan prophets or soothsayers) after an amphitheater had been struck by lightning in the year 320.

Also this is begining of the last 150 years of the roman empire. Rome was already starting to divide because Diocletion (ruler before Constatine) thought the empire was much to large to be governed by a single emporer. Hence the end of the Pax Romana as you mentioned. So to say they embraced Christianity in the last third to a quarter of the empire, considering the loosely used term "embraced" and the previous 300 years of Christian persecution hardly validates them as having an official religion, based on Christianity, even for that short period of time.

Your right, I cannot think of one example of a successful theocracy in the world, past or present. That being said, even the Israelites never followed God's plan, and they saw the Red Sea parted, pillars of smoke and fire, Jericho tumbling down...I know we are not any different, but I am sure more people than I look at that and say, "My word, what were they thinking! They lived during the miracles of God and still didn't get it!" I guess we won't get it until we get to heaven! Just wanted to point out that I am in no way advocating a theocracy for this country, but you do not have to have a theocracy to follow the principles that God has set forth.

Absolutely!!

 

If we really were reaching to these adults back then, we wouldn't have had the problem as big as it is now.

 

Closed per previous warning. LE