The Day Hope Died, or....The Day The Scriptures Came Alive?

   The day of our General Election, 2012, Matt Barber, writing for ClashDaily.com, called for "Churches to get involved in politics."

   He was referencing the IRS's demonstrated reluctance to pursue pastors who preach political messages from the pulpit. A phenomena recently observed.

   The next day came the re-election of Barack Obama: a president who stands as a living monument to how easy it is to be president of a country you despise. Should he get his way, we can expect MORE regulation by bureaucrats, MORE debt, MORE dependent citizens, MORE pandering, MORE mainstreaming of sinful practices and MORE of everything to make our society morally, economically and socially weak!

   Do we take Matt's advice? The Evangelical community did that in the 1950's. How's that worked out? By the 1980's, Jerry Falwell was taking credit for motivating evangelicals to help elect Ronald Reagan.  It's been pretty much down hill since then!

   It has become conventional wisdom, among many Christians, that The Church is supposed to be involved in politics as a way to influence the culture. Perhaps because that's the way First-Century Christians did it. [That's sarcasm] 

   Has anyone checked the scriptures, lately? The prophets predict a steady decline until Jesus comes. Paul said the Spirit of God 'expressly stated' that men would continually get worse, until Jesus comes. Is there any mention of the United States being an exception? 

   Has anyone looked around, lately? From big cities to the suburbs it looks more like Sodom than The Celestial City. Our population is getting younger and browner and more decadent, even the so-called Christians. After 80 years of Dr. Dewey's psychological experimentation in our classrooms, this younger generation doesn't think or act like anyone you knew in 1965.

   Where does that leave those who are truly redeemed? It leaves us exactly where God wants us! It also leaves us with the tools God gave us: Grace, Prayer and The Gospel! 

   Proverbs 24:19,20  [paraphrased] Do not fret because of evil men, neither be thou envious at the [morally] weak because there shall be no [future reward] to [such men]. [Their life] shall be quenched. 

   We can fuss; we can fret. We can crawl into a hole or organize a political action committee. Or....we can pray; live a truly godly life; be a consistent witness and preach The Gospel when the opportunity presents itself. 

   It's not as exciting as a political rally, but it's how the early Christians 'turned the world up-side down.' 

GOD'S JUDGMENT ON AMERICA

   The Election will dominate our life for the next week! Election Day is Tuesday, but pundits and experts are predicting a real possibility of re-counts and challenges, expecting the results to be close.

    In many ways, however, the election has been overshadowed by Sandy. Many are calling Hurricane Sandy "God's Judgment On America." The list is not limited to Christians, those in the Muslim world are saying the same thing. 

    It is easy to scapegoat this issue, and make it a broad-based condemnation of Washington Leadership. While we're doing this, we're not looking at ourselves. America is not Israel, in any sense. The judgments God brought against Israel and against her enemies were unique. As 'The Chosen' of God, the nation Israel bore the brunt of God's holy wrath, for purposes related to a coming Messiah.

    The "Chosen of God," today are Christians, scattered throughout the world. They represent God, not in any national sense, but collectively as The Kingdom of God on earth. If there is a visible expression of this, it is in The Church. If we were seeing God's hand of judgment against any group who violated God's holy standards, it would be The Church.

    And, of course, this is exactly what we see! Churches growing into grotesque caricatures of a holy reality. Preachers who couldn't have gotten a hearing 50 years ago. Bible versions that would have been burned by The Reformers. "New Teachings" that defy the rules of grammar and even logic. Huge salaries and benefits, coupled with tremendous facilities and global electronics. 

    How in the world did Christianity survive, let alone flourish, before all this came along?

    With The New Christianity has come a rise in divorce, abortion, homosexuality and crime....among Christians! You won't get through a month [perhaps a week] without a story of

       a noted Christian engaged to a woman, while still married to his first wife,

       a preacher in support of abortion [in the case of rape or the life of the mother, of course],

       a noted Christian expert, understanding of those who were born homosexual,

       in court for stealing money or misappropriating funds, being involved in some sort of family altercation or being caught with either his girlfriend or his boyfriend.

    The World scorns all this, laughing it the foolish "Christians." The so-called Christian community, however, defends it, under the banner of tolerance and not being judgmental. More and more Christians do not want to hear negativity. Criticize someone who is making a mockery of Christ and of Christian Doctrine and YOU become The Problem!

    But 'Sandy' is God's judgment for America not supporting Israel!  Go Figure!! 

It's Always About The Cover-Up

    We're watching another political cover-up, this one involving the death of 4 Americans employed by the U.S. Government and ostensibly with the reasonable assumption, if not promise of protection. 

    We're watching as the British Broadcasting Company is being charged with covering up the sexual escapades of one of their premiere TV Stars who is now being accused of more than 300 cases of pedophilia, over a 30 year span of time. Knighted by the Queen. Treated as royalty among media types. A Pervert! 

    But cover-ups occur in churches all the time. TBN is embroiled in a Law Suit that alleges they have been misusing funds to enrich themselves. There's a shocker! 

    Another cover-up is alleged in the case of C. J. Mahaney and his Sovereign Grace Ministries. It is alleged that Mahaney knew of a sexual abuse situation, in his church, for decades and purposely concealed that information from Law Enforcement. It is alleged that neither he nor the 6 other leaders named as defendants reported the event(s) and actively sought to "mislead law enforcement into believing the parents had forgiven those who preyed on their children."

    It is not my goal to cast judgment either way, simply to point out what a reasonable person should do in these cases.

    Aside from the Law, which requires pastors, counselors, teachers, etc to report sexual abuse, should they become aware of it, those in Christian Ministry have a biblical and moral obligation to do so!

    Here's the Rule of Thumb: When you hear of a situation, you investigate it!  When you know it has occurred, you become responsible.  When you suspect it has occurred you confront the supposed perpetrator. If he/she confesses, you become responsible. If they do not confess, but you still aren't sure, you become responsible. 

    When you know a crime has been committed, Report it!  When you aren't certain, Get Involved With That Family, In Counseling! At every step you inform the participants that you MUST report a crime or be guilty of a crime, yourself. At no time do you assume the role of Judge and Jury. 

    In the pastorate it is easy to assume these folks are Christians and that by admitting their guilt and submitting to counseling and restitution, everything is OK. The Law doesn't see it that way! As those who are to submit themselves to the governing authorities, we shouldn't see it this way either.

    Restoration, in the case of murder, means what? Confessing it before the congregation? Yes. And....?  With the mainstreaming of homosexuality [in marriages] and in the minds of most Americans, pedophilia is going to increase. It's simply the next logical step. A child does not have to be sexually penetrated for a crime to have been committed!

    Governing Authorities exist to Protect! Secular Government is not the only governing authority. The Family exists as a governing authority structure. The Church exists as a governing authority structure. We expect people to stop anti-social behaviors, simply because it damages the Family. If that doesn't impress them, we have The Church. If that's not an option or it doesn't impress, we have The Law!

    A person who has no more respect for a child [or an adult] than to disrespect them, insult them, hurt them or defile them, has a serious anti-social problem!!  We call it Sin!  If a society can't protect the weaker members, it doesn't have long to exist!

    For Pastors, every counseling session should start with: If you tell me you've committed a crime, my responsibility will be to get you to turn yourself in.  If, after a reasonable time, you refuse, I will!  During that "reasonable time," your crime is ALL we're going to talk about. 

    Are WE becoming so like the world that we no longer know what's right or wrong?  There's a quote: If Gold Rusts, What Can You Expect From Iron?!  

War Clouds Gathering?

   Tuesday, September 25, at Sundown Israel will begin the celebration of Yom Kippur: The Day of Atonement. 

   Forget the fact that there is no Temple, no Altar, no Mercy Seat, Jews around the world still observe this day when God 'covers' the past year's sins of Israel.

    They will do this with their army on High Alert. According to DEBKAfiles Intelligence, Israeli reservists were called up on September 19, with no notice, for a 'surprise exercise' called by Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Benny Gantz under the code name: "National Asset."

    U.S. diplomats began destroying classified documents and sensitive equipment at the Beirut embassy.

    The U.S. is leading 25 West European and Arab nations in a gigantic, 12-day war game in the Strait of Hormuz, which began on Sunday, September 16. Have you heard about this from the Free Press in America?

    Israeli Prime Minister, Netanyahu asked President Obama for a meeting, when they would both be in New York for the coming United Nations General Assembly. President Obama is too busy campaigning. He will be "out of New York City" by the time the Prime Minister arrives. Efforts by Defense Minister Ehud Barak, to meet, were also snubbed. 

    Our president will, however, have time to meet 'briefly' with Egypt's new president, Mohammed Morsi and with Libya's Prime Minister, Mustafa Abushugar. 

    In October, Iran is planning military maneuvers to show the world she is not intimidated by the West.

    In light of what we know of Iran's religious / military / expansionist goals. In light of what is going on, now, in the Region. In light of Israel's desperate situation -- surrounded by an inflamed Arab community -- with France pulling all her ambassadors out of the Middle East -- Can WAR be very far away?

    Sunni Islam is motivated by the coming of the 12th Imam. According to their beliefs, he comes only when the world is aflame in a religious war. He comes to rule over a world controlled by Islam -- an Islamic Caliphate. World-Wide Chaos is necessary for his coming. 

    Can it be any more plain? So, where is our President? Where are our diplomatic leaders? Where are our military planners? 

    The president is campaigning. The State Department is sending homosexuals to Islamic countries, as ambassadors and wondering why they are targeted for assassination. The Defense Department is drawing down the military. 

    This is what passes for The New World Order. An entirely humanistic, idealistic, socialistic, head-in-the-sand approach to government. If flows from the belief that human beings are basically good and if treated with respect will reciprocate with gratitude. 

    The Bible says we are basically evil, self-centered and prideful. But that Book is bigoted and out of touch.

    Can you say: 'Come, Lord Jesus?'

THE DEATH OF LIBERTY

 Drew Peterson, serial-groom and all around jerk, has been convicted of 1st degree murder in the death of his 3rd wife, in Illinois. [He will be tried for his 4th wife, soon]  There is no death penalty in Illinois so he will serve 60 years in prison.

    While no one doubts his guilt, this trial was conducted under a new Illinois Law: Drew's Law. Under this law a defendant is required to defend himself against hearsay evidence, something U.S. Law has disdained for over 240 years!

    Drew Peterson is a bully! Throughout this case [several years] we have seen evidence of this in his outrageous bravado, taunting of the press and those cheering his arrest and in his suggestion, on a talk show, that women could "Win A Date With Drew."

    In an era of Zero-Tolerance for bullies, why are we focused only on school-yard taunting of homosexuals? What about the wives who are bullied [and killed] every day by dominating men? Men, like Drew, who insist on having their way and intimidating anyone who doesn't agree?

    Drew Peterson is a bully who is no doubt a murderer! But he does not deserve the death penalty! The case against him is based on hear-say evidence, a legal principle rejected in this country for or 240 years. 

    Our legal system is based on biblical principles. Under Mosaic law the death penalty required at least two witnesses. Witnesses who saw the crime, saw each other and tried to stop it. The idea is that it is better to let murderers go free than to convict an innocent man. Murderers will face God's judgment and, as every police officer knows, they will no doubt run afoul of the law again. 

    In America we are proud to say we are 'innocent until proven guilty.' Hearsay evidence is not admissible in a court of law! Well, that has changed, at least in Illinois. We don't like the death penalty, so Petersen will now be on the government payroll for the next 20 or so years, depending on how long he can live. And now we don't even need evidence to convict him!

    Does anyone see a pattern? The society without a death penalty, has no power. None of the other laws have any power if there's no death penalty. In this emotional environment, everything is subjective and fairness (as each generation defines it) becomes the standard. 

    Lady Justice has removed her blindfold and is adding weight to the scales of Justice, arbitrarily. 

    Can you say: "French Revolution?"

It's Just A Kid's Show!

A Christian Website, dedicated to helping Christians know and understand what's going on in the Culture printed a Review of the new movie: ParaNorman.

     

In true 'contemporary christian' manner, the review was NOT HELPFUL! Why must so-called Christian ministry / news outlets pander to the least common denominator? 

The Title Reads: "Dark but Imaginative ParaNorman is Outcast Friendly" It concludes with: "...while ParaNorman is entertaining and may look like your average kids' movie on the surface, it's really dark, ...."

The Theme is 'bullying.' Bullying is not what you might think. Bullying is when someone says things that hurt your feelings, all the way up and including physical damage. As such, bullying has become a 'catch-phrase' for anything that makes a person feel uncomfortable and code for 'anti-homosexual bigotry.' 

  

In this flick, the main character is a child who hears voices from 'beyond.' "Obsessed with zombies and misunderstood, Norman keeps company [after school] with his dead Granny. And since the dead souls aimlessly floating around Norman's hometown can't communicate with anyone but him, his chats with the dead are basically the only time he feels remotely close to popular."

The movie is filled with zombies, spells, magic and all things supernatural, as if these are just different, not evil.  Can you say 'conditioning?' It also includes a very angry witch -- who died a ghastly death centuries before -- and is out to wreak her own brand of vengeance.

Underneath it all is the theme of bullying: treating others as outcasts, looking down our noses at people who are different, not seeing the pain that drives the evil bullies do, etc. It's very P.C.

For Christians? The Bible says we're not to participate in evil, not even to look upon it. We are to guard our minds and hearts, protecting ourselves from the images, sounds, sights, etc that end up filling our 'imaginations' and creating more problems later on.

Whatever happened to Holy? How many parents will take their children to see this movie? How many Christian parents are so 'hip' or dull of spirit or simply foolish enough to think this is entertainment? The actual number would astound you! The 'redeeming quality of the moral' will be sufficient to expose their children to a world [even if it's only on the screen] that God says we are NOT to dabble in, for any reason.

Why is the Christian community so spiritually dull and blind? Look no farther than the pulpits! As long as preachers are doing well teaching people how to be good parents, good friends, good lovers, good stewards of their wealth, etc. -- with Bible verses tacked on so it looks like a Bible Lesson -- people are going to continue thinking they are Christians because of what they know or do.

And, as with most things, the children will pay!  This time, with their soul.  Popcorn, anyone?

America's Fading Glory

    How long will it be before our July 4th celebrations will be considered racist or bigoted or just politically incorrect?

    We look back upon 1776 with pride, knowing that it was a watershed moment in the history of the world! British colonists throwing off the shackles of despotism in favor a new and revolutionary form of government. A government OF the people BY the people and FOR the people. A Democratic Republic, with a Constitution that protected citizens from tyrannical abuse by the government.

    Now, we listen to the likes of Chris Rock who wishes us a "Happy White Peoples' Independence Day." A sentiment that would be labeled racist except a black man said it.

    This is followed by Mellissa Harris-Perry [a black MSNBC Weekend Reporter] who found no reason to celebrate the 4th of July in the traditional sense. Her version of history has the Founders forming a Union on stolen land, with slave labor and oppressed women. She used words like "imperialism," "genocide" and "slavery" to describe how this nation was established.

    In the view of a growing number of Americans, the Constitution, as well as it's Preamble: the Declaration of Independence, do not represent freedom but oppression.

    Question: Did / does the Constitution of the United States grant Liberty to all?

     Answer: Yes!

    Question: Were all men immediately Free?

    Answer: No!

    Liberty is not necessarily freedom, and the constitution only guaranteed the 'pursuit' of liberty. But it also guaranteed the pursuit of life, while not every American enjoys actual life. Some die at child birth or from accidents or disease. In 21st century America more die BEFORE they can be born than AFTER.

    The Constitution also guaranteed "the pursuit of happiness." Are you happy? Of what does this happiness consist? The Framers were talking about a disciplined, productive life style, not the right to party!

    It is clear the Framers understood the moral depravity of the human soul. They knew people were evil and would run toward corruption. What they did was impose a template by which ordinary men and women could achieve, without the government abusing them or their rights.

    Did they succeed? Generally, yes! Ms Harris-Perry, however, thinks American Independence was defined in terms of "commodities: homes of our own, better educational opportunities, family vacations and a car to vacation with."

    She misses the point! The old adage [not deTocqueville, apparently] says it best: "America is great because she is good. If America ever ceases to be good, she will cease to be great."

    Well, America has officially ceased to be good. She has corporately and officially abandoned her moral foundation: The Bible. Having done so, she is determined to alter every moral standard so as to bring about the happiness she envisions enshrined in the constitution. Which is? Whatever a human being wants, needs or desires.

    The Educational System in America is a willing accomplice. Dedicated to scientific principles of math and the interpretation of words, we have watched this institution blatantly abandon reality for expediency. For at least 50 years our school system has systematic dismantled the foundations of this once-great Republic.

    So, how many more July 4ths will we be [officially] celebrating?