Christianity as Religious Extremism

Generally, citizens and guests within the United States of America are free to believe and behave as they please. Constitutional provisions protect various rights, such as freedom of religion. The First Amendment to the US Constitution states in part: “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof. . .” The consequences of such protection has brought about a situation in which two foreign-born men came to America, and have the right to interpret or misinterpret their religion as they please. This interpretation on their part led to the Boston marathon bombing.

For a Christian, there are within the framework of the Bible, various scriptures that self-limit our pure freedoms. Y’shuaJesus taught:

Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

Matthew 19:19

The Apostle Peter spoke about submitting “to every ordinance of man for the Lord’s sake.” (1 Peter 2:13)

It’s all part of balance. We have the right to exercise our religion, and we have the duty to self-limit our rights such that we obey various ordinances that are created by our G-d-ordained government to protect all citizens.

But. There is always a “but,” isn’t there. But our responsibility is first to our Lord, our G-d. We must study His Word to be approved. We must study the Whole Word, not pick and choose from various places to suit our fleshly agendas. Our conduct is to be exemplary. We are to be models as citizens. So we do all we can to be good Citizens of G-d’s Kingdom at the same time juggling the responsibilities and duties of the country in which we reside. We want to also be good citizens in a secular sense, too.

Yet increasingly we, as Christians are told by people who aren’t part of the Lord’s Fellowship, the Lord’s Church, how we are to behave. I’ve spoken of this in the past. It is a bit of an irritant to me to hear, “The Bible Says” this or that, “and you should. . . ”

So this morning I noticed a posting on the Lighthouse Blog that bothered me. It’s more of the same setting of a stage for Christian persecution in the future. It is more defaming of Christians. The beginning of the article is taken from an article on Christian News Network, By Heather Clark:

“Washington, D. C. – Over 40 United States Congressmen have signed a letter calling upon the secretary of the Army to rescind a briefing by an instructor who classified evangelical Christianity and other faiths as “religious extremism” next to Al Qaeda and Hamas.

“As previously reported, the training session occurred a year ago in Pennsylvania, and involved an Army Reserve unit that was receiving training on worldwide religious extremism. Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) obtained a copy of the Power Point presentation, which includes a slide that lists 18 religious groups that the instructor deemed to be extremist. While it is not known whether the groups were ordered in relation to their severity, evangelical Christianity appears first on the list, followed by the Muslim Brotherhood, Ultra-Orthodox Judaism, a group called “Christian Identity,” Al Qaeda and Hamas.

“The presentation had utilized information and data collected by the Southern Poverty Law Center, an organization that classifies “hate groups” throughout the country.”

And then there is a related article to which the website refers:

Obama Administration: We Can and Will Force Christians to Act Against Their Faith The article states that “the Obama administration is claiming that the First Amendment—which expressly denies the government the authority to prohibit the “free exercise” of religion—nonetheless allows it to force Christians to directly violate their religious beliefs.” This article details the fight that a nationwide hobby store is engaging in so that it doesn’t have to comply with the presidential mandate in the health laws to provide birth control and abortions to employees.

Now this presentation that declares Evangelical Christians (are there non-evangelical Christians, really?) as Religious Extremists was initially reported a year ago. And this Hobby Lobby fight has gone on for a while, too. The crux of the matter is that as Citizens of G-d’s Kingdom and citizens of a secular nation we must voice our opposition at times to governmental measures and mandates that go against our religious views. We do this by informing our representatives in the US Congress, and we do it by actions within the legal process, in court.

While Christians may submit to ordinances made by governing administrations, they also may act within their rights, objecting to ordinances they deem unG-dly.

What Christians don’t do is kill and injure people at the Boston Marathon. That’s just plain ol’ evil.

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Trample on The Name of Jesus or else. . .

. . .be kicked out of class. Those were the options, according to reports, in a college class in Florida. Hum. What if I decided to make my college class trample on the name of Mohammed. Fatwa time. Big time price on my head. Oh, and I’d be fired on the spot.

Florida Atlantic University student Ryan Rotela provides example of Jesus’ name written on paper that students were instructed to stamp on in March, 2013 class. (source: WPEC-TV)

Read about this injustice and the student that refused to trample on the Name of Jesus here.

My Prayer:
Well, Lord, Bless student Ryan Rotela for his stand against the professor’s acts of violence against Your Name. Mr. Rotela glorified You, and should You desire Mr. Rotela to be exonerated, let it be done. Else, let him find peace and acceptance in another university, if one can be found, that is worthy of him.

As for instructor Deandre Poole. . . You, Lord, know what is best, what course of action is necessary. This professor, and all supporters of him, are trampling upon Your Holiness. They have that right, that freedom under America’s Constitution. But to demand that of others! Is not this akin to the sins of Nebuchadnezzar? Requiring a form of idolatry of others whether requiring worship or violence against G-d, is anathema. Is it not? This is a professor who is currently writing a book that sounds as if it will place a man in the position of a god. He is authoring the book, Obamamania: The Rise of a Mythical Hero. It’s Your choice, LORD. Bring Mr. Poole to his knees before You now. Bring him to repentance now. He doesn’t realize that he will one day kneel before You and confess that You are LORD. Let him do so now, that he may live, else he shall forever live apart from You. Should You desire, discredit him today that his book be smeared openly with its darkness, that it not deceive, that it not be accepted in the marketplace where it might deceive sheep who know no better.

LORD, it concerns me that people want to elevate their leaders to the ranks of mythical heroes, i.e., Greek gods. The people of Germany did this already in the 1930s, and a lot of people died as a direct result. LORD, act as You wish, as You know best. Save Americans from the misguided actions and words of those throughout our land who don’t know You. Else shall we all perish and be no more to offer praise to You, LORD. Your Will be Done, here on Earth as it is in Heaven.

AMEN.

Lord Bless y’all. . .

Surprized at the Violence?

Things seemed to be going so well. The weather wasn’t perfect, but tolerable. People up in New York were starting to get clear of the destruction of their double whammy storms. The election is over. Whether we celebrate or mourn, at least we know now were we stand for the next four years. Here in Georgia it’s raining. And it’s about time, too. And on the XMRadio I’ve been listening to “Radio Hanukkah.”-eight days of music celebrating the Maccabees Victory and beginning again of worshiping G-d in The Temple. It celebrates the miracle of light, a light that stayed lite eight days when there was only enough oil for one.

Then a young man barely out of his teens shoots a bunch of kids and six adults. Defenseless kids. Defenseless adults. Law enforcement officers comb the man’s house, where he also murdered his mother, for clues to how and why. The murdered children and adults are mourned–by us all.

How long will we all remember, though? Certainly parents of slaughtered babies will not soon forget their anguish, their loss. But we move on, CNN moves on, the world moves on, live goes on. There may be superficial answers offered us to our questions of “Why?” We will be told that the boy played too many violent video games too often. We will be told the boy watched violent television. We will told the boy was brilliant, but somehow damaged goods.

Even after we move on “solutions” will be proposed. Advocates will cry out for our attention, trying to get our ears. The “solutions” will include taking away any implement that might be used to cause harm. Take away access to evil guns. Curb violence on television. Restrict video games.

This month Christians celebrate the birth of a Savior. Not just any savior. The Savior. This is the time we need more than ever to understand that controls upon our liberties lead only to tyranny and that solutions only lay in accepting the only true savior, the only true peace that there is–Y’shuaJesus.

Who has believed what he has heard from us? And to whom has the arm of the LORD been revealed? For he grew up before him like a young plant, and like a root out of dry ground; he had no form or majesty that we should look at him, and no beauty that we should desire him. He was despised and rejected by men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and as one from whom men hide their faces he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; yet we esteemed him stricken, smitten by God, and afflicted. But he was wounded for our transgressions; he was crushed for our iniquities; upon him was the chastisement that brought us peace, and with his stripes we are healed. All we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned–every one–to his own way; and the LORD has laid on him the iniquity of us all. He was oppressed, and he was afflicted, yet he opened not his mouth; like a lamb that is led to the slaughter, and like a sheep that before its shearers is silent, so he opened not his mouth. By oppression and judgment he was taken away; and as for his generation, who considered that he was cut off out of the land of the living, stricken for the transgression of my people? And they made his grave with the wicked and with a rich man in his death, although he had done no violence, and there was no deceit in his mouth. Yet it was the will of the LORD to crush him; he has put him to grief; when his soul makes an offering for guilt, he shall see his offspring; he shall prolong his days; the will of the LORD shall prosper in his hand. Out of the anguish of his soul he shall see and be satisfied; by his knowledge shall the righteous one, my servant, make many to be accounted righteous, and he shall bear their iniquities. Therefore I will divide him a portion with the many, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong, because he poured out his soul to death and was numbered with the transgressors; yet he bore the sin of many, and makes intercession for the transgressors.

Isaiah 53

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Thanksgiving 2012

English: "The First Thanksgiving at Plymo... — “The First Thanksgiving at Plymouth” (1914) By Jennie A. Brownscombe (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Today, in America, some of us celebrate Thanksgiving. It’s a Federal holiday. It’s a bank holiday. At one time it was a very important holiday. I remember the plays in elementary school, in the 1950s. We spoke openly of the Early American faith in the One G-d, the Judea-Christian G-d, the Father of Messiah Y’shuaJesus. We remembered the Early American Thanksgiving to G-d for His care over them.

Thanksgiving always seemed to hold a special place for my parents. It was a time when they tried to get all their children back home, together at one table. There were few distractions, as is the case at Christmas, with the decorations and the presents. It was a time for my mother to bake an incredible turkey, for my father to carve, for all of us to enjoy. These days, three thousand miles separates me from my brothers and their families. But I remember and am Thankful to our Father G-d and our Savior Lord Y’shuaJesus for the lessons of my parents, for my brothers and their families, and for my family here in Georgia, with whom I shall celebrate the Day.

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . . and Thank the Lord for Blessings beyond reason.

American Election Day

Today is America’s Election Day. For months now candidates have made great efforts to gather support, thereby enough votes. As this day approached, a lot of people speculated who would be the next president of the United States. Yet, American voters, according to a variety of polls, are evenly split between the incumbent president and his primary rival as we go to the voting polls.I read an article that outlined what to look for today as the voting progressed. We can predict the outcome early. We seem to want to know, now, and not wait. Oh, well, that’s not really unusual; we want to know what’s going to happen. Then thing we need to remember is that we just don’t want to take it too far, like King Saul did.

“When Saul saw the army of the Philistines, he was afraid, and his heart trembled greatly. And when Saul inquired of the LORD, the LORD did not answer him, either by dreamsor by Urim or by the prophets. Then Saul said to his servants, “Find me a woman who is a medium, that I may go to her and inquire of her.”

1Samuel 28:5-9, 11-19, NKJV

King Saul inquired of the Lord. Then, not hearing an answer, inquired of a witch. Not a good thing to do. While I’ve never inquired of a witch, that I know of, I know that I’ve prayed about something and before hearing an answer, gone off and mentioned something to someone, who wainting to be helpful, gave me some answers that I acted upon. Later I wondered if I’d done the right thing.

Learning to wait. Wait upon the Lord. Let Him bring answers to us as He desires.

This pray comes to mind today again. “. . .Lord direct your hearts into the love of G-d, and into the patient waiting of Messiah.” [2Thess 3:5] Also, Lord Y’shuaJesus Bless you, Keep you, and Shine upon you always.

Judge expected to rule in Bible verse banner suit

In the Lone Star state trouble is brewing. Again. It seems some cheerleaders are making signs with Bible quotes written on them like:

If God is for us, who can be against us?

Romans 8:31

Who indeed is against them? Well, it seems that there is a group that wants America free from religion. The group, Freedom From Religion Foundation complained to the school district that the Kountze High School cheerleaders violated America’s First Amendment to its Constitution. This amendment prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering with the right to peaceably assemble or prohibiting the petitioning for a governmental redress of grievances.

The School District responded to the complaint by banning the signs. So, the cheerleaders sued, arguing that the ban violates their free speech rights, which are also guaranteed in the First Amendment. The Judge has allowed the cheerleaders to continue until he decides the case. The decision is expected today.

What struck me as fascinating is that this anti-religion group stated: “If the majority of the cheerleaders were atheists, would a court support their ‘right’ to hold up a banner insulting Christianity or all believers?”

Wait just minute. There’s a name for this type of argument. It’s a typical argument used by too many these days. It’s saying that apples are the same as oranges. I mean, really, are the cheerleaders insulting non-believers? No. But here’s the rub. There are people who will condemn the right of Christians to speak freely, while they continue to speak their way in public and in schools. [Evolution is a theory. It is one of many theories. But the schools teach it like it was Truth.]

And the cheerleaders didn’t even use the Name of our Lord. Oh, they wrote G-d with a capital letter. That’s the same thing, isn’t it? They’d have been heralded in the media if they’d just said something like, “Who can be against us if our higher power is for us?” But too often Christians, if not outrightly banned, are harrassed and jeered for their faith.

We live among a people of unclean lips. We live in a generation that has no regard for Messiah Y’shuaJesus. They speak about the mother earth, celebrate holidays like the upcoming satanic halloween [I will not capitalize either word, and yes, they go together.]. And cheerleaders in Austin, Texas, are banned from signs that use the word G-d. What would have happened if they’d have said “JESUS” in a sign? Would they have been arrested for a hate crime? [Oh, that’s right, America has not yet adopted such facist methods of control.]

But you know where all this is going, right? It is headed for a time when the world says conflict will end if we just have a world government and a world religion. Confict will end when those Jesus freaks stop their rantings and get with the program. Even the big-box churches are starting to come around and incorporate Eastern-style thought into their teachings. Meditation. Inviting New Age speakers to be on the same platform as their so-called preachers. I mean, isn’t Buddha a brother and equal to Y’shuaJesus, as is Mohammad. All propets right?

Yup, freedom of speech only applies to non-Believers. They won’t use the Name of the Lord Y’shuaJesus. Well, actually, often they do, but it is in vain. Hum. Isn’t that “hate speech” in itself?

I rant. Sorry. Check out the full article at CNSNews.

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Memories. . .

Can’t you hear the soulful echoes of Barbara Streisand singing Memory?

Memory – all alone in the moonlight. I can dream of the old days.
Life was beautiful then.
I remember the time I knew what happiness was.
Let the memory live again.
[ Lyrics from: http://www.lyricsmode.com/lyrics/b/barbara_streisand/memory.html ]

A few days ago, my family celebrated the birthday of our son. Yesterday my wife and I celebrated the anniversary of our wedding. Lots of memories this week.

Today, though, we do not celebrate. But we do remember. We remember the senseless loss of life that occurred eleven years ago. We recall the passengers and crew of four aircraft that were hijacked and intentionally crashed. We remember the thousands of people that died on the ground at the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. We remember.

What will we do with the memory?

For we are consumed by thine anger, and by thy wrath are we troubled.

Psalm 90:7

Moses, says Matthew Henry, “taught the people of Israel to acknowledge the wrath of G-d to be the cause of all their miseries.”

With such acknowledgement, the Psalmist turns to G-d asking Him to be reconciled to His people (v.13) and finally:

And let the beauty of the Lord our G-d be upon us, and establish thou the work of our hands upon us. . .

v.17

The prerequisite for the blessing of the Lord is acknowledgment of our own unrighteousness before Him. Country/Bluegrass singer Charlie Daniels wrote in his blog that America will come to its knees, either in prayer or in ruin. Today, as we remember the loss of American lives at the hands of a foreign enemy, we must also acknowledge our responsibility to turn from our own unrighteousness and seek the righteousness of G-d through Y’shuaJesus.

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine. . .

Memorial Day in which American’s Remember

English: The "Bennington Battle Flag"... — The “Bennington Battle Flag” flying outside City Hall in San Francisco, California (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Today is Memorial Day. Today we remember. We remember that the Liberty, the Freedom, that G-d has provided us, is codified in the American Constitution and the Bill of Rights. These Liberties and Freedoms allow us to worship the LORD, Who is G-d, in the way we choose. This is a Divinely inspired right, and has been successfully defended for over two hundred years, from enemies both domestic and abroad.

Today, we remember the men and women who died in defense of our country, our liberties, and our freedoms that allow us to worship G-d. May G-d continue to defend America, its Constitution, its Liberties, its Freedoms.

Arise, O God, defend your cause; remember how the foolish scoff at you all the day!

Psalm 74:22

For then the sacrifice of so many lives will not be lost, and the worship of the LORD Who is G-d, the Lord Who is One, shall prevail in America, and throughout the world.

Lord Bless, Keep, Shine upon all His people. . .

Save Our Military Cemeteries (foxnews.com)

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