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The Abomination of Desolation - St. Marys Coptic Orthodox Church

The Abomination of Desolation - St. Marys Coptic Orthodox Church

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SIGNS OF HIS COMING II 31<br />

this world and not on Divine revelation or <strong>Church</strong> authority.<br />

! Jesus can be held up as the paradigm <strong>of</strong> the liberated individual, but<br />

not the incarnate Son <strong>of</strong> God.<br />

! Belief in God is not essential. 1<br />

This is the gospel that Mr. Phipps preaches! In an interview with the<br />

“Ottawa Citizen,” he had this to say:<br />

<strong>The</strong> divinity <strong>of</strong> Jesus and the reality <strong>of</strong> heaven are irrelevant, what really<br />

matters is mending a broken world. Jesus was more interested in life on<br />

earth than the afterlife, and had more to say about poverty than any<br />

other subject.<br />

<strong>The</strong> same newspaper tells us that he developed his views as a student<br />

in the mid 1960s, who observed civil-right marches in New York and<br />

Chicago, and that later on as a minister, he has been quick to<br />

demonstrate against everything from nuclear arms to Canada’s<br />

treatment <strong>of</strong> its aboriginals. Saint Cyril <strong>of</strong> Jerusalem, writing 16<br />

centuries ago, describes what is happening now in the <strong>Church</strong>:<br />

Formerly the heretics were manifest; but now the <strong>Church</strong> is filled with<br />

heretics in disguise. For men have fallen away from the truth, and have<br />

itching ears. Is it a plausible discourse? all listen to it gladly. Is it a word<br />

<strong>of</strong> correction? all turn away from it. Most have departed from right<br />

words, and rather choose the evil, than desire the good. This therefore<br />

is the falling away, and the enemy is soon to be looked for: and<br />

meanwhile he has in part begun to send forth his own forerunners, that<br />

he may then come prepared upon the prey. Look therefore to thyself,<br />

O man, and make safe thy soul. <strong>The</strong> <strong>Church</strong> now charges thee before<br />

the Living God; she declares to thee the things concerning Antichrist<br />

before they arrive. Whether they will happen in thy time we know not,<br />

or whether they will happen after thee we know not; but it is well that,<br />

knowing these things, thou shouldest make thyself secure beforehand. 2<br />

<strong>The</strong> effect <strong>of</strong> this on the ordinary man, the average member <strong>of</strong> the<br />

1 <strong>The</strong> Gospel <strong>of</strong> Humanism (page 128)<br />

2 Catechetical Lectures: Lecture XV

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