God-Haters Ascribe to Themselves the Authority to "Redefine" Marriage in Washington State

With sickening perversity and usurpation of Jehovah's authority, God-haters who claim to "represent" Washingtonians in Olympia now believe--in suppressing the truth in unrighteousness and in their rebellion and hatred towards their Maker--that they may "redefine" marriage as being between two people of the SAME sex. This legislation, if passed, will only hasten the destruction of this nation and the disintegration of our society. There is no fear of God before their eyes.

http://www.tvw.org/
http://www.theolympian.com/2012/01/19/1956146/sen-kastama-big-business-give.html

I hope every Christian will make the effort to stand for God's word in the sight of our "representatives" by contacting them and telling it to them. God's eye is on His people, and judgment begins first in the household of God.

If Christians do not OUTWARDLY and IN PUBLIC STAND for the truth of God's word, we WILL be smitten with Christ's rod of iron and dashed to pieces like a potter's vessel along with the rest of this officially God-hating nation.

Therefore, I encourage Christians to call/write to the "representatives" and "civil servants" of Washington State, and/or gather on Monday, January 23rd at the capital (Olympia) for a demonstration against this proposed legislation. TEACH the civil magistrates in our nation the word of God. The craven pastors of this land are clearly not going to do it. Let every Christian do it. "Be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might." (Eph. 6:10)

American Family Association Action Alert [Contrary to what AFA urges, though, let's not be "neutral;" let's follow the Lord Jesus Christ and defend His crown rights in every sphere of life.]:

"Last week [the first week of January] in Olympia, Governor Christine Gregoire held an disturbing press conference announcing her aggressive plan to force legislation which would redefine marriage in Washington. If you did not watch it, you should by clicking here. While members of the homosexual lobby announced their intentions at a press conference in November, this marks the beginning of the legislative debate over the issue.

Acknowledging that they were a few votes short of passage in the Senate, both the Governor and legislative leadership expressed confidence that they could secure the votes needed for final passage.

Supporters of real marriage must counter the pressure that legislators will inevitably receive from the homosexual lobby and Gov. Gregoire. They need to hear from 10 times as many constituents respectfully encouraging them not to redefine marriage."

Christian Homeschool Network of Washington's Call to Action (http://www.chnow.org/page93.aspx):

"CALL TO ACTION


Help preserve traditional marriage in Washington State.

Legislative leaders have stated that their number one priority this session is to pass legislation permitting homosexual marriage in Washington State. Home educators: we challenge you to make it your priority this session to defend marriage as between one man and one woman. Help us protect this God-defined ordinance and pass on this God-honoring heritage to our children and our children’s children.

The focus of CHN is on home education and parental rights and we cannot ignore the consequences that redefining marriage will have. The Home School Legal Defense Association (HSLDA), in stating their opposition to this bill, said:

Why is HSLDA opposed to this bill? Our freedom to educate our children is based upon "Western civilization concepts of the family as a unit with broad parental authority over minor children." Same-sex marriage or domestic partnerships attack the traditions of the family in Western civilization upon which the foundation of parental choice in education and basic parental rights are based upon. Thus, parental rights are based on "western civilization concepts of the family." When those concepts are no longer the legal definition of the family in this nation, then the foundation upon which parental rights are based is completely removed. (HSLDA 2009 e-alert)

We challenge each of you to do your part to become active in this grassroots campaign to defeat this legislation. You don’t have to do it all, just do what you can.

1. Call the Legislative Hotline 1-800-562-6000
1000 pro-marriage citizens calling their legislators and urging them to not redefine marriage could stop this legislation. Call today and get everyone you know to call, too!

2. Write/e-mail/call your legislators ask them to support traditional marriage.

For contact information go to http://www.leg.wa.gov/

For talking points go to Marriage Legislation Resources www.FPIW.org/marriage

3. Become involved in local grassroots efforts.

Local district captains have been identified in the following districts. They will help coordinate
local grassroots efforts to encourage their senators to preserve marriage as between one man and one woman. If you live in one of these districts and want to help, contact chnow@msn.com
and we will forward your information to the appropriate person.

4. Come to Olympia and meet with your legislators. Call ahead and make an appointment.
Organize a group from your church, co-op, etc. Contact DiAnna Brannan, grassroots lobbyist, CHN and she can assist you chnow@msn.com include your phone number for quicker response.

Attend Home Educator’s Day at the Capitol event February 8, 2012
http://www.chnow.org/page28.aspx

5. Attend the hearing in the Senate: Monday, January 23rd 10:00 -1:00
Government Operations Committee, Cherberg Building, hearing room 2. There is no bill number yet, and the date and time are subject to change.

6. Get others involved; tweet, facebook, e-loops, etc.

7. For more ideas go to: Marriage Legislation Resources www.FPIW.org/marriage

Write editorials, encourage your pastor to get involved, get informed on the issues, copy
handouts and inform others, etc.

8. Coming soon: Stand for Marriage website. Like them on Facebook!
A coalition committed to defending marriage as one man and one woman.

9. Pray without ceasing"

Family Policy Institute of Washington:
http://www.fpiw.org/marriage/index.html

"Teaching the Whole Counsel of God" by Bojidar Marinov at American Vision

Wonderful, godly article to start off the new year!!

"Throughout the centuries, the church has always faced the problem of the quality of its members – and when I say quality, I mean the sanctification, the spiritual maturity, and the practical wisdom of its members. The constant battle against sin (sanctification) and for the expanding the Kingdom of God (wisdom) has always placed high demands and expectations; and quite often the church has found itself inadequate to the task. Its members sometimes refused to deal with sin, their own and that of the people around them. At other times the church remained passive and escapist, ignoring the clear command of the Great Commission. And at times the church was both plagued by sin and completely oblivious to its task in the world. In the last one century, the same problem persists, and is becoming even more acute and visible."

READ MORE...

NiceneCouncil.com: FREE E-Books (for a limited time)

For a limited time, NiceneCouncil.com is offering (at least) the following FREE e-books on their web site:

God's Law Made Easy eBook

Not to Destroy, but to Fulfill eBook

Postmillennialism Made Easy eBook

Wrongly Dividing the Word of Truth


(They also have some good $5 DVDs--I would recommend Is Dispensationalism Guilty of Replacement Theology? (DVD)--and inexpensive mp3 deals. I'm not an affiliate.)

Enjoy!!

Theonomy: A Summary of Vital Teachings

by Greg Bahnsen, from "Preface to the Second Edition," Theonomy in Christian Ethics (Covenant Media Foundation, 2002, Third Edition, pp. xxv-xxviii, words in brackets added by GentleDove, parentheses in original)

1. Since the Fall it has always been unlawful to use the law of God in hopes of establishing one's own personal merit and justification, [either] in contrast or complement to salvation by way of promise and faith; commitment to obedience is but the lifestyle of faith, a token of gratitude for God's redeeming grace.

2. The word of the Lord is the sole, supreme, and unchallengeable standard for the actions and attitudes of all men in all areas of life; this word naturally includes God's moral directives (law).

3. Our obligation to keep the law of God cannot be judged by any extrascriptural standard, such as whether its specific requirements (when properly interpreted) are congenial to past traditions or modern feelings and practices.

4. We should presume that Old Testament standing laws* continue to be morally binding in the New Testament, unless they are rescinded or modified by further revelation.

5. In regard to the Old Testament law, the New Covenant surpasses the Old Covenant in glory, power, and finality (thus reinforcing former duties). The New Covenant also supercedes the Old Covenant shadows, thereby changing the application of sacrificial, purity, and "separation" principles, redefining the people of God, and altering the significance of the promised land.

6. God's revealed standing laws are a reflection of His immutable moral character and, as such, are absolute in the sense of being non-arbitrary, objective, universal, and established in advance of particular circumstances (thus applicable to general types of moral situations).

7. Christian involvement in politics calls for recognition of God's transcendent, absolute, revealed law as a standard by which to judge all social codes.

8. Civil magistrates in all ages and places are obligated to conduct their offices as ministers of God, avenging divine wrath against criminals and giving an account on the Final Day of their service before the King of kings, their Creator and Judge.

9. The general continuity which we presume with respect to the moral standards of the Old Testament applies just as legitimately to matters of socio-political ethics as it does to personal, family, or ecclesiastical ethics.

10. The civil precepts of the Old Testament (standing "judicial" laws) are a model of perfect social justice for all cultures, even in the punishment of criminals.

This summary highlights the fact that theonomic ethics, proceeding in terms of salvation by grace alone, (1) is committed to developing an overall Christian world-and-life view (2) according to the regulating principle of sola Scriptura (3) and to the hermeneutic of covenant theology (4) instead of dispensationalism (where Old Covenant commandments are deemed abrogated unless repeated in the New Testament). Changes in covenantal administration that are warranted by Scripture (cf. 4) are recognized with the coming of the new and better covenant in Christ (5). Relativism (situationism) is repudiated, and the divinely revealed ethic is not reduced to a parochial or tribal perspective in the evolutionary history of ethics; (6) God's word advances universal justice, not a double-standard of morality.

Rejecting legal positivism, theonomic ethics favors the idea of a "law above the (civil) law" as a protection against the tyranny of rulers and anarchy of reformers (7). Because Christ is Lord over all (cf. 2), it follows that even civil magistrates are His servants and owe obedience to His revealed standards for them (8). There is no justification (cf. 4) for exempting civil authorities from responsibility to the universal standards of justice (cf. 6) found in God's Old Testament revelation (9). Therefore, in the absence of biblically grounded argumentation that releases the civil magistrate from Old Testament social norms (cf. 4, 5), it follows from our previous premises that in the exercise of their offices rulers are morally responsible to obey the revealed standards of social justice in the Old Testament law (10). The New Testament explicitly confirms this inference by making magistrates avengers of wrath on evil-doers (Rom. 13:4), making it a lawful use of God's law to restrain the publicly unruly (1 Tim. 1:8-10), and saying that in this law, "every transgression and disobedience received its just recompense of reward" (Heb. 2:2)...

_____________________
* "Standing law" is used here for policy directives applicable over time to classes of individuals (e.g., do not kill; children, obey your parents; merchants, have equal measures; magistrates, execute rapists), in contrast to particular directions for an individual (e.g., the order for Samuel to annoint David at a particular time and place) or positive commands for distinct incidents (e.g., God's order for Israel to exterminate certain Canaanite tribes at a certain point in history).

The Inviolability of an Oath

"Any system of law requires certain basics to make it operative. One is a penalty for violations. Another, equally essential, is the inviolability* of an oath. It is utterly impossible to adminster justice, either in the punishment of wickedness and vice or the adjudication of civil disputes, unless men can be required to tell the truth on pain of heavy penalty. The requirement is met by an appeal to what men regard as sacred and inviolable. For Christians, it means an appeal to God. To appeal is to call upon. To call upon the name of God is to take a solemn oath or to swear. To do that in anything but the utmost adherence to the full truth is to split asunder the whole structure of administration of law in all its forms."

--T. Robert Ingram, from The World Under God's Law (St. Thomas Press, 1962, p.43)

* Secure from violation or profanation; unbreakability

Then What Is It to Swear by Allah with One's Hand on the Koran (Qur'an)?

"Swearing by the name of God implies a belief and acknowledgment of His omniscience, omnipotence, and justice; it follows, therefore, that to swear by any other besides Him, must be utterly unlawful, and no less than idolatry."

--Robert Shaw [1845], from An Exposition of the Westminster Confession of Faith (Christian Focus Publications, 1992, p.237)



Question: Hmmm, then is it unlawful and idolatrous to take an oath with one's hand on the Koran?
Answer: YES

"In reaction to the news, conservative media pundit Dennis Prager criticized the decision in his November 28, 2006 column entitled 'America, not Keith Ellison, decides what book a Congressman takes his oath on.'" [Very interesting account of different books used in oath ceremonies in the United States. What a cacophanous mish-mash of gods and their law-standards.]
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Qur'an_oath_controversy_of_the_110th_United_States_Congress

Is it "America" which decides "what book" a Congressman takes his oath on?

"Instead of 'So Help me God,' Ellison, an African American and of Islamic faith, will pledge to uphold the Constitution of the United States ending with the phrase 'Allahhu Akbar' meaning God is Great in Arabic."
http://www.asiantribune.com/index.php?q=node/3587

Which god was declared to be great by this "representative" of the people? The Christian God? or the Muslim god?

"Before that time [1985], the law was called 'Administration of oath upon the Gospels'"
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,275266,00.html

Why was the oath law called that?

"The whole concept of having someone take an oath with his hand on a book is to have him swear against something he or she considers sacred. To a Christian or a Jew, that would be the Bible - to a Muslim, the Koran. Forcing a Muslim to take an oath with his or her hand on a Bible would make it meaningless, IMHO."
http://dimensionsmagazine.com/forums/archive/index.php?t-15512.html

Is "swearing against something he or she considers sacred" the whole concept of having someone take an oath with his hand on "a book"?


It's almost like one's standard reveals who or what one's god is. The history of this nation has been marked by political polytheism (adulterous idolatry). What does the future hold for this nation in God's providence, I wonder?

Hindu temple

A Highly Objectionable Word

"It is a word that is now regarded as highly objectionable, a word that Paul, if he had been what modern men would have desired him to be, never would have used. It is the small but weighty word 'not.' That word 'not,' we are today constantly being told ought to be put out of the Christian's vocabulary. Our preaching, we are told, ought to be positive and not negative; we ought to present truth, but ought not to attack error; we ought to avoid controversy and always seek peace...With regard to such a program, it may be said at least that if w e hold to it we might just as well close up our New Testaments; for the New Testament is a controversial book almost from beginning to end...The church of our day needs above all else men who can say 'No;' for it is only men who can say 'No,' men who are brave enough to take a stand against sin and error in the church--it is only such men who can really say 'Yea and amen' to the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ."

--J. Gresham Machen, from Notes on Galatians (SGCP, 2006, pp. 6-7)

 

God Does Not Have a Double Standard of Morality and Justice

"The stipulations of God's moral law, whether known through Mosaic (written) ordinances or by general (unwritten) revelation, carry a universal and "natural" obligation that is appropriate to the Creator-creature relationship, apart from any question of redemption. Their validity is by no means restricted to the Jews in a particular time period...At the beginning of the book of Deuteronomy, when Moses exhorted the Israelites to observe God's commandments, he clearly taught that the laws divinely revealed to Israel were meant by the Lawgiver as a model to be emulated by all the surrounding Gentile nations, Deut. 4:5-8. All the nations, not just the Israelites, should follow the manifestly righteous requirements of God's law. In this respect, the justice of God's law made Israel to be "a light to the nations" (Isa. 51:4).

Unlike many modern Christian writers on ethics, God did not have a double standard of morality, one for Israel and one for the Gentiles ( cf.* Lev. 24:22). Accordingly, God made it clear that the reason why the heathen tribes were ejected from the promised land was precisely because they had violated the provisions of His holy law (Lev. 18:24-27). This fact presupposes that the Gentiles were antecedently obligated to obey those provisions. Accordingly, the psalmist condemned "all the wicked of the earth" for departing from God's statutes (Ps. 119:118-119). Similarly, the book of Proverbs, intended as international wisdom literature, directs all nations to obey the laws of God: "Righteousness exalts a nation, but sin is a disgrace to any people" (Prov. 14:34, see also Isa. 24:5)."

--Greg Bahnsen, Five Views on Law and Gospel (Zondervan, 1993, pp.110-111)


* cf. is the abbreviation for the Latin "confer," meaning "compare" or "consult."

The Temptation of an Easy Drift into Apostasy and Warnings Against It In Scripture and a Poem

Therefore I will judge you, O house of Israel, every one according to his ways, saith the Lord GOD. Repent, and turn yourselves from all your transgressions; so iniquity shall not be your ruin. (Ezek. 18:30)

There is a way which seemeth right unto a man, but the end thereof are the ways of death. (Prov. 14:12 and Prov. 16:25)

Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets. Enter ye in at the strait gate: for wide is the gate, and broad is the way, that leadeth to destruction, and many there be which go in thereat: Because strait is the gate, and narrow is the way, which leadeth unto life, and few there be that find it. (Matt. 7:12-14)

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. (Matt. 7:21)

For I was an hungred, and ye gave me no meat: I was thirsty, and ye gave me no drink: I was a stranger, and ye took me not in: naked, and ye clothed me not: sick, and in prison, and ye visited me not. Then shall they also answer him, saying, Lord, when saw we thee an hungred, or athirst, or a stranger, or naked, or sick, or in prison, and did not minister unto thee? Then shall he answer them, saying, Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me. (Matt. 25:42-45)

Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness? (2 Cor. 6:14)

Ye adulterers and adulteresses, know ye not that the friendship of the world is enmity with God? whosoever therefore will be a friend of the world is the enemy of God. (James 4:4)

Yet if any man suffer as a Christian, let him not be ashamed; but let him glorify God on this behalf. For the time is come that judgment must begin at the house of God: and if it first begin at us, what shall the end be of them that obey not the gospel of God? And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear? (1 Pet. 4:16-18

I know thy works, that thou art neither cold nor hot: I would thou wert cold or hot. So then because thou art lukewarm, and neither cold nor hot, I will spue thee out of my mouth. Because thou sayest, I am rich, and increased with goods, and have need of nothing; and knowest not that thou art wretched, and miserable, and poor, and blind, and naked: I counsel thee to buy of me gold tried in the fire, that thou mayest be rich; and white raiment, that thou mayest be clothed, and that the shame of thy nakedness do not appear; and anoint thine eyes with eyesalve, that thou mayest see. (Rev. 3:15-18)

"The Church Walking with the World"
by Matilda C. Edwards

The Church and the World walked far apart
On the changing shores of time,
The World was singing a giddy song,
And the Chruch a hymn sublime.
"Come, give me your hand," said the merry World,
"And walk with me this way!"
But the good Church hid her snowy hands
And solemnly answered, "Nay,
I will not give you my hand at all,
And I will not walk with you;
Your way is the way that leads to death;
Your words are all untrue."

"Nay, walk with me but a little space,"
Said the World with a kindly air;
"The road I walk is a pleasant road,
And the sun always shines there;
Your path is thorny and rough and rude,
But mine is broad and plain;
My way is paved with flowers and dews,
And yours with tears and pain;
The sky to me is always blue,
No want, no toil I know;
The sky above you is always dark,
Your lot is a lot of woe;
There's room enough for you and me
To travel side by side."

Half shyly the Church approached the World
And gave him her hand of snow;
And the old World grasped it and walked along,
Saying, in accents low,
"Your dress is too simple to please my taste;
I will give you pearls to wear,
Rich velvets and silks for your graceful form,
And diamonds to deck your hair."
The Church looked down at her plain white robes,
And then at the dazzling World,
And blushed as she saw his handsome lip
With a smile contemptuous curled.
"I will change my dress for a costlier one,"
Said the Church, with a smile of grace;
Then her pure white garments drifted away,
And the World gave in their place,
Beautiful satins and shining silks,
Roses and gems and costly pearls;
While over her forehead her bright hair fell
Crisped in a thousand curls.

"Your house is too plain," said the proud old World,
"I'll build you one like mine;
With walls of marble and towers of gold,
And furniture ever so fine."
So he built her a costly and beautiful house;
Most splendid it was to behold;
Her sons and her beautiful daughters dwelt there
Gleaming in purple and gold;
Rich fairs and shows in the halls were held,
And the World and his children were there.
Laughter and music and feasts were heard
In the place that was meant for prayer.
There were cushioned seats for the rich and the gay,
To sit in their pomp and pride;
But the poor who were clad in shabby array,
Sat meekly down outside.

"You give too much to the poor," said the World.
"Far more than you ought to do;
If they are in need of shelter and food,
Why need it trouble you?
Go, take your money and buy rich robes,
Buy horses and carriages fine;
Buy pearls and jewels and dainty food,
Buy the rarest and costliest wine;
My children, they dote on all these things,
And if you their love would win
You must do as they do, and walk in the ways
That they are walking in."

So the poor were turned from her door in scorn,
And she heard not the orphan's cry;
But she drew her beautiful robes aside,
As the widows went weeping by.

Then the sons of the World and the Sons of the Church
Walked closely hand and heart,
And only the Master, who knoweth all,
Could tell the two apart.
Then the Church sat down at her ease, and said,
"I am rich and my goods increase;
I have need of nothing, or aught to do,
But to laugh, and dance, and feast."
The sly World heard, and he laughed in his sleeve,
And mockingly said, aside--
"The Church is fallen, the beautiful Church;
And her shame is her boast and her pride."

The angel drew near the mercy seat,
And whispered in sighs her name;
Then the loud anthems of rapture were hushed,
And heads were covered with shame;
And a voice was heard at last by the Church
From Him who sat on the throne,
"I know thy works, and how thou hast said,
'I am rich, and hast not known
That thou art naked, poor and blind,
And wretched before my face;'
Therefore from my presence cast I thee out,
And blot thy name from its place."

--from The Best Loved Poems of the American People, selected by Hazel Felleman, Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1936

The Success of the Gospel

found on Sermon Audio this morning:

"The success of the Gospel exasperates its enemies." -- Matthew Henry

Theonomy Resources: On Burning Books and Demolishing Idols

Awesome post over on Theonomy Resources on the irrational evil of pluralism (despite the "good intentions" of many, many of the proponents of pluralism).

Updated 10/12/10 to add: All the posts in this series are great! Be sure to read them all!

Part 1 (also linked above)
Part 2
Part 3
Part 4

WSJ: Burqa Is Banned In France

On today's Wall Street Journal front page (U.S. print edition) is an article about the burqa being banned in France. This was not on the front page of the European online edition, but it did make it to the top of the European section (tab).

Right next to that article is another article about the release of an American hiker after 13 months in an Iranian prison when her mother paid $500,000 "bail" (ransom). Extortion is the Islamic way. Is that the Christian way? If not, we Christians must reject pluralism and the "tolerance" of evil.

Before I give you some highlights from the article, let me ask a question: Is this about burqa, minarets, or immigration? Or is this about the failure of "tolerance" and "religious pluralism" and the myth of neutrality in the face of an uncompromising evil?

Some highlights from the "Burqa Is Banned in France" article:

"France risked the wrath of the Islamic world on Tuesday by banning burqas and other full-body robes worn by some Muslim women, in a long-debated move that shows the depth of concern of the rise of Muslim culture in Europe."

"The vote...came as a number of European countries are trying to figure out how to reconcile the values of modern Europe with more assertive expressions of Islamic faith."

"Switzerland, for example, banned the construction of minarets..."

"In Sweden, long known as one of Europe's most tolerant societies, an anti-immigrant party that has called for Swedish Muslims to integrate more is expected to win its first Parliamentary seat in this weekend's elections."

"France is facing criticism of its tolerance on other fronts...for its campaign to deport Gypsies..."

Reformed Baptist Fellowship: A Mormon on a Mission

An interesting discussion is shaping up on Reformed Baptist Fellowship: A Mormon on a Mission regarding "religious pluralism" and the mission of Glenn Beck to spread a Mormon (LDS) view of history in the media. Check out the comments--very relevant to my recent posts about the myth of pluralism within a society.

"Victory Mosque" at Ground Zero

Today marks the 9th anniversary of the Islamic terrorist attacks on 9/11/2001.

And today around the U.S. there will be protests against the proposed "victory mosque" at Ground Zero in NYC.

We Christians need to understand that the Muslims are talking "peace" and ecumenical brotherhood, pleading pluralism, because they are not yet in positions of power. Though they've obviously become more bold since the election of Mr. Obama to the U.S. Presidency.

This is how they worked when taking over Europe. Now they are the majority there, and the Muslim terrorism, threat, murders, tortures, and extortions are a way of life now for all who will not honor Islam, Muhammed, and the Koran.

From its inception in AD 600 to now, the Islamic way is "conversion by the sword." Opposite to Christianity and our Lord Jesus Christ, whose ways are pleasant and whose paths are peace (Prov. 3:17).

We MUST stand against Islam NOW, when they are in the minority in this country. The current placation, accomodation, and fearful pluralism advocated by prominent Christians and the humanist media is not the Christian, or even the pragmatic, response now.

Now is the time to reject pluralism and Islam definitively. Now is the time to be the Church Militant, not the "church wimpitant."

P.S. I am not a Zionist Christian. This isn't about eschatology. It's about standing, as followers of Christ, against evil, terrorism, oppression, and all who would oppose the Lord Jesus Christ.

Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter! (Is. 5:20)

They hatch cockatrice' eggs, and weave the spider's web: he that eateth of their eggs dieth, and that which is crushed breaketh out into a viper. Their webs shall not become garments, neither shall they cover themselves with their works: their works are works of iniquity, and the act of violence is in their hands. Their feet run to evil, and they make haste to shed innocent blood: their thoughts are thoughts of iniquity; wasting and destruction are in their paths. The way of peace they know not; and there is no judgment in their goings: they have made them crooked paths: whosoever goeth therein shall not know peace. (Is. 59:5-8)

Track the Growing Threat of Islam

Track the growing threat of Islam at Jihad Watch, and contend with Islam at every point. We must not let Muslims get a foothold in the the U.S., as they did in Europe and are now taking over Europe.

Don't be so neutral and pluralistic, that you become unable to distinguish right from wrong.

Burning Korans (Qurans) on 9/11/2010 ?

By now you've probably heard about the plans to build a mosque on the 9/11 Ground Zero site, and how pastor Terry Jones and his little church in Gainesville, FL, planned to burn Korans on 9/11 in protest of the mosque and the offensiveness of the planned building site.

Then after calls and visits from government officials, a televised speech by Mr. Obama, Muslim death threats for the pastor and for U.S. soldiers in Muslim countries; and after meeting with a Florida imam, during which the imam said they would relocate the planned mosque, the pastor called off the Koran-burning event.

Now it's come to light that the plans to build the mosque on the 9/11 site are continuing, despite Trump offering to buy the development site. I guess the imam lied.

AFA's OneNewsNow has reported on this news, and as always, has an interesting take on these developments. They have a story/commentary regarding the "hypocrisy" of the U.S. government in condemning the Koran burning, although the U.S. military burned Bibles last year in Afghanistan.

A few thoughts I have about this story, so I can wrap up this post and retire for the night:

1) Planning to build a mosque on the site of the Islamic terrorist attacks is offensive, deliberately provocative, and a gloatingly evil thing to do. What are they going to do? Have the grand opening September 11, 2011? Arrogant wickedness.

2) People are concerned that our U.S. military might be killed by Muslim terrorists if Christians burn Korans in Florida. Isn't the U.S. involved in a war in Muslim territory? Aren't our U.S. servicemen's lives in danger right now? Aren't Muslims out to kill U.S. servicemen right now? Aren't we at war, at least in part, because of the attacks of 9/11/2001? If you're so worried about their lives, Mr. Obama, then why don't you bring them home, like you campaign-promised you would two years ago? I guess Mr. Obama lied.

3) The Islamic Allah is a false god, and the Koran is not holy. It is unholy and demonically-inspired.It is good to destroy evil books, for they propogate evil ideas and evil acts (Matthew 15:19; Acts 19:18-20) Like all people who have not been regenerated by the Holy Spirit for the sake of Jesus Christ in the plan of the Father from all eternity, Muslims are under sin's dominion. They need the gospel, and it's Christians' duty to love their enemies by giving them the gospel. It is also Christians' duty to love their enemies and their brethren by restraining evil in the socio-political sphere. Extortion, such as threatening and plotting to kill people if copies of the Koran are burned, is evil in Jehovah's sight and, I think, still illegal (so far).

4) The U.S. government is not being hypocritical by condemning the Koran burning, while ordering the Bible burning. It's being ANTI-CHRISTIAN. They are anti-Christian, and they are acting in conformity with those anti-Christian beliefs; there's nothing hypocritical about it. Notice why the pietistic Christians think it's "hypocritical," though? Because the pietistic Christians believe in the myth of pluralism/neutrality. Are the AFA people saying they would be happy with anti-Christian practices, as long as anti-Islam practices are allowed, too? Is that their "principle" they want to stand for?

5) The myth of pluralism/neutrality is being exploded before our eyes (yet AGAIN). Oh Lord, please let the Christians understand that neutrality is a myth, the way the Muslims understand so well. They know how to manipulate the language of it, though; check out the WSJ article, "religious freedom and diversity." Hah! They know what the pietistic Christians and humanists will fall for!

(Note to Christians: Non-Christians are not morally opposed to bearing false witness. Another note to Christians: A person cannot lie about something and not lie about that same thing at the same time. Note 3 to Christians: Pluralism is a myth and breaks the law of non-contradiction. Note 4 to Christians: Wake up! And I say that with love, yet urgency.)

6) Appeasing insanely evil people is a mistake. Evil extortionist murderers do not get to control our actions. If we give into them, instead of restraining their evil, as best we can within our sphere of delegated biblical authority, we will become their servants and be abused by them, and they will become stronger and even bolder.

7) Hey, good on Trump! New Yorkers with even an ounce of the work of God's law on their hearts (Rom. 2:14-16) must be sick about this thumb-nosing mosque at the site of their city's devastation at the hands of Muslim terrorists. It's obviously gone beyond mere economics for the Marxist Muslims, though; they're single-mindedly, and un-neutrally, committed to their ideology at all costs.

8) Christians should repent of our sins, including our national sins, including for promoting and preaching "neutrality" instead of the crown rights of King Jesus Christ, who is the risen and ascended King of kings, and pray for forgiveness that God would not bring judgment on our nation or "appoint terror" (Lev. 26:15-17) over us through wicked idolators (Dan. 9:13-15).

9) We shouldn't feel sorry for or pity (Deut. 19:13; Deut. 19:21) the Muslims for the "threat" of having some copies of the Koran burned in protest of their murder and approval of murderers and then flaunting the murder with the building of a mosque on the scene of the atrocity. I think it was the WSJ that sympathetically murmured about how "vulnerable" the Muslims feel because of the possibility of a Koran-burning event. Which would make someone really feel vulnerable in reality--a "threat" of your "holy" book being burned in a distant state, or death threats from insane jihadists who know where you live and go to church?

10) This is probably the most courage I've seen U.S. Christians display in quite awhile. I'll be praying for this pastor and congregation in Florida. That God will be with them and give them strength and the wisdom to do the right thing.

Thou shalt not kill. (Ex. 20:13; Deut. 5:17)

My defence is of God, which saveth the upright in heart. God judgeth the righteous, and God is angry with the wicked every day. If he turn not, he will whet his sword; he hath bent his bow, and made it ready. He hath also prepared for him the instruments of death; he ordaineth his arrows against the persecutors. Behold, he travaileth with iniquity, and hath conceived mischief, and brought forth falsehood. He made a pit, and digged it, and is fallen into the ditch which he made. His mischief shall return upon his own head, and his violent dealing shall come down upon his own pate. I will praise the LORD according to his righteousness: and will sing praise to the name of the LORD most high. (Psalm 7:10-17)

For yet a little while, and the wicked shall not be: yea, thou shalt diligently consider his place, and it shall not be. But the meek shall inherit the earth; and shall delight themselves in the abundance of peace. The wicked plotteth against the just, and gnasheth upon him with his teeth. The LORD shall laugh at him: for he seeth that his day is coming. The wicked have drawn out the sword, and have bent their bow, to cast down the poor and needy, and to slay such as be of upright conversation. Their sword shall enter into their own heart, and their bows shall be broken. (Psalm 37:10-15)

The fear of the LORD is to hate evil: pride, and arrogancy, and the evil way, and the froward mouth, do I hate. (Prov. 8:13)

They that forsake the law praise the wicked: but such as keep the law contend with them.(Prov. 28:4)

He that is not with me is against me; and he that gathereth not with me scattereth abroad. (Matt. 12:30)

Know ye not that the unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, nor thieves, nor covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor extortioners, shall inherit the kingdom of God. And such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the name of the Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. (1 Cor. 6:9-11)

Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth; And that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord, to the glory of God the Father. (Phil. 2:9-11)

For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers: but the face of the Lord is against them that do evil. And who is he that will harm you, if ye be followers of that which is good? But and if ye suffer for righteousness' sake, happy are ye: and be not afraid of their terror, neither be troubled; But sanctify the Lord God in your hearts: and be ready always to give an answer to every man that asketh you a reason of the hope that is in you with meekness and fear: Having a good conscience; that, whereas they speak evil of you, as of evildoers, they may be ashamed that falsely accuse your good conversation in Christ. (1 Pet. 3:12-16)

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; According to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, which was committed to my trust. (1 Tim. 1:8-11)

Beloved, believe not every spirit, but try the spirits whether they are of God: because many false prophets are gone out into the world. Hereby know ye the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesseth that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is of God: And every spirit that confesseth not that Jesus Christ is come in the flesh is not of God: and this is that spirit of antichrist, whereof ye have heard that it should come; and even now already is it in the world. (1 Jn. 4:1-3)

Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints. For there are certain men crept in unawares, who were before of old ordained to this condemnation, ungodly men, turning the grace of our God into lasciviousness, and denying the only Lord God, and our Lord Jesus Christ. (Jude 1:3-4)

Why Christians Have Not Been Successful in the Debate against "Same-Sex Marriage"

An excerpt from Mr. William O. Einwechter's 2006 article found here:

"Evangelical Christians are not doing very well in the debate over “same-sex marriage” and other issues in regard to “gay rights.” Why is this? Let us consider two factors.

First, Evangelicals do not appeal to Scripture in the public debate, but base their arguments on reason and “natural law.” By so doing they surrender the only real authority and power they have (Isa. 8:10; Eph. 6:17; Heb. 4:12) and are forced to stand on the same ground as their opponents. Not only does this method disarm the Christian, it is also disingenuous. The leading reason why Christians reject homosexual behavior is because the Bible teaches them to do so. In refusing to stand up and say this, especially since their opponents know that their chief objection is based on the Bible, they appear to be dishonest and ashamed of their faith. It is much better to be bold and forthright in defending biblical morality by using the Bible! Even if their enemies reject their arguments, Christians cannot help but gain a measure of respect for their honesty and courage.

Second, Christians seem blind to the hypocrisy of treating homosexual conduct so seriously and adultery and divorce so lightly. Evangelicals cry out that they must defend “traditional marriage” against the danger of “gay marriage.” But the greatest threat to traditional marriage is not from without but from within; from the rampant adultery and divorce that is found in heterosexual marriages. Churches preach against “gay marriage” (and rightly so), but tolerate adultery, divorce, and adulterous remarriage within their own memberships. The divorce rate among Christians is a disgrace. The church is so morally compromised by adultery and sexual sin (e.g., addiction to pornography and fornication) among its heterosexuals that it has lost its power to confront the plague of homosexuality."

A Response from a Theonomic Paedo-Baptist

I’m in the middle of reading Greg L. Bahnsen’s No Other Standard: Theonomy and Its Critics. What a dear Christian brother Dr. Bahnsen was! I look forward to seeing him in the resurrection.

And what a great and wonderful providence of God that I should read these words two days after hearing my pastor’s story.

An excerpt from No Other Standard:

“…to say that equal civil protection cannot and should not be afforded without qualification to any and all “religious” commitments is not at all to imply that the civil magistrate has the right to take unto himself ecclesiastical authority. Just as surely as the Old Testament forbade kings to arrogate priestly functions to themselves (e.g., the case of Uzziah in 2 Chron. 26), the New Testament separates “the keys” of the kingdom from the “sword” which the state bears (cf Matt. 16:19; Rom. 13:4; 2 Cor. 10:4). There is no Biblical warrant for thinking that the civil magistrate has either the competence or the divinely given authority to settle all religious matters of doctrine.

The law of God does not, contrary to popular misconception, allow the civil courts to judge heretics or resolve theological disputes between different schools of Christian thought. Thus theonomists readily and fervently insist upon the “pluralist” [GD: “pluralism” among Christian denominations] view of the state found in our best Reformed heritage and even the U.S. Constitution. Lutherans should not use civil power to persecute Presbyterians (and vice versa, etc.), and the federal government should not establish Presbyterianism (or Anglicanism, etc.) as the state church.

There is indeed a line to be drawn beyond which the civil magistrate is not to step in matters of faith and worship. But the theonomist would argue that this line is to be drawn by the exegesis of God’s written word—not by some authority higher than the Bible, nor by the equivocal slogan of “equal protection for all,” nor by some individual’s interpretation of the lowest common denominator in religion. Religious liberty is too precious a commodity to be grounded upon anything other than God’s authority, expressed in His infallible and unchanging, written word. It must be understood and applied in theonomic fashion.”

Bahnsen, No Other Standard, pdf version, Institute for Christian Economics, 1991, p. 188

Neutrality?

As a Christian, I'm so aware of the tension between being in the world, but not of it; and I don't always have that balance I should, as I tend to lean one way then the other. I feel the same tension when I want so much to speak the truth in love (but so often fail). But what about the gray areas? Are there gray areas?

The truth (in love) is, there is no such thing as neutrality.

Either one worships the Creator or the creature.

"Who changed the truth of God into a lie, and worshipped and served the creature more than the Creator, who is blessed for ever. Amen."(Romans 1:25).

The philosophy summed up in the phrase "Man is the measure of all things" is called humanism.

In contrast to humanist philosophy, Christians believe that the triune God of the Bible is the measure of all things. Christians follow Jesus Christ and believe in Him as the LORD God incarnate, Creator, Savior, Judge, Lord, Father, and Friend. Man, human reason, the earth, the animals, and the sun, moon and stars are all creatures (part of God's creation). God alone is to be worshipped and honored as the Creator.

Either one is for Christ or against Him.

"He that is not with me is against me: and he that gathereth not with me scattereth."(Luke 11:23)

Either one loves life or loves death.

"But he that sinneth against me wrongeth his own soul: all they that hate me love death." (Proverbs 8:36)

Either one serves Christ or mammon (a false god of the love of money)

"No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon." (Matthew 6:24)

Either one is a child of God or a child of Satan.

"Jesus said unto them, If God were your Father, ye would love me: for I proceeded forth and came from God; neither came I of myself, but he sent me.

Why do ye not understand my speech? even because ye cannot hear my word. Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

And because I tell you the truth, ye believe me not. Which of you convinceth me of sin? And if I say the truth, why do ye not believe me? He that is of God heareth God's words: ye therefore hear them not, because ye are not of God."(John 8:42-47)

Either one builds his house on the Rock or on sand.

"Therefore whosoever heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them, I will liken him unto a wise man, which built his house upon a rock: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell not: for it was founded upon a rock.

And every one that heareth these sayings of mine, and doeth them not, shall be likened unto a foolish man, which built his house upon the sand: And the rain descended, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and beat upon that house; and it fell: and great was the fall of it." (Matthew 7:24-27)

Either one produces good fruit or bad fruit.

"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. Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.

Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. 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."(Matthew 7:16-23)

It's so hard to think of that nice, moral non-Christian who you love as an anti-Christ enemy. Yet we are to know they are our enemy and love them anyway. And yearn for them to know eternal life and freedom through faith in Christ.

"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in him should not perish, but have everlasting life."
(Jn. 3:16)