Indians in the U.S Military

American Indians in the U.S.Military. Indian men and women have the same obligations and opportunities for military services as other U.S. citizens. Indeed, they have had a long history of serving with the nation's armed forces, dating back to the Revolutionary War.

After the recent war with Iraq, the Bureau of Indian Affairs(1991a) update its still incomplete information on Indian Veteran history. It reported that about 3,000 Indian military personnel served in the Persian Gulf of operations. Three Indians men were among those killed in action. A total of 24,000 Indian men and women were in the military in 1990 just prior to

Operation Desert Storm.
During the Vietnam War, 41,500 Indian men and women in the armed forces. Many of these people have helped organize important Veteran's groups, like the Navajo Nation.

January 2023: The History of the Church

 

Racism, By Any Other Name, is Just as Perverse

• Racism has taken many forms over the years. Slavery, Jim Crow, Black Codes, eugenics, and yes affirmative action.
• In the case Students for Fair Admissions, Inc. V. President and Fellows of Harvard College, SCOTUS was asked whether race conscious admission was a violation of the Constitution.
• How can America become a colorblind society if we continue these racist policies like affirmative action.

 

Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines racism as:

racism noun a belief that race is a fundamental determinant of human traits and capacities and that racial differences produce an inherent superiority of a particular race.

Racism – Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary

This idea has taken many forms in American history, slavery: Jim Crow laws, Black Codes, eugenics and, yes, affirmative action. Regardless of the euphemism you use, all of these policies are based on the idea that race is a fundamental determinant of human traits and capacities.

Two recent cases filed by Students for Fair Admissions (SFFA) were combined and heard by the Supreme Court this term. The outcome of these cases gives us a glimmer of hope that the actual systemic racism that still exists in this nation can finally be seen for the perversion it is.

Affirmative Action

Racism, both systemic and societal, has been a problem in this country for centuries. In many ways it was societal racism, the general belief in the inferiority of certain races, that led to many of the racist laws or systemic racism. To me, this leads to a Catch-22. How do you get rid of one without getting rid of the other? While we have gotten rid of many of the racist laws in our country, racist ideas are still around, and they have led to other racist laws. One of those ideas is that a racially diverse student body or workforce is automatically better. Another is the idea that minorities cannot compete in higher education, and many other institutions, without the government’s help. Put these two ideas together and you get affirmative action.

The term itself refers to both mandatory and voluntary programs intended to affirm the civil rights of designated classes of individuals by taking positive action to protect them from, in the words of Justice William J. Brennan Jr., “the lingering effects of pervasive discrimination”.

Affirmative Action – The Free Legal Dictionary

Like so many other things, affirmative action sounds good, but look below the surface and you see that it’s nothing but racism by another name. Which brings us to the case Students For Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President And Fellows Of Harvard College.

Students For Fair Admissions, Inc. V. President and Fellows Of Harvard College.

Although the case heard and decided by the Supreme Court is against Harvard College, the court also looks at the University of North Carolina’s admissions policy. There has been a lot said both for and against the court’s opinion, but little of what I have read and heard has anything to do with the Constitution itself. Let’s start out with the question at hand as stated in the syllabus of the opinion.

Harvard College and the University of North Carolina (UNC) are two of the oldest institutions of higher learning in the United States. Every year, tens of thousands of students apply to each school; many fewer are admitted. Both Harvard and UNC employ a highly selective admissions process to make their decisions. Admission to each school can depend on a student’s grades, recommendation letters, or extracurricular involvement. It can also depend on their race. The question presented is whether the admissions systems used by Harvard College and UNC are lawful under the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

Students For Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President And Fellows Of Harvard College

This is where the first potential problem in this opinion emerges. There is a fundamental difference between Harvard College (part of Harvard University) and the University of North Carolina. UNC is a public school while Harvard College is a private institution. Why is this important? The court points out that the question at hand deals with possible violations of the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment, which reads:

nor shall any State … deny to any person within its jurisdiction the equal protection of the laws.

U.S. Constitution, Amendment XIV

Since Harvard College is a private institution not created by the state, the State of Massachusetts is not responsible for their admissions policies, and therefore the college cannot violate the Fourteenth Amendment. Does that mean that Harvard College’s admission policy is not racist? I think a quick look at the description of the process will answer that question.

At Harvard, each application for admission is initially screened by a “first reader,” who assigns a numerical score in each of six categories: academic, extracurricular, athletic, school support, personal, and overall. For the “overall” category—a composite of the five other ratings— a first reader can and does consider the applicant’s race. Harvard’s admissions subcommittees then review all applications from a particular geographic area. These regional subcommittees make recommendations to the full admissions committee, and they take an applicant’s race into account. When the 40-member full admissions committee begins its deliberations, it discusses the relative breakdown of applicants by race. The goal of the process, according to Harvard’s director of admissions, is ensuring there is no “dramatic drop-off” in minority admissions from the prior class. An applicant receiving a majority of the full committee’s votes is tentatively accepted for admission. At the end of this process, the racial composition of the tentative applicant pool is disclosed to the committee. The last stage of Harvard’s admissions process, called the “lop,” winnows the list of tentatively admitted students to arrive at the final class. Applicants that Harvard considers cutting at this stage are placed on the “lop list,” which contains only four pieces of information: legacy status, recruited athlete status, financial aid eligibility, and race. In the Harvard admissions process, “race is a determinative tip for” a significant percentage “of all admitted African American and Hispanic applicants.”

Students For Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President And Fellows Of Harvard College

It certainly appears that while the decisions in the admissions process are not based solely on race, it is a consideration at many points along the way. While not exactly the same, the admissions process at UNC is very similar, including the use of an applicant’s race.

One interesting point I found was that Students for Fair Admissions' (SFFA) original complaint against Harvard College was that its admissions policy violated Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, not the Fourteenth Amendment. I am not familiar with the details of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act, so I cannot comment on it, although Justice Gorsuch does.

Title VI prohibits a recipient of federal funds from intentionally treating any individual worse even in part because of his race, color, or national origin and without regard to any other reason or motive the recipient might assert. Without question, Congress in 1964 could have taken the law in var- ious directions. But to safeguard the civil rights of all Americans, Congress chose a simple and profound rule. One holding that a recipient of federal funds may never dis- criminate based on race, color, or national origin—period.

Students For Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President And Fellows Of Harvard College

By alleging violations of the Civil Rights Act rather than the Fourteenth Amendment, SFFA would have dealt with the private college issue I previously mentioned. The court could have found that Harvard College was ineligible to take federal funds because their admissions policy violated the Act. Regardless, the court decided that the actions of a private institution were, somehow, a state denying equal protection of the law.

Held: Harvard’s and UNC’s admissions programs violate the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment.

Students For Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President And Fellows Of Harvard College

Not surprisingly, the court was split on this decision in many ways. Chief Justice Roberts wrote the opinion, joined by Justices Thomas, Alito, Gorsuch, Kavanaugh, and Barrett. Gorsuch also wrote a concurring opinion, which Thomas also joined, while Kavanaugh’s concurring opinion was all his own. Justice Sotomayor wrote the dissenting opinion, joined by Justices Kagan and Jackson. Justice Jackson also wrote a dissenting opinion to which Justices Sotomayor and Kagan joined. This seemed interesting to me since Justice Jackson did not take part in the consideration or decision of the case.

The Opinion

As is usually the case in such situations, Justice Roberts not only went into great detail regarding the question of whether or not SFFA had standing to bring the case, but into the history of the court’s jurisprudence regarding the Fourteenth Amendment as well. In his review of court precedent, Chief Justice Roberts noted:

Then, in Grutter v. Bollinger, the Court for the first time “endorse[d] Justice Powell’s view that student body diversity is a compelling state interest that can justify the use of race in university admissions.”

Students For Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President And Fellows Of Harvard College

However, the Grutter court did not expect this to be a permanent situation.

Grutter thus concluded with the following caution: “It has been 25 years since Justice Powell first approved the use of race to further an interest in student body diversity in the context of public higher education. . .. We expect that 25 years from now, the use of racial preferences will no longer be necessary to further the interest approved today.”

Students For Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President And Fellows Of Harvard College

Chief Justice Roberts pointed out that the previous court’s expectations were flawed.

Twenty years later, no end is in sight. “Harvard’s view about when [race-based admissions will end] doesn’t have a date on it.” … Neither does UNC’s. … Yet both insist that the use of race in their admissions programs must continue.

Students For Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President And Fellows Of Harvard College

Chief Justice Roberts went on to say…

Because “[r]acial discrimination [is] invidious in all contexts,” …, we have required that universities operate their race-based admissions programs in a manner that is “sufficiently measurable to permit judicial [review]” under the rubric of strict scrutiny,  .. “Classifying and assigning” students based on their race “requires more than . . . an amorphous end to justify it.” ...

Respondents have fallen short of satisfying that burden.

Students For Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President And Fellows Of Harvard College

Once again, we see the unconstitutional and destructive use of “strict scrutiny” used to subvert the Constitution of the United States and infringe on the rights of the people. Chief Justice Roberts points out that the Supreme Court has, and would continue, to allow racist admissions programs in public schools and universities as long as they could convince the court that there was a government interest sufficient to overrule the supreme law of the land. These cases may not have risen to that level, but the logic of precedent means some other cases could. Justice Thomas pointed this out twenty years ago in the Grutter case.

I wrote separately in Grutter, explaining that the use of race in higher education admissions decisions—regardless of whether intended to help or to hurt—violates the Fourteenth Amendment. … In the decades since, I have repeatedly stated that Grutter was wrongly decided and should be overruled. .. Today, and despite a lengthy interregnum, the Constitution prevails.

Students For Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President And Fellows Of Harvard College

That is not to say that, even in Justice Thomas’ mind, the Constitution fully prevails:

Because the Court today applies genuine strict scrutiny to the race-conscious admissions policies employed at Harvard and the University of North Carolina (UNC) and finds that they fail that searching review, I join the majority opinion in full.

Students For Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President And Fellows Of Harvard College

Apparently, even Justice Thomas is willing to violate the Fourteenth Amendment as long as the government has a reason good enough to satisfy him and the rest of the judicial oligarchy.

Justice Thomas also noted that, contrary to the assertions of affirmative action proponents, these programs are actually harmful to those they claim to help.

Even taking the desire to help on its face, what initially seems like aid may in reality be a burden, including for the very people it seeks to assist. Take, for example, the college admissions policies here. “Affirmative action” policies do nothing to increase the overall number of blacks and Hispanics able to access a college education. Rather, those racial policies simply redistribute individuals among institutions of higher learning, placing some into more competitive institutions than they otherwise would have attended. See T. Sowell, Affirmative Action Around the World 145–146 (2004). In doing so, those policies sort at least some blacks and Hispanics into environments where they are less likely to succeed academically relative to their peers. … The resulting mismatch places “many blacks and Hispanics who likely would have excelled at less elite schools . . . in a position where underperformance is all but inevitable because they are less academically prepared than the white and Asian students with whom they must compete.”

Students For Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President And Fellows Of Harvard College

Dissent

As I mentioned before, Justice Sotomayor dissented from the majority’s opinion, and was joined by Justices Kagan and Jackson.

The Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment enshrines a guarantee of racial equality. The Court long ago concluded that this guarantee can be enforced through race-conscious means in a society that is not, and has never been, colorblind. In Brown v. Board of Education,… the Court recognized the constitutional necessity of racially integrated schools in light of the harm inflicted by segregation and the “importance of education to our democratic society.”

Students For Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President And Fellows Of Harvard College

Once again, we see justices of the court putting their predecessors’ opinions above the Constitution, the supreme law of the land. While the history of the Fourteenth Amendment does not include the word race, it does guarantee equality before the law, which is exactly what public affirmative action policies deny.

For 45 years, the Court extended Brown’s transformative legacy to the context of higher education, allowing colleges and universities to consider race in a limited way and for the limited purpose of promoting the important benefits of racial diversity. This limited use of race has helped equalize educational opportunities for all students of every race and background and has improved racial diversity on college campuses. Although progress has been slow and imperfect, race-conscious college admissions policies have advanced the Constitution’s guarantee of equality and have promoted Brown’s vision of a Nation with more inclusive schools.

Students For Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President And Fellows Of Harvard College

How can the Constitution’s guarantee of equality be achieved if people are treated unequally based on the color of their skin? As Chief Justice Roberts pointed out, that core premise is wrong.

The dissenting opinions resist these conclusions. They would instead uphold respondents’ admissions programs based on their view that the Fourteenth Amendment permits state actors to remedy the effects of societal discrimination through explicitly race-based measures. Although both opinions are thorough and thoughtful in many respects, this Court has long rejected their core thesis.

Students For Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President And Fellows Of Harvard College

Most troubling of all, is that the dissent must make these omissions to defend: a judiciary that picks winners and losers based on the color of their skin. While the dissent would certainly not permit university programs that discriminated against black and Latino applicants, it is perfectly willing to let the programs here continue. In its view, this Court is supposed to tell state actors when they have picked the right races to benefit. Separate but equal is “inherently unequal,” said Brown. 347 U. S., at 495 (emphasis added). It depends, says the dissent.

That is a remarkable view of the judicial role—remarkably wrong. Lost in the false pretense of judicial humility that the dissent espouses is a claim to power so radical, so destructive, that it required a Second Founding to undo.

Students For Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President And Fellows Of Harvard College

One last thing from Justice Sotomayor’s dissent may explain her point of view.

A limited use of race in college admissions is consistent with the Fourteenth Amendment and this Court’s broader equal protection jurisprudence. The text and history of the Fourteenth Amendment make clear that the Equal Protection Clause permits race-conscious measures. See supra, at 2–9. Consistent with that view, the Court has ex- plicitly held that “race-based action” is sometimes “within constitutional constraints.”

Students For Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President And Fellows Of Harvard College

Conclusion

Chief Justice Roberts noted the inherent racism in such affirmative action policies.

Yet by accepting race-based admissions programs in which some students may obtain preferences on the basis of race alone, respondents’ programs tolerate the very thing that Grutter foreswore: stereotyping. The point of respondents’ admissions programs is that there is an inherent benefit in race qua race—in race for race’s sake. Respondents admit as much. Harvard’s admissions process rests on the pernicious stereotype that “a black student can usually bring something that a white person cannot offer.” … UNC is much the same. It argues that race in itself “says [something] about who you are.”

Students For Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President And Fellows Of Harvard College

Chief Justice Roberts wasn’t the only one to recognize the inherent racism in affirmative actions. Justice Thomas noted it in his concurrence.

Both experience and logic have vindicated the Constitution’s colorblind rule and confirmed that the universities’ new narrative cannot stand. Despite the Court’s hope in Grutter that universities would voluntarily end their raceconscious programs and further the goal of racial equality, the opposite appears increasingly true. Harvard and UNC now forthrightly state that they racially discriminate when it comes to admitting students, arguing that such discrimi- nation is consistent with this Court’s precedents. And they, along with today’s dissenters, defend that discrimination as good. More broadly, it is becoming increasingly clear that discrimination on the basis of race—often packaged as “affirmative action” or “equity” programs—are based on the benighted notion “that it is possible to tell when discrimination helps, rather than hurts, racial minorities.”

Students For Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President And Fellows Of Harvard College

Justice Thomas also noted the long-lasting negative impact of these policies.

Far from advancing the cause of improved race relations in our Nation, affirmative action highlights our racial differences with pernicious effect. In fact, recent history reveals a disturbing pattern: Affirmative action policies appear to have prolonged the asserted need for racial discrimination. Parties and amici in these cases report that, in the nearly 50 years since Bakke, … racial progress on campuses adopting affirmative action admissions policies has stagnated, including making no meaningful progress toward a colorblind goal since Grutter. … Rather, the legacy of Grutter appears to be ever increasing and strident demands for yet more racially oriented solutions.

Students For Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President And Fellows Of Harvard College

I think Justice Thomas summed it up well.

The great failure of this country was slavery and its progeny. And, the tragic failure of this Court was its misinterpretation of the Reconstruction Amendments, as Justice Harlan predicted in Plessy. We should not repeat this mistake merely because we think, as our predecessors thought, that the present arrangements are superior to the Constitution.

Students For Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President And Fellows Of Harvard College

Then again, Chief Justice Roberts provided a pretty good summary as well.

Eliminating racial discrimination means eliminating all of it. And the Equal Protection Clause, we have accordingly held, applies “without regard to any differences of race, of color, or of nationality”—it is “universal in [its] application.” ... For “[t]he guarantee of equal protection cannot mean one thing when applied to one individual and something else when applied to a person of another color.” … “If both are not accorded the same protection, then it is not equal.”

Students For Fair Admissions, Inc. v. President And Fellows Of Harvard College

Paul Engel is an Affiliate of Institute on the Constitution. He founded The Constitution Study in 2014 to help everyday Americans read and study the Constitution. Author and speaker, Paul has spent more than 20 years studying and teaching about both the Bible and the U.S. Constitution. Freely admitting that he “learned more about our Constitution from School House Rock than in 12 years of public school” he proves that anyone can be a constitutional scholar. You can find his books on the Institute on the Constitution Store (theamericanview.com), Amazon, and Apple Books. You can also listen to his weekday radio show on America Out Loud (https://americaoutloud.com/the-constitution-study). You can reach him at paul@constitutionstudy.com

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May 22, 2023 “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” Psalm 34:18 Without perspective given by the Spirit, our love will only reach as far as the human eye can see. Brokenness comes in all forms and fashions. Without Jesus, the man or woman covered in dirt and filth standing on the street corner begging for help is just as broken as the millionaire lying and cheating his way into fleeting fame and fortune. It’s just that our brokenness takes on varying forms depending on what temptations and trials get the better of us. Jesus saw past the brokenness to the hearts of those around him. He chose to love and minister to the core of the person rather than being intimidated by the symptoms of sin in those around him. He saw into the heart of the woman at the well in John 4 and ministered to her brokenness caused by failed marriages and sexual sin. We see him speak to the core of the wealthy tax collector, Zacchaeus, in Luke 19 and love him by spending time with him when no one else would. If we are ever going to love others well, we have to devote ourselves to loving people at a heart level. We have to care for and speak to the core of their wounds rather than dismissing them for their external problems. Romans 15:1-5 says: We who are strong have an obligation to bear with the failings of the weak, and not to please ourselves. Let each of us please his neighbor for his good, to build him up. For Christ did not please himself, but as it is written, ‘The reproaches of those who reproached you fell on me.’ For whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, that through endurance and through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope. May the God of endurance and encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in accord with Christ Jesus. We must follow the example of Jesus and love those no one else will. We must take in the outcasts, orphaned, widowed, poor, prideful, arrogant, and selfish. We must have our Father’s heart for the enemies, strangers, socially unacceptable, and downcast. If we don’t love them, who will? If we don’t speak and provide love for the deep wounds that cause their brokenness, who will? If we don’t reveal the heart of our Father, who will? Psalm 34:18 says, “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.” May you discover the unconditional love your heavenly Father has toward those broken and crushed today as you enter into guided prayer. Today's devotional was written by Craig Denison. 1. Meditate on the importance of seeing past brokenness to the heart of those around you. Allow Scripture to fill you with desire and purpose to love people well today. “So then let us pursue what makes for peace and for mutual upbuilding.”Romans 14:19 “And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.”Hebrews 10:24-25 2. Whose brokenness has kept you from loving them well? What person would God fill you with the ability to minister to today that desperately needs a touch from God? 3. Ask the Lord for his heart for that person. Ask God to give you an understanding of what wound he wants to minister to. Ask him to give you a creative insight on how to love them well today. “The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves the crushed in spirit.”Psalm 34:18 Often, loving someone well can be as simple as going out of your way to say hello, ask a loving question, or make an uplifting comment. Many people just need to know that someone cares about them and notices them at the heart level. May the Lord use you in mighty ways to draw others to himself today. Extended Reading:John 4 or watch The Bible Project’s video on John 1-12. May 21, 2023 Students and faculty join in the Abbey Choir in Mary Help of Christians Basilica Dear Delana,    I’ve been thinking about music lately: the way it encourages and illustrates the hallmark of community so near and dear to the Benedictine way.  There’s the well-known sentiment (often attributed to St. Augustine) that “He who sings prays twice." By implication, music amplifies or nourishes our emotional and expressive capacities, and therefore our relationships with God and each other. If singing is “pray[ing] twice,” the beauty of a melodic line communicates more than we otherwise could, enfolding another layer of expressive form - another, nonverbal language - into our conversations with God.  So it’s only appropriate that music should be such a fruitful part of the Benedictine monastic tradition - from the hymns and the chants of the Psalter to the transcendent, sacred compositions of Benedictines like St. Hildegard von Bingen. And by extension, it’s beautifully fitting that music - offering harmonies of interrelation and opportunities for communal expressions of prayer in all its emotional, intellectual, and imaginative range - should exercise and embody community, not only within the monastery itself, but also within the College family. Even without an official major or minor, students express a musical sense of Abbey community in a variety of formal and spontaneous ways. They perform in exuberant productions of Guys and Dolls - or they orchestrate an evening of “Dancing in the Light,” with the arts’ invitation to community expressions of faith. They attend bonfire singalongs or simply sit and play the guitar outside Stowe Hall. They join the choir or go caroling across campus. They bring their voices, instruments, and enthusiasm to Arts at the Abbey concerts - or more recently to the Friday night bluegrass gatherings outside the Haid Theater. I love the way music brings out a shared experience of beauty in each of these examples. Those of us listening have to quiet ourselves and attend to what’s in front of us. Those of us participating have to focus, not only on the part we play, but also on its meaningful relation to the whole. There’s something self-forgetful about music, which can remind us of the way communities lead us to sing a new song to the Lord. As a member of the Belmont Abbey family of monks, students, friends, alumni, and benefactors, you will be in my prayers this weekend: that your summer is full of literal and figurative music. And if you’ve never had a chance to attend one of our campus concerts or musical events, I hope you’ll join us next year.  That in all things God may be glorified,

In going astray and committing wickedness before the Lord, Judah, Jeremiah says, "walked after other gods to their own hurt. " False religions, fake philosophies, and erroneous ideas about God all tend to hurt the one holding to them. Not only do they offend God and bring judgment, but they wreak havoc in the lives of those following such false beliefs.

O Fountain of Living Waters, you are the source of all our true joy and the only legitimate object of our worship. How can we leave you? for where would we go? who else has the Words of eternal life? Your Word gives life through your Spirit, and all the idols of the nations do nothing but ensnare men in the carefully planted traps of Satan. Help us amend our ways and learn to both know you and love you more. Amen.

Dear Delana, Today, our faith is under fire--as seen clearly in what former Georgia police officer, Jacob Kersey, has faced. In January, Jacob was threatened with dismissal from the Port Wentworth Police Department for a post on his personal Facebook account. Reflecting upon the truth found in Ephesians 5, in 20 words he simply stated: "God designed marriage. Marriage refers to Christ and the church. That's why there is no such thing as homosexual marriage." After multiple meetings and a strongly worded letter from superiors, 19-year-old Jacob felt he had no choice but to resign from his dream job as he took a stand for truth. But Family Research Council won't let cancel culture and government overreach have the last word. Days ago on March 10, Jody Hice, a former Georgia congressman and now FRC's senior advisor to the president, met with Port Wentworth city officials and delivered our petition that was signed by nearly 35,000 faithful friends like you. Hice called on city leaders to "respect and abide by the most basic of American freedoms, the freedom of religion." Also present for the meetings was former Atlanta fire chief Kelvin Cochran, who in 2015 was fired for stating biblical views on marriage in a devotional written for a Sunday school class. He applauded Kersey for taking his stand. When even small towns are cracking down on liberty, Family Research Council is sounding the alarm! We the people must speak up for our First Amendment rights of free speech and freedom of religion. FRC's multi-faceted plan involves equipping believers, empowering churches, and mobilizing in the public square. Individuals must be free to speak, and churches must be protected from the trend of hostile attacks that FRC recently documented. And now is the time to act! For this week only, your gift will have TRIPLE the impact up to $100,000 thanks to a special 3X Match put forward by generous friends of FRC. So, your tax-deductible gift of $25 will have the impact of $75, and a $50 donation multiplies to $150! And to equip you to stand boldly like Jacob for biblical truth regarding contested issues such as homosexuality, transgenderism, and marriage, when you give $10 or more we will send you a complimentary copy of the new book Male & Female He Created Them. With our faith under fire, will you join us in praying and taking action together to make a lasting difference? MULTIPLY MY GIFT TODAY Your colleagues and friends who follow the mainstream media aren't likely to hear about Jacob's story nor other attacks on our faith. Just take the rising crime wave against churches FRC has been spotlighting. Curiously, the media barely wanted to touch the story until FRC connected the dots of publicly available data and identified 420 documented acts of hostility between January 2018 and September 2022. Once published, FRC's extensive report was cited by 30 media outlets, including The Washington Times, Fox News, Daily Caller, CBN News, Conservative Review, Relevant Magazine, The Christian Post, Breitbart, Ministry Watch, and more. FRC's Arielle Del Turco was also interviewed on Fox News' Tucker Carlson Tonight to discuss the findings. "If it bleeds, it leads," goes a popular adage about journalism. But blood-red graffiti splattered over a statue of Christ outside a church somehow wasn't worth the front page of many mainstream media outlets until we forced their hand. This is why FRC is expanding our communications capabilities through The Washington Stand and Washington Watch: to shine a light on the stories you won't hear anywhere else. Over the past decade, Washington Watch has gone from a limited-reach radio show to a daily program broadcast coast to coast on hundreds of outlets--including in recent years as a TV program on several networks and streaming channels. Launched last year, The Washington Stand provides breaking news and analysis on current events--backed by FRC's expertise and grounded in biblical truth. FRC is pushing back against rampant censorship and political correctness--by cutting out the middlemen and going straight to concerned citizens like you. Delana, your donation enables FRC to broadcast truth widely and not miss opportunities to open eyes and change hearts with truth. When you give your best gift today, the impact will be TRIPLED thanks to the limited-time 3X Match! TRIPLE MY GIFT NOW Over the past two years, FRC supporters have invested in a state-of-the-art facility in Louisiana. Now Phase I of the renovations on this 41,000-square-foot multimedia studio is nearing completion, with broadcast capabilities that will take FRC programs to the next level. With greater opportunities, we've often seen opposition strengthen. When FRC moved into live streaming online, a third-party provider abruptly cut off service and ended our contract without notice. The same thing happened with a text messaging vendor. But we navigated those issues and now have those capabilities through reliable partners. Every communication expansion allows us to reach more people with up-to-the-minute analysis. At a time when biblical beliefs--and free speech in general--are being pushed out of the public square, FRC is creating new channels of communication where core issues of life, marriage, biblical sexuality, and religious freedom can be discussed. Your generous gift towards reaching this week's important goal will not only have exponential impact in equipping the church to stand for faith, family, and freedom. You'll also gain access to a set of exclusive Scripture e-cards that you can send to your pastor and Christians in your life who are standing despite opposition to let them know you are praying for them. As hostility to a biblical worldview increases, our pastors and fellow believers need encouragement to boldly proclaim the truth (Hebrews 10:24-25). Thank you in advance for your generosity and prayers for FRC team members--together we can ensure the foundation of faith is not lost in this nation.

Surely the blind man, whose eyes had not functioned properly since birth, must have assumed there was no hope that he would see. It would be one thing if he had lost his vision from disease as a child or because of an injury as an adult. Then he would know what he was missing, which might spark just enough hope that he could see once again. But this was not the case. This man had never been able to see. Surely he did not expect to receive something he had never had in the first place.

And based on the questions the disciples asked Jesus—“Is it this man's fault that he's blind? Or is he being punished for the sins of his parents? ”—the blind man probably carried a burden of shame for his condition. He had likely heard plenty of people, perhaps even family and friends, ask the same questions. Aware of his blindness since birth, this man must have felt at times that he was the victim of grave injustices. Why should he be punished for something his parents did? And what could he possibly have done as an infant to deserve such cruel punishment, the deprivation of his sight? Eventually, this man might have started believing that somehow his blindness was his fault.

But Jesus corrected such faulty thinking before He proceeded to give this man his sight: “ 'Neither this man nor his parents sinned: said Jesus, 'but this happened so that the works of God might be displayed in him” (John 9:3). The blind man's condition was not a punishment or even the consequence of anyone's sin. It was an opportunity for God's power, glory and goodness to be showcased. The answer Jesus gave to the disciples reframed the way they perceived the blind man's condition, and it continues to shift the paradigm of our perception today.

What if the suffering, pain and struggles you are facing are similar to the blind man's condition? What if they are not an injustice to endure but an opportunity to showcase God's glory? Have you ever considered that you are not being punished when you are faced with challenges, but rather you are being presented with the potential for experiencing the miraculous, omnipotent power of God? This has happened so that the works of God might be displayed in you.

And, my friend, no matter what you are facing—blindness, cancer, bankruptcy, divorce, addiction, homelessness or betrayal—nothing is impossible for God.

Throughout the pages of Scripture and across the centuries, this refrain continues to echo. No matter what you are going through, no matter how dire the circumstances, no matter how unbelievable your loss or unfathomable your pain, you are more than a conqueror through Christ Jesus! What you perceive as impossible is simply an incomplete vision obstructed by your human limitations. Jesus said, “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). When you have the power of the Holy Spirit within you, then you can move mountains with faith as small as a mustard seed (see Matthew 17:20).

I am convinced that God is attracted to impossible circumstances.

          Show Him a barren womb.

          Show Him a closed door.

          Show Him a broken heart.

          Show Him a shattered dream.

          Show Him a bad medical report.

          Show Him an empty bank account.

          Show Him a dysfunctional family.

          Show Him your need, and get ready for God to show up!

We are promised, “For no word from God will ever fail" (Luke 1:37).

          He gave Abraham a word, and it never failed.

          He gave Moses a word, and it never failed.

          He gave Joshua a word, and it never failed.

          He gave Hannah a word, and it never failed.

          He gave Elijah a word, and it never failed.

And God gave us not just a word but the Word: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. . . . The Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us" (John 1:1, 14). Our Abba Father God gave us Jesus, the Word, and He has never failed!

The Lord has a word for you now, so get ready for the impossible. Your family is about to give birth to something amazing that will have an impact on generations. In your family, get ready for the impossible to take place. In your faith, get ready for the impossible to take place. In your finances, get ready for the impossible to take place.

Open up your mouth, speak into your house and say, “The Word of God will never fail!" I dare you to look into your bank account and say, “The Word of God will never fail!” Speak into that relationship that is full of drama and proclaim, “The Word of God will never fail!” I dare you to text your children and declare, “The Word of God will never fail!” I do not care how impossible it looks today—God is about to show up!

He is attracted to the impossible so that no human can get credit for what He is about to do. Your God is the God of the impossible!

Verse-by-Verse into the WORD

Devotion: Pentecost

Dr ANDREW C S KOH Feb 28

Dr. Andrew C S Koh

The Last Supper by Bill Nicholls is licensed under CC-BY-SA 2.0

Prayer

Heavenly Father, we come before You today as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to You, as these are our spiritual acts of worship. We give You our full attention, hearts, spirits, and minds, in Jesus’ name, Amen.  The day of Pentecost is 50 days after Easter. On this day, the Holy Spirit descended upon the 120 disciples in the upper room in Jerusalem. The sound of a strong wind came from heaven and individual tongues of fire rested upon the heads of everyone one of them, and they spoke in foreign languages or tongues.

Acts 2:5-13

5 Now there were dwelling in Jerusalem Jews, devout men, from every nation under the sky. 6 When this sound was heard, the multitude came together and were bewildered, because everyone heard them speaking in his own language. 7 They were all amazed and marveled, saying to one another, “Behold, aren’t all these who speak Galileans? 8 How do we hear, everyone in our own native language? 9 Parthians, Medes, Elamites, and people from Mesopotamia, Judea, Cappadocia, Pontus, Asia, 10 Phrygia, Pamphylia, Egypt, the parts of Libya around Cyrene, visitors from Rome, both Jews and proselytes, 11 Cretans and Arabians: we hear them speaking in our languages the mighty works of God!” 12 They were all amazed, and were perplexed, saying to one another, “What does this mean?” 13 Others, mocking, said, “They are filled with new wine.” Acts 2:5-13

Commentary

Following the command of the Lord, 120 Jewish disciples from Jerusalem and all regions of the first-century world assembled in the upper room to awaiting the coming of the Holy Spirit. When the Holy Spirit came, they were amazed, astonished, and shocked. The heard everyone speaking in other people’s languages. They could not understand what was happening. Onlookers and scoffers accused them to be drunk with wine.  Peter silenced the crowd saying that nobody was drunk as it was only 9 am in the morning. Peter quoted Joel 2:28. Joel had prophesied this day when the Holy Spirit will be poured out on the people so that young men will prophesy and old man will dream dreams.  Peter preached his first evangelistic sermon with and boldness and power, The Holy Spirit transformed Peter from a timid fisherman into a fearless evangelist and leader of the apostles.  The Jews who listened were convicted by Peter’s sermon. They asked Peter what must they do to be saved. Peter told them to repent of their sins, be baptised in the name of Jesus. and called on the name of the Lord for salvation.  As many as 3000 Jews believed in Jesus and were baptised on that day! They received the apostle’s teaching, fellowshipped, broke bread, and prayed. This was how the first-century Christian church of Acts was born in Jerusalem on the day of Pentecost. The believers sold all their possessions and gave the proceeds to the apostles. Empowered by the Holy Spirit, the church grew rapidly.  It will happen afterward, that I will pour out my Spirit on all flesh, and your sons and your daughters will prophesy. Your old men will dream dreams. Your young men will see visions Joel 3:28

Application

When the Holy Spirit descended on the believers, they spoke in tongues and prophesy. Speaking in tongue on Pentecost was speaking in known languages. Can you imagine a Chinese speaking in Arabic, a German speaking in French, or Japanese speaking in Dutch and so on? This was what happened. People were able to speak in foreign languages spontaneously and fluently. Paul described speaking in tongues as one of the spiritual gifts in the book of 1 Corinthians 12 and 13. The tongues described by Paul in 1 Corinthians 12 and 13 may not be the same as in the tongues described in Acts 2. At conversion, the Holy Spirit indwell a person and imparts spiritual gifts on him/her. Speaking in tongues and prophesy are two of the gifs of the Holy Spirit. There are seven spiritual gifts, wisdom, knowledge, healing, miracles, prophesy, speaking in tongues, and interpretation of tongues, 1 Corinthians 12:8-10. 8 To one there is given through the Spirit a message of wisdom, to another a message of knowledge by means of the same Spirit, 9 to another faith by the same Spirit, to another gifts of healing by that one Spirit, 10 to another miraculous powers, to another prophecy, to another distinguishing between spirits, to another speaking in different kinds of tongues, and to still another the interpretation of tongues 1 Corinthians 12:8-10

Prayer

Heavenly Father, thank You once again for speaking to us Thank You for the day of Pentecost when You gave the Holy Spirit to the Jewish disciples in the upper room in Jerusalem. Thank You for this historic moment when the first Christian church of Acts was born, in Jesus’ name, Amen.

And when he had called the people unto him with his disciples also, he said unto them, Whosoever will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me.

Jesus didn’t suffer the cross just to provide an upgrade to the life that we make for ourselves. Rather, he calls us to a life of carrying our own cross. Not to bear our own punishment (for Jesus has already done that), but to put to death our lordship over our own lives as we follow Jesus wherever he leads.

Father God, I confess that all too often I choose my way over Yours. Help me to put away all of the desires, priorities, and pride of my old sinful nature, to crucify my old self. Fill me instead with a new life lived in step with You, empowered by Your victory so that I may walk in obedience as I follow wherever You lead me. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

February 26, 2023

“Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.”

Matthew 10:39

Jesus makes an important and paradoxical statement in Matthew 10:39: “Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” What does it look like to lose your life for his sake? How is it possible to find life as the result of losing it? You and I are only truly living to the degree that we’ve surrendered our lives to Jesus. True life is eternal, kingdom-based, and fueled by the love of God. Life apart from God is fleeting and meaningless. It’s for this reason Solomon in Ecclesiastes 1:14 says, “I have seen everything that is done under the sun, and behold, all is vanity and a striving after wind.”

We have opportunity every day to lay our lives down at the feet of Jesus in response to his great love that we might experience the abundant life only he can give. Surrender positions our hearts to receive the incredible reward of being fully God’s. God won’t force his blessings on us. He won’t force his presence or his love. He patiently draws us near, hoping that in response to his overwhelming affections we will lay down our lives that we might experience all the wonders he has in store for us.

Humbling ourselves before God as our King, Creator, and Sustainer is absolutely vital in going deeper. Pride so often stands in the way of God’s conditional promises. Scripture is clear in James 4:6, “God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.” Promises like “Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you” found in Matthew 6:33 require a level of humility and surrender most aren’t willing to give.

We often associate humility with weakness when in reality declaring our weakness before an Almighty God is the only posture of strength we can take. It’s for this reason that Paul says in 2 Corinthians 11:30, “If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness.” When we humble ourselves before God and surrender, we position ourselves to receive all the abundance of help, power, guidance, and love we could ever need.

God is an endless ocean of love, help, healing, and power. The Holy Spirit who dwells within you longs to empower you with everything you need to truly live in the fullness of life available to you. If you will choose to lay down your life in surrender to God’s plans, purposes, truth, and perfect will,  you will experience a life unlike anything you’ve known. Take time today to lose your life that you may find it in God. Cast aside all pride and selfish ambition that you might pursue the wonderful, abundant life of one submitted to an Almighty, omnipotent, omnipresent, and fully loving Father.

1. Meditate on the need for surrender in fully pursuing God.

“Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” Matthew 10:39

“But he gives more grace. Therefore it says, ‘God opposes the proud, but gives grace to the humble.’” James 4:6

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” Matthew 5:3

2. In what ways have you been allowing pride, fear, or selfish ambition to keep you from fully surrendering to God? In what ways have you been seeking glory for yourself?

3. Lay your life down at the feet of your good and loving Savior that you might experience the fullness of his love, grace, and affection for you. Rest at the feet of Jesus. Choose the good portion today rather than spending all your energy seeking fleeting admiration and temporal possessions.

“Now as they went on their way, Jesus entered a village. And a woman named Martha welcomed him into her house. And she had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet and listened to his teaching. But Martha was distracted with much serving. And she went up to him and said, ‘Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me to serve alone? Tell her then to help me.’ But the Lord answered her, ‘Martha, Martha, you are anxious and troubled about many things, but one thing is necessary. Mary has chosen the good portion, which will not be taken away from her.’” Luke 10:38-42

While surrender in the world results in defeat, surrender to God brings ultimate victory. When we stop pursuing our own glory and worldly acclamations, we begin building up treasure in heaven that will never be taken away from us. God’s plans for us are infinitely better than anything we could do on our own. His heavenly rewards for us vastly outweigh any sense of earthly accomplishments. Surrendering our lives completely to God releases us from the constraints of this world that we might live for the kingdom that will never end. May your life be completely wrapped up in the goodness of your loving Savior.

Extended Reading: James 4

Delana,

There has been a major development in our lawsuit.

The security supervisor at the National Archives that targeted pro-lifers has been essentially FIRED – removed from all work at the National Archives – as a direct result of our lawsuit.

It's now been revealed that this security supervisor "provided instructions to other security officers" to target pro-life individuals on the day of the March for Life. Christian students, grandparents, and others were accosted, berated, and kicked out of the National Archives and the Smithsonian museums because they wore pro-life shirts, hats, and other attire.

This is major. As you know, it is next to impossible to remove anyone from power in these Deep State bureaucratic agencies. WE GOT IT DONE.

That's not all; we also obtained a consent decree in court preventing the National Archives from continuing to violate the Constitution.

But as we warned you, we cannot let them get away with just scapegoating one security guard. Two federal institutions kicked out pro-lifers on the same day. There is clearly more corruption at play here. And we're continuing to battle in both our lawsuits.

Biden's Deep State has been conducting a vendetta against life for the overturning of Roe. They are expanding abortion, trying to shut down pro-life centers, turning the Post Office into abortion dealers, and throwing out Christians for their pro-life views.

We are engaged in every one of these cases. We can win, but we need immense resources to keep fighting in court.

Give To Defend Unborn Babies & Pro-lifers From Biden's Attack.

As we go to court, take urgent action with us to stop this insidious assault on the Constitution.

Sign Petition: Stop Biden's Deep State From Banning Pro-Lifers.

Jay Sekulow
ACLJ Chief Counsel

The Torah is lifted in Congregation Dorshei Emet (Seekers of Truth Synagogue) in Quebec, Canada.

 

 

Shabbat Shalom Delana!

 

Welcome to Terumah (Offering), this week’s Parasha (Torah Portion).

 

We know that you will be blessed as you study with us this portion of Torah that will be read during this week’s Shabbat (Saturday) service in synagogues around the world.  Enjoy!

 

 

TERUMAH (Offering)

Exodus 25:1–27:19; 1 Kings 5:26–6:13; Hebrews 9:1–28

 

“Then the LORD spoke to Moses, saying:  ‘Speak to the children of Israel, that they bring Me an offering [terumah].  From everyone who gives it willingly with his heart you shall take My offering.’”  (Exodus 25:1–2)

Last week in Parasha Mishpatim, God gave to the Israelites about 53 mitzvot (laws) out of the 613 commandments.  These laws included the treatment of parents, slaves, and foreigners, as well as other people’s property.

 

The title of this week’s Torah reading, Terumah (תְּרוּמָה), is taken from a Hebrew word meaning offering, gift, or contribution.  In this Parasha, the Lord commands Moses to take up a free will offering from the people of Israel in order to build a sanctuary in the wilderness.

 

This sanctuary, called the Mishkan, was meant to be a visible reminder for the people of God’s holy Presence that dwelt among them.

 

The offerings that the people were asked to bring included precious metals and stones, fine linens, animal skins, wood, oil for the lamps, and fragrant spices for the incense.

The Lord instructed Moses to take an offering only from those who gave “willingly and from their heart.”

 

“Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver."  (2 Corinthians 9:7)

 

Because of our sinful nature, we tend to be selfish and seek for what we can receive; but the Bible tells us that it is more blessed to give than to receive.  (Acts 20:35)

 

The truth of the matter is that when we give, especially toward the work of the Lord, we receive back so much more than what we have given.

 

“Give, and it will be given to you.  A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap.  For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."  (Luke 6:38)

Malachi 3:10 emphasizes the principle that no one can out give the Lord  and that He will pour out blessings when you give to Him.

 

Building the Sanctuary

 

“And let them make Me a sanctuary, that I may dwell among them.  According to all that I show you, that is, the pattern of the tabernacle and the pattern of all its furnishings, just so you shall make it.”  (Exodus 25:8–9)

 

The Israelites were to make a Sanctuary for God’s Presence, as well as all of its furnishings.  They were not to be made according to any design they imagined, but only according to God’s specific blueprint, which He showed Moses on the mountain.

 

“And see to it that you make them according to the pattern which was shown you on the mountain.”  (Exodus 25:40)

 

This wilderness Sanctuary was a copy of the actual Temple of the Tabernacle of the Testimony in Heaven.  (Revelation 15:5)

 

One very special furnishing in the Tabernacle was the Aron HaBrit (אָרוֹן הַבְּרִית or Ark of the Covenant), which was to be made out of acacia wood covered with gold.  In it, the stone tablets of the Ten Commandments were to be laid.

 

According to the Book of Hebrews in the Brit Chadashah (New Covenant or New Testament), it also contained a golden pot with the manna that came down from heaven as well as Aaron’s rod that budded.

 

However, it is written in the Book of Kings that at the time of King Solomon, the Ark only contained the two stone Tablets.  (1 Kings 8:9)

 

Adventures of the Ark of the Covenant

 

The Tanakh (Old Testament) recounts many stories concerning the Aron HaBrit, which give us part of its history.

 

Throughout the 40 years of wandering in the wilderness, the Israelites carried the Ark using poles placed through four gold rings.

 

When they camped, the Ark was placed inside the Tabernacle.

 

Priests carried the ark into the Jordan River when the Israelites, led by Joshua, crossed over into the Promised Land.

 

After they crossed over, the Ark was carried around the city of Jericho once a day for seven days.  On the seventh day, seven priests, blowing on seven shofarot (ram’s horns), marched around the city seven times with the Ark.  With a great shout, the walls of Jericho fell down and they took the city.  (Joshua 6:16–20)

 

During the time of Eli, the Israelites carried the Ark into battle, hoping that its presence would secure victory against the Philistines.

 

Instead, it was captured by the Philistines, but misfortune befell them every place that they brought the Ark.  So they eventually sent it back to Israel.

 

It remained at Kiriath-Jearim for some 20 years until King David brought it back to its rightful place in the Tabernacle in Jerusalem.  (2 Samuel 6:17–20; 1 Chronicles 15:1–3; 2 Chronicles 1:4)

 

What Happened to the Ark?

 

Today, the location of the Ark remains a mystery.

 

Many theories about what eventually happened to it abound.  But it is generally believed that the Babylonians carried away the vessels and the Ark when they destroyed Jerusalem and Solomon’s Temple in 587 BC (according to the Greek Apocrypha book of 1 Esdras):

 

“And they took all the holy vessels of the Lord, both great and small, with the vessels of the ark of God, and the king's treasures, and carried them away into Babylon.”  (1 Esdras 1:54)

 

The Bible, however, does not tell us that the Babylonians took away the Ark itself, and although there have been many reported findings, its location has never been discovered.

 

Some believe that it is under the very spot where Yeshua (Jesus) was executed by the Romans, and that His blood was sprinkled upon the mercy seat below the earth during the great earthquake upon his death.

 

As well, visitors who tour the Western Wall tunnels are shown the spot closest to where others believe the Ark of the Covenant is buried.

The Golden Cherubim Over the Mercy Seat

 

Upon the Ark’s cover and over the mercy seat were placed two golden cherubim.  From above the cover and between these two cherubim God spoke with Moses.

 

Other Scriptures speak of this as God's throne.  (2 Samuel 6:2; Isaiah 37:16)

 

When King Hezekiah prayed, he addressed YHVH as the One enthroned above the cherubim (referring to the mercy seat on the Ark of the Covenant).

 

“O LORD of hosts [YHVH Tzeva’ot], God of Israel, enthroned above the cherubim, you are the God, you alone, of all the kingdoms of the earth; you have made heaven and earth.” (Isaiah 37:16)

 

We may notice that the “law” formed the foundation of the Ark, but communication with God came forth from the mercy seat.

 

Our relationship with God is always filtered through His mercy.

 

But what exactly is the mercy seat?  In Hebrew it is called the kapporet (כפורת), from the word kapparah, which means atonement.  The root of this term is kaphar, meaning to cover.

 

The mercy seat was a golden cover to the Ark of the Covenant, but it represented our atonement that God gives us through His mercy.

 

But what are cherubim (כְּרֻבִ֗ים)?

Although popular modern folklore represents cherubim as chubby naked babies who have small wings with which to fly, the Bible describes them differently.

 

They first appear in Genesis as mighty angelic beings with flaming swords.  They guarded the entrance of the Garden of Eden and the way to the Tree of Life after Adam and Eve had been banished.  (Genesis 3:24)

 

Cherubim are winged angelic beings who attend to God.  

 

The prophet Ezekiel described the images of cherubim that he saw in his visions (Ezekiel chapters 1 and 10) as having four faces, four wings, and the hands of a man.  He described the sound of their wings as being like the sound of the Almighty when He speaks.

 

Most streams of Judaism (including traditional Rabbinic Judaism) believe in the existence of angels, including cherubim, although beliefs vary widely.

 

According to the Kaballah, the mystical sect of Judaism, cherubim and other angels have specific names and divine roles to perform in our lives.

The Holy of Holies

 

“The veil shall be a divider for you between the holy place and the Most Holy.”  (Exodus 26:33) 

 

Images of the cherubim also make an appearance in the Holy of Holies (Kodesh HaKodeshim), which was to be separated from the rest of the Sanctuary by a thick, heavy veil or drape.

 

The veil was made of fine linen and blue, purple, and scarlet yarn and embroidered with golden cherubim.

 

The Holy of Holies was the most sacred and innermost portion of the Sanctuary built by Moses, as well as the ancient Holy Temple in Jerusalem.

 

Only the Cohen HaGadol (Jewish high priest) could enter into this most Holy place, and even then he could only enter once a year on Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement). 

 

“Now when these things had been thus prepared, the priests always went into the first part of the tabernacle, performing the services.  But into the second part the high priest went alone once a year, not without blood, which he offered for himself and for the people’s sins committed in ignorance.”  (Hebrews 9:6–7)

Before entering the Most Holy Place, the Cohen HaGadol would have to wash himself thoroughly and put on special clothing, designated and cleaned for this one event.

 

Once inside, he would burn incense so that the smoke would cover his eyes and form a barrier to seeing God directly. 

 

Then he would sprinkle the blood of a sacrificial animal on the mercy seat of the Ark of the Covenant to atone for the sins of his people as well as his own personal sins.

 

Why was there a veil and such elaborate precautions undertaken by the High Priest before entering the Holy of Holies?  It is because God’s eyes are too pure to look upon sin.  (Habakkuk 1:13)

 

This emphasizes that we cannot take God’s holiness lightly, nor carelessly enter into His Presence.

 

It is highly significant, therefore, that when Yeshua HaMashiach (the Messiah) died on the Roman execution stake, the veil tore in two.

 

“When Yeshua had cried out again in a loud voice, He gave up His spirit.  At that moment the curtain of the Temple was torn in two from top to bottom” (Matthew 27:50–51).

No man tore this veil in two; it was torn as a result of a supernatural act of God—a reflection of a Jewish mourning custom.  When a person grieves for a loved one who has died, the garment of the mourner would be torn from top to bottom.

 

It is in this way that our Heavenly Father publicly displayed His deep grief over the death of Yeshua.

 

This amazing occurrence signified our free access to the very presence of God through Yeshua’s atoning sacrifice.  

 

Because of Yeshua’s death on the execution stake, man is no longer forced to be separated from God but can come boldly to the Throne of Grace at any time to receive God’s grace, help, and mercy through Yeshua.

 

“So let us come boldly to the throne of our gracious God.  There we will receive His mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.” (Hebrews 4:16)

Whereas in the days of Moses, a formidable barrier to God was guarded by the cherubim, now we can confidently and freely enter even the Most Holy Place through a new and living way that has been opened for us through the curtain—that is the pierced body and shed blood of Yeshua.  (Hebrews 10:19–20)

 

Yeshua came as the Cohen HaGadol (High Priest) of a greater and more perfect Tabernacle than the one constructed by Moses and the people of Israel; His Temple was not made with human hands as in King Solomon's day, but was supernaturally created.

 

“Messiah came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation.”  (Hebrews 9:11)

 

He did not enter into the Most Holy Place with the blood of bulls or goats or any other sacrificial animal, since their blood could never completely cover sin but would have to be repeated every year over and over again.

 

Yeshua entered into the Kodesh HaKodeshim with His very own blood—once and for all—to totally remove our sins from us—as far as the east is from the west!  Halleluyah!

 

“Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.”  (Hebrews 9:12)

 

Let us praise His name forever! Amen

Whereas in the days of Moses, a formidable barrier to God was guarded by the cherubim, now we can confidently and freely enter even the Most Holy Place through a new and living way that has been opened for us through the curtain—that is the pierced body and shed blood of Yeshua.  (Hebrews 10:19–20)

 

Yeshua came as the Cohen HaGadol (High Priest) of a greater and more perfect Tabernacle than the one constructed by Moses and the people of Israel; His Temple was not made with human hands as in King Solomon's day, but was supernaturally created.

 

“Messiah came as High Priest of the good things to come, with the greater and more perfect tabernacle not made with hands, that is, not of this creation.”  (Hebrews 9:11)

 

He did not enter into the Most Holy Place with the blood of bulls or goats or any other sacrificial animal, since their blood could never completely cover sin but would have to be repeated every year over and over again.

 

Yeshua entered into the Kodesh HaKodeshim with His very own blood—once and for all—to totally remove our sins from us—as far as the east is from the west!  Halleluyah!

 

“Not with the blood of goats and calves, but with His own blood He entered the Most Holy Place once for all, having obtained eternal redemption.”  (Hebrews 9:12)

 

Let us praise His name forever! Amen

NIV Verse of the Day

udy

VERSE OF THE DAY

February 25

Hebrews 11:1

1 Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. Read Hebrews 11

If the road to heaven were easy to find, then Jesus would not have needed to take on flesh, die, and be raised for our forgiveness. But the road is impossible to find without him. It is only when our eyes are opened by the Spirit that we see the narrow path, Jesus himself, leading us to eternal life. If we are looking to ourselves, to the law, to human philosophies, or anything other than Jesus, we will fail to see the narrow path. 

Father, thank you for making a way through Jesus for me to find You. Thank You for leading me to the narrow path to eternal life. Please walk closely with me, so that I may remain on Your path as You light my way and guide me through each step. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

A little that a righteous man hath is better than the riches of many wicked. For the arms of the wicked shall be broken: but the LORD upholdeth the righteous. Psalms 37:16-17

It is far better to be a Christian who does not have much in this world, in comparison to being a wicked person who abounds in wealth and material possessions. There will come a day where all of these earthly things will pass away and we will be faced with what matters the most – our eternity. Those who have believed in God and followed His ways will be given eternal life. Those who have chosen to be wicked will, unfortunately, face eternal damnation.

Dear God, I pray that I will never lose sight of what truly matters in this life. May my mind always be concerned with your Kingdom, Lord, and not in amassing wealth on this earth. I know that everything I attain on earth is temporary. May my mind never lose sight of what truly matters – spending eternity with you. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.

Paul wrote that because of God’s grace, you have been “saved.” Saved is a verb. You can write a verb in past, present, future, or perfect tense.

Past tense speaks of something that has already happened.

Present tense describes something happening right now.

Future tense refers to something that will happen eventually but hasn’t yet.

Perfect tense speaks of something that has happened in the past, is still happening in the present, and will continue in the future. It draws attention to the continuing effects of something that has happened in the past.

Paul wrote “saved” in perfect tense! You were saved by God’s grace in the past, but the effect is still happening. His grace is always going to impact your life. God will continue giving you new life in your dead places until his work is complete in you.

You never have to feel defeated.

You can never give up.

Because God didn’t just save you. He saves you. He is constantly saving you.

You can’t, but God can. And God will, if you turn to his power.

 2023,9 February

Do you live like y believe God’s promises? When you meet someone new, are they able to tell your faith is strong? In just the opening of the letter, Paul declares his belief in God the Father and his son, Jesus’ death on the cross and resurrection, our deliverance, and the will of God. What changes do you need to make in your life to live so your faith is clear as soon as people meet you. The Bible puts a strong emphasis on telling us to not worry. For God to make sure that His Word tells us this repetitively, it means that He is in control and the outcome of all our situations will work out. Do not spend your time fretting, worrying, and stressing – there is no gain in this. Fix your eyes on God and His faithfulness, and pray to Him. Communicate with Him freely and thank him as if all has already been done – because it truly has.

Dear God, thank you for your reassurance that you give so frequently and so freely. Lord it is because of what you tell me in your word, I do not worry and I do not fret. I have no reason to fear because I know that I am backed by you. You are my strength. You are my refuge. You are my peace. I thank you for the answered prayers in my life, O Lord. I continue to put my trust in you as I watch my situations turn before my very eyes. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Dear God, give me faith like Paul’s. Help me to live completely for you. May my faith be evident by all who meet me and speak with me. Send me a mentor to help me grow more mature in my faith. O Lord, give me the faith to believe all your promises are true. Thank you for giving us the apostles and your word to guide us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

God’s presence calms us down.  So if our hearts tend to be full of anxiety, fear, and stress, we need to look at the quality of our relationship with God.  Does your relationship with God calm you down?   Knowing that God is listening should comfort us and bring us faith in his power and protection, even when we are under pressure or overwhelmed by life.   Can you silence strife or relationship conflict? One surefire barometer of how calm you really are is how you handle strife and relationship conflict. The kind of calm God gives us teaches us to silence strife around us.

Controlling your tongue when your heart is under pressure is difficult. We tend to be much more angry, edgy, and impatient when we feel pressure and stress, and we often say things I end up regretting.  This is a way to stay calm and control our tongue under pressure: to develop an understanding heart. Only when we slow down to pray about our emotions, pressure, and stress can we get past ourselves to understand and empathize with others around us – instead of getting annoyed when they seem to get in our way.  Having an understanding heart also means understanding God and what he is doing. For example, it means understanding that God causes all things to work together (including pressure, stress, and relationship conflict) for the good of those who love him. Knowing this can help us stay calm, cool, and collected no matter what comes our way.  

When we’re going through storms of life, hurricanes of emotion, and waves of wallowing, we need faith in God’s power in order to stay calm. God can still the storms and hush the hurricanes in our lives if we trust him and pour out our hearts to him.

We often think of laws as burdens. And in human systems, they usually are. But God’s laws are perfect, and He has given them to us not to weigh us down, but so that we may be renewed by them. Love God, and love others. This is the summary of God’s law. And as His law grows us in wisdom, we are renewed by venturing deeper into His love.

Lord, Your love knows no bounds. I thank You for giving me Your perfect law, which guides me in Your truth and centers me in Your love. Teach me to see Your love in every command and decree. Grow me in wisdom so that I may experience the full refreshment and renewal of Your love through Your commands. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

How well do we understand Jesus’ power? All things were made through him, and he maintains dominion over all things. We can approach him with confidence in prayer because we know that he is sovereign. The wind and the waves, sickness and health, are all subject to him. What great news!

Father God, You are powerful. You are sovereign over Your creation. You know our needs, our ailments, our struggles. We trust all of these things to Your loving care. With confidence, Lord, we lean on Your power as we ask for healing, strength, and provision, for You are more than able to meet all of our needs. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

God’s grace is essential to the Christian faith. From start to finish, our redemption is accomplished by God alone, and it is by His sovereign grace ghat Jesus Christ is building His church. However, this doesn’t  faithful

mean that Christians may live passively. The book of Ephesians reveals that God’s grace equips us for

rvice in the world and empowers us to live courageously for Christ’s name.

f   Delana, What California JUST did is disgusting. And now other states could pass this abhorrent law. Governor Newsom, who claims that Jesus' command to "love your neighbor" means we should kill babies, signed a gruesome bill into law that legalizes infanticide. In a diabolical sleight of hand, the abortion law replaces the term "prenatal" (before birth) with "perinatal," which includes up to 28 days after birth, expanding abortion through infancy. This is just the beginning of the radical expansion of abortion that we are seeing unleashed. As states begin their legislative sessions this year, this bill WILL COME UP. We're not only fighting these bills in the states, but we're also demanding a vote in the Senate on a bill that would protect babies born alive. It already passed the House. But as we battle to defeat these barbaric new infanticide laws nationwide, we urgently need your support. We can't take on the abortion industry's nearly limitless resources alone. Donate To Defend Babies From the Horror of Abortion Today. The Smithsonian's National Air and Space Museum – a federal institution supported by your tax dollars – just kicked out an entire group of pro-life students simply for having a pro-life religious message on their hats, with museum staff shouting profanities at these kids. It's appalling, unconstitutional discrimination. The ACLJ is fighting back. We are preparing to take swift legal action, representing these humiliated kids who did nothing but live out their faith – a right secured by the Constitution. Sign Our NEW Petition: Defend Pro-Life Kids From Attack. Alarming Report: Smithsonian Kicks Out Kids for Pro-Life Hats. The Supreme Court just granted a MAJOR case that will determine your right to go to church. The U.S. Postal Service refused to allow a postal worker to attend church on Sunday. We represent several clients in similar matters, and we're urgently preparing to file an amicus brief at the Supreme Court. This case will determine your right to go to church. As we prepare to file at the Supreme Court, take action with us. Sign NEW Petition: Defend Right To Church at Supreme Court. Newly confirmed House Speaker McCarthy JUST correctly removed Reps. Adam Schiff and Eric Swalwell from the House Intelligence Committee. As radical Left agitators, Schiff openly lied to the American people and Swalwell was potentially compromised by a Chinese Communist spy. We filed multiple FOIA lawsuits because former Speaker Pelosi did nothing. This week, our legal efforts succeeded, and both men were removed. Neither can be trusted with sensitive, classified information ever again. Take action with us as we battle a dozen other cases against government corruption. Sign Now: Defeat Radical Left Government Corruption in Court. God Bless, Delana Zakrzewski

Does forgiving mean forgetting?

Portraying the souls of the faithful and those of the damned, “The Last Judgement” of Michelangelo serves as a powerful reminder of the theology of grace and of the importance of one’s own volition in accepting and actively cooperating with the grace which God so freely gives to men.

Lord, I confess that I have at times held back my giving. I have trusted more in my own work and planning than in Your provision. Father, I acknowledge that all I have is Yours, and I return to You freely out of what You have so freely given me. Please accept my offering for Your kingdom’s sake, and sustain me according to Your faithfulness. In Jesus’ 

Lord, as we remember our baptisms, we do so with gratitude for the Holy Spirit that You freely poured out on us. As we baptize others, we ask that You would fill us anew with Your Spirit. Let us not lose sight of where our power comes from, so that we may live by Your power each day, to the glory of Your name. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Lord, I confess that I have at times held back my giving. I have trusted more in my own work and planning than in Your provision. Father, I acknowledge that all I have is Yours, and I return to You freely out of what You have so freely given me. Please accept my offering for Your kingdom’s sake, and sustain me according to Your faithfulness. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Delana,

Religious liberty is under attack like nothing we've seen in years.

Local governments are trying to force out Christian organizations, treating churches completely differently than any other group. They are literally banning churches and their ministries from entire towns. This invidious discrimination is outrageous and unconstitutional.

Just YESTERDAY, we presented oral argument in the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals in a case where a Christian ministry has been banned from using its own property. In fact, the county REVOKED its permits after the church ministry began operating.

We're fighting a similar case in the 6th Circuit where a county is literally blocking a Christian ministry from using any property. We are battling another case in the 4th Circuit where a church was REQUIRED to get a liquor license to operate. In another case, our client, a realtor, was BANNED from including "Jesus loves you" in her email signature. All these cases could end up at the Supreme Court.

And we're already at the Supreme Court awaiting the Justices' decision on whether to take our case where a public prayer vigil was ruled unconstitutional.

Our faith is under fire, and we must fight back. We're taking on every one of these cases free of charge to our clients. We can win. We can beat back anti-Christian assaults on our constitutional rights, but we urgently need your support.

Is there ever a time not to forgive? According to Jesus, no, but there is always a time to act wisely.

Wisdom and forgiveness are not mutually exclusive. In our forgiveness, we must exercise discernment. The battered wife who forgives her husband can choose not to return to his bed. The man who forgives the business partner who stole his fortune can choose not to form a new partnership with him. The adult child who forgives their parent for a childhood of abuse may choose to keep a healthy distance.

However, our fears tend to play on our emotions and tell us that forgiveness will ultimately lead to a return to the same situation that caused the pain in the first place, but it doesn’t have to. This is why, though there are many instances where the Bible exhorts us to forgive, it never tells us to forget. Why? Because forgetting the wrong (even if we could) would tear down the psychological guardrails that keep us from going to the same place again. When you walk through a low doorway and hit your head, your mind reminds you to duck the next time you walk through it to avoid that painful experience. If you forget, it will happen again the next time. If you never remember, you never learn. You are doomed to repeat the same mistake over and over again.

No, forgiving does not mean forgetting, but it does allow you to let go of its negative hold on your life. Interestingly, the Bible talks about God forgetting our sins. In Jeremiah 31:34, God says that He will remember the sins of His people no more. Does that mean that God forgets? If God is omniscient, He can’t truly forget. In “forgetting,” He no longer holds our sins against us and no longer needs to dwell on them. This is the same for you if you choose forgiveness. If someone asks you about a painful situation, you’ll still remember what happened and how it made you feel, but it won’t be something that haunts your consciousness. You’ll be able to recall it, talk about it, recount it, and then move on. It no longer controls you. You’ve made the decision to release it. You’ve made the decision to forgive.

What if the person who needs our forgiveness the most is the person we tend to withhold it from most often . . . ourselves? Can we choose to forgive even that undeserving individual?

Yes, we can. Tomorrow we’ll see why.‎‎‎

 

Just as Paul preached the Good News with power regardless of the consequences, he sent his disciple Timothy to preach with the same sense of conviction. He is also sending us to be witnesses for Christ. This passage seems to continue our theme from yesterday – that of discipleship. In Matthew's gospel, Jesus' final commission is to go forth and make disciples, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. He did not just mean the apostles. According to this commission, the baptized are automatically disciples. It's only been a month since we celebrated Christmas. Are we still witnesses to the joy of Jesus' birth? Are we still as welcoming of others, or kind to those we meet? Or have we allowed ourselves to go back to "normal?" If we're not still joyful witnesses, then how can we expect others to want to share the joy of the Good News? Joy is catchy, and so is negativity. Even if we are surrounded by those who might make fun of us because we hold ourselves to a higher standard, as Paul was, we still need to by witnesses of Christ. As important as our words of faith are, our actions are more important. I once heard a talk where the presenter commented that we are God's "chosen" people, not God's "frozen" people. It is so important to be the disciples that we have been called to be. We need to be loving, accepting, forgiving and just. Don't be afraid of what others think of you, only be concerned about how well we are being Christ in the world. In Jesus name Amen 

GOD AND COUNTRY,without God there is no Country

Blessing of Obedience

Deuteronomy 7:12-26

12> "Then it shall come to pass, because you listen to these judgements, and keep and do them, that the Lord your God will keep with you the covenant and the mercy which He swore to your fathers.

13>And HE will love you and bless you and multiply you; He will also bless the fruit of your land, your grain and your new wine and your oil, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flock, in the land of which He swore to your fathers to give you.

curses on Disobedience

14>You shall be blessed above all people; there shall not be a male or female barren among you or your livestock.

15>And the LORD will take away from you all sickness, and will afflict you with none of the terrible diseases of Egypt which you have known, but will lay them in all those who hate you. 

16>Also you shall destroy all the people whom the LORD your God delivers over to you; your eyes shall have no pity on them; nor shall you serve their gods, for that will be a snare to you.

17> if you should say in your heart, 'and these nations are greater than I; how can I dispossess them?-

18>you shall not be afraid of them, but you shall remember well what the LORD your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt:

19> the great trials which your eyes saw, the sign and the wonders, the mighty hand and outstretched arm, by which the Lord your God brought you out of. So shall the LORD your God do to all the people of whom you are afraid.

20> Moreover the LORD your God will send the hornet among them until those who are left, who hide themselves from you, are destroyed.

21> You shall not be terrified of them; for the LORD your God, the great awesome God is among you.

22And the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you little by little; you will be unable to destroy them at once, lest the beasts of the field become too numerous for you.

23> But the LORD your God will deliver them over to you, and inflict defeat upon them until they are destroyed.

And He will deliver kings destroy their name under heaven; no one shall be able to stand against you until you have destroyed them.

25> YOu shall burn the carved images of their gods with fire; you shall not covet the silver and gold that is on them, nor take it for yourself, lest you be snared by it; for it is an abomination to the LORD you God.

26> Nor  shall you bring an abomination into your house, lest you be doomed to destruction like it and utterly abhor it, for it is accursed thing.

MORAL STRENGTH Most historians agree that 17th- and early 18th-century Christian America was a light on a hill to the rest of the world. After such a noble beginning, how is it America finds herself where she is today – despised by most of the world? The answer must be some incisive change in the country’s spiritual course. 

What made 17th-century Colonial America unique among all the other nations? Many of the Colonies’ governments were based upon the laws of Yahweh1 instead of the laws of man. When Americans stopped believing in the perfection of Yahweh’s moral law and reverted to man’s law, everything changed. This occurred in 1788 when the United States ratified the Constitution. 

Because they have never actually considered the Constitution from a Biblical paradigm, many Christian sources endorse the Constitution as a Biblical document created by Christian men. But, a document that promotes the will of the people over the will of Yahweh for his people is not compatible with the Bible. Neither can such a document be the answer to America’s current national crises. Rather than being the solution to America’s problems, could the Constitution actually be the genesis of those problems? The Constitution is not the Biblically compatible document we have been told it is. It actually conflicts with Christianity and is often hostile to both Yahweh’s sovereignty and morality. 

Christians2 have a responsibility to uphold Biblical principles in every sphere of life – including government. We will never become a nation that pleases Yahweh by promoting the Constitution. The key to what made America great (and what can restore her to her former greatness) can be found within the Scriptures. In Luke 11:52, Jesus3 declared the Pharisees had taken away the key of knowledge and kept others from entering the kingdom. The key of knowledge is Yahweh’s law: 

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee … seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God…. (Hosea 4:6)4

The Pharisees eliminated the key of knowledge with their man-made traditions: 

Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? …ye [have] made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. (Matthew 15:3-9)

The commandments of men are also preventing the kingdom from being fully realized today. When the States ratified the Constitution, it set America on a path away from Yahweh’s law. This, of course, runs contrary to everything we’ve been told about the Constitution for more than 220 years. But a lie is still a lie regardless of how often it’s been told. 

History doesn’t lie. Look at America before and since the Constitution’s ratification. Before 1788, America was principally Christian. Since 1788, America has become progressively less Christian in every respect. This alone speaks volumes about the Constitution. 

What has been the Constitution’s fruit? We have only to look at the last 200-plus years to know it shackled us with bondage and corruption, dishonest legislators, an inequitable court system, ungodly wars, and pervasive taxes: 

Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree brings forth good fruit. (Matthew 7:16-18)

Libertarian attorney Lysander Spooner (1808-1887) wrote that the Constitution “has either authorized such a government as we have had, or has been powerless to prevent it.”5 

Man-made surrogates never have and never will provide liberty. Forgiveness (liberty from our personal sins) is realized through Jesus’ blood-atoning sacrifice and resurrection from the grave. All other liberty is found in the implementation and enforcement of Yahweh’s perfect laws of liberty – never in the hollow promises of man-made covenants. Yahweh’s grace on the personal level and Yahweh’s law on the community level are our only means to true freedom. When either of these is abused, freedom is also abused. 

Except for occasional interference from the British kings across the Atlantic, this nation experienced its greatest liberty in the 1600s and early 1700s. From the ratification of the Constitution until now, our liberties have been whittled away. At present, we would be hard-pressed to find a nation with less liberty than the United States of America. 

This is difficult to accept, especially because we have so often been told the framers were godly men. Christian Constitutionalists are quick to share the framers’ Christian-sounding quotations. Hundreds of books, replete with such quotations, have been compiled, and no one can question that many of the framers and their disciples often said the right things regarding Yahweh, His Son, Christianity, and occasionally even His laws. However, such stand-alone statements mean very little. Thomas Jefferson made Christian-sounding statements, but no one would argue he was a Christian. 

Some people seem to believe the only thing necessary to prove one’s Christianity is an invocation of God. This erroneous and dangerous assumption opens the door to political abuse in the name of Christ and the Christian sanction of ungodly actions – including those of the framers. 

To date, the battle between Christians and secularists over the Constitution has been a war of quotations – and there are plenty to go around from both sides, often from the same framers. The framers may have recognized the Bible and Christianity’s influence upon society, but this does not mean they legislated and adjudicated according to Yahweh’s laws. One only needs to look at the record to know Yahweh’s laws have been ignored since the Constitution’s ratification. In order to conclude the framers were Christians, today’s Christian Constitutionalists have severed the framers’ words from their actions: 

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity [anomia – lawlessness]. (Matthew 7:21-23)

Although some of the framers claimed to be Christians, they practiced lawlessness. They nowhere attributed the inspiration for any specific article or amendment in the Constitution to the Bible or the laws of Yahweh. Worse, they created “laws” contrary to those of Yahweh. The Constitution embodies the following serious Biblical infractions, among others: 

The Preamble’s substitution of a new national god in place of Yahweh.

Article 1’s usurpation of Yahweh’s legislative powers.

Article 2’s commandeering of Yahweh’s executive sovereignty.

Article 3’s supplanting of Yahweh’s judicial system.

Article 6’s repudiation of Christianity.

Amendment 1’s promotion of pluralism, polytheism, and idolatry.

Amendment 2’s replacement of the Biblical responsibility to bear arms.

Amendment 8’s condemnation of Yahweh’s judgments.

Although Christians expose and combat sin on many fronts, very few identify the Constitution as an idol of national prominence: 

It is possible for an idol to become so entrenched in the fabric of society that even the people of God fail to recognize it for what it is and to take steps to get rid of it. Our modern idols are not always easy to detect. They often take the shape of ideas and institutions woven into the warp and woof of our culture.6

A Christian’s devotion cannot be split between Yahweh’s law and man’s law. As Christians, and therefore subjects of the King of kings, our devotion is due exclusively to Yahweh, His kingdom, and His law.7 His battle, and thus His subjects’ battle, is not for constitutionalism, but for His kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven, governed solely by His perfect law. 

The law of YHWH is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of YHWH is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of YHWH are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of YHWH is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of YHWH is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of YHWH are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. (Psalm 19:7-9)

Christians must stop serving two masters. We must choose between the document that begins “We the People,” and the one that begins “In the beginning God.” As Yahweh’s ambassadors, we must choose between a government of, by, and for the people and a government of, by, and for Yahweh. Like Gideon in Judges 6, we must tear down our fathers’ idol and altar before we can restore Yahweh’s kingdom here on earth. 

Without question, this is a costly decision, but any cost incurred will be far exceeded by the rewards of choosing correctly: Yahweh’s pleasure and blessings, the legacy we leave our posterity, peace and prosperity, and the foundations for what will ultimately be the near elimination of crime. If WE THE PEOPLE be God, follow them. But if Yahweh be God, we must follow Him. 

The United States Constitution is a document few Americans have read and to which fewer yet have given any serious thought, especially from a Biblical paradigm. We must study Yahweh’s law and create a vision for His kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10). You can explore the difference between Yahweh’s perfect law and the Constitution, beginning with the books Bible Law vs. the United States Constitution: The Christian Perspective (A Primer) and Law and Kingdom: Their Relevance Under the New Covenant. 

Endnotes 

1. YHWH (most often pronounced Yahweh) is the English transliteration of the Tetragrammaton, the principal Hebrew name of the God of the Bible. For a more thorough explanation concerning the sacred names of God, The Third Commandment” may be read online, or the book Thou shalt not take the name of YHWH thy God in vain may be ordered from Mission to Israel Ministries, PO Box 248, Scottsbluff, Nebraska 69363, 

2. Not everyone claiming to be a Christian has been properly instructed in the Biblical plan of salvation. Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:36-41, 22:1-16; Romans 6:3-4; Galatians 3:26-27; Colossians 2:11-13; and 1 Peter 3:21 should be studied to understand what is required to be covered by the blood of Jesus and forgiven of your sins. For a more thorough explanation concerning baptism and its relationship to salvation, the book Baptism: All You Wanted to Know and More may be requested from Mission to Israel Ministries, PO Box 248, Scottsbluff, Nebraska 69363, for free. 

3. Yeshua is the English transliteration of our Savior’s given Hebrew name, with which He introduced Himself to Paul in Acts 26:14-15. (Jesus is the English transliteration of the Greek Iesous, which is the Greek transliteration of the Hebrew Yeshua.) Because many people are unfamiliar or uncomfortable with Yeshua, I have chosen to use the more familiar Jesus in this tract in order to remove what might otherwise be a stumbling block. For a more thorough explanation concerning the sacred names of God, “The Third Commandment” may be read online, or Thou shalt not take the name of YHWH thy God in vain may be ordered from Mission to Israel Ministries, PO Box 248, Scottsbluff, Nebraska 69363

4. All Scripture is quoted from the King James Version. Portions of Scripture have been omitted for brevity. If you have questions regarding any passage, please study the text to ensure it has been properly used. 

5. Lysander Spooner, No Treason, No. 7, The Constitution of No Authority, http://praxeology.net/LS-NT-6.htm#.> 

6. Dennis Oliver Woods, Discipling the Nations: The Government Upon His Shoulder (Franklin, TN: Legacy Communications, 1996) p. 82. 

7. For additional information regarding Yahweh’s law and kingdom as they pertain today under the New Covenant, Law and Kingdom: Their Relevance Under the New Covenant may be read online, or the book may be ordered from Mission to Israel Ministries, PO Box 248, Scottsbluff, Nebraska, 69363, 

8. Where the Tetragrammaton (YHWH) – the four Hebrew characters that represent the personal name of God – has been unlawfully rendered the LORD or GOD in English translations, I have taken the liberty to correct this error by inserting YHWH where appropriate. For a more thorough explanation concerning the sacred names of God, “The Third Commandment” may be read online, or the book Thou shalt not take the name of YHWH thy God in vain may be ordered from Mission to Israel Ministries, PO Box 248, Scottsbluff, Nebraska, 69363,

In Matthew 10:8, we are admonished, “freely ye have received, freely give.” Although we have a suggested price for our books, we do not sell them. In keeping with 2 Corinthians 9:7, 

Increasingly these days the idea that our nation was founded on Christian principles is attacked, discounted, and outright denied. The historical evidence overwhelmingly proves the opposite, however. So on this week in which we celebrate our 

Review: let's review Deuteronomy the Ten Commandments;

American laws or the mirror images of  God's laws had Moses write about when the ten commandments. many of presidents o  

“I . . . recommend my Soul to that Almighty Being who gave it, and my body I commit to the dust, relying upon the merits Jesus Christ for a pardon of all my sins.”

—From the will of Samuel Adams, Father of the American Revolution, Signer of the Declaration of Independence

independence as a nation, for our inspiration and encouragement, I thought I’d allow our Founders and other leaders of our great nation to speak for themselves.

The following are quotes from the historical record that appear on the Wallbuilders Web site. Many more complete historical documents can be found there supporting the claim that the United States was founded as a Christian nation based on biblical principles. If you’re unfamiliar with the site, I recommend it highly.

“For the Lord is our Judge, the Lord is our Lawgiver, the Lord is our King; he will save us” (Isaiah 33:22).

—Acknowledged by James Madison as the inspiration for the 3 branches of our government, judicial, legislative, and executive

“I . . . recommend my Soul to that Almighty Being who gave it, and my body I commit to the dust, relying upon the merits of Jesus Christ for a pardon of all my sins.”

—From the will of Samuel Adams, Father of the American Revolution, Signer of the Declaration of Independence

“The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity. I will avow that I then believed, and now believe, that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God.”

—John Adams, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, judge; diplomat; one of two signers of the Bill of Rights; second president of the United States

“I give and recommend my soul into the hands of God that gave it: and my body I recommend to the earth . . . nothing doubting but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mercy and power of God.”

—From the will of John Hancock, president of the Continental Congress and a signer of the Declaration of Independence

“This is all the inheritance I can give to my dear family. The religion of Christ can give them one which will make them rich indeed.”

—From the will of Patrick Henry, Governor of Virginia, Firebrand of the Revolution

“First, I think it proper to express my unshaken opinion of the immortality of the soul or mind; and to dedicate and devote the same to the supreme head of the Universe—to that great and tremendous Jehovah,—Who created the universal frame of nature, worlds, and systems in number infinite . . . To this awfully sublime Being do I resign my spirit with unlimited independence as a nation, for our inspiration and encouragement, I thought I’d allow our Founders and other leaders of our great nation to speak for themselves.

The following are quotes from the historical record that appear on the Wallbuilders Web site. Many more complete historical documents can be found there supporting the claim that the United States was founded as a Christian nation based on biblical principles. If you’re unfamiliar with the site, I recommend it highly.

“For the Lord is our Judge, the Lord is our Lawgiver, the Lord is our King; he will save us” (Isaiah 33:22).

—Acknowledged by James Madison as the inspiration for the 3 branches of our government, judicial, legislative, and executive

“I . . . recommend my Soul to that Almighty Being who gave it, and my body I commit to the dust, relying upon the merits of Jesus Christ for a pardon of all my sins.”

—From the will of Samuel Adams, Father of the American Revolution, Signer of the Declaration of Independence

“The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity. I will avow that I then believed, and now believe, that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God.”

—John Adams, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, judge; diplomat; one of two signers of the Bill of Rights; second president of the United States

“I give and recommend my soul into the hands of God that gave it: and my body I recommend to the earth . . . nothing doubting but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mercy and power of God.”

—From the will of John Hancock, president of the Continental Congress and signer of the Declaration of Independence

“This is all the inheritance I can give to my dear family. The religion of Christ can give them one which will make them rich indeed.”

—From the will of Patrick Henry, Governor of Virginia, Firebrand of the Revolution

“First, I think it proper to express my unshaken opinion of the immortality of my soul or mind; and to dedicate and devote the same to the supreme head of the Universe—to that great and tremendous Jehovah,—Who created the universal frame of nature, worlds, and systems in number infinite . . . To this awfully sublime Being do I resign my spirit with unlimited 

 The Bible and Government

Biblical Principles: Basis for America's Laws

PRINCIPLE LEGAL DOCUMENT BIBLE

Sovereign authority of God, not the sovereignty of the state, or sovereignty of man Mayflower Compact, Declaration, Constitution, currency, oaths, mention of God in all 50 state constitutions, Pledge of Allegiance Ex. 18:16, 20:3, Dt. 10:20, 2 Chron. 7:14, Ps. 83:18, 91:2, Isa. 9:6-7, Dan. 4:32, Jn. 19:11, Acts 5:29, Rom. 13:1, Col 1:15-20, 1 Tim. 6:15

Existence of objective moral values, Fixed standards, Absolute truth, Sanctity of life Declaration ("unalienable" rights—life, etc., "self-evident" truths) Ex. 20:1-17, Dt. 30:19, Ps. 119:142-152,  Pr. 14:34, Isa. 5:20-21, Jn. 10:10, Rom. 2:15,  Heb. 13:8 

 The Bible and Government

Biblical Principles: Basis for America's Laws

PRINCIPLE LEGAL DOCUMENT BIBLE

Sovereign authority of God, not sovereignty of the state, or sovereignty of man Mayflower Compact, Declaration, Constitution, currency, oaths, mention of God in all 50 state constitutions, Pledge of Allegiance Ex. 18:16, 20:3, Dt. 10:20, 2 Chron. 7:14, Ps. 83:18, 91:2, Isa. 9:6-7, Dan. 4:32, Jn. 19:11, Acts 5:29, Rom. 13:1, Col 1:15-20, 1 Tim. 6:15

Existence of objective moral values, Fixed standards, Absolute truth, Sanctity of life Declaration ("unalienable" rights—life, etc., "self-evident" truths) Ex. 20:1-17, Dt. 30:19, Ps. 119:142-152,  Pr. 14:34, Isa. 5:20-21, Jn. 10:10, Rom. 2:15,  Heb. 13:8 

 The Bible and Government

Biblical Principles: Basis for America's Laws

PRINCIPLE LEGAL DOCUMENT BIBLE

Sovereign authority of God, not the sovereignty of the state, or sovereignty of man Mayflower Compact, Declaration, Constitution, currency, oaths, mention of God in all 50 state constitutions, Pledge of Allegiance Ex. 18:16, 20:3, Dt. 10:20, 2 Chron. 7:14, Ps. 83:18, 91:2, Isa. 9:6-7, Dan. 4:32, Jn. 19:11, Acts 5:29, Rom. 13:1, Col 1:15-20, 1 Tim. 6:15

Existence of objective moral values, Fixed standards, Absolute truth, Sanctity of life Declaration ("unalienable" rights—life, etc., "self-evident" truths) Ex. 20:1-17, Dt. 30:19, Ps. 119:142-152,  Pr. 14:34, Isa. 5:20-21, Jn. 10:10, Rom. 2:15,  Heb. 13:8 To understand why some of these passages above are applicable to our laws, one has to go back to the formative era of our nation and to America's culture and thinking at the time. The leaders of the various colonies, states, and ultimately the Founding Fathers themselves were steeped in biblical thinking. They drew from the Bible examples and looked for confirmation of ideas for government in Scripture.

We had an atheist visit our site and expressed a good bit of displeasure with some of the above citations. We responded that he should relish the freedom of expression that a Christian culture put in place for him. And that he should be thankful that our culture was not founded on atheism, given the horrible result of atheistic governments in the past (such as Communist Russia, etc.).

Jesus did not usher in a political kingdom. But Christianity has been the single largest influence on western society. America's Founding Fathers had the benefit of thousands of years of history to draw on when establishing their government. They could see what had failed in the past. There had been times when the state had absolute authority and persecuted the church. At other times the church had effective control of the state. The founders saw that neither of these extremes were ideal. They developed a system that stood the test of time. Observers everywhere generally agree that American's Founding Fathers achieved a solid balance between church and state, one consistent with biblical concepts.

In a ten-year study undertaken at the Univesity of Houston, researchers examined 15,000 documents from America's founders and determined that 34% of their quotations came from the Bible, the highest by far of any source.

But many people today reject the notion that the Bible should be used as a basis for law. "Narrow minded and outdated!" they say. Ideas have consequences. Let's examine the implications if the Bible is or is not the standard for society and its legal system.

Without an objective standard of truth upon which to base society, the result is that whoever gains the most political power will dominate. Christians believe that the Bible offers ultimate, objective, and absolute truth—as opposed to relative "truth" (i.e., arbitrary "absolutes"). There was a general consensus on this point in America from the earliest settlers until only very recently.

Founding Father and educator Noah Webster (1758-1843) had this to say: "The moral principles and precepts contained in the scriptures ought to form the basis of all our civil constitutions and laws. All the miseries and evils which men suffer from vice, crime, ambition, injustice, oppression, slavery, and war, proceed from their despising or neglecting the precepts contained in the Bible."

So it was natural for the early Americans to turn to the Bible for guidance as to how to make civil law. This was the standard for law beginning with the Mayflower Compact all the way through the constitutions of all 50 states. By the way, what was the stated purpose of the Pilgrims as expressed in the Mayflower Compact? Contrary to revisionist history, their purpose was not to find religious freedom—they already had found religious freedom in Holland. Their purpose is clearly stated as being for the "Glory of God and advancement of the Christian Faith." The Pilgrims were missionaries.

The first state constitution was the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut (1639). You may read this document at http://www.law.ou.edu/hist/orders.html. The framers of this document desired that every aspect of it be based on the Bible (See DeMar's book listed below, America's Christian History, pgs. 57-58). This document was a model for other constitutions, including the U.S. Constitution which followed. The above table outlines the widespread influence of biblical thought on America's legal system. See also the link at the bottom entitled Puritans and the Bible.

Biblical absolutes enshrined into law offered a consensus that meant freedom without chaos. One aspect of this is that, as stated in the Declaration of Independence, there exists "unalienable rights" of men. Rights were unalienable because they were given by God. This is very significant because in most societies up until that time (and indeed even today), rights are only conferred by whoever is in power at the time.

Because the American consensus was that the Bible was TRUTH, the tyranny of a few or even the tyranny of the majority could be overcome by one person standing up and appealing to the Bible. The freedom of expression in general in America is a result of our biblical system. Those people who feel free today to condemn the Bible are, ironically, among those who benefit most by the freedoms inherent in our biblical system!

An important aspect of our system of government is that it is based on the Rule of Law. This concept is a direct descendant of Hebrew law and the Ten Commandments. Together with the concept of unalienable rights from God, these concepts helped ensure a way of life that respected the dignity of every individual. The combination of these biblical concepts is a foundation of our government that helps subjugate political power of potential tyrants. One only has to notice how every tyrant has a practice of changing the country's constitution to suit himself (or to butter the bread of those who put him in power).

It is helpful to contrast the American Revolution of 1776 with the French Revolution of 1789. While the American revolution began with an appeal to the sovereignty of God, the French Revolution was founded on the sovereignty of man. The French movement was a product of Voltaire's philosophy which specifically attempted to replace biblical Christianity with man's reason as the ultimate standard.

But the French revolution was a disaster. Anarchy and tyranny reigned with 40,000 people being murdered, the favorite method being the guillotine. Their new constitution only lasted 2 years. Indeed, France has had 7 constitutions during the time that America has only had one.

Another important aspect of America's constitution is that it has as its basis the distinctly Christian idea that man is basically sinful. Every one of our founding fathers understood this truth. It has been said that the 16th century Protestant reformer John Calvin, who is the theologian most associated with the biblical doctrine of man's "depravity," was the single most influential person to our Constitution. The result was that the founders built into the Constitution an elaborate system of checks and balances. This is evident in the horizontal plane of executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government. It is also evident in the vertical plane of federalism—states' powers versus federal powers.

Again, let's look at the evidence by contrasting the American system with other systems. Other systems are based on the idea that man is basically good, or at least perfectible by law and education. This is the basis for communism as well as the religious states of Islam. But states based on these utopian ideas are always failures and particularly repressive to their citizens. These governments end up as a police state and take away the rights of the citizens.

It has been said that America has never been a Christian nation, or that our founders were a bunch of atheists, agnostics, and deists. But consider the facts. At least 50 of the 55 framers of the U. S. Constitution were Christians (see M. E. Bradford's book listed below). Every American president has taken his oath on the Bible (except John Quincy Adams and Theodore Roosevelt) and referencing God in his inaugural address is standard (Oath). Every one of the 50 state constitutions calls on God for support. The Supreme Court, in 1892 after a an exhaustive 10-year study of the matter, said: "This is a religious people. This is a Christian nation." See Holy Trinity Decision. Even today, the Supreme Court opens each session with the verbal declaration, "God save the United States of America."

Perhaps the most famous statement in America's Declaration of Independence is, "All men are created equal." The concept of universal human rights and equality comes exclusively from the biblical ideas that all people are created in the image of God and from Jesus' sacrificial death for all. This concept was unkown in history outside of biblically based cultures.

There are, however, two areas in which the American system can be faulted— (1) racial slavery and (2) compassionateless wealth. But both of these flaws are failures to implement biblical Christianity, rather than being caused by it.

A few comments about slavery are important because so many people throw it in the face of Christians. Racial slavery is not a biblical ethic. Yes, a form of slavery—indentured servitude— is condoned in the Bible. But this was a method in which people could pay off debts and was not what we think of as racial slavery (Bible and Slavery). In fact, the Bible specifically condemns the slave trade (Exodus 21:16; 1 Timothy 1:10). The Bible offers a unique framework for people as being equals: We were all are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27) and we are all equal in God's sight (1 Corinthians 12:13, Galatians 3:28). Race, interestingly, is never even mentioned in the Bible.

Historian Glenn Sunshine in his book Why You Think the Way You Do explains that, "Christians were the first people in history to oppose slavery systematically. Early Christians purchased slaves in the markets simply to set them free." 

Most people are under the false impression that America's Founding Fathers were overwhelmingly in favor of slavery. For the truth about this see Barton on Slavery.

Professing Christians who held slaves prostituted the Bible by letting culture influence their faith (just as some unfaithful Christians today have abortions). Yet, the abolition movement was primarily a Christian movement. Slavery was stopped in England largely as a result of the tireless efforts of an evangelical Christian by the name of William Wilburforce. Through his work in Parliament, England stopped the slave trade in 1807 and abolished slavery totally in 1833. Unfortunately, there was no such early dynamic abolitionist leader in America. But the "created equal" standard in our Declaration of Independence was in time honored fully into law.

The other problem in western culture has been unredistributed wealth. Neither the Bible (Mark 14:7) nor the American system seeks to have all people have equal outcomes. We are all created equal and we all have an equal opportunity to pursue our dreams, but we are not expected to all achieve equally.

Yet, the industrialization of the West brought great wealth to a few, while some were victimized. It can be argued that the working class was victimized to a degree in the early days of the industrial revolution. Fortunately, laws are now in place that protect the worker.

Christianity is an important component of capitalism because it places a moral restraint on a person's activities. If a person feels that there is no consequence to his actions beyond civil law, he is less constrained to treat people fairly. But a Christian has a moral restraint because he believes that he his ultimately accountable to God for his actions, for his fair treatment of others.

The issue is unrestrained capitalism. From the earliest days of our nation, we enforced laws to protect property, enforce contracts, and protect against fraud. Later in our history, America instituted anti-trust laws and environmental laws. These laws can be seen as consistent with biblical capitalism ("Christian capitalism") as opposed to darwinian capitalism. Instead of capitalism based solely on the survival of the fittest, modern American capitalism uses law to make the playing field more equal and provide equal protection under the law—while still encouraging entrepeneurism. Appropriate and helpful laws assist free enterprise, placing moral boundaries around activities without hampering freedom or interfering with competition. (Antitrust laws are only valid if they truly enhance capitalism and free enterprise. Sometimes they have been used to restrain capitalism by protecting a large corporation.)

A free society must have an over-arching objective moral constraint upon its people. An absence of this moral constraint, as John Adams insisted (quote below) will destroy not only government but business as well. Politicians without such constraint will find ways to destroy the Constitution to suit their desire for power. It is such moral constraint that monitors business people to charge a fair price, pay a fair wage, not cheat customers or employees, to help the needy, etc. We once asked an applicant applying for a job whether he believed in moral absolutes. Reflecting the secular attitude of his business school background, he quickly replied, "No." We then asked him, "Then how do we know you won't cheat our customers?" He was stunned by the question and had no realistic answer.

As a general statement, it is an inherent truth of capitalism that in the long run people succeed in business if they provide services and goods that people want. Biblical capitalism—even more so—emphasizes service over strict selfish ambition.

It should be emphasized that capitalism has its roots in Christianity. Historian Glenn Sunshine in his book Why You Think the Way You Do points out that the work ethic in Christianity is rooted in the Bible. God himself works, so Christians have seen an inherent goodness in labor and productivity. We have heard of the concept, "the Protestant work ethic." The importance placed on work is an important reason for America's economic success.

As we write this today, America has fewer and fewer people in the work force, partly as a result of liberal welfare programs. People have become addicted to handouts. This is neither good for those involved, or for the economy as a whole. It is a major reason the America is sliding into mediocrity, and ultimately liberal policies could be the death of America. See The Dirty Little Secret of Liberalism.

Another key component of capitalism is property rights. The Old Testament focuses on rules for property ownership. Throughout history, societies influenced by Christianity have had a stronger emphasis on property rights than other cultures. The idea that people are entitled to the fruits of their labor, together with property rights and the rule of law, laid a firm foundation for capitalism and the tremendous economic success that America has enjoyed. Yes, we have had our ups and downs, like life itself, but we have always come back stronger than before because of our fundamentally successful system. But we are in danger of losing it all.

So again, the flaws in American society are not in biblical Christianity, rather in the failure to implement it. If the voluntary individual compassion of Christ were to dominate society, poverty—while it would never disappear (Mark 14:7)—would be lessened. The solution is not forced redistribution of wealth, which is tantamount to stealing. The solution is public emphasis on biblical ethics.

In summary, let's refer to our nation's creed—The Pledge of Allegiance—which sums up our way of life. It is a based on a three-legged stool of God, liberty, and justice. All three must be there. If God is not there, ethics and rights are defined by whoever has the most power. And in order to have liberty, we must have justice. The first role of government is to prevent evil (Romans 13:1-5, 1 Peter 2:13-17) so that the rest of society can live in peace. Evil is only meaningful within a biblical context.

When our culture desperately needs what Christianity offers, the courts are foolishly removing the Bible. Liberty demands ethical obligation. We must have a common understanding of moral absolutes, or as John Adams said, "We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."

America is grounded in the idea of "self government." What does this mean? To say that self-government is only the ability of citizens to vote and to elect their representatives is to have an incomplete notion of self-government. Government in biblical thought is not just civil government. In fact, civil government is the least important aspect of government. Government is first that of the individual being able to govern himself. This is why religion must be encouraged, as John Adams noted. The founding fathers of America clearly understood this. The second most important level of government is the family. The third is the church. Last is civil government.

And within civil government, our Founding Fathers understood that local and state government was more important than federal government. Our Constitution specifically limits the powers of the federal government, even though this precept has been continually usurped.

The Founders referenced 2 Corinthians 3:17 in support of freedom above all else. This passage states, "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." The Liberty Bell declares from Leviticus 25:10: "Proclaim Liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof."

Liberals and secularists have it backwards. They think that the federal government is the most important. This is consistent with totalitarianism, but not with the American concept of self-government. Big government socialism is not consistent with the Bible. Not only is the government inefficient in delivering most services, it more often than not hurts those it is intended to help. The welfare mess is a classic case in point, now proven over decades of failure. (See our Biblical Capitalism blog post.)

Finally, let us comment on the philosophy of libertarianism. This is the idea that our system of government should allow complete freedom except in the case when one person directly harms another. Many Christians today claim to be libertarians. We see numerous flaws in such an idea. We think that Christian libertarians have been duped into thinking like liberal secularists instead of thinking like Christians. Among the problems are these:

• This worldview is determined by a secular philosophy rather than a biblical worldview. Even Christians frequently quote Ayn Rand for support of their theory. The fact that Rand was an ardent atheist and hater of Christianity should give considerable pause. While libertarianism is not exclusively atheistic, a Christian that walks into that sphere is giving the devil a foothold, against which there is a strong commandment from Scripture (Ephesians 4:27).

 

• Libertarianism is ultimately arbitrary. It is an attempt to define morality without God. But as Dostoevsky said, "If there is no God, everything is permitted." Any view of government not based on an unchangeable objective standard (the Bible!) is subject to be altered at the whims of political power brokers. Christianity, on the other hand, is not arbitrary. Our website is dedicated to demonstrating through reason and evidence that Christianity is objectively true.

 

• Any philosophy (whether Jean-Paul Sartre's Existentialism, Darwin's Evolution, or Ayn Rand's Objectivism) that has a non-theistic foundation ultimately bumps into the problem of nihilism. This means, ultimately, no basis for meaning and purpose for life. (We come from nowhere, we go to nowhere, but somehow life in between has meaning?)

 

• Despite attempts to meld biblical Christianity with this political philosophy, libertarianism inevitably interferes with the individual Christian's reliance on his faith as the sole lens from which to see the world, moving him away from a biblical worldview. Libertarianism, at its core, is a non-religious philosophy. This thinking is a dangerous diversion for the Christian and can be insidiously damaging to his or her faith, indeed to the Christian's soul.

 

• Libertarians often define "harm to another person" too narrowly. Morality should be defined solely by the Bible. For example, while libertarians may support laws against abortion (many libertarians actually support abortion), they usually side with liberals who are against laws that define marriage as between one man and one woman. They think that mutual consent of sexual perversion does not fall within the definition of hurting someone. This utopian thinking has blinders on; it is naive. Homosexuality is devastating to those involved and to society at large. "Mutal consent" is a post-modern illusion that does not change the fact that people are hurt when immorality occurs. The Bible says, "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil." (Isaiah 5:20-21) See our article Gay Rights.

 

• Libertarians fail to appreciate the huge positive influence Christianity has had on America. See our article The Impact of Christianity. America's success is not based on libertarianism, but on Christianity. We should not confuse true biblical Christianity with the modern distorted, liberal, or half-baked versions of Christianity. While Jesus was a not a political figure per se, there is no need to search for a political theory outside of Christian thought. We are commanded to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ--not just certain thoughts. (2 Corinthians 10:5)

 

• Libertarian Christians usually think that Christians can segregate their faith--their personal faith relegated to their private lives. This is falling for the secularist mentality! It's a trap that marginalizes Christianity just like secularists want! Secularists say, "Sure. You can have your faith. Just leave it over there in the corner of society somewhere and don't bother anyone else with your stupid ideas." Falling for this has numerous negative consequences, including giving the impression to potential converts to Christianity that our faith is not universally applicable, that it is only one of many possible worldviews, and Christianity is only a crutch for weak individuals. Jesus' was given "all authority on heaven and earth" (Matthew 28:18)--not just some authority. This notion--that the Christian faith can be marginalized from society--is directly responsible for the decline of Christianity in America. The inclination to segregate one's faith so as not to "impose" our values on others smacks of "true for me, but not for you." It is amazing that any Christian would buy into this post-modern relativism. Further, attempting to segregate our faith is dishonoring to God: God is god of ALL or He is not God AT ALL. (Psalm 24:1)

 

• Our COMPASSION as Christians demands that we institute biblical values in society. What other basis for a successful and compassionate society could possibly be better than the Bible?! Who are you going to go with: Ayn Rand or Jesus? Jesus allowed no human partner; we are either with Him 100% or we are against Him. (Matthew 12:30)

 

• We cannot miss the similarities between libertarianism and liberalism. While libertarians claim to be opponents of liberalism, it is not accidental that they have the same root word. There is an insidious mix of thought between libertarianism and liberalism. Both have certain political goals in common, such as utopian anti-war sentiment and pro gay rights. While there are versions of libertarianism that claim compatibility with Christian theism, something classic libertarianism has in common liberalism is that both are often at war with, or marginalize, God. Liberalism, when taken to its logical conclusion, leads to life without God--socialism, communism, humanism, and other non-theistic worldviews. Liberalism in any form, if properly understood, results in devastating results for a society--even harming those it was intended to help. See our articleThe Dirty Little Secret of Liberalism.

 

• Libertarianism is at its core a selfish worldview. This is distinctly different from biblical Christianity. Christianity subjugates the self to God, and to other people (Matthew 22:34-39). In contrast, classic libertarianism and liberalism alike are opposed to, or have no need for, a moral authority above the individual self.

 

• Libertarian Christians have, amazingly, adopted other concepts and the language of liberal secularists. They say to other Christians, "We don't want a theocracy." This charge is a red herring. Theocracy is when the church, as an institution, has all political power, including administering civil law. Biblical Christians want no such thing. We support the separation of church and state, properly understood. And we certainly do not want Old Testament civil and ceremonial laws instituted in society. Such laws were repealed in the New Testament (Acts 10:12-15; Colossians 2:11-16; Romans 14:17).

 

• While civil and ceremonial laws were repealed in the New Testament, moral law stands forever. Biblical moral law is applicable to everybody whether they believe it or not. Judicious application of biblical moral law to civil law is infinitely compassionate and positive for society. The idea that "you cannot legislate morality" is also an idea adopted from liberal secularism. It is a false idea. Virtually every law is a put in place based on someone's idea of morality.

 

• Anarchism is a branch of libertarianism. See Libertarianism.

 

• There are strong biblical commands for Christians to influence society, including civil government. See the list at the bottom of our Bible and Government article.

 

Our message to Christians and non-Christians alike is this. If you want true freedom, a vigorous economy, and a compassionate society, the answer is biblical Christianity. See our blog post Biblical Capitalism.

What is the purpose of civil government, according to the Bible? The purpose of civil government is, very simply, to be God's servant to restrain evil and reward good (Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-14). Christians are (a) to pray for and obey governmental authority (1 Timothy 2:1-4), (b) unless it forbids what God requires or requires what God forbids, in which case Christians cannot submit, and some form of civil disobedience becomes inescapable (Acts 4:18-31, 5:17-29), (c) to influence government because all of life is under God's authority (Psalm 24:1; Psalm 83:18; Isaiah 42:8; Matthew 28:18-20; 2 Corinthians 10:5). In a participatory democracy, Christians are under obligation to participate in civil government (Matthew 22:21).

As put by Dinesh D'Souza in his book What's So Great about Christianity, "Christianity enhanced the notion of political and social accountability by providing a new model: that of servant leadership. In ancient Greece and Rome no one would have dreamed of considering political leaders anyone's servants. The job of the leader was to lead. But Christ invented the notion that the way to lead is by serving the needs of others, especially those who are the most needy. Mark 10:43 quotes Christ:'Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant...for even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve.' And in Luke 22:27 we hear Jesus say, 'Who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.' In the new Christian framework, leaders are judged by how well they respond to the concerns and welfare of the people. Over time, people once known as 'followers' or 'subjects' become 'customers' and 'constituents'."

Should Christians be involved in politics and government? We argue that Christians should care about politics because, ultimately, we care about people. Government has an increasingly large influence on the lives of people, thus we cannot ignore politics. Further, almost every law reflects someone’s idea of morality. Since God’s morality is ultimate and universal, society benefits from the Christian’s participation in the public square. That is, society benefits when biblical truth is reflected in law. Indeed, Christians should be involved in all aspects of society, including law, art, music, economics, science, etc.

There are numerous Bible passages that confirm the importance of God and Government. These include:

Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's. (Matthew 22:21)

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. ( 2 Cor 10:5)

The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof. (Psalm 24:1)

We must obey God rather than man. (Acts 5:29)

You are the salt of the earth…the light of the world. (Matthew 5:13-16)

The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget about God. (Psalm 9:17)

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord. (Psalm 33:12)

On account of me, you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them. (Mark 13:9)

The good influence of godly citizens causes a city to prosper. (Proverbs 11:11)

I, the Lord, speak the truth; I declare what is right. (Isaiah 45:19)

We are not trying to please men, but God, who tests our hearts. (1 Thessalonians 2:4)

Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil. (Isaiah 5:20-21)

Thou shalt not kill. (Exodus 20:13-15)

Do not give the devil a foothold. (Ephesians 4:27)

A wise man attacks the city of the mighty and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust. (Proverbs 21:22)

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness. (Matthew 5:10-12)

Furthermore, you shall select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them, as leaders, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens. (Exodus 18:21)

When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn. (Proverbs 29:2)

When rulers are wicked, their people are too. (Proverbs 29:16)

For the wicked shall not rule the godly, lest the godly be forced to do wrong. (Psalm 125:3)

Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. (Psalm 127:1)

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. (Proverbs 13:8-9)

To the Jews I became like a Jew....  (1 Corinthians 9:20-24)

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me.”  (Matthew 28:18)

Fill the earth and subdue it. (Genesis 1:26-28)

Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10)

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked way, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

The warning for Americans is that there is no longer a consensus that biblical ethics are truly absolute. Our liberties are eroding as big government tries to take over where our biblical consensus left off. Tyranny and social tragedy are the logical results unless we reverse this trend.

We highly recommend this article by Patrick Leduc entitled "Christianity and the Framers: The True Intent of the Establishment Clause":

Establishment Clause

Bibliography and Resources for study:

David Barton, God in the Constitution

Bradford, M. E., A Worthy Company; Brief Lives of the Framers of the United States Constitution.

Barton, David, America's Godly Heritage (video); and The Spirit of the American Revolution (video); and Barton, David, The Myth of Separation (book). These and many other resources are available at Wallbuilders.

DeMar, Gary, America's Christian History: The Untold Story; and God and Government: A Biblical and Historical Study (3 volumes). These books and other excellent resources available from American Vision.

DiLorenzo, Thomas, How Capitalism Saved America.

D'Souza, Dinesh, What's So Great about Christianity.

Eidsmoe, John, Christianity and the Constitution: The Faith of Our Founding Fathers

Federer, William J., America's God and Country: Encyclopedia of Quotations.

Foster, Marshall and Swanson, Mary-Elaine, The American Covenant: The Untold Story.

Gibbs, David C., Jr. (President of the Christian Law Association) with Jerry Newcombe, One Nation Under God: Ten Things Every Christian Should Know About the Founding of America.

Marshall, Peter and Manuel, David, The Light and the Glory; also From Sea to Shining Sea.

Schaeffer, Francis A., A Christian Manifesto.

See other related articles on our site: The Impact of Christianity, Biblical Capitalism in Uncertain Economic Times, and Why Socialism Is Not Compassionate.

This video series is extraordinarily helpful:

Richard Church on American History

Also, here other helpful articles:

God and Liberty

Christian vs. Libertarian Capitalism

Does the Bible Support Communism?

The Declaration and Religion

 

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Home: Christian apologetics including Genesis, Bible and Communicating with God » Christianity & the Culture »

The Bible and Government

The Bible and Government

Biblical Principles: Basis for America's Laws

PRINCIPLE LEGAL DOCUMENT BIBLE

Sovereign authority of God, not sovereignty of the state, or sovereignty of man Mayflower Compact, Declaration, Constitution, currency, oaths, mention of God in all 50 state constitutions, Pledge of Allegiance Ex. 18:16, 20:3, Dt. 10:20, 2 Chron. 7:14, Ps. 83:18, 91:2, Isa. 9:6-7, Dan. 4:32, Jn. 19:11, Acts 5:29, Rom. 13:1, Col 1:15-20, 1 Tim. 6:15

Existence of objective moral values, Fixed standards, Absolute truth, Sanctity of life Declaration ("unalienable" rights—life, etc., "self-evident" truths) Ex. 20:1-17, Dt. 30:19, Ps. 119:142-152,  Pr. 14:34, Isa. 5:20-21, Jn. 10:10, Rom. 2:15,  Heb. 13:8 

Rule of law rather than authority of man Declaration, Constitution Ex. 18:24-27, Dt. 17:20, Isa. 8:19-20, Mat. 5:17-18 

All men are sinners Constitutional checks and balances Gen 8:21, Jer. 17:9, Mk. 7:20-23, Rom. 3:23, 1 Jn. 1:8 

All men created equal Declaration Gen. 1:26, Acts 10:34, 17:26, Gal. 3:28, 1 Peter 2:17

Judicial, legislative, and executive branches Constitution Isa. 33:22 (See Madison)

Religious freedom First Amendment 1 Timothy2:1-2

Church protected from state control (& taxation), but church to influence the state First Amendment Dt. 17:18-20, 1 Kgs. 3:28, Ezra 7:24, Neh. 8:2, 1 Sam. 7:15-10:27, 15:10-31, 2 Sam. 12:1-18, Mat. 14:3-4,  Lk. 3:7-14, 11:52, Acts 4:26-29 

Republican form of government and warnings against kings but in favor of Godly rulers

 Constitution

Ex. 18:21, Dt. 1:13, Jud. 8:22-23, 1 Samuel 8, Pr. 11:14, 24:6  

Importance of governing self and family as first level of governance First, Second, Ninth, and Tenth Amendments Mat. 18:15-18,  Gal. 5:16-26, 1 Cor. 6:1-11, 1 Tim. 3:1-5, Tit. 2:1-8 

Establish justice Declaration Ex. 23:1-9, Lev. 19:15, Dt. 1:17, 16:19-20, 24:17-19, 1 Sam. 8:3, 2 Sam. 8:15,  1 Kings 3:28, 10:9, Mic. 6:8, Rom. 13:4 

Fair trial with witnesses Sixth Amendment Ex. 20:16, Dt. 19:15, Pr. 24:28, 25:18, Mat. 18:16 

Private property rights Fifth Amendment Ex. 20:15-17

Biblical liberty, Free enterprise Declaration Lev. 25:10, Jn. 8:36,  2 Cor. 3:17, Gal. 5:1, James 1:25, 1 Peter 2:16 

Creation not evolution Declaration Gen. 1:1

Biblical capitalism not Darwinian capitalism (service and fair play over strict survival of the fittest) Anti-trust laws Ex. 20:17, Mat. 20:26, 25:14-30, 2 Thes. 3:6-15, 1 Pet. 2:16 

Importance of the traditional family State sodomy laws, few reasons for divorce Ex. 20:12-14, Mat. 19:1-12, Mk. 10:2-12, Rom. 1:18-2:16, 1 Cor. 7:1-40, 

Religious education encouraged Northwest Ordinance Dt. 6:4-7, Pr. 22:6, Mat. 18:6, Eph. 6:4, 

Servanthood not political power Concept of public servant Ex. 18:21, Rom. 13:4, Php. 2:7, 

Sabbath day holy "Blue laws" Ex. 20:8

Restitution Restitution laws Lev. 6:1-5, Num. 5:5-7, Mat. 5:23-26

To understand why some of these passages above are applicable to our laws, one has to go back to the formative era of our nation and to America's culture and thinking at the time. The leaders of the various colonies, states, and ultimately the Founding Fathers themselves were steeped in biblical thinking. They drew from the Bible examples and looked for confirmation of ideas for government in Scripture.

We had an atheist visit our site and expressed a good bit of displeasure with some of the above citations. We responded that he should relish the freedom of expression that a Christian culture put in place for him. And that he should be thankful that our culture was not founded on atheism, given the horrible result of atheistic governments in the past (such as Communist Russia, etc.).

Jesus did not usher in a political kingdom. But Christianity has been the single largest influence on western society. America's Founding Fathers had the benefit of thousands of years of history to draw on when establishing their government. They could see what had failed in the past. There had been times when the state had absolute authority and persecuted the church. At other times the church had effective control of the state. The founders saw that neither of these extremes were ideal. They developed a system that stood the test of time. Observers everywhere generally agree that American's Founding Fathers achieved a solid balance between church and state, one consistent with biblical concepts.

In a ten-year study undertaken at the Univesity of Houston, researchers examined 15,000 documents from America's founders and determined that 34% of their quotations came from the Bible, the highest by far of any source.

But many people today reject the notion that the Bible should be used as a basis for law. "Narrow minded and outdated!" they say. Ideas have consequences. Let's examine the implications if the Bible is or is not the standard for society and its legal system.

Without an objective standard of truth upon which to base society, the result is that whoever gains the most political power will dominate. Christians believe that the Bible offers ultimate, objective, and absolute truth—as opposed to relative "truth" (i.e., arbitrary "absolutes"). There was a general consensus on this point in America from the earliest settlers until only very recently.

Founding Father and educator Noah Webster (1758-1843) had this to say: "The moral principles and precepts contained in the scriptures ought to form the basis of all our civil constitutions and laws. All the miseries and evils which men suffer from vice, crime, ambition, injustice, oppression, slavery, and war, proceed from their despising or neglecting the precepts contained in the Bible."

So it was natural for the early Americans to turn to the Bible for guidance as to how to make civil law. This was the standard for law beginning with the Mayflower Compact all the way through the constitutions of all 50 states. By the way, what was the stated purpose of the Pilgrims as expressed in the Mayflower Compact? Contrary to revisionist history, their purpose was not to find religious freedom—they already had found religious freedom in Holland. Their purpose is clearly stated as being for the "Glory of God and advancement of the Christian Faith." The Pilgrims were missionaries.

The first state constitution was the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut (1639). You may read this document at http://www.law.ou.edu/hist/orders.html. The framers of this document desired that every aspect of it be based on the Bible (See DeMar's book listed below, America's Christian History, pgs. 57-58). This document was a model for other constitutions, including the U.S. Constitution which followed. The above table outlines the widespread influence of biblical thought on America's legal system. See also the link at the bottom entitled Puritans and the Bible.

Biblical absolutes enshrined into law offered a consensus that meant freedom without chaos. One aspect of this is that, as stated in the Declaration of Independence, there exists "unalienable rights" of men. Rights were unalienable because they were given by God. This is very significant because in most societies up until that time (and indeed even today), rights are only conferred by whoever is in power at the time.

Because the American consensus was that the Bible was TRUTH, the tyranny of a few or even the tyranny of the majority could be overcome by one person standing up and appealing to the Bible. The freedom of expression in general in America is a result of our biblical system. Those people who feel free today to condemn the Bible are, ironically, among those who benefit most by the freedoms inherent in our biblical system!

An important aspect of our system of government is that it is based on the Rule of Law. This concept is a direct descendant of Hebrew law and the Ten Commandments. Together with the concept of unalienable rights from God, these concepts helped ensure a way of life that respected the dignity of every individual. The combination of these biblical concepts is a foundation of our government that helps subjugate political power of potential tyrants. One only has to notice how every tyrant has a practice of changing the country's constitution to suit himself (or to butter the bread of those who put him in power).

It is helpful to contrast the American Revolution of 1776 with the French Revolution of 1789. While the American revolution began with an appeal to the sovereignty of God, the French Revolution was founded on the sovereignty of man. The French movement was a product of Voltaire's philosophy which specifically attempted to replace biblical Christianity with man's reason as the ultimate standard.

But the French revolution was a disaster. Anarchy and tyranny reigned with 40,000 people being murdered, the favorite method being the guillotine. Their new constitution only lasted 2 years. Indeed, France has had 7 constitutions during the time that America has only had one.

Another important aspect of America's constitution is that it has as its basis the distinctly Christian idea that man is basically sinful. Every one of our founding fathers understood this truth. It has been said that the 16th century Protestant reformer John Calvin, who is the theologian most associated with the biblical doctrine of man's "depravity," was the single most influential person to our Constitution. The result was that the founders built into the Constitution an elaborate system of checks and balances. This is evident in the horizontal plane of executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government. It is also evident in the vertical plane of federalism—states' powers versus federal powers.

Again, let's look at the evidence by contrasting the American system with other systems. Other systems are based on the idea that man is basically good, or at least perfectible by law and education. This is the basis for communism as well as the religious states of Islam. But states based on these utopian ideas are always failures and particularly repressive to their citizens. These governments end up as a police state and take away the rights of the citizens.

It has been said that America has never been a Christian nation, or that our founders were a bunch of atheists, agnostics, and deists. But consider the facts. At least 50 of the 55 framers of the U. S. Constitution were Christians (see M. E. Bradford's book listed below). Every American president has taken his oath on the Bible (except John Quincy Adams and Theodore Roosevelt) and referencing God in his inaugural address is standard (Oath). Every one of the 50 state constitutions calls on God for support. The Supreme Court, in 1892 after a an exhaustive 10-year study of the matter, said: "This is a religious people. This is a Christian nation." See Holy Trinity Decision. Even today, the Supreme Court opens each session with the verbal declaration, "God save the United States of America."

Perhaps the most famous statement in America's Declaration of Independence is, "All men are created equal." The concept of universal human rights and equality comes exclusively from the biblical ideas that all people are created in the image of God and from Jesus' sacrificial death for all. This concept was unkown in history outside of biblically based cultures.

There are, however, two areas in which the American system can be faulted— (1) racial slavery and (2) compassionateless wealth. But both of these flaws are failures to implement biblical Christianity, rather than being caused by it.

A few comments about slavery are important because so many people throw it in the face of Christians. Racial slavery is not a biblical ethic. Yes, a form of slavery—indentured servitude— is condoned in the Bible. But this was a method in which people could pay off debts and was not what we think of as racial slavery (Bible and Slavery). In fact, the Bible specifically condemns the slave trade (Exodus 21:16; 1 Timothy 1:10). The Bible offers a unique framework for people as being equals: We were all are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27) and we are all equal in God's sight (1 Corinthians 12:13, Galatians 3:28). Race, interestingly, is never even mentioned in the Bible.

Historian Glenn Sunshine in his book Why You Think the Way You Do explains that, "Christians were the first people in history to oppose slavery systematically. Early Christians purchased slaves in the markets simply to set them free." 

Most people are under the false impression that America's Founding Fathers were overwhelmingly in favor of slavery. For the truth about this see Barton on Slavery.

Professing Christians who held slaves prostituted the Bible by letting culture influence their faith (just as some unfaithful Christians today have abortions). Yet, the abolition movement was primarily a Christian movement. Slavery was stopped in England largely as a result of the tireless efforts of an evangelical Christian by the name of William Wilburforce. Through his work in Parliament, England stopped the slave trade in 1807 and abolished slavery totally in 1833. Unfortunately, there was no such early dynamic abolitionist leader in America. But the "created equal" standard in our Declaration of Independence was in time honored fully into law.

The other problem in western culture has been unredistributed wealth. Neither the Bible (Mark 14:7) nor the American system seeks to have all people have equal outcomes. We are all created equal and we all have an equal opportunity to pursue our dreams, but we are not expected to all achieve equally.

Yet, the industrialization of the West brought great wealth to a few, while some were victimized. It can be argued that the working class was victimized to a degree in the early days of the industrial revolution. Fortunately, laws are now in place that protect the worker.

Christianity is an important component of capitalism because it places a moral restraint on a person's activities. If a person feels that there is no consequence to his actions beyond civil law, he is less constrained to treat people fairly. But a Christian has a moral restraint because he believes that he his ultimately accountable to God for his actions, for his fair treatment of others.

The issue is unrestrained capitalism. From the earliest days of our nation, we enforced laws to protect property, enforce contracts, and protect against fraud. Later in our history, America instituted anti-trust laws and environmental laws. These laws can be seen as consistent with biblical capitalism ("Christian capitalism") as opposed to darwinian capitalism. Instead of capitalism based solely on the survival of the fittest, modern American capitalism uses law to make the playing field more equal and provide equal protection under the law—while still encouraging entrepeneurism. Appropriate and helpful laws assist free enterprise, placing moral boundaries around activities without hampering freedom or interfering with competition. (Antitrust laws are only valid if they truly enhance capitalism and free enterprise. Sometimes they have been used to restrain capitalism by protecting a large corporation.)

A free society must have an over-arching objective moral constraint upon its people. An absence of this moral constraint, as John Adams insisted (quote below) will destroy not only government but business as well. Politicians without such constraint will find ways to destroy the Constitution to suit their desire for power. It is such moral constraint that monitors business people to charge a fair price, pay a fair wage, not cheat customers or employees, to help the needy, etc. We once asked an applicant applying for a job whether he believed in moral absolutes. Reflecting the secular attitude of his business school background, he quickly replied, "No." We then asked him, "Then how do we know you won't cheat our customers?" He was stunned by the question and had no realistic answer.

As a general statement, it is an inherent truth of capitalism that in the long run people succeed in business if they provide services and goods that people want. Biblical capitalism—even more so—emphasizes service over strict selfish ambition.

It should be emphasized that capitalism has its roots in Christianity. Historian Glenn Sunshine in his book Why You Think the Way You Do points out that the work ethic in Christianity is rooted in the Bible. God himself works, so Christians have seen an inherent goodness in labor and productivity. We have heard of the concept, "the Protestant work ethic." The importance placed on work is an important reason for America's economic success.

As we write this today, America has fewer and fewer people in the work force, partly as a result of liberal welfare programs. People have become addicted to handouts. This is neither good for those involved, or for the economy as a whole. It is a major reason the America is sliding into mediocrity, and ultimately liberal policies could be the death of America. See The Dirty Little Secret of Liberalism.

Another key component of capitalism is property rights. The Old Testament focuses on rules for property ownership. Throughout history, societies influenced by Christianity have had a stronger emphasis on property rights than other cultures. The idea that people are entitled to the fruits of their labor, together with property rights and the rule of law, laid a firm foundation for capitalism and the tremendous economic success that America has enjoyed. Yes, we have had our ups and downs, like life itself, but we have always come back stronger than before because of our fundamentally successful system. But we are in danger of losing it all.

So again, the flaws in American society are not in biblical Christianity, rather in the failure to implement it. If the voluntary individual compassion of Christ were to dominate society, poverty—while it would never disappear (Mark 14:7)—would be lessened. The solution is not forced redistribution of wealth, which is tantamount to stealing. The solution is public emphasis on biblical ethics.

In summary, let's refer to our nation's creed—The Pledge of Allegiance—which sums up our way of life. It is a based on a three-legged stool of God, liberty, and justice. All three must be there. If God is not there, ethics and rights are defined by whoever has the most power. And in order to have liberty, we must have justice. The first role of government is to prevent evil (Romans 13:1-5, 1 Peter 2:13-17) so that the rest of society can live in peace. Evil is only meaningful within a biblical context.

When our culture desperately needs what Christianity offers, the courts are foolishly removing the Bible. Liberty demands ethical obligation. We must have a common understanding of moral absolutes, or as John Adams said, "We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."

America is grounded in the idea of "self government." What does this mean? To say that self-government is only the ability of citizens to vote and to elect their representatives is to have an incomplete notion of self-government. Government in biblical thought is not just civil government. In fact, civil government is the least important aspect of government. Government is first that of the individual being able to govern himself. This is why religion must be encouraged, as John Adams noted. The founding fathers of America clearly understood this. The second most important level of government is the family. The third is the church. Last is civil government.

And within civil government, our Founding Fathers understood that local and state government was more important than federal government. Our Constitution specifically limits the powers of the federal government, even though this precept has been continually usurped.

The Founders referenced 2 Corinthians 3:17 in support of freedom above all else. This passage states, "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." The Liberty Bell declares from Leviticus 25:10: "Proclaim Liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof."

Liberals and secularists have it backwards. They think that the federal government is the most important. This is consistent with totalitarianism, but not with the American concept of self-government. Big government socialism is not consistent with the Bible. Not only is the government inefficient in delivering most services, it more often than not hurts those it is intended to help. The welfare mess is a classic case in point, now proven over decades of failure. (See our Biblical Capitalism blog post.)

Finally, let us comment on the philosophy of libertarianism. This is the idea that our system of government should allow complete freedom except in the case when one person directly harms another. Many Christians today claim to be libertarians. We see numerous flaws in such an idea. We think that Christian libertarians have been duped into thinking like liberal secularists instead of thinking like Christians. Among the problems are these:

• This worldview is determined by a secular philosophy rather than a biblical worldview. Even Christians frequently quote Ayn Rand for support of their theory. The fact that Rand was an ardent atheist and hater of Christianity should give considerable pause. While libertarianism is not exclusively atheistic, a Christian that walks into that sphere is giving the devil a foothold, against which there is a strong commandment from Scripture (Ephesians 4:27).

 

• Libertarianism is ultimately arbitrary. It is an attempt to define morality without God. But as Dostoevsky said, "If there is no God, everything is permitted." Any view of government not based on an unchangeable objective standard (the Bible!) is subject to be altered at the whims of political power brokers. Christianity, on the other hand, is not arbitrary. Our website is dedicated to demonstrating through reason and evidence that Christianity is objectively true.

 

• Any philosophy (whether Jean-Paul Sartre's Existentialism, Darwin's Evolution, or Ayn Rand's Objectivism) that has a non-theistic foundation ultimately bumps into the problem of nihilism. This means, ultimately, no basis for meaning and purpose for life. (We come from nowhere, we go to nowhere, but somehow life in between has meaning?)

 

• Despite attempts to meld biblical Christianity with this political philosophy, libertarianism inevitably interferes with the individual Christian's reliance on his faith as the sole lens from which to see the world, moving him away from a biblical worldview. Libertarianism, at its core, is a non-religious philosophy. This thinking is a dangerous diversion for the Christian and can be insidiously damaging to his or her faith, indeed to the Christian's soul.

 

• Libertarians often define "harm to another person" too narrowly. Morality should be defined solely by the Bible. For example, while libertarians may support laws against abortion (many libertarians actually support abortion), they usually side with liberals who are against laws that define marriage as between one man and one woman. They think that mutual consent of sexual perversion does not fall within the definition of hurting someone. This utopian thinking has blinders on; it is naive. Homosexuality is devastating to those involved and to society at large. "Mutal consent" is a post-modern illusion that does not change the fact that people are hurt when immorality occurs. The Bible says, "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil." (Isaiah 5:20-21) See our article Gay Rights.

 

• Libertarians fail to appreciate the huge positive influence Christianity has had on America. See our article The Impact of Christianity. America's success is not based on libertarianism, but on Christianity. We should not confuse true biblical Christianity with the modern distorted, liberal, or half-baked versions of Christianity. While Jesus was a not a political figure per se, there is no need to search for a political theory outside of Christian thought. We are commanded to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ--not just certain thoughts. (2 Corinthians 10:5)

 

• Libertarian Christians usually think that Christians can segregate their faith--their personal faith relegated to their private lives. This is falling for the secularist mentality! It's a trap that marginalizes Christianity just like secularists want! Secularists say, "Sure. You can have your faith. Just leave it over there in the corner of society somewhere and don't bother anyone else with your stupid ideas." Falling for this has numerous negative consequences, including giving the impression to potential converts to Christianity that our faith is not universally applicable, that it is only one of many possible worldviews, and Christianity is only a crutch for weak individuals. Jesus' was given "all authority on heaven and earth" (Matthew 28:18)--not just some authority. This notion--that the Christian faith can be marginalized from society--is directly responsible for the decline of Christianity in America. The inclination to segregate one's faith so as not to "impose" our values on others smacks of "true for me, but not for you." It is amazing that any Christian would buy into this post-modern relativism. Further, attempting to segregate our faith is dishonoring to God: God is god of ALL or He is not God AT ALL. (Psalm 24:1)

 

• Our COMPASSION as Christians demands that we institute biblical values in society. What other basis for a successful and compassionate society could possibly be better than the Bible?! Who are you going to go with: Ayn Rand or Jesus? Jesus allowed no human partner; we are either with Him 100% or we are against Him. (Matthew 12:30)

 

• We cannot miss the similarities between libertarianism and liberalism. While libertarians claim to be opponents of liberalism, it is not accidental that they have the same root word. There is an insidious mix of thought between libertarianism and liberalism. Both have certain political goals in common, such as utopian anti-war sentiment and pro gay rights. While there are versions of libertarianism that claim compatibility with Christian theism, something classic libertarianism has in common liberalism is that both are often at war with, or marginalize, God. Liberalism, when taken to its logical conclusion, leads to life without God--socialism, communism, humanism, and other non-theistic worldviews. Liberalism in any form, if properly understood, results in devastating results for a society--even harming those it was intended to help. See our articleThe Dirty Little Secret of Liberalism.

 

• Libertarianism is at its core a selfish worldview. This is distinctly different from biblical Christianity. Christianity subjugates the self to God, and to other people (Matthew 22:34-39). In contrast, classic libertarianism and liberalism alike are opposed to, or have no need for, a moral authority above the individual self.

 

• Libertarian Christians have, amazingly, adopted other concepts and the language of liberal secularists. They say to other Christians, "We don't want a theocracy." This charge is a red herring. Theocracy is when the church, as an institution, has all political power, including administering civil law. Biblical Christians want no such thing. We support the separation of church and state, properly understood. And we certainly do not want Old Testament civil and ceremonial laws instituted in society. Such laws were repealed in the New Testament (Acts 10:12-15; Colossians 2:11-16; Romans 14:17).

 

• While civil and ceremonial laws were repealed in the New Testament, moral law stands forever. Biblical moral law is applicable to everybody whether they believe it or not. Judicious application of biblical moral law to civil law is infinitely compassionate and positive for society. The idea that "you cannot legislate morality" is also an idea adopted from liberal secularism. It is a false idea. Virtually every law is a put in place based on someone's idea of morality.

 

• Anarchism is a branch of libertarianism. See Libertarianism.

 

• There are strong biblical commands for Christians to influence society, including civil government. See the list at the bottom of our Bible and Government article.

 

Our message to Christians and non-Christians alike is this. If you want true freedom, a vigorous economy, and a compassionate society, the answer is biblical Christianity. See our blog post Biblical Capitalism.

What is the purpose of civil government, according to the Bible? The purpose of civil government is, very simply, to be God's servant to restrain evil and reward good (Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-14). Christians are (a) to pray for and obey governmental authority (1 Timothy 2:1-4), (b) unless it forbids what God requires or requires what God forbids, in which case Christians cannot submit, and some form of civil disobedience becomes inescapable (Acts 4:18-31, 5:17-29), (c) to influence government because all of life is under God's authority (Psalm 24:1; Psalm 83:18; Isaiah 42:8; Matthew 28:18-20; 2 Corinthians 10:5). In a participatory democracy, Christians are under obligation to participate in civil government (Matthew 22:21).

As put by Dinesh D'Souza in his book What's So Great about Christianity, "Christianity enhanced the notion of political and social accountability by providing a new model: that of servant leadership. In ancient Greece and Rome no one would have dreamed of considering political leaders anyone's servants. The job of the leader was to lead. But Christ invented the notion that the way to lead is by serving the needs of others, especially those who are the most needy. Mark 10:43 quotes Christ:'Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant...for even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve.' And in Luke 22:27 we hear Jesus say, 'Who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.' In the new Christian framework, leaders are judged by how well they respond to the concerns and welfare of the people. Over time, people once known as 'followers' or 'subjects' become 'customers' and 'constituents'."

Should Christians be involved in politics and government? We argue that Christians should care about politics because, ultimately, we care about people. Government has an increasingly large influence on the lives of people, thus we cannot ignore politics. Further, almost every law reflects someone’s idea of morality. Since God’s morality is ultimate and universal, society benefits from the Christian’s participation in the public square. That is, society benefits when biblical truth is reflected in law. Indeed, Christians should be involved in all aspects of society, including law, art, music, economics, science, etc.

There are numerous Bible passages that confirm the importance of God and Government. These include:

Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's. (Matthew 22:21)

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. ( 2 Cor 10:5)

The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof. (Psalm 24:1)

We must obey God rather than man. (Acts 5:29)

You are the salt of the earth…the light of the world. (Matthew 5:13-16)

The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget about God. (Psalm 9:17)

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord. (Psalm 33:12)

On account of me, you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them. (Mark 13:9)

The good influence of godly citizens causes a city to prosper. (Proverbs 11:11)

I, the Lord, speak the truth; I declare what is right. (Isaiah 45:19)

We are not trying to please men, but God, who tests our hearts. (1 Thessalonians 2:4)

Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil. (Isaiah 5:20-21)

Thou shalt not kill. (Exodus 20:13-15)

Do not give the devil a foothold. (Ephesians 4:27)

A wise man attacks the city of the mighty and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust. (Proverbs 21:22)

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness. (Matthew 5:10-12)

Furthermore, you shall select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them, as leaders, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens. (Exodus 18:21)

When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn. (Proverbs 29:2)

When rulers are wicked, their people are too. (Proverbs 29:16)

For the wicked shall not rule the godly, lest the godly be forced to do wrong. (Psalm 125:3)

Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. (Psalm 127:1)

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. (Proverbs 13:8-9)

To the Jews I became like a Jew....  (1 Corinthians 9:20-24)

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me.”  (Matthew 28:18)

Fill the earth and subdue it. (Genesis 1:26-28)

Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10)

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked way, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

The warning for Americans is that there is no longer a consensus that biblical ethics are truly absolute. Our liberties are eroding as big government tries to take over where our biblical consensus left off. Tyranny and social tragedy are the logical results unless we reverse this trend.

We highly recommend this article by Patrick Leduc entitled "Christianity and the Framers: The True Intent of the Establishment Clause":

Establishment Clause

Bibliography and Resources for study:

David Barton, God in the Constitution

Bradford, M. E., A Worthy Company; Brief Lives of the Framers of the United States Constitution.

Barton, David, America's Godly Heritage (video); and The Spirit of the American Revolution (video); and Barton, David, The Myth of Separation (book). These and many other resources are available at Wallbuilders.

DeMar, Gary, America's Christian History: The Untold Story; and God and Government: A Biblical and Historical Study (3 volumes). These books and other excellent resources available from American Vision.

DiLorenzo, Thomas, How Capitalism Saved America.

D'Souza, Dinesh, What's So Great about Christianity.

Eidsmoe, John, Christianity and the Constitution: The Faith of Our Founding Fathers

Federer, William J., America's God and Country: Encyclopedia of Quotations.

Foster, Marshall and Swanson, Mary-Elaine, The American Covenant: The Untold Story.

Gibbs, David C., Jr. (President of the Christian Law Association) with Jerry Newcombe, One Nation Under God: Ten Things Every Christian Should Know About the Founding of America.

Marshall, Peter and Manuel, David, The Light and the Glory; also From Sea to Shining Sea.

Schaeffer, Francis A., A Christian Manifesto.

See other related articles on our site: The Impact of Christianity, Biblical Capitalism in Uncertain Economic Times, and Why Socialism Is Not Compassionate.

This video series is extraordinarily helpful:

Richard Church on American History

Also, here other helpful articles:

God and Liberty

Christian vs. Libertarian Capitalism

Does the Bible Support Communism?

The Declaration and Religion

 

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Does the Declaration of Independence Tell the Truth?

By E. Jeffrey Ludwig

At this time of the year, while most U.S. citizens are contemplating U.S. independence and the Declaration of Independence, I ask myself why, in nineteen years of teaching in the New York public schools, I have not once heard the students gathered to sing in any assembly or forum "America the Beautiful," "God Bless America," or "My Country 'Tis of Thee." The National Anthem has been sung only once a year, at the graduation ceremonies. 

This serious omission of patriotic fervor can be attributed to the leftist influence on the school system. Most leftists believe the Declaration of Independence was primarily a document driven by the class interests of the signers. The gentry and economically powerful merchant groups in the U.S. and the aristocratic southern plantation economy joined forces against powerful interests in the mother country that would limit their growth, their economic well-being, and their power. Talk about inalienable rights, equality, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness were rationalizations for underlying issues of class and status. Charles and Mary Beard set the stage for this analysis, and it has been carried forward by Howard Zinn's People's History of the United States. Are they correct?

First, a caveat: Even if the document were a justification of class interests in part, would that be so wrong? If we have an economic leadership based on wealth amassed through faith, hard work, determination, and intelligence, then is it not just for them to defend that wealth and influence from usurpations by those who would unlawfully take said wealth and influence away from them? The truth of "no taxation without representation" is a valid truth, but it certainly oversimplifies the dynamics behind the Declaration of Independence.

Let us consider one of the more contentious statements of the Declaration:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness; ...

John Locke in his treatises on government made a cogent analysis of the body politic and stressed that life, liberty and property could best be protected if the locus of power in the government lay with the representatives of the people rather than with the executive -- or in his context, the monarchy. The signers of the Declaration, aware of the moral ambiguities of slavery in the American context, deleted the word "property," and preferred to substitute "pursuit of happiness." They introduced this Aristotelian goal in order (1) to acknowledge the existence of a summum bonum, (2) to point to the unity of happiness and virtue (happiness for Aristotle was arrived at by strenuous contemplation and implementation of virtue, and was not, as in our times, associated with hedonism or with "self-fulfillment" à la Abraham Maslow), and (3) to introduce the idea of the newly independent USA as a land of opportunity, both economically and politically. How can this be offensive?

Although the Declaration was not in one accord with the 17th-century Westminster Shorter Catechism that announced the purpose of life to be "to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever," we can see that the Declaration, by insisting that the values expressed in it are "endowed by their [the people's] Creator," is an echo of the earlier Westminster document. The language suggests to me that the Declaration was deeply rooted in Protestant theology more than in class interests.

What about the self-evidence of the truths claimed in our founding document? This assertion is directly out of the rationalist enlightenment playbook. R. Descartes had affirmed that he could believe only truths that were "clear and distinct." To be clear and distinct, they had to meet the challenge of his method of doubt. If there were any possibility that the truths he perceived could be contingent or could be based on misperception, they would be excluded. Through experience and various other mechanisms, J. Locke's empiricism believed that certainty could be arrived at through experience, science, and intuition.

While these self-evident truths for the signers were not the same as revealed truth as found in Holy Scripture, they are still "endowed" to all men by God the Creator. In theological language, they would be considered part of common grace, whereas for the believing Christian, the Bible comes under special or revealed grace. Thus, the Bible tells us that the rain falls equally on the just and the unjust, and in similar fashion, all men are endowed with the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Almighty God must be assumed, because without Him, how could one explain that all men are so endowed?

As we contemplate our independence as a nation and the exercise of our inalienable rights, as we sing hosannas of gratitude for these blessings, let us remember to also reject all Marxist views that would depreciate the values of the Declaration.

Does the Declaration of Independence Tell the Truth?

By E. Jeffrey Ludwig

At this time of the year, while most U.S. citizens are contemplating U.S. independence and the Declaration of Independence, I ask myself why, in nineteen years of teaching in the New York public schools, I have not once heard the students gathered to sing in any assembly or forum "America the Beautiful," "God Bless America," or "My Country 'Tis of Thee." The National Anthem has been sung only once a year, at the graduation ceremonies. 

This serious omission of patriotic fervor can be attributed to the leftist influence on the school system. Most leftists believe the Declaration of Independence was primarily a document driven by the class interests of the signers. The gentry and economically powerful merchant groups in the U.S. and the aristocratic southern plantation economy joined forces against powerful interests in the mother country that would limit their growth, their economic well-being, and their power. Talk about inalienable rights, equality, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness were rationalizations for underlying issues of class and status. Charles and Mary Beard set the stage for this analysis, and it has been carried forward by Howard Zinn's People's History of the United States. Are they correct?

First, a caveat: Even if the document were a justification of class interests in part, would that be so wrong? If we have an economic leadership based on wealth amassed through faith, hard work, determination, and intelligence, then is it not just for them to defend that wealth and influence from usurpations by those who would unlawfully take said wealth and influence away from them? The truth of "no taxation without representation" is a valid truth, but it certainly oversimplifies the dynamics behind the Declaration of Independence.

Let us consider one of the more contentious statements of the Declaration:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness; ...

John Locke in his treatises on government made a cogent analysis of the body politic and stressed that life, liberty and property could best be protected if the locus of power in the government lay with the representatives of the people rather than with the executive -- or in his context, the monarchy. The signers of the Declaration, aware of the moral ambiguities of slavery in the American context, deleted the word "property," and preferred to substitute "pursuit of happiness." They introduced this Aristotelian goal in order (1) to acknowledge the existence of a summum bonum, (2) to point to the unity of happiness and virtue (happiness for Aristotle was arrived at by strenuous contemplation and implementation of virtue, and was not, as in our times, associated with hedonism or with "self-fulfillment" à la Abraham Maslow), and (3) to introduce the idea of the newly independent USA as a land of opportunity, both economically and politically. How can this be offensive?

Although the Declaration was not in one accord with the 17th-century Westminster Shorter Catechism that announced the purpose of life to be "to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever," we can see that the Declaration, by insisting that the values expressed in it are "endowed by their [the people's] Creator," is an echo of the earlier Westminster document. The language suggests to me that the Declaration was deeply rooted in Protestant theology more than in class interests.

What about the self-evidence of the truths claimed in our founding document? This assertion is directly out of the rationalist enlightenment playbook. R. Descartes had affirmed that he could believe only truths that were "clear and distinct." To be clear and distinct, they had to meet the challenge of his method of doubt. If there were any possibility that the truths he perceived could be contingent or could be based on misperception, they would be excluded. Through experience and various other mechanisms, J. Locke's empiricism believed that certainty could be arrived at through experience, science, and intuition.

While these self-evident truths for the signers were not the same as revealed truth as found in Holy Scripture, they are still "endowed" to all men by God the Creator. In theological language, they would be considered part of common grace, whereas for the believing Christian, the Bible comes under special or revealed grace. Thus, the Bible tells us that the rain falls equally on the just and the unjust, and in similar fashion, all men are endowed with the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Almighty God must be assumed, because without Him, how could one explain that all men are so endowed?

As we contemplate our independence as a nation and the exercise of our inalienable rights, as we sing hosannas of gratitude for these blessings, let us remember to also reject all Marxist views that would depreciate the values of the Declaration.

When Benjamin Franklin introduced his grandson to Voltaire shortly before the latter's death in 1778, that great opponent of the Catholic Church laid his thin hands upon the youth's head and bade him dedicate himself to the cause of "God and Liberty".[1] Less than a century later, in June 1850, another great French liberal thinker, Frederic Bastiat, made a similar linkage between religion and freedom, declaring that life, liberty and property were a gift from God, and that "these three gifts from God precede all human legislation, and are superior to it."[2]

The difference between these sentiments and the anti-religious mentality of modern politically correct secular liberals is one of the most striking phenomena of our times. To most present day secular liberals, traditional monotheistic religion, especially Christianity, is an irrational and reactionary force, and an enemy of freedom and progress, whereas atheism offers a more liberating philosophy, since its rejection of the existence and authority of God removes an irksome restraint on personal autonomy. As many secular liberals see it, an accidental universe, without any ultimate meaning or purpose, is preferable to a God-centred one, since it seems to allow human beings greater scope for choosing their own values and charting their own course.

That, at any rate, was the view of Aldous Huxley, and it was shared by many other prominent writers of his time and continues to characterise current liberal attitudes. Explaining, on one occasion, what lay behind his atheism and that of so many other 20th century leftist intellectuals, Huxley confessed:

I had motives for not wanting the world to have meaning, consequently assumed it had none… For myself, as no doubt for most of my contemporaries, the philosophy of meaninglessness was essentially an instrument of liberation. The liberation we desired was … liberation from a certain system of morality. We objected to the morality because it interfered with our sexual freedom.[3]

By contrast, like Voltaire and Bastiat, nearly all the great philosophers and statesmen of the old Whig / classical liberal tradition took a positive view of the link between God and liberty, repudiating in advance the atheistic and anti-religious mentality so characteristic of modern liberalism.[4] As evidence of this, here are three typical examples drawn from three famous texts.

"Being all equal and independent [in the state of Nature]", declared England's best known 17th century philosopher, John Locke, in the first of these texts, his influential Two Treatises of Government (1690), "no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty or possessions; for men being all the workmanship of one omnipotent and infinitely wise Maker; all the servants of one sovereign Master, sent into the world by His order and about His business; they are His property … made to last during His, not one another's pleasure."[5]

The great question is to discover, not what governments prescribe, but what they ought to prescribe; for no prescription is valid against the conscience of mankind.”

- Lord Acton

Our second text, the American Declaration of Independence (1776), perhaps the most celebrated official document in the history of liberty, was as emphatic as Locke in affirming the theistic roots of freedom. To quote its memorable second paragraph:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed…

Finally, and perhaps most tellingly, consider these words of Lord Acton, the great 19th century historian of liberty, and one of the greatest scholars of his age:

The great question is to discover, not what governments prescribe, but what they ought to prescribe; for no prescription is valid against the conscience of mankind. Before God, there is neither Greek nor barbarian, neither rich nor poor, and the slave is as good as his master, for by birth all men are free; they are citizens of that universal commonwealth which embraces all the world, brethren of one family, and children of God. The true guide of our conduct is no outward authority, but the voice of God, who comes down to dwell in our souls, who knows all our thoughts, to whom are owing all the truth we know, and all the good we do…[6]

Given these alternative views of the relationship between religion and freedom, which is the truer one? Is belief in God a hindrance to liberty or its necessary foundation? Does freedom depend on a belief in absolute values rooted in God's nature, or is it best served by a philosophy of moral relativism rooted in atheism?

This is certainly a relevant question in American politics, judging by the views of President Obama. For instance,in his 2006 book, The Audacity of Hope, Obama argued that:

Implicit in [the American Constitution's] structure, in the very idea of ordered liberty, was a rejection of absolute truth, the infallibility of any idea or ideology or theology or 'ism', any tyrannical consistency that might lock future generations into a single, unalterable course…[7]

Is this relativist view of Obama's, so typical of modern liberalism, a correct interpretation of the spirit underlying the American Constitution? Does the "very idea of ordered liberty" really imply "a rejection of absolute truth" and "the infallibility of any idea"? Is the consistency that flows from absolute truth really "tyrannical"?

To anyone familiar with 18th century American political thought, the idea that philosophical scepticism and moral relativism implicitly influenced the authors and supporters of the American Constitution is, of course, a historical anachronism. Most Americans of that era were either Christians or deists, and therefore, as religious believers, firmly wedded to the notion that truth and moral values are absolute. But even if this historical fact is acknowledged, were they justified in holding this view?

Calling the bluff of moral relativism

I have no doubt that they were, and to understand why, one need only call the bluff of contemporary moral relativism.

Modern atheistic liberals constantly tell us that moral values and social conventions evolve to fit new circumstances and challenges, and vary between different societies. On that basis, they deny the existence of any universal and eternal moral code. Yet these very same liberals are the first to denounce racism or the oppression of minorities with passionate indignation. So the question we must ask them is a simple one: what, in their heart of hearts, do they really believe? Was American slavery, for instance, or the firebombing of black churches by the Ku Klux Klan, an abomination, something that could never be justified in any century or society, or should we refrain from making such moral judgements on the grounds that moral attitudes do not reflect objective truths but change through time? And what about the philosophical implications of the concept of 'progress'? Modern liberals are always urging us to adopt 'progressive' attitudes, and to adapt our laws and customs to reflect them, but what meaning can we attach to the idea of 'progress' in the absence of some fixed and eternal standard of value by which it can be measured? How can we tell whether any society is becoming more or less humane, or more or less enlightened, unless we are comparing it against some objective and unchanging yardstick of wisdom and goodness?

Logical inconsistency is not the only criticism that can be levelled, in this particular context, against politically correct 21st century liberalism. Its apparent commitment to moral relativism also reveals a shallow understanding of history and ethics.

As C.S. Lewis argued in his wartime essay, 'The Poison of Subjectivism' (1943)[8], apparent variations of moral outlook between different cultures or historical epochs, are not, as modern liberals seem to think, proof of the subjectivity of all moral values. Rather, they reflect changing beliefs about particular facts or about the specific implications of foundational moral principles. The difference, for example, between a 17th century Puritan's attitude to witchcraft and that of a 21st century sceptic is determined by their conflicting views about the reality of the supernatural, not by any necessary disagreement in principle about the need to resist evil. In a similar fashion, changing attitudes towards other nations, the morality of slavery, or the status of women, do not represent the replacement of one subjective code of ethics by another. Rather, they represent an internal development within one pre-existing system of morality.

unless we begin by regarding the sacredness of human life, and the unique value of every individual, as self-evident philosophical first principles, we have no objective reasons for condemning oppression and tyranny

Take, as an instance of this, our belief in the brotherhood of man and the equality of the sexes. This chiefly arose in the West out of the Judeo-Christian view that since all men and women are made in the image of God, and are therefore the children of the same Heavenly Father, they should be treated with equal love and respect, as Lord Acton argued so eloquently in the passage quoted earlier. As this conviction gradually spread, over a long period, throughout Europe and North America, it eventually spelt the doom of slavery and the legal subjection of women. At the same time, it also encouraged a friendlier attitude towards foreigners, and with it, a desire for peace between nations and the development of international law. In other words, moral progress and social reform came about in these areas as a result of a new and clearer understanding of the logical implications of certain foundational biblical principles. It did not represent the triumph of some 'new' morality over an older one.

The superficiality of moral relativism not only reveals itself under the microscope of close philosophical inspection. Its claims are also undermined by the powerful historical evidence for the existence of an unchanging and universal Moral Law acknowledged across the centuries by different peoples and cultures. For example, in his justly celebrated book, The Abolition of Man (1943)[9], C.S. Lewis bolsters his philosophical arguments against moral subjectivism by including an appendix entitled 'Illustrations of the Tao'. This consists of a list of quotations from a random selection of ancient writings – Egyptian, Babylonian, Greek, Roman, Hindu, and Chinese – showing their essential agreement with the Judeo-Christian ethic. Does all this not suggest that belief in objective truth and absolute moral values is well founded?

It is certainly essential if we claim to believe in liberty and the pursuit of knowledge, or attach any meaning to the concept of human rights. For unless we begin by regarding the sacredness of human life, and the unique value of every individual, as self-evident philosophical first principles, we have no objective reasons for condemning oppression and tyranny. Similarly, unless we begin with a belief in the existence and objectivity of truth, and therefore the possibility in principle of finding it, the pursuit of knowledge becomes meaningless. And this too is fatal to liberty, since one of the strongest arguments for freedom of conscience and expression is precisely the insight that the pursuit of truth requires maximum scope for the free dissemination and discussion of competing ideas.

In addition to all these considerations, disbelief in the existence of objective (and therefore absolute) truth is, in any case, completely illogical, since the assertion 'there is no such thing as absolute truth', is itself an absolute truth claim, and is therefore self-contradictory. It is like saying that we 'know' that we know nothing, which is clearly absurd. Furthermore, the existence of mathematics, as well as the successes of the natural sciences, clearly demonstrate the capacity of the human mind to engage in objective logical thinking and discover reality. For all these reasons, the radical claims of philosophical scepticism cannot be taken seriously.

But if absolute truth – logical, scientific, and moral – exists and can, at least in principle, be grasped and discovered by our minds, what does this tell us about the existence of God?

Truth and morality point to God

On reflection, a great deal. To begin with, truth has a transcendent non-physical quality which suggests that it is connected with something outside ourselves and the material universe, since it is independent of time, place, or culture. For instance, we know that 2+2=4, 'love is better than hate,' and 'torturing children is wrong', whether others acknowledge these truths or not, whether we live or die, and regardless of our particular background or the century or society into which we were born. It is surely equally significant that these particular truths – like all truth – would retain their validity (and in that sense continue to exist) even if our physical universe were to come to an end tomorrow.

Our experience of moral obligation similarly points to God because it too, like truth, has this strangely transcendent and eternal quality.

truth and goodness are rooted in God

When, for example, our conscience is most deeply aroused, especially when it comes into conflict with our strongest desires, emotions, or material interests, do we not sense, somehow pressing down on us, the weight of an external claim on our allegiance? From where does that insistent realisation come that we must resist injustice or admit our mistakes, even at the cost of our lives or our reputations? From where do we get the motivation and strength to resist adultery, malicious gossip, or dishonesty in our working lives, in circumstances in which giving in to these temptations is pleasurable, safe from detection, and vital to our popularity and the advancement of our careers? Most significantly of all, what is the ultimate source of that authoritative inner conviction that we must always obey the voice of our conscience rather than the laws and commands of the State, whenever there is a conflict between 'might and right'? To What or to Whom do we feel that sense of accountability that seems to take precedence over every human authority, however elevated?

If, then, as this analysis suggests, truth and goodness are permanent, unchanging and ultimate categories to which we somehow owe unconditional allegiance, as Plato famously believed, this surely suggests that their eternal, transcendent, and imperative character is in some sense divine. And since our awareness of truth and goodness is inseparably connected with our minds and wills, it seems reasonable to conclude that their apparently divine character and status is also related to an eternal Divine Intelligence. In other words, truth and goodness are rooted in God and express His essential and changeless Nature. Or to put it another way, God is not only our Creator, as Jefferson noted in the Declaration of Independence, but also Goodness, Truth, (and Beauty) personified, and therefore the eternal and objective source of all that is precious and wonderful in human existence. That is why that historic American document was entirely correct in its ringing affirmation that we are endowed by our Creator "with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness".

The true lesson about religious persecution

Unfortunately, despite all the evidence, the strong philosophical link between monotheistic religion and freedom has been hidden from many secular liberals by the terrible history of religious persecution. But what needs to be remembered here, is that in the case of Christianity, intolerance and persecution were always the evil fruit of the coercive union of Church and State, never in any sense a natural outgrowth of its original message or mission.

As anyone can see from reading the New Testament, especially the 'Sermon on the Mount', Jesus and his followers taught us to love our enemies and pray for them, and seek first the Kingdom of God, rather than strive for earthly power or dominion. Far from advocating the compulsory imposition of religious orthodoxy by the State, all the emphasis in the New Testament is on the exact opposite. Its primary focus is not on government or society, but on our individual and voluntary response to the challenge of acknowledging God's claim on our lives and our own needy spiritual condition. And this, of course, makes perfect moral and philosophical sense, since recognising our faults and loving our Creator necessarily demands the unforced assent and willing commitment of our minds and hearts. We cannot reconnect with God in any meaningful way, or pursue goodness and truth, at the point of a gun.

'The good of society' may be a worthy moral goal, but only because we value the lives and liberties of individuals

Modern secular liberals fail to see the connection between God and liberty not only because of their misinterpretation of the history of religious persecution and the lessons it teaches. They are also misled by their conviction that both our sense of moral obligation, and our highest values, can be adequately explained and justified without any reference to the existence of God.

For instance, one of their most common and fallacious beliefs is that morality is just a by-product of biological evolution, so that 'goodness' simply means 'that which has survival value'. But the problem with this Darwinian explanation is that it flies in the face of both our personal experience and recorded history. As most of us are only too well aware, it is simply not true that moral integrity is the key to personal success in our damaged and imperfect world. On the contrary: cunning, ruthlessness, lack of principle, and a talent for intrigue, are all too often the effective means by which many individuals build successful careers, especially in politics and large organisations in general. If, by contrast, such qualities as kindness, the pursuit of excellence, and love of truth, were really the ones needed for worldly success, why are there (and why have there always been) so many successful criminals and dictators? If goodness is such an effective Darwinian recipe for human survival and for winning the material prizes of life, why has so much of history been a constant and depressing tale of war, tyranny, and slavery?

An alternative and far more convincing secular explanation of morality is that 'goodness' simply means those qualities and values which allow human beings to live in harmony with each other in peaceful, prosperous and creative societies. But whilst this is undoubtedly true, it does not provide a complete and adequate explanation of the ultimate source of our moral values and sense of moral obligation. 'The good of society', for instance, may indeed be a worthy moral goal, providing an objective criterion for human action, but only because we value, as foundational first principles, the lives and liberties of the individuals composing it. But if respect for life, liberty and truth is to be regarded as a self-evident moral imperative, how can this foundational philosophical principle be reconciled with atheism? That is the problem facing secular liberalism.

The incompatibles: truth, freedom and atheism

And it is a very big philosophical problem, for if atheism is true, we not only inhabit an accidental and Godless universe devoid of any ultimate meaning or purpose. We ourselves are also part of that physical universe and in no way distinct from it, since there is no supernatural dimension to our existence. But if it is therefore the case, as atheists insist, that we have no souls or connection with any Creator, we must then face up to the fact that the logical and psychological implications of this belief are momentous and destructive. It means that as purely fortuitous physical beings, all our thoughts and values, and all our decisions and choices, are merely the accidental by-products of a long chain of random, undesigned and purposeless physical and chemical events. How then can we attach any objective meaning or importance to our thinking processes, let alone our particular thoughts and beliefs? They surely have no more ultimate or eternal significance than the sound of a waterfall, or the crash of a tree in a forest. How, also, can we claim to have free will, or any knowledge of truth, if we are merely biological machines whose choices, reasonings, and convictions are entirely and inevitably determined by random and non-rational physical and chemical processes in our brains?[10]

In short, if there is no God whose Being and Nature is the eternal source and ground of our existence, thinking and values, we cannot account either for our knowledge and reasoning ability, or our very real and transcendent experience of moral obligation. We must assume instead that all our mental and moral life is based on an illusion. This in turn leaves us with no objective basis for our moral judgements. Good and evil, under these conditions, become purely arbitrary and subjective categories, governed by whim and emotion, and leaving us with no objective or compelling grounds for criticising the destructive existential choices of nihilists and psychopaths. We may, in a Godless universe, continue to fear and dislike thieves, murderers, and dictators, and choose to resist them, but we can no longer demonstrate the objective 'wrongness' of their selfish disregard for the lives and liberties of others. In such circumstances, 'might' will (sooner or later) inevitably determine 'right' rather than serving it, and evil will know no limits or barriers.

The brutal and nihilistic consequences of rejecting God are, of course, hardly a new phenomeneon or simply a subject for abstract ivory tower speculation. They were fully understood, and gleefully and unsparingly spelt out, by the late 19th century German nihilist philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900), and subsequently gave birth to all the horrors of modern totalitarianism.

"[Christian morality] granted man an absolute value", wrote Nietzsche, "as opposed to his smallness and accidental occurrence in the flux of being and passing away… morality guarded the underprivileged by assigning to each an infinite value … [but] supposing that the faith in this morality would perish, then the underprivileged would no longer have this comfort – and they would perish … nihilism is a symptom that the underprivileged have no comfort left."[11]

Is belief in God essential to liberty or an obstacle to freedom?

The history of the 20th century has been a terrible vindication of the prophetic accuracy of these words, because atheism, the rejection of traditional morality, and the devaluation of the individual, were central to the development of Fascism and Communism, both as totalitarian ideologies and as murderous totalitarian systems of State power.

Both Hitler and Mussolini, for instance, were ardent disciples and admirers of Nietzsche, embracing his rejection of Christianity and his exaltation of the amoral and triumphant will of the 'strong man'. To quote only Mussolini:

If relativism signifies contempt for fixed categories and men who claim to be bearers of an external objective truth, then there is nothing more relativistic than fascistic attitudes and activity… the fascist State is will to power and government…[12]

Marx, Engels and Lenin were just as forthright as Mussolini and Hitler about their atheistic and totalitarian contempt for the idea that human beings are accountable to an objective and eternal Moral Law rooted in God. They insisted, on the contrary, that all morality is subjective and subordinate to the class struggle, and that nothing should be allowed to hinder the triumph of the Communist Revolution or the authority of the victorious Communist State. As Engels put it:

We … reject every attempt to impose on us any moral dogma whatever as eternal, ultimate and forever immutable moral law...

and Lenin agreed with him. "We say that morality is entirely subordinated to the interests of the class struggle of the proletariat…" he wrote, adding: "We do not believe in an eternal morality."[13]

It is hardly surprising, given their totalitarian atheist mentality, that all 20th century Communist regimes slaughtered millions of their own citizens and transformed their countries into gigantic concentration camps, of which the worst and still living example is North Korea. What else could one have expected from rulers who acknowledged no moral boundaries to their exercise of power? But if any doubt still remains in anyone's mind about the link between atheism, moral relativism, and man's inhumanity to man, meditate on these words of Mao Zedong's, the happily defunct tyrannical founder and architect of Chinese Communism.

Some of our comrades have too much mercy, not enough brutality, which means that they are not so Marxist. On this matter, we indeed have no conscience! Marxism is that brutal… We are prepared to sacrifice 300 million Chinese for the victory of the world revolution.[14]

So, in conclusion, to return to our central question, what, again, does the evidence suggest? Is belief in God essential to liberty or an obstacle to freedom?

The prophetic wisdom of Jefferson and Voltaire

Let the last word on this subject be spoken again (ironically) by two figures in secular liberalism's Hall of Fame: Thomas Jefferson, America's third President and author of the Declaration of Independence, and that great figure of the 18th century French Enlightenment whom I quoted at the beginning of this essay: Voltaire.

"Can the liberties of a nation be thought secure", asked Jefferson, "when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the gift of God?"[15]

Voltaire clearly didn't think soWhat We Believe

What We Believe – Our Statement of Faith

We believe in the essential truths of the historic orthodox (biblical) Christian faith. These truths include:

We believe that all men are sinners and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).

We believe that salvation from sin, death, and God's wrath is the comforting free gift of God, given by grace through a living, trusting, penitent faith (Ephesians 2:8-9, James 2:14-17) in Jesus Christ (John 14:6).

We believe in the Trinity—one God eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Christian Cram Course).

We believe that Jesus is the Son of God and the one-and-only savior of sinners (Jesus).

We believe that the Bible is the final authority on faith and life—that it is a magnificent and unique document, truly inspired by God through human writers (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

We believe that the Bible has answers for today's problems—that every man, woman, or child will benefit by getting to know Christ (Hebrews 13:8).

We believe that good works are a natural result of an authentic saving faith (2 Corinthians 9:8, James 2:26). Thus being a Christian leads one to be a blessing to society (Mark 12:31), to influence it (Matthew 5:13-16), to be enthusiastic (Romans 12:11), and to bring others the good news of the gospel (Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8).

We believe that heaven is where believers spend eternity in our glorified, immortal bodies after life on earth, in a new and better individual existence, consistent with Jesus' numerous promises of eternal life.

We believe that the Christian faith is not mere blind faith but faith in evidence (Acts 1:3; Acts 17:17), which should be explained lovingly to others (1 Peter 3:15).

We reject the aberrant doctrines of millennialism, fideism, nominalism, antinomianism, liberalism, legalism, and universalism. (We are also skeptical of most modern manifestations of tongues, the "Word-Faith Movement," and such things as "slain in the spirit.")

Note: This is an abbreviated list of essential Bible truths. For more detail, see our article Christian Cram Course. See also our blog on eschatology (Bible prophecy): Prophecy Questions for Christians.. "I have always been convinced", he wrote, "that atheism cannot do any good, and may do very great harm. I have pointed to the infinite difference between the sages who have written against superstition and the madmen who have written against God. There is neither philosophy nor morality in any system of atheism.It is a joy for me to be here in Lynchburg, Virginia, and to visit with three of

my former Regent University Law School colleagues-Roger Bern, Jeff

Tuomala, and Barbara Baxter-now members of the law faculty at Liberty

University School of Law. It is also a special joy for me to see the law school

here. I remember talking to Pierre Guillermann, Liberty's then President, and

Dr. Falwell, the Chancellor, back in the early 1980s about the possibility of

starting a law school here. It is wonderful to see that God has brought to pass

what was on the Chancellor's and the President's heart at this great university.

A. God, Man, and Law

The conventional wisdom today is that the Bible is irrelevant to the study

and practice of law in America because law does not come by God's revelation,

but only from man's reason. However, Sir William Blackstone, in his

Commentaries on the Laws of England, begins his exposition of the English

common law with the creation account in the biblical book of Genesis.

Blackstone writes that God-man's Creator-imposes the rules that govern

man-the created-and those rules govern all of God's creatures whether they

believe in God or not.'

Now Blackstone speaks to this issue, but he does not speak fully to it. It is

therefore important for those of us who believe in God to have our

understanding illuminated so that we can defend the position that I believe that

we must defend. We must be able to show clearly that God, as the creator of

every nation,2 has set down the rules that govern the civil society of every

nation.3 This is such an important position to defend since if God is not the

t B.S., University of Oregon, 1959 (Phi Beta Kappa); J.D., Harvard University, cum

laude. Of Counsel, William J. Olson, P.C., McLean, Virginia. Member of the Virginia Bar.

Founding Dean of Regent University School of Law. This article is adapted from a lecture

delivered at Liberty University School of Law on October 27, 2006. The lecture appears here

with limited editorial changes.

1. See WILLIAM BLACKSTONE, 1 COMMENTARIES *33-62.

2. "From one man [God] made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole

earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places they should live. God did

this so that men would seek him .. " Acts 17:26-27 (NIV). See also Psalm 2.

3. See Genesis 9-11. In these chapters, "God, through the families of Noah, created all

nations and established by His covenant with Noah as the father of nations the sanctioning

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source of law-if every person is just trying to figure it out for himself-then

we Christians do not have much more to offer than a different perspective. As a

matter of fact, the danger in today's America is that this law school, its faculty,

its students, and its graduates will be relativized because people will just

dismiss the view that law is rooted in God and the Bible as just another

opinion, not worthy of any truth claim.

If you look to Blackstone, however, he wrote that every human being is a

creature of God, and as a creature of God every human being is ruled by God;

and the rules that God lays down every human being is bound to obey.4 Now, it

is important to emphasize this point because our everyday vocabulary betrays

that fundamental truth. For example, how many times have we heard it said

that the Supreme Court of the United States has legalized abortion? 5 The

answer is, "No they have not." Why? Because a majority ofjustices-indeed,

even a unanimous court-cannot make straight what God has made crooked.6

We must understand that the United States Supreme Court is not the source of

law. The ruling in Roe v. Wade that a woman has a constitutional right to

terminate a pregnancy,7 may be the Court's opinion, but if we are going to

determine whether the opinion ofjudges is law, must we not have a standard by

which to measure it other than the court's own opinion? I like the way

Blackstone put it: he said when a judge makes a mistaken opinion about law

and then it is changed, it was not changed because it was "bad law," but

because it was not law at all.8 Blackstone could never have arrived at that

position, if he had not relied upon the revelation of God as the standard outside

of man used to measure whether a certain opinion is law.9

When the apostle Paul went into the city of Athens, as reported in the

seventeenth chapter of Acts, picture Paul going into Boston or Cambridge,

Massachusetts, because he was walking into the intellectual capital of the

Roman Empire. In Athens, Paul discovered an altar to an unknown god, and he

opened his message with the description of that god--God the Creator-by

authority of.civil government, as exemplified by Genesis 9:6." Herbert W. Titus, The Bible:

Law Book for the Nations, in FIRST STEPS TO STATESMANSHIP 50-53 (D. Eby ed. 2001).

4. See WILLIAM BLACKSTONE, 1 COMMENTARIES *33-62.

5. Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973). See, e.g., C. Landwehr, Roe v. Wade: An Elitist

Decision, in To RESCUE THE FUTURE 19 (D. Andrusko ed. 1983).

6. See Ecclesiastes 1:15, 7:13, 11:5 and Psalm 139:13-17. Because God is the Creator of

every human being, there is no such being as an "unwanted child."

7. Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. at 164-65.

8. See WILLtAM BLACKSTONE, 1 COMMENTARIES *70-71.

9. See id. at *41-42. Blackstone's standard was twofold: the law of nature and the law of

the Holy Scriptures, each of which contained God's revealed law, the latter being the most

reliable.

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proclaiming that every individual human being is a creature of God.'0 Paul

proclaimed that from "one blood" God created "all nations," setting their

"boundaries" and their "times," "that they should seek the Lord."'" Notice how

significant this is. God is not only the creator of each human being

individually, but God is the creator of the nations-all of the nations of the

world, including the United States of America. As creator of each individual,

does He not lay down the rules for every man, woman and child? And does it

not follow that the Creator of every nation lays down the rules for all nations?

Indeed, Psalm two is a testament of God's rule over all nations. 12

Recall with me Acts chapters four and five. These chapters picture a little

"rag-tag" church preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ arrested by the religion

department of the Roman Empire, charged with teaching in the name of Jesus.

At that time, nothing could be done in the Roman Empire except in the name of

Caesar. So, Peter and John were arrested and charged with teaching in the

name of Jesus. 13 These two were unlearned men-they had not gone to law

school-but they knew the law. As they stood before the Jewish rulers, who

had been empowered by Caesar, they pled their case: if you be the judge, then

judge first if you have jurisdiction over this matter, and make the decision

whether you can tell us not teach in the name of Jesus. 14 In response, the

Jewish rulers let Peter and John go, with instructions to cease teaching in Jesus'

name. 15

In reply, the church held a prayer meeting, during which time in "one

accord" they spoke from Psalm two: "Why did the heathen rage, and the people

imagine vain things? The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were

gathered against the Lord and against his Christ.' 16 Emboldened by the Holy

10. Acts 17:22-34.

11. "[God] hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the

earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That

they should seek the Lord .... Acts 17:26-27 (KJV).

12. In Psalm 2 the psalmist asks:

Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth

take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his

Anointed One. "Let us break their chains," they say, "and throw off their fetters."

The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. Then he rebukes

them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, "I have installed my King

on Zion, my holy hill."

Psalm 2:1-6 (NIV).

13. Acts 4:7.

14. "But Peter and John replied, 'Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to

obey you rather than God."' Acts 4:19 (NIV).

15. Acts 4:16-17.

16. Acts 4:25-26 (NIV).

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Spirit, the church received God's answer: the rulers could not require the

church to teach in the name of Caesar.17 Thus, Peter and John did not have to

get a license from the civil government to preach the gospel. Peter and John

went on teaching, only to be arrested again, and brought before the same Jewish

rulers. The rulers questioned why they had not followed the rulers' earlier

instructions. Peter and John replied: "We must obey God rather than men!' 18

In today's world, most would construe this answer as an act of civil

disobedience, contrary to law. While it was an act of civil disobedience, it was

not contrary to law. Rather, it was Peter and John who were obeying the law,

and the Jewish rulers who were in disobedience of God's law that prohibited

any civil ruler from taking action against teaching in the name of Jesus. 19

Because God is the Creator of every nation, it is God's law that governs the

authority and power of every civil ruler, not just with respect to the teaching of

the gospel, but with respect to all matters.20 God's word, therefore, should

17. "But Peter and John replied, 'Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to

obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.'

Acts 4:19-20 (NIV).

18. Acts 5:28-29.

Having brought the apostles, they made them appear before the Sanhedrin to be

questioned by the high priest. "We gave you strict orders not to teach in this

name," he said. "Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are

determined to make us guilty of this man's blood." Peter and the other apostles

replied: "We must obey God rather than men! The God of our fathers raised Jesus

from the dead-whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him

to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and

forgiveness of sins to Israel. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy

Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."

Acts 5:28-32 (NIV).

19. Peter and John were simply obeying Jesus' Great Commission:

Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been

given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the

name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to

obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the

very end of the age."

Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV).

20. Paul describes God's ordination of civil authority in Romans 13:

Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no

authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have

been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is

rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring

judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for

those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority?

Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God's servant to do

you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for

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reveal to us the law that governs every civil society. Summing up, as we look

to the Bible to see what the rules are for our individual lives, we should study

the Bible to discover what the Scriptures say about civil society. How, then,

shall we go about this task?

B. The Lawful Use of Law

Let us return to Paul's sermon in Athens. Paul, who had been educated as a

lawyer, knew what he was talking about when he spoke that from one blood

God created all nations. He knew this because he had read Genesis chapters

nine through eleven, which provides an account of the beginning of nations.

You are familiar with the story, the story of Babel-how all the people had

come together and begun to build a tower into the sky. Seeing this, God came

down, scattered the people, divided them up by languages, and, as the Scripture

teaches, out of the family of Noah, and the generations following, came all

21 nations. So nations were birthed at the time of the tower of Babel. This is

very significant and I am going to get to the significance of that a little bit later.

What I want to do now is to return to Paul for a moment. I want to

emphasize that Paul understood that the task of a Christian in reading the Bible

as it relates to the nations-not as it relates to him as an individual believerbut

to nations composed of believers and unbelievers is to understand how the

law applies to the civil society. I find no better guidepost than the section in the

book of First Timothy, where Paul says that we know that the law is good if it

used lawfully.22 Paul goes on to say, and this is what is so remarkable in

twenty-first century America-that the law is not for believers, it is for

unbelievers. It is not for people that behave themselves; it is for people that do

not behave themselves. Is it not interesting that when you talk to an unbeliever

today, the response is just the opposite? They say, "God's law may apply to

you because you believe it, but don't you impose your beliefs on me!" Well, I

nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the

wrongdoer.

Romans 13:1-4 (NIV).

21. Genesis 11.

22. Paul says of law:

But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; Knowing this, that the

law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the

ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and

murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for whoremongers, for them that defile

themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if

there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine

source of law-if every person is just trying to figure it out for himself-then

we Christians do not have much more to 

Are we supposed to keep “the law” today?

When “the law” is mentioned in the Bible, it harks back to the days of the Old Testament. There are hundreds of commands given to the Israelites, but the phrase “the law” refers specifically to the compilation of decrees found in the first five books of the Bible. This whole body of law was given the name Torah.

Obedience to this law was the awesome obligation of God’s people as they attempted to merit His favor and blessing. After all, Israel was His special people, and they were bound together in a solemn covenant with Him. So the laws are not just some rules laid down by the tribal chief, but they were the laws of the covenant community. When the law was transgressed, the covenant was broken, and so was the relationship with God! That’s why the law occupied such a huge place in the life of Israel.

In order to restore the broken relationship, sacrifices were required and penalties were prescribed. Yet all these sacrifices were really inadequate. They tried to lay the culprit’s guilt on a sheep or goat which was then killed – as though that scapegoat could really take away the guilt. True, God prescribed all this, but could such pitiful attempts at making amends ever really be adequate? In the Bible God is portrayed as so holy and just, that sin cannot be brushed aside. Actually the Bible presents sin as so horrendous that it merits death. This is the basic human predicament.

That is why the Old Testament looks forward! Isaiah 53 is among the literary treasures of humanity, and its message of the suffering servant of God is incredibly touching. In the Servant’s suffering and death, Almighty God will at last find His sacrifice to be full, complete, and totally sufficient. On His back will be laid the sin and guilt of the transgressors and He will pour out His life in the one and only sacrifice that finally finishes it all. At last the penalty of “the law” is paid. That Suffering Servant of Isaiah is the Messiah, Jesus Christ, God’s Son.

In the New Testament, “the law” refers back to that old situation when people looked at obedience to the commandments as the way of acceptance with God. The apostle Paul often contrasts this with the forgiven state believers now enjoy because of God’s grace. Paul loves to make that contrast between the impossible situation of trying to merit forgiveness, and the new situation of forgiveness by sheer mercy because of Christ’s sacrifice.

It might seem that the apostle Paul is disparaging the law when he contrasts it with the good news of the Gospel. But he is quick to deny this! We would not even know the difference between good and evil, he says, without the law telling us what to do and what not to do. But above all, Paul wants to make clear the God’s love fulfills the law. The law tells us the kind of life that our love for God and our neighbor would require.

So there’s no way we should want to continue to sin and flaunt the law, just so we can be the recipients of more grace! So are we still supposed to keep “the law” today? Obviously all those laws about sacrifices are finished in the one and complete sacrifice of Christ. All the dozens of laws about the land, foods, and rituals of Israel don’t pertain to us either. Nor can the keeping of any set of laws give us eternal life.

But we don’t just toss out God’s commands and become a lawless gang. In fact, we have a great motive for obedience to God. That motive stems from the fact that every believer is a new person in Christ. Therefore he or she loves God and his/her neighbor. The timeless law of God is written in our hearts now and obedience is our joyful adventure. Disobedience to God is our rotten failure. This style of conduct, this law of our new life, we still find in the pages of the Bible.

The New Testament book of Hebrews is a gold mine of comparison of the old life under “the law” and the new life we live by God’s forgiving grace. Here are some verses from just one chapter (10: 11-12, 16-18): “Under the old covenant, the priest stands before the altar day after day, offering sacrifices that can never take away sins. But our High Priest offered himself to God as one sacrifice for sins, good for all time. ‘This is the new covenant I will make with my people on that day, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts so they will understand them, and I will write them on their minds so they will obey them.’ Then he adds, ‘ I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds.'” (New Living Translation)

As God’s new creation we actually want to obey His law – not because it gets us anything, but because of our love for Him. We still say with the Psalmist in his ageless words, “I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.” (Psalm 40:8)

owledged by James Madison as the inspiration for the 3 branches of our government, judicial, legislative, and executive

“I . . . recommend my Soul to that Almighty Being who gave it, and my body I commit to the dust, relying upon the merits of Jesus Christ for a pardon of all my sins.”

—From the will of Samuel Adams, Father of the American Revolution, Signer of the Declaration of Independence

“The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity. I will avow that I then believed, and now believe, that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God.”

—John Adams, signer of the Declaration of Independence, judge; diplomat; one of two signers of the Bill of Rights; second president of the United States

d to the earth . . . nothing doubting but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mercy and power of God.”

—From the will of John Hancock, president of the Continental Congress and signer of the Declaration of Independence

“I give and recommend my soul into the hands of God that gave it: and my body I recommenMost historians agree that 17th- and early 18th-century Christian America was a light on a hill to the rest of the world. After such a noble beginning, how is it America finds herself where she is today – despised by most of the world? The answer must be some incisive change in the country’s spiritual course. 

What made 17th-century Colonial America unique among all the other nations? Many of the Colonies’ governments were based upon the laws of Yahweh1 instead of the laws of man. When Americans stopped believing in the perfection of Yahweh’s moral law and reverted to man’s law, everything changed. This occurred in 1788 when the States ratified the United States Constitution. 

Because they have never actually considered the Constitution from a Biblical paradigm, many Christian sources endorse the Constitution as a Biblical document created by Christian men. But, a document that promotes the will of the people over the will of Yahweh for his people is not compatible with the Bible. Neither can such a document be the answer to America’s current national crises. Rather than being the solution to America’s problems, could the Constitution actually be the genesis of those problems? The Constitution is not the Biblically compatible document we have been told it is. It actually conflicts with Christianity and is often hostile to both Yahweh’s sovereignty and morality. 

Christians2 have a responsibility to uphold Biblical principles in every sphere of life – including government. We will never become a nation that pleases Yahweh by promoting the Constitution. The key to what made America great (and what can restore her to her former greatness) can be found within the Scriptures. In Luke 11:52, Jesus3 declared the Pharisees had taken away the key of knowledge and kept others from entering the kingdom. The key of knowledge is Yahweh’s law: 

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee … seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God…. (Hosea 4:6)4

The Pharisees eliminated the key of knowledge with their man-made traditions: 

Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? …ye [have] made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. (Matthew 15:3-9)

The commandments of men are also preventing the kingdom from being fully realized today. When the States ratified the Constitution, it set America on a path away from Yahweh’s law. This, of course, runs contrary to everything we’ve been told about the Constitution for more than 220 years. But a lie is still a lie regardless how often it’s been told. 

History doesn’t lie. Look at America before and since the Constitution’s ratification. Before 1788, America was principally Christian. Since 1788, America has become progressively less Christian in every respect. This alone speaks volumes about the Constitution. 

What has been the Constitution’s fruit? We have only to look at the last 200-plus years to know it shackled us with bondage and corruption, dishonest legislators, an inequitable court system, ungodly wars, and pervasive taxes: 

Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. (Matthew 7:16-18)

Libertarian attorney Lysander Spooner (1808-1887) wrote that the Constitution “has either authorized such a government as we have had, or has been powerless to prevent it.”5 

Man-made surrogates never have and never will provide liberty. Forgiveness (liberty from our personal sins) is realized through Jesus’ blood-atoning sacrifice and resurrection from the grave. All other liberty is found in the implementation and enforcement of Yahweh’s perfect laws of liberty – never in the hollow promises of man-made covenants. Yahweh’s grace on the personal level and Yahweh’s law on the community level are our only means to true freedom. When either of these is abused, freedom is also abused. 

Except for occasional interference from the British kings across the Atlantic, this nation experienced its greatest liberty in the 1600s and early 1700s. From the ratification of the Constitution until now, our liberties have been whittled away. At present, we would be hard-pressed to find a nation with less liberty than the United States of America. 

This is difficult to accept, especially because we have so often been told the framers were godly men. Christian Constitutionalists are quick to share the framers’ Christian-sounding quotations. Hundreds of books, replete with such quotations, have been compiled, and no one can question that many of the framers and their disciples often said the right things regarding Yahweh, His Son, Christianity, and occasionally even His laws. However, such stand-alone statements mean very little. Thomas Jefferson made Christian-sounding statements, but no one would argue he was a Christian. 

Some people seem to believe the only thing necessary to prove one’s Christianity is an invocation of God. This erroneous and dangerous assumption opens the door to political abuse in the name of Christ and the Christian sanction of ungodly actions – including those of the framers. 

To date, the battle between Christians and secularists over the Constitution has been a war of quotations – and there are plenty to go around from both sides, often from the same framers. The framers may have recognized the Bible and Christianity’s influence upon society, but this does not mean they legislated and adjudicated according to Yahweh’s laws. One only needs to look at the record to know Yahweh’s laws have been ignored since the Constitution’s ratification. In order to conclude the framers were Christians, today’s Christian Constitutionalists have severed the framers’ words from their actions: 

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity [anomian – lawlessness]. (Matthew 7:21-23)

Although some of the framers claimed to be Christians, they practiced lawlessness. They nowhere attributed the inspiration for any specific article or amendment in the Constitution to the Bible or the laws of Yahweh. Worse, they created “laws” contrary to those of Yahweh. The Constitution embodies the following serious Biblical infractions, among others: 

The Preamble’s substitution of a new national god in place of Yahweh.

Article 1’s usurpation of Yahweh’s legislative powers.

Article 2’s commandeering of Yahweh’s executive sovereignty.

Article 3’s supplanting of Yahweh’s judicial system.

Article 6’s repudiation of Christianity.

Amendment 1’s promotion of pluralism, polytheism, and idolatry.

Amendment 2’s replacement of the Biblical responsibility to bear arms.

Amendment 8’s condemnation of Yahweh’s judgments.

Although Christians expose and combat sin on many fronts, very few identify the Constitution as an idol of national prominence: 

It is possible for an idol to become so entrenched in the fabric of society that even the people of God fail to recognize it for what it is and to take steps to get rid of it. Our modern idols are not always easy to detect. They often take the shape of ideas and institutions woven into the warp and woof of our culture.6

A Christian’s devotion cannot be split between Yahweh’s law and man’s law. As Christians, and therefore subjects of the King of kings, our devotion is due exclusively to Yahweh, His kingdom, and His law.7 His battle, and thus His subjects’ battle, is not for constitutionalism, but for His kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven, governed solely by His perfect law. 

The law of YHWH8 is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of YHWH is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of YHWH are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of YHWH is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of YHWH is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of YHWH are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. (Psalm 19:7-9)

Christians must stop serving two masters. We must choose between the document that begins “We the People,” and the one that begins “In the beginning God.” As Yahweh’s ambassadors, we must choose between a government of, by, and for the people and a government of, by, and for Yahweh. Like Gideon in Judges 6, we must tear down our fathers’ idol and altar before we can restore Yahweh’s kingdom here on earth. 

Without question, this is a costly decision, but any cost incurred will be far exceeded by the rewards of choosing correctly: Yahweh’s pleasure and blessings, the legacy we leave our posterity, peace and prosperity, and the foundations for what will ultimately be the near elimination of crime. If WE THE PEOPLE be God, follow them. But if Yahweh be God, we must follow Him. 

The United States Constitution is a document few Americans have read and to which fewer yet have given any serious thought, especially from a Biblical paradigm. We must study Yahweh’s law and create a vision for His kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10). You can explore the difference between Yahweh’s perfect law and the Constitution, beginning with the books Bible Law vs. the United States Constitution: The Christian Perspective (A Primer) and Law and Kingdom: Their Relevance Under the New Covenant. 

End Notes 

1. YHWH (most often pronounced Yahweh) is the English transliteration of the Tetragrammaton, the principal Hebrew name of the God of the Bible. For a more thorough explanation concerning the sacred names of God, The Third Commandment” may be read online, or the book Thou shalt not take the name of YHWH thy God in vain may be ordered from Mission to Israel Ministries, PO Box 248, Scottsbluff, Nebraska 69363 

2. Not everyone claiming to be a Christian has been properly instructed in the Biblical plan of salvation. Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:36-41, 22:1-16; Romans 6:3-4; Galatians 3:26-27; Colossians 2:11-13; and 1 Peter 3:21 should be studied to understand what is required to be covered by the blood of Jesus and forgiven of your sins. For a more thorough explanation concerning baptism and its relationship to salvation, the book Baptism: All You Wanted to Know and More may be requested from Mission to Israel Ministries, PO Box 248, Scottsbluff, Nebraska 69363, for free. 

3. Yeshua is the English transliteration of our Savior’s given Hebrew name, with which He introduced Himself to Paul in Acts 26:14-15. (Jesus is the English transliteration of the Greek Iesous, which is the Greek transliteration of the Hebrew Yeshua.) Because many people are unfamiliar or uncomfortable with Yeshua, I have chosen to use the more familiar Jesus in this tract in order to remove what might otherwise be a stumbling block. For a more thorough explanation concerning the sacred names of God, “The Third Commandment” may be read online, or Thou shalt not take the name of YHWH thy God in vain may be ordered from Mission to Israel Ministries, PO Box 248, Scottsbluff, Nebraska 69363, for a suggested 

4. All Scripture is quoted from the King James Version. Portions of Scripture have been omitted for brevity. If you have questions regarding any passage, please study the text to ensure it has been properly used. 

5. Lysander Spooner, No Treason, No. 7, The Constitution of No Authority, http://praxeology.net/LS-NT-6.htm#.> 

6. Dennis Oliver Woods, Discipling the Nations: The Government Upon His Shoulder (Franklin, TN: Legacy Communications, 1996) p. 82. 

7. For additional information regarding Yahweh’s law and kingdom as they pertain today under the New Covenant, Law and Kingdom: Their Relevance 

8. Where the Tetragrammaton (YHWH) – the four Hebrew characters that represent the personal name of God – has been unlawfully rendered the LORD or GOD in English translations, I have taken the liberty to correct this error by inserting YHWH where appropriate. For a more thorough explanation concerning the sacred names of God, “The Third Commandment” may be read online, or the book Thou shalt not take the name of YHWH thy God in vain may be ordered from Mission to Israel Ministries, 

*In Matthew 10:8, we are admonished, “freely ye have received, freely give.” Although we have a suggested price for our books, we do not sell them. In keeping with 2 Corinthians 9:7, this ministry is supported by freewill offerings. If you cannot afford the suggested price, inform us of your situation, and we will be pleased to provide you with whatever you need for whatever you can send. 

d to the earth . . . nothing doubting but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mercy and power of God.”

—From the will of John Hancock, president of the Continental Congress and signer of the Declaration of Independence

“This is all the inheritance I can give to my dear family. The religion of Christ can give them one which will make them rich indeed.”

—From the will of Patrick Henry, Governor of Virginia, Firebrand of the Revolution

“First, I think it proper to express my unshaken opinion of the immortality of my soul or mind; and to dedicate and devote the same to the supreme head of the Universe—to that great and tremendous Jehovah,—Who created the universal frame of nature, worlds, and systems in number infinite . . . To this awfully sublime Being do I resign my spirit with unlimited. 

the 

Monday, ‎25 ‎June, ‎2018 Introduction:

I am a Christian,

When I say I am a Christian, I am not saying I live a perfect and clean life.

I am whispering I was lost, now I am found and through Christ blood I am forgiven.

When I say I am a Christian I am not saying this with pride, I am confessing that I am a sinner, I am not worthy of God's forgiveness.

 I need a guide, when I say I am a Christian, I am NOT trying to be strong, I am confessing that I am weak and need His strength to carry on.

When I say I am a Christian, I am not trying for success. I am in need, I have failed and need God to clean my mess.

When I say, I am a Christian, I am not claiming to be perfect, my flaws are too far visible.

BUT God thinks I am worth it.

When I say I am a Christian, I am a Christian that has felt the sting of pain I have had my fair share of heartaches. 

Therefore, I can call upon His name, I am not saying I am holier than THOU. I am just saying I am a sinner who has received God's good graces,

SOMEHOW!

The way of the Righteous and the End of the Ungodly

Psalms

Psalms 1:

1 Blessed is the man who walks not in the counsel of the ungodly, nor stands in the path of sinners, nor sits in the seat of the scornful;

2- but his delight is in the law of the LORD, and in His law he meditates day and night.

3- He shall be like a tree planted by the river of water, that brings forth its fruit in its season, whose leaf also shall not wither; and whatever he does shall prosper.

4- The ungodly are not so but are like the chaff which the wind drives away.

5-Therefore the ungodly shall not stand in judgement, nor sinners in the congregation of the righteous.

6- For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the ungodly shall perish.

Proverbs 12:11-12,14,16,17,18

11- Those who work their land will have plenty of food, but the one who chases empty dreams is not wise.

12- the wicked want what other people have stolen, but good people want to give what they have to others.

14- People will be rewarded for what they say, and they will be rewarded for what they do.

16- Fools quickly show that they are upset, but the wise ignore insults.

17- An honest witness tells the truth, but a dishonest witness tells lies.

18- Careless words stab like a sword, but wise words bring healing.

Situation: Solomon gave instruction about life. He contrasted good with evil, wisdom with foolishness, and labor with laziness.

OBSERVATION:

Do right and you will succeed. Wickedness leads to failure and death. Foolishness and laziness lead to ruin.

Inspiration:

Do you want success? Here’s your model. You want achievement? Here’s your prototype. You want bright lights, pageants and media attention? Consider the front-page, center article of the nation’s largest daily newspaper.

It is a caricature of “Miss America.” The vital data of the fifty-one participants has been compiled to present the perfect woman. She has brown hair. She has brown eyes. She can sing and has a perfect figure. 35-24-35. She is Miss America.

The message trumpets off the page: “this is slandered for American women.” The implication is clear: Do what it takes to be like her. Firm your thighs. Deepen your cleavage. Pampering your hair improves your walk.

No reference is made to her convictions, to her honesty; to her faith or to her God. But you are told her hip size. 

In a small photo, four inches to the left, is another woman. Her face is thin, skin I wrinkled, almost leathery. No make-up on; no blush or lipstick. There is a faint smile on her lips and a glint in her eyes, she looks pale. Maybe it’s our imagination or perhaps it’s time, it’s time. The caption reads “Mother Teresa: In serious condition.” Mother Teresa, you know her story, when she won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1985, she gave the two hundred thousand dollars to the poor of Calcutta. When a businessman bought her a new car, she sold it and gave the money to the underprivileged. She owns nothing and she owes nothing. 

Two women: Miss America and Mother Teresa. One walks broadways; the other walks alleys. Two voices one promises crown, flowers, and the crowds; the other promises to service to a crown.

Now I have nothing against beauty pageants, I myself have entered in The Mrs. Pennsylvania pageants on two different occasions when I was 19 and again when I was 21. Granted I came in 8th place, it was work trying to keep up with retains, make-up, est; but I did it. Plus raising my two girls at the same time. I thank God for His power and love for His Son Jesus carried me through by the His power of the Holy Spirit. Thank You Jesus, Amen to that. Many people do have their reservations about it. I do have something against a lying voice that makes noise in our world. You’ve heard them, they tell you to swap your integrity for a new sale, to barter your convictions for an easy deal. To exchange your devotion for a quick thrill. (I know I have done that as well, we all have,) They whisper, woo, taunt, and they flatter you. And say go ahead it’s ok! Wait until you wake up the next day to realize what you’ve done. The no Worry you heard the night before, is now who knows. “how could that feel so right be wrong?” For amidst the fleeting promises of pleasure is the timeless promise of [God’s] presence.

I will be with you always, until the end of this age” (Matthew 28:20).

“I will never leave you; I will never forget you” (Hebrews 13:5)

There is no chorus so loud the voice of God cannot be heard, if we will but listen, He will talk to us.

Max Lucado has a book called From in the Eyes of the Storm

Application: What Matters to you: looks or love, your job or service to God, wealth or sacrifice? Pattern your life after wise, spiritual, and devoted workers.

God wants everything you do. Invite Him, Our Father in Heaven to join you on everyday adventures. You can’t hide what you’re doing, He knows.

When I was in my Usage days, I still asked God to be with me. I talked with God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit, every day. Even while I was smoking that Crack or snorting that line. I knew I could talk with God like a friend, because He was the only one who cared about what I was doing. He hurt because I was hurting, I had to go to him and have a real screaming argument with myself and God. I told Him I was tired of the pain. Listening to Pastor Joseph Prince woke me up. After saying I am the Righteousness of God in Christ, things started changing. Thank You, God in Jesus mighty name Amen.

Psalms 1

Two Ways to Live

1-Happy are those who don’t listen to wicked people, who don’t go where sinners go, who don’t do what evil people do.

2- The love the LORD’s teachings, and they think about those teachings day and night.

3- They are strong, like a tree planted by a river. The tree produces fruit in season, and its leaves don’t die. Everything they do will succeed.

4-But the wicked people are not like that. They are like chaff that the wind blows away.

5- So the wicked will not escape God’s punishment. Sinners will not worship with God’s people.

6- This is because the LORD takes care of His people, but the wicked will be destroyed.

SITUATIONS: Life offers two roads to travel – the way of the righteous or the way of the wicked. God does provide protection and nourishes the righteous.

OBSERVATION: Follow the faithful road and Go’s rewards supersede the benefits of the wicked.

INSPIRATION: Many people in society want to live a more stable life. But who doesn’t? To those who are filled with anxiety and unable to cope with their circumstances, the world offers a myriad of solutions that don't work. Unfortunately, many churches have followed the world in believing that man can only solve his problems through secular psychology – a product that can’t live up to its promises.

When you find your stability, the answer is in Psalms 1, it begins, “How blessed is the man who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked, nor stand in the path of sinner!” “Therefore, the wicked will not stand judgement. For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, but the way of the wicked will perish.”

The person who walks with God knows stability, but the one who rejects Him flounders in meaningless existence. Which would you rather be? 

I WANT TO TALK ABOUT GOD

The answer to life is the living Word of God. He is the answer to all things seen and unseen.

God is the creator of all of us. Man was made in God's image. God took a woman from a man's rib. God blessed us and made the first covenant.

Which is marriage, A MAN AND A WOMAN.

God existed before the universe came into being, and it was God who made it happen. What power and majesty must accompany this God?

GOD AND COUNTRY,without God there is no Country

Blessing of Obedience

Deuteronomy 7:12-26

12> "Then it shall come to pass, because you listen to these judgements, and keep and do them, that the Lord your God will keep with you the covenant and the mercy which He swore to your fathers.

13>And HE will love you and bless you and multiply you; He will also bless the fruit of your land, your grain and your new wine and your oil, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flock, in the land of which He swore to your fathers to give you.

curses on Disobedience

14>You shall be blessed above all people; there shall not be a male or female barren among you or your livestock.

15>And the LORD will take away from you all sickness, and will afflict you with none of the terrible diseases of Egypt which you have known, but will lay them in all those who hate you. 

16>Also you shall destroy all the people whom the LORD your God delivers over to you; your eyes shall have no pity on them; nor shall you serve their gods, for that will be a snare to you.

17> if you should say in your heart, 'and these nations are greater than I; how can I dispossess them?-

18>you shall not be afraid of them, but you shall remember well what the LORD your God did to Pharaoh and to all Egypt:

19> the great trials which your eyes saw, the sign and the wonders, the mighty hand and outstretched arm, by which the Lord your God brought you out of. So shall the LORD your God do to all the people of whom you are afraid.

20> Moreover the LORD your God will send the hornet among them until those who are left, who hide themselves from you, are destroyed.

21> You shall not be terrified of them; for the LORD your God, the great awesome God is among you.

22And the LORD your God will drive out those nations before you little by little; you will be unable to destroy them at once, lest the beasts of the field become too numerous for you.

23> But the LORD your God will deliver them over to you, and inflict defeat upon them until they are destroyed.

And He will deliver kings destroy their name under heaven; no one shall be able to stand against you until you have destroyed them.

25> YOu shall burn the carved images of their gods with fire; you shall not covet the silver and gold that is on them, nor take it for yourself, lest you be snared by it; for it is an abomination to the LORD you God.

26> Nor  shall you bring an abomination into your house, lest you be doomed to destruction like it and utterly abhor it, for it is accursed thing.

MORAL STRENGTH Most historians agree that 17th- and early 18th-century Christian America was a light on a hill to the rest of the world. After such a noble beginning, how is it America finds herself where she is today – despised by most of the world? The answer must be some incisive change in the country’s spiritual course. 

What made 17th-century Colonial America unique among all the other nations? Many of the Colonies’ governments were based upon the laws of Yahweh1 instead of the laws of man. When Americans stopped believing in the perfection of Yahweh’s moral law and reverted to man’s law, everything changed. This occurred in 1788 when the United States ratified the Constitution. 

Because they have never actually considered the Constitution from a Biblical paradigm, many Christian sources endorse the Constitution as a Biblical document created by Christian men. But, a document that promotes the will of the people over the will of Yahweh for his people is not compatible with the Bible. Neither can such a document be the answer to America’s current national crises. Rather than being the solution to America’s problems, could the Constitution actually be the genesis of those problems? The Constitution is not the Biblically compatible document we have been told it is. It actually conflicts with Christianity and is often hostile to both Yahweh’s sovereignty and morality. 

Christians2 have a responsibility to uphold Biblical principles in every sphere of life – including government. We will never become a nation that pleases Yahweh by promoting the Constitution. The key to what made America great (and what can restore her to her former greatness) can be found within the Scriptures. In Luke 11:52, Jesus3 declared the Pharisees had taken away the key of knowledge and kept others from entering the kingdom. The key of knowledge is Yahweh’s law: 

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee … seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God…. (Hosea 4:6)4

The Pharisees eliminated the key of knowledge with their man-made traditions: 

Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? …ye [have] made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. (Matthew 15:3-9)

The commandments of men are also preventing the kingdom from being fully realized today. When the States ratified the Constitution, it set America on a path away from Yahweh’s law. This, of course, runs contrary to everything we’ve been told about the Constitution for more than 220 years. But a lie is still a lie regardless of how often it’s been told. 

History doesn’t lie. Look at America before and since the Constitution’s ratification. Before 1788, America was principally Christian. Since 1788, America has become progressively less Christian in every respect. This alone speaks volumes about the Constitution. 

What has been the Constitution’s fruit? We have only to look at the last 200-plus years to know it shackled us with bondage and corruption, dishonest legislators, an inequitable court system, ungodly wars, and pervasive taxes: 

Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree brings forth good fruit. (Matthew 7:16-18)

Libertarian attorney Lysander Spooner (1808-1887) wrote that the Constitution “has either authorized such a government as we have had, or has been powerless to prevent it.”5 

Man-made surrogates never have and never will provide liberty. Forgiveness (liberty from our personal sins) is realized through Jesus’ blood-atoning sacrifice and resurrection from the grave. All other liberty is found in the implementation and enforcement of Yahweh’s perfect laws of liberty – never in the hollow promises of man-made covenants. Yahweh’s grace on the personal level and Yahweh’s law on the community level are our only means to true freedom. When either of these is abused, freedom is also abused. 

Except for occasional interference from the British kings across the Atlantic, this nation experienced its greatest liberty in the 1600s and early 1700s. From the ratification of the Constitution until now, our liberties have been whittled away. At present, we would be hard-pressed to find a nation with less liberty than the United States of America. 

This is difficult to accept, especially because we have so often been told the framers were godly men. Christian Constitutionalists are quick to share the framers’ Christian-sounding quotations. Hundreds of books, replete with such quotations, have been compiled, and no one can question that many of the framers and their disciples often said the right things regarding Yahweh, His Son, Christianity, and occasionally even His laws. However, such stand-alone statements mean very little. Thomas Jefferson made Christian-sounding statements, but no one would argue he was a Christian. 

Some people seem to believe the only thing necessary to prove one’s Christianity is an invocation of God. This erroneous and dangerous assumption opens the door to political abuse in the name of Christ and the Christian sanction of ungodly actions – including those of the framers. 

To date, the battle between Christians and secularists over the Constitution has been a war of quotations – and there are plenty to go around from both sides, often from the same framers. The framers may have recognized the Bible and Christianity’s influence upon society, but this does not mean they legislated and adjudicated according to Yahweh’s laws. One only needs to look at the record to know Yahweh’s laws have been ignored since the Constitution’s ratification. In order to conclude the framers were Christians, today’s Christian Constitutionalists have severed the framers’ words from their actions: 

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity [anomia – lawlessness]. (Matthew 7:21-23)

Although some of the framers claimed to be Christians, they practiced lawlessness. They nowhere attributed the inspiration for any specific article or amendment in the Constitution to the Bible or the laws of Yahweh. Worse, they created “laws” contrary to those of Yahweh. The Constitution embodies the following serious Biblical infractions, among others: 

The Preamble’s substitution of a new national god in place of Yahweh.

Article 1’s usurpation of Yahweh’s legislative powers.

Article 2’s commandeering of Yahweh’s executive sovereignty.

Article 3’s supplanting of Yahweh’s judicial system.

Article 6’s repudiation of Christianity.

Amendment 1’s promotion of pluralism, polytheism, and idolatry.

Amendment 2’s replacement of the Biblical responsibility to bear arms.

Amendment 8’s condemnation of Yahweh’s judgments.

Although Christians expose and combat sin on many fronts, very few identify the Constitution as an idol of national prominence: 

It is possible for an idol to become so entrenched in the fabric of society that even the people of God fail to recognize it for what it is and to take steps to get rid of it. Our modern idols are not always easy to detect. They often take the shape of ideas and institutions woven into the warp and woof of our culture.6

A Christian’s devotion cannot be split between Yahweh’s law and man’s law. As Christians, and therefore subjects of the King of kings, our devotion is due exclusively to Yahweh, His kingdom, and His law.7 His battle, and thus His subjects’ battle, is not for constitutionalism, but for His kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven, governed solely by His perfect law. 

The law of YHWH is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of YHWH is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of YHWH are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of YHWH is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of YHWH is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of YHWH are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. (Psalm 19:7-9)

Christians must stop serving two masters. We must choose between the document that begins “We the People,” and the one that begins “In the beginning God.” As Yahweh’s ambassadors, we must choose between a government of, by, and for the people and a government of, by, and for Yahweh. Like Gideon in Judges 6, we must tear down our fathers’ idol and altar before we can restore Yahweh’s kingdom here on earth. 

Without question, this is a costly decision, but any cost incurred will be far exceeded by the rewards of choosing correctly: Yahweh’s pleasure and blessings, the legacy we leave our posterity, peace and prosperity, and the foundations for what will ultimately be the near elimination of crime. If WE THE PEOPLE be God, follow them. But if Yahweh be God, we must follow Him. 

The United States Constitution is a document few Americans have read and to which fewer yet have given any serious thought, especially from a Biblical paradigm. We must study Yahweh’s law and create a vision for His kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10). You can explore the difference between Yahweh’s perfect law and the Constitution, beginning with the books Bible Law vs. the United States Constitution: The Christian Perspective (A Primer) and Law and Kingdom: Their Relevance Under the New Covenant. 

Endnotes 

1. YHWH (most often pronounced Yahweh) is the English transliteration of the Tetragrammaton, the principal Hebrew name of the God of the Bible. For a more thorough explanation concerning the sacred names of God, The Third Commandment” may be read online, or the book Thou shalt not take the name of YHWH thy God in vain may be ordered from Mission to Israel Ministries, PO Box 248, Scottsbluff, Nebraska 69363, 

2. Not everyone claiming to be a Christian has been properly instructed in the Biblical plan of salvation. Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:36-41, 22:1-16; Romans 6:3-4; Galatians 3:26-27; Colossians 2:11-13; and 1 Peter 3:21 should be studied to understand what is required to be covered by the blood of Jesus and forgiven of your sins. For a more thorough explanation concerning baptism and its relationship to salvation, the book Baptism: All You Wanted to Know and More may be requested from Mission to Israel Ministries, PO Box 248, Scottsbluff, Nebraska 69363, for free. 

3. Yeshua is the English transliteration of our Savior’s given Hebrew name, with which He introduced Himself to Paul in Acts 26:14-15. (Jesus is the English transliteration of the Greek Iesous, which is the Greek transliteration of the Hebrew Yeshua.) Because many people are unfamiliar or uncomfortable with Yeshua, I have chosen to use the more familiar Jesus in this tract in order to remove what might otherwise be a stumbling block. For a more thorough explanation concerning the sacred names of God, “The Third Commandment” may be read online, or Thou shalt not take the name of YHWH thy God in vain may be ordered from Mission to Israel Ministries, PO Box 248, Scottsbluff, Nebraska 69363

4. All Scripture is quoted from the King James Version. Portions of Scripture have been omitted for brevity. If you have questions regarding any passage, please study the text to ensure it has been properly used. 

5. Lysander Spooner, No Treason, No. 7, The Constitution of No Authority, http://praxeology.net/LS-NT-6.htm#.> 

6. Dennis Oliver Woods, Discipling the Nations: The Government Upon His Shoulder (Franklin, TN: Legacy Communications, 1996) p. 82. 

7. For additional information regarding Yahweh’s law and kingdom as they pertain today under the New Covenant, Law and Kingdom: Their Relevance Under the New Covenant may be read online, or the book may be ordered from Mission to Israel Ministries, PO Box 248, Scottsbluff, Nebraska, 69363, 

8. Where the Tetragrammaton (YHWH) – the four Hebrew characters that represent the personal name of God – has been unlawfully rendered the LORD or GOD in English translations, I have taken the liberty to correct this error by inserting YHWH where appropriate. For a more thorough explanation concerning the sacred names of God, “The Third Commandment” may be read online, or the book Thou shalt not take the name of YHWH thy God in vain may be ordered from Mission to Israel Ministries, PO Box 248, Scottsbluff, Nebraska, 69363,

In Matthew 10:8, we are admonished, “freely ye have received, freely give.” Although we have a suggested price for our books, we do not sell them. In keeping with 2 Corinthians 9:7, 

Increasingly these days the idea that our nation was founded on Christian principles is attacked, discounted, and outright denied. The historical evidence overwhelmingly proves the opposite, however. So on this week in which we celebrate our 

Review: let's review Deuteronomy the Ten Commandments;

American laws or the mirror images of  God's laws had Moses write about when the ten commandments. many of presidents o  

“I . . . recommend my Soul to that Almighty Being who gave it, and my body I commit to the dust, relying upon the merits Jesus Christ for a pardon of all my sins.”

—From the will of Samuel Adams, Father of the American Revolution, Signer of the Declaration of Independence

independence as a nation, for our inspiration and encouragement, I thought I’d allow our Founders and other leaders of our great nation to speak for themselves.

The following are quotes from the historical record that appear on the Wallbuilders Web site. Many more complete historical documents can be found there supporting the claim that the United States was founded as a Christian nation based on biblical principles. If you’re unfamiliar with the site, I recommend it highly.

“For the Lord is our Judge, the Lord is our Lawgiver, the Lord is our King; he will save us” (Isaiah 33:22).

—Acknowledged by James Madison as the inspiration for the 3 branches of our government, judicial, legislative, and executive

“I . . . recommend my Soul to that Almighty Being who gave it, and my body I commit to the dust, relying upon the merits of Jesus Christ for a pardon of all my sins.”

—From the will of Samuel Adams, Father of the American Revolution, Signer of the Declaration of Independence

“The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity. I will avow that I then believed, and now believe, that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God.”

—John Adams, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, judge; diplomat; one of two signers of the Bill of Rights; second president of the United States

“I give and recommend my soul into the hands of God that gave it: and my body I recommend to the earth . . . nothing doubting but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mercy and power of God.”

—From the will of John Hancock, president of the Continental Congress and a signer of the Declaration of Independence

“This is all the inheritance I can give to my dear family. The religion of Christ can give them one which will make them rich indeed.”

—From the will of Patrick Henry, Governor of Virginia, Firebrand of the Revolution

“First, I think it proper to express my unshaken opinion of the immortality of the soul or mind; and to dedicate and devote the same to the supreme head of the Universe—to that great and tremendous Jehovah,—Who created the universal frame of nature, worlds, and systems in number infinite . . . To this awfully sublime Being do I resign my spirit with unlimited independence as a nation, for our inspiration and encouragement, I thought I’d allow our Founders and other leaders of our great nation to speak for themselves.

The following are quotes from the historical record that appear on the Wallbuilders Web site. Many more complete historical documents can be found there supporting the claim that the United States was founded as a Christian nation based on biblical principles. If you’re unfamiliar with the site, I recommend it highly.

“For the Lord is our Judge, the Lord is our Lawgiver, the Lord is our King; he will save us” (Isaiah 33:22).

—Acknowledged by James Madison as the inspiration for the 3 branches of our government, judicial, legislative, and executive

“I . . . recommend my Soul to that Almighty Being who gave it, and my body I commit to the dust, relying upon the merits of Jesus Christ for a pardon of all my sins.”

—From the will of Samuel Adams, Father of the American Revolution, Signer of the Declaration of Independence

“The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity. I will avow that I then believed, and now believe, that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God.”

—John Adams, a signer of the Declaration of Independence, judge; diplomat; one of two signers of the Bill of Rights; second president of the United States

“I give and recommend my soul into the hands of God that gave it: and my body I recommend to the earth . . . nothing doubting but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mercy and power of God.”

—From the will of John Hancock, president of the Continental Congress and signer of the Declaration of Independence

“This is all the inheritance I can give to my dear family. The religion of Christ can give them one which will make them rich indeed.”

—From the will of Patrick Henry, Governor of Virginia, Firebrand of the Revolution

“First, I think it proper to express my unshaken opinion of the immortality of my soul or mind; and to dedicate and devote the same to the supreme head of the Universe—to that great and tremendous Jehovah,—Who created the universal frame of nature, worlds, and systems in number infinite . . . To this awfully sublime Being do I resign my spirit with unlimited 

 The Bible and Government

Biblical Principles: Basis for America's Laws

PRINCIPLE LEGAL DOCUMENT BIBLE

Sovereign authority of God, not the sovereignty of the state, or sovereignty of man Mayflower Compact, Declaration, Constitution, currency, oaths, mention of God in all 50 state constitutions, Pledge of Allegiance Ex. 18:16, 20:3, Dt. 10:20, 2 Chron. 7:14, Ps. 83:18, 91:2, Isa. 9:6-7, Dan. 4:32, Jn. 19:11, Acts 5:29, Rom. 13:1, Col 1:15-20, 1 Tim. 6:15

Existence of objective moral values, Fixed standards, Absolute truth, Sanctity of life Declaration ("unalienable" rights—life, etc., "self-evident" truths) Ex. 20:1-17, Dt. 30:19, Ps. 119:142-152,  Pr. 14:34, Isa. 5:20-21, Jn. 10:10, Rom. 2:15,  Heb. 13:8 

 The Bible and Government

Biblical Principles: Basis for America's Laws

PRINCIPLE LEGAL DOCUMENT BIBLE

Sovereign authority of God, not sovereignty of the state, or sovereignty of man Mayflower Compact, Declaration, Constitution, currency, oaths, mention of God in all 50 state constitutions, Pledge of Allegiance Ex. 18:16, 20:3, Dt. 10:20, 2 Chron. 7:14, Ps. 83:18, 91:2, Isa. 9:6-7, Dan. 4:32, Jn. 19:11, Acts 5:29, Rom. 13:1, Col 1:15-20, 1 Tim. 6:15

Existence of objective moral values, Fixed standards, Absolute truth, Sanctity of life Declaration ("unalienable" rights—life, etc., "self-evident" truths) Ex. 20:1-17, Dt. 30:19, Ps. 119:142-152,  Pr. 14:34, Isa. 5:20-21, Jn. 10:10, Rom. 2:15,  Heb. 13:8 

 The Bible and Government

Biblical Principles: Basis for America's Laws

PRINCIPLE LEGAL DOCUMENT BIBLE

Sovereign authority of God, not the sovereignty of the state, or sovereignty of man Mayflower Compact, Declaration, Constitution, currency, oaths, mention of God in all 50 state constitutions, Pledge of Allegiance Ex. 18:16, 20:3, Dt. 10:20, 2 Chron. 7:14, Ps. 83:18, 91:2, Isa. 9:6-7, Dan. 4:32, Jn. 19:11, Acts 5:29, Rom. 13:1, Col 1:15-20, 1 Tim. 6:15

Existence of objective moral values, Fixed standards, Absolute truth, Sanctity of life Declaration ("unalienable" rights—life, etc., "self-evident" truths) Ex. 20:1-17, Dt. 30:19, Ps. 119:142-152,  Pr. 14:34, Isa. 5:20-21, Jn. 10:10, Rom. 2:15,  Heb. 13:8 To understand why some of these passages above are applicable to our laws, one has to go back to the formative era of our nation and to America's culture and thinking at the time. The leaders of the various colonies, states, and ultimately the Founding Fathers themselves were steeped in biblical thinking. They drew from the Bible examples and looked for confirmation of ideas for government in Scripture.

We had an atheist visit our site and expressed a good bit of displeasure with some of the above citations. We responded that he should relish the freedom of expression that a Christian culture put in place for him. And that he should be thankful that our culture was not founded on atheism, given the horrible result of atheistic governments in the past (such as Communist Russia, etc.).

Jesus did not usher in a political kingdom. But Christianity has been the single largest influence on western society. America's Founding Fathers had the benefit of thousands of years of history to draw on when establishing their government. They could see what had failed in the past. There had been times when the state had absolute authority and persecuted the church. At other times the church had effective control of the state. The founders saw that neither of these extremes were ideal. They developed a system that stood the test of time. Observers everywhere generally agree that American's Founding Fathers achieved a solid balance between church and state, one consistent with biblical concepts.

In a ten-year study undertaken at the Univesity of Houston, researchers examined 15,000 documents from America's founders and determined that 34% of their quotations came from the Bible, the highest by far of any source.

But many people today reject the notion that the Bible should be used as a basis for law. "Narrow minded and outdated!" they say. Ideas have consequences. Let's examine the implications if the Bible is or is not the standard for society and its legal system.

Without an objective standard of truth upon which to base society, the result is that whoever gains the most political power will dominate. Christians believe that the Bible offers ultimate, objective, and absolute truth—as opposed to relative "truth" (i.e., arbitrary "absolutes"). There was a general consensus on this point in America from the earliest settlers until only very recently.

Founding Father and educator Noah Webster (1758-1843) had this to say: "The moral principles and precepts contained in the scriptures ought to form the basis of all our civil constitutions and laws. All the miseries and evils which men suffer from vice, crime, ambition, injustice, oppression, slavery, and war, proceed from their despising or neglecting the precepts contained in the Bible."

So it was natural for the early Americans to turn to the Bible for guidance as to how to make civil law. This was the standard for law beginning with the Mayflower Compact all the way through the constitutions of all 50 states. By the way, what was the stated purpose of the Pilgrims as expressed in the Mayflower Compact? Contrary to revisionist history, their purpose was not to find religious freedom—they already had found religious freedom in Holland. Their purpose is clearly stated as being for the "Glory of God and advancement of the Christian Faith." The Pilgrims were missionaries.

The first state constitution was the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut (1639). You may read this document at http://www.law.ou.edu/hist/orders.html. The framers of this document desired that every aspect of it be based on the Bible (See DeMar's book listed below, America's Christian History, pgs. 57-58). This document was a model for other constitutions, including the U.S. Constitution which followed. The above table outlines the widespread influence of biblical thought on America's legal system. See also the link at the bottom entitled Puritans and the Bible.

Biblical absolutes enshrined into law offered a consensus that meant freedom without chaos. One aspect of this is that, as stated in the Declaration of Independence, there exists "unalienable rights" of men. Rights were unalienable because they were given by God. This is very significant because in most societies up until that time (and indeed even today), rights are only conferred by whoever is in power at the time.

Because the American consensus was that the Bible was TRUTH, the tyranny of a few or even the tyranny of the majority could be overcome by one person standing up and appealing to the Bible. The freedom of expression in general in America is a result of our biblical system. Those people who feel free today to condemn the Bible are, ironically, among those who benefit most by the freedoms inherent in our biblical system!

An important aspect of our system of government is that it is based on the Rule of Law. This concept is a direct descendant of Hebrew law and the Ten Commandments. Together with the concept of unalienable rights from God, these concepts helped ensure a way of life that respected the dignity of every individual. The combination of these biblical concepts is a foundation of our government that helps subjugate political power of potential tyrants. One only has to notice how every tyrant has a practice of changing the country's constitution to suit himself (or to butter the bread of those who put him in power).

It is helpful to contrast the American Revolution of 1776 with the French Revolution of 1789. While the American revolution began with an appeal to the sovereignty of God, the French Revolution was founded on the sovereignty of man. The French movement was a product of Voltaire's philosophy which specifically attempted to replace biblical Christianity with man's reason as the ultimate standard.

But the French revolution was a disaster. Anarchy and tyranny reigned with 40,000 people being murdered, the favorite method being the guillotine. Their new constitution only lasted 2 years. Indeed, France has had 7 constitutions during the time that America has only had one.

Another important aspect of America's constitution is that it has as its basis the distinctly Christian idea that man is basically sinful. Every one of our founding fathers understood this truth. It has been said that the 16th century Protestant reformer John Calvin, who is the theologian most associated with the biblical doctrine of man's "depravity," was the single most influential person to our Constitution. The result was that the founders built into the Constitution an elaborate system of checks and balances. This is evident in the horizontal plane of executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government. It is also evident in the vertical plane of federalism—states' powers versus federal powers.

Again, let's look at the evidence by contrasting the American system with other systems. Other systems are based on the idea that man is basically good, or at least perfectible by law and education. This is the basis for communism as well as the religious states of Islam. But states based on these utopian ideas are always failures and particularly repressive to their citizens. These governments end up as a police state and take away the rights of the citizens.

It has been said that America has never been a Christian nation, or that our founders were a bunch of atheists, agnostics, and deists. But consider the facts. At least 50 of the 55 framers of the U. S. Constitution were Christians (see M. E. Bradford's book listed below). Every American president has taken his oath on the Bible (except John Quincy Adams and Theodore Roosevelt) and referencing God in his inaugural address is standard (Oath). Every one of the 50 state constitutions calls on God for support. The Supreme Court, in 1892 after a an exhaustive 10-year study of the matter, said: "This is a religious people. This is a Christian nation." See Holy Trinity Decision. Even today, the Supreme Court opens each session with the verbal declaration, "God save the United States of America."

Perhaps the most famous statement in America's Declaration of Independence is, "All men are created equal." The concept of universal human rights and equality comes exclusively from the biblical ideas that all people are created in the image of God and from Jesus' sacrificial death for all. This concept was unkown in history outside of biblically based cultures.

There are, however, two areas in which the American system can be faulted— (1) racial slavery and (2) compassionateless wealth. But both of these flaws are failures to implement biblical Christianity, rather than being caused by it.

A few comments about slavery are important because so many people throw it in the face of Christians. Racial slavery is not a biblical ethic. Yes, a form of slavery—indentured servitude— is condoned in the Bible. But this was a method in which people could pay off debts and was not what we think of as racial slavery (Bible and Slavery). In fact, the Bible specifically condemns the slave trade (Exodus 21:16; 1 Timothy 1:10). The Bible offers a unique framework for people as being equals: We were all are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27) and we are all equal in God's sight (1 Corinthians 12:13, Galatians 3:28). Race, interestingly, is never even mentioned in the Bible.

Historian Glenn Sunshine in his book Why You Think the Way You Do explains that, "Christians were the first people in history to oppose slavery systematically. Early Christians purchased slaves in the markets simply to set them free." 

Most people are under the false impression that America's Founding Fathers were overwhelmingly in favor of slavery. For the truth about this see Barton on Slavery.

Professing Christians who held slaves prostituted the Bible by letting culture influence their faith (just as some unfaithful Christians today have abortions). Yet, the abolition movement was primarily a Christian movement. Slavery was stopped in England largely as a result of the tireless efforts of an evangelical Christian by the name of William Wilburforce. Through his work in Parliament, England stopped the slave trade in 1807 and abolished slavery totally in 1833. Unfortunately, there was no such early dynamic abolitionist leader in America. But the "created equal" standard in our Declaration of Independence was in time honored fully into law.

The other problem in western culture has been unredistributed wealth. Neither the Bible (Mark 14:7) nor the American system seeks to have all people have equal outcomes. We are all created equal and we all have an equal opportunity to pursue our dreams, but we are not expected to all achieve equally.

Yet, the industrialization of the West brought great wealth to a few, while some were victimized. It can be argued that the working class was victimized to a degree in the early days of the industrial revolution. Fortunately, laws are now in place that protect the worker.

Christianity is an important component of capitalism because it places a moral restraint on a person's activities. If a person feels that there is no consequence to his actions beyond civil law, he is less constrained to treat people fairly. But a Christian has a moral restraint because he believes that he his ultimately accountable to God for his actions, for his fair treatment of others.

The issue is unrestrained capitalism. From the earliest days of our nation, we enforced laws to protect property, enforce contracts, and protect against fraud. Later in our history, America instituted anti-trust laws and environmental laws. These laws can be seen as consistent with biblical capitalism ("Christian capitalism") as opposed to darwinian capitalism. Instead of capitalism based solely on the survival of the fittest, modern American capitalism uses law to make the playing field more equal and provide equal protection under the law—while still encouraging entrepeneurism. Appropriate and helpful laws assist free enterprise, placing moral boundaries around activities without hampering freedom or interfering with competition. (Antitrust laws are only valid if they truly enhance capitalism and free enterprise. Sometimes they have been used to restrain capitalism by protecting a large corporation.)

A free society must have an over-arching objective moral constraint upon its people. An absence of this moral constraint, as John Adams insisted (quote below) will destroy not only government but business as well. Politicians without such constraint will find ways to destroy the Constitution to suit their desire for power. It is such moral constraint that monitors business people to charge a fair price, pay a fair wage, not cheat customers or employees, to help the needy, etc. We once asked an applicant applying for a job whether he believed in moral absolutes. Reflecting the secular attitude of his business school background, he quickly replied, "No." We then asked him, "Then how do we know you won't cheat our customers?" He was stunned by the question and had no realistic answer.

As a general statement, it is an inherent truth of capitalism that in the long run people succeed in business if they provide services and goods that people want. Biblical capitalism—even more so—emphasizes service over strict selfish ambition.

It should be emphasized that capitalism has its roots in Christianity. Historian Glenn Sunshine in his book Why You Think the Way You Do points out that the work ethic in Christianity is rooted in the Bible. God himself works, so Christians have seen an inherent goodness in labor and productivity. We have heard of the concept, "the Protestant work ethic." The importance placed on work is an important reason for America's economic success.

As we write this today, America has fewer and fewer people in the work force, partly as a result of liberal welfare programs. People have become addicted to handouts. This is neither good for those involved, or for the economy as a whole. It is a major reason the America is sliding into mediocrity, and ultimately liberal policies could be the death of America. See The Dirty Little Secret of Liberalism.

Another key component of capitalism is property rights. The Old Testament focuses on rules for property ownership. Throughout history, societies influenced by Christianity have had a stronger emphasis on property rights than other cultures. The idea that people are entitled to the fruits of their labor, together with property rights and the rule of law, laid a firm foundation for capitalism and the tremendous economic success that America has enjoyed. Yes, we have had our ups and downs, like life itself, but we have always come back stronger than before because of our fundamentally successful system. But we are in danger of losing it all.

So again, the flaws in American society are not in biblical Christianity, rather in the failure to implement it. If the voluntary individual compassion of Christ were to dominate society, poverty—while it would never disappear (Mark 14:7)—would be lessened. The solution is not forced redistribution of wealth, which is tantamount to stealing. The solution is public emphasis on biblical ethics.

In summary, let's refer to our nation's creed—The Pledge of Allegiance—which sums up our way of life. It is a based on a three-legged stool of God, liberty, and justice. All three must be there. If God is not there, ethics and rights are defined by whoever has the most power. And in order to have liberty, we must have justice. The first role of government is to prevent evil (Romans 13:1-5, 1 Peter 2:13-17) so that the rest of society can live in peace. Evil is only meaningful within a biblical context.

When our culture desperately needs what Christianity offers, the courts are foolishly removing the Bible. Liberty demands ethical obligation. We must have a common understanding of moral absolutes, or as John Adams said, "We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."

America is grounded in the idea of "self government." What does this mean? To say that self-government is only the ability of citizens to vote and to elect their representatives is to have an incomplete notion of self-government. Government in biblical thought is not just civil government. In fact, civil government is the least important aspect of government. Government is first that of the individual being able to govern himself. This is why religion must be encouraged, as John Adams noted. The founding fathers of America clearly understood this. The second most important level of government is the family. The third is the church. Last is civil government.

And within civil government, our Founding Fathers understood that local and state government was more important than federal government. Our Constitution specifically limits the powers of the federal government, even though this precept has been continually usurped.

The Founders referenced 2 Corinthians 3:17 in support of freedom above all else. This passage states, "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." The Liberty Bell declares from Leviticus 25:10: "Proclaim Liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof."

Liberals and secularists have it backwards. They think that the federal government is the most important. This is consistent with totalitarianism, but not with the American concept of self-government. Big government socialism is not consistent with the Bible. Not only is the government inefficient in delivering most services, it more often than not hurts those it is intended to help. The welfare mess is a classic case in point, now proven over decades of failure. (See our Biblical Capitalism blog post.)

Finally, let us comment on the philosophy of libertarianism. This is the idea that our system of government should allow complete freedom except in the case when one person directly harms another. Many Christians today claim to be libertarians. We see numerous flaws in such an idea. We think that Christian libertarians have been duped into thinking like liberal secularists instead of thinking like Christians. Among the problems are these:

• This worldview is determined by a secular philosophy rather than a biblical worldview. Even Christians frequently quote Ayn Rand for support of their theory. The fact that Rand was an ardent atheist and hater of Christianity should give considerable pause. While libertarianism is not exclusively atheistic, a Christian that walks into that sphere is giving the devil a foothold, against which there is a strong commandment from Scripture (Ephesians 4:27).

 

• Libertarianism is ultimately arbitrary. It is an attempt to define morality without God. But as Dostoevsky said, "If there is no God, everything is permitted." Any view of government not based on an unchangeable objective standard (the Bible!) is subject to be altered at the whims of political power brokers. Christianity, on the other hand, is not arbitrary. Our website is dedicated to demonstrating through reason and evidence that Christianity is objectively true.

 

• Any philosophy (whether Jean-Paul Sartre's Existentialism, Darwin's Evolution, or Ayn Rand's Objectivism) that has a non-theistic foundation ultimately bumps into the problem of nihilism. This means, ultimately, no basis for meaning and purpose for life. (We come from nowhere, we go to nowhere, but somehow life in between has meaning?)

 

• Despite attempts to meld biblical Christianity with this political philosophy, libertarianism inevitably interferes with the individual Christian's reliance on his faith as the sole lens from which to see the world, moving him away from a biblical worldview. Libertarianism, at its core, is a non-religious philosophy. This thinking is a dangerous diversion for the Christian and can be insidiously damaging to his or her faith, indeed to the Christian's soul.

 

• Libertarians often define "harm to another person" too narrowly. Morality should be defined solely by the Bible. For example, while libertarians may support laws against abortion (many libertarians actually support abortion), they usually side with liberals who are against laws that define marriage as between one man and one woman. They think that mutual consent of sexual perversion does not fall within the definition of hurting someone. This utopian thinking has blinders on; it is naive. Homosexuality is devastating to those involved and to society at large. "Mutal consent" is a post-modern illusion that does not change the fact that people are hurt when immorality occurs. The Bible says, "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil." (Isaiah 5:20-21) See our article Gay Rights.

 

• Libertarians fail to appreciate the huge positive influence Christianity has had on America. See our article The Impact of Christianity. America's success is not based on libertarianism, but on Christianity. We should not confuse true biblical Christianity with the modern distorted, liberal, or half-baked versions of Christianity. While Jesus was a not a political figure per se, there is no need to search for a political theory outside of Christian thought. We are commanded to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ--not just certain thoughts. (2 Corinthians 10:5)

 

• Libertarian Christians usually think that Christians can segregate their faith--their personal faith relegated to their private lives. This is falling for the secularist mentality! It's a trap that marginalizes Christianity just like secularists want! Secularists say, "Sure. You can have your faith. Just leave it over there in the corner of society somewhere and don't bother anyone else with your stupid ideas." Falling for this has numerous negative consequences, including giving the impression to potential converts to Christianity that our faith is not universally applicable, that it is only one of many possible worldviews, and Christianity is only a crutch for weak individuals. Jesus' was given "all authority on heaven and earth" (Matthew 28:18)--not just some authority. This notion--that the Christian faith can be marginalized from society--is directly responsible for the decline of Christianity in America. The inclination to segregate one's faith so as not to "impose" our values on others smacks of "true for me, but not for you." It is amazing that any Christian would buy into this post-modern relativism. Further, attempting to segregate our faith is dishonoring to God: God is god of ALL or He is not God AT ALL. (Psalm 24:1)

 

• Our COMPASSION as Christians demands that we institute biblical values in society. What other basis for a successful and compassionate society could possibly be better than the Bible?! Who are you going to go with: Ayn Rand or Jesus? Jesus allowed no human partner; we are either with Him 100% or we are against Him. (Matthew 12:30)

 

• We cannot miss the similarities between libertarianism and liberalism. While libertarians claim to be opponents of liberalism, it is not accidental that they have the same root word. There is an insidious mix of thought between libertarianism and liberalism. Both have certain political goals in common, such as utopian anti-war sentiment and pro gay rights. While there are versions of libertarianism that claim compatibility with Christian theism, something classic libertarianism has in common liberalism is that both are often at war with, or marginalize, God. Liberalism, when taken to its logical conclusion, leads to life without God--socialism, communism, humanism, and other non-theistic worldviews. Liberalism in any form, if properly understood, results in devastating results for a society--even harming those it was intended to help. See our articleThe Dirty Little Secret of Liberalism.

 

• Libertarianism is at its core a selfish worldview. This is distinctly different from biblical Christianity. Christianity subjugates the self to God, and to other people (Matthew 22:34-39). In contrast, classic libertarianism and liberalism alike are opposed to, or have no need for, a moral authority above the individual self.

 

• Libertarian Christians have, amazingly, adopted other concepts and the language of liberal secularists. They say to other Christians, "We don't want a theocracy." This charge is a red herring. Theocracy is when the church, as an institution, has all political power, including administering civil law. Biblical Christians want no such thing. We support the separation of church and state, properly understood. And we certainly do not want Old Testament civil and ceremonial laws instituted in society. Such laws were repealed in the New Testament (Acts 10:12-15; Colossians 2:11-16; Romans 14:17).

 

• While civil and ceremonial laws were repealed in the New Testament, moral law stands forever. Biblical moral law is applicable to everybody whether they believe it or not. Judicious application of biblical moral law to civil law is infinitely compassionate and positive for society. The idea that "you cannot legislate morality" is also an idea adopted from liberal secularism. It is a false idea. Virtually every law is a put in place based on someone's idea of morality.

 

• Anarchism is a branch of libertarianism. See Libertarianism.

 

• There are strong biblical commands for Christians to influence society, including civil government. See the list at the bottom of our Bible and Government article.

 

Our message to Christians and non-Christians alike is this. If you want true freedom, a vigorous economy, and a compassionate society, the answer is biblical Christianity. See our blog post Biblical Capitalism.

What is the purpose of civil government, according to the Bible? The purpose of civil government is, very simply, to be God's servant to restrain evil and reward good (Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-14). Christians are (a) to pray for and obey governmental authority (1 Timothy 2:1-4), (b) unless it forbids what God requires or requires what God forbids, in which case Christians cannot submit, and some form of civil disobedience becomes inescapable (Acts 4:18-31, 5:17-29), (c) to influence government because all of life is under God's authority (Psalm 24:1; Psalm 83:18; Isaiah 42:8; Matthew 28:18-20; 2 Corinthians 10:5). In a participatory democracy, Christians are under obligation to participate in civil government (Matthew 22:21).

As put by Dinesh D'Souza in his book What's So Great about Christianity, "Christianity enhanced the notion of political and social accountability by providing a new model: that of servant leadership. In ancient Greece and Rome no one would have dreamed of considering political leaders anyone's servants. The job of the leader was to lead. But Christ invented the notion that the way to lead is by serving the needs of others, especially those who are the most needy. Mark 10:43 quotes Christ:'Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant...for even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve.' And in Luke 22:27 we hear Jesus say, 'Who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.' In the new Christian framework, leaders are judged by how well they respond to the concerns and welfare of the people. Over time, people once known as 'followers' or 'subjects' become 'customers' and 'constituents'."

Should Christians be involved in politics and government? We argue that Christians should care about politics because, ultimately, we care about people. Government has an increasingly large influence on the lives of people, thus we cannot ignore politics. Further, almost every law reflects someone’s idea of morality. Since God’s morality is ultimate and universal, society benefits from the Christian’s participation in the public square. That is, society benefits when biblical truth is reflected in law. Indeed, Christians should be involved in all aspects of society, including law, art, music, economics, science, etc.

There are numerous Bible passages that confirm the importance of God and Government. These include:

Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's. (Matthew 22:21)

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. ( 2 Cor 10:5)

The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof. (Psalm 24:1)

We must obey God rather than man. (Acts 5:29)

You are the salt of the earth…the light of the world. (Matthew 5:13-16)

The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget about God. (Psalm 9:17)

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord. (Psalm 33:12)

On account of me, you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them. (Mark 13:9)

The good influence of godly citizens causes a city to prosper. (Proverbs 11:11)

I, the Lord, speak the truth; I declare what is right. (Isaiah 45:19)

We are not trying to please men, but God, who tests our hearts. (1 Thessalonians 2:4)

Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil. (Isaiah 5:20-21)

Thou shalt not kill. (Exodus 20:13-15)

Do not give the devil a foothold. (Ephesians 4:27)

A wise man attacks the city of the mighty and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust. (Proverbs 21:22)

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness. (Matthew 5:10-12)

Furthermore, you shall select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them, as leaders, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens. (Exodus 18:21)

When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn. (Proverbs 29:2)

When rulers are wicked, their people are too. (Proverbs 29:16)

For the wicked shall not rule the godly, lest the godly be forced to do wrong. (Psalm 125:3)

Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. (Psalm 127:1)

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. (Proverbs 13:8-9)

To the Jews I became like a Jew....  (1 Corinthians 9:20-24)

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me.”  (Matthew 28:18)

Fill the earth and subdue it. (Genesis 1:26-28)

Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10)

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked way, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

The warning for Americans is that there is no longer a consensus that biblical ethics are truly absolute. Our liberties are eroding as big government tries to take over where our biblical consensus left off. Tyranny and social tragedy are the logical results unless we reverse this trend.

We highly recommend this article by Patrick Leduc entitled "Christianity and the Framers: The True Intent of the Establishment Clause":

Establishment Clause

Bibliography and Resources for study:

David Barton, God in the Constitution

Bradford, M. E., A Worthy Company; Brief Lives of the Framers of the United States Constitution.

Barton, David, America's Godly Heritage (video); and The Spirit of the American Revolution (video); and Barton, David, The Myth of Separation (book). These and many other resources are available at Wallbuilders.

DeMar, Gary, America's Christian History: The Untold Story; and God and Government: A Biblical and Historical Study (3 volumes). These books and other excellent resources available from American Vision.

DiLorenzo, Thomas, How Capitalism Saved America.

D'Souza, Dinesh, What's So Great about Christianity.

Eidsmoe, John, Christianity and the Constitution: The Faith of Our Founding Fathers

Federer, William J., America's God and Country: Encyclopedia of Quotations.

Foster, Marshall and Swanson, Mary-Elaine, The American Covenant: The Untold Story.

Gibbs, David C., Jr. (President of the Christian Law Association) with Jerry Newcombe, One Nation Under God: Ten Things Every Christian Should Know About the Founding of America.

Marshall, Peter and Manuel, David, The Light and the Glory; also From Sea to Shining Sea.

Schaeffer, Francis A., A Christian Manifesto.

See other related articles on our site: The Impact of Christianity, Biblical Capitalism in Uncertain Economic Times, and Why Socialism Is Not Compassionate.

This video series is extraordinarily helpful:

Richard Church on American History

Also, here other helpful articles:

God and Liberty

Christian vs. Libertarian Capitalism

Does the Bible Support Communism?

The Declaration and Religion

 

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Home: Christian apologetics including Genesis, Bible and Communicating with God » Christianity & the Culture »

The Bible and Government

The Bible and Government

Biblical Principles: Basis for America's Laws

PRINCIPLE LEGAL DOCUMENT BIBLE

Sovereign authority of God, not sovereignty of the state, or sovereignty of man Mayflower Compact, Declaration, Constitution, currency, oaths, mention of God in all 50 state constitutions, Pledge of Allegiance Ex. 18:16, 20:3, Dt. 10:20, 2 Chron. 7:14, Ps. 83:18, 91:2, Isa. 9:6-7, Dan. 4:32, Jn. 19:11, Acts 5:29, Rom. 13:1, Col 1:15-20, 1 Tim. 6:15

Existence of objective moral values, Fixed standards, Absolute truth, Sanctity of life Declaration ("unalienable" rights—life, etc., "self-evident" truths) Ex. 20:1-17, Dt. 30:19, Ps. 119:142-152,  Pr. 14:34, Isa. 5:20-21, Jn. 10:10, Rom. 2:15,  Heb. 13:8 

Rule of law rather than authority of man Declaration, Constitution Ex. 18:24-27, Dt. 17:20, Isa. 8:19-20, Mat. 5:17-18 

All men are sinners Constitutional checks and balances Gen 8:21, Jer. 17:9, Mk. 7:20-23, Rom. 3:23, 1 Jn. 1:8 

All men created equal Declaration Gen. 1:26, Acts 10:34, 17:26, Gal. 3:28, 1 Peter 2:17

Judicial, legislative, and executive branches Constitution Isa. 33:22 (See Madison)

Religious freedom First Amendment 1 Timothy2:1-2

Church protected from state control (& taxation), but church to influence the state First Amendment Dt. 17:18-20, 1 Kgs. 3:28, Ezra 7:24, Neh. 8:2, 1 Sam. 7:15-10:27, 15:10-31, 2 Sam. 12:1-18, Mat. 14:3-4,  Lk. 3:7-14, 11:52, Acts 4:26-29 

Republican form of government and warnings against kings but in favor of Godly rulers

 Constitution

Ex. 18:21, Dt. 1:13, Jud. 8:22-23, 1 Samuel 8, Pr. 11:14, 24:6  

Importance of governing self and family as first level of governance First, Second, Ninth, and Tenth Amendments Mat. 18:15-18,  Gal. 5:16-26, 1 Cor. 6:1-11, 1 Tim. 3:1-5, Tit. 2:1-8 

Establish justice Declaration Ex. 23:1-9, Lev. 19:15, Dt. 1:17, 16:19-20, 24:17-19, 1 Sam. 8:3, 2 Sam. 8:15,  1 Kings 3:28, 10:9, Mic. 6:8, Rom. 13:4 

Fair trial with witnesses Sixth Amendment Ex. 20:16, Dt. 19:15, Pr. 24:28, 25:18, Mat. 18:16 

Private property rights Fifth Amendment Ex. 20:15-17

Biblical liberty, Free enterprise Declaration Lev. 25:10, Jn. 8:36,  2 Cor. 3:17, Gal. 5:1, James 1:25, 1 Peter 2:16 

Creation not evolution Declaration Gen. 1:1

Biblical capitalism not Darwinian capitalism (service and fair play over strict survival of the fittest) Anti-trust laws Ex. 20:17, Mat. 20:26, 25:14-30, 2 Thes. 3:6-15, 1 Pet. 2:16 

Importance of the traditional family State sodomy laws, few reasons for divorce Ex. 20:12-14, Mat. 19:1-12, Mk. 10:2-12, Rom. 1:18-2:16, 1 Cor. 7:1-40, 

Religious education encouraged Northwest Ordinance Dt. 6:4-7, Pr. 22:6, Mat. 18:6, Eph. 6:4, 

Servanthood not political power Concept of public servant Ex. 18:21, Rom. 13:4, Php. 2:7, 

Sabbath day holy "Blue laws" Ex. 20:8

Restitution Restitution laws Lev. 6:1-5, Num. 5:5-7, Mat. 5:23-26

To understand why some of these passages above are applicable to our laws, one has to go back to the formative era of our nation and to America's culture and thinking at the time. The leaders of the various colonies, states, and ultimately the Founding Fathers themselves were steeped in biblical thinking. They drew from the Bible examples and looked for confirmation of ideas for government in Scripture.

We had an atheist visit our site and expressed a good bit of displeasure with some of the above citations. We responded that he should relish the freedom of expression that a Christian culture put in place for him. And that he should be thankful that our culture was not founded on atheism, given the horrible result of atheistic governments in the past (such as Communist Russia, etc.).

Jesus did not usher in a political kingdom. But Christianity has been the single largest influence on western society. America's Founding Fathers had the benefit of thousands of years of history to draw on when establishing their government. They could see what had failed in the past. There had been times when the state had absolute authority and persecuted the church. At other times the church had effective control of the state. The founders saw that neither of these extremes were ideal. They developed a system that stood the test of time. Observers everywhere generally agree that American's Founding Fathers achieved a solid balance between church and state, one consistent with biblical concepts.

In a ten-year study undertaken at the Univesity of Houston, researchers examined 15,000 documents from America's founders and determined that 34% of their quotations came from the Bible, the highest by far of any source.

But many people today reject the notion that the Bible should be used as a basis for law. "Narrow minded and outdated!" they say. Ideas have consequences. Let's examine the implications if the Bible is or is not the standard for society and its legal system.

Without an objective standard of truth upon which to base society, the result is that whoever gains the most political power will dominate. Christians believe that the Bible offers ultimate, objective, and absolute truth—as opposed to relative "truth" (i.e., arbitrary "absolutes"). There was a general consensus on this point in America from the earliest settlers until only very recently.

Founding Father and educator Noah Webster (1758-1843) had this to say: "The moral principles and precepts contained in the scriptures ought to form the basis of all our civil constitutions and laws. All the miseries and evils which men suffer from vice, crime, ambition, injustice, oppression, slavery, and war, proceed from their despising or neglecting the precepts contained in the Bible."

So it was natural for the early Americans to turn to the Bible for guidance as to how to make civil law. This was the standard for law beginning with the Mayflower Compact all the way through the constitutions of all 50 states. By the way, what was the stated purpose of the Pilgrims as expressed in the Mayflower Compact? Contrary to revisionist history, their purpose was not to find religious freedom—they already had found religious freedom in Holland. Their purpose is clearly stated as being for the "Glory of God and advancement of the Christian Faith." The Pilgrims were missionaries.

The first state constitution was the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut (1639). You may read this document at http://www.law.ou.edu/hist/orders.html. The framers of this document desired that every aspect of it be based on the Bible (See DeMar's book listed below, America's Christian History, pgs. 57-58). This document was a model for other constitutions, including the U.S. Constitution which followed. The above table outlines the widespread influence of biblical thought on America's legal system. See also the link at the bottom entitled Puritans and the Bible.

Biblical absolutes enshrined into law offered a consensus that meant freedom without chaos. One aspect of this is that, as stated in the Declaration of Independence, there exists "unalienable rights" of men. Rights were unalienable because they were given by God. This is very significant because in most societies up until that time (and indeed even today), rights are only conferred by whoever is in power at the time.

Because the American consensus was that the Bible was TRUTH, the tyranny of a few or even the tyranny of the majority could be overcome by one person standing up and appealing to the Bible. The freedom of expression in general in America is a result of our biblical system. Those people who feel free today to condemn the Bible are, ironically, among those who benefit most by the freedoms inherent in our biblical system!

An important aspect of our system of government is that it is based on the Rule of Law. This concept is a direct descendant of Hebrew law and the Ten Commandments. Together with the concept of unalienable rights from God, these concepts helped ensure a way of life that respected the dignity of every individual. The combination of these biblical concepts is a foundation of our government that helps subjugate political power of potential tyrants. One only has to notice how every tyrant has a practice of changing the country's constitution to suit himself (or to butter the bread of those who put him in power).

It is helpful to contrast the American Revolution of 1776 with the French Revolution of 1789. While the American revolution began with an appeal to the sovereignty of God, the French Revolution was founded on the sovereignty of man. The French movement was a product of Voltaire's philosophy which specifically attempted to replace biblical Christianity with man's reason as the ultimate standard.

But the French revolution was a disaster. Anarchy and tyranny reigned with 40,000 people being murdered, the favorite method being the guillotine. Their new constitution only lasted 2 years. Indeed, France has had 7 constitutions during the time that America has only had one.

Another important aspect of America's constitution is that it has as its basis the distinctly Christian idea that man is basically sinful. Every one of our founding fathers understood this truth. It has been said that the 16th century Protestant reformer John Calvin, who is the theologian most associated with the biblical doctrine of man's "depravity," was the single most influential person to our Constitution. The result was that the founders built into the Constitution an elaborate system of checks and balances. This is evident in the horizontal plane of executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government. It is also evident in the vertical plane of federalism—states' powers versus federal powers.

Again, let's look at the evidence by contrasting the American system with other systems. Other systems are based on the idea that man is basically good, or at least perfectible by law and education. This is the basis for communism as well as the religious states of Islam. But states based on these utopian ideas are always failures and particularly repressive to their citizens. These governments end up as a police state and take away the rights of the citizens.

It has been said that America has never been a Christian nation, or that our founders were a bunch of atheists, agnostics, and deists. But consider the facts. At least 50 of the 55 framers of the U. S. Constitution were Christians (see M. E. Bradford's book listed below). Every American president has taken his oath on the Bible (except John Quincy Adams and Theodore Roosevelt) and referencing God in his inaugural address is standard (Oath). Every one of the 50 state constitutions calls on God for support. The Supreme Court, in 1892 after a an exhaustive 10-year study of the matter, said: "This is a religious people. This is a Christian nation." See Holy Trinity Decision. Even today, the Supreme Court opens each session with the verbal declaration, "God save the United States of America."

Perhaps the most famous statement in America's Declaration of Independence is, "All men are created equal." The concept of universal human rights and equality comes exclusively from the biblical ideas that all people are created in the image of God and from Jesus' sacrificial death for all. This concept was unkown in history outside of biblically based cultures.

There are, however, two areas in which the American system can be faulted— (1) racial slavery and (2) compassionateless wealth. But both of these flaws are failures to implement biblical Christianity, rather than being caused by it.

A few comments about slavery are important because so many people throw it in the face of Christians. Racial slavery is not a biblical ethic. Yes, a form of slavery—indentured servitude— is condoned in the Bible. But this was a method in which people could pay off debts and was not what we think of as racial slavery (Bible and Slavery). In fact, the Bible specifically condemns the slave trade (Exodus 21:16; 1 Timothy 1:10). The Bible offers a unique framework for people as being equals: We were all are made in the image of God (Genesis 1:27) and we are all equal in God's sight (1 Corinthians 12:13, Galatians 3:28). Race, interestingly, is never even mentioned in the Bible.

Historian Glenn Sunshine in his book Why You Think the Way You Do explains that, "Christians were the first people in history to oppose slavery systematically. Early Christians purchased slaves in the markets simply to set them free." 

Most people are under the false impression that America's Founding Fathers were overwhelmingly in favor of slavery. For the truth about this see Barton on Slavery.

Professing Christians who held slaves prostituted the Bible by letting culture influence their faith (just as some unfaithful Christians today have abortions). Yet, the abolition movement was primarily a Christian movement. Slavery was stopped in England largely as a result of the tireless efforts of an evangelical Christian by the name of William Wilburforce. Through his work in Parliament, England stopped the slave trade in 1807 and abolished slavery totally in 1833. Unfortunately, there was no such early dynamic abolitionist leader in America. But the "created equal" standard in our Declaration of Independence was in time honored fully into law.

The other problem in western culture has been unredistributed wealth. Neither the Bible (Mark 14:7) nor the American system seeks to have all people have equal outcomes. We are all created equal and we all have an equal opportunity to pursue our dreams, but we are not expected to all achieve equally.

Yet, the industrialization of the West brought great wealth to a few, while some were victimized. It can be argued that the working class was victimized to a degree in the early days of the industrial revolution. Fortunately, laws are now in place that protect the worker.

Christianity is an important component of capitalism because it places a moral restraint on a person's activities. If a person feels that there is no consequence to his actions beyond civil law, he is less constrained to treat people fairly. But a Christian has a moral restraint because he believes that he his ultimately accountable to God for his actions, for his fair treatment of others.

The issue is unrestrained capitalism. From the earliest days of our nation, we enforced laws to protect property, enforce contracts, and protect against fraud. Later in our history, America instituted anti-trust laws and environmental laws. These laws can be seen as consistent with biblical capitalism ("Christian capitalism") as opposed to darwinian capitalism. Instead of capitalism based solely on the survival of the fittest, modern American capitalism uses law to make the playing field more equal and provide equal protection under the law—while still encouraging entrepeneurism. Appropriate and helpful laws assist free enterprise, placing moral boundaries around activities without hampering freedom or interfering with competition. (Antitrust laws are only valid if they truly enhance capitalism and free enterprise. Sometimes they have been used to restrain capitalism by protecting a large corporation.)

A free society must have an over-arching objective moral constraint upon its people. An absence of this moral constraint, as John Adams insisted (quote below) will destroy not only government but business as well. Politicians without such constraint will find ways to destroy the Constitution to suit their desire for power. It is such moral constraint that monitors business people to charge a fair price, pay a fair wage, not cheat customers or employees, to help the needy, etc. We once asked an applicant applying for a job whether he believed in moral absolutes. Reflecting the secular attitude of his business school background, he quickly replied, "No." We then asked him, "Then how do we know you won't cheat our customers?" He was stunned by the question and had no realistic answer.

As a general statement, it is an inherent truth of capitalism that in the long run people succeed in business if they provide services and goods that people want. Biblical capitalism—even more so—emphasizes service over strict selfish ambition.

It should be emphasized that capitalism has its roots in Christianity. Historian Glenn Sunshine in his book Why You Think the Way You Do points out that the work ethic in Christianity is rooted in the Bible. God himself works, so Christians have seen an inherent goodness in labor and productivity. We have heard of the concept, "the Protestant work ethic." The importance placed on work is an important reason for America's economic success.

As we write this today, America has fewer and fewer people in the work force, partly as a result of liberal welfare programs. People have become addicted to handouts. This is neither good for those involved, or for the economy as a whole. It is a major reason the America is sliding into mediocrity, and ultimately liberal policies could be the death of America. See The Dirty Little Secret of Liberalism.

Another key component of capitalism is property rights. The Old Testament focuses on rules for property ownership. Throughout history, societies influenced by Christianity have had a stronger emphasis on property rights than other cultures. The idea that people are entitled to the fruits of their labor, together with property rights and the rule of law, laid a firm foundation for capitalism and the tremendous economic success that America has enjoyed. Yes, we have had our ups and downs, like life itself, but we have always come back stronger than before because of our fundamentally successful system. But we are in danger of losing it all.

So again, the flaws in American society are not in biblical Christianity, rather in the failure to implement it. If the voluntary individual compassion of Christ were to dominate society, poverty—while it would never disappear (Mark 14:7)—would be lessened. The solution is not forced redistribution of wealth, which is tantamount to stealing. The solution is public emphasis on biblical ethics.

In summary, let's refer to our nation's creed—The Pledge of Allegiance—which sums up our way of life. It is a based on a three-legged stool of God, liberty, and justice. All three must be there. If God is not there, ethics and rights are defined by whoever has the most power. And in order to have liberty, we must have justice. The first role of government is to prevent evil (Romans 13:1-5, 1 Peter 2:13-17) so that the rest of society can live in peace. Evil is only meaningful within a biblical context.

When our culture desperately needs what Christianity offers, the courts are foolishly removing the Bible. Liberty demands ethical obligation. We must have a common understanding of moral absolutes, or as John Adams said, "We have no government armed with power capable of contending with human passions unbridled by morality and religion. Avarice, ambition, revenge, or gallantry, would break the strongest cords of our Constitution as a whale goes through a net. Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other."

America is grounded in the idea of "self government." What does this mean? To say that self-government is only the ability of citizens to vote and to elect their representatives is to have an incomplete notion of self-government. Government in biblical thought is not just civil government. In fact, civil government is the least important aspect of government. Government is first that of the individual being able to govern himself. This is why religion must be encouraged, as John Adams noted. The founding fathers of America clearly understood this. The second most important level of government is the family. The third is the church. Last is civil government.

And within civil government, our Founding Fathers understood that local and state government was more important than federal government. Our Constitution specifically limits the powers of the federal government, even though this precept has been continually usurped.

The Founders referenced 2 Corinthians 3:17 in support of freedom above all else. This passage states, "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is liberty." The Liberty Bell declares from Leviticus 25:10: "Proclaim Liberty throughout all the land unto all the inhabitants thereof."

Liberals and secularists have it backwards. They think that the federal government is the most important. This is consistent with totalitarianism, but not with the American concept of self-government. Big government socialism is not consistent with the Bible. Not only is the government inefficient in delivering most services, it more often than not hurts those it is intended to help. The welfare mess is a classic case in point, now proven over decades of failure. (See our Biblical Capitalism blog post.)

Finally, let us comment on the philosophy of libertarianism. This is the idea that our system of government should allow complete freedom except in the case when one person directly harms another. Many Christians today claim to be libertarians. We see numerous flaws in such an idea. We think that Christian libertarians have been duped into thinking like liberal secularists instead of thinking like Christians. Among the problems are these:

• This worldview is determined by a secular philosophy rather than a biblical worldview. Even Christians frequently quote Ayn Rand for support of their theory. The fact that Rand was an ardent atheist and hater of Christianity should give considerable pause. While libertarianism is not exclusively atheistic, a Christian that walks into that sphere is giving the devil a foothold, against which there is a strong commandment from Scripture (Ephesians 4:27).

 

• Libertarianism is ultimately arbitrary. It is an attempt to define morality without God. But as Dostoevsky said, "If there is no God, everything is permitted." Any view of government not based on an unchangeable objective standard (the Bible!) is subject to be altered at the whims of political power brokers. Christianity, on the other hand, is not arbitrary. Our website is dedicated to demonstrating through reason and evidence that Christianity is objectively true.

 

• Any philosophy (whether Jean-Paul Sartre's Existentialism, Darwin's Evolution, or Ayn Rand's Objectivism) that has a non-theistic foundation ultimately bumps into the problem of nihilism. This means, ultimately, no basis for meaning and purpose for life. (We come from nowhere, we go to nowhere, but somehow life in between has meaning?)

 

• Despite attempts to meld biblical Christianity with this political philosophy, libertarianism inevitably interferes with the individual Christian's reliance on his faith as the sole lens from which to see the world, moving him away from a biblical worldview. Libertarianism, at its core, is a non-religious philosophy. This thinking is a dangerous diversion for the Christian and can be insidiously damaging to his or her faith, indeed to the Christian's soul.

 

• Libertarians often define "harm to another person" too narrowly. Morality should be defined solely by the Bible. For example, while libertarians may support laws against abortion (many libertarians actually support abortion), they usually side with liberals who are against laws that define marriage as between one man and one woman. They think that mutual consent of sexual perversion does not fall within the definition of hurting someone. This utopian thinking has blinders on; it is naive. Homosexuality is devastating to those involved and to society at large. "Mutal consent" is a post-modern illusion that does not change the fact that people are hurt when immorality occurs. The Bible says, "Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil." (Isaiah 5:20-21) See our article Gay Rights.

 

• Libertarians fail to appreciate the huge positive influence Christianity has had on America. See our article The Impact of Christianity. America's success is not based on libertarianism, but on Christianity. We should not confuse true biblical Christianity with the modern distorted, liberal, or half-baked versions of Christianity. While Jesus was a not a political figure per se, there is no need to search for a political theory outside of Christian thought. We are commanded to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ--not just certain thoughts. (2 Corinthians 10:5)

 

• Libertarian Christians usually think that Christians can segregate their faith--their personal faith relegated to their private lives. This is falling for the secularist mentality! It's a trap that marginalizes Christianity just like secularists want! Secularists say, "Sure. You can have your faith. Just leave it over there in the corner of society somewhere and don't bother anyone else with your stupid ideas." Falling for this has numerous negative consequences, including giving the impression to potential converts to Christianity that our faith is not universally applicable, that it is only one of many possible worldviews, and Christianity is only a crutch for weak individuals. Jesus' was given "all authority on heaven and earth" (Matthew 28:18)--not just some authority. This notion--that the Christian faith can be marginalized from society--is directly responsible for the decline of Christianity in America. The inclination to segregate one's faith so as not to "impose" our values on others smacks of "true for me, but not for you." It is amazing that any Christian would buy into this post-modern relativism. Further, attempting to segregate our faith is dishonoring to God: God is god of ALL or He is not God AT ALL. (Psalm 24:1)

 

• Our COMPASSION as Christians demands that we institute biblical values in society. What other basis for a successful and compassionate society could possibly be better than the Bible?! Who are you going to go with: Ayn Rand or Jesus? Jesus allowed no human partner; we are either with Him 100% or we are against Him. (Matthew 12:30)

 

• We cannot miss the similarities between libertarianism and liberalism. While libertarians claim to be opponents of liberalism, it is not accidental that they have the same root word. There is an insidious mix of thought between libertarianism and liberalism. Both have certain political goals in common, such as utopian anti-war sentiment and pro gay rights. While there are versions of libertarianism that claim compatibility with Christian theism, something classic libertarianism has in common liberalism is that both are often at war with, or marginalize, God. Liberalism, when taken to its logical conclusion, leads to life without God--socialism, communism, humanism, and other non-theistic worldviews. Liberalism in any form, if properly understood, results in devastating results for a society--even harming those it was intended to help. See our articleThe Dirty Little Secret of Liberalism.

 

• Libertarianism is at its core a selfish worldview. This is distinctly different from biblical Christianity. Christianity subjugates the self to God, and to other people (Matthew 22:34-39). In contrast, classic libertarianism and liberalism alike are opposed to, or have no need for, a moral authority above the individual self.

 

• Libertarian Christians have, amazingly, adopted other concepts and the language of liberal secularists. They say to other Christians, "We don't want a theocracy." This charge is a red herring. Theocracy is when the church, as an institution, has all political power, including administering civil law. Biblical Christians want no such thing. We support the separation of church and state, properly understood. And we certainly do not want Old Testament civil and ceremonial laws instituted in society. Such laws were repealed in the New Testament (Acts 10:12-15; Colossians 2:11-16; Romans 14:17).

 

• While civil and ceremonial laws were repealed in the New Testament, moral law stands forever. Biblical moral law is applicable to everybody whether they believe it or not. Judicious application of biblical moral law to civil law is infinitely compassionate and positive for society. The idea that "you cannot legislate morality" is also an idea adopted from liberal secularism. It is a false idea. Virtually every law is a put in place based on someone's idea of morality.

 

• Anarchism is a branch of libertarianism. See Libertarianism.

 

• There are strong biblical commands for Christians to influence society, including civil government. See the list at the bottom of our Bible and Government article.

 

Our message to Christians and non-Christians alike is this. If you want true freedom, a vigorous economy, and a compassionate society, the answer is biblical Christianity. See our blog post Biblical Capitalism.

What is the purpose of civil government, according to the Bible? The purpose of civil government is, very simply, to be God's servant to restrain evil and reward good (Romans 13:1-7; 1 Peter 2:13-14). Christians are (a) to pray for and obey governmental authority (1 Timothy 2:1-4), (b) unless it forbids what God requires or requires what God forbids, in which case Christians cannot submit, and some form of civil disobedience becomes inescapable (Acts 4:18-31, 5:17-29), (c) to influence government because all of life is under God's authority (Psalm 24:1; Psalm 83:18; Isaiah 42:8; Matthew 28:18-20; 2 Corinthians 10:5). In a participatory democracy, Christians are under obligation to participate in civil government (Matthew 22:21).

As put by Dinesh D'Souza in his book What's So Great about Christianity, "Christianity enhanced the notion of political and social accountability by providing a new model: that of servant leadership. In ancient Greece and Rome no one would have dreamed of considering political leaders anyone's servants. The job of the leader was to lead. But Christ invented the notion that the way to lead is by serving the needs of others, especially those who are the most needy. Mark 10:43 quotes Christ:'Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant...for even the Son of Man did not come to be served but to serve.' And in Luke 22:27 we hear Jesus say, 'Who is greater, the one who is at the table or the one who serves? Is it not the one who is at the table? But I am among you as one who serves.' In the new Christian framework, leaders are judged by how well they respond to the concerns and welfare of the people. Over time, people once known as 'followers' or 'subjects' become 'customers' and 'constituents'."

Should Christians be involved in politics and government? We argue that Christians should care about politics because, ultimately, we care about people. Government has an increasingly large influence on the lives of people, thus we cannot ignore politics. Further, almost every law reflects someone’s idea of morality. Since God’s morality is ultimate and universal, society benefits from the Christian’s participation in the public square. That is, society benefits when biblical truth is reflected in law. Indeed, Christians should be involved in all aspects of society, including law, art, music, economics, science, etc.

There are numerous Bible passages that confirm the importance of God and Government. These include:

Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's. (Matthew 22:21)

We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God, and we take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. ( 2 Cor 10:5)

The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof. (Psalm 24:1)

We must obey God rather than man. (Acts 5:29)

You are the salt of the earth…the light of the world. (Matthew 5:13-16)

The wicked shall be turned into hell, and all the nations that forget about God. (Psalm 9:17)

Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord. (Psalm 33:12)

On account of me, you will stand before governors and kings as witnesses to them. (Mark 13:9)

The good influence of godly citizens causes a city to prosper. (Proverbs 11:11)

I, the Lord, speak the truth; I declare what is right. (Isaiah 45:19)

We are not trying to please men, but God, who tests our hearts. (1 Thessalonians 2:4)

Woe to those who call evil good, and good evil. (Isaiah 5:20-21)

Thou shalt not kill. (Exodus 20:13-15)

Do not give the devil a foothold. (Ephesians 4:27)

A wise man attacks the city of the mighty and pulls down the stronghold in which they trust. (Proverbs 21:22)

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness. (Matthew 5:10-12)

Furthermore, you shall select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain; and you shall place these over them, as leaders, of hundreds, of fifties and of tens. (Exodus 18:21)

When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; but when the wicked beareth rule, the people mourn. (Proverbs 29:2)

When rulers are wicked, their people are too. (Proverbs 29:16)

For the wicked shall not rule the godly, lest the godly be forced to do wrong. (Psalm 125:3)

Unless the Lord builds the house, its builders labor in vain. (Psalm 127:1)

Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves. (Proverbs 13:8-9)

To the Jews I became like a Jew....  (1 Corinthians 9:20-24)

Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and earth has been given to me.”  (Matthew 28:18)

Fill the earth and subdue it. (Genesis 1:26-28)

Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. (Matthew 6:10)

If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves and pray and seek my face, and turn from their wicked way, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14)

The warning for Americans is that there is no longer a consensus that biblical ethics are truly absolute. Our liberties are eroding as big government tries to take over where our biblical consensus left off. Tyranny and social tragedy are the logical results unless we reverse this trend.

We highly recommend this article by Patrick Leduc entitled "Christianity and the Framers: The True Intent of the Establishment Clause":

Establishment Clause

Bibliography and Resources for study:

David Barton, God in the Constitution

Bradford, M. E., A Worthy Company; Brief Lives of the Framers of the United States Constitution.

Barton, David, America's Godly Heritage (video); and The Spirit of the American Revolution (video); and Barton, David, The Myth of Separation (book). These and many other resources are available at Wallbuilders.

DeMar, Gary, America's Christian History: The Untold Story; and God and Government: A Biblical and Historical Study (3 volumes). These books and other excellent resources available from American Vision.

DiLorenzo, Thomas, How Capitalism Saved America.

D'Souza, Dinesh, What's So Great about Christianity.

Eidsmoe, John, Christianity and the Constitution: The Faith of Our Founding Fathers

Federer, William J., America's God and Country: Encyclopedia of Quotations.

Foster, Marshall and Swanson, Mary-Elaine, The American Covenant: The Untold Story.

Gibbs, David C., Jr. (President of the Christian Law Association) with Jerry Newcombe, One Nation Under God: Ten Things Every Christian Should Know About the Founding of America.

Marshall, Peter and Manuel, David, The Light and the Glory; also From Sea to Shining Sea.

Schaeffer, Francis A., A Christian Manifesto.

See other related articles on our site: The Impact of Christianity, Biblical Capitalism in Uncertain Economic Times, and Why Socialism Is Not Compassionate.

This video series is extraordinarily helpful:

Richard Church on American History

Also, here other helpful articles:

God and Liberty

Christian vs. Libertarian Capitalism

Does the Bible Support Communism?

The Declaration and Religion

 

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Does the Declaration of Independence Tell the Truth?

By E. Jeffrey Ludwig

At this time of the year, while most U.S. citizens are contemplating U.S. independence and the Declaration of Independence, I ask myself why, in nineteen years of teaching in the New York public schools, I have not once heard the students gathered to sing in any assembly or forum "America the Beautiful," "God Bless America," or "My Country 'Tis of Thee." The National Anthem has been sung only once a year, at the graduation ceremonies. 

This serious omission of patriotic fervor can be attributed to the leftist influence on the school system. Most leftists believe the Declaration of Independence was primarily a document driven by the class interests of the signers. The gentry and economically powerful merchant groups in the U.S. and the aristocratic southern plantation economy joined forces against powerful interests in the mother country that would limit their growth, their economic well-being, and their power. Talk about inalienable rights, equality, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness were rationalizations for underlying issues of class and status. Charles and Mary Beard set the stage for this analysis, and it has been carried forward by Howard Zinn's People's History of the United States. Are they correct?

First, a caveat: Even if the document were a justification of class interests in part, would that be so wrong? If we have an economic leadership based on wealth amassed through faith, hard work, determination, and intelligence, then is it not just for them to defend that wealth and influence from usurpations by those who would unlawfully take said wealth and influence away from them? The truth of "no taxation without representation" is a valid truth, but it certainly oversimplifies the dynamics behind the Declaration of Independence.

Let us consider one of the more contentious statements of the Declaration:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness; ...

John Locke in his treatises on government made a cogent analysis of the body politic and stressed that life, liberty and property could best be protected if the locus of power in the government lay with the representatives of the people rather than with the executive -- or in his context, the monarchy. The signers of the Declaration, aware of the moral ambiguities of slavery in the American context, deleted the word "property," and preferred to substitute "pursuit of happiness." They introduced this Aristotelian goal in order (1) to acknowledge the existence of a summum bonum, (2) to point to the unity of happiness and virtue (happiness for Aristotle was arrived at by strenuous contemplation and implementation of virtue, and was not, as in our times, associated with hedonism or with "self-fulfillment" à la Abraham Maslow), and (3) to introduce the idea of the newly independent USA as a land of opportunity, both economically and politically. How can this be offensive?

Although the Declaration was not in one accord with the 17th-century Westminster Shorter Catechism that announced the purpose of life to be "to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever," we can see that the Declaration, by insisting that the values expressed in it are "endowed by their [the people's] Creator," is an echo of the earlier Westminster document. The language suggests to me that the Declaration was deeply rooted in Protestant theology more than in class interests.

What about the self-evidence of the truths claimed in our founding document? This assertion is directly out of the rationalist enlightenment playbook. R. Descartes had affirmed that he could believe only truths that were "clear and distinct." To be clear and distinct, they had to meet the challenge of his method of doubt. If there were any possibility that the truths he perceived could be contingent or could be based on misperception, they would be excluded. Through experience and various other mechanisms, J. Locke's empiricism believed that certainty could be arrived at through experience, science, and intuition.

While these self-evident truths for the signers were not the same as revealed truth as found in Holy Scripture, they are still "endowed" to all men by God the Creator. In theological language, they would be considered part of common grace, whereas for the believing Christian, the Bible comes under special or revealed grace. Thus, the Bible tells us that the rain falls equally on the just and the unjust, and in similar fashion, all men are endowed with the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Almighty God must be assumed, because without Him, how could one explain that all men are so endowed?

As we contemplate our independence as a nation and the exercise of our inalienable rights, as we sing hosannas of gratitude for these blessings, let us remember to also reject all Marxist views that would depreciate the values of the Declaration.

Does the Declaration of Independence Tell the Truth?

By E. Jeffrey Ludwig

At this time of the year, while most U.S. citizens are contemplating U.S. independence and the Declaration of Independence, I ask myself why, in nineteen years of teaching in the New York public schools, I have not once heard the students gathered to sing in any assembly or forum "America the Beautiful," "God Bless America," or "My Country 'Tis of Thee." The National Anthem has been sung only once a year, at the graduation ceremonies. 

This serious omission of patriotic fervor can be attributed to the leftist influence on the school system. Most leftists believe the Declaration of Independence was primarily a document driven by the class interests of the signers. The gentry and economically powerful merchant groups in the U.S. and the aristocratic southern plantation economy joined forces against powerful interests in the mother country that would limit their growth, their economic well-being, and their power. Talk about inalienable rights, equality, life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness were rationalizations for underlying issues of class and status. Charles and Mary Beard set the stage for this analysis, and it has been carried forward by Howard Zinn's People's History of the United States. Are they correct?

First, a caveat: Even if the document were a justification of class interests in part, would that be so wrong? If we have an economic leadership based on wealth amassed through faith, hard work, determination, and intelligence, then is it not just for them to defend that wealth and influence from usurpations by those who would unlawfully take said wealth and influence away from them? The truth of "no taxation without representation" is a valid truth, but it certainly oversimplifies the dynamics behind the Declaration of Independence.

Let us consider one of the more contentious statements of the Declaration:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness; ...

John Locke in his treatises on government made a cogent analysis of the body politic and stressed that life, liberty and property could best be protected if the locus of power in the government lay with the representatives of the people rather than with the executive -- or in his context, the monarchy. The signers of the Declaration, aware of the moral ambiguities of slavery in the American context, deleted the word "property," and preferred to substitute "pursuit of happiness." They introduced this Aristotelian goal in order (1) to acknowledge the existence of a summum bonum, (2) to point to the unity of happiness and virtue (happiness for Aristotle was arrived at by strenuous contemplation and implementation of virtue, and was not, as in our times, associated with hedonism or with "self-fulfillment" à la Abraham Maslow), and (3) to introduce the idea of the newly independent USA as a land of opportunity, both economically and politically. How can this be offensive?

Although the Declaration was not in one accord with the 17th-century Westminster Shorter Catechism that announced the purpose of life to be "to glorify God and to enjoy Him forever," we can see that the Declaration, by insisting that the values expressed in it are "endowed by their [the people's] Creator," is an echo of the earlier Westminster document. The language suggests to me that the Declaration was deeply rooted in Protestant theology more than in class interests.

What about the self-evidence of the truths claimed in our founding document? This assertion is directly out of the rationalist enlightenment playbook. R. Descartes had affirmed that he could believe only truths that were "clear and distinct." To be clear and distinct, they had to meet the challenge of his method of doubt. If there were any possibility that the truths he perceived could be contingent or could be based on misperception, they would be excluded. Through experience and various other mechanisms, J. Locke's empiricism believed that certainty could be arrived at through experience, science, and intuition.

While these self-evident truths for the signers were not the same as revealed truth as found in Holy Scripture, they are still "endowed" to all men by God the Creator. In theological language, they would be considered part of common grace, whereas for the believing Christian, the Bible comes under special or revealed grace. Thus, the Bible tells us that the rain falls equally on the just and the unjust, and in similar fashion, all men are endowed with the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. Almighty God must be assumed, because without Him, how could one explain that all men are so endowed?

As we contemplate our independence as a nation and the exercise of our inalienable rights, as we sing hosannas of gratitude for these blessings, let us remember to also reject all Marxist views that would depreciate the values of the Declaration.

When Benjamin Franklin introduced his grandson to Voltaire shortly before the latter's death in 1778, that great opponent of the Catholic Church laid his thin hands upon the youth's head and bade him dedicate himself to the cause of "God and Liberty".[1] Less than a century later, in June 1850, another great French liberal thinker, Frederic Bastiat, made a similar linkage between religion and freedom, declaring that life, liberty and property were a gift from God, and that "these three gifts from God precede all human legislation, and are superior to it."[2]

The difference between these sentiments and the anti-religious mentality of modern politically correct secular liberals is one of the most striking phenomena of our times. To most present day secular liberals, traditional monotheistic religion, especially Christianity, is an irrational and reactionary force, and an enemy of freedom and progress, whereas atheism offers a more liberating philosophy, since its rejection of the existence and authority of God removes an irksome restraint on personal autonomy. As many secular liberals see it, an accidental universe, without any ultimate meaning or purpose, is preferable to a God-centred one, since it seems to allow human beings greater scope for choosing their own values and charting their own course.

That, at any rate, was the view of Aldous Huxley, and it was shared by many other prominent writers of his time and continues to characterise current liberal attitudes. Explaining, on one occasion, what lay behind his atheism and that of so many other 20th century leftist intellectuals, Huxley confessed:

I had motives for not wanting the world to have meaning, consequently assumed it had none… For myself, as no doubt for most of my contemporaries, the philosophy of meaninglessness was essentially an instrument of liberation. The liberation we desired was … liberation from a certain system of morality. We objected to the morality because it interfered with our sexual freedom.[3]

By contrast, like Voltaire and Bastiat, nearly all the great philosophers and statesmen of the old Whig / classical liberal tradition took a positive view of the link between God and liberty, repudiating in advance the atheistic and anti-religious mentality so characteristic of modern liberalism.[4] As evidence of this, here are three typical examples drawn from three famous texts.

"Being all equal and independent [in the state of Nature]", declared England's best known 17th century philosopher, John Locke, in the first of these texts, his influential Two Treatises of Government (1690), "no one ought to harm another in his life, health, liberty or possessions; for men being all the workmanship of one omnipotent and infinitely wise Maker; all the servants of one sovereign Master, sent into the world by His order and about His business; they are His property … made to last during His, not one another's pleasure."[5]

The great question is to discover, not what governments prescribe, but what they ought to prescribe; for no prescription is valid against the conscience of mankind.”

- Lord Acton

Our second text, the American Declaration of Independence (1776), perhaps the most celebrated official document in the history of liberty, was as emphatic as Locke in affirming the theistic roots of freedom. To quote its memorable second paragraph:

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness. That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed…

Finally, and perhaps most tellingly, consider these words of Lord Acton, the great 19th century historian of liberty, and one of the greatest scholars of his age:

The great question is to discover, not what governments prescribe, but what they ought to prescribe; for no prescription is valid against the conscience of mankind. Before God, there is neither Greek nor barbarian, neither rich nor poor, and the slave is as good as his master, for by birth all men are free; they are citizens of that universal commonwealth which embraces all the world, brethren of one family, and children of God. The true guide of our conduct is no outward authority, but the voice of God, who comes down to dwell in our souls, who knows all our thoughts, to whom are owing all the truth we know, and all the good we do…[6]

Given these alternative views of the relationship between religion and freedom, which is the truer one? Is belief in God a hindrance to liberty or its necessary foundation? Does freedom depend on a belief in absolute values rooted in God's nature, or is it best served by a philosophy of moral relativism rooted in atheism?

This is certainly a relevant question in American politics, judging by the views of President Obama. For instance,in his 2006 book, The Audacity of Hope, Obama argued that:

Implicit in [the American Constitution's] structure, in the very idea of ordered liberty, was a rejection of absolute truth, the infallibility of any idea or ideology or theology or 'ism', any tyrannical consistency that might lock future generations into a single, unalterable course…[7]

Is this relativist view of Obama's, so typical of modern liberalism, a correct interpretation of the spirit underlying the American Constitution? Does the "very idea of ordered liberty" really imply "a rejection of absolute truth" and "the infallibility of any idea"? Is the consistency that flows from absolute truth really "tyrannical"?

To anyone familiar with 18th century American political thought, the idea that philosophical scepticism and moral relativism implicitly influenced the authors and supporters of the American Constitution is, of course, a historical anachronism. Most Americans of that era were either Christians or deists, and therefore, as religious believers, firmly wedded to the notion that truth and moral values are absolute. But even if this historical fact is acknowledged, were they justified in holding this view?

Calling the bluff of moral relativism

I have no doubt that they were, and to understand why, one need only call the bluff of contemporary moral relativism.

Modern atheistic liberals constantly tell us that moral values and social conventions evolve to fit new circumstances and challenges, and vary between different societies. On that basis, they deny the existence of any universal and eternal moral code. Yet these very same liberals are the first to denounce racism or the oppression of minorities with passionate indignation. So the question we must ask them is a simple one: what, in their heart of hearts, do they really believe? Was American slavery, for instance, or the firebombing of black churches by the Ku Klux Klan, an abomination, something that could never be justified in any century or society, or should we refrain from making such moral judgements on the grounds that moral attitudes do not reflect objective truths but change through time? And what about the philosophical implications of the concept of 'progress'? Modern liberals are always urging us to adopt 'progressive' attitudes, and to adapt our laws and customs to reflect them, but what meaning can we attach to the idea of 'progress' in the absence of some fixed and eternal standard of value by which it can be measured? How can we tell whether any society is becoming more or less humane, or more or less enlightened, unless we are comparing it against some objective and unchanging yardstick of wisdom and goodness?

Logical inconsistency is not the only criticism that can be levelled, in this particular context, against politically correct 21st century liberalism. Its apparent commitment to moral relativism also reveals a shallow understanding of history and ethics.

As C.S. Lewis argued in his wartime essay, 'The Poison of Subjectivism' (1943)[8], apparent variations of moral outlook between different cultures or historical epochs, are not, as modern liberals seem to think, proof of the subjectivity of all moral values. Rather, they reflect changing beliefs about particular facts or about the specific implications of foundational moral principles. The difference, for example, between a 17th century Puritan's attitude to witchcraft and that of a 21st century sceptic is determined by their conflicting views about the reality of the supernatural, not by any necessary disagreement in principle about the need to resist evil. In a similar fashion, changing attitudes towards other nations, the morality of slavery, or the status of women, do not represent the replacement of one subjective code of ethics by another. Rather, they represent an internal development within one pre-existing system of morality.

unless we begin by regarding the sacredness of human life, and the unique value of every individual, as self-evident philosophical first principles, we have no objective reasons for condemning oppression and tyranny

Take, as an instance of this, our belief in the brotherhood of man and the equality of the sexes. This chiefly arose in the West out of the Judeo-Christian view that since all men and women are made in the image of God, and are therefore the children of the same Heavenly Father, they should be treated with equal love and respect, as Lord Acton argued so eloquently in the passage quoted earlier. As this conviction gradually spread, over a long period, throughout Europe and North America, it eventually spelt the doom of slavery and the legal subjection of women. At the same time, it also encouraged a friendlier attitude towards foreigners, and with it, a desire for peace between nations and the development of international law. In other words, moral progress and social reform came about in these areas as a result of a new and clearer understanding of the logical implications of certain foundational biblical principles. It did not represent the triumph of some 'new' morality over an older one.

The superficiality of moral relativism not only reveals itself under the microscope of close philosophical inspection. Its claims are also undermined by the powerful historical evidence for the existence of an unchanging and universal Moral Law acknowledged across the centuries by different peoples and cultures. For example, in his justly celebrated book, The Abolition of Man (1943)[9], C.S. Lewis bolsters his philosophical arguments against moral subjectivism by including an appendix entitled 'Illustrations of the Tao'. This consists of a list of quotations from a random selection of ancient writings – Egyptian, Babylonian, Greek, Roman, Hindu, and Chinese – showing their essential agreement with the Judeo-Christian ethic. Does all this not suggest that belief in objective truth and absolute moral values is well founded?

It is certainly essential if we claim to believe in liberty and the pursuit of knowledge, or attach any meaning to the concept of human rights. For unless we begin by regarding the sacredness of human life, and the unique value of every individual, as self-evident philosophical first principles, we have no objective reasons for condemning oppression and tyranny. Similarly, unless we begin with a belief in the existence and objectivity of truth, and therefore the possibility in principle of finding it, the pursuit of knowledge becomes meaningless. And this too is fatal to liberty, since one of the strongest arguments for freedom of conscience and expression is precisely the insight that the pursuit of truth requires maximum scope for the free dissemination and discussion of competing ideas.

In addition to all these considerations, disbelief in the existence of objective (and therefore absolute) truth is, in any case, completely illogical, since the assertion 'there is no such thing as absolute truth', is itself an absolute truth claim, and is therefore self-contradictory. It is like saying that we 'know' that we know nothing, which is clearly absurd. Furthermore, the existence of mathematics, as well as the successes of the natural sciences, clearly demonstrate the capacity of the human mind to engage in objective logical thinking and discover reality. For all these reasons, the radical claims of philosophical scepticism cannot be taken seriously.

But if absolute truth – logical, scientific, and moral – exists and can, at least in principle, be grasped and discovered by our minds, what does this tell us about the existence of God?

Truth and morality point to God

On reflection, a great deal. To begin with, truth has a transcendent non-physical quality which suggests that it is connected with something outside ourselves and the material universe, since it is independent of time, place, or culture. For instance, we know that 2+2=4, 'love is better than hate,' and 'torturing children is wrong', whether others acknowledge these truths or not, whether we live or die, and regardless of our particular background or the century or society into which we were born. It is surely equally significant that these particular truths – like all truth – would retain their validity (and in that sense continue to exist) even if our physical universe were to come to an end tomorrow.

Our experience of moral obligation similarly points to God because it too, like truth, has this strangely transcendent and eternal quality.

truth and goodness are rooted in God

When, for example, our conscience is most deeply aroused, especially when it comes into conflict with our strongest desires, emotions, or material interests, do we not sense, somehow pressing down on us, the weight of an external claim on our allegiance? From where does that insistent realisation come that we must resist injustice or admit our mistakes, even at the cost of our lives or our reputations? From where do we get the motivation and strength to resist adultery, malicious gossip, or dishonesty in our working lives, in circumstances in which giving in to these temptations is pleasurable, safe from detection, and vital to our popularity and the advancement of our careers? Most significantly of all, what is the ultimate source of that authoritative inner conviction that we must always obey the voice of our conscience rather than the laws and commands of the State, whenever there is a conflict between 'might and right'? To What or to Whom do we feel that sense of accountability that seems to take precedence over every human authority, however elevated?

If, then, as this analysis suggests, truth and goodness are permanent, unchanging and ultimate categories to which we somehow owe unconditional allegiance, as Plato famously believed, this surely suggests that their eternal, transcendent, and imperative character is in some sense divine. And since our awareness of truth and goodness is inseparably connected with our minds and wills, it seems reasonable to conclude that their apparently divine character and status is also related to an eternal Divine Intelligence. In other words, truth and goodness are rooted in God and express His essential and changeless Nature. Or to put it another way, God is not only our Creator, as Jefferson noted in the Declaration of Independence, but also Goodness, Truth, (and Beauty) personified, and therefore the eternal and objective source of all that is precious and wonderful in human existence. That is why that historic American document was entirely correct in its ringing affirmation that we are endowed by our Creator "with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness".

The true lesson about religious persecution

Unfortunately, despite all the evidence, the strong philosophical link between monotheistic religion and freedom has been hidden from many secular liberals by the terrible history of religious persecution. But what needs to be remembered here, is that in the case of Christianity, intolerance and persecution were always the evil fruit of the coercive union of Church and State, never in any sense a natural outgrowth of its original message or mission.

As anyone can see from reading the New Testament, especially the 'Sermon on the Mount', Jesus and his followers taught us to love our enemies and pray for them, and seek first the Kingdom of God, rather than strive for earthly power or dominion. Far from advocating the compulsory imposition of religious orthodoxy by the State, all the emphasis in the New Testament is on the exact opposite. Its primary focus is not on government or society, but on our individual and voluntary response to the challenge of acknowledging God's claim on our lives and our own needy spiritual condition. And this, of course, makes perfect moral and philosophical sense, since recognising our faults and loving our Creator necessarily demands the unforced assent and willing commitment of our minds and hearts. We cannot reconnect with God in any meaningful way, or pursue goodness and truth, at the point of a gun.

'The good of society' may be a worthy moral goal, but only because we value the lives and liberties of individuals

Modern secular liberals fail to see the connection between God and liberty not only because of their misinterpretation of the history of religious persecution and the lessons it teaches. They are also misled by their conviction that both our sense of moral obligation, and our highest values, can be adequately explained and justified without any reference to the existence of God.

For instance, one of their most common and fallacious beliefs is that morality is just a by-product of biological evolution, so that 'goodness' simply means 'that which has survival value'. But the problem with this Darwinian explanation is that it flies in the face of both our personal experience and recorded history. As most of us are only too well aware, it is simply not true that moral integrity is the key to personal success in our damaged and imperfect world. On the contrary: cunning, ruthlessness, lack of principle, and a talent for intrigue, are all too often the effective means by which many individuals build successful careers, especially in politics and large organisations in general. If, by contrast, such qualities as kindness, the pursuit of excellence, and love of truth, were really the ones needed for worldly success, why are there (and why have there always been) so many successful criminals and dictators? If goodness is such an effective Darwinian recipe for human survival and for winning the material prizes of life, why has so much of history been a constant and depressing tale of war, tyranny, and slavery?

An alternative and far more convincing secular explanation of morality is that 'goodness' simply means those qualities and values which allow human beings to live in harmony with each other in peaceful, prosperous and creative societies. But whilst this is undoubtedly true, it does not provide a complete and adequate explanation of the ultimate source of our moral values and sense of moral obligation. 'The good of society', for instance, may indeed be a worthy moral goal, providing an objective criterion for human action, but only because we value, as foundational first principles, the lives and liberties of the individuals composing it. But if respect for life, liberty and truth is to be regarded as a self-evident moral imperative, how can this foundational philosophical principle be reconciled with atheism? That is the problem facing secular liberalism.

The incompatibles: truth, freedom and atheism

And it is a very big philosophical problem, for if atheism is true, we not only inhabit an accidental and Godless universe devoid of any ultimate meaning or purpose. We ourselves are also part of that physical universe and in no way distinct from it, since there is no supernatural dimension to our existence. But if it is therefore the case, as atheists insist, that we have no souls or connection with any Creator, we must then face up to the fact that the logical and psychological implications of this belief are momentous and destructive. It means that as purely fortuitous physical beings, all our thoughts and values, and all our decisions and choices, are merely the accidental by-products of a long chain of random, undesigned and purposeless physical and chemical events. How then can we attach any objective meaning or importance to our thinking processes, let alone our particular thoughts and beliefs? They surely have no more ultimate or eternal significance than the sound of a waterfall, or the crash of a tree in a forest. How, also, can we claim to have free will, or any knowledge of truth, if we are merely biological machines whose choices, reasonings, and convictions are entirely and inevitably determined by random and non-rational physical and chemical processes in our brains?[10]

In short, if there is no God whose Being and Nature is the eternal source and ground of our existence, thinking and values, we cannot account either for our knowledge and reasoning ability, or our very real and transcendent experience of moral obligation. We must assume instead that all our mental and moral life is based on an illusion. This in turn leaves us with no objective basis for our moral judgements. Good and evil, under these conditions, become purely arbitrary and subjective categories, governed by whim and emotion, and leaving us with no objective or compelling grounds for criticising the destructive existential choices of nihilists and psychopaths. We may, in a Godless universe, continue to fear and dislike thieves, murderers, and dictators, and choose to resist them, but we can no longer demonstrate the objective 'wrongness' of their selfish disregard for the lives and liberties of others. In such circumstances, 'might' will (sooner or later) inevitably determine 'right' rather than serving it, and evil will know no limits or barriers.

The brutal and nihilistic consequences of rejecting God are, of course, hardly a new phenomeneon or simply a subject for abstract ivory tower speculation. They were fully understood, and gleefully and unsparingly spelt out, by the late 19th century German nihilist philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche (1844-1900), and subsequently gave birth to all the horrors of modern totalitarianism.

"[Christian morality] granted man an absolute value", wrote Nietzsche, "as opposed to his smallness and accidental occurrence in the flux of being and passing away… morality guarded the underprivileged by assigning to each an infinite value … [but] supposing that the faith in this morality would perish, then the underprivileged would no longer have this comfort – and they would perish … nihilism is a symptom that the underprivileged have no comfort left."[11]

Is belief in God essential to liberty or an obstacle to freedom?

The history of the 20th century has been a terrible vindication of the prophetic accuracy of these words, because atheism, the rejection of traditional morality, and the devaluation of the individual, were central to the development of Fascism and Communism, both as totalitarian ideologies and as murderous totalitarian systems of State power.

Both Hitler and Mussolini, for instance, were ardent disciples and admirers of Nietzsche, embracing his rejection of Christianity and his exaltation of the amoral and triumphant will of the 'strong man'. To quote only Mussolini:

If relativism signifies contempt for fixed categories and men who claim to be bearers of an external objective truth, then there is nothing more relativistic than fascistic attitudes and activity… the fascist State is will to power and government…[12]

Marx, Engels and Lenin were just as forthright as Mussolini and Hitler about their atheistic and totalitarian contempt for the idea that human beings are accountable to an objective and eternal Moral Law rooted in God. They insisted, on the contrary, that all morality is subjective and subordinate to the class struggle, and that nothing should be allowed to hinder the triumph of the Communist Revolution or the authority of the victorious Communist State. As Engels put it:

We … reject every attempt to impose on us any moral dogma whatever as eternal, ultimate and forever immutable moral law...

and Lenin agreed with him. "We say that morality is entirely subordinated to the interests of the class struggle of the proletariat…" he wrote, adding: "We do not believe in an eternal morality."[13]

It is hardly surprising, given their totalitarian atheist mentality, that all 20th century Communist regimes slaughtered millions of their own citizens and transformed their countries into gigantic concentration camps, of which the worst and still living example is North Korea. What else could one have expected from rulers who acknowledged no moral boundaries to their exercise of power? But if any doubt still remains in anyone's mind about the link between atheism, moral relativism, and man's inhumanity to man, meditate on these words of Mao Zedong's, the happily defunct tyrannical founder and architect of Chinese Communism.

Some of our comrades have too much mercy, not enough brutality, which means that they are not so Marxist. On this matter, we indeed have no conscience! Marxism is that brutal… We are prepared to sacrifice 300 million Chinese for the victory of the world revolution.[14]

So, in conclusion, to return to our central question, what, again, does the evidence suggest? Is belief in God essential to liberty or an obstacle to freedom?

The prophetic wisdom of Jefferson and Voltaire

Let the last word on this subject be spoken again (ironically) by two figures in secular liberalism's Hall of Fame: Thomas Jefferson, America's third President and author of the Declaration of Independence, and that great figure of the 18th century French Enlightenment whom I quoted at the beginning of this essay: Voltaire.

"Can the liberties of a nation be thought secure", asked Jefferson, "when we have removed their only firm basis, a conviction in the minds of the people that these liberties are of the gift of God?"[15]

Voltaire clearly didn't think soWhat We Believe

What We Believe – Our Statement of Faith

We believe in the essential truths of the historic orthodox (biblical) Christian faith. These truths include:

We believe that all men are sinners and fall short of the glory of God (Romans 3:23).

We believe that salvation from sin, death, and God's wrath is the comforting free gift of God, given by grace through a living, trusting, penitent faith (Ephesians 2:8-9, James 2:14-17) in Jesus Christ (John 14:6).

We believe in the Trinity—one God eternally existent in three persons: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit (Christian Cram Course).

We believe that Jesus is the Son of God and the one-and-only savior of sinners (Jesus).

We believe that the Bible is the final authority on faith and life—that it is a magnificent and unique document, truly inspired by God through human writers (2 Timothy 3:16-17).

We believe that the Bible has answers for today's problems—that every man, woman, or child will benefit by getting to know Christ (Hebrews 13:8).

We believe that good works are a natural result of an authentic saving faith (2 Corinthians 9:8, James 2:26). Thus being a Christian leads one to be a blessing to society (Mark 12:31), to influence it (Matthew 5:13-16), to be enthusiastic (Romans 12:11), and to bring others the good news of the gospel (Matthew 28:19-20; 1 Corinthians 15:1-8).

We believe that heaven is where believers spend eternity in our glorified, immortal bodies after life on earth, in a new and better individual existence, consistent with Jesus' numerous promises of eternal life.

We believe that the Christian faith is not mere blind faith but faith in evidence (Acts 1:3; Acts 17:17), which should be explained lovingly to others (1 Peter 3:15).

We reject the aberrant doctrines of millennialism, fideism, nominalism, antinomianism, liberalism, legalism, and universalism. (We are also skeptical of most modern manifestations of tongues, the "Word-Faith Movement," and such things as "slain in the spirit.")

Note: This is an abbreviated list of essential Bible truths. For more detail, see our article Christian Cram Course. See also our blog on eschatology (Bible prophecy): Prophecy Questions for Christians.. "I have always been convinced", he wrote, "that atheism cannot do any good, and may do very great harm. I have pointed to the infinite difference between the sages who have written against superstition and the madmen who have written against God. There is neither philosophy nor morality in any system of atheism.It is a joy for me to be here in Lynchburg, Virginia, and to visit with three of

my former Regent University Law School colleagues-Roger Bern, Jeff

Tuomala, and Barbara Baxter-now members of the law faculty at Liberty

University School of Law. It is also a special joy for me to see the law school

here. I remember talking to Pierre Guillermann, Liberty's then President, and

Dr. Falwell, the Chancellor, back in the early 1980s about the possibility of

starting a law school here. It is wonderful to see that God has brought to pass

what was on the Chancellor's and the President's heart at this great university.

A. God, Man, and Law

The conventional wisdom today is that the Bible is irrelevant to the study

and practice of law in America because law does not come by God's revelation,

but only from man's reason. However, Sir William Blackstone, in his

Commentaries on the Laws of England, begins his exposition of the English

common law with the creation account in the biblical book of Genesis.

Blackstone writes that God-man's Creator-imposes the rules that govern

man-the created-and those rules govern all of God's creatures whether they

believe in God or not.'

Now Blackstone speaks to this issue, but he does not speak fully to it. It is

therefore important for those of us who believe in God to have our

understanding illuminated so that we can defend the position that I believe that

we must defend. We must be able to show clearly that God, as the creator of

every nation,2 has set down the rules that govern the civil society of every

nation.3 This is such an important position to defend since if God is not the

t B.S., University of Oregon, 1959 (Phi Beta Kappa); J.D., Harvard University, cum

laude. Of Counsel, William J. Olson, P.C., McLean, Virginia. Member of the Virginia Bar.

Founding Dean of Regent University School of Law. This article is adapted from a lecture

delivered at Liberty University School of Law on October 27, 2006. The lecture appears here

with limited editorial changes.

1. See WILLIAM BLACKSTONE, 1 COMMENTARIES *33-62.

2. "From one man [God] made every nation of men, that they should inhabit the whole

earth; and he determined the times set for them and the exact places they should live. God did

this so that men would seek him .. " Acts 17:26-27 (NIV). See also Psalm 2.

3. See Genesis 9-11. In these chapters, "God, through the families of Noah, created all

nations and established by His covenant with Noah as the father of nations the sanctioning

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source of law-if every person is just trying to figure it out for himself-then

we Christians do not have much more to offer than a different perspective. As a

matter of fact, the danger in today's America is that this law school, its faculty,

its students, and its graduates will be relativized because people will just

dismiss the view that law is rooted in God and the Bible as just another

opinion, not worthy of any truth claim.

If you look to Blackstone, however, he wrote that every human being is a

creature of God, and as a creature of God every human being is ruled by God;

and the rules that God lays down every human being is bound to obey.4 Now, it

is important to emphasize this point because our everyday vocabulary betrays

that fundamental truth. For example, how many times have we heard it said

that the Supreme Court of the United States has legalized abortion? 5 The

answer is, "No they have not." Why? Because a majority ofjustices-indeed,

even a unanimous court-cannot make straight what God has made crooked.6

We must understand that the United States Supreme Court is not the source of

law. The ruling in Roe v. Wade that a woman has a constitutional right to

terminate a pregnancy,7 may be the Court's opinion, but if we are going to

determine whether the opinion ofjudges is law, must we not have a standard by

which to measure it other than the court's own opinion? I like the way

Blackstone put it: he said when a judge makes a mistaken opinion about law

and then it is changed, it was not changed because it was "bad law," but

because it was not law at all.8 Blackstone could never have arrived at that

position, if he had not relied upon the revelation of God as the standard outside

of man used to measure whether a certain opinion is law.9

When the apostle Paul went into the city of Athens, as reported in the

seventeenth chapter of Acts, picture Paul going into Boston or Cambridge,

Massachusetts, because he was walking into the intellectual capital of the

Roman Empire. In Athens, Paul discovered an altar to an unknown god, and he

opened his message with the description of that god--God the Creator-by

authority of.civil government, as exemplified by Genesis 9:6." Herbert W. Titus, The Bible:

Law Book for the Nations, in FIRST STEPS TO STATESMANSHIP 50-53 (D. Eby ed. 2001).

4. See WILLIAM BLACKSTONE, 1 COMMENTARIES *33-62.

5. Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. 113 (1973). See, e.g., C. Landwehr, Roe v. Wade: An Elitist

Decision, in To RESCUE THE FUTURE 19 (D. Andrusko ed. 1983).

6. See Ecclesiastes 1:15, 7:13, 11:5 and Psalm 139:13-17. Because God is the Creator of

every human being, there is no such being as an "unwanted child."

7. Roe v. Wade, 410 U.S. at 164-65.

8. See WILLtAM BLACKSTONE, 1 COMMENTARIES *70-71.

9. See id. at *41-42. Blackstone's standard was twofold: the law of nature and the law of

the Holy Scriptures, each of which contained God's revealed law, the latter being the most

reliable.

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proclaiming that every individual human being is a creature of God.'0 Paul

proclaimed that from "one blood" God created "all nations," setting their

"boundaries" and their "times," "that they should seek the Lord."'" Notice how

significant this is. God is not only the creator of each human being

individually, but God is the creator of the nations-all of the nations of the

world, including the United States of America. As creator of each individual,

does He not lay down the rules for every man, woman and child? And does it

not follow that the Creator of every nation lays down the rules for all nations?

Indeed, Psalm two is a testament of God's rule over all nations. 12

Recall with me Acts chapters four and five. These chapters picture a little

"rag-tag" church preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ arrested by the religion

department of the Roman Empire, charged with teaching in the name of Jesus.

At that time, nothing could be done in the Roman Empire except in the name of

Caesar. So, Peter and John were arrested and charged with teaching in the

name of Jesus. 13 These two were unlearned men-they had not gone to law

school-but they knew the law. As they stood before the Jewish rulers, who

had been empowered by Caesar, they pled their case: if you be the judge, then

judge first if you have jurisdiction over this matter, and make the decision

whether you can tell us not teach in the name of Jesus. 14 In response, the

Jewish rulers let Peter and John go, with instructions to cease teaching in Jesus'

name. 15

In reply, the church held a prayer meeting, during which time in "one

accord" they spoke from Psalm two: "Why did the heathen rage, and the people

imagine vain things? The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were

gathered against the Lord and against his Christ.' 16 Emboldened by the Holy

10. Acts 17:22-34.

11. "[God] hath made of one blood all nations of men for to dwell on all the face of the

earth, and hath determined the times before appointed, and the bounds of their habitation; That

they should seek the Lord .... Acts 17:26-27 (KJV).

12. In Psalm 2 the psalmist asks:

Why do the nations conspire and the peoples plot in vain? The kings of the earth

take their stand and the rulers gather together against the Lord and against his

Anointed One. "Let us break their chains," they say, "and throw off their fetters."

The One enthroned in heaven laughs; the Lord scoffs at them. Then he rebukes

them in his anger and terrifies them in his wrath, saying, "I have installed my King

on Zion, my holy hill."

Psalm 2:1-6 (NIV).

13. Acts 4:7.

14. "But Peter and John replied, 'Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to

obey you rather than God."' Acts 4:19 (NIV).

15. Acts 4:16-17.

16. Acts 4:25-26 (NIV).

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Spirit, the church received God's answer: the rulers could not require the

church to teach in the name of Caesar.17 Thus, Peter and John did not have to

get a license from the civil government to preach the gospel. Peter and John

went on teaching, only to be arrested again, and brought before the same Jewish

rulers. The rulers questioned why they had not followed the rulers' earlier

instructions. Peter and John replied: "We must obey God rather than men!' 18

In today's world, most would construe this answer as an act of civil

disobedience, contrary to law. While it was an act of civil disobedience, it was

not contrary to law. Rather, it was Peter and John who were obeying the law,

and the Jewish rulers who were in disobedience of God's law that prohibited

any civil ruler from taking action against teaching in the name of Jesus. 19

Because God is the Creator of every nation, it is God's law that governs the

authority and power of every civil ruler, not just with respect to the teaching of

the gospel, but with respect to all matters.20 God's word, therefore, should

17. "But Peter and John replied, 'Judge for yourselves whether it is right in God's sight to

obey you rather than God. For we cannot help speaking about what we have seen and heard.'

Acts 4:19-20 (NIV).

18. Acts 5:28-29.

Having brought the apostles, they made them appear before the Sanhedrin to be

questioned by the high priest. "We gave you strict orders not to teach in this

name," he said. "Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and are

determined to make us guilty of this man's blood." Peter and the other apostles

replied: "We must obey God rather than men! The God of our fathers raised Jesus

from the dead-whom you had killed by hanging him on a tree. God exalted him

to his own right hand as Prince and Savior that he might give repentance and

forgiveness of sins to Israel. We are witnesses of these things, and so is the Holy

Spirit, whom God has given to those who obey him."

Acts 5:28-32 (NIV).

19. Peter and John were simply obeying Jesus' Great Commission:

Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been

given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the

name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to

obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the

very end of the age."

Matthew 28:18-20 (NIV).

20. Paul describes God's ordination of civil authority in Romans 13:

Everyone must submit himself to the governing authorities, for there is no

authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have

been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is

rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring

judgment on themselves. For rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for

those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority?

Then do what is right and he will commend you. For he is God's servant to do

you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for

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reveal to us the law that governs every civil society. Summing up, as we look

to the Bible to see what the rules are for our individual lives, we should study

the Bible to discover what the Scriptures say about civil society. How, then,

shall we go about this task?

B. The Lawful Use of Law

Let us return to Paul's sermon in Athens. Paul, who had been educated as a

lawyer, knew what he was talking about when he spoke that from one blood

God created all nations. He knew this because he had read Genesis chapters

nine through eleven, which provides an account of the beginning of nations.

You are familiar with the story, the story of Babel-how all the people had

come together and begun to build a tower into the sky. Seeing this, God came

down, scattered the people, divided them up by languages, and, as the Scripture

teaches, out of the family of Noah, and the generations following, came all

21 nations. So nations were birthed at the time of the tower of Babel. This is

very significant and I am going to get to the significance of that a little bit later.

What I want to do now is to return to Paul for a moment. I want to

emphasize that Paul understood that the task of a Christian in reading the Bible

as it relates to the nations-not as it relates to him as an individual believerbut

to nations composed of believers and unbelievers is to understand how the

law applies to the civil society. I find no better guidepost than the section in the

book of First Timothy, where Paul says that we know that the law is good if it

used lawfully.22 Paul goes on to say, and this is what is so remarkable in

twenty-first century America-that the law is not for believers, it is for

unbelievers. It is not for people that behave themselves; it is for people that do

not behave themselves. Is it not interesting that when you talk to an unbeliever

today, the response is just the opposite? They say, "God's law may apply to

you because you believe it, but don't you impose your beliefs on me!" Well, I

nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the

wrongdoer.

Romans 13:1-4 (NIV).

21. Genesis 11.

22. Paul says of law:

But we know that the law is good, if a man use it lawfully; Knowing this, that the

law is not made for a righteous man, but for the lawless and disobedient, for the

ungodly and for sinners, for unholy and profane, for murderers of fathers and

murderers of mothers, for manslayers, for whoremongers, for them that defile

themselves with mankind, for menstealers, for liars, for perjured persons, and if

there be any other thing that is contrary to sound doctrine

source of law-if every person is just trying to figure it out for himself-then

we Christians do not have much more to 

Are we supposed to keep “the law” today?

When “the law” is mentioned in the Bible, it harks back to the days of the Old Testament. There are hundreds of commands given to the Israelites, but the phrase “the law” refers specifically to the compilation of decrees found in the first five books of the Bible. This whole body of law was given the name Torah.

Obedience to this law was the awesome obligation of God’s people as they attempted to merit His favor and blessing. After all, Israel was His special people, and they were bound together in a solemn covenant with Him. So the laws are not just some rules laid down by the tribal chief, but they were the laws of the covenant community. When the law was transgressed, the covenant was broken, and so was the relationship with God! That’s why the law occupied such a huge place in the life of Israel.

In order to restore the broken relationship, sacrifices were required and penalties were prescribed. Yet all these sacrifices were really inadequate. They tried to lay the culprit’s guilt on a sheep or goat which was then killed – as though that scapegoat could really take away the guilt. True, God prescribed all this, but could such pitiful attempts at making amends ever really be adequate? In the Bible God is portrayed as so holy and just, that sin cannot be brushed aside. Actually the Bible presents sin as so horrendous that it merits death. This is the basic human predicament.

That is why the Old Testament looks forward! Isaiah 53 is among the literary treasures of humanity, and its message of the suffering servant of God is incredibly touching. In the Servant’s suffering and death, Almighty God will at last find His sacrifice to be full, complete, and totally sufficient. On His back will be laid the sin and guilt of the transgressors and He will pour out His life in the one and only sacrifice that finally finishes it all. At last the penalty of “the law” is paid. That Suffering Servant of Isaiah is the Messiah, Jesus Christ, God’s Son.

In the New Testament, “the law” refers back to that old situation when people looked at obedience to the commandments as the way of acceptance with God. The apostle Paul often contrasts this with the forgiven state believers now enjoy because of God’s grace. Paul loves to make that contrast between the impossible situation of trying to merit forgiveness, and the new situation of forgiveness by sheer mercy because of Christ’s sacrifice.

It might seem that the apostle Paul is disparaging the law when he contrasts it with the good news of the Gospel. But he is quick to deny this! We would not even know the difference between good and evil, he says, without the law telling us what to do and what not to do. But above all, Paul wants to make clear the God’s love fulfills the law. The law tells us the kind of life that our love for God and our neighbor would require.

So there’s no way we should want to continue to sin and flaunt the law, just so we can be the recipients of more grace! So are we still supposed to keep “the law” today? Obviously all those laws about sacrifices are finished in the one and complete sacrifice of Christ. All the dozens of laws about the land, foods, and rituals of Israel don’t pertain to us either. Nor can the keeping of any set of laws give us eternal life.

But we don’t just toss out God’s commands and become a lawless gang. In fact, we have a great motive for obedience to God. That motive stems from the fact that every believer is a new person in Christ. Therefore he or she loves God and his/her neighbor. The timeless law of God is written in our hearts now and obedience is our joyful adventure. Disobedience to God is our rotten failure. This style of conduct, this law of our new life, we still find in the pages of the Bible.

The New Testament book of Hebrews is a gold mine of comparison of the old life under “the law” and the new life we live by God’s forgiving grace. Here are some verses from just one chapter (10: 11-12, 16-18): “Under the old covenant, the priest stands before the altar day after day, offering sacrifices that can never take away sins. But our High Priest offered himself to God as one sacrifice for sins, good for all time. ‘This is the new covenant I will make with my people on that day, says the Lord. I will put my laws in their hearts so they will understand them, and I will write them on their minds so they will obey them.’ Then he adds, ‘ I will never again remember their sins and lawless deeds.'” (New Living Translation)

As God’s new creation we actually want to obey His law – not because it gets us anything, but because of our love for Him. We still say with the Psalmist in his ageless words, “I desire to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.” (Psalm 40:8)

owledged by James Madison as the inspiration for the 3 branches of our government, judicial, legislative, and executive

“I . . . recommend my Soul to that Almighty Being who gave it, and my body I commit to the dust, relying upon the merits of Jesus Christ for a pardon of all my sins.”

—From the will of Samuel Adams, Father of the American Revolution, Signer of the Declaration of Independence

“The general principles on which the fathers achieved independence were the general principles of Christianity. I will avow that I then believed, and now believe, that those general principles of Christianity are as eternal and immutable as the existence and attributes of God.”

—John Adams, signer of the Declaration of Independence, judge; diplomat; one of two signers of the Bill of Rights; second president of the United States

d to the earth . . . nothing doubting but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mercy and power of God.”

—From the will of John Hancock, president of the Continental Congress and signer of the Declaration of Independence

“I give and recommend my soul into the hands of God that gave it: and my body I recommenMost historians agree that 17th- and early 18th-century Christian America was a light on a hill to the rest of the world. After such a noble beginning, how is it America finds herself where she is today – despised by most of the world? The answer must be some incisive change in the country’s spiritual course. 

What made 17th-century Colonial America unique among all the other nations? Many of the Colonies’ governments were based upon the laws of Yahweh1 instead of the laws of man. When Americans stopped believing in the perfection of Yahweh’s moral law and reverted to man’s law, everything changed. This occurred in 1788 when the States ratified the United States Constitution. 

Because they have never actually considered the Constitution from a Biblical paradigm, many Christian sources endorse the Constitution as a Biblical document created by Christian men. But, a document that promotes the will of the people over the will of Yahweh for his people is not compatible with the Bible. Neither can such a document be the answer to America’s current national crises. Rather than being the solution to America’s problems, could the Constitution actually be the genesis of those problems? The Constitution is not the Biblically compatible document we have been told it is. It actually conflicts with Christianity and is often hostile to both Yahweh’s sovereignty and morality. 

Christians2 have a responsibility to uphold Biblical principles in every sphere of life – including government. We will never become a nation that pleases Yahweh by promoting the Constitution. The key to what made America great (and what can restore her to her former greatness) can be found within the Scriptures. In Luke 11:52, Jesus3 declared the Pharisees had taken away the key of knowledge and kept others from entering the kingdom. The key of knowledge is Yahweh’s law: 

My people are destroyed for lack of knowledge: because thou hast rejected knowledge, I will also reject thee … seeing thou hast forgotten the law of thy God…. (Hosea 4:6)4

The Pharisees eliminated the key of knowledge with their man-made traditions: 

Why do ye also transgress the commandment of God by your tradition? …ye [have] made the commandment of God of none effect by your tradition. Ye hypocrites, well did Esaias prophesy of you, saying, This people draweth nigh unto me with their mouth, and honoureth me with their lips; but their heart is far from me. But in vain they do worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. (Matthew 15:3-9)

The commandments of men are also preventing the kingdom from being fully realized today. When the States ratified the Constitution, it set America on a path away from Yahweh’s law. This, of course, runs contrary to everything we’ve been told about the Constitution for more than 220 years. But a lie is still a lie regardless how often it’s been told. 

History doesn’t lie. Look at America before and since the Constitution’s ratification. Before 1788, America was principally Christian. Since 1788, America has become progressively less Christian in every respect. This alone speaks volumes about the Constitution. 

What has been the Constitution’s fruit? We have only to look at the last 200-plus years to know it shackled us with bondage and corruption, dishonest legislators, an inequitable court system, ungodly wars, and pervasive taxes: 

Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles? Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit. A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit. (Matthew 7:16-18)

Libertarian attorney Lysander Spooner (1808-1887) wrote that the Constitution “has either authorized such a government as we have had, or has been powerless to prevent it.”5 

Man-made surrogates never have and never will provide liberty. Forgiveness (liberty from our personal sins) is realized through Jesus’ blood-atoning sacrifice and resurrection from the grave. All other liberty is found in the implementation and enforcement of Yahweh’s perfect laws of liberty – never in the hollow promises of man-made covenants. Yahweh’s grace on the personal level and Yahweh’s law on the community level are our only means to true freedom. When either of these is abused, freedom is also abused. 

Except for occasional interference from the British kings across the Atlantic, this nation experienced its greatest liberty in the 1600s and early 1700s. From the ratification of the Constitution until now, our liberties have been whittled away. At present, we would be hard-pressed to find a nation with less liberty than the United States of America. 

This is difficult to accept, especially because we have so often been told the framers were godly men. Christian Constitutionalists are quick to share the framers’ Christian-sounding quotations. Hundreds of books, replete with such quotations, have been compiled, and no one can question that many of the framers and their disciples often said the right things regarding Yahweh, His Son, Christianity, and occasionally even His laws. However, such stand-alone statements mean very little. Thomas Jefferson made Christian-sounding statements, but no one would argue he was a Christian. 

Some people seem to believe the only thing necessary to prove one’s Christianity is an invocation of God. This erroneous and dangerous assumption opens the door to political abuse in the name of Christ and the Christian sanction of ungodly actions – including those of the framers. 

To date, the battle between Christians and secularists over the Constitution has been a war of quotations – and there are plenty to go around from both sides, often from the same framers. The framers may have recognized the Bible and Christianity’s influence upon society, but this does not mean they legislated and adjudicated according to Yahweh’s laws. One only needs to look at the record to know Yahweh’s laws have been ignored since the Constitution’s ratification. In order to conclude the framers were Christians, today’s Christian Constitutionalists have severed the framers’ words from their actions: 

Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven; but he that doeth the will of my Father which is in heaven. Many will say to me in that day, Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in thy name? And in thy name have cast out devils? And in thy name done many wonderful works? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, ye that work iniquity [anomian – lawlessness]. (Matthew 7:21-23)

Although some of the framers claimed to be Christians, they practiced lawlessness. They nowhere attributed the inspiration for any specific article or amendment in the Constitution to the Bible or the laws of Yahweh. Worse, they created “laws” contrary to those of Yahweh. The Constitution embodies the following serious Biblical infractions, among others: 

The Preamble’s substitution of a new national god in place of Yahweh.

Article 1’s usurpation of Yahweh’s legislative powers.

Article 2’s commandeering of Yahweh’s executive sovereignty.

Article 3’s supplanting of Yahweh’s judicial system.

Article 6’s repudiation of Christianity.

Amendment 1’s promotion of pluralism, polytheism, and idolatry.

Amendment 2’s replacement of the Biblical responsibility to bear arms.

Amendment 8’s condemnation of Yahweh’s judgments.

Although Christians expose and combat sin on many fronts, very few identify the Constitution as an idol of national prominence: 

It is possible for an idol to become so entrenched in the fabric of society that even the people of God fail to recognize it for what it is and to take steps to get rid of it. Our modern idols are not always easy to detect. They often take the shape of ideas and institutions woven into the warp and woof of our culture.6

A Christian’s devotion cannot be split between Yahweh’s law and man’s law. As Christians, and therefore subjects of the King of kings, our devotion is due exclusively to Yahweh, His kingdom, and His law.7 His battle, and thus His subjects’ battle, is not for constitutionalism, but for His kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven, governed solely by His perfect law. 

The law of YHWH8 is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of YHWH is sure, making wise the simple. The statutes of YHWH are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of YHWH is pure, enlightening the eyes. The fear of YHWH is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of YHWH are true and righteous altogether. More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. Moreover by them is thy servant warned: and in keeping of them there is great reward. (Psalm 19:7-9)

Christians must stop serving two masters. We must choose between the document that begins “We the People,” and the one that begins “In the beginning God.” As Yahweh’s ambassadors, we must choose between a government of, by, and for the people and a government of, by, and for Yahweh. Like Gideon in Judges 6, we must tear down our fathers’ idol and altar before we can restore Yahweh’s kingdom here on earth. 

Without question, this is a costly decision, but any cost incurred will be far exceeded by the rewards of choosing correctly: Yahweh’s pleasure and blessings, the legacy we leave our posterity, peace and prosperity, and the foundations for what will ultimately be the near elimination of crime. If WE THE PEOPLE be God, follow them. But if Yahweh be God, we must follow Him. 

The United States Constitution is a document few Americans have read and to which fewer yet have given any serious thought, especially from a Biblical paradigm. We must study Yahweh’s law and create a vision for His kingdom here on earth as it is in heaven (Matthew 6:10). You can explore the difference between Yahweh’s perfect law and the Constitution, beginning with the books Bible Law vs. the United States Constitution: The Christian Perspective (A Primer) and Law and Kingdom: Their Relevance Under the New Covenant. 

End Notes 

1. YHWH (most often pronounced Yahweh) is the English transliteration of the Tetragrammaton, the principal Hebrew name of the God of the Bible. For a more thorough explanation concerning the sacred names of God, The Third Commandment” may be read online, or the book Thou shalt not take the name of YHWH thy God in vain may be ordered from Mission to Israel Ministries, PO Box 248, Scottsbluff, Nebraska 69363 

2. Not everyone claiming to be a Christian has been properly instructed in the Biblical plan of salvation. Mark 16:15-16; Acts 2:36-41, 22:1-16; Romans 6:3-4; Galatians 3:26-27; Colossians 2:11-13; and 1 Peter 3:21 should be studied to understand what is required to be covered by the blood of Jesus and forgiven of your sins. For a more thorough explanation concerning baptism and its relationship to salvation, the book Baptism: All You Wanted to Know and More may be requested from Mission to Israel Ministries, PO Box 248, Scottsbluff, Nebraska 69363, for free. 

3. Yeshua is the English transliteration of our Savior’s given Hebrew name, with which He introduced Himself to Paul in Acts 26:14-15. (Jesus is the English transliteration of the Greek Iesous, which is the Greek transliteration of the Hebrew Yeshua.) Because many people are unfamiliar or uncomfortable with Yeshua, I have chosen to use the more familiar Jesus in this tract in order to remove what might otherwise be a stumbling block. For a more thorough explanation concerning the sacred names of God, “The Third Commandment” may be read online, or Thou shalt not take the name of YHWH thy God in vain may be ordered from Mission to Israel Ministries, PO Box 248, Scottsbluff, Nebraska 69363, for a suggested 

4. All Scripture is quoted from the King James Version. Portions of Scripture have been omitted for brevity. If you have questions regarding any passage, please study the text to ensure it has been properly used. 

5. Lysander Spooner, No Treason, No. 7, The Constitution of No Authority, http://praxeology.net/LS-NT-6.htm#.> 

6. Dennis Oliver Woods, Discipling the Nations: The Government Upon His Shoulder (Franklin, TN: Legacy Communications, 1996) p. 82. 

7. For additional information regarding Yahweh’s law and kingdom as they pertain today under the New Covenant, Law and Kingdom: Their Relevance Under the New Covenant may be read online, or the book may be ordered from Mission to Israel Ministries, PO Box 248, Scottsbluff, Nebraska, 69363

8. Where the Tetragrammaton (YHWH) – the four Hebrew characters that represent the personal name of God – has been unlawfully rendered the LORD or GOD in English translations, I have taken the liberty to correct this error by inserting YHWH where appropriate. For a more thorough explanation concerning the sacred names of God, “The Third Commandment” may be read online, or the book Thou shalt not take the name of YHWH thy God in vain may be ordered from Mission to Israel Ministries, PO Box 248, Scottsbluff, Nebraska, 69363

*In Matthew 10:8, we are admonished, “freely ye have received, freely give.” Although we have a suggested price for our books, we do not sell them. In keeping with 2 Corinthians 9:7, this ministry is supported by freewill offerings. If you cannot afford the suggested price, inform us of your situation, and we will be pleased to provide you with whatever you need for whatever you can send. 

d to the earth . . . nothing doubting but at the general resurrection I shall receive the same again by the mercy and power of God.”

—From the will of John Hancock, president of the Continental Congress and signer of the Declaration of Independence

“This is all the inheritance I can give to my dear family. The religion of Christ can give them one which will make them rich indeed.”

—From the will of Patrick Henry, Governor of Virginia, Firebrand of the Revolution

“First, I think it proper to express my unshaken opinion of the immortality of my soul or mind; and to dedicate and devote the same to the supreme head of the Universe—to that great and tremendous Jehovah,—Who created the universal frame of nature, worlds, and systems in number infinite . . . To this awfully sublime Being do I resign my spirit with unlimited. 

 the 

Being Ignored? 5 Things to Do Differently

“Dinner!” I called from the kitchen. I dumped the noodles in the colander, then headed to the stairs and called again. “Dinner time! Let’s eat!” I headed back to the kitchen, expecting to hear the rush of footsteps, but no sounds came. Maybe my kids would come in a few minutes. I set the table, hung up my apron, then listened again. Nothing. I could feel my temperature rising. “Hi, honey,” my husband said, coming in through the back door. “Are we ready to eat? Where are the kids?” Frustrated, I told him they were ignoring me. Seeing me frustrated made my husband frustrated. Seconds later, we both stood yelling up the stairs to our kids.   Has this happened to you? Does it feel like your child ignores you? I realized things needed to change in our household so we could enjoy each other more and spend less time yelling to get the kids’ attention.

God-Driven Joy Is Our Strength

Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.” — Nehemiah 8:10 Today, I continue with a new devotional series on joy, simcha — the joy found in the grateful acceptance and celebration of each day God has given to us. Join me as we explore teachings on the joy found in connecting with God and with others. A friend of mine recently went skydiving. As he described the ordeal of going up in the plane, getting ready for the jump, and then actually taking the plunge, I felt my own heart racing just imagining the scenario. And then he said something that really resonated with me. He said, “I was only able to enjoy the ride because I knew that an experienced instructor was on my back. If I had to rely on myself to make the jump successful, I would have been too terrified to enjoy it. But knowing that someone who knew what he was doing was with me allowed it to be the best experience of my life.” What my friend said about his instructor and skydiving reminded me of God’s presence in my life. How do we find joy in God? When we know that God literally has our back and is right beside us, taking care of us at all times, so we can sit back and enjoy the ride. Even when life seems difficult or scary, we know that a power greater than us is pulling the strings so that everything works out just right. This not only gives us joy, but also strength, so we can face difficulties with confidence and peace.

God-Driven Joy Is Our Strength

We see this lesson in the words of a verse from the Book of Nehemiah: “Nehemiah said, ‘Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.’” Think about that. “The joy of the LORD is your strength.” What a powerful message! Really, there are two ideas here. The first is that we can find joy in being connected to God in faith. The second is that this God-driven joy is also a source of strength. Like my skydiving friend, when we fully trust God, we can find joy even when life makes us feel like we’re falling out of an airplane!

Your Turn:

Real faith — and therefore real joy — means we know that God is good, and that He is in charge. Next time you feel yourself getting down, remember that the Creator of the world is right there working everything out for our greatest possible good. Let that be your strength and joy!  Vigil candles burn in the chapels throughout the upper church and lower crypt level of the National Shrine. Each candle represents the faith of the supplicants and their fervent prayers entrusted to the loving intercession of the Blessed Mother.  Saint Paul, the Apostle, Pray for Us! Light a Candle to Commemorate The Conversion of Saint Paul, the Apostle

O God, who taught the whole world through the preaching of the blessed Apostle Paul, draw us, we pray, nearer to you through the example of him whose conversion we celebrate today, and so make us witnesses to your truth in the world. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen Today, January 25, the Catholic Church commemorates the Conversion of Saint Paul, the Apostle. The Acts of the Apostles reveals that Saint Paul was initially known as Saul, a Pharisee who actively persecuted the early Christian Church. It was on the road to Damascus, that Saul experienced a conversion of heart after encountering the risen Lord. Having been thrown from his horse and blinded by a great light, he heard a voice ask, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?" To which Saint Paul replied," Who are you..?" Our Lord replied, " I am Jesus, who you are persecuting" (Acts 9:4-5). As a result of this revelation, Saint Paul turned to a life of missionary service; spreading the Good News of the Lord to many, especially the Gentiles. Moreover, his divinely inspired letters to the early Church are included in the New Testament and show the spread of Christianity throughout the region. In honor of the Feast of the Conversion of Saint Paul, we invite you to Light a Candle today at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. Vigil candles burn in the chapels throughout the upper church and lower crypt level of the National Shrine. Each candle represents the faith of the supplicants and their fervent prayers entrusted to the loving intercession of the Blessed Mother. Saint Paul, the Apostle, Pray for Us!

Then you will call, and the LORD will answer; you will cry for help, and He will say: Here am I."  (Isaiah 58:9)

 

 

Shalom Delana,

 

“Here I am — Hineini,” said Abraham, Moses, and the many prophets of God in response to Him calling their name.

 

Hineini! — הִנֵּֽנִי (pronounced hee-NAY-nee) is the joining (as happens in Hebrew) of two little words:  hineh and ani, meaning here and I.

 

Hineini is not like the modern Hebrew word po, which means present or here in the sense of taking classroom attendance.

Jewish men study at Yeshivat Sanz (a Jewish seminary) in Netanya, Israel.

 

Hineh by itself is often translated as Behold!

 

It tells people an important announcement is at hand.

 

With the Hebrew word ani, it proclaims, “I’m at Your service, Lord!”

 

But this is not a one-sided announcement.  God also tells us, "Hineini."

 

Let’s discover what our responsibilities are to our Creator, and what His intentions are toward us through this fascinating word.

Where Are You?

 

The Lord longs for us to respond to Him, to be near to Him, and place Him at the center of our lives because it is His deep desire to have an intimate relationship with us.

 

At first, He enjoyed intimate fellowship with Adam and Eve.  We don’t know how long that fellowship lasted but it was eventually torn apart.  Walking in the garden alone, the loving Creator calls out to Adam:

 

"The man and his wife heard the sound of the Lord God as He was walking in the garden in the cool of the day, and they hid from the Lord God among the trees of the garden.

 

"But the Lord God called to the man, 'Where are you?'

 

"He answered, 'I heard you in the garden, and I was afraid because I was naked; so I hid.'”

 

God was searching Adam’s heart, longing for him to say, “Hineini.”

 

Because they disobeyed God, Adam and Eve were afraid to come out of hiding as so many of us are.  Nevertheless, God is always longing to restore our relationship with Him.

 

God shows us His future Messianic redemptive plan when He calls Abraham to do the unthinkable — sacrifice his son, Isaac — a picture of how God would sacrifice His own son, Yeshua (Jesus).

God Appearing to Abraham at Shechem, by Pouwels Potter (1625–1654)

 

 

Abraham says, Here I Am

 

God calls out, “Abraham!” Without knowing what the Lord would ask of him, he answers, “Hineini.”  (Genesis 22:1)

 

When Abraham finds out that God wants him to prepare his beloved son Isaac as a sacrifice, he obeys.  As he places the wood on his son and they proceed to the place of the offering on Mount Moriah, Isaac calls out, “Father?”

 

Wanting to be present for his son’s needs as well as for God’s, Abraham again answers, “Hineini.”  (Genesis 22:7)

Then, one last time, as Abraham lifts the knife and readies himself to slaughter his son, the majestic Malach YHVH (Angel of God), calls out to him from Heaven: “Abraham, Abraham.”

 

He answers, “Hineini,” as God mercifully shows him the ram that will take Isaac’s place (Genesis 22:11).

 

Abraham illustrates God’s sincere desire as our Father in Heaven to restore our broken relationship with Him through the great cost of His only Son Yeshua.

 

Abraham also illustrates how God makes Himself available to us while longing to hear us say, Hineini — in fact, He says it and does it all the time.

 

“Then the angel of God (Malach Elohim), who had been going in front of the Israelite camp, moved and went behind them, and the pillar of cloud moved away from in front of them and stood behind them.”  (Exodus 14:19)

Scene from Prince of Egypt, depicting God’s presence in a pillar of fire lighting up the sky for the Israelites while also holding back the Egyptians. (YouTube capture)

 

 

Our Father God says, Here I Am

 

We need to understand that God not only wants us to be available to Him, He truly longs to be available to us.  He is a Personal God for each and every one of us.

 

God was with the Israelites as He brought them out of Egypt, guiding, protecting, and providing for them.

 

Several hundred years later, as Israel was about to be invaded by Babylon and taken into captivity for seventy years, God made His heart known:  He wanted “to be sought out by those who did not ask, to be found by those who did not seek Him.”

 

Though they did not call on His name, He still said to them, “‘Hineini, Hineini — Here I am, here I am.”  (Isaiah 65:1)

 

God is watching and waiting every day for our return, ready to embrace us and to celebrate our homecoming, our new life in Him.

 

Just like the prodigal son who returned to his father after fleeing from his presence, we too can present ourselves to our Father and hear Him say,

 

“For this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found.” (Luke 15:24)

Yeshua says, Here I Am

 

Yeshua, God in the flesh (In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. John 1:1) makes Himself available to us, always waiting for us to say, “Hineini.”

 

He calls to us during times when we have hidden ourselves from His presence.

 

“Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline.  So be earnest and repent.  Here I am! (Hineini!)

 

“I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears My voice and opens the door, I will come in and eat with that person, and they with me.”  (Revelation 3:19–20)

Yeshua promises to abide with us, if we allow Him in.

 

Only with His presence can we truly fulfill the call to be of service to God.  For Yeshua says,

 

“Remain in me, as I also remain in you.  No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine.  Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in Me.” (John 15:4)

Yeshua lived out Hineini, always at the service of His Father, doing His will, and with His help, so can we.

 

"I delight to do your will, O my God; your law is within my heart.”  (Psalm 40:8)

 

We too have been called to follow Jesus and to become "fishers of men." Peter and Andrew left their nets immediately and followed Jesus. We probably weren't asked to quit our jobs, or leave our families behind but we were called to be disciples. There's a saying that says, "Bloom where you're planted." I believe that this tells us to let Jesus come with us into our families, into our workplaces, into our neighborhoods and be examples of Jesus to others. If we are to be examples of Jesus' love, we must be loving. If we are to bring God's peace, we must have peace within us. To bring the hope that we have based on Jesus' gaining for us our salvation, we must be people of hope. If we want others to believe in a forgiving, accepting God, we must be forgiving and accepting in our own lives. Peter, Andrew, James and John were followed by another eight to become apostles, the twelve men closest to Jesus. One, Judas, would be tempted by greed, and possibly by fear and would turn away and betray him. Peter would deny him and the others run away out of fear, but these would have a change of heart and then would remain faithful to their deaths. We will have to decide for ourselves if we will answer Jesus' call, and we will also have to face the consequences of that decision. Being a disciple will never be an easy task. We might face rejection or ridicule from even our closest family members or friends. But the peace in our hearts that comes from staying close to Jesus cannot be replaced by anything the world has to offer.

God, 

You are the light of the world. Because of You, I no longer walk in darkness but in Your light. May my life reflect Your truth, pointing others to You and bringing glory to Your name.

Give me the strength and courage to share the hope that I have in You.

This world is broken, but You make what’s broken whole again.

This year, draw near to the lost, the lonely, and the hurting. And, please draw near to me.

May Your love bring us together, mending division and unifying Your global Church.

No matter what this year holds, You are faithful and Your promises are true.

Thank You for the eternal hope that I have in You. In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Popularly regarded as a fasting period, there are many ways to make the Lenten period meaningful without missing meals. What is Lent and why should one take part? Does every participant follow a strict Lenten plan of rigid self-denial?

I love the Old Testament. The stories within its pages provide timeless, multi-layered lessons for God’s people. One such story is Jacob’s wrestling with God, found in Genesis 32:22-32. In this short passage, there are key points we can apply to our own lives. Let’s take a look at the significance of this story and how it relates to our walk with God.

How Did Jacob End Up Wrestling God?

Before we can really understand the significance of Jacob’s wrestling match, we should review his life up to that point. Jacob was the son of Isaac and Rebekah, and the grandson of Abraham, whom God promised to make a father of many nations. Jacob had a twin brother, Esau, who was the first-born, but Jacob grabbed him by the heel during their birth. The name Jacob means “the Supplanter” or “to grab another’s heel.” Literally speaking, it means to take what belongs to someone else. God even told Rebekah that her older son would serve the younger.

When Jacob and Esau were grown, Jacob tricked his brother out of his birthright with a meal. Later, Rebekah conspired with Jacob to trick Isaac and steal Esau’s blessing. This resulted in Esau wanting to kill his younger brother, so Jacob fled. On his journey to his mother’s homeland, he had a vision of angels and a ladder to heaven.

When Jacob reaches Haran, he meets his match in his uncle Laban. Though Jacob is in love with Laban’s younger daughter, Rachel, he is tricked into marrying her older sister, Leah. Jacob persists, however, and is finally able to marry the object of his affections. Jacob worked many years for Laban. Because of God’s protection and Jacob’s intelligence, Jacob was able to take much of Laban’s herd for himself. Finally, God directs Jacob to return to the land of his father. The problem with that is it means Jacob will have to face Esau. Will his brother’s rage still burn after all of these years?

As he approaches home, Jacob sends messengers to Esau. They return to tell him that Esau is approaching them with 400 men. Things don’t look good for Jacob. He strategically divides his people and possessions and sends them across the Jabbok river. He stays behind and prays.

It is then that he encounters a man whom he wrestles with through the night. The man injures Jacob’s hip, but still, Jacob will not let go until the man blesses him. Jacob knew that he wasn’t wrestling a man, but God himself, and refused to let go until He blessed him. Jacob names the place where the wrestling match happened “Peniel” which means “Face of God.”

Here are five lessons we can learn from Jacob’s wrestling match with God.

Then flew one of the seraphim unto me, having a live coal in his hand, which he had taken with the tongs from off the altar: And he laid it upon my mouth, and said, Lo, this hath touched thy lips; and thine iniquity is taken away, and thy sin purged.

Isaiah was dirty and full of sin. He was unworthy to see God's holiness. Then the heavenly being took a hot coal from God's altar. He put it on Isaiah's lips and his sins were taken away and cleansed. Similarly, Jesus cleanses us who have faith in Him. He cleanses us and He makes us pure. Jesus Christ is our only hope of salvation from our wickedness. He is the only way to the Father and to heaven. Do you have faith in Jesus to remove your sins? If you cannot confidently answer, think and pray about it. It is always better to be sure. It is okay to not be sure; there is no shame in that. Get on your knees and ask God to reveal Himself to You. Proclaim your faith in Him and give Him your life. This is the way to salvation from your wickedness, sin, and the punishment you deserve – that we all deserve, but Jesus bore.                                            

Moses had brought the Israelites out of Egypt and now they were wondering if they were any better off! They had reached the Red Sea, and couldn't see any way around this barrier that had been placed before them. But God knew what he was doing and Moses followed his instructions and the sea parted so that the Israelites could pass through on the dry ground. A question sometimes asked at a job interview is, "What do you do when you face an obstacle?" How would you answer? Would you try to go around it, through it, or perhaps over it? Moses could not go around his obstacle and knew that without help, he could never bring all the people, animals, and supplies through it. So, he asked God for help. Was that the first thing you thought of? There is a saying, "If God brings you to it, he will bring you through it." The key here is to ask God to bring us through it.      

 consequences Jacob was up against. He didn’t deserve the blessing but was willing to face whatever judgment or consequence was necessary to receive it.

The consequence was not insignificant. The wrestling match left him lame, but Jacob had his blessing.

3. Our Identity Is in Christ

“The man asked him, ‘What is your name?’ ‘Jacob,’ he answered. Then the man said, ‘Your name will no longer be Jacob, but Israel, because you have struggled with God and with humans and have overcome’” (Genesis 32:27-28).

Jacob had an interesting heritage. By way of His grandfather’s faith, he was in the lineage of those who would multiply into many nations. He had inherited some of his grandmother Sarah’s jealousy, some his mother’s unscrupulous wit, and some of his father’s loyalty. He was named “supplanter” at birth and lived up to his name.

Jacob in his early years was a selfish man. His love for Rachel and his loyalty to her family changes him partially, but it’s in his wrestling with God that Jacob reaches a turning point. He is given a new name: Israel, the Prince of God.

What is the significance of a new name? It is a new identity. God does this many times throughout the Bible. Jesus does the same for every new believer.

“Therefore if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creature; the old things passed away; behold, new things have come” (1 Corinthians 5:17).

As we keep reading Genesis, we see that Jacob’s name switches back and forth from his old name to his new throughout his life. In Genesis 35:10, God reminds Jacob of his new name once again. This often happens with us. God gives us a new name — His beloved, a new creation in Him — but we forget who we are. Once we have wrestled with God, we should hold tightly to our new identity. We may stumble and forget who we are, but we can always come back to what God has called us to be.

4. God Wants Us to Know Him Intimately

“Jacob said, ‘Please tell me your name.’ But he replied, ‘Why do you ask my name?’ Then he blessed him there” (Genesis 32:29).

Jacob knew who God was. He knew God was the God of his father and grandfather. But the God Jacob wrestled with by the Jabbok was God in the form of man; the part of the trinity who would come to earth and who would bear “…our sins in His body on the cross, so that we might die to sin and live to righteousness….” (1 Peter 2:24.) During the wrestling match, God became the God of Jacob’s heart.

Many people know about God, but never have a true, life-changing encounter with Him. Knowing what God has done for others isn’t the same as understanding what He has done for you. God cares less about how successfully we appear to be living a righteous life and much more about the condition of our hearts. The only way to have a relationship with God is to spend time with Him. Reading the Bible, praying and worshipping with our hearts and minds fully focused on God brings us to a closer, more intimate relationship with Him.

Sometimes the biggest obstacle to spending time with God is ourselves. Our priorities get mixed up. I know that when I start my day by spending time in God’s word and/or praying, the rest of the day goes better. The actual events in my day don’t change, but my attitude does because the peace of God is with me.

5. Closeness to God Requires Humility

“The sun rose above him as he passed Peniel, and he was limping because of his hip” (Genesis 32:31).

Jacob was made lame by his wrestling match with God. For the proud, self-sufficient, quick-witted Jacob, this physical disability was a sign of his new humility.

Humility, as defined by Marriam-Webster, means, “freedom from pride or arrogance.” In our world, humility seems counter-culture and counter-success. But in God’s world, we become better people when set aside our pride and rely on Him. Jacob wasn’t the only biblical person who was humbled by God. We see the same kind of stories in Simon Peter and in the conversion of Saul to Paul. In fact, Paul would later write about a thorn in his flesh:

“Because of the surpassing greatness of the revelations, for this reason, to keep me from exalting myself, there was given me a thorn in the flesh, a messenger of Satan to torment me — to keep me from exalting myself! Concerning this I implored the Lord three times that it might leave me. And He has said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.’ Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong” (2 Corinthians 12:7-10).

No one would want to go through life with a disability or ailment to keep them humble, but God knows what we need and that our dependence on Him instead of ourselves is our greatest strength.

The sun was rising on Jacob as he limped away. He had a new ailment, but also a new identity, a new name, and a new intimacy with God.

The End of the Story

After Jacob’s wrestling match, he saw his brother Esau. Instead of killing him, his brother met him with an embrace and tears of joy. Esau had forgiven his brother. Jacob’s life was spared. Esau didn’t even want any of the possessions that Jacob offered him (though he accepted them at Jacob’s insistence). He only wanted to be right with his brother.

The rest of Jacob’s story isn’t a happily-ever-after. He would end up losing his beloved wife, Rachel, in childbirth. His favorite son would be betrayed by his older brothers and sold into slavery. Jacob’s life ends in a foreign land. Through it all, God reminds him time and again that He is with him and His promises hold true, even if Jacob can’t see how they are possible at the time.

As you read the account of Jacob’s wrestling match, what parts of his story can you identify with? Where do you need to seek forgiveness? Are you persevering in your pursuit of a relationship with God? How can you draw closer to Him and be humble? When we take the lessons God has for us from the stories in his Word, we can grow, have more peace, and be the man or woman God has called us to be.

                                                                               

We often face challenges in our lives, especially when we are trying to live as Jesus wants us to live. Have you ever been asked why you believe? If not you probably will be. It can be hard to find the right words at times, but God will give us the words if we ask. Just as he promised Samuel, Isaiah, and the other prophets, he will not leave us on our own and will give us the words we need when we need them. The next time you meet an obstacle, let God lead you over, under, around or through it. He will guide us in the right way to go.                              

Hundreds of years before Jesus was born, He was prophesied about. That He would restore and bring life not break and ruin. That he would bring forth judgment on the Earth, and people everywhere across the oceans would listen to what He had to say. Now thousands of years later, people all over the Earth still listen to what Jesus has to say. Jesus is glorified throughout all of history. People on every continent and in every country listen to His voice and read His Word.                                          

Jesus, thank You for bearing the burden and punishment of my sins and wrongdoings. You are the only way to come to the Father and to everlasting life. I place my faith in You and You only. I believe that You, Jesus, are the Son of God. I believe in the Father and Holy Spirit also. I believe in the trinity and that the Trinity is one. I put no one else before You in my priorities. If You are not at my center, remove idols from my life. I place my life, faith, and trust in You. I repent from my wrongdoing, and I come before You in faith. My life is in Your hands. I come to You because You are gracious and let me call on Your name. Amen.                                                                                                                            

The first thing Andrew did when He found out Jesus was Christ was to go tell his brother. Andrew went and got Peter and brought him to Jesus. Andrew could have been scoffed at or rejected by Peter if Peter did not believe Jesus was the Christ; yet, Andrew took him to Jesus anyways, and I'm sure he was glad he did. You have Jesus, and you love Him. Have you tried to bring your family to Him? Knowing Jesus is the only way to eternal life, wouldn't you want to try your best to introduce Him to your grandparents, mother, father, brothers, sisters, and cousins?                                                                                                            

Heavenly Father, give me the strength and courage to introduce You to my family. They need You. I want to speak to them about You. Help me to tell them about You well. Help me to answer questions they have and to try to find them the answers I don't know. Soften their hearts. Only You can bring them to You, so please do so. In Jesus' name. Amen.              

And when they had preached the gospel to that city and had taught many, they returned again to Lystra, and to Iconium, and Antioch, Confirming the souls of the disciples, and exhorting them to continue in the faith, and that we must through much tribulation enter into the kingdom of God.                                                                                          

Sometimes we grow weary as believers. Walking the road of faith gets hard. Other times it gets mundane. Sometimes doubt creeps in. We may even allow sin to fester in our lives and lead us to complacency and cease to listen to the Holy Spirit. But as believers, we can encourage our brothers and sisters to continue in the faith. Sometimes all someone needs is a reminder, encouragement, and support.                            

Heavenly Father, help my brothers and sisters. Give them strength and endurance to continue in the faith You called them to. Place people in their lives to encourage them. Bring them to a deeper love for You. Make them feel Your presence this week. Let them remember why they first loved You. You are our great love. You are the worthiest of our love. You are worthy of more than we can give. In Jesus' name. Amen.       

Father God, You sent Your son to the world to save us. He was with you in the beginning. People everywhere listen to His words. Jesus is amazing and true. Thank You for Your goodness, and that You build up and care for the weak. Help Your Church that is scattered all over the Earth. Unite us, Your Bride. Help us to glorify you and to proclaim Your gospel to the nations. In Jesus' name. Amen.                                                

When we reach a point of contentment, we are not moved by what another person does or does not have. Contentment prevents us from defining ourselves according to the world's values. We become content through God, in whom we know we have everything we need. Eternal life is the most important of it all.                                                              

Dear God, I thank you that I can be totally content with you. You have filled all the gaps and voids in my life. I know that I will never find contentment in this world; only in you and you alone. I pray that more and more of your children will come to realize this too, Lord. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.                                                                                    

 Sometimes people tend to take God's love and everlasting mercy as a way for them to continue living irresponsibly. When they are confronted about their actions, their response is "God loves me for who I am. " Yes, he does, but our love for Him should compel us to be convicted of our sins and confess them to him. God won't hold our sins against us; he is quick to forgive and swift to restore.                                 

Dear God, once again I would like to thank you for your endless love and everlasting mercy. Father, I am sorry for any time I have taken you or your love for granted. If there has ever been a time where I tried to use the grace you have given so freely as an excuse to live irresponsibly, I humbly confess where I have erred, and I receive your forgiveness. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.                                                      

 Dear God, I pray for those who have chosen to turn from you. Lord, I pray that something in their hearts will make them change their minds about you. May they experience your love, Lord, in all its fullness, and may they be compelled by this to know you more. In Jesus' name, I pray. Amen.                                                 

Someone once said that there are no u-hauls behind hearses. The implication is that you can't take it with you when you die. There's a story of a man who tried. When the doctors told him he had a short time to live, he converts some of this cash into gold bricks, puts them in a suitcase, and instructs that this suitcase should be buried with him. When he approaches the pearly gates carrying the suitcase, St. Peter stops him and asks to look inside the suitcase. The angel Gabriel asks, "What's in the suitcase?" "Pavement," replies St. Peter. The story illustrates that in heaven what we consider to be wealth on this earth is really nothing. Heaven's streets are paved with gold. That would be the equivalent of us finding some kind of value in asphalt or concrete chunks here on earth. We spent a lot of time trying to get things on this earth. We spend a lot of time working to get more and more and more stuff that we just don't need. If you don't believe it, take a look at what happens when a person dies without an heir. A lawyer has to come in, open up the house, and sell off all the belongings to settle the estate. Thousands and thousands of dollars worth of stuff--sometimes still in boxes--is sold for pennies on the dollar. An entire lifetime of obtaining things and the only thing that happens is that strangers come in to pick over the possessions at a giant yard sale. This passage tells us that we are to be content with what we have. We should be content with food and clothing. As long as our needs are met on a daily basis, that's really all we should ask for. Everything else is just bonus stuff and if we are spending time away from our families, if we're spending time focusing on getting rather than focusing on living, then we're being very foolish because we can't take it with us. When the end comes, all the stuff that we bought stays right here in our closets or our garages. While we're on this earth we need to make the right choices and be sure that we are able to be content with what we have. Then we may end up with a few things that we went. 

Childbirth can be a painful experience. Even with the best painkillers available, the stress and trauma of childbirth cannot be lessened greatly. A mother giving birth may travail in labor for hours. Her contractions may be painful and the birth process may be grueling. In that period of labor, she suffers greatly. But as soon as she sees the face of that newborn child, all of that passes away. The suffering, the pain, disappears and is replaced by joy. Here Paul gives us a similar situation. Paul explains here that the Gospel has great power to sustain us in times of trouble. He was not talking only about the trials that Christians in his time had to endure, but the sickness, pain, and trouble that all Christians, throughout time would have to endure. He says that no matter how difficult the suffering in this world is, it does not even compare to the glory that awaits us in heaven. The glory that will be revealed to us is so great in comparison to the suffering that preceded it. We will forget our former trials when we get a glimpse of that glory.         

We are children of God. Think about that for a minute. The God of the universe sent his son to be born of a woman on earth living under the law – a woman like us. He sent his son so that we might be free from this law – the law of sin and death. We are free because of his sacrifice, and we have been made sons and daughters of God through him. How amazing!                                                                                                                      

Paul cries out here in anguish over the indwelling sin that remained in him. He longs for the day when he will be free fully from the power of sin. While we live, a conflict is in us between the old and the new natures. It is a daily battle. It does not end until we leave this world, but God can help us subdue the flesh and live increasingly out of the new nature.              

 Father, I thank You for being with me in my trials. I know that I will have to suffer some in this world and I know I will have to go through trials. I also know, however, that what will be revealed to me when I finally see You face to face will make it all worthwhile. My suffering will fade to nothing as I see the glory of Your face. Amen.                                          

If we hate that which is evil, we will love that which is good. The two go together hand in hand. You cannot love God and love Satan; you cannot love God's Law and also love the paths of unrighteousness. At least, your heart of hearts and your new nature from the new birth will seek what is truly good; the old nature will seek sin, but the Christian must subdue and overcome it.                                                                                         

The age-old question of who's right! There's a commercial for an automobile company that uses the slogan "either/or, or both/and" that I kind of like. Not that I'm supporting the company, but because I believe we sometimes think in an either/or way when it's really important to be a both/and kind of person. In today's gospel, Martha is busy with hospitality and Mary extends hospitality in a quieter manner. We need both, and we need to be both. There are times when we need to be about doing what Jesus tells us to do, but if all we do is "do" and we don't take the time to listen, we just might get it wrong. Mary sits and listens to Jesus while Martha feels overwhelmed with her tasks. When Martha complains, Jesus tells her not to be anxious and worried, and I think that here is the key. When we take the time to sit and listen to Jesus and then move on to follow the will of God, we don't have to be anxious and worried; we can relax in the knowledge that we are doing our best, and that is what is required of us. Jesus doesn't say that what Martha is doing is unimportant; he just seems to imply that she shouldn't be so focused on her work, that she neglects her need for being present and listening. We, too, can be so busy doing that we forget to take the time to pray, to reflect on Scripture, and to sit and listen to Jesus. During the sometimes lazy days of summer, let us take advantage of the laziness and just sit in God's presence and reflect on who we are and who we are called to be so that when the time comes to be busy again, we'll be ready.              

 Micah is a prophet at around the same time as Isaiah and has come to prophesy punishment to those who are behaving in an unjust manner. Just because a person has the power or authority to act unjustly, doesn't mean that he should. One might think that harassment or schemes to defraud people of their property or their inheritance, are something new, but Micah lets us know that these things have been going on since antiquity. God isn't any happier today about these practices than he was then. Micah made known God's displeasure to the kings and leaders of the day. He warns that their unjust practices need to stop and that the people need to repent or else they are leaving themselves open to attack by armies greater than theirs.                                                                                  

 As we know, Assyria and Babylon both decimated Judah and Israel. Think about the Roman Empire, they too had fallen into such a moral decay that they were open to being overcome by Constantine. What about today? We have become lax in our time as well. Corporate takeovers that have little respect for the rights of the workers have become common. Even companies that have not been taken over have been known to change their policies and limit the benefits that their employees enjoy. Communities can take property away from individuals for schools, highways, and shopping centers, by eminent domain, and those who live on the properties are forced to move. Although owners are reimbursed, renters need to fend for themselves. Looking out for number one, whether personally, communally, or nationally can lead to ignoring the essentials and there is nothing to stop others from overcoming us.

 As Micah says, we need to work for justice if we want peace. And so still today, the Jewish people celebrate Passover and one of the traditions is for someone to ask why we celebrate this feast, and the youngest child answers with the story of the Passover. Jesus was celebrating Passover with his friends on the night before he died. I know this reading comes up during the summer, so it's not the time for Passover or the Passion of Jesus, but I have a question. What are our traditions surrounding the passion and death and resurrection of Jesus? Do we celebrate the end of Lent on Holy Thursday? Do we spend time with Jesus on Good Friday remembering his sacrifice? Is Easter all about candy and the Easter bunny? Today, many of our churches are practically empty on Easter Sunday and the children think more about an Easter egg hunt than God. Would the youngest member of the family be able to tell the story of why we celebrate? God brought the Israelites from slavery to freedom at the original Passover, but Jesus brought us from the slavery of sin and the freedom to celebrate eternity with him in heaven. One was temporary, and the other is permanent. Why is it that we take this celebration so lightly? Even though it's summer, let's take a moment to think about how the story of our faith is being passed on to our youth.                         

God's name as it is written in Scripture is either Jehovah or Yahweh, or just YHWH. All are translations of He is Who He is. Because the Jewish people did not call God by the name he gave Moses. It is for this reason that the Jewish people were so angry when Jesus said that before Abraham came to be I AM. To say God's name was to blaspheme. For the people of Moses' time, names had power. They felt that to use the name of God was to say that they had power over God, and so the name was sacred. I can remember an uncle of mine who would often take not just the Lord's name in vain when he was angry, but would also use it to curse whoever he was angry with. I'm sure you know many people who do the same without even blinking an eye.                                                     

Good Christians, all, who would be horrified if they were called on it. We are offended when people use foul language, why are we not offended when the Lord's name is taken in vain? A friend of mine used to work in the office of a major manufacturing company and the man who sat behind her was continually cursing the company and its managers. One day she had had enough and turned to him and said, "No wonder the company is going to pot, you keep asking God to damn it." He had never considered that he was both swearing and cursing, but he stopped. What about us? Do we need to clean up our speech, or ask others to do so? How do I praise God? God doesn't want an animal sacrifice he wants a sacrifice of the heart. He wants a joyous heart, a heart that bursts into song because it can't help itself. A heart is so full of gratitude that song is the only way a body can express it. I love music; I love to sing the songs of praise in church. I might not have the best voice but it's the one God gave me so he must think it's good enough. There is something about music that lifts the soul. It's no wonder that the psalms are music. In fact, this psalm even tells us which piece of music to sing it to – "Lilies!" When we think about it, some of the most glorious music was written for religious reasons: Handel's Messiah is but one example. When we listen to the anthems of many nations, we see how they give thanks and praise to God. Whether we raise our voices in song or not, what is important is that we raise our voices in thanks and praise to God. Our prayers acknowledge that we know who is in charge, to whom we owe everything, and who deserves our praise.                     

Lord, I pray for the older people who do not know You. I pray they will find Your love and joy. Let them lean on You for strength and understanding. Help them to smile and live out the remainder of their days for You. Get them the word if they don't have access to it. Bring Christians into their lives to speak life into them. You are the God who cares for the young and old, weak and strong, rich and poor. Bless our elderly and help us honor them. In Jesus' name. Amen.                             

The writer of this Psalm desperately wanted God to show His strength through him, an old man. He wanted everyone to know God's power. As we grow old, we can still show God's strength. As we become weaker, we can proclaim how strong He is. Do not lose heart as you grow old. The retired missionary now goes door to door to preach even though he's walking slowly. The woman who started doing jail ministry long ago is often decades later faithfully visiting the jail. Whatever God is calling you to, God is greater than your age.                                                     

Lord, as I grow old, let me still serve You faithfully. When I'm weak, help me to show others Your strength. Through wrinkles, let others see the joy on my face that comes only from You. Even if I'm moving slowly, let me still move for You. I will gladly do Your will until my last breath. If I'm on this earth, You have me here for a reason. I will continue to live for You. In Jesus' name. Amen.                                                                                  We were all introduced to our savior, Jesus Christ, through someone else. When we truly understand salvation, it is not enough for us to simply receive it. In our excitement, we will gladly go tell others about this miraculous savior. The prophet describes how when a city came to know the Lord, they rushed to pray and seek God so that they could go to another city to share this good news. The Word tells us we are commissioned to tell others the good news – let us go quickly!

 

 Author: Matthew  

When Written: A.D. 50-60 
Theme: Jesus the King 

 

Key Verse: 16:16–“Simon Peter answered and said, ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the Living God.’” 

 

Key Chapter: Matthew 12 -This chapter is the turning point when the Pharisees, acting as the leadership of the nation of Israel, formally reject Jesus Christ as their Messiah, stating that He comes not from God but from Satan.  

 

The Ole Testament prophets predicted and longed for the coming of the Messiah, who would enter history to bring redemption and deliverance. Through a carefully selected series of Old Testament quotations, Matthew documents Jesus Christ’s claim to be King of the Jews. Matthew also outlines the characteristics of the kingdom of God, both for Israel and the church. Jesus’ genealogy, baptism, message, and miracles all point to the same inescapable conclusion: Jesus is King, the long-awaited Messiah.  

 

President Thomas Jefferson believed the teaching of Jesus embodied the “most sublime system of morals" in the whole world. He stated, “We all agree in the obligation of the moral precepts of Jesus, and nowhere will they be found delivered in greater purity than in His discourses.” The book of Matthew details Jesus' discourses, especially through the Sermon on the Mount (chapter 5,6, and 7. I believe that these three chapters are the opening the eyes, of the heart.) 

 

The book of the genealogy is every important. Jesus, Himself is perfect, but it shows his earthly bloodline has many sinners in it. I thank You Heavenly Father, for Your, the Son of Man, whom began life the moment Our risen King walk out of the grave, Amen, Amen! 

 

 

FREEDOM 

 

Government and Nativity Scene 

 

Matthew 2:11 – And when they had come into the house, they saw the young Child with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh.  

 

Warren Earl Burger, Chief Justice of the United States from 1969 to 1986, delivered the Supreme Court’s opinion in the 1986 case Lynch v. Donnelly, which upheld that the city of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, did not violate the Constitution by displaying a Nativity Scene. Noting that presidential orders and proclamations from Congress have designated Christmas as a national holiday in religious terms for two centuries and in the Western world for twenty centuries, he wrote: 

 

 

 There is an unbroken history of official acknowledgment by all the three branches of government of the religion in American life. The Constitution does not require a complete separation of church and state. It affirmatively mandates accommodation, not merely tolerance, of all religions and forbids hostility towards any; Anything less would require the “callous indifference” we have said was never intended by the Establishment Clause. Indeed, we have observed, such hostility would bring us into a “war with our national tradition as embodied in the First Amendment’s guaranty of the free exercise of religion.  

 

George H.W. Bush placed his hand of Matthew 5 as he took presidential oath of office in 1989 

Matthew 5:1 – And seeing the multitudes, He went up on a mountain, and when He was seated His disciples came to Him, 

2 – Then He opened His mouth and taught them, saying: 

 

3 – “Blessed are the poor in spirit, 

For theirs is the kingdom of heaven.  

4 – Blessed are those who mourn,  

For they shall be comforted.  

5 – Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.  

6 – Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled.  

7 – Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy. 

8 – Blessed are the pure of heart, for they shall see God. 

9 – Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God. 

10 – Blessed are those who are persecuted for the righteousness’ sake, for there is the kingdom of heaven. 

11 – “Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake. 

12 – Rejoice and be exceedingly glad, for great is your reward in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.  

 

Moral Strength 

 

Then He opened His mouth and taught them Matthew 5:2 

 

The Moral Precepts of Jesus 

In a letter to Dr. Benjamin Rush in 1803, President Thomas Jefferson stated: 

 

The practice of morality being necessary for the well-being of society, He [God] has taken care to impress its precepts so indelibly on our hearts that they shall not be effaced by the subtleties of our brain. We all agree in the obligations of the moral precepts of Jesus, and nowhere will they be found delivered in greater purity than in His discourses. 

 

Honor  

Believers are Salt and Light 

 

Matthew 5:13 – “You are the salt of the earth; but if the salt loses its flavor, how shall it be seasoned? It is good for nothing but to be thrown put and trampled underfoot by men.   

14 – “You are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hidden. 

 

God’s Covenant People 

Peter Bulkley (1583-1659) was the Puritan leader who founded the city of Concord, Massachusetts. In his book of sermons, the Gospel Covenant, he stated: 

 

We are as city set upon a hill, in the open view of all the earth. We profess ourselves to be a people in covenant with God, and therefore the Lord our God, will cry shame upon us if we talk contrary to the covenant which we have promised to walk in. If we open the mouths of men against our profession, by reason of the scandalousness of our lives, we (of all men) shall have the greater sin. 

 

15 – Nor do they light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 

16 – Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven. 

 

Christ Fulfilled the Law 

 

17 “Do not think that I came to destroy the Law or the Prophets. I did not come to destroy but to fulfill. 

 

18 – For assuredly, I say to you, till heaven and earth pass away, one jot or one tittle will by no means pass from the law till all is fulfilled. 

 

19 – Whoever therefore breaks one of the least of these of these commandments, and teaches men so, shall be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does and teaches them, he shall be called great in the Kingdom of heaven. 

 

20 – For I say to you, that unless your righteousness exceeds the righteousness of the scribe and Pharisees, you will by no means enter the kingdom. 

 

21 – “You have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not murder, and whoever murders will be in danger of the judgment.’ 

 

22- But I say to you that whoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment. And whoever says to his brother, ‘Raca!’ shall be in danger of the council. But who ever says, ‘You fool!’ shall be in danger of hell fire. 

23 – Therefore if you bring your gift to the alter, and there remember that your brother has something against you, 

 

24 – leave your gift there before the alter and go your way. First be reconciled to your brother and then come offer your gift. 

 

25 – Agree with your adversary quickly, while you are on the way with him, lest your adversary deliver you to the judge, the judge hand you over to the officer, and you be thrown into prison. 

 

26 – Assuredly, I say to you, you will by no means get out of there till you have paid the last penny. 

 

Adultery in the Heart 

 

27 – “You have heart that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not commit adultery.’  

 

28 – But I say to you that whoever looks at a woman to lust her has already committed adultery with her in his heart. 

 

29 – If your eye causes you to sin pluck it out and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that one of your members perish, than for your whole body to be cast into hell. 

 

30 – And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and cast it from you; for it is more profitable for you that tone of your members perish, than for your whole body be cast into hell. 

 

Marriage Is Sacred and Binding 

 

31 – “Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ 

 

32 – But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery. 

 

Jesus Forbids Oaths 

 

33 – “Again you have heard that it was said to those of old, ‘You shall not swear falsely, but shall perform your oaths to the Lord.’ 

 

34 – Bu I say to you, do not swear at all; 

 

35 – nor by the earth, for it is his footstool; nor by Jerusalem, for it is the city of the great King. 

 

36 – Nor shall you swear by your head, because you can’t make one hair white or black. 

 

37 – But let your ‘Yes’ be ‘Yes,’ and your ‘No be ‘No.’ For whatever is more than these is from the evil one. 

 

Go the Second Mile 

 

38 - “You have heard that it was said, ‘An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.’ 

39 - But I tell you not to resist an evil person. But whoever slaps you on the right cheek, turn the other to him also. 

40 - If anyone wants to sue you and take away tour tunic, let him have your cloak also. 

41- And whoever compels you to go a mile, go with him two. 

42 – Give to him who asks you, and from him who wants to borrow you do not turn away. 

 

Love Your Enemies 

 

43 – “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ 

44 – But I sat to you, love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you,  

45 – that you may be sons of your Father in heaven; for He makes His sun rise on the evil and good and sends rain on the just and unjust. 

46 – For if you love those who love you, what reward have you? 

47 – And if you greet you brethren only, what do you do more than others? Do not even the tax collectors do so? 

48 – Therefore you shall be perfect, just as your Father in heaven is perfect. 

 

Do Good to Bless your Father in heaven  

Chapter 6 

1 – “Take heed that you do not do your charitable deeds before men, to be seen by them. Otherwise you have not reward from you Father in heaven. 

2- Therefore, when you do a charitable deed, do not sound a trumpet before you as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets, that they may have glory from men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 

3 – But when you do a charitable deed, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing, 

4 – that your charitable deed may be in secret; and your Father in heaven who sees in secret will Himself reward you openly. 

 

A Model Prayer  

5 – And when you pray, you shall not be like the hypocrites. For they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 

 

6 – But you, when you pray, go into your room and shut the door, pray to your Father in heaven who is the secret place; and your Father who sees the secret place will reward you openly. 

 

7 – And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they wil be heard for their many words. 

 

8 – “Therefore do not be like them. For your father knows the things you have need of before you ask him. 

9 – In the manner, therefore, pray: 

 

Our Father in heaven, 

Hallowed be your name. 

10 – Your kingdom come. 

Your will be done on earth as it is heaven. 

11 – Give us this day our daily bread. 

12 - And forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us. 

13 - And lead not into temptation, 

But deliver us from evil. 

For thy is the kingdom and the power are your NOW and FOREVER  

AMEN! 

14 – “For if you forgive men of their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. 

15 – But if you don’t forgive men of their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses. 

 

Fasting to be seen only by God 

 

16 – “Moreover, when you fast, do not be like the hypocrites, with a sad countenance. For they disfigure their faces that they may appear to men to be fasting. Assuredly, I say to you, they have their reward. 

 

17 – But you, when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, 

18 – so that you do not appear to men to be fasting, but to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. 

 

Layup Treasures in Heaven 

 

19 – “Do not lay-up treasures for yourselves on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in a steal; 

 

20 – but lay for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither moth nor rust can destroy and where thieves do not break in and steal. 

 

21 – For where your treasure is, there your heart will be as also. 

 

The Lamp of the Body 

 

 22 – “The lamp of the body is the eye. If therefore your eye is good, your whole body will be full of light.  

 23 – But if your eye is bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in you is darkness, how great is that darkness! 

 

You cannot Serve God and riches 

 

24 - “No one can serve two masters; for either he will hate the one and love the other, or else he will be loyal to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. 

 

Do not Worry 

 

25 – “Therefore, I say to you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink; nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more important than food and clothes?  

26 – Look at the birds of the air, for they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns; yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not more value than they?” 

27 – Which of you by worrying can add a cubit to his stature? 

28 – “So why do you worry about clothing?  Consider the lilies of the fields, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin; 

29 - and yet I say not even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these. 

30 – Now if God so clothes the grass of the field, which today is, and tomorrow is thrown into the oven, will He not more clothe you, O you of little faith? 

31 – “Therefore, do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or “What shall we wear?’ 

32 – For after all these things the Gentiles seek. For your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. 

33 – But seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness, and all these things shall be added to you. 

34 – Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things. Enough for the day is its own troubles. 

 

Abraham Lincoln placed his hand on Matthew 7:1, 18:7, and Revelation 16:7 as he took the presidential oath of office in 1865. 

7:1 – “Judge not, that you be not judged; 18:7 – “Assuredly, I say to you, whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven; Revelation 16:7 – For they have shed the blood of saints and prophets, and you have given blood to drinks. For it is their just due.” 

 

Religion Support the State: Moral Strength 

 

Matthew 7:24 – “Therefore whoever hears these sayings of Mine, and does them, I will liken him to a wise man who built his house on the rock: 

 

Robert Winthrop, a lawyer and philanthropist who saved as the Speaker of the United Stated house of Representatives (1847-1849), stated 

 

The voice of experience and the voice of our own reason speak but one language. Both united in teaching us that men may as well build their houses upon the sand and expect to see them stand, when the rains falls, and the winds blow, and the floods come, as to found free institutions upon any other basis than that of morality and virtue, of which the Word of God is the only authoritative rule, and the adequate sanction. 

All societies of men must be governed in some way or other. The less they have of stringent state government, the more they must have of individual self-government. The less they rely on public law or physical force, the more they must rely on private morals restraint. 

Men, in a word, must necessarily be controlled either by a power within them or a power without them; either the Word of god or by the strong arm of man; either by the Bible or by the bayonet.  

It may do for other countries and other governments to talk about state supporting religion. Here, under our own free institutions, it is religion which must support the state.   

 

Men Confess Christ before 

 

Matthew 10:32 – “Therefore whoever confess Me before men, him also I will also confess before My Father in heaven. 

33 – But whoever denies Me before men, him I also deny before the My Father who is in heaven. 

 

Worship: Good Works A tree is known by its Fruit 

 Matthew 12:33 – “Either make the tree good and its fruit good, or else the tree bad and its fruit bad; for a tree known by its fruit. 

 

Benjamin Franklin, one of America’s renowned Founding Fathers, wrote: 

 

I can only show my gratitude for these mercies from God, by a readiness to help His children and my brethren. For I do not think that thanks and compliments, though repented weekly, can discharge our real obligations to each other, and much less those to or Creator. 

You will see in this notion of good works, that I am far from expecting to merit heaven by them. By heaven we understand a state of happiness, infinite in degree, and eternal in duration. I can do nothing to deserve such rewards. 

The faith you mention has certainly its use in the worlds. I do not desire to see it diminished, nor would I endeavor to lessen it in any man. But I wish it were more productive of good works than I have generally seen it; I mean real good work; works of kindness, charity, mercy, and public spirit; not holiday keeping, sermon reading or hearing the performing church ceremonies, or making long prayers, filled with flatteries and compliments. 

The worship of God is a duty; the hearing and reading of sermons may be useful; but, if men rest in hearing and praying, as too many do, it is as if a tree should value itself on being watered and putting forth leaved, though it never produce any fruit. 

 

Marriage and Divorce    

 

Matthew 19:1-10 > Now it came to pass, when Jesus had finished these sayings, that He departed from Galilee and came to the region of Judea beyond the Jordan. And great multitudes following Him, and He healed them there. 

The Pharisees also came to Him, testing Him, and saying to Him, “Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife for just any reason?” 

And He answered and said to them, “Have you not read that He who made them at the beginning, made them male and female, and said “For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and two shall become one flesh’? So then, they are no longer two but one flesh. Therefore, what God joined together, let no man separate.” They say to Him, “Why then did Moses command to give a certificate of divorce, and to put her away?” 

He said to them, “Moses, because of the hardness of your hearts, permitted you to divorce your wives, but from the beginning it was not so, and I say to you, whoever divorces his wife, except for sexual immorality, and marries another, commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced commits adultery.” 

His disciples said to Him, “If such is the case of the man with his wife, it is better not to marry.” 

 

The Bible and Marriage; Family Values 

 

Our American society has been based upon the belief that the biblical view of a traditional marriage and family is the backbone of a civilized people. The biblical basis for understanding God’s intention for marriage is found in Genesis 2:24:  

“Therefore, a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh.” The creation of Adam and Eve (male and female) was the foundation of human civilization, and their union was the first marriage is marriage. Jesus also reminded us in the New Testament that marriage is an institution of God designed as a lifelong covenant relationship between a man and a woman (Matthew 19:1-6). 

 

God’s command to Adam and Eve was to go “be fruitful and multiply; fill the earth and subdue it” (Genesis 1:28). God’s design for procreation demanded the union of a man and a woman. From this sanctified union come children, who are born into a secure home with a father and a mother to love, nurture, and teach them how to become healthy, productive, and responsible citizens. God’s plan, and common sense’s plan all support a man and woman producing children within the institution of marriage. 

 Preserving the traditional family vital to the future of America. We must join together to maintain the heritage given to us - marriage is one man and one woman lovingly committed to each other for life. The family is a sacred institution; it is the basic unit of our society and essential to the well-being of the greater community. 

 

Defender; Defending the Unborn 

 

Matthew 25:40 – And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’ 

 

Henry Hyde served thirty-two years in the House of Representatives and was described as a passionate, eloquent champion and powerful defender of the unborn and of American freedom. On July 16, 1993, he stated: 

 

“That all men are created equal and are endowed by their Creator” – human beings upon creation, not upon birth. That is where our human dignity comes from. It comes from the Creator. It is am endowment, not an achievement. 

By membership in the human family, we are endowed by our Creator with “inalienable rights.” They can’t be voted away by a jury or a court. 

“Among which our life” – the first inalienable right, the first endowment from the Creator. That is mainstream America, the certificate. Th respect the right to life as an endowment from the Creator. 

It is the unborn who are the least of God’s creatures. We have been told that whatsoever we do for the least of these we do unto Jesus. 

 

SERVICE; John Eliot “Apostle to the Indians” 

 

The Great Commission  

Matthew 28:16 – Then the eleven disciples went away into galilee, to the mountain which Jesus had appointed for them. 

17 – When they saw Him, they worshiped Him; but some doubted. 

18 – And Jesus came and spoke to them, saying, “All authority has been given to Me in heaven and on earth. 

19 – Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and the Holy Spirit, 

20 – teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always even to the end of the earth.” Amen.  

 

 

The 1628 charter of the Massachusetts Bay Company stated that one of the chief purposes of establishing a colony in New England was “to win the natives of the country to the knowledge and obedience of the only true God and Savior of mankind.” The seal of the colony had pictures of an Indian and the words of the Macedonian to Paul from Acts 16:9, “Come Over and Help Us.” During the earliest years of the colony, however, the Puritans did all they could do just to survive and establish homes in the American wilderness. 

 

In 1637, the Puritans became involved in an inter-tribal war between the Narragansett and Pequot Indians. Though one might have expected otherwise, the Puritans often treated the Indians brutally. Many Pequot people were killed, and more were captured and sold into slavery. Later, in 1675 and 1676, a bitter armed conflict broke out in which over 600 colonists and 3,000 Native Americas died. Several hundred natives’ captives were tired and executed or sold as slaves. 

 

Surprisingly, the Pequot war triggered the earliest Puritan missions to the Indians. John Eliot, later known as the “Apostle to the Indians,” began learning the Algonquian language, spoken by the Indians put their faith in Christ and leave their nomadic lives to from villages that separated them from their pagan background. These became “praying Indian towns,” over a dozen self-governing communities where the Indians often made strict biblical laws punishing their former practices, including wife beating, polygamy, lying, and stealing. 

 

John Eliot translated the entire Bible into Algonquian. In 1663, this translation became the first Bible printed in America. Eliot also composed an Indian primer, an Indian grammar, and an Indian psalter. Other successful missionary endeavors followed. Harvard University (1636) began a training program for young Indian men minister to their people. At least six Boston area communities, thriving today, were started by Christian Indians. The famous island, Martha’s Vineyard, once was the site of Indian Christian congregations through the missionary endeavors of the Mayhew family. Dartmouth University had its beginning through the efforts of a Connecticut Puritan to train Indian young men to preach the Gospel. 

 

Chapter 2; MARK 

 

Author: Mark 

When Written: Around A.D. 65 

Theme: Jesus the Servant 

 

Key Verses: Mark 10:44-45 – “And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many.” 

 

Key Chapter: Mark – The pivotal event of the book lies in Peter’s confession, “you are the Christ.” That faith-inspired response triggers a new phase in Jesus’ ministry, where He begins to fortify His disciples for His coming suffering and death at the hands of the Jewish religious leaders. 

Mark, the shortest of the four gospels, give a crisp and fastmoving look at the dual of the life of Christ – His service and sacrifice. Through His teaching, preaching, and healing, Jesus constantly ministers to the needs of others, even to the point of death. Mark traces the steady building of hostility of his earthy ministry – to give His life as a reason for many. 

 

When Benjamin Franklin, the most famous Founding Father at our country’s birth, was confronted by a disgruntled American that his country had failed to provide him with the happiness it had promised, Franklin is said to have smiled and calmly replied “The Constitution only gives people the right to pursue happiness. You have to catch it yourself.” Similarly, Jesus gave his life to ransom our lives, but we must join Peter and confess that Jesus is the Christ, our personal Savior, to receive the eternal life He has for us. 

 

INSPIRING; Jesus forgives and heals a paralytic 

 Mark 2:10 – But that you may know that the Son of Man has power to forgive sins” – He said to the paralytic, 

11 – “I say to you, arise, take your bed, and go to your house.” 

12 – Immediately he arose, took up his bed and went out in the presents of them all, so that all were amazed and glorified God, saying, “We never saw anything like this!” 

 

The Blessed Influence of Jesus 

 William Cullen Bryant (1794-1878), known as the “Father of American Poets” and long-time editor of the New York Evening Post, wrote: 

 

The very men who, in the pride of their investigations into the secrets of the internal world, turn a look of scorn upon the Christian system of belief, are not aware how much of the peace and order of society, how much the happiness of household, and the purest of those who are the dearest to them, are owing to the influence of that religion extending beyond their sphere. 

In my view, the life, the teaching, the labors, and the suffering of the blessed Jesus, there can be no admiration too profound, no love of which the human heart is capable too warm, no gratitude too earnest and deep of which He is justly the object. 

 

WORSHIP; “Who but the Ruler of the Winds?” 

Light Under a Basket 

 

Mark 4:21 – Also He said to them, “Is a lamp brought to be put under a basket or under a bed? Is it not to be set on a lampstand? 

22 – For there is nothing hidden which will not be revealed, nor has anything been kept secret but that is should come to light. 

23 – If anyone has ears to hear, let him hear.” 

 

As the president of Yale College (1778-1795), Ezra Stiles gave a major Election Address entitled “The United States Elevated to Glory and honor,” before the governor and the General Assembly of Connecticut in May 1783, stating: 

 

In our lowest and most dangerous state, in 1776 and 1777, we sustained ourselves against the British Army of sixty thousand troops, commanded by, the ablest generals Britain could procure throughout Europe, with a naval force of twenty-wo thousand seamen in above eight men-of-war. 

Who but a Washington, inspired by heaven, could have conceived the surprise move upon the enemy at Princeton – that Christmas eve when Washington and his army crossed the Delaware? 

Who but the Ruler of the winds could have delayed the British reinforcements by three months of contrary ocean winds at a critical point of the war? 

Or what but “a providential miracle” at the last minute detected the treacherous scheme of traitor Benedict Arnold, which would have delivered the American army, including George Washington himself, into the hands of the enemy? 

On the French role in the Revolution, it is God who so ordered the balancing interests of nations as to produce an irresistible motive in the European maritime powers to take our part. 

The United States are under peculiar obligations to become a holy people unto the Lord our God. 

 

“Once I prophesied that this generation of Americans had a rendezvous with destiny. That prophecy comes true.” Franklin D. Roosevelt 

 

 

World War II 

 

In the close of his annual State of the Union message to Congress in January 1939, and with was about to break out in Europe, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt quoted Abraham Lincoln and said, “Once I prophesied that this generation of Americans had a rendezvous with destiny. That generation will ‘nobly save or meanly lose the last best hope of earth. The way is plain, peaceful, generous, just a way which if following the world will forever applaud and God must forever bless.’” 

One wonders if Roosevelt realized just how true his words would become for the great generation of young Americans he addressed. By 1940, most of mainland Europe had fallen to Nazi aggression. With German troops controlling Paris, Statin and the communists in the east were rapidly building up one of history’s largest ground armies to defend Russia. Japan had signed a ten-year military pact with Germany and Italy, forming an Axis power they were confident would eventually rule the world. 

With the Japanese attacks on Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941, Americans whose lives had been shaped by the trying times of the great Depression volunteered by the hundreds of thousands to fight the enemies abroad and to save the world from tyranny. Most of the world’s nations spilt into two opposing military alliances: The Allies and the Axis powers. Over 100 million military would engage in the battle, and over 60 million people, including about 20 million soldiers and 40 million civilians, were killed, making it the deadliest and most widespread war in history. 

By the D-Day invasion of Europe on June 6, 1944, 12 million Americans were in uniform, and over 16 million Americans would eventually fight in World War II. War production had taken over the nation’s industry, representing over 40 percent of the gross national product. When the Battle of the Bulge was fought in December 1944, over 6.5 million women were added to the nation’s work force since 1939. Valiant Marines planted the flag on Iwo Jima in February 1945, and on September 2, the Japanese signed the surrender agreement. Over 400,000 of America’s heroic young people gave their final measure of devotion in this war. 

From overcoming the misery of long years of economic depression in the 1930s, to defeating Nazism and Japanese society, this generation of Americans born for a “rendezvous with destiny” was undoubtedly the most influential of the 20th century. But what was it that made them a generation of patriots, heroes, and builders? 

Perhaps the answer was expressed through one of their own, Mitchell Paige, a recipient of the congressional Medal of Honor, the nation’s most prestigious military honor, for his actions at the Battle of Guadalcanal in the Solomon Islands. On October 26, 1942, after all of the other Marines in his platoon were killed or wounded, for hours Paige operated four machine guns, single-handedly stopping an entire Japanese regiment. Had that position fallen and the Japanese regained the airfield the Marines had taken, it is possible that the outcome of World War II may have significantly changed. 

In the years to come, Paige was repeatedly asked why he would be willing to put his life on the line for his country. He said that the answers took him back to Pennsylvania three-room country school where the children were so steeped in the traditions of America that they literally felt themselves a part of a glorious heritage -  where the teacher opened the school day with the Bible verse and the Pledge of Allegiance, and where they memorized all the great documents that established the bedrock of America, such as the Gettysburg Address. 

 

Trust in the Lord with all your hearts and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your path.” 

 

His response went this way: “My undying love of country, and my strong loyalty to the Marines fighting by my side, gave me no choice but to fight on unswervingly throughout my battles, utilizing my God-given ability to make use of what I had been taught and learned: 

 

When Paige left home to walk the two-hundred miles to the nearest Marine recruiting station in 1936, his mother packed him a lunch in which she included the note: “Trust in the Lord, son, and he will guide you always.” He said those words remained forever in his mind, and whenever fear would overtake him, he was comforted by them. 

Paige said, “I will never forget sitting in a foxhole, bloody, burned, and injured the morning after our all-night, fierce, hand-to-hand battle against an overwhelming Japanese force on Guadalcanal. I was alone except for hundreds of dead bodies of the enemy surrounding me. I emptied and out my pack looking for something to stop the bleeding from a bayonet wound and out fell my small Bible. Picking it up in my dirty, bloody hands, I could scarcely believe it when providentially it opened at Proverbs 3 and there were my mother’s words, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will direct your paths.” 

Mitchell Paige was true servant and patriot of America; and America is proud to have had hundreds of thousands of valiant soldiers cut from the same cloth. 

 

SERVICE: The Use of Power  

Mark 10:43 – Yet it shall not be so among you; but whoever desires to become great among you shall be your servant. 

44 – And whoever of you desires to be first shall be slave of all. 

 

In his 1989 Inaugural Address, George H.W. bush stated: 

 

We meet on democracy’s front porch, a good place to talk as neighbors and as friends. For this is a day when our nation is made whole, when our differences, for a moment, are suspended. 

And my first act a President is ap prayer. I ask you to bow our heads: 

  Heavenly father, we bow our heads and thank You for Your love. Accept our thanks for the peace that yields this day and the shared faith that makes its continuance likely. Make us strong to do Your work, willing to heed and hear Your will, and write on our hearts these words:  

“Use power to help people.” For we are given power not to advance our own purpose, nor to make a great show in the world, nor a name. There is but one just use for its power, and it is to serve people. Help us to remember it, Lord, Amen.  

HONOR  

Mark 12:17 – And Jesus answered and said to them, “Render to Caesar’s the things that belong to Caesar’s, and to God the things that belong to God.” 

And they marveled at Him. 

Restore the Constitution. Don’t Shred It. 

The Left is criminalizing the execution of the U.S. Constitution. 

The Deep State is undermining the rule of law and the conservative agenda. 

This is a constitutional moment for the American people. It’s a really big deal. It puts our republic at risk. 

Nearly every day there is a new leak, a new fake accusation, a new attempt to stop the President from doing his job, a new attempt to push the same false narrative on the American people. 

What we’re seeing today is, without a doubt, the shredding of the Constitution. 

At the ACLJ, we’ve spent the better part of three decades defending the Constitution. We’re taking direct action to fight back – to restore the Constitution. We’re in court battling the Deep State in numerous cases. We’re analyzing the law. We’re working on Capitol Hill to ensure the law is followed. 

We will restore the Constitution and root out corruption. But we need you. 

Petition to Restore the Constitution and Stop the Left and the Deep State from Shredding It 

 

Christ and Chaos: Mark 12:17 -  

Peter Marshall, the chaplain of the U.S. Senate (1947-1949) issued a call for Americans to honor God: 

The choice before us is plain: Christ or chaos, conviction or compromise, discipline or disintegration. I am rather tired of hearing about our rights and privileges as American citizens. The time is come – it is now – when we ought to hear about the duties and responsibilities of our citizenship. America’s future depends upon her accepting and demonstrating God’s government. 

 

INSPIRING 

 

Mark 16:14 – And He said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature. 

15 – He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 

 

The Haystack, Prayer Meeting 

 

In August 1806, five Williams College students met in a field for one of their twice-weekly prayer meetings, when a thunderstorm drove them to take refuge in a nearby haystack. Continuing in prayer, Samuel John Mills shared his burden that Christianity be sent aboard, and the group prayed that America missions would spread Christianity through the East. The Haystack Prayer Meeting held in Williamstown, Massachusetts, is viewed by many scholars as the spark that ignited American support for would missions for subsequent decades. 

In 1808, the Haystack Prayer group and other Williams students formed “The Brethren,” a society organized to “effect, in the persons of its members, a mission to the heathen.” Within a few years, they inspired the founding of the American Board of Commissioners for Foreign Mission (ABCFM). Several of the students, including Adoniram Judson, went to recruit others and later helped organize missions sent from America in 1812), and Samuel Mills stayed stateside to recruit others and later helped organize the American bible Society and the United Foreign Missionary Society. 

In its first fifty years, the ABCFM sent over 1,250 missionaries. In 1961, the American Board merged to form the United Church Board for World Missions (UCBWM). After 150 years, the American Board had sent out nearly 5,000 missionaries to 34 different fields, and it all began with five young men praying in a haystack.  

 

LUKE 

 

Author: Luke 

When Written: Around 62 A.D. 

Theme: Jesus the Son of Man 

 

Key Verse: Luke 19:10 – “for the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost.” 

 

Key Chapter: Luke 15 – The three parables of the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin, and the Lost Son capture the crux of this gospel: that God through Christ has come to seek and to save lost people. 

 

Luke, a physician, writes the compassion of a family doctor as he carefully documents the perfect humanity of the Son of Man, Jesus Christ. He built the gospel narrative on the foundation of historical reliability, emphasizing Jesus’ ancestry, birth, and early life before moving opposition develop side by side, with the opposition finally leading to the death of the Son of Man on the cross. But Jesus’ resurrection insured that His purpose of saving lost is fulfilled. 

 

Christianity welcomes examination into its authenticity, that the inquirer might “know the certainty” of its truth (Luke 1:4 – that you may know the certainty of those things in which you were instructed.) 

Alexander Hamilton, a singer of the Constitution and one of America’s first constitutional lawyers. Made such an investigation and concluded, “I have carefully examined the evidence of the Christian religion, and if I was sitting as a juror upon its authenticity, I would unhesitatingly give my verdict in its favor. I can prove the truth as clearly as any proposition ever submitted to the mind of man.” 

 

The Song of Mary; Luke1:46-56   

 “My soul magnifies the Lord, 

And my spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior. 

For He has regarded the lowly state His maidservant; For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed. 

For He who is Mighty has done a mighty thing for me. 

And holy is his name. 

From generation to generation. 

He has shown strength with His arm; He has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. 

He has out down mighty from their thrones, 

And exalted the lowly. 

He has filled the hungry with good things, 

And the rich he has sent away empty. 

He has helped His servant Israel, 

In remembrance of His mercy. 

As He spoke to our fathers, 

To Abraham and to his seed forever.” 

 

And Mary remained with her about three months and returned to her house. 

 

DEFENDER 

Luke 2:14 – “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace and good will towards men!” 

 

Watchmen on the Walls 

 

These are the unforgettable words John F. Kennedy was to deliver in a luncheon speech on the day he was assassinated in Dallas, Texas November 22, 1963:  

 

We in this country, in this generation are, by destiny rather than choice, the watchmen on the walls of world freedom. We ask, therefore, that we may be worthy of our power and responsibility, that we may exercise our strength with wisdom and restraint, and that we may achieve in our time and for all time the ancient vision of “peace on earth, goodwill toward men.” That must always, be our goal. For as was written long ago. “Except the Lord keep the city, the watchmen waketh but in vain.” 

 

FREEDOM 

 

The Statue of Liberty 

 

Luke 4:18 – “The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, Because He has anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor: He has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those are oppressed; 

19 – to proclaim the acceptable year of the LORD.” 

 

The Statue of Liberty 

 

The Statue of Liberty was presented to the United States by the people of France in 1886. Locat3ed in New York Harbor and a welcome to all visitors, immigrant, returning Americans. Engraved on the bronze plaque and mounted inside the Statue of Liberty is the renowned sonnet by Emma Lazarus: 

 

The New Colossus 

Not like the brazen giant of Greek fame, 

With conquering limbs astride from land to land; 

Here at our sea-washed, sunset gates shall stand a mighty woman with a torch, whose flame is the imprisoned lightning, and her name Mother of Exiles. From her beacon-hand glows worldwide welcome; her mild eyes command the air-bridge harbor that twin cities frame.  

“Keep, ancient lands, your storied pomp!” cries she with silent lips, 

“Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me; 

I lift my lamp beside the golden door!” 

 

INTEGRITY: The Twelve Apostles 

Luke 6:12 – Now it came to pass in those days that He went out to the mountain to pray and continued all night in prayer to God. 

13 – And when it was day, He called his disciples to Himself; and from them He chose twelve whom He also named apostles: 

14 – Sion, whom is also called Peter and Andrew his brother: James and John; Philip and Bartholomew: 

15 – Matthew and Thomas; James the son of Alphaeus, and Simon called the Zealot; 

16 – Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot who also became a traitor. 

 

Benedict Arnold an American TRAITOR (1741-1801) was considered by many to be the best general and most accomplished leader in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. Without his early contributions to the American cause, some historians feel the American Revolution might have been lost. He secured the vital Lake Champlain route to Canada and led a daring march through the wilderness of Maine to attack Quebec. His heroic actions during the pivoted fighting leading up to defeat of Burgoyne at Saratoga was key to the American victory, which sealed the French alliance that helped guarantee independence for the country. Thanks in part to his friend George Washington, as of February 1777. 

But to despite being imaginative, daring, and courageous, his name has become a byword for treason in the United States. After marrying a beautiful young British Loyalist, Peggy Shippen, getting into deep debt, becoming frustrated over the lack of recognition he received, and being disgusted with congressional politics, Arnold negotiated his treason with Sir Henry Clinton, the British commander, promising to deliver the well-fortified American stronghold at West Point and its 3,000 defender for 20,300 sterling (about one million dollars today), an act that would devastate the American cause. 

Persuading Washington to place the fort under his command, Arnold moved in September 1780 to execute his treacherous plan. Fortunately, the plot was discovered just before the British attack, but Arnold already escaped. He was rewarded with a commission as a Brigadier General in the British Army and served the British with the same dynamic energy and daring, leading devastating attacks and causing much destruction the Americans. After the war, he returned to England and later died there, virtually unknown. 

The traitor Benedict Arnold abused his position of authority and trust, being willing to betray the entire was for American independence in order to win his own selfish success. He could have been one of the great heroes of the American Revolution, but selfishness and self-pity are formidable foes.  

 

EQUIPPER On Civil Liberty  

 

Luke 10:27 – So He answered and said, “You shall love the Lord, Your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your strength, and all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.’” 

  

Noah Webster (1758-1843) was an American lexicographer, textbook author, spelling reformer, political writer, word enthusiast, and editor. He has been called the “Father of American Scholarship and Education.” In his public-school textbook History of the United States, published in 1832, he stated:  

 

Almost all the civil liberty now enjoyed in the world owes its origin to the principles of the Christian religion. 

It is the sincere desire of the write that our citizens should early understand that the genuine source of correct republican principles is the Bible, particularly the New testament or the Christian religion. 

The religion which has introduced civil liberty is the religion of Christ and His apostles, which enjoins humility, piety, and benevolence; which acknowledges in every person a brother, or a sister, and s citizen with equal rights. This is genuine Christianity, and to this we owe our free constitutions of government. 

The moral principles and precepts contained in the Scriptures ought to form the basis of all of our civil constitutions and laws; All the miseries and evils which men suffer from vice, crime, ambition, injustice, oppression, slavery, and war, proceed from their despising or neglecting the precepts contained in the Bible. 

 

FEEDOM: “Duty to God” 

Luke 17:10 – So likewise you, when you have done all those things which you are commanded, say, ‘We are unprofitable servants. We have done what was our duty to do.’” 

 

The Boy Scouts of America believe that no member can grow into bed the best kind of citizen without recognizing an obligation to God. According, youth members and adult volunteers’ leaders obligate themselves to do their duty to God and be reverent as embodied in the Scout Oath and the Scout Law. But it hasn’t been without its share of legal battles. 

In the 1993 case of Welsh v. Boy Scouts of America, the United States Court of Appeals – Seventh Circuit ruled that the Boy Scouts could keep the phrase “duty to God” in their oath, and as a private organization they had the right to exclude anyone who refused to take oath. It stated: 

 

The leadership of many in our government is a testimonial to the success of Boy Scout activities; In recent years, single-parent families, gang activity, the availability of drugs, and other factors have increased the dire need for support structures like the Scouts.  

When the government, in this instance, through the courts, seeks to regulate the membership of an organization like the Boy Scouts in a way that scuttles its founding principles, we run the risk of undermining one of the seedbeds of virtue that cultivate the sorts of citizens our nation so desperately needs. 

 

Cases in 1995 and 1998 upheld the “duty to God” requirements for Scouts as well as leaders. 

 

Truth: The General Principles of Liberty 

Luke 21:33 – Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away. 

 

In a letter to Thomas Jefferson on June 28, 1813, John Adams wrote: 

The general principles, on which the Fathers achieved independence, were the only principles in which that beautiful assembly of young gentlemen could unite; And what were these general principles of English and American liberty, in which all those young men united, and which had untied all parties in America, in which all those young men united, and which had united all parties in America, in majorities sufficient to assert and maintain her independence. 

Now I will avow, that I then believe, and now believe, that those general principles of Christianity, are as eternal and immutable, as the existence and attributes of God; and that those principles of liberty, are as unalterable as human nature and our terrestrial, mundane system. 

 

JOHN 

 

Author: John 

When Written: Around A.D. 90 

Theme: Believe That Jesus Is the Son of Man 

 

Key Verses: John 20:30, 31 – And truly Jesus did many others signs in the present of His disciples, which are not written in this book; but these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that believing you have life in His name. 

 

Key Chapter: John 3 – Captured in the one verse (v.16), is the gospel in its clearest and simplest form: salvation and eternal life are gifts and are obtainable only through belief in Him. 

The Gospel of John is easily the simplest and yet the most profound of the Gospels, and for many people it is the greatest and most powerful. John sets forth His deity and His work for the specific purpose pf bringing his readers to spiritual life through belief in Jesus Christ. John’ Gospel is topical, not primarily chronological, and it revolves around seven miracles and seven “I am statements of Christ. 

When a student entered Harvard University in 1646, under the “Rules and Precepts” of the university, he agreed the “the main end of his life and studies” was found specifically in John 17:3: “And this is eternal life, that they may know You, the only true God, and Jesus Christ whom You sent.” In those days, a Harvard education place the knowing of Christ as the “only foundation of all sound knowledge and learning.”  

 

Christianity and Equal Rights 

 

When we look at history of the American, the abolitionist movement, the women’s suffrage when a monumental fight for freedom and justice was at hand, faith in God was there to strengthen the activists. We also see, unfortunately, that too often the staunchest to any of these movements came from sectors of the religious establishment of the day. 

The women’s rights movements in America was largely birthed out of the ranks of the abolitionist movement to end slavery. In 1848, at the Seneca Falls Convention in New York, activists Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B, Anthony began a seventy-year struggle to secure the right to vote for women. Nearly all the major leaders of the suffrage movement came from Christian backgrounds – women who believed that God created women as equals to men, and thus they demanded that the same rights guaranteed to men in the Constitution be extended to women. 

Some of these women included Lucretia Mott, an evangelical Quaker who helped to find the Anti- slavery Society in 1833: Angelina Brimke, who presented female anti-slavery petitions to the Massachusetts state legislature; as well as Lucy Stone. 

Not only did many churches ministers oppose suffrage, but they were also opposed to women owning property, getting university educations, and competing with men for wages. Most of the activists suffered mistreatment, were jailed. However, during the beginning of the twentieth century, women’s suffrage gained in popularity as more and more people began to realize that there was no biblical support for inequality between the sexes. Finally, President Woodrow urged Congress to pass what became, when it was ratified in 1920, the Nineteenth Amendment, which stated: 

“The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex.” 

 

“I Look to a Day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.”- By Martin Luther King Jr.   

The civil rights movement of the 1950’s and 1960’s was led primarily by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., who became the pastor of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church in Montgomery, Alabama, in 1954. At the time, the world around him was filled with inequality, oppression, and segregation of black citizens. Refusing to stoop to hate and bitterness, Dr. King connected his deep love of God with a powerful determination to achieve civil rights for African-Americans. He rose to national prominence as the leader of the movement through nonviolent, mass demonstrations, beginning with the Montgomery but boycott (1956), which after Rossa Parks was arrested for refusing to give her seat on a bus to a white man. The movement produced scores of men and women who risked and some who gave their lives to secure a more just and inclusive society. 

King and another Montgomery minister, Ralph David Abernathy, organized the Southern Christian Leadership Conference Jemison, Stanley Levison, Joseph Lowery. Bayard Rustin, Fred Shuttlesworth, C. K. Steele, and others. The organization drew its strength from leaders of the black church in the South. As president of the conference, King focused on the goal of black voting rights. 

Dr. King pursued his dream of a color-blind society through lectures, nonviolent marches, and protests. He suffered harassment, threats, beatings, incarceration – even his house bombed – but he kept marching for justice, equality, and peace. In 1963, during the March on Washington D.C.,  at the Lincoln Memorial, King delivered his famous “I Have A Dream” speech before 200,000 to 300,000 marchers, saying, “I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.” The speech beautifully and forcefully articulated the hopes and aspirations of the civil rights movement as rooted in two cherished national treasures – the Bible and the promise of true equality in the American Constitution. 

Subsequent years have been many visible triumphs for equality at the highest levels: Thurgood Marshall as Supreme Court justice, Colin Powell and Condoleezza Rice as Secretary of State, and Barack Obama as the President of the United States are just a few examples of how Dr. King’s dream of equal opportunity for all American has become more of a reality. 

 

Calvin Coolidge placed his hand on John1 as he took presidential oath of office 1925 

 

The Eternal Word 

 

John 1:1 – In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. 

2- He was in the beginning with God. 

3 – All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made. 

4 – In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. 

5 – And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it. 

 

John’s Witness: The True Light 

 

6 – There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 

7 – This man came for a witness, to bear witness of the Light, that all through him might believe. 

8 – He was not the Light but was sent to bear witness of that Light. 

 

INSPIRING 

 

Lighting the World 

 

Samuel Colgate (1822-1897), an American manufacturer and philanthropist of what has become the Colgate-Palmolive Company, stated:  

 

The only spiritual light in the world comes through Jesus Christ and the inspired Book; redemption and forgiveness of sin alone through Christ. Without His presence and the teaching of the Bible, we would be enshrouded in moral darkness and despair. 

The condition of those nations without a Christ, contrasted with those where Christ is accepted, reveals so marked a difference that no arguments are needed. It is an object lesson so plain that it can be seen and understood by all. May “the earth be full of the knowledge of the Lord, as the waters cover the sea.”  

 

Selfless 

John 3:16 – For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that who ever believes in Him should not perish but everlasting life. 

 

Freedom Abroad 

Colin Powell, the U.S. Secretary of State (2001-2005), serving under President George W. Bush, stated: 

Over the years, the United States has sent many of its fine young men and women into great peril to fight for freedom beyond our borders. The only amount of land we have ever asked for in return is enough to bury those who did not return. 

 

John 7:17 – Id anyone wills to do His will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.  

 

The Bible’s Divine Character 

Faith 

John 7:17 – If anyone wills to do his will, he shall know concerning the doctrine, whether it is from God or whether I speak on My own authority.  

Simon Greenleaf (1783-1853) was the Royall Professor of Law at Harvard and contributed extensively to the school’s development. In correspondence with the American Bible Society, he wrote: 

 

Of the Divine character of the Bible, I think no man who deals honestly with his own mind and heart can entertain a reasonable doubt. For myself, I must say, that having for many years made the evidences of Christianity the subject of close study, the result has been a firm and increasing conviction of the authenticity and plenary inspiration of the Bible. It is indeed the Word of God. 

 

The Bill of Rights 

 

During the debates on the adoption of the U.S. Constitution, some of its opponents, including prominent Founding fathers, argued that it failed to protect the basic principles of human liberty. While the Constitution spelled out the new government’s delegated power, it did not define the citizen’s rights or insure that the federal government would not infringe on the most basic of civil rights at a later point in time, as the British had done before and during the Revolution. In their formal ratification of the Constitution, several states conventions either asked for or understood that such amendments would be offered. 

 

The Bill of rights is the first Ten amendments to the Constitution. They were introduced by James Madison to the First U.S. Congress on 1791 as a series of constitutional amendments and came into effect on December 15, 1791, after being ratified by three-fourths of the Framers further defined the role of the federal government by defining certain actions it would not do. 

 

Without the Bill of Rights, basic human rights such as the freedom of religion and of speech, the freedom to assemble and to petition, the right to free press, and the right to keep and bear arms could have potentially been denied or repressed. The Bill of Rights prohibits unreasonable search and seizure, cruel and unusual punishment  

 

 

 

  

 The New Testament is the second, shorter part of the Christian Bible. Unlike the Old Testament, which covers hundreds of years of history, the New Testament only covers several decades, and is a collection of the religious teachings and beliefs of Christianity. The New Testament is not a single book written by one person, but, rather, a collection of twenty-seven books written in Greek by people from various places. There are many ways to interpret the New Testament. Millions of people view it as true scripture and use its teachings as the basis of their belief systems. Some biblical scholars interpret it as a work of literature that uses beautiful poetry to describe religious myths. Others study its ethical and philosophical ideas, as its stories of the faithful attempt to instill certain values and outline an appropriate way to live. 

The books of the New Testament were written in first- or second-century Palestine, a region that at the time was under the rule of the Roman Empire. Many of the stories are based on the rituals and beliefs of Judaism, as Jesus Christ and his disciples were all Jews. As a result, both Greco-Roman culture and Judaic traditions dominate the political, social, and economic scene of the New Testament. Judaism at that time was not a single tradition or set of beliefs, but contained many different divisions within itself. These divisions figure prominently in New Testament stories. The strictest Jews, the Sadducees, were the upper class of priests. They interpreted scripture literally and adhered to rituals strictly. It opposed them to oral tradition and to the concept of eternal life, since the latter is not discussed in the Hebrew Bible, or Old Testament. The Pharisees, in contrast to the Sadducees, interpreted Jewish law for laypeople and established Jewish life outside of the temple. They were more liberal in their acceptance of scripture, regarding oral tradition and the words of prophets as scriptural as well. 

Judaism at the time of Christ involved a rigid social hierarchy. I considered the temple and the high priests who worked there to be pure, holy, and closer to God than anyone else. The hierarchy continued with people who were Jews by birth, followed by converts to Judaism. Jews, were considered by Jews considered Gentiles, or non to be ritually impure and not in the service of God. The New Testament documents a shift in this hierarchy. Christians challenged the system in which birth into the Israelite community determined a person’s level of purity. They said, instead, that repentance and acceptance of the teachings of Jesus Christ determined a person’s purity. 

The writers of the books that now comprise the New Testament did not intend for their writings to replace or rival the Old Testament. The Christian scriptures were originally intended to be utilitarian documents responding to specific needs of the early church. It was only with the passage of more than a hundred years after Jesus’s death that Christians began to use the term “New Testament” to refer to the scriptures that the fledgling church was beginning to view as a single sacred unit. Early Christians viewed the New Testament as the fulfillment of promises made in the Old Testament, rather than as the replacement of the Jewish scriptures. 

The historical context of the New Testament greatly influences the way we interpret it as literature. Many of the speakers in the Bible address issues and problems unique to their moment in history, and a knowledge of the various cultural forces of biblical times provides a basis for understanding the characters’ motivations and reactions. Furthermore, the New Testament’s role as influential religious doctrine is another context. Just as historical situations shaped the development of the New Testament, the New Testament has also influenced the progress of history. Reading religious documents as literature requires an unusual understanding of the events surrounding the writing of the text. 

Structure and Composition 

Only in the second century A.D. did Christians begin to use the term “New Testament” to refer to their collection of scriptures. The New Testament, as we now know it is composed of twenty-seven books, but it was not originally written as a coherent whole. Jesus himself did not produce any written record of his work. The books that comprise the New Testament were mostly written in the century following his death, in response to the specific needs of the early church and its leaders. At the time of Jesus’s crucifixion in approximately 30 A.D., most of the first generation of Christians believed that the end of the world was imminent. They therefore considered it unnecessary to compose records of Jesus’s life. By the mid-60s A.D., however, most Christians who had known Jesus and witnessed his actions firsthand were dying. It became necessary, then, to produce works that would testify to Jesus’s life. As it became clear that the second coming of Jesus would be delayed, the leaders of the church composed works that would enable the nascent Christian Church to survive. 

The books that comprise the New Testament can be separated into three broad categories. First are the four Gospels: Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John. “Gospel” literally means “good news.” The “good news” to which these gospels refer is the life, teachings, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus of Nazareth. The Gospels usually appear first among the texts of the New Testament, with Matthew placed first of all. But the order of the New Testament is based on importance, not chronology. The Gospels were probably written between 65 and 110 a.d., with Mark written first and John last. 

The second category of texts in the New Testament are the letters from Paul. Paul of Tarsus was an early church leader and energetic missionary who spread the Gospel of Jesus across the Roman Empire, preaching to Gentiles as well as to Jews, who were the earliest targets of missionary activity. Paul wrote many letters to various Christian communities throughout the Mediterranean, settling points of doctrine and instructing new Christians in matters of faith. By the end of the second century A.D., Christian communities had collected thirteen letters that they attributed to Paul, and each letter became known by the name of the community or individual to whom it was addressed: Romans, 1 and 2 Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, 1 and 2 Thessalonians, 1 and 2 Timothy, Titus, and Philemon. A fourteenth letter, Hebrews, long accepted by Eastern churches, was accepted by Western churches in the fourth century A.D. The actual authorship and date of composition of many of these letters is seriously disputed, but it is generally agreed that Paul wrote some of them in the 50s A.D., making them the oldest existing Christian texts. 

Other books in the New Testament are somewhat harder to classify. Acts of the Apostles (known simply as Acts) is a continuation of the Gospel According to Luke, giving the history of the church in the years after Jesus’s crucifixion. Acts traces the expansion of the church, as it moves out from Jerusalem and spreads throughout the Gentile world. The protagonists of the book are Peter, the chief of the Twelve Apostles, who were Jesus’s closest disciples, and Paul of Tarsus, the greatest early Christian missionary. Also included in the New Testament are seven letters, known as the Letters to all Christians, or the Catholic—in its literal sense, meaning “universal”—Letters, which resemble extended homilies. These letters are generally understood to have been written after the Pauline letters: James, 1 and 2 Peter, 1, 2 and 3 John, and Jude. Finally, the Book of Revelation, written in the closing years of the first century, is an extended vision predicting the events of the end of the world and the second coming of Jesus. 

In its early centuries, the church was highly decentralized. Each individual church community collected its own sacred documents. The fragmented nature of the church was complicated by the difference in intellectual tradition between the East, which spoke Greek as its scholarly language and was ruled from Byzantium following the division of the Roman Empire, and the West, which spoke Latin and was centered in Rome. The process by which individual church communities came together to decide on a canon of sacred works, and the process by which they preserved those works, is not entirely clear. Criteria that seem to have been important in canonization include the authorship of the texts—texts presumed to have been written by apostles, such as Matthew, or by those who witnessed Jesus’s revelation firsthand, such as Paul, were given priority—and the importance and wide acceptance of the doctrine expressed in the texts. It is known that in the decades just before and after 200 A.D., church leaders widely accepted the sacred nature of a collection of twenty works, including the four Gospels, thirteen Pauline letters, Acts, 1 Peter, and 1 John. The remaining seven works—Hebrews, Revelation, James, 2 and 3 John, Jude, and 2 Peter—were cited from the second to the fourth centuries and accepted as scripture in some, but not all, churches. Finally, by the late fourth century, there was wide, but not absolute, agreement in the Greek East and the Latin West on a canon of twenty-seven works. 

It is generally agreed that the books of the New Testament were originally written in Greek, the scholarly language current at the time, and divided into chapters and verses. It is possible that a few books of the New Testament were originally written in Aramaic, a dialect popular among the Jews of Palestine, and most likely the language that Jesus himself spoke. 

 

   

      

 

   

  

 

 

      

     

Churches and religious charities are pressured – sometimes even forced – to disregard their faith by the government. 

Christian schools are being barred from public funding based on their religious beliefs. 

The right to hire individuals who share a church or a charity’s faith and the right to free exercise of their religious mission are two of the most important rights a religious organization possesses. 

Federal law and the Constitution protect the rights of churches and religious organizations, but many times those laws are ignored or unenforced. 

The ACLJ has fought these religious liberty cases in court and won. W

Judaism and Christianity: Abortion “Defending the Unborn.”

Abortion “Defending the Unborn.”

Matthew 25:40 > And the king will answer and say to them, Assuredly, “I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.”

1 Timothy 6:13 > I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate,

14>that you keep this commandment without spot blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing.

If you’re faced with an unwanted pregnancy, please read the beginning if this article about the Bible says about abortion.

Lets go to the Bible, the Word has to say.

Did you know it’s a crime to destroy an eagle’s egg in the United States? Yet mothers are willing to murder their own children and it is permitted. Women today society are careless and completely mixed up! Sex is allowed among young girls at a young age. From 11 up. I understand in some cultures a young girl is a woman when she reaches puberty. The physical part may be there but not the mental part.

And the scourge of abortion os worldwide. It had been reported years ago that

“Nearly a third of pregnancies in Europe end in Europe and the United States is not far behind.”

Girls today are careless in so many ways. Young girls of today have lost value and respect for themselves. Parents are to scared to chastise our children. The laws on the side of the children.

In China the number is an unthinkable 23 million per year. (China is only aloud one child, and most only want boys because they are able to field).

How does ending life in this way find such widespread acceptance? Many in favor a abortion make the woeful argument that what is growing in a woman’s womb in not really a human being. As long as the heart is beating, an unborn child is a, Human being right from the moment of conception. There is a reason for and only God. Has the right to say what happens. A child at any stage is not (or human) a piece of tissue.

Investigative Report A Small Victory for the Unborn:
By Delana Forsyth
Abortion “Defending the Unborn.”

Matthew 25:40>
And the king will answer and say to them,
Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.

1 Timothy 6:13>
I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate,
14>that you keep this commandment without spot blame until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearance.

If you’re faced with an unwanted pregnancy, please read the beginning if this article about the Bible says about abortion.
Let’s go to the Bible, the Word has to say.

Did you know it’s a crime to destroy an eagle’s egg in the United States? Yet mothers are willing to murder their own children and it is permitted. Women today’s society are careless and completely mixed up! Sex is allowed among young girls at a young age. From 11 up. I understand in some cultures a young girl is a woman when she reaches puberty. The physical part may be there but not the mental part.
And the scourge of abortion is worldwide. It had been reported years ago that

“Nearly a third of pregnancies in Europe end in Europe and the United States is not far behind.”

Girls today are careless in so many ways. Young girls of today have lost value and respect for themselves. Parents are too scared to chastise our children. The laws on the side of the children.
In China the number is an unthinkable 23 million per year. (China is only allowed one child, and most only want boys because they are able to the fields).
How does ending life in this way find such widespread acceptance? Many in favor abortion make the woeful argument that what is growing in a woman’s womb in not really a human being. If the heart is beating, an unborn child is a, Human being right from the moment of conception. There is a reason for and only God. Has the right to say what happens. A child at any stage is not (or human) a piece of tissue.
The case involves the constitutionality of a Louisiana state law requiring doctors who preform abortion to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital. The Supreme Court struck down a similar law in 2016, but the Court of Appeals or the Fifth Circuit upheld Louisiana’s statute, holding that the requirement did not impose a substantial burden on women’s abortion access. The Fifth Circuit explained how the Louisiana law had minimal impact on abortion clinics within the state.
Earlier this year Supreme Court granted a stay of the Fifth Circuit’s decision and the abortion facilities challenging the law asked the Court to review the case. The State of Louisiana will defend the Fifth Circuit’s ruling before the Court, but the state has also asked the Court to consider the issue of whether abortion facilities should be continued to be allowed to challenge state health laws regulating abortion clinics. The so-called “right to abortion” belongs to pregnant women. Yet the abortion clinics industry has filed countless lawsuits claiming that they have the right to defend women’s access to abortion. As a rule, in our legal system, you cannot sue to defend someone else’s rights. Most abortion facilities care much more about their bottom line than about the health and safety of women. It is that these abortion facilities are permitted to challenge every state legislative effort to protect women’s health.

Where do y put an end to Bull Sh! Planned Parenthood is nothing but a joke. I was 12 years old when they put me on birth control. Hello, I was 12! Really Planned Parenthood has never cared about women’s health. I can remember the lies they told me to get put me on the birth control. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania allowed this terrible to do what it wanted to me because I was underage. The only nice thing about the place is you can get free condoms.
The safety of a young girls at any Planned Parenthood is a huge health concern. Too many abortion clinics have abysmal track records, and yet they want the power to challenge state and safety regulations of these sick clinics. We cannot allow this to happen. Most of these abortion clinics are involved in mass murder of every ethnic person in the world. History has shown we can’t just take their word for anything, when it comes to health care in their facilities because they take young girls without insurance.

As the AMICUS brief stated:

Moreover, abortion businesses, which have a profit motives for women to choose abortion, (should serve 15 years just for the thought of murdering their child). They can’t be relied upon to present the full picture. Indeed, such businesses may be using statistics – despite the flaws described above. The impact of this case could be monumental. In fact, it could impact other pro-life laws. Earlier this year we told you about another historic victory for defenseless, unborn babies, when the State of Louisiana took a bold, bipartisan stand to protect life. The Louisiana’s Democrat Governor John Bel Edwards got passed the pro-life “heartbeat bill” in 79-23 vote.
At the time he signed the bill, Governor Edwards made a statement calling on all other state lawmakers to protect life:
“As I prepare to sign this bill, I call on the overwhelming bipartisan majority of legislators who voted for it to join me in continuing to build a better Louisiana that cares for the least among us and provides more opportunity for everyone.”

Obamacare requires every American to purchase health insurance, it requires every state to establish health insurance exchanges, and it dramatically expands Medicaid. Each of these – private health insurance program, exchanges, and Medicaid – can, and in some case are required to, provide coverage for abortions. The result is hundreds pf millions of dollars being funneled to the abortion industry every year and the greatest expansion of abortion since Roe v. Wade.
We must defend the precious unborn babies and support laws that offer alternatives to desperate mothers in crisis – sometimes the abortion industry is firmly against.
As the Supreme Court prepares to hear this case, we need you with us.
Act together.”

(CNN) — Reproductive rights advocates are concerned over a proposed abortion bill in Ohio that they say would not only ban abortion after six weeks of pregnancy but also require a medical procedure that’s never been done and may not actually work.
The bill could also lead to the death penalty for abortion providers in some cases.
Ohio House Bill 413 is 723 pages and is catching international attention.
RELATED: Abortion bill suggests doctors preimplant ectopic pregnancies
It would make it possible to charge doctors who end pregnancies with “abortion murder,” facing 15 years to life in prison unless the mother’s life was in danger or in certain aggravated cases, punishable by death.
“In a lot of ways, I think it makes Ohio look extreme and foolish” said Jessie Hill, associate dean for Academic Affairs at Case Western’s School of Law.
Hill specializes in Constitutional Law and Reproductive Rights.
“It is extremely unusual for a law that is purported to be a pro-life measure to go this far and to threaten people with the death penalty for seeking a healthcare procedure,” Hill said.
H.B. 413 would also require doctors try to save ectopic pregnancies, where the pregnancy is growing outside of the uterus, by replanting the fetus in the uterus — something even pro-life OBGYNs argue isn’t medically possible. Only god has the right to make this dissension no us.
“You can’t find a single medical expert to support the idea that there is this treatment, a viable treatment that is described in the bill,” Hill said.
When Gov. Mike DeWine signed the heartbeat abortion bill into law in April, he did so knowing that measure would be challenged in the courts as it immediately was.
“We have a vehicle for the United States Supreme Court so that should it be ready to do so it could revisit some of its prior rulings,” DeWine said.
Specifically, Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that legalized abortion across the country.

Ohio is one of several states with cases seeking to challenge Roe v. Wade — a move that pro-life groups feel faces greater odds once Justice Brett Kavanaugh was seated.
All of this is playing out ahead of 2020.
“We have a big chunk of our electorate on both sides that vote on that issue alone and they could agree with you on 99 percent of the other issues but if you differ with them on the issue of abortion you will never get their vote,” said Tom Sutton, a political analyst.
I pray that one day New York sees this law that Ohio is first to put into law for the unborn. Nobody has the right to kill anyone. The unborn don’t have the ability to defend themselves. On March 29th, 2020, there is a movie coming out called Unplanned. This story takes us to a whole new look at apportions from the unborn babies’ view. This movie will make you cry. I just seen the preview of the movie and I could not move. I sat and cried. My heart acts just setting here writing this article.
At one time in my life I was at one time for apportions: I was for those who got pregnant while being raped. I made that comment to my mother. She told me, “if I thought that you would not be here.” Loud and clear. After my mother gave me that bit of information about my life, I have been helping women understand that only God can judge us. And that there are many people out there that would love to have a child that can’t have one. One person’s pain can bring another person joy. No one has the right to play God in any way. When you try to do God’s job, your destiny will not be good. But once you allow god to be in your life everything in life gets easier. God loves you. I know what I am talking about. I have believed in God all my life. I held on to the love of Jesus being raised in a family who has always believed in God. I have gone through being beaten to every inch of my life by my dad at the age of two. My mother threw her body over mine to save my life. My daddy beat me often, later in life I forgave him.
I was raped off and on for years by members in my family over and over. I got one simple piece of advice from someone who I, thought was to be my best friend (looking back she wasn’t), don’t fight. I was always fighting people from me; I still do. Being young as I fought, I would get beat up more. After a while I just learned to stop fighting. NO still means NO.
The days of pro-life advocates pushing back against Roe v. Wade are over. Radical abortion activists have hijacked the Democratic Party and are ushering in a wave of laws that remove all protections from unborn children and even those born alive. The line has moved from abortion to infanticide.
It was on the anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision that made abortion legal across the country that New York lawmakers gave a standing ovation for legislation that would not only allow the killing of unborn children up until the moment of birth, it also stripped away protections for children who survive the life-taking procedure. The radical departure from previous law on the issue now takes away an infant’s right to a life outside the mother’s womb.
New York’s murderous law has been touted as a crowning achievement for Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The former altar boy has heard calls from Catholic bishops across the country for his excommunication. If Christians in other parts of the nation think that New York values are extreme and outside the church, the trend among Democrats has taken root in other states as well.
In Rhode Island, considered among the bluest of blue states, state Reps. Edith Ajello and Sen. Gayle Goldin have been floating a bill called “Reproductive Health Care Act” since 2017. The bill would eliminate any and all restriction for a woman to have an abortion up until the moment of birth. The bill seeks to change the language in existing law that puts some restrictions on abortion when the unborn child is deemed viable.
The new language would say that “the state, nor any of its agencies, or political subdivisions shall… restrict an individual person from terminating that individual’s pregnancy after fetal viability when necessary to preserve the health or life of that individual…”
R.I. state lawmakers are pressing to change existing law to include abortion up until the moment of birth if the mother’s “health or life” are at risk. While life-threatening situations would be rare, the use of the word “health” would likely extend to mental health as well. Should woman become emotionally distraught and decide to have a late-term abortion out of fear, the child would be killed. In many cases, women suffer from extreme guilt and anxiety for the remainder of their lives after such choices.
Like New York, liberal extremists are directing the party’s agenda, and abortion clinics such as Planned Parenthood and individual abortion doctors are big Democrat campaign donors. Both Gov. Gina Raimondo and Secretary of State Nellie Gerbera have ties to abortion money. By contrast, the pro-life lobby is relatively powerless in the union’s smallest state.
In Virginia, legislation has also been introduced to allow abortion right up until the moment of birth.
“How late in the third trimester could a physician perform an abortion if he indicated it would impair the mental health of the woman?” GOP Delegate Todd Gilbert reportedly asked the bill’s sponsor Kathy Tran.
“Through the third trimester,” Tran reportedly said “The third trimester goes all the way up to 40 weeks. . . . I don’t think we have a limit in the bill.”
The state’s governor had a further take on the proposed legislation that would go beyond children still in the womb. He indicated in a live interview that children’s lives could be conceivably taken post-birth.
“If a mother is in labor, I can tell you exactly what would happen,” Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam reportedly said in a live interview. “The infant would be delivered. The infant would be kept comfortable. The infant would be resuscitated if that’s what the mother and family desired, and then a discussion would ensue between the physicians and the mother.”
That discussion could result in the baby being legally murdered under the proposed Virginia legislation supported by the governor.
Given the reckless disregard for life by state-level Democrats, conservative Republicans in Congress have been moving forward with legislation designed to protect the lives of unborn children, implement criminal penalties against doctors who perform late-term abortions, and eliminate the possibility of post-delivery murder.
Pro-life Republicans proposed the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act in response to states such as New York, Rhode Island, and Virginia. Supported by senators such as Florida’s Marco Rubio and South Carolina’s Lindsey Graham among others, the bill says that “any health care practitioner present” is required to “exercise the same degree of professional skill, care, and diligence to preserve the life and health of the child” as a “reasonably diligent and conscientious health care practitioner would render to any other child born alive at the same gestational age.”
Democrats have blocked the bill from receiving a floor vote. Although gatherings such as the March for Life and others are garnering increased support, pro-life supporters are now fighting a battle that goes far beyond Roe v. Wade. Democrats have been killing babies for years. The Democratic evolved from a Communist Party.
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They’re using $100,000 stem cell therapies that replace worn-out, old cells with brand-new young ones.
New Yorker magazine says this expensive new therapy works like a charm: “Hollywood elites and billionaires are growing younger…”
Harvard Medical School reports “The findings represent a breakthrough in aging research…”
And Time Magazine proposes that the process of replacing aging cells may be as “simple as plucking out gray hairs.”
But now there’s something better and safer… and well within reach of the average person like me and you! It’s a remarkable “super-youth” capsule that replenishes your natural supply of stem cells…
Naturally – as in, just the way nature intended.
The result?
Old cells hobbled by a lifetime of abuse and bad habits can now be literally replaced with new ones. Energy levels, your heart, your joints, your brain – your whole outlook on life is profoundly improved.
The best part is it starts happening within minutes.
It’s working for aging Hollywood starlets, Silicon Valley and Wall Street millionaires, and its helping “over the hill” athletes regain their championship glory…
And now it can work for you, too.
This is the reason for the high demanded for abortions. People are willing to kill for their own benefit. Sick!
Three years ago, I had been diagnosed with Lupus an uncurable dieses. I was doing research about these horrible dieses; I came across something on stem cell research. I had contacted some place in California to find out about it. I was told it was a new kind of stem cell: man made like cloning. Including means that if you’re taking something in cloning it you must take it from something original. That means they had to use baby stem cells just to do the research for the lupus issues. I had to think long and hard about the issue that was at hand it wasn’t very easy, but I prayed and trust God to do the right thing for my life. And eventually because I listened to God’s way, I have been cured of this incurable disease called lupus. There is no reason to use stem cells for any reason for any type of research no matter Wat. God giveth God take it period when you end a life it is on your hands and it should be on your conscience not just the hands. Murder is murder no matter which way you look at it and it is a sin yes Christ died for our sins but we have no right to take anybody’s life no matter how big or how small the person may be it is still God’s decision on how to treat people not ours.
This is how passionate I am to help have babies. I have letters sent to me to help as many women as I can this letter is from a friend of mine:
Dear Delana,
Numerous pregnancy centers in our affiliate network are looking for volunteers. When I saw these requests, I thought of you.
I know you are passionate to save the unborn from abortion. I also know you believe that every parent considering abortion should receive whatever help they need to choose life. Can you become a volunteer at your local center?
You can use this secure link to learn more about the many ways to help your community through volunteering and also find your nearest pregnancy center. Give them a call to learn what their needs are and how you can help!
https://www.care-net.org/find-a-pregnancy-center
Delana, even if you can’t volunteer, please join me in praying for God to raise up thousands of new volunteers to enable our network to save more lives. And…if you can volunteer, please tell them Care Net national sent you!
Thank you for your support,
Jennifer
Jennifer Andreani
Director of Development
44180 Riverside Parkway, Ste. 200
Lansdowne, VA 20176
W: care-net.org

There is a link you can use to get help! Please use this link.
This is only one letter I have from a close friend of mine I have many letters in my email showing how to fight against abortion add I would like to thank all those who have given me their time and their Peace of Mind and their views on the abortion issues we’re all here to save lives not take lives away. I have gone too CNN I’ve gone to the C-SPAN, Fox News period I’ve gone to multiple churches from taxes to Ohio and around the world to get this interview and interviews from multiple people there are many they do not want to put their names in period And I don’t want to give up all my Contacts either. And much of my writing in my investigation IO all thanks to God himself and CBN 700 club Pat Robinson in all those who are at the CDN broadcasting system thank you for your help.
The Supreme Court just agreed to hear a major abortion case that will determine whether states can protect innocent babies and mothers.
Louisiana passed a law requiring abortionists to have hospital admitting privileges to protect health and safety; but after pressure from abortionists, the Supreme Court temporarily blocked it, endangering countless unborn babies and their mothers.
Without this protection, babies who survive abortion could still face grave danger, as could mothers who suffer complications during the horrible procedure.
We can’t just trust abortionists to do what is right for the health and well-being of babies who somehow survive their botched abortions.
This law could be an innocent child’s second chance.
The Supreme Court is acting and so are we. We’re preparing to file a critical new brief supporting this pro-life law.
We must be the voice of defenseless babies and protect the health of these desperate women in crisis.
The Supreme Court has agreed to reconsider the law. Overturning it could put the lives of countless babies and mothers in jeopardy.
Take crucial action to defend defenseless babies at the Supreme Court TODAY.
JaySekulow
ACLJ Chief Counsel
This are two letters written to me personally one from the chief counsel ACLJ and the other one from some private organization down in Virginia that are trying to stop abortions.
Last minute interview, from the Catholic Church:

U.S. bishops said abortion should be Catholic voters’ top priority. Here’s why they’re right.
Editor’s note: This piece is part of a series on abortion and politics. For other views, read “Should abortion be the most important issue for Catholic voters? Here’s a better question” and “After 50 years, the U.S. bishops’ focus on abortion has done little to change hearts and minds.”
When the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops held its annual fall meeting, the biggest news from its deliberations was the disagreement between several members over whether it is right to describe the issue of abortion as the “preeminent priority” for U.S. Catholics.
As bishops crafted an introductory letter to accompany “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship,” the U.S.C.C.B.’s document on voting, Bishop Robert McElroy of San Diego spoke in favor of adding a paragraph to clarify that Pope Francis views a number of other social issues as holding the same moral importance as abortion.
Bishop McElroy said the inclusion of the word “preeminent” before the letter’s mention of abortion is at least discordant with and perhaps inconsistent with the pope’s teaching. “It is not Catholic teaching that abortion is the preeminent issue that we face in the world of Catholic social teaching,” he added.
Archbishop Charles Chanut of Philadelphia pushed back against this claim, even as he agreed with Bishop McElroy that the pope’s language could be added to the letter. “I am against anyone stating that our stating [abortion] is ‘preeminent’ is contrary to the teaching of the pope. That isn’t true,” he said, noting that it “sets up an artificial battle” between the U.S. bishops and Pope Francis.
Judging from voting patterns, a great number of U.S. Catholics believe that the evil of abortion is merely one social issue among many.
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Though it is not clear how much weight U.S. Catholics give in practice to the bishops’ document as they make their choices at the ballot box, these disputes matter. Judging from voting patterns, a great number of Catholics in the United States believe something along the lines of what Bishop McElroy said: that the evil of abortion is merely one social issue among many, a moral problem to consider alongside the church’s teaching on a number of other evils.
To be sure, many Americans who describe themselves as Catholic no longer practice the faith—and thus are less likely to consider church teaching when they vote—but a large number of those who do consider church teaching choose to vote for Democratic candidates, even as those candidates have almost uniformly become dedicated to policies that preserve and expand access to abortion.
[Want to discuss politics with other America readers? Join our Facebook discussion group, moderated by America’s writers and editors.]
Even though, as Archbishop Chaput said, the church holds that all human lives have equal dignity—and that reality has various policy implications open to prudential disagreements among the faithful on issues like immigration and the climate—Catholic teaching has long held that the right to life is paramount. In other words, Catholics must prioritize the fact that every innocent human being has a right not to be killed, a truth that abortion directly attacks.
Catholics must prioritize the fact that every innocent human being has a right not to be killed, a truth that abortion directly attacks.
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Here is how Pope St. John Paul II put it in his apostolic exhortation “Christifideles Laici” in 1988: “The common outcry, which is justly made on behalf of human rights—for example, the right to health, to home, to work, to family, to culture—is false and illusory if the right to life, the most basic and fundamental right and the condition for all other personal rights, is not defended with maximum determination.”
Though the pope goes on to discuss a number of issues that violate human dignity, his writing makes clear that church teaching places a particular emphasis on opposing abortion because the right to life at conception is a prerequisite for every other human right.
“Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship,” meanwhile, warns against a “moral equivalence that makes no ethical distinctions between different kinds of issues involving human life and dignity.
We are called to defend the least among us, and there is no more weak and defenseless population than unborn human beings.
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“The direct and intentional destruction of innocent human life from the moment of conception until natural death is always wrong and is not just one issue among many. It must always be opposed,” the document says. Like “Christoffel’s Laici,” the bishops’ statement urges Catholics to take seriously “other serious threats to human life and dignity,” including war, environmental degradation and racism, but it carves out an unequivocal Catholic duty to oppose the direct killing of innocent human beings through abortion and euthanasia.
It would be a mistake to think that these statements are relevant only to forming one’s conscience when it comes to voting. Of course, Catholics can and must choose to defend innocent life, including the unborn, in a number of ways aside from how they cast their votes. But politics does matter, and the politicians that U.S. Catholics choose to support send a message about what we believe matters most.
“When a candidate supports abortion rights or assisted suicide the Catholic should have no doubt that this is opposed to the teaching of the church and should not vote for such a candidate,” C. C. Pecknold, a theology professor at The Catholic University of America, told Catholic News Agency before the 2016 presidential election.
If Catholics do not prioritize protecting human life at its very beginning in the womb and at its most vulnerable, our witness is weakened even if we go on to defend the dignity of human life at the margins in a variety of other circumstances. We are called to defend the least among us, and there is no more weak and defenseless population than unborn human beings.
This reality is not in tension with our call as Catholics to protect human life in a number of other ways, but especially considering that nearly one million unborn human beings are extinguished by abortion in the United States each year, we must prioritize using our votes and our voices to oppose that grave evil.

Author: Delana Zakrzewski

I am saved by the most High God for others sins against me any sins against the Lord God Almighty, Whose Son Jesus, washed us all of our sin by His presuses blood and beat death, by walking out of the Tomb View all posts by Delana Zakrzewski

Author Delana ZakrzewskiPosted onNovember 10, 2021CategoriesAmerican Government, The Laws of the Bible,, Beatings, from Canadian Police Officers, Behavior, Bible Education, Brothers and Sisters, Canada, Murder, Government, Mohawk, 1947, celebrities involved with Human-trafficking, God in America; the Tribe of Gad in America;, God's Laws, Hebrew Writing, Inspiration and Praying, Jesus is the Only Way to Remember, Let the World Know; Revelation, Memorial, Mother's in the Bible, Native Warriors; Tribal Justice;, THE HUMANRACE, The Love of God Our Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Toledo Police Lies, Mayors Office who is getting rich, and keeping the homeless, homeless, UncategorizedTagsAmerican Government, Behavior, Bible, depression, God and Country, Grieving, Hebrew, Human-trafficking; government, Inspiration and Prayers, Israel Military, Jesus, John, Let the World Know, marriage, Matthew, MLB, Mommy, Movies and Rock stars., Murder of a Nation; Canada's, Murdering of the Indigenous Innocents, NFL, obedience, POLITICIANS, Signs, Thanksgiving, the Word

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Judaism and Christianity: Abortion “Defending the Unborn.”

Abortion “Defending the Unborn.”

Matthew 25:40 > And the king will answer and say to them, Assuredly, “I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.”

1 Timothy 6:13 > I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate,

14>that you keep this commandment without spot blameless until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearing.

If you’re faced with an unwanted pregnancy, please read the beginning if this article about the Bible says about abortion.

Lets go to the Bible, the Word has to say.

Did you know it’s a crime to destroy an eagle’s egg in the United States? Yet mothers are willing to murder their own children and it is permitted. Women today society are careless and completely mixed up! Sex is allowed among young girls at a young age. From 11 up. I understand in some cultures a young girl is a woman when she reaches puberty. The physical part may be there but not the mental part.

And the scourge of abortion os worldwide. It had been reported years ago that

“Nearly a third of pregnancies in Europe end in Europe and the United States is not far behind.”

Girls today are careless in so many ways. Young girls of today have lost value and respect for themselves. Parents are to scared to chastise our children. The laws on the side of the children.

In China the number is an unthinkable 23 million per year. (China is only aloud one child, and most only want boys because they are able to field).

How does ending life in this way find such widespread acceptance? Many in favor a abortion make the woeful argument that what is growing in a woman’s womb in not really a human being. As long as the heart is beating, an unborn child is a, Human being right from the moment of conception. There is a reason for and only God. Has the right to say what happens. A child at any stage is not (or human) a piece of tissue.

Investigative Report A Small Victory for the Unborn:
By Delana Forsyth
Abortion “Defending the Unborn.”

Matthew 25:40>
And the king will answer and say to them,
Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.

1 Timothy 6:13>
I urge you in the sight of God who gives life to all things and before Christ Jesus who witnessed the good confession before Pontius Pilate,
14>that you keep this commandment without spot blame until our Lord Jesus Christ’s appearance.

If you’re faced with an unwanted pregnancy, please read the beginning if this article about the Bible says about abortion.
Let’s go to the Bible, the Word has to say.

Did you know it’s a crime to destroy an eagle’s egg in the United States? Yet mothers are willing to murder their own children and it is permitted. Women today’s society are careless and completely mixed up! Sex is allowed among young girls at a young age. From 11 up. I understand in some cultures a young girl is a woman when she reaches puberty. The physical part may be there but not the mental part.
And the scourge of abortion is worldwide. It had been reported years ago that

“Nearly a third of pregnancies in Europe end in Europe and the United States is not far behind.”

Girls today are careless in so many ways. Young girls of today have lost value and respect for themselves. Parents are too scared to chastise our children. The laws on the side of the children.
In China the number is an unthinkable 23 million per year. (China is only allowed one child, and most only want boys because they are able to the fields).
How does ending life in this way find such widespread acceptance? Many in favor abortion make the woeful argument that what is growing in a woman’s womb in not really a human being. If the heart is beating, an unborn child is a, Human being right from the moment of conception. There is a reason for and only God. Has the right to say what happens. A child at any stage is not (or human) a piece of tissue.
The case involves the constitutionality of a Louisiana state law requiring doctors who preform abortion to have admitting privileges at a nearby hospital. The Supreme Court struck down a similar law in 2016, but the Court of Appeals or the Fifth Circuit upheld Louisiana’s statute, holding that the requirement did not impose a substantial burden on women’s abortion access. The Fifth Circuit explained how the Louisiana law had minimal impact on abortion clinics within the state.
Earlier this year Supreme Court granted a stay of the Fifth Circuit’s decision and the abortion facilities challenging the law asked the Court to review the case. The State of Louisiana will defend the Fifth Circuit’s ruling before the Court, but the state has also asked the Court to consider the issue of whether abortion facilities should be continued to be allowed to challenge state health laws regulating abortion clinics. The so-called “right to abortion” belongs to pregnant women. Yet the abortion clinics industry has filed countless lawsuits claiming that they have the right to defend women’s access to abortion. As a rule, in our legal system, you cannot sue to defend someone else’s rights. Most abortion facilities care much more about their bottom line than about the health and safety of women. It is that these abortion facilities are permitted to challenge every state legislative effort to protect women’s health.

Where do y put an end to Bull Sh! Planned Parenthood is nothing but a joke. I was 12 years old when they put me on birth control. Hello, I was 12! Really Planned Parenthood has never cared about women’s health. I can remember the lies they told me to get put me on the birth control. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania allowed this terrible to do what it wanted to me because I was underage. The only nice thing about the place is you can get free condoms.
The safety of a young girls at any Planned Parenthood is a huge health concern. Too many abortion clinics have abysmal track records, and yet they want the power to challenge state and safety regulations of these sick clinics. We cannot allow this to happen. Most of these abortion clinics are involved in mass murder of every ethnic person in the world. History has shown we can’t just take their word for anything, when it comes to health care in their facilities because they take young girls without insurance.

As the AMICUS brief stated:

Moreover, abortion businesses, which have a profit motives for women to choose abortion, (should serve 15 years just for the thought of murdering their child). They can’t be relied upon to present the full picture. Indeed, such businesses may be using statistics – despite the flaws described above. The impact of this case could be monumental. In fact, it could impact other pro-life laws. Earlier this year we told you about another historic victory for defenseless, unborn babies, when the State of Louisiana took a bold, bipartisan stand to protect life. The Louisiana’s Democrat Governor John Bel Edwards got passed the pro-life “heartbeat bill” in 79-23 vote.
At the time he signed the bill, Governor Edwards made a statement calling on all other state lawmakers to protect life:
“As I prepare to sign this bill, I call on the overwhelming bipartisan majority of legislators who voted for it to join me in continuing to build a better Louisiana that cares for the least among us and provides more opportunity for everyone.”

Obamacare requires every American to purchase health insurance, it requires every state to establish health insurance exchanges, and it dramatically expands Medicaid. Each of these – private health insurance program, exchanges, and Medicaid – can, and in some case are required to, provide coverage for abortions. The result is hundreds pf millions of dollars being funneled to the abortion industry every year and the greatest expansion of abortion since Roe v. Wade.
We must defend the precious unborn babies and support laws that offer alternatives to desperate mothers in crisis – sometimes the abortion industry is firmly against.
As the Supreme Court prepares to hear this case, we need you with us.
Act together.”

(CNN) — Reproductive rights advocates are concerned over a proposed abortion bill in Ohio that they say would not only ban abortion after six weeks of pregnancy but also require a medical procedure that’s never been done and may not actually work.
The bill could also lead to the death penalty for abortion providers in some cases.
Ohio House Bill 413 is 723 pages and is catching international attention.
RELATED: Abortion bill suggests doctors preimplant ectopic pregnancies
It would make it possible to charge doctors who end pregnancies with “abortion murder,” facing 15 years to life in prison unless the mother’s life was in danger or in certain aggravated cases, punishable by death.
“In a lot of ways, I think it makes Ohio look extreme and foolish” said Jessie Hill, associate dean for Academic Affairs at Case Western’s School of Law.
Hill specializes in Constitutional Law and Reproductive Rights.
“It is extremely unusual for a law that is purported to be a pro-life measure to go this far and to threaten people with the death penalty for seeking a healthcare procedure,” Hill said.
H.B. 413 would also require doctors try to save ectopic pregnancies, where the pregnancy is growing outside of the uterus, by replanting the fetus in the uterus — something even pro-life OBGYNs argue isn’t medically possible. Only god has the right to make this dissension no us.
“You can’t find a single medical expert to support the idea that there is this treatment, a viable treatment that is described in the bill,” Hill said.
When Gov. Mike DeWine signed the heartbeat abortion bill into law in April, he did so knowing that measure would be challenged in the courts as it immediately was.
“We have a vehicle for the United States Supreme Court so that should it be ready to do so it could revisit some of its prior rulings,” DeWine said.
Specifically, Roe v. Wade, the 1973 decision that legalized abortion across the country.

Ohio is one of several states with cases seeking to challenge Roe v. Wade — a move that pro-life groups feel faces greater odds once Justice Brett Kavanaugh was seated.
All of this is playing out ahead of 2020.
“We have a big chunk of our electorate on both sides that vote on that issue alone and they could agree with you on 99 percent of the other issues but if you differ with them on the issue of abortion you will never get their vote,” said Tom Sutton, a political analyst.
I pray that one day New York sees this law that Ohio is first to put into law for the unborn. Nobody has the right to kill anyone. The unborn don’t have the ability to defend themselves. On March 29th, 2020, there is a movie coming out called Unplanned. This story takes us to a whole new look at apportions from the unborn babies’ view. This movie will make you cry. I just seen the preview of the movie and I could not move. I sat and cried. My heart acts just setting here writing this article.
At one time in my life I was at one time for apportions: I was for those who got pregnant while being raped. I made that comment to my mother. She told me, “if I thought that you would not be here.” Loud and clear. After my mother gave me that bit of information about my life, I have been helping women understand that only God can judge us. And that there are many people out there that would love to have a child that can’t have one. One person’s pain can bring another person joy. No one has the right to play God in any way. When you try to do God’s job, your destiny will not be good. But once you allow god to be in your life everything in life gets easier. God loves you. I know what I am talking about. I have believed in God all my life. I held on to the love of Jesus being raised in a family who has always believed in God. I have gone through being beaten to every inch of my life by my dad at the age of two. My mother threw her body over mine to save my life. My daddy beat me often, later in life I forgave him.
I was raped off and on for years by members in my family over and over. I got one simple piece of advice from someone who I, thought was to be my best friend (looking back she wasn’t), don’t fight. I was always fighting people from me; I still do. Being young as I fought, I would get beat up more. After a while I just learned to stop fighting. NO still means NO.
The days of pro-life advocates pushing back against Roe v. Wade are over. Radical abortion activists have hijacked the Democratic Party and are ushering in a wave of laws that remove all protections from unborn children and even those born alive. The line has moved from abortion to infanticide.
It was on the anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court decision that made abortion legal across the country that New York lawmakers gave a standing ovation for legislation that would not only allow the killing of unborn children up until the moment of birth, it also stripped away protections for children who survive the life-taking procedure. The radical departure from previous law on the issue now takes away an infant’s right to a life outside the mother’s womb.
New York’s murderous law has been touted as a crowning achievement for Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The former altar boy has heard calls from Catholic bishops across the country for his excommunication. If Christians in other parts of the nation think that New York values are extreme and outside the church, the trend among Democrats has taken root in other states as well.
In Rhode Island, considered among the bluest of blue states, state Reps. Edith Ajello and Sen. Gayle Goldin have been floating a bill called “Reproductive Health Care Act” since 2017. The bill would eliminate any and all restriction for a woman to have an abortion up until the moment of birth. The bill seeks to change the language in existing law that puts some restrictions on abortion when the unborn child is deemed viable.
The new language would say that “the state, nor any of its agencies, or political subdivisions shall… restrict an individual person from terminating that individual’s pregnancy after fetal viability when necessary to preserve the health or life of that individual…”
R.I. state lawmakers are pressing to change existing law to include abortion up until the moment of birth if the mother’s “health or life” are at risk. While life-threatening situations would be rare, the use of the word “health” would likely extend to mental health as well. Should woman become emotionally distraught and decide to have a late-term abortion out of fear, the child would be killed. In many cases, women suffer from extreme guilt and anxiety for the remainder of their lives after such choices.
Like New York, liberal extremists are directing the party’s agenda, and abortion clinics such as Planned Parenthood and individual abortion doctors are big Democrat campaign donors. Both Gov. Gina Raimondo and Secretary of State Nellie Gerbera have ties to abortion money. By contrast, the pro-life lobby is relatively powerless in the union’s smallest state.
In Virginia, legislation has also been introduced to allow abortion right up until the moment of birth.
“How late in the third trimester could a physician perform an abortion if he indicated it would impair the mental health of the woman?” GOP Delegate Todd Gilbert reportedly asked the bill’s sponsor Kathy Tran.
“Through the third trimester,” Tran reportedly said “The third trimester goes all the way up to 40 weeks. . . . I don’t think we have a limit in the bill.”
The state’s governor had a further take on the proposed legislation that would go beyond children still in the womb. He indicated in a live interview that children’s lives could be conceivably taken post-birth.
“If a mother is in labor, I can tell you exactly what would happen,” Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam reportedly said in a live interview. “The infant would be delivered. The infant would be kept comfortable. The infant would be resuscitated if that’s what the mother and family desired, and then a discussion would ensue between the physicians and the mother.”
That discussion could result in the baby being legally murdered under the proposed Virginia legislation supported by the governor.
Given the reckless disregard for life by state-level Democrats, conservative Republicans in Congress have been moving forward with legislation designed to protect the lives of unborn children, implement criminal penalties against doctors who perform late-term abortions, and eliminate the possibility of post-delivery murder.
Pro-life Republicans proposed the Born-Alive Abortion Survivors Protection Act in response to states such as New York, Rhode Island, and Virginia. Supported by senators such as Florida’s Marco Rubio and South Carolina’s Lindsey Graham among others, the bill says that “any health care practitioner present” is required to “exercise the same degree of professional skill, care, and diligence to preserve the life and health of the child” as a “reasonably diligent and conscientious health care practitioner would render to any other child born alive at the same gestational age.”
Democrats have blocked the bill from receiving a floor vote. Although gatherings such as the March for Life and others are garnering increased support, pro-life supporters are now fighting a battle that goes far beyond Roe v. Wade. Democrats have been killing babies for years. The Democratic evolved from a Communist Party.
“Super-Youth” Capsule Mimics $100,000 Stem
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The rich aren’t just getting richer…
Now they’re getting YOUNGER too!
What’s their secret?
They’re using $100,000 stem cell therapies that replace worn-out, old cells with brand-new young ones.
New Yorker magazine says this expensive new therapy works like a charm: “Hollywood elites and billionaires are growing younger…”
Harvard Medical School reports “The findings represent a breakthrough in aging research…”
And Time Magazine proposes that the process of replacing aging cells may be as “simple as plucking out gray hairs.”
But now there’s something better and safer… and well within reach of the average person like me and you! It’s a remarkable “super-youth” capsule that replenishes your natural supply of stem cells…
Naturally – as in, just the way nature intended.
The result?
Old cells hobbled by a lifetime of abuse and bad habits can now be literally replaced with new ones. Energy levels, your heart, your joints, your brain – your whole outlook on life is profoundly improved.
The best part is it starts happening within minutes.
It’s working for aging Hollywood starlets, Silicon Valley and Wall Street millionaires, and its helping “over the hill” athletes regain their championship glory…
And now it can work for you, too.
This is the reason for the high demanded for abortions. People are willing to kill for their own benefit. Sick!
Three years ago, I had been diagnosed with Lupus an uncurable dieses. I was doing research about these horrible dieses; I came across something on stem cell research. I had contacted some place in California to find out about it. I was told it was a new kind of stem cell: man made like cloning. Including means that if you’re taking something in cloning it you must take it from something original. That means they had to use baby stem cells just to do the research for the lupus issues. I had to think long and hard about the issue that was at hand it wasn’t very easy, but I prayed and trust God to do the right thing for my life. And eventually because I listened to God’s way, I have been cured of this incurable disease called lupus. There is no reason to use stem cells for any reason for any type of research no matter Wat. God giveth God take it period when you end a life it is on your hands and it should be on your conscience not just the hands. Murder is murder no matter which way you look at it and it is a sin yes Christ died for our sins but we have no right to take anybody’s life no matter how big or how small the person may be it is still God’s decision on how to treat people not ours.
This is how passionate I am to help have babies. I have letters sent to me to help as many women as I can this letter is from a friend of mine:
Dear Delana,
Numerous pregnancy centers in our affiliate network are looking for volunteers. When I saw these requests, I thought of you.
I know you are passionate to save the unborn from abortion. I also know you believe that every parent considering abortion should receive whatever help they need to choose life. Can you become a volunteer at your local center?
You can use this secure link to learn more about the many ways to help your community through volunteering and also find your nearest pregnancy center. Give them a call to learn what their needs are and how you can help!
https://www.care-net.org/find-a-pregnancy-center
Delana, even if you can’t volunteer, please join me in praying for God to raise up thousands of new volunteers to enable our network to save more lives. And…if you can volunteer, please tell them Care Net national sent you!
Thank you for your support,
Jennifer
Jennifer Andreani
Director of Development
44180 Riverside Parkway, Ste. 200
Lansdowne, VA 20176
W: care-net.org

There is a link you can use to get help! Please use this link.
This is only one letter I have from a close friend of mine I have many letters in my email showing how to fight against abortion add I would like to thank all those who have given me their time and their Peace of Mind and their views on the abortion issues we’re all here to save lives not take lives away. I have gone too CNN I’ve gone to the C-SPAN, Fox News period I’ve gone to multiple churches from taxes to Ohio and around the world to get this interview and interviews from multiple people there are many they do not want to put their names in period And I don’t want to give up all my Contacts either. And much of my writing in my investigation IO all thanks to God himself and CBN 700 club Pat Robinson in all those who are at the CDN broadcasting system thank you for your help.
The Supreme Court just agreed to hear a major abortion case that will determine whether states can protect innocent babies and mothers.
Louisiana passed a law requiring abortionists to have hospital admitting privileges to protect health and safety; but after pressure from abortionists, the Supreme Court temporarily blocked it, endangering countless unborn babies and their mothers.
Without this protection, babies who survive abortion could still face grave danger, as could mothers who suffer complications during the horrible procedure.
We can’t just trust abortionists to do what is right for the health and well-being of babies who somehow survive their botched abortions.
This law could be an innocent child’s second chance.
The Supreme Court is acting and so are we. We’re preparing to file a critical new brief supporting this pro-life law.
We must be the voice of defenseless babies and protect the health of these desperate women in crisis.
The Supreme Court has agreed to reconsider the law. Overturning it could put the lives of countless babies and mothers in jeopardy.
Take crucial action to defend defenseless babies at the Supreme Court TODAY.
JaySekulow
ACLJ Chief Counsel
This are two letters written to me personally one from the chief counsel ACLJ and the other one from some private organization down in Virginia that are trying to stop abortions.
Last minute interview, from the Catholic Church:

U.S. bishops said abortion should be Catholic voters’ top priority. Here’s why they’re right.
Editor’s note: This piece is part of a series on abortion and politics. For other views, read “Should abortion be the most important issue for Catholic voters? Here’s a better question” and “After 50 years, the U.S. bishops’ focus on abortion has done little to change hearts and minds.”
When the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops held its annual fall meeting, the biggest news from its deliberations was the disagreement between several members over whether it is right to describe the issue of abortion as the “preeminent priority” for U.S. Catholics.
As bishops crafted an introductory letter to accompany “Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship,” the U.S.C.C.B.’s document on voting, Bishop Robert McElroy of San Diego spoke in favor of adding a paragraph to clarify that Pope Francis views a number of other social issues as holding the same moral importance as abortion.
Bishop McElroy said the inclusion of the word “preeminent” before the letter’s mention of abortion is at least discordant with and perhaps inconsistent with the pope’s teaching. “It is not Catholic teaching that abortion is the preeminent issue that we face in the world of Catholic social teaching,” he added.
Archbishop Charles Chanut of Philadelphia pushed back against this claim, even as he agreed with Bishop McElroy that the pope’s language could be added to the letter. “I am against anyone stating that our stating [abortion] is ‘preeminent’ is contrary to the teaching of the pope. That isn’t true,” he said, noting that it “sets up an artificial battle” between the U.S. bishops and Pope Francis.
Judging from voting patterns, a great number of U.S. Catholics believe that the evil of abortion is merely one social issue among many.
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Though it is not clear how much weight U.S. Catholics give in practice to the bishops’ document as they make their choices at the ballot box, these disputes matter. Judging from voting patterns, a great number of Catholics in the United States believe something along the lines of what Bishop McElroy said: that the evil of abortion is merely one social issue among many, a moral problem to consider alongside the church’s teaching on a number of other evils.
To be sure, many Americans who describe themselves as Catholic no longer practice the faith—and thus are less likely to consider church teaching when they vote—but a large number of those who do consider church teaching choose to vote for Democratic candidates, even as those candidates have almost uniformly become dedicated to policies that preserve and expand access to abortion.
[Want to discuss politics with other America readers? Join our Facebook discussion group, moderated by America’s writers and editors.]
Even though, as Archbishop Chaput said, the church holds that all human lives have equal dignity—and that reality has various policy implications open to prudential disagreements among the faithful on issues like immigration and the climate—Catholic teaching has long held that the right to life is paramount. In other words, Catholics must prioritize the fact that every innocent human being has a right not to be killed, a truth that abortion directly attacks.
Catholics must prioritize the fact that every innocent human being has a right not to be killed, a truth that abortion directly attacks.
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Here is how Pope St. John Paul II put it in his apostolic exhortation “Christifideles Laici” in 1988: “The common outcry, which is justly made on behalf of human rights—for example, the right to health, to home, to work, to family, to culture—is false and illusory if the right to life, the most basic and fundamental right and the condition for all other personal rights, is not defended with maximum determination.”
Though the pope goes on to discuss a number of issues that violate human dignity, his writing makes clear that church teaching places a particular emphasis on opposing abortion because the right to life at conception is a prerequisite for every other human right.
“Forming Consciences for Faithful Citizenship,” meanwhile, warns against a “moral equivalence that makes no ethical distinctions between different kinds of issues involving human life and dignity.
We are called to defend the least among us, and there is no more weak and defenseless population than unborn human beings.
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“The direct and intentional destruction of innocent human life from the moment of conception until natural death is always wrong and is not just one issue among many. It must always be opposed,” the document says. Like “Christoffel’s Laici,” the bishops’ statement urges Catholics to take seriously “other serious threats to human life and dignity,” including war, environmental degradation and racism, but it carves out an unequivocal Catholic duty to oppose the direct killing of innocent human beings through abortion and euthanasia.
It would be a mistake to think that these statements are relevant only to forming one’s conscience when it comes to voting. Of course, Catholics can and must choose to defend innocent life, including the unborn, in a number of ways aside from how they cast their votes. But politics does matter, and the politicians that U.S. Catholics choose to support send a message about what we believe matters most.
“When a candidate supports abortion rights or assisted suicide the Catholic should have no doubt that this is opposed to the teaching of the church and should not vote for such a candidate,” C. C. Pecknold, a theology professor at The Catholic University of America, told Catholic News Agency before the 2016 presidential election.
If Catholics do not prioritize protecting human life at its very beginning in the womb and at its most vulnerable, our witness is weakened even if we go on to defend the dignity of human life at the margins in a variety of other circumstances. We are called to defend the least among us, and there is no more weak and defenseless population than unborn human beings.
This reality is not in tension with our call as Catholics to protect human life in a number of other ways, but especially considering that nearly one million unborn human beings are extinguished by abortion in the United States each year, we must prioritize using our votes and our voices to oppose that grave evil.

Author: Delana Zakrzewski

I am saved by the most High God for others sins against me any sins against the Lord God Almighty, Whose Son Jesus, washed us all of our sin by His presuses blood and beat death, by walking out of the Tomb View all posts by Delana Zakrzewski

Author Delana ZakrzewskiPosted onNovember 10, 2021CategoriesAmerican Government, The Laws of the Bible,, Beatings, from Canadian Police Officers, Behavior, Bible Education, Brothers and Sisters, Canada, Murder, Government, Mohawk, 1947, celebrities involved with Human-trafficking, God in America; the Tribe of Gad in America;, God's Laws, Hebrew Writing, Inspiration and Praying, Jesus is the Only Way to Remember, Let the World Know; Revelation, Memorial, Mother's in the Bible, Native Warriors; Tribal Justice;, THE HUMANRACE, The Love of God Our Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, Toledo Police Lies, Mayors Office who is getting rich, and keeping the homeless, homeless, UncategorizedTagsAmerican Government, Behavior, Bible, depression, God and Country, Grieving, Hebrew, Human-trafficking; government, Inspiration and Prayers, Israel Military, Jesus, John, Let the World Know, marriage, Matthew, MLB, Mommy, Movies and Rock stars., Murder of a Nation; Canada's, Murdering of the Indigenous Innocents, NFL, obedience, POLITICIANS, Signs, Thanksgiving, the Word

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• God and Country, Without God There is No Country! Psalm 33:12- “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD.”

Human Trafficking Survivor; God and Country, Without God There is No Country/ Judeo-Christian / America Belongs to God Blog at WordPress.com.

Are some wrongs too big to forgive?

Remember yesterday’s story about the unmerciful servant who refused to forgive his fellow servant, even after he had been forgiven an enormous debt? The Bible says that we, too, have been greatly forgiven.

According to Ephesians 2:1-5, before coming to Christ, we were dead in our transgressions (our wrongdoing against God). Not just wrong, not just embarrassed, not just guilty – dead. This is because the wages of sin is death, according to Romans 6:23. And because of this sin, we deserve God’s wrath – His ultimate judgment – by our very nature.

But God loves us so much that He made us alive in Christ. We no longer have to receive the harsh penalty that our debt deserves but can be set free from the terrible consequences of our actions. Not only that but we can be seated with Christ in the heavenly places to enjoy the privileges of being in God’s family for all eternity. Talk about a change in destiny! All because the Master chose to forgive us a debt we could not pay back.

Now . . . let’s consider the person that you need to forgive and set it against the backdrop of what you have been forgiven for. How do those two compare? I guess whatever was done to you is small compared to what has been forgiven you. Notice I didn’t say it was small itself. An elephant is large unless we compare it to a blue whale or the Milky Way galaxy. The terms “large” or “small” are all about perspective.

Jesus calls us to forgive because, in His eyes, nothing is too big to outweigh the forgiveness we have already received by God’s grace. Even the “large” wrongs done against us are small by comparison, even when they don’t feel small. This is why forgiveness isn’t based on a feeling but on truth.

Tomorrow we’ll learn more about how to take this truth and turn it into forgiveness, even when we don’t feel like it.

In spite of his sins, David remained faithful to Yahweh. When he died, his son Solomon became king. When asked what he wanted from God, he asked for wisdom. However, Solomon would give in to the demands of his wives and built multiple sacrificial altars and shrines to their gods. In spite of the gift of a wise heart, he faltered. This would mark the end of a unified kingdom. God kept his promise, but Solomon failed. What do we ask of God? I remember as a single parent of five trying to balance work, school and helping to care for an ailing parent asking God for patience. Opening the Bible, I read a sentence that I have never been able to find again which told me that God had already given me the requested gift. Oh boy! So, I had to ask myself what I was doing with my gift. I realized that what I really wanted was for everything to go so smoothly that I would have no need to practice patience. The next time I was stuck in the slowest lane in the store or on the highway, I said, "Thank you, Lord, for giving me an opportunity for practicing the gift of patience which you have given me." I repeated this phrase when one of the kids wanted me attention while I was studying or preparing a lesson. I repeated it until I didn't get upset by long lines, red lights or a child wanted my attention. There were times I failed as any one of those children will tell you. However, I keep working on it. Solomon used his gift of wisdom in many ways, but his failure to remain faithful to Yahweh, the one true God was his downfall. May we all seek ways to use our gifts wisely, and remain faithful children of the one God.

We naturally want to be right all of the time. But the reality is, we sometimes need correction. But we tend to resist it with self-justification or efforts to sidestep the consequences. We do this because correction stings. But God calls us to look at correction as an act of love. It may not remove all of the stings, but it will heal the wound of correction more quickly as we embrace its purpose. Thank You, God, for meeting me where I am. Even in the midst of my mess and failures, You are there. And thank You for loving me enough to not leave me in my mess, but to direct me in Your ways. It’s humbling and sometimes painful to accept Your correction, so help me to trust in Your love so that I may be receptive to Your intervention. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.  

Delana,

Thank you for taking critical action by signing our petition - Defend Prayer at the Supreme Court. The action you just took will be vital in shaping the outcome of this important issue. Your voice is indispensable in our Religious Liberty fight.

Help us keep up the fight by making a Tax-Deductible gift to the ACLJ. Simply follow the link below.

• Contribute to the ACLJ. We do not charge our clients for our services; we rely solely on donations to continue our fight for justice and freedom in America and across the globe. One small action can make a huge impact. By signing our petition you took a critical step. With so much on the line, we’re asking you to do one more thing.
  • Share this petition on Facebook. If you inspire just one person in your social network to take action, it can make all of the difference in our fight. 

Native America; Human Trafficking in Native Communities.

 

Since the Presidential Proclamation of 2010, we have annually observed January as National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month. Despite all the media attention and many worthy organizations fighting this problem, there are still over 40 million slaves in the world today. Women and girls account for 71% of those victims.

Before the colonization of the U.S., Native Americans held women in high regard as life bearers and the future of their people. They were the political, spiritual, and ceremonial leaders and violence against women was) forbidden. 

Department of Justice won’t collect DATA on Native Human Trafficking Victims,

Resist calls to collect more data on trafficking of Native Americans despite pressure from advocates for Native Women and key members of Congress.

According to the department of federal authorities prosecuted just two trafficking cases in Indian county between 2013 and 2016. Only one of them resulted in a conviction.

The number pales in comparison to the 1,000 – plus cases that were prosecuted in other jurisdictions during the same time. It also flies in the face of a consistent stream of reports which show that Native Americans, especially women and girls, are victimized at a higher than any other racial or ethnic group in the United States.

Yet the department isn’t able to explain the disparity because federal agents aren’t required to determine whether a trafficking victim is Native American. And it doesn’t plan on collecting that data anytime soon.

“If it’s voluntary information, great, but we’re not going to mandate that,”

Tracy Toulou, a descendant of the Colville tribes who serves as the director of the Office of Tribal Justice, told the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs. 

According to Toulou, finding out whether a victim in Native American could end up hurting Native Americans. Service providers that receive federal funds shouldn’t be forced to collect the data because he said it would have a “chilling effect” by making people more reluctant to come forward.” WE don’t want to do anything that’s going to keep a victim from coming to our victim services providers and getting the services they need,” Toulou said, who is a career employee, not a political appointee of the Trump administration, which did not send a higher-level official to the long-planned hearing.

The explanation stood in contrast to the stance taken by another federal agency. Jason Thompson, the deputy director of the Office of Justice Service at the Bureau of Indian Affairs, said he hasn’t heard concerns about collecting data on Native Trafficking victims.  “BIA-OJS, as of 2014, collects that information in our basic crime reporting,” said Thompson, who is a citizen of the Cherokee Nation. Like Toslow, he is a career employee of the federal government. 

The lack of data limits the way in which the federal government can help a victim, according to Nicole Matthews, the executive director of the Minnesota Indian Women’s Sexual Assault Coalition, she said it was “disturbing” to learn that, officially, only 2 Indian Co. Trafficking cases were prosecuted by federal authorities between 2013 and 2016, because her research indicated a wide spread problem, both on and off the reservations. “There is a need for culturally specific programs – by and for American Indians and Alaska Native women – to specifically address sex trafficking, "said Matthews, who is a citizen of the White Earth Nation. OF the 45th Department of Justice grant programs that can address trafficking, only two are geared towards tribal communities, she noted. The low level of support makes it harder for service providers to reach out to Native victims, she said.

“If you ask someone, are you a victim of trafficking, are you Native American, and you don’t have services to follow up, then it can potentially cause more harm,” Matthews told the committee. 

Cindy McCain, the co-chair of Arizona Human Trafficking Council, also believers more data will help, not hurt, victims. She said service providers need to be able to tailor their programs to the communities where they work. “I think you would find our victims perhaps a little more willing to talk about where they are from,” said McCain, who is the wife (to the late), Senator John McCain (R-Arizona), a former two-time chairman of the committee. In recent reports, Government Accountability office has called on the Department of Justice to collect data- “where (not) possible” -- on Native trafficking victims, said Gretta L. Goodwin, a director at the agency, which services as the watchdog arm of Congress. Such basic information can help justify the need for more grant programs and other resources, she asserted.

“If you don’t have the data it can sometimes be really difficult to determine what services can be provided to a particular population,” Goodwin said. Members of the committee agreed with the need for additional data. Senator Heidi Heitkamp (D-North Dakota), who served as North Dakota's top prosecutor for 8 years, said trafficking in Indian Country goes significantly underreported, which in turn contributes to a lack of resources.

“it’s clear that the federal government can and must do a better job of tuning into the true extent of the challenges that can endanger our most vulnerable in Indian Country,” said Heitkamp. “We’ll keep working to sound the alarm bells both the ground in the halls of Congress until every Native community is protected by the full extent of the law, and have the resources they need to stay safe from these hideous crimes.”

Sen. John Hoeven (R-North Dakota), the chairman of the committee, is taking a step forward in providing more resources with the introduction of S.1870, the Securing Urgent Resources Vital to Indian Victim Empowerment Act, or SURVIVE Act. The Bill, which has bipartisan support, mandates a tribal set-aside from the Crime Victims Fund at the Department of Justice.

“It is critical for tribal communities, which experience some of the highest crime rates in the country, to have greater access to victim resources under the Crime Victims Fund,” Hoeven said. “The SURVIVE Act will increase these vital resources and provide tribes with the flexibility to determine the programs and services that best meet local needs of their communities. This will help ensure crime victims have the support they need to heal.”

The Set-aside would amount to 5% of the fund if the bill becomes law. That’s significant because existing data shows that barely 0.7% of the money gets the Native victims, said Hoeven, who also supports the call for the Department of Justice to collect more data. “Without knowing the extent of the problem, it is difficult to adequately address it,” the chairman said at the hearing. Senate Committee on Indian Affairs Notice: Oversight Hearing on “The GAO reports on human trafficking of Native Americans in the United States” (September 27, 2017)

Government Accountability Office Reports: Action needed to identify the number of Native American victims receiving federally-funded services (July 24, 2017)

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Report:

Racial and Ethnic Differences in Homicides of Adult Women and the Role Intimate Partner Violence- United States, 2003-2014 (July 21, 2017)

January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention Month:

I campaigned on Border Security, which you cannot have without a strong and powerful Wall. Our Southern Border has long been an “Open Wound,” where drugs, criminals (including human traffickers) and illegals would pour into our Country.

Donald J. Trump

In the United States, January is National Slavery and Human Trafficking Prevention month. In support of this occasion, the Human Trafficking Search weekly blog to examine areas of the human trafficking crisis that do not typically make the headlines. It focuses on the disproportionate impact of human trafficking on Native American communities. 

Native American are victimized by human trafficking at rates higher than that of the general population. Though statistics are few and far between, testimony from experts, activists, and tribal leaders – as well as independent investigations – have revealed a disproportionate impact. In a study conducted at four sites in the U.S. and Canada, “an average of 40% of women involved in sex trafficking identified as an AI/AN or First Nations,” yet Native women represent 10% or less of the general population in the studied communities. Lisa Brunner of the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center, summarized the program to Congress in 2013 as such:

“Native women experience violent victimization at a higher rate than any other U.S. population. Congressional findings are that Native American and Alaska Native women are raped 34.1%, more than 1 in 3, will be raped in their lifetime, 64%, more than 6 in 10, will be physically assaulted. Native women are stalked more than twice the rate of other women. Native women are murdered at more than ten times the national average. Non-Indians commit 88% of violent crimes against Native women. Given the above statistical data and the historical roots of violence against Native women, the level of human trafficking given the sparse data collected can only equate to the current epidemic levels we face within our tribal communities and Nations.”

Though sex trafficking is the primary concern of both Tribal Nations and the U.S., it is believed that labor trafficking and exploitation occurs as well, with the victims primarily men. Additionally, there have been a number of allegations of trafficking Native babies for adoption, most notably a 2013 Supreme Court case Adoptive Couple vs. Baby Girl.

Why is human trafficking more prevalent among Native populations?

Native Americans are considered a vulnerable population. Statistics from 2010 U.S. Census, National Intimate Partner and Sexual Violence Survey, and GAO Foster Care report illustrate that Native Americans experience higher levels of poverty, rape, and entry into the foster system – all risk factors for trafficking. The proliferation of the fracking industry also contributed to a ride in sex trafficking of Native girls and women as “man camps” were established in remote areas of Minnesota, North Dakota, and South Dakota, creating a high-demand for sex in an environment rampant with drugs, alcohol, and limited supervision. While there was widespread media coverage of the rise of sex trafficking in Bakken, discussion of its impact on Native girls and women were limited. Cindy McCain, co-Chair of the Arizona Human Trafficking Council and wife of (late) Senator John McCain, argues that “Native Americans are largely overlooked as victims,” further compounding the issue and reinforcing the belief among tribal communities that the U.S. government provides little protection and support. Additionally, some believe the presence of casinos on tribal lands contributes to the demand for sex trafficking; McCain has stated that she has “witnessed with my own eyes six little girls lined up against a wall in a casino outside of Phoenix on display for customers.”

The prevalence of sex trafficking of Native Americans is not solely based on the multiple risk factors associated with the community; it is, in many ways, a continuation of the marginalization of Native populations in the United States. Native women have been fetishized, bought, sold, and traded since initial European colonization of the American continent. The trauma experienced by Tribal Nations at the hands of the U.S. government has contributed to high levels of poverty and substance abuse, as well as isolation and distrust of authority that can both increase the likelihood of trafficking and complicate the legal response.

There are number of challenges to addressing human trafficking in tribal communities that are unique to the Native American experience. As with all human trafficking, the covert nature of the crime makes statistics difficult to ascertain. This is further complicated by a lack of disaggregated data, which limits agencies from identifying the magnitude of the issue, “of the four federal agencies that handle human-trafficking cases, only one records the race or ethnicity of the victim.” There are also overlapping jurisdictional issues between tribal, state, and federal governments that allow perpetrators to slip through the cracks and create gaps in communication between agencies. For instance, tribes can not arrest or prosecute non-Native Americans–intend they fall under federal jurisdiction – allowing non-Native traffickers to operate with little risk. A 2012 UN Report estimates that almost 80% of rapes of Native women occur at the hands of non-Native men, highlighting this dangerous gap in enforcement. Support services for at-risk individuals and survivors are also limited for Native American girls and women due to a lack of resources. For example, a 2016 survey identified a large gap in access to services; over two-thirds of the 650 tribal lands reviewed experienced a significant dearth of access to sexual assault examiners and sexual assault response team programs, while 381 reported no service coverage within an hour’s driving distance.

Combatting trafficking of Native Americans

In recent years, human trafficking of Native Trafficking has received increased attention by both federal and tribal governments. Tribal Nations- such as the Navajo Nation – have begun implementing anti-trafficking laws, raising awareness in their communities, and training initiatives. The State Department’s 2017 Trafficking in Persons Report highlight a number of actions undertaken by the U.S. government to combat sex trafficking of Native Americans, among them, increased funding, collaboration with Tribal Nations on training programs, increased funding efforts to identify victims, human trafficking training at all National Indian Gaming Commission regional conferences, and increased resources, training, and technical assistance from the Department of Health and Human Services. Additionally, the Department of Justice recently announced that it would expand the Tribal Access Program that provides tribes access to national crime information to help with sex trafficking, the opioid crisis, and other critical issues.

Here is a major update:

Washington D.C., January 14, 2019

Despite the gridlock of a partial federal government shutdown, both houses of Congress overwhelmingly passed an anti-human trafficking Bill signed by President Trump on January 8, 2019.

Washington (BP) -- Amid the gridlock of the partial government shutdown, President Trump and lawmakers came together across party lines to enact anti-human trafficking legislation named for the 19th-century abolitionist Frederick Douglass.

Travis Wussow, vice president for public policy with Southern Baptist Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission, voiced gratitude “for the leadership of Congressman Chris Smith [a New Jersey Republican who sponsored the legislation] and all those who worked to see the Fredrick Douglass Bill become law.”

“this Act brings new resources to the tireless fight of seeking freedom for captives and justice for perpetrators of this grievous evil,” Wussow said. “We pray that our government’s efforts will honor this Bill’s namesake by abolishing the terror of slavery both here and abroad.”

Signed into law on Jan. 8 by Trump, the Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act passed the House 368-7 and the Senate by voice vote.

The bill authorizes some $430 million over four years to combat sex and labor trafficking in the U.S. and abroad. It focuses on prevention education, help for trafficking victims, facilitating trafficking-free supply chains in U.S. commerce, and training U.S. airline employees to recognize trafficking. 

Trump signed three additional anti-trafficking Bill’s between Dec. 21, 2018, and Jan. 9, 2019.

“This is an urgent humanitarian issue,” Trump said, according to a White House release. “My administration is committed to leveraging every resource we have to confront this threat, to support the victims and survivors, and to hold traffickers accountable for their heinous crimes.” The latest SBC resolution on trafficking, adopted in 2013, estimated that 27 million persons worldwide were being held in some form of slavery, including forced labor and commercial sexual exploitation. The resolution encouraged support of “agencies and ministries which help rescue and rehabilitate trafficking victims.” It also” call[ed] upon Southern Baptists to support public policies” that combat trafficking.

Key Bennett, a SEND Relief missionary in New Orleans for the North American Board, has worked with human trafficking victims for a decade. She said helping those who are trafficked requires churches both to advocate just public policy and engage in hands-on ministry.

“It's about being Jesus to the people that come our way,” said Bennett, executive director of the Baptist Friendship House, a joint ministry of NAMB and the New Orleans Baptist Association that ministers to homeless women and children. Jesus “would minister to the human trafficking victim,” she said.

Bennett partners with local law enforcement officials to give trafficking victims basic supplies like food and clothing as well as housing, protection, and transportation back to their homes. The SEND Relief website lists at least 15 ways each church can help trafficking victims. Among them: teach life skills, assisting with financial planning, offering counseling services, and encouraging lawmakers to pass legislation against human trafficking.

“It takes all of our churches [and] our Southern Baptist entities... working together to make a difference in regard to human trafficking,” Bennett told Baptist Press.

Douglass (1818-95) - the namesake of the Frederick Douglass Trafficking Victims Prevention and Protection Reauthorization Act—was a Maryland slave who found faith in Christ during his teen years and escaped from slavery at the age of 20 in 1838. He became an author and speaker in the abolitionist movement.

Douglass rebuked the hypocrisy of Christians who supported slavery, which he believes was inconsistent with the Gospel. “I love that religion,” Douglass wrote in his 1855 autobiography, “that is based upon the glorious principle of love to God and love to man; which makes its followers do unto others as they themselves would be done by.”

Kenneth Morris, a descendant of Douglass and president of Frederick Douglass Family Initiatives, said upon Trump’s signing of the Bill, “if my great ancestor were here today, I believe he would be driven to lead the struggle against contemporary forms of slavery,” according to a release from Smith’s office. “In the fight to end modern-day slavery, my law honors the extraordinary legacy of one of the greatest Americans who ever lived,” Smith said of Frederick Douglass, a former slave who became a prominent abolitionist after being freed. The law provides resources for trafficking prevention education for children: shelter, therapies, and reintegration assistance for trafficking survivors; the facilitation of trafficking-free supply chains in the United States; training off government officials as well as airline industry employees to identify trafficking cases; and oversight to ensure that government purchases are not employing traffickers. The Bilk of the allocations will go to the State Department to fund their educational and diplomatic efforts against trafficking. 

The new legislation provides funding to the International Megan’s Law, which was also authored by Smith.

The International Megan’s Law, which was names in memory of Megan Kanka, a 7-year-old who was murdered in 1994 by a convicted pedophile, established country-to-country notification about convicted pedophiles who may be traveling to an area for the purposes of sex trafficking or child exploitation.

Since the International Megan’s Law was enacted in February 2016, nearly 3,500 convicted pedophiles have been denied entry to a country. This new Bill allocates $18 million in funding to the Department of Homeland Security spread over three years.

A recent United Nations Office of Drugs and Crime (UNODC) report found that there has been an

Increase in the number of trafficking victims, particularly girls, over the last decade. The total number of people detected as victims of human trafficking has increased by 40% since 2011, but the UN says that this could be because of improvements in detection.

In 2016, the most recent year statistics were available, 23% of all detected trafficking victims around the world were girls under the age of 18. In 2004, we made the first statistics available, only 10% of trafficking victims were girls. Boys under the age of 18 accounted for 8% of detected trafficking victims. 

The UNODC found that 94% of sex trafficking victims were female. Males accounted for 65% of labor trafficking victims. Vulnerable populations, such as Syrian and Rohingya refugees, are at an increased risk of being preyed upon by human traffickers.

If you’re in the US (or planning to be) this year, and you know you’ll be struggling to make a living, it would be best if you stayed away from these 16 top US cities for human trafficking in 2019! The USA is definitely a home of the brave, but as for the “land of the free” part, we can’t say we can vouch for it anymore. At least not for the cities on our list.

I considered the US to be the most developed country in the world, with human rights secured and defended (it does belong to the Tier 1 group – countries that are successfully dealing with human trafficking, according to Trafficking in Persons Report). However, it is still struggling with modern-day slavery. The answer to the following question gives you an idea about the situation. How many trafficking victims are in the US? According to the Global Slavery Index, there were 403,000 slaves in the US in 2016 (it takes a while to collect and analyze the data, so we are still waiting for 2018). Basically, there are almost half a million people in the states who are barely surviving. They are not free to live their lives. Instead, they are limited by fear, exhaustion, violence, and all kinds of abuse.

ChameleonsEye/Shutterstock.com

The most common victims in the top 10 states for human trafficking in 2018, as is the case with the rest of the world, are unprotected women and children. Due to the migrations on a global level, it is often assumed that migrants make the most of the victims, too. Nevertheless, this does not have to be the case. There are plenty of American citizens suffering in top US cities for human trafficking, but what we can say with certainty is that the lack of language fluency is a limiting factor in fighting for one’s rights and negotiating freedom.

As for the most common type of crime in the worst states for human trafficking, our data shows sex trafficking is the most common reason for reporting criminal activities. Still, labor trafficking is not to be neglected either. A lot of people don’t realize they are the victims of human trafficking, which is absolutely shocking. This is probably the reason why we got so many top cities for human trafficking. A huge number of people are working in unsafe conditions, with meager salaries and in fear of leaving the employer, as their chances of finding proper employment in these top cities for human trafficking are minimal.

In order to find out the top cities for human trafficking, we first checked which states have had the highest number of calls reporting human trafficking, as reported by the National Human Trafficking Hotline statistics. However, since only individual cities are mentioned as having high numbers of trafficking victims, and there is no overall, complete data about every city in America, we had to rely on the assumption that the most populous cities are also the most tempting for both potential victims and traffickers. We collected information about the population from World Population Review.

As for what the top 10 states for human trafficking are, we answered the question in our article about 12 states for human trafficking in 2018, and for greater details, you can also take a look at 15 top US cities for human trafficking in 2018.

Without further ado, here is our list of 16 top US cities for human trafficking in 2019. You’ll also find some extra information on the cases.

As of January 2019; Toledo, Ohio is between Columbus, Ohio and Detroit, Michigan;

Is said to be the 3rd largest hot spot for human trafficking in the United States. Since I knew Toledo for human trafficking, it’s cited by the FBI and the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children for trafficking children into commercial exploitation. I know Toledo as the “Toledo Getaway” as a getaway from mostly Las Vegas. It’s just one of the getaway cities; others are Pasco, WA, Portland, OR; or Miami, Fl. Many of the females that are trafficked are runaways from parents who abuse drugs. 1,000 victims of human trafficking whose parents were drug addicts were from Toledo.

Most of the ages are between 18-24

Anti-Trafficking Efforts in Ohio: Trafficking Laws Overview

According to the United States, Human trafficking has three components: act (what is done), means (how it is done), and purpose (why it is done). Trafficking is a $150 billion-dollar global industry, with millions of 20.9 million victims worldwide (Polaris Project, 2017). The majority are victims of forced labor, about a quarter are children, and more than half are women and girls (Polaris Project, 2017). The trafficking Victims Protection Act (TVPA) OF 2000 set the stage for federal trafficking laws, with more legislation varying state-to-state.

Where Ohio Stands:

Federal law states that anyone under the age of 18 charged with any type of prostitution offense is a victim. Ohio differs from this by changing the age to 16. Anyone above 16, and even still a minor, has to prove compulsion to be seen as a victim of trafficking. More specifically, in Ohio, the trafficker has to be proved to be in a position of authority for proof of compulsion to not be needed. This is problematic, as most Ohio Trafficking victims are victims of “boyfriend trafficking” (Jordan, 2018). This type of trafficking occurs when a girl’s boyfriend gives her attention, money, love Etc., and then traffics here. Most of these victims don’t actually see themselves as victims, but more adults with their own free will. A large percentage of trafficking victims are sexual abuse survivors. (National Human Trafficking Hotline n.d.), which creates further issues surrounding bodily autonomy and what abuse is and is not. 

Much of the reported trafficking in Ohio happens in low-income communities, where the victims feel the push and pull factors of trafficking. The push factors are but are not limited to poverty, foster care, being a runaway, and interaction with the juvenile court system (Jordan, 2018). In Ohio, 63% of reported victims of trafficking experienced some sort of abuse throughout their lives. (Haggerty, n.d.). The child victims are mostly 17 years old or younger and are almost equally white and Black, and a smaller percentage is Hispanic (Jordan, 2018). Their age of 17 is difficult, as we could charge them as an adult and not receive the benefits of the Safe Harbor laws.

In 2010, the Attorney General’s office determined that 1,000 minors are victims of sex trafficking each year (Ohio AG 2010). The majority of human trafficking in Ohio is sex trafficking, which includes commercial sex, survival sex, child porn, and massage parlor trafficking. However; there is labor trafficking in the state, mainly in the agricultural communities and through magazine sales (Jordan, 2018). In 2017, we charged four people for labor trafficking in Marion, Ohio. They took teenagers from Central America and were forced to work in poor conditions on an egg farm (Torry, 2017). Trying to help foreign-born victims has always been difficult because of their distrust of law enforcement and fear of deportation if undocumented. The current political climate has only made this issue worse.

Ohio’s Anti-Human Trafficking Policy:

Ohio’s first stand-alone anti-human trafficking law was Senate Bill 235 in 2011. This added the crime of trafficking is similar to thaw the TVPA defines it. Ohio explicitly states that in order to be trafficked there has to be proof of compulsion, which means “force, fear, duress, or intimidation” (Haggerty, n.d. overcame them). In 2012, they introduced House Bill 262. It raised the penalty for trafficking from a second-degree to a first-degree felony and set mandatory prison time for 10-15 years. It also required traffickers to register as sex offenders and obstruction of justice in trafficking cases is a more serious offense.

Many states prohibit minors from being charged with prostitution offenses. Ohio is not one of those states, and children as young as 11 years old have been charged with prostitution in Ohio. This is especially concerning considering the age of consent is 16, so how an 11-yer-old could consent to sexual activities without compulsion is puzzling. The Safe Harbor Law is one Of Ohio’s most progressive laws that attempt to help victims recover from trauma instead of face punishment for it. It works through abeyance, which basically takes the prostitution-related offense and pushes it “to the side” for holding.

Then, the juvenile victims go through diversion services, where they are placed in a safe environment with supervision and trauma services. They focused the services on counseling and medical treatment, but also work to help the victims be children through exercise and education. Mentorship, volunteerism, and more. A major benefit to the law is that the victim does not have to cooperate with law enforcement. Many times, law enforcement and prosecutors will want victims to testify against their trafficker (and)or traffickers. In one instance, Jim Jordan spoke about an Ohio teen victim who was forced to travel across the country to testify against her trafficker (Jordan, 2018).

Toledo, Ohio is in the middle of two major cities that a linked to human trafficking, Columbus, Ohio which is number 4, and Detroit, Michigan that’s number 6. Both cities are fighting drugs and sex trafficking. As of 2019 Michigan officials have announced new initiatives against child trafficking, but at times will show if they are to be successful.

• The United States Southern Border is overwhelmed with illegal immigration, gang violence, the crime of all kinds, drugs, and human trafficking.

• President Trump has requested a modest amount of funding to address these issues while Democrats continue to resist in the name of (so-called) politics.

• We cannot keep our country safe without adequate funding for Border security, including physical barriers and increased funding for law enforcement. 

Any government funding bill must address the security and humanitarian crises on our Southern Border. The Administration has requested additional funds — relative to the FY2019 Homeland Security funding Bill that passed the Senate Appropriations Committee (Committee) — to address these priorities.

Published: Jan. 6, 2021, at 12:42 PM EST

TOLEDO, Ohio (WTVG) - January is Human Trafficking Awareness Month, and the Lucas County Human Trafficking Coalition is doing a series of seminars throughout the month to educate the public about human trafficking. The coalition is hosting four free Human Trafficking 101 presentations on Zoom this month. The seminars will go over what human trafficking is, what it looks like in our area, who is fighting against it here, and how you can get involved. According to the coalition’s co-chair, Sandy Sieben, I often think human trafficking off as someone approaching you in a dark alley late at night and kidnapping you, but that’s not the reality. In actuality, 90-95% of all human trafficking happens at the hands of someone you know. “Those who are recruiting for trafficking, they look like you, they walk like you, and they talk like you,” says Sieben. “They’re going to know what your interests are, they’re going to know what makes you smile. And that’s what will lead you to them and lead them to you. And then it becomes a relationship, and then it turns into trafficking.”

ADVERTISEMENT: People also tend to associate human trafficking with child sex trafficking, but that’s only one small piece of what trafficking is. People of any age, gender, or sexual orientation can be a victim, and sex is not always involved. People can be labor trafficked when they’re forced to work for little or no pay with no chance of escape. That can be common in our area.

  

 

YOU MUST COMMIT TO THE PROCESS

“If only the LORD had killed us back in Egypt,” they moaned. “There we sat around pots filled with meat and ate all the bread we wanted. But now you have brought us into this wilderness to starve us all to death.” Exodus 16:3 NLT

When the Lord God brought the children of Israel out of the bondage of Egypt they rejoiced and celebrated their deliverance. However, when faced with the rigors of the journey and the challenges of the wilderness, they yearned to return to their oppression in Egypt. They desired that which was familiar. Our inability to embrace change will hinder our deliverance.

QUESTIONS: Do you realize where God is taking you is greater than where you are? Are you willing to commit to the process of your deliverance, in spite of the challenges you must face?

YOU MUST COMMIT TO THE PROCESS

“If only the LORD had killed us back in Egypt,” they moaned. “There we sat around pots filled with meat and ate all the bread we wanted. But now you have brought us into this wilderness to starve us all to death.” Exodus 16:3 NLT

When the Lord God brought the children of Israel out of the bondage of Egypt they rejoiced and celebrated their deliverance. However, when faced with the rigors of the journey and the challenges of the wilderness, they yearned to return to their oppression in Egypt. They desired that which was familiar. Our inability to embrace change will hinder our deliverance.

QUESTIONS: Do you realize where God is taking you is greater than where you are? Are you willing to commit to the process of your deliverance, in spite of the challenges you must face?

You can be certain when you pray that God is looking out for your best interest, regardless of how the situation feels. This does not mean you will know what that best interest is, but it does mean you can be confident in the one who will never leave you or forsake you. He has promised to be with you through every challenge that comes in life, and that will never change. So keep praying for miracles, keep believing for them, and keep giving thanks. Once you have done what God has asked, then all you can do is stand back and see what God will do, knowing that his decision is best. This is how you pray for miracles in your life.

There are many people facing situations that require a miracle, and maybe you are one of them. In these situations, it is not uncommon to wonder how to pray for a miracle. Is there something extra God requires to do the miraculous in your life?

What you will discover is the way you pray for a miracle is pretty much the same way you pray for everything else. If you are not sure how to even pray, then keep reading because I will show you. If we are going to talk about miracles it is appropriate to begin by asking does God still work miracles?

Does God Still Work Miracles?

The good news is that God still works miracles. In Malachi 3:6, God made a very definitive statement – he said he does not change. This means if he did miracles in the past, he can do them in the present, because he does not change.

What often gets missed when thinking about miracles, is God doesn’t just perform miracles for miracles’ sake. Because God is very meticulous with what he does, there is always a greater plan or purpose behind the miracle. These purposes will vary and quite honestly you may not always know what they are, but there is always a reason God chooses to perform or not perform a miracle.

Who Does God Work Miracles For?

God can work a miracle at any time, for any person, for any reason. There is only one requirement needed for you to become a candidate for a miracle. You need to have a problem.

The problem cannot be one where you can provide the solution. It must be great enough that it requires divine intervention, something that only God can do. When your situation is beyond your ability, and you acknowledge you need God’s help, then you are in a place where God can do the miraculous in your life. This does not guarantee that God will do the miracle, but at least it positions you in case he chooses to.

Is There Something You Must Do, or Faith You Must Attain, for a Miracle?

Faith is a requirement when you pray for a miracle. However, I want to caution you because there are some who will blame your ability to receive a miracle on the size of your faith. If you don’t receive your miracle, either you don’t have enough faith, or there is some sin in your life. While both things could be true, they are not automatically true.

While your faith matters, how you pray for a miracle, or the size of your faith is typically not what hinders you from receiving a miracle in your life. Let me remind you what Jesus said about the size of faith required to move a mountain.

“He replied, ‘Because you have so little faith. Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you’” (Matthew 17:20).

While miracles require faith, too often we get caught up in the amount of faith instead of focusing on the presence of faith. As you can see, it does not take a lot of faith for a miracle to happen. So if faith is present, even a little bit, God can do miraculous things.

One more quick note. It’s not just having faith, but it is also where or rather who you place your faith in. If your faith is in God, even if is just a little bit, then you have enough.

How to Pray for a Miracle

Let’s now dig in and discover how you pray for a miracle. I mentioned earlier you pray for a miracle the same way you pray for everything else. Let me be clear – there is no formula or magic words you can say to make the miraculous happen. However, if you want some guidelines for praying, one thing you can do is follow what Paul laid out in Philippians 4:6-7.

Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Here are four things to do when you pray for a miracle:

1. Don’t worry, ask

All answers to prayer begin with prayer. To pray is to petition or to ask God for what you need. Asking tells God you are looking to him and requesting him to intervene in your situation. This is how you pray for a miracle, and this is how you pray for everything. You begin with asking.

. Believe

After you ask you must believe. While it doesn’t take great faith as we mentioned earlier, it does take some faith because God does not respond to no faith. In other words, if you ask but don’t expect God to move then you won’t see God move. Sometimes your faith will require actions that demonstrate you believe. The Bible is full of stories of people praying for miracles and God asking them to do something to demonstrate their faith. Don’t be surprised if God asks you to do the same thing.

3. Give Thanks

After you have asked and as you are believing, you must make thanksgiving a part of your prayer. Thanksgiving comes when you put your situation in his hands, and you leave the outcome to him. The reason you can give thanks is because you know he has heard your prayer and you trust he will do what is best for you in that situation. For this you can give thanks.

4. Wait

After you have asked, believed, and given thanks, all you can do is wait. Waiting is not a passive activity; waiting is an action word. This does not mean you don’t do anything, but it means you are anticipating and looking for what God will do in this situation. The reason you can wait is because God will give you peace in the presence of your need for a miracle. The peace of God will protect your heart and mind and allow you to wait for God to move.

What Should I Do if God Does Not Answer My Prayer?

What do you do if you have prayed for a miracle and God does not answer your prayer the way you want him to? This is where trust comes into play. You must know, believe, and trust God has your best interest at heart all the time. You must also believe that God is a good God, all the time. God’s goodness is not established, nor does it change, based on how God chooses to answer your prayer for a miracle. God’s goodness is forever sealed by the work Jesus did on the cross.

That is the place you can always go back to when you question God’s goodness in your life. When it comes to miracles and answers to prayer after that, as I mentioned earlier, there is always a reason God chooses to answer or not answer your prayer. Whether he does the miracle or not, know that he loves you, he cares about your situation, and he is working even though you may not understand how.

Don’t Stop

I want you to remember one thing as you pray for your miracle. Don’t stop praying. God wants you to pray, believe, and trust him for every situation in your life. Praying does not always guarantee you will get the result you want; however consistent prayer should align your heart and will with what God wants. Ultimately prayer is not about what you want anyway. Prayer is about what God wants, trusting he will always do what is best for you. The challenge is our definition of what’s best and his definition are not always in alignment, and that is why you must pray.

You can be certain when you pray that God is looking out for your best interest, regardless of how the situation feels. This does not mean you will know what that best interest is, but it does mean you can be confident in the one who will never leave you or forsake you. He has promised to be with you through every challenge that comes in life, and that will never change. So keep praying for miracles, keep believing for them, and keep giving thanks. Once you have done what God has asked, then all you can do is stand back and see what God will do, knowing that his decision is best. This is how you pray for miracles in your life.

Prayer is under attack at the Supreme Court.

Angry atheists and anti-Christian extremists have long been abusing the federal court system, rushing to court claiming to be offended by some public display of prayer or exercise of religious liberty.

When a crime spree gripped a local community, a prayer vigil was organized and city officials, police, and chaplains attended the event. Individuals opposed to prayer sued, and a federal court ruled that the public prayer was unconstitutional.

We're appealing to the Supreme Court. Prayer is fundamental. Prayer is constitutional. And anti-Christian radicals have NO RIGHT to bring these suits in the first place.

This case will affect not only public prayer but every attack on religious free expression in the public square. It's a case 35 years in the making.

We've been fighting – and WINNING – these cases for decades. We defeated attempts to shut down churches during the pandemic and helped win a critical prayer case at the Supreme Court earlier this year.

But now we have the biggest opportunity to stop these abhorrent attacks on prayer and religious liberty once and for all at the Supreme Court.

As we take our case to the Supreme Court to protect prayer and religious liberty, take action with us.

Prayer is under attack at the Supreme Court.

Angry atheists and anti-Christian extremists have long been abusing the federal court system, rushing to court claiming to be offended by some public display of prayer or exercise of religious liberty.

When a crime spree gripped a local community, a prayer vigil was organized and city officials, police, and chaplains attended the event. Individuals opposed to prayer sued, and a federal court ruled that the public prayer was unconstitutional.

We're appealing to the Supreme Court. Prayer is fundamental. Prayer is constitutional. And anti-Christian radicals have NO RIGHT to bring these suits in the first place.

This case will affect not only public prayer but every attack on religious free expression in the public square. It's a case 35 years in the making.

We've been fighting – and WINNING – these cases for decades. We defeated attempts to shut down churches during the pandemic and helped win a critical prayer case at the Supreme Court earlier this year.

But now we have the biggest opportunity to stop these abhorrent attacks on prayer and religious liberty once and for all at the Supreme Court.

As we take our case to the Supreme Court to protect prayer and religious liberty, take action with us.

Luke 12:13-21

Jesus’ parable of the foolish wealthy man is a study in misplaced priorities. The man neglected God and spent his life greedily accumulating treasure for himself on earth. Then he died with no opportunity to enjoy his goods. But worse than that, he died with a bankrupt soul.

Serving the Lord is the key to setting goals that will benefit us eternally. The question we ought to ask is not What shall I do? but, rather, What does God want me to do? The answer—which should be prayerfully sought and biblically evaluated—dictates which things we must put first to please the Lord. 

Life isn’t something that simply happens to us. Where we are today is largely determined by the priorities we set previously. This means we can also begin the process of re-evaluating them according to biblical guidelines and changing those that are misplaced. 

What do you prioritize in life? There’s nothing wrong with having earthly plans and goals, but we should also store up treasure in heaven, which can never be lost. Our top priority should be to live a life that honors the Lord. 

Bible in One Year: Exodus 1-3

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Luke 12:13-21

Jesus’ parable of the foolish wealthy man is a study in misplaced priorities. The man neglected God and spent his life greedily accumulating treasure for himself on earth. Then he died with no opportunity to enjoy his goods. But worse than that, he died with a bankrupt soul.

Serving the Lord is the key to setting goals that will benefit us eternally. The question we ought to ask is not What shall I do? but, rather, What does God want me to do? The answer—which should be prayerfully sought and biblically evaluated—dictates which things we must put first to please the Lord. 

Life isn’t something that simply happens to us. Where we are today is largely determined by the priorities we set previously. This means we can also begin the process of re-evaluating them according to biblical guidelines and changing those that are misplaced. 

What do you prioritize in life? There’s nothing wrong with having earthly plans and goals, but we should also store up treasure in heaven, which can never be lost. Our top priority should be to live a life that honors the Lord. 

Bible in One Year: Exodus 1-3

CALL IT BY NAME

"But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him, and cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not. For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit. And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many." Mark 5:6-9

In the Gospel of Mark, Chapter 5, Jesus contends with a demon-possessed man who could not be contained by any form of restraints. Jesus commanded the demonic  to identify itself—to reveal its name. We cannot take authority over that which we are not willing to identify and call by name. 

"When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. 'You deaf and mute spirit,' he said, 'I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.'" Mark 9:25

QUESTIONS: What is the root of your oppression? Have you identified and called it by name when seeking the Lord for your deliverance?

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Spending time with God: Unlike any of God's other creatures the humanrace have a deep desire to converse with our Creator. Wether we're happy or sad, thankful or needy, praising or questioning, we want to express what's no our minds and in our hearts to God. We seek to share what's in our souls with God because, as St. Augustine said, "Thou hast made us for Thyself, and the heart of man is restless until it finds its rest in Thee." We speak to God because prayer is our window to the architect of the universe and our lives. 

Prayer: Moments With God includes stories, hymns, poems, meditations, biblical verses, many of which are really prayers. They convey the immense range of emotions and thoughts that we have throughout our lives. We can identify with that is written in this post because at one time or another, we've all turned to God for direction or help, offered our praises and gratitude to him, or stuggled with him about some vexing issue in our lives. For whatever reason cwe may need to go to God, this candid to the one who will surely answer us and give us true rest for our souls.

"Prayer is a powerful thing," said the sixteenth-century German reformer Martin Luther, "for God has bound and tied himself thereto. None can believe how powerful prayer is, and what it is able to effect, but those who have learned it by experience." In other words, until we pray words, and continue to pray, we will never discover how prayer can affect lives. God is deeply concerned about our spiritual, emotional, and physical welfare. Prayer: Moments With God provides examples and insights on how to praty. It will show us that prayer is exceedingly helpful, necessary, and inspired by God. After all, our Creator wants to communicate, however we feel, we can always turn to prayer when we want to talk with God. 

 Your changes touch my life with hope and mystery. God of love and power, I Come today and everyday ready and eager to experience your power working through me in Jesus' Mighty name, Amen.

 Psalm 17:6 - I call upon you, for You will answer me, O God; incline Your ear to me, hear my words. Prayer is a participation in willing God's will. While God's ultimate will cannot be thwarted, the strategy God uses to reach that goal may be infinitely variable. the prayers of committed people become part of the cosmic reality God has to work with. God can use them to "tip the balance" and change the shape of distorted reality in our world. 

John 16:23-24 > Very truly, I tell you, if you ask anything of the Father in My name, He will give it to you. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete.

Slowing Down: You heard my prayers to ease my pell-mell race through life, and I am changing. Only You could teach this old dog new tricks. I feel your companionship in walks and exercise, in contemplation and prayer. I'm enjoying this new pace You have st for me. 

Hands of Prayer: More things are wrought by prayer. Than this world dreams of, Wherefore, let thy voice rise like a fountain for me night and day. For what are men better than sheep and goats, that nourish a blind life within the brain. If, knowing God, they left not hands of prayer. Both for themselves and those who call them friends? For so the whole round earth is every way Bound by gold chains about the feet of God.

 

 

 

 

 

Forgetting What Is Behind

Do you know what God does with the sins and mistakes of your past? He forgets them! Hebrews 8:12 says that God remembers your sins no more. His forgiveness is a free gift, and it is available all the time. I encourage you to stop remembering what God has forgotten and let it go.

No matter how hard you try, you are going to make mistakes; we all do. Mistakes are a part of life. How you respond to those mistakes is important in order for you to begin again. That doesn’t mean you don’t try to make the right decisions and honor God with every part of your life; it just means you don’t dwell on everything you did that was wrong.

Refuse to spend your days focused on your mistakes. Don’t sit around thinking and talking about past failures. Release them and receive God’s forgiveness. Jesus has forgiven your sins and offers you new mercies every morning. Receive them and walk with God today!

Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. - Philippians 3:13-14 (NIV)

A lump of clay cannot fashion itself into a fine vase. The potter spins the wheel, and the potter’s hands shape the clay. When the clay resists, it cracks, crumbles, and falls. It is only when the potter is in control that the clay can realize the beauty, strength, and purpose that the potter has envisioned from the start.

Dear Delana,

ESPN Host Dan Orlovsky recently gave us a great example of what it looks like to lead with your faith the night Buffalo Bills Player Damar Hamlin collapsed on the field. Orlovsky pushed aside typical ESPN commentary and led a heartfelt prayer that caused the other anchors—and people across the nation—to bow their heads with him.

How can you cultivate the type faith that would cause you to do something spontaneous like this in your job, your home, or your community? By spending time in God's Word, praying, and gaining first-hand knowledge of the ways God intervenes on your behalf, every day. 

Dear DELANA,

The Bible is the most powerful weapon God has ever given mortal flesh. It is THE living, eternal, infallible, inerrant, Holy-Spirit-inspired, indestructible book of riches… a gift that God gave to all of mankind to direct our steps and lead us down the road to ultimate success in every area of our lives.

Are you looking for direction in your life? Have you wandered off of the path that once showed you God’s favor and gave you great fulfillment and true joy?

I have great news for you. If you will open God’s Word and saturate your life with His promises, He will lead you in the way everlasting. He promises us that His favor is for life. But like a beautiful gourmet dinner, the food will only nourish your body when you eat it. It’s the same with God’s Word…it will nourish your soul when you read it, consume it and apply it.

As you consume His Word, you will begin an amazing journey down a path toward your divine destiny. Don’t let the world discourage you. Seek God like never before, and He will reveal Himself in ways that you have never imagined.

For your gift of any amount, we’ll send you our Daily Truth Devotional filled with 365 devotions filled with words of strength and hope plus meaningful weekly Pastor’s Blessings for you and your family. Equip yourself with the Word of God in 2023 so that whatever the year brings, you will have strength and peace.

Some fathers deal with their sons eyeball-to-eyeball; others, nose-to-nose. My father dealt with me knee-to-knee.                                                                                                                        John Ashcroft had just moved from the governor's mansion in Jefferson City, Missouri, to Washington, D.C., to become a United States senator. "The night before I was sworn into the Senate in 1995, my father arranged for some close friends and family. About fifteen to twenty people - to gather for dinner. My father eyed a piano in the corner of the room and said, 'John, why don't you play the piano, and we'll sing?"

"Okay, Dad, you name it

DESIRE TO BE FREE

 “I Could Have Freed a Thousand More Slaves If They Knew They Were Slaves” - Harriet Tubman. 

The enemy of our souls has seduced many into complacency. Because some have acquired prominence, position, power, and possessions, they have become blinded to their need for deliverance because their flesh is satisfied. They do not realize they are in bondage and oppressed by the enemy. In order to begin the process of deliverance, you must recognize the need to be free and to have the desire to be made whole.

QUESTIONS: Is there an area in your life which is hindering your ability to thrive, prosper, and walk in wholeness? Do you desire to be freed from that bondage?

Next Friday in Washington, D.C., Franklin Graham will deliver the closing prayer to those gathered at the 50th annual March for Life. The monumental event marks the first March for Life in a post-Roe America after decades of prayer and marching on Capitol Hill for the unborn.

“We praise God that Roe v. Wade was overturned six months ago,” Franklin Graham said. “Even though it has been an unprecedented year in the fight for life, the battle to protect the unborn in our nation is far from over.”

According to March for Life’s website, 900,000-plus abortions occur annually.

Franklin Graham will be among many speakers at the march, including “The Chosen” TV series’ Jonathan Roumie, who plays the role of Jesus; NFL Hall of Fame coach Tony Dungy; and Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch, who won the Dobbs case that overturned Roe v. Wade.

Noting this year’s March for Life theme, Next Steps: Marching Forward into a Post-Roe America, marchers will advocate for the defense of innocent lives on state and federal levels. They will push for a minimum federal standard to protect the unborn against pro-abortion regulations, ending the march at the steps of the Capitol instead of the Supreme Court as in past years. Their ultimate goal is to make abortion unthinkable.

“Abortion by pill and new state laws protecting abortion have made it more critical than ever for believers to stand up for God’s truth,” Franklin Graham said. “Please pray for protection for these precious lives and ask the Lord to strengthen His people in this important struggle.”

MORE STORIES

‘Fearless’ Podcast: What Happens if Roe v. Wade Is Thrown Out?Cissie Graham Lynch on Protecting the UnbornPro-Life Generation Bolsters March for Life Effort‘Thank You for Standing for Life’: Franklin Graham, Cissie Graham Lynch March for LifeFranklin Graham Joins Today’s March for Life

Read Today's Devotion

Where Is Your Hope?

CALL IT BY NAME

"But when he saw Jesus afar off, he ran and worshipped him, and cried with a loud voice, and said, What have I to do with thee, Jesus, thou Son of the most high God? I adjure thee by God, that thou torment me not. For he said unto him, Come out of the man, thou unclean spirit. And he asked him, What is thy name? And he answered, saying, My name is Legion: for we are many." Mark 5:6-9

In the Gospel of Mark, Chapter 5, Jesus contends with a demon-possessed man who could not be contained by any form of restraints. Jesus commanded the demonic  to identify itself—to reveal its name. We cannot take authority over that which we are not willing to identify and call by name. 

"When Jesus saw that a crowd was running to the scene, he rebuked the impure spirit. 'You deaf and mute spirit,' he said, 'I command you, come out of him and never enter him again.'" Mark 9:25

QUESTIONS: What is the root of your oppression? Have you identified and called it by name when seeking the Lord for your deliverance?

 

  

 

Courage to Own It & Tell It

Psalm 40:9-10 (NIV®)
I proclaim your saving acts in the great assembly; I do not seal my lips, Lord, as you know. I do not hide your righteousness in my heart; I speak of your faithfulness and your saving help. I do not conceal your love and your faithfulness from the great assembly.

We know we should use every opportunity to tell what Jesus delivered us from and what He has brought us to. We should be eager to talk about what He has done for us and what He can do for others. But it takes courage to own your story among people who won’t always embrace it. We know we’ll sometimes be met with rolling eyes, a sarcastic comment, or even an insult. Here, David proclaimed his eagerness to tell what God had done for him, even among a great crowd of people. Jesus certainly never hesitated to tell what God could do. It takes bravery to follow the Lord and endure the scrutiny and comments of others. But if we will ask, the Holy Spirit will give us the courage to own our Jesus-stories and tell them.

THINK ABOUT IT
What might have inspired David to proclaim his God-stories so boldly?

PRAYER
Heavenly Father, thank You for Your truth and Word. You created me for Your purposes—may my life bring glory to the King of kings. Give me an understanding heart, the boldness to proclaim Jesus as Lord, and the wisdom to be effective. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Words are powerful. They can pierce others with hate, contempt, judgment, and scorn. Or they can lift others up with encouragement, compassion, guidance, and understanding. God calls us to put away our reckless words that inflict wounds. Instead, He leads us to use our words wisely so that we may be agents of healing, love, and grace.

Lord, I confess the times that I have been careless with words that have wounded others. Help me to repair that damage that I’ve done. Give me the wisdom to discern my words carefully. Fill my heart with Your compassion and grace so that I may speak the truth in love, and heal others with words of wisdom and encouragement. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

January 5, 2023

This passage has two messages for us. The first is that the world will hate those who try to carry out the mission of Jesus – work for love and justice. Justice for the poor was a major work of Jesus. The early Christians were known by their love for one another and the way in which they shared what they had so that no one went without. The first deacons were named so that there would be no discrimination between the Hellenist and Hebrew widows in the distribution of food. Justice was important. The problem comes because it could mean sacrifice for an individual or a group. And there's the rub! We live in a world of "us" and "them." When Jesus said that we must feed the poor or shelter the homeless, he never said that those we helped were friends or neighbors. He didn't say that they should be worthy of our help, he just said to help. So often, we are given messages that tell us we should hate a particular individual or group. How does that fit in to Jesus' command to love others as he loved us? And this takes us to the second part of this quote. If we hate, then we are murderers! I don't think any of us would think of ourselves as murderers. If we deny justice because we are unable to "love" others, we could very well be murderers. People denied access to adequate food, shelter, clean water, medical care die at a greater rate than those who have what they need. We all need to look into our hearts and see if we are acting as Jesus would want us to act, or are we putting ourselves and our wants first.

Lord, You have given us so much, but not all of us have been given the same adventure as others. Give us the Spirit of generosity to help those in need without regard with who they are or where they come from, in Jesus Mighty name Amen. 

January 4, 2023 - Matthew 4:1-11 

Find Joy in the Lord, in Me for He is our Strength. It is vital to keep our Joy alive, especially when you're in the throes of adversity. Whenever you we are struggling with difficulties, (we) you need to guard our thoughts and spoken words carefully. If (we) you focus too much on all the things that are wrong, we willbecome increasingly discouraged - and our strength will be sapped. As soon as we realize what is happening, stop this hurtful process immediately. Turn to Him, asking HIm to help us with our struggles.

Take time to praise Him with your whole heart: Seak or sing words of worship. Read Scipture that help us rejoice in Him. Remember that our problems are temporary but He is eternal - and so is our relationship with Jesus. Aswe find joy in Jesus, delighting g in Jesus unfailing LOVE for our, your strength will increase. This is the Joy of the Lord, which is ours for all time and throughout eternity.

Read: Nehemiah; Psalm 66:1-3; 143:8 

Invitation for Delana Forsyth

Honor Society Member Acceptance

Dear Delana Forsyth,

Honor Society is the preeminent organization dedicated to the recognition of academic and professional success. Our mission is to facilitate members to realize their highest potential through the advancement of academics, leadership and networking. In addition to a nationally recognized distinction, some of the other benefits you have premium access to as an Honor Society member are:

BE STILL, AND KNOW that I am God. Most Christians are familiar with this command, but not so many take it seriously. Yet for those who do, blessings flow like streams of living WATER. As these believers sit in stillness - focusing on God and His (Your) Word - their perception of Him (You) expand and their trouble shrink in importance. 

I want you to share in these blessings, beloved. Take time, take time with Me (You). While you rest in My Presence, I untangle (my) your thoughts and help (me) you view things more biblically. Remember: My Word is a lamp to guide your feet and a light for your path. Biblical thinking Illuminates the path before you so you can find your way. 

It's crucial to know not only that (You) I am God but that I made you and you are Mine. (I am Your Lord). You are a sheep of My pasture. Sheep have very limited understanding of what their shepherd is doing for them, but they follow him anyway. Similarly, as My "sheep," your job is to trust Me and follow wherever I lead.

Lord, thank You for Your word. As I read, please reveal Yourself to me through the words You’ve provided. Use Your word to conform the desires of my heart to Your love and compassion. And grant me wisdom through Your words so that my thoughts may dwell more richly on Your truth and the knowledge of hope that I have in You. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.

Psalm 46:10; 119:105; 100:3

John 7:38

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Christianity Through the Centuries

This book preview is from another edition of this book.

1
The Fullness of the Time
In Galatians 4:4 Paul called attention to the historical era of providential preparation that preceded the coming of Christ to earth in human form: “When the fulness of the time was come, God sent forth his Son.” Mark also emphasized the coming of Christ when all was made ready on earth (Mark 1:15).1 Consideration of the events that preceded the appearance of Christ on earth leads the sober student of history to acknowledge the truth of the statements of Paul and Mark.
In most discussions of this subject it has been forgotten that not only the Jew but also the Greek and the Roman contributed to the religious preparation for the appearance of Christ. Greek and Roman contributions aided in bringing historical development to the point where Christ could make the maximum impact on history in a way not possible before or since the time of His birth.
The political contribution to history preceding the coming of Christ was primarily the work of the Romans. This people who followed the way of idolatry, mystery religions, and emperor worship were used by God, of whom they were ignorant, to bring about the fulfillment of his will.
1.The Romans, as no other people up to their time, developed a sense of the unity of mankind under a universal law. This sense of the solidarity of man within the empire created an environment favorable to the reception of a gospel that proclaimed the unity of the human race in the fact that all men are under the penalty of sin and in the fact that all are offered a salvation that makes them a part of a universal organism, the Christian church, Christ’s body.
No empire of the ancient Near East, not even that of Alexander, had succeeded in bringing to men a sense of their unity in a political organization. Political unity was to be the peculiar task of Rome. The application of the Roman law to citizens in all parts of the empire was daily pressed upon the Romans and the subjects of the empire by the impartial justice of Roman courts. This Roman law grew out of the customary law of the early monarchy. During the early republic, in the fifth century before Christ, this law was codified in the Twelve Tables, which became an essential part of the education of every Roman boy. The realization that great principles of Roman law were also a part of the laws of all the nations of men grew upon the Romans as the praetor peregrinus, who was charged with the task of dealing with court cases in which foreigners were involved, became acquainted with the national legal systems of these foreigners. Thus the code of the Twelve Tables, based on Roman custom, was enriched by the laws of other nations. Philosophically inclined Romans explained these similarities by borrowing the Greek concept of a universal law whose principles were written into man’s nature and could be discovered by rational processes.
A further step in the fostering of the idea of unity was the granting of Roman citizenship to non-Romans. This process was started in the period preceding the birth of Christ and was completed when Caracalla in 212 admitted all freemen in the Roman Empire to Roman citizenship. Because the Roman Empire included all the Mediterranean world that counted in the history of that day, for all practical purposes, all men were under one system of law and citizens of one kingdom.
Roman law, with its emphasis on the dignity of the individual and his right to justice and Roman citizenship, and with its tendency to fuse men of different races into one political organization, anticipated a gospel that proclaimed the unity of the race both in setting forth the penalty for sin and the Savior from sin. Paul reminded the people of the Philippian church that they were members of a heavenly commonwealth (Phil. 3:20).
2.Free movement about the Mediterranean world would have been most difficult for the messengers of the gospel before the reign of Caesar Augustus (27 B.C.,A.D. 14). The division of the ancient world into small jealous units, city states or tribes, hindered travel and the spread of ideas. With the extension of Roman imperial power during the period of empire building, a period of peaceful development occurred in the countries surrounding the Mediterranean. Pompey had swept the pirates from the Mediterranean, and Roman soldiers kept the peace on the roads of Asia, Africa, and Europe. This relatively peaceful world made it easy for the early Christians to move from place to place so that they could preach the gospel to all men everywhere.
3.The Romans developed an excellent system of roads radiating out from the golden milestone in the Roman forum to all parts of the empire. The main roads were built to serve for ages. They went straight over hill and dale to the farthest point of the empire. A study of the journeys of Paul indicates that he made great use of the excellent road system to get from strategic center to strategic center of the Roman Empire. Roman roads and strategic cities located on these roads were an indispensable aid in the realization of Paul’s mission.
4.The role of the Roman army in the development of the ideal of a universal organization and in the spread of the gospel should not be ignored. The Romans adopted the custom of using provincials in the army as the supply of Roman citizens declined because of war and easy living. These provincials were brought into contact with Roman culture and helped to spread its ideas throughout the ancient world. Moreover, some of these men became converts to Christianity and spread the gospel to areas where they were assigned for military duty. It is probable that the earliest introduction of Christianity to Britain was a result of the efforts of Christian soldiers or merchants.

---

Excerpted from Christianity Through the Cenuries: A History of the Christian Church by Earle E. Cairns
All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.

Christianity Through the Centuries: A History...

by Earle E. Cairns

$4.69

Format: Hardcover

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Overview

The third edition of Christianity Through the Centuries brings the reader up-to-date by discussing events and developments in the church into the 1990s. This edition has been redesigned with new typography and greatly improved graphics to increase clarity, accessibility, and usefulness. - New chapters examine recent trends and developments (expanding the last section from 2 chapters to 5) - New photos. Over 100 photos in all -- more than twice the... 

Format:Hardcover

Language:English

ISBN:0310383609

ISBN13:9780310383604

Release Date:January 1981

Publisher:Zondervan Publishing Company

Length:507 Pages

Weight:2.00 lbs.

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Customer Reviews

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5 customer ratings | 5 reviews

Rated 5 stars

An Excellent Overview and a Conservative Classic

By Thriftbooks.com User, September 4, 2006

I believe this fine work by Dr. Cairns is in process of becoming a conservative evangelical classic. Almost everyone I have talked with who has gone through a seminary or Bible College survey of Church History course has used this text in some capacity. It is very accurate... 

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Rated 5 stars

An Excellent History of Christianity

By Thriftbooks.com User, December 4, 2004

In my humble opinion, Cairns has written and excellent title on the spread of Christianity over the centuries. The book is divided into 3 main periods: 1. Ancient Church History (5 B.C. - A.D. 590). 2. Medieval Church History (590 - 1517). 3. Modern Church History (1517... 

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Rated 5 stars

Quality Introduction to Church History

By Thriftbooks.com User, October 3, 2001

Earle Cairns take the reader on an epic journey of the history of the church from the day of Pentecost to the middle of the last decade of the 20th Century. The 560-page volume gives the reader an overview of the people, events, movements, doctrines, and cultures that sometimes... 

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Rated 5 stars

Outstanding Introduction to Church History

By Thriftbooks.com User, August 20, 1999

Cairns' work, though not necessarily monumental, is powerful, insightful, and scholarly. I have used several excellent church histories and in my experience, Cairns is certainly among the best. Contrary to what one reviewer said, Cairns takes neither an overly Calvanistic... 

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Rated 5 stars

A classic synopsis!

By Thriftbooks.com User, November 12, 1998

This book's endurance--it first appeared in 1954--is a testament to its excellence. Few if any introductory church history texts present their subject matter as concisely yet clearly as this one. Especially appealing to those who believe humanity's fall affected the mind, not... 

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