From the article: "Obama Talks About His Faith":
…Mr. Obama, who has been criticized by conservative pundits who have questioned his Christian faith, gave a lengthy discourse on it in response to a woman who said she had three “hot topic questions” for him. The first was: “Why are you a Christian?” The second was on abortion — the president said it should be “safe, legal and rare”…
…“I’m a Christian by choice,” the president said. “My family, frankly, they weren’t folks who went to church every week. My mother was one of the most spiritual people I knew but she didn’t raise me in the church, so I came to my Christian faith later in life and it was because the precepts of Jesus Christ spoke to me in terms of the kind of life that I would want to lead. Being my brothers and sisters’ keeper, treating others as they would treat me, and I think also understanding that Jesus Christ dying for my sins spoke to the humility we all have to have as human beings, that we’re sinful and we’re flawed and we make mistakes and we achieve salvation through the grace of God.”
From another article on the same speech:
After responding to the question about his faith on Tuesday, Obama added that as the president of the United States, he also deeply believes that "part of the bedrock strength of this country is that it embraces people of many faiths and of no faith."
"Their own path to grace is one that we have to revere and respect as much as our own and that's part of what makes this country what it is," he highlighted.
A response:
1. The president is not making abortion "rare". He voted for infanticide (partial birth abortion) on several occasions. He has expanded access to abortion in foreign countries with American tax dollars. Obamacare covers it. Here's a newsflash: if you subsidize something, you get more of it.
Matthew 7:15-20: Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
2. Jesus never mentioned "being your brother and sisters’ keeper". The first murderer, Cain, mentioned that when he was trying to lie to God about having killed his brother. “Keeping” your brother is slavery. That is where the “social justice” gospel (which is not the gospel at all) leads. Further, Obama's half-brother lives in squalor in a poor village in Kenya. His aunt lives in the US as an illegal alien in government housing. Is he really his “brother and sisters’ keeper”, according to his own definition?
3. We don't "achieve salvation through the grace of God." GOD achieves salvation through the grace of God. It is a free gift. To borrow from Chris Matthews, "it's an important distinction."
4. “People of no faith” don't have "a path to grace", by DEFINITION, unless they cease to BE atheists. But this fits with his belief in collective salvation, that for one to be saved, all must be saved.
This is the same man, who on the campaign trail, referred to “an obscure passage in Romans" as being irrelevant when he was discussing homosexuality (it's in Chapter ONE) and his “Christian” faith. This is the same man, who, in "Dreams of My Father", said that Jeremiah Wright was a big part of his Christian formation. He attended his Church for 20 years, where he heard Black Liberation Theology, and exclamations like, "God damn America!" and after 9/11, "America's chickens are coming home to roost!"
This is NOT the Christianity I know…
Wednesday, September 29, 2010
Monday, September 27, 2010
The world has needed surgery and we’ve given them bubble gum
Most of these quotes (which a few additions of my own) are excerpts from a sermon given by Pastor John Kirkwood of Grace Gospel Fellowship, Bensenville, IL. His sermon was in honor of Pulpit Freedom Sunday, although every Sunday taught by John could be in honor of Pulpit Freedom Sunday. For the full sermon, see: http://gracebeliever.com/2010/09/september-26-2010-sunday-bible-study/, especially track 1.
“If I profess with the loudest voice and clearest exposition every portion of the truth of God except precisely that little point which the world and the devil are at that moment attacking, I am not confessing Christ, however boldly I may be professing Christ. Where the battle rages, there the loyalty of the soldier is proved, and to be steady on all the battlefield besides is mere flight and disgrace if he flinches at that point.”-Martin Luther
“Through us infinite wrong was brought over many peoples and countries. That which we often testified to in our communities, we express now in the name of the whole church: We did fight for long years in the name of Jesus Christ against the mentality that found its awful expression in the National Socialist regime of violence; but we accuse ourselves for not standing to our beliefs more courageously, for not praying more faithfully, for not believing more joyously, and for not loving more ardently.” The Stuttgart Declaration of Guilt
“I do not want to have to sign a Washington DC declaration of guilt…we need to stand and say ‘We will not have this.’” Pastor John Kirkwood
“The world has needed surgery and we’ve given them bubble gum.” Pastor John Kirkwood
“The ultimate check on tyranny is the Church.” Pastor John Kirkwood
"Brethren, our preaching will bear its legitimate fruits. If immorality prevails in the land, the fault is ours in a great degree. If there is a decay of conscience, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the public press lacks moral discrimination, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the church is degenerate and worldly, the pulpit is responsible for it. If the world loses its interest in religion, the pulpit is responsible for it. If Satan rules in our halls of legislation, the pulpit is responsible for it. If our politics become so corrupt that the very foundations of our government are ready to fall away, the pulpit is responsible for it. Let us not ignore this fact, my dear brethren; but let us lay it to heart, and be thoroughly awake to our responsibility in respect to the morals of this nation." - Charles Finney
“Because we honor justice and the common good, we will not comply with any edict that purports to compel our institutions to participate in abortions, embryo-destructive research, assisted suicide and euthanasia, or any other anti-life act; nor will we bend to any rule purporting to force us to bless immoral sexual partnerships, treat them as marriages or the equivalent, or refrain from proclaiming the truth, as we know it, about morality and immorality and marriage and the family. We will fully and ungrudgingly render to Caesar what is Caesar's. But under no circumstances will we render to Caesar what is God's.” - The Manhattan Declaration
“If men will not be governed by God, they will be ruled by tyrants.” William Penn
“It is when people forget God that tyrants forge their chains.” Patrick Henry
“Those who expect to reap the blessings of freedom must, like men, undergo the fatigue of supporting it.” Thomas Paine
“The God who gave us life gave us liberty at the same time.” Thomas Jefferson
Yes, indeed, and He let the whole human race fall because of it.
Luke 4:18-19:
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners (emphasis mine)
and recovery of sight for the blind,
to release the oppressed,
to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
Galatians 5:1: It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
“If man lost his liberty, he would be disqualified for membership in the Kingdom of God. Not even God could build a society of love out of puppets or robots.” Kirby Page
“Without free will, God isn’t God.” Pastor John Kirkwood
“What do you call forced love? …rape
“What do you call forced servitude? …slavery” Pastor John Kirkwood
“God has no need of marionettes. He pays men the compliment of allowing them to live without Him if they choose. But if they live without Him in this life, they must also live without Him in the next.” Leon Morris
“I willingly believe that the damned are, in one sense, successful, rebels to the end; that the doors of hell are locked on the inside.” C.S. Lewis
“All that are in Hell, choose it. Without that self-choice there could be no Hell. No soul that seriously and constantly desires joy will ever miss it. Those who seek find.” C.S. Lewis
"The happiness which God designs for His higher creatures is the happiness of being freely, voluntarily united to Him and each other in an ecstasy of love and delight compared with which the most rapturous love between a man and a woman on this earth is mere milk and water. And for that they must be free." C.S. Lewis
“The right to liberty is fundamental. But it is what a person does with it that tells their caliber and their fiber, and that decides whether they will continue to be free and whether their nation will be prosperous.” Margaret Thatcher
Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Thought for the Day: Make a Righteous Judgment
Matthew 7:1-5: "Do not judge so that you will not be judged. For in the way you judge, you will be judged; and by your standard of measure, it will be measured to you. Why do you look at the speck that is in your brother's eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? Or how can you say to your brother, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' and behold, the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your brother's eye (emphasis mine)."
This is probably the most misused passage of the Bible. It is what critics of what is good and decent often use to defend themselves and their positions on homosexuality, abortion, living together before marriage, etc. "Don't judge!" is their mantra, while they fail to realize that they themselves are making a judgment when they make that exclamation. No judgment is allowed except the one judgment that judges that you are judging. This is akin to the relativist argument that there is no absolute truth except for the absolute truth that there is no absolute truth.
The condition necessary BEFORE making a judgment is to examine yourself, as is further explained in the following verses:
1 Corinthians 11:31: But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged.
2 Corinthians 13:5a: Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves!
So, after we have examined ourselves, we are CALLED to make righteous judgments:
John 7:23-24: If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath so that the Law of Moses will not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made an entire man well on the Sabbath? Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment (emphasis mine)."
Proverbs 31:9a: Open your mouth, judge righteously...
Here, Paul indicates having "judged" a believer caught in egregious sin:
1 Corinthians 5:1-5: It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, that someone has his father's wife. You have become arrogant and have not mourned instead, so that the one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst. For I, on my part, though absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged him who has so committed this (emphasis mine), as though I were present. In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled, and I with you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus, I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
1 Corinthians 6:2-3: Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world (emphasis mine)? If the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts? Do you not know that we will judge angels (emphasis mine)? How much more matters of this life?
If we will "judge the world"... and "angels", how much more are we to make RIGHTEOUS judgments in this life? Remember this next time someone tries to silence you by accusing you of "judging".
This is probably the most misused passage of the Bible. It is what critics of what is good and decent often use to defend themselves and their positions on homosexuality, abortion, living together before marriage, etc. "Don't judge!" is their mantra, while they fail to realize that they themselves are making a judgment when they make that exclamation. No judgment is allowed except the one judgment that judges that you are judging. This is akin to the relativist argument that there is no absolute truth except for the absolute truth that there is no absolute truth.
The condition necessary BEFORE making a judgment is to examine yourself, as is further explained in the following verses:
1 Corinthians 11:31: But if we judged ourselves rightly, we would not be judged.
2 Corinthians 13:5a: Test yourselves to see if you are in the faith; examine yourselves!
So, after we have examined ourselves, we are CALLED to make righteous judgments:
John 7:23-24: If a man receives circumcision on the Sabbath so that the Law of Moses will not be broken, are you angry with Me because I made an entire man well on the Sabbath? Do not judge according to appearance, but judge with righteous judgment (emphasis mine)."
Proverbs 31:9a: Open your mouth, judge righteously...
Here, Paul indicates having "judged" a believer caught in egregious sin:
1 Corinthians 5:1-5: It is actually reported that there is immorality among you, and immorality of such a kind as does not exist even among the Gentiles, that someone has his father's wife. You have become arrogant and have not mourned instead, so that the one who had done this deed would be removed from your midst. For I, on my part, though absent in body but present in spirit, have already judged him who has so committed this (emphasis mine), as though I were present. In the name of our Lord Jesus, when you are assembled, and I with you in spirit, with the power of our Lord Jesus, I have decided to deliver such a one to Satan for the destruction of his flesh, so that his spirit may be saved in the day of the Lord Jesus.
1 Corinthians 6:2-3: Or do you not know that the saints will judge the world (emphasis mine)? If the world is judged by you, are you not competent to constitute the smallest law courts? Do you not know that we will judge angels (emphasis mine)? How much more matters of this life?
If we will "judge the world"... and "angels", how much more are we to make RIGHTEOUS judgments in this life? Remember this next time someone tries to silence you by accusing you of "judging".
Friday, February 26, 2010
Letter to Blanchard Alliance Church: Re: Obama, Evil, and the Church's Role
On Sunday, February 20, Pastor Ron Mangin, of Blanchard Alliance Church, where we currently attend, gave a message on Isaiah 45. He presented the concept that God used King Cyrus, an unsaved and evil king, to accomplish his purposes. This is true - God is sovereign, and many times in the Old Testament used unrighteous regimes to bring judgment upon Israel.
But during his message, Pastor Ron mentioned Chinese Christian missionaries to Israel who advise other Christians not to pray against China’s communist dictatorship because persecution causes the Church to flourish. Immediately my mind went to the verse, “Shall I do evil that good may result? May it never be!” I (Jeanette Ward) thought of the prayer that delivered Peter from the jailer’s cell. I thought of God’s anger at his people when He wanted to set them free, but instead they wished to return to slavery in Egypt; apparently longing for the “community” that they shared making bricks for the Egyptian Pharaoh.
While I was still pondering these things, Pastor Ron continued, “I tire of Christians railing against the Obama administration. This attitude is not compatible with the character of Jesus Christ.”
I began thinking about the things that Jesus did and said that perhaps Pastor Ron would say “aren’t compatible with” Jesus’ character: Overturning the money changers tables in the temple? “Railing” against the Pharisees as “white-washed tombs full of dead men‘s bones“, “sons of hell“, “hypocrites“, “blind guides“, “like their father, the devil”, “blind fools”, “snakes”, and “brood of vipers”? Saying “I did not come to bring peace, but a sword” and “let him who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one“? Calling Herod a “fox”? Isn’t our Jesus the one whose eyes are a burning fire—who will clear His threshing floor and burn the chaff with unquenchable fire?
I thought of John the Baptist, who publicly “railed against” Herod (a political leader) for having his brother’s wife, and was beheaded for it. Ought not we to oppose publicly someone who advocates murdering millions of unborn babies in the name of “healthcare”, and forces Christians to pay for it? Who encourages “what is vile to be celebrated among men” - with his support of open homosexuality in the military and otherwise? Who tramples on the rule of law as laid out so painstakingly by our CHRISTIAN forebears?
I thought of Elijah with Ahab and Jezebel. Was it incompatible with the character of God, and by extension of Christ, to publicly oppose them? Elijah apparently did not believe so. And would it be wrong for the people of Israel, filled with righteous fervor for the law of God, to rise up and speak out against King Manassah when he caused his children to pass through fire?
I thought about all the times David (who was called “a man after God’s own heart”) prayed against evil men and had some “railing” things to say about them, like:
- “My prayer is ever against the deeds of evildoers”
- “Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by in safety”
- “Oh that you would slay the wicked, Oh God”
- “Do I not hate those who hate You, Oh Lord?”
- “I have nothing but hatred from them, I count them my enemies.”
- “I hate those who cling to worthless idols”
- “I hate double-minded men, but I love your law”
- “When he is tried, let him be found guilty, and may his prayers condemn him.”
Furthermore, to compare King Cyrus, a foreign dictator king, (whom God used to judge Israel) with Obama, a democratically elected official of our own nation, is absurd. An evil king of Israel or Judah would be a better comparison -though still not fully appropriate because we’ve rejected the notion of kings in this country. In this way, America surmounted Israel because the very desire to have a king was a rejection of God and His law. So would it have been wrong for those who opposed this idea of a king in Israel to speak out? Furthermore, did God then use the evil kings of Israel to render judgment upon His people? Or, in fact, were not the evil kings the reason for God’s judgment? The entire comparison is nonsensical in every way.
It is true that God is ultimately sovereign and is capable of using evil for good. (Though it should be noted that the vast majority of evil in the world is not used for good, and it is unhindered by God). God values liberty very highly. It is this liberty that both allows sin and also requires responsibility to oppose it. The Bible is clear that He hates what is evil, that we are to hate it too, and that we are to oppose it through prayer, word, and deed.
We (Bill and Jeanette Ward) are not suggesting that the Church should stir up a spirit of mindless hatred against the government. What we are suggesting that it is our divine duty to hate and expose evil. It disturbs us greatly to hear a Church leader suggest that the calling out of lies or ungodly actions of our democratically elected government leaders isn’t compatible with Christ’s character. Or, God forbid, that we ought not to pray against the coming persecution of the church, lest we somehow prevent it from flourishing!?! This is a twisted self-righteousness. It’s a utopian delusion that comes from living so long in an un-oppressed state (though we’re steadily moving toward oppression in this country) and does not reflect the righteous heart of God—a God of perfect justice and liberty.
In Pastor Ron’s own words-
-We tire of Christian leaders who refuse to acknowledge evil when it is right in front of them; who live with their heads either so far under the ground, or so high in the clouds that they pretend that nothing in the news or in the political arena can ever affect them.
-We tire of Christian leaders who consider it their duty to publicly criticize fellow Christians who would expose evil rather than to support and join them in the struggle.
-We tire of Christian leaders who twist or cherry pick Scripture in order to support a popular religious caricature of Christ that is perceived to be more socially acceptable.
-We tire of Christian leaders who do not recognize that they live in one of the most God blessed nations in all human history; a nation founded on liberty - perhaps the most foundational of all values to God.
-We tire of Christian leaders that do not wake each day thankful that God placed them in this free and prosperous nation where they can preach the gospel freely and send missionaries all around the world however they choose. No other nation in history has ever come close to the generosity of America. But instead of celebrating the blessings of God, and recognizing the sacrifice of all those who secured those blessings; the leaders seem to pretend that they somehow live outside this country- in some mythical, heavenly country. They then rush to point out all the perceived failures of their country that don’t measure up to their utopian ideal. This frees them to wash their hands from any responsibility for this filthy country, lest they become defiled by it. “It is not what enters into the mouth that defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man” and “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil”.
If Blanchard Alliance Church ever closes its doors, America will not notice; but if America descends into despotism (Obama’s utopia), Blanchard will go down with it. But just like the Chinese missionaries, perhaps they wanted to go back to Egypt anyway.
We’ve discussed this particular sermon and similar issues with both pastors at Blanchard, and have been told that we need to “agree to disagree”, as if these are trivial issues and not foundational differences. Being able to recognize good from evil is foundational.
"Are you a teacher of Israel and do not understand these things?"
The character of Christ was one that was 100% concerned with what the Father was doing. "the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner." And "I and the Father are one". The Father (the author of the Law) was very concerned with good and evil and never tip toed around these politically incorrect issues; neither did His prophets or His Son.
The reason that many Christians in your congregation "rail" against the Obama administration is that they actually read their Bible and can discern good from evil. They see evil and they expose it, so that others may not be ignorant of it and vote for it. It’s not that they don’t believe God is sovereign, but they don’t use that as an excuse abdicate their Christian responsibility to shine a light and to be salt to the world. I suppose it would be wrong, according to your teaching, to speak out against the Antichrist, since he is a political leader. Will you have no problem taking the mark of the beast so as not to offend the other Christians in line? -Besides, since God is sovereign, he’ll surely miraculously deliver you from having to make that difficult choice, right?
Hosea 4:6
“My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.
Because you have rejected knowledge,
I also reject you as my priests;
because you have ignored the law of your God,
I also will ignore your children.”
Our hearts break looking out at the lost sheep in your congregation as they listen Sunday after Sunday to sermons that confuse and mislead about what the Bible really says concerning the true nature of God the Father and the character of His Son Jesus Christ. An increasing number of “evangelicals” don't know what the Bible says, don't read their Bible, and are not encouraged to do so. There is an increasing fear and/or frustration among church leaders with those Christians that actually read the whole Bible and interpret it for themselves. These “unruly Christians” cannot be as easily blown about by every false doctrinal wind.
Regarding whether Christians are to talk about politics or not, consider that over 80% of the Old Testament deals with nations, kings, and peoples; and judges them all as either good or evil. In essence, all it does is speak about politics. In the New Testament, consider that the Pharisees and the Sadducees were as much political parties as religious sects. The fascist Pharisees and the socialist Sadducees not to mention the puppet King Herod brought forth Jesus’ harshest words (completely “incompatible with His character“). His answer to all of them was freedom: liberty. This is not freedom from responsibility, but freedom to be responsible.
In conclusion, consider:
…“Because with lies you have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and you have strengthened the hands of the wicked, so that he does not turn from his wicked way to save his life.”
Bill (blackwhite488@sbcglobal.net) and Jeanette Ward (summonedbyname@yahoo.com)
But during his message, Pastor Ron mentioned Chinese Christian missionaries to Israel who advise other Christians not to pray against China’s communist dictatorship because persecution causes the Church to flourish. Immediately my mind went to the verse, “Shall I do evil that good may result? May it never be!” I (Jeanette Ward) thought of the prayer that delivered Peter from the jailer’s cell. I thought of God’s anger at his people when He wanted to set them free, but instead they wished to return to slavery in Egypt; apparently longing for the “community” that they shared making bricks for the Egyptian Pharaoh.
While I was still pondering these things, Pastor Ron continued, “I tire of Christians railing against the Obama administration. This attitude is not compatible with the character of Jesus Christ.”
I began thinking about the things that Jesus did and said that perhaps Pastor Ron would say “aren’t compatible with” Jesus’ character: Overturning the money changers tables in the temple? “Railing” against the Pharisees as “white-washed tombs full of dead men‘s bones“, “sons of hell“, “hypocrites“, “blind guides“, “like their father, the devil”, “blind fools”, “snakes”, and “brood of vipers”? Saying “I did not come to bring peace, but a sword” and “let him who has no sword sell his cloak and buy one“? Calling Herod a “fox”? Isn’t our Jesus the one whose eyes are a burning fire—who will clear His threshing floor and burn the chaff with unquenchable fire?
I thought of John the Baptist, who publicly “railed against” Herod (a political leader) for having his brother’s wife, and was beheaded for it. Ought not we to oppose publicly someone who advocates murdering millions of unborn babies in the name of “healthcare”, and forces Christians to pay for it? Who encourages “what is vile to be celebrated among men” - with his support of open homosexuality in the military and otherwise? Who tramples on the rule of law as laid out so painstakingly by our CHRISTIAN forebears?
I thought of Elijah with Ahab and Jezebel. Was it incompatible with the character of God, and by extension of Christ, to publicly oppose them? Elijah apparently did not believe so. And would it be wrong for the people of Israel, filled with righteous fervor for the law of God, to rise up and speak out against King Manassah when he caused his children to pass through fire?
I thought about all the times David (who was called “a man after God’s own heart”) prayed against evil men and had some “railing” things to say about them, like:
- “My prayer is ever against the deeds of evildoers”
- “Let the wicked fall into their own nets, while I pass by in safety”
- “Oh that you would slay the wicked, Oh God”
- “Do I not hate those who hate You, Oh Lord?”
- “I have nothing but hatred from them, I count them my enemies.”
- “I hate those who cling to worthless idols”
- “I hate double-minded men, but I love your law”
- “When he is tried, let him be found guilty, and may his prayers condemn him.”
Furthermore, to compare King Cyrus, a foreign dictator king, (whom God used to judge Israel) with Obama, a democratically elected official of our own nation, is absurd. An evil king of Israel or Judah would be a better comparison -though still not fully appropriate because we’ve rejected the notion of kings in this country. In this way, America surmounted Israel because the very desire to have a king was a rejection of God and His law. So would it have been wrong for those who opposed this idea of a king in Israel to speak out? Furthermore, did God then use the evil kings of Israel to render judgment upon His people? Or, in fact, were not the evil kings the reason for God’s judgment? The entire comparison is nonsensical in every way.
It is true that God is ultimately sovereign and is capable of using evil for good. (Though it should be noted that the vast majority of evil in the world is not used for good, and it is unhindered by God). God values liberty very highly. It is this liberty that both allows sin and also requires responsibility to oppose it. The Bible is clear that He hates what is evil, that we are to hate it too, and that we are to oppose it through prayer, word, and deed.
We (Bill and Jeanette Ward) are not suggesting that the Church should stir up a spirit of mindless hatred against the government. What we are suggesting that it is our divine duty to hate and expose evil. It disturbs us greatly to hear a Church leader suggest that the calling out of lies or ungodly actions of our democratically elected government leaders isn’t compatible with Christ’s character. Or, God forbid, that we ought not to pray against the coming persecution of the church, lest we somehow prevent it from flourishing!?! This is a twisted self-righteousness. It’s a utopian delusion that comes from living so long in an un-oppressed state (though we’re steadily moving toward oppression in this country) and does not reflect the righteous heart of God—a God of perfect justice and liberty.
In Pastor Ron’s own words-
-We tire of Christian leaders who refuse to acknowledge evil when it is right in front of them; who live with their heads either so far under the ground, or so high in the clouds that they pretend that nothing in the news or in the political arena can ever affect them.
-We tire of Christian leaders who consider it their duty to publicly criticize fellow Christians who would expose evil rather than to support and join them in the struggle.
-We tire of Christian leaders who twist or cherry pick Scripture in order to support a popular religious caricature of Christ that is perceived to be more socially acceptable.
-We tire of Christian leaders who do not recognize that they live in one of the most God blessed nations in all human history; a nation founded on liberty - perhaps the most foundational of all values to God.
-We tire of Christian leaders that do not wake each day thankful that God placed them in this free and prosperous nation where they can preach the gospel freely and send missionaries all around the world however they choose. No other nation in history has ever come close to the generosity of America. But instead of celebrating the blessings of God, and recognizing the sacrifice of all those who secured those blessings; the leaders seem to pretend that they somehow live outside this country- in some mythical, heavenly country. They then rush to point out all the perceived failures of their country that don’t measure up to their utopian ideal. This frees them to wash their hands from any responsibility for this filthy country, lest they become defiled by it. “It is not what enters into the mouth that defiles the man, but what proceeds out of the mouth, this defiles the man” and “Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil”.
If Blanchard Alliance Church ever closes its doors, America will not notice; but if America descends into despotism (Obama’s utopia), Blanchard will go down with it. But just like the Chinese missionaries, perhaps they wanted to go back to Egypt anyway.
We’ve discussed this particular sermon and similar issues with both pastors at Blanchard, and have been told that we need to “agree to disagree”, as if these are trivial issues and not foundational differences. Being able to recognize good from evil is foundational.
"Are you a teacher of Israel and do not understand these things?"
The character of Christ was one that was 100% concerned with what the Father was doing. "the Son can do nothing of Himself, unless it is something He sees the Father doing; for whatever the Father does, these things the Son also does in like manner." And "I and the Father are one". The Father (the author of the Law) was very concerned with good and evil and never tip toed around these politically incorrect issues; neither did His prophets or His Son.
The reason that many Christians in your congregation "rail" against the Obama administration is that they actually read their Bible and can discern good from evil. They see evil and they expose it, so that others may not be ignorant of it and vote for it. It’s not that they don’t believe God is sovereign, but they don’t use that as an excuse abdicate their Christian responsibility to shine a light and to be salt to the world. I suppose it would be wrong, according to your teaching, to speak out against the Antichrist, since he is a political leader. Will you have no problem taking the mark of the beast so as not to offend the other Christians in line? -Besides, since God is sovereign, he’ll surely miraculously deliver you from having to make that difficult choice, right?
Hosea 4:6
“My people are destroyed from lack of knowledge.
Because you have rejected knowledge,
I also reject you as my priests;
because you have ignored the law of your God,
I also will ignore your children.”
Our hearts break looking out at the lost sheep in your congregation as they listen Sunday after Sunday to sermons that confuse and mislead about what the Bible really says concerning the true nature of God the Father and the character of His Son Jesus Christ. An increasing number of “evangelicals” don't know what the Bible says, don't read their Bible, and are not encouraged to do so. There is an increasing fear and/or frustration among church leaders with those Christians that actually read the whole Bible and interpret it for themselves. These “unruly Christians” cannot be as easily blown about by every false doctrinal wind.
Regarding whether Christians are to talk about politics or not, consider that over 80% of the Old Testament deals with nations, kings, and peoples; and judges them all as either good or evil. In essence, all it does is speak about politics. In the New Testament, consider that the Pharisees and the Sadducees were as much political parties as religious sects. The fascist Pharisees and the socialist Sadducees not to mention the puppet King Herod brought forth Jesus’ harshest words (completely “incompatible with His character“). His answer to all of them was freedom: liberty. This is not freedom from responsibility, but freedom to be responsible.
In conclusion, consider:
Ezekiel 13:10-15,22: “Because they lead my people astray, saying, Peace, when there is no peace, and because, when a flimsy wall is built, they cover it with whitewash, therefore tell those who cover it with whitewash that it is going to fall. Rain will come in torrents, and I will send hailstones hurtling down, and violent winds will burst forth. When the wall collapses, will people not ask you, Where is the whitewash you covered it with?
…“Because with lies you have made the heart of the righteous sad, whom I have not made sad; and you have strengthened the hands of the wicked, so that he does not turn from his wicked way to save his life.”
Bill (blackwhite488@sbcglobal.net) and Jeanette Ward (summonedbyname@yahoo.com)
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