Does Romans 13 Teach Absolute Obedience to Civil Government?
By Joseph Mattera
Romans 13:1-7:
Let every person be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God, and God has instituted those that exist. Therefore whoever resists the authorities resists what God has appointed, and those who resist will incur judgment. For rulers is not a terror to good conduct, but to bad. Would you have no fear of the one who is in authority? Then do what is good, and you will receive his approval, for he is God’s servant for your good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword in vain. For he is the servant of God, an avenger who carries out God’s wrath on the wrongdoer. Therefore one must be in subjection, not only to avoid God’s wrath but also for the sake of conscience. For because of this you also pay taxes, for the authorities are ministers of God, attending to this very thing. Pay to all what is owed to them: taxes to whom taxes are owed, revenue to whom revenue is owed, respect to whom respect is owed, honor to whom honor is owed.
With many laws being passed that have an anti-Christian bias, many believers in the blogosphere are saying that we need to unequivocally submit to whatever the laws of the land are, since this is what Romans 13:1-7 teaches. In other words, acts of civil disobedience—praying in front of abortion clinics, public prayer in schools, and the recent arrests of New York City pastors for praying in front of the New York City Law Department to protest the looming evictions of churches from public schools—are contrary to the word of God. According to the strict interpretation of this passage we should not only cease from all acts of civil disobedience, but we should not even complain about these laws and just pray for our civil leaders.
First of all, scripture must interpret scripture for us to get a clear meaning of any specific passage. Paul, as a student of the Old Testament and the life of Jesus, would not have meant so rigid an interpretation of this passage. During his time, Christians were already being put to death (including Paul himself who was beheaded by Nero’s command) because they refused to acknowledge obeisance to Caesar by burning incense to his image or statue. Jesus and the early saints were not persecuted for religious but political reasons because they proclaimed that there was only one true Caesar and King: the Lord Jesus Christ (read Acts 17:5-7). Hence, if Paul taught in Romans 13 that we should always submit to governing authorities at all times and in all instances then he would have submitted to Caesar and not been beheaded!
I believe in Romans 13 he refers to submitting in general terms, to encourage Christians not to riot like the Jewish Zealots did, in order keep order and peace so the gospel could go forth without hindrance.
Second of all, Jesus taught balance in Mark 12:17: to give to Caesar the things that are Caesar’s and to God the things that are God’s. This primarily refers to, as the context in Romans 13:6 teaches, showing respect to the authorities by paying required taxes and showing them honor and respect by not revolting. The point is this: When we give to God the things that are His we are not to put any god before Him (Exodus 20:3) including Caesar. This means the honor and obedience we have towards Caesar and all governing authorities has severe limitations and does not include obeying them to the point of worship.
Thirdly, when it comes to honoring and giving to God the things that are God’s: this most surely includes all matters regarding the sanctity of life. Genesis 9:6 teaches that we are not to murder a fellow human being because they are made in God’s image and likeness. Thus, whenever we shed innocent blood including all acts of abortion we are in essence killing an image of God. This contravenes all human laws and calls for doctors, nurses, and all health practitioners to disobey the law and not participate in any way with abortions including the dispensing of morning after pills, which abort babies immediately after conception.
Fourth, we see how God honored Rahab as a great woman of faith (Hebrews 11:31) for disobeying the king of Jericho by lying to him when she hid two spies sent from Joshua the leader of Israel (Joshua 2). This principle was also in force in Nazi Germany, when many Christians hid Jews in their homes or places of business to protect them from being taken to the gas chambers and death camps. A narrow, unbiblical interpretation of Romans 13 without a proper exegesis of scripture would have resulted in them telling Nazi troops the truth and giving the Jews over to death!
Fifth, the early church would have quickly dissolved into irrelevancy and disappeared if the apostles would have blindly submitted to their governing authorities because they were given strict orders by their superiors to cease preaching the gospel. This is something even God Himself ignored went He sent an angel to set the apostles free from prison so they could continue to spread the word (Acts 5:19-20). The words of Peter in Acts 5:29 to the rulers of the Jews summarizes this whole article: “We must obey God rather than men.”
Finally, what Romans 13 is really teaching is that ultimate authority comes from God. Civil leaders do not have a free hand to rule as they please; they are to represent God and rule justly (Proverbs 8:15-16) as His magistrates. This has been written about by John Calvin in his famous Institutes of the Christian Religion, by Samuel Rutherford in Lex Rex (against the so-called divine right of kings to rule as they please), and by the Founding Fathers in the United States’ Declaration of Independence, which separated the Thirteen Colonies from King George of Great Britain.
We are to submit to earthly rulers only when they represent God. When they decree unjust and ungodly laws such as the racist Jim Crow laws—which led to marches, rallies and acts of civil disobedience led by Dr. Martin Luther King in the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950’s and 1960’s—we are to obey God and resist the tyranny of ungodly men! May we have more godly Christian leaders like Dietrich Bonhoeffer who died because he tried to usurp the demonic rule of Adolf Hitler!###
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Source: http://josephmattera.org/_blog/Free_Articles/post/Does_Romans_13_Teach_Absolute_Obedience_to_Civil_Government/
Saturday, February 18, 2012
Monday, February 6, 2012
We The People! (Message to President Obama)
Transcript – We The People by Nos Populus
Dear President Obama,
“We The People” have stated resolutely we reject your vision for our country. You claim you have not heard us.
“We The People” have assembled across America resisting your efforts to subvert our constitution and undermine our liberty. You claim you have not seen us.
Since you have not acknowledged our message, let us here present it once more for if as President Wilson said, “a leader’s ear must ring with the voices of the people,” the time has come.
Our greatest treasure is freedom – the absence of restraints on our ability to think and to act. The corollary of freedom is individual responsibility. We believe in the power of the individual.
A few years ago President Bush said, “History moves toward freedom because the desire for freedom is written in every human heart.” Let us add that we will preserve it only as long as devotion to freedom is expressed in the heart of our actions.
When President Lincoln dedicated Gettysburg National Cemetery he declared, “It is for us the living to be dedicated here to the unfinished work which they who fought here have thus so nobly advanced.”
That unfinished cause for which our soldiers willingly go to battle and for which so many have given their lives is a free United States of America. It has been nearly one hundred fifty years and the work President Lincoln spoke of is not finished. In fact, that work will never be finished.
Freedom is the capacity of self-determination. It is not an entity but a condition and conditions change. Freedom can expand, yet so can it contract.
You promised change when you took office, Mr. President, but subjugation is not change we wanted or will accept.
You have expanded government, violated our Constitution, confounded laws, seized private industry, destroyed jobs, perverted our economy, curtailed free speech, corrupted our currency, weakened our national security, and endangered our sovereignty.
By compromising our nation’s cultural, legal and economic institutions, you are ensuring that our children will never achieve the same quality of life as we enjoy today. Through generational theft you are robbing the unborn of opportunity.
This is not acceptable. Not in America. We did not become a strong nation through hope but rather through self-reliance.
No one better understands the relationship between individual achievement, dignity and strength than our armed forces. Through every war our soldiers have held this nation’s destiny in their hands. They have not failed us. They cherish freedom enough that they are willing to die for it.
Our duty to them and to ourselves is to treasure freedom enough to live up to it.
We accept the challenge, Mr. President. That is why we are assembling across the land to deliver our message to you as often and in every way we can. Dismiss us at your political peril.
Our great nation is a Republic. We will not accept tyranny under any guise. Your policy to redistribute the fruits of our labor is Statism and will not be tolerated.
By our honor, Mr. President, we vow forever to resist coercive government in America. Patriots will not stand silent as you attempt to dismantle the greatest nation on earth. “We The People” will defend our liberty. We will protect our beloved country and America’s exceptionalism will prevail.
God Bless the United States of America!
Sincerely,
We The People
Saturday, February 4, 2012
My Recent Facebook Status Messages
The following are a few of my most recent politically-related Facebook status messages and comments, in chronological order. These messages are brought to you under the auspices of the Freedom of Speech clause in the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution, do not represent or imply an endorsement of or advocacy for any particular candidate, and are merely an expression of my personal opinions and views.
I realize I'm not very smart, but I'm having a hard time understanding how a presidential candidate who is close to being or is a billionaire (he won't release his tax returns going back more than a few years to let the American see for themselves the extent of his personal wealth) and getting richer every year, and pays an effective tax rate of less than 15% can claim to be the candidate who cares the most about and will do the most for the now HUGE percentage of -- by definition -- POOR in America. Again, I'm not a mathemetician or CPA, but seems to me if you were demonstrating your concern for the poor by giving away large amounts of your money to the poor, you probably would not be a billionaire. Just sayin'. -Dr. Steven Lambert
King Obama outright LIED to the American Catholic Church officials about the effects of ObamaCare - now FORCING the Church to accept and engage in abortion and birth control against the Catholic Church's beliefs! Maybe now the rose-colored glasses will come off the largest single voting block in America concerning their beloved Democratic Party and its leader and finally see the truth! (Comment based on article, Obama Sandbags Archbishop) -Dr. Steven Lambert
About the only thing Romney hasn't flip-flopped on is Mormonism. That tells me all I need to know! -Dr. Steven Lambert
The vast majority of GOP opposition to Gingrich comes from the party "brass" who are themselves part of the elite establishment in Washington. The establishment in power in any segment of society, political and ecclesiastical included, always oppose reformers and those advocating for change. The vast majority of grass-roots Republicans get what Gingrich is saying, know he's right, and therefore will vote FOR him, not Romney. The national polls are never accurate and cannot be trusted. Don't believe them or the reports of the media claiming Romney will be the nominee. They'll all be proven false. -Dr. Steven Lambert
The likes of Rove and Krauthammer not excluded. They need to get over themselves and repent from their ridiculous vendetta against Gingrich -- for the sake of the party and the nation. They are the main promulgators behind of an anti-Gingrich bias now manifesting at FOX NEWS rising out of the backroom deals and promises made to Romney in the 2008 election that he would be their man and get the GOP support -- financial and otherwise --in the 2012 election if he would "wait his turn" and align with McCain for 2008 election just as they promised the same things to McCain in the 2004 campaign if he would drop out, go along to get along, and align with Bush's reelection campaign. It's all insider-trading, and the same backroom shinanigans that have been going on for years. Once again, the Republican establishment is determined to jam their hand-picked candidate that has promised not to do anything to rock the Republican boat and thereby unseat the sitting Republicans in Congress and the party, allowing them to keep their high-paying jobs, contracts, and deals. The more things change, the more they stay the same. This is all making Roger Aires and FOX NEWS look very bad, and will backfire on them, no doubt. -Dr. Steven Lambert
Newt Gingrich is a political reformer and deliverer. Reformers and deliverers are never welcomed with open arms by the establishment who preside over the "status quo" -- i.e., what needs to be reformed and what people need to be delivered from. The story of Moses illustrates how the powers-that-be treat reformers/deliverers. Gingrich's history has some striking metaphorical parallels to the story of Moses, particularly the part of being exiled from the Republican Party and banished to the backside of the political desert by his GOP collegues who are still angry at him for telling them the truth and being "in their face" when he was speaker insisting that they DO what they promised the American people and the Republican Party members when they were elected. Biblically, the number 40 symbolizes fullness of preparation. Gingrich's life experience of fighting through turmoil, troubles, trials, and testings, particularly since 1997, is what has prepared and qualified him for the highest office of our land at the most pivotal and perilous period in our nation's history (ironically, 2012 marks Gingrich's 40th year in politics). A reformer and deliverer is precisely what our nation needs right now politically. Gingrich is the political Moses chosen by God for this time in our history to bring greatly needed reform in Washington and deliver our nation from the tyranny of the democratic party socialists now in power, whose agenda is the dismantling our republican form of government and establishment of New Age hybrid form of fascist socialism under a single dictatorial autocrat. -Dr. Steven Lambert
Romney and Obama are two peas in a pod! My personal sense is that in terms of personality (we know there virtually indistinguishable politically other than party membership), there's very little difference between Romney and Obama. Race and political strategic ideology are the only thing that distinguishes the two. Both are narcissistic, conceited, condescending, detached, aloof, dictatorial, patronizing, ruthless, and Machiavellian. Romney is a richer and less "slick" version of "Slick Willie!" What is it about this type of personality that Americans love so much and are so attracted to? All three view themselves as worthy of Kingship rather than "presider" as the office of POTUS is supposed to be. To me, replacing the Obamas in the White House with the Romneys means no change except for the name plates -- one monarch for another monarch! Reminds me of my prophecy before the 2008 Election in which I warned that if the American people did what it appeared they were about to do it would be exactly like when God told Samuel to let the people have what they want, which was a king, but warned them what would happen when they got the king they were demanding! How true that word from God was! (read it at: http://www.slm.org/?p=49) -Dr. Steven Lambert
But what disappoints and disheartens me the most is that purporting believers don't have the discernment to discern this about these men. Why do the American people, including purporting Christian Americans, still clamor for a KING??? -Dr. Steven Lambert
"Separation of church and state" appears nowhere in the US Constitution or any US Laws. It was a term Thomas Jefferson used in a personal letter to a friend, and the connotation was not anything like what the godless and atheists have twisted it to mean, which is license to preclude the Church of Jesus Christ from having any influence in politics and government. The Bible says the opposite, and it is the believer's "constitution," Magna Carta, and Legislative Laws, all wrapped up into one! -Dr. Steven Lambert
Of the current GOP field, Newt stands tall above them all, for me as well. He's the best qualified, most experienced, knowledgeable, intelligent, informed, pragmatic, straightforward, tested, and proven candidate. The reality is: there will be no perfect, sinless men on the ballot. Don't be so heavenly minded, you're no earthly good. We're electing a president, not a pope. Let's all come down out of the clouds, and use the common sense the Lord blessed us with. -Dr. Steven Lambert
21% of Democratic Party members have defected from the party since Obama was elected. Obama doesn't have any chance of being re-elected in November! Yee-haw! I mean, thank you, Jesus! -Dr. Steven Lambert
I realize I'm not very smart, but I'm having a hard time understanding how a presidential candidate who is close to being or is a billionaire (he won't release his tax returns going back more than a few years to let the American see for themselves the extent of his personal wealth) and getting richer every year, and pays an effective tax rate of less than 15% can claim to be the candidate who cares the most about and will do the most for the now HUGE percentage of -- by definition -- POOR in America. Again, I'm not a mathemetician or CPA, but seems to me if you were demonstrating your concern for the poor by giving away large amounts of your money to the poor, you probably would not be a billionaire. Just sayin'. -Dr. Steven Lambert
King Obama outright LIED to the American Catholic Church officials about the effects of ObamaCare - now FORCING the Church to accept and engage in abortion and birth control against the Catholic Church's beliefs! Maybe now the rose-colored glasses will come off the largest single voting block in America concerning their beloved Democratic Party and its leader and finally see the truth! (Comment based on article, Obama Sandbags Archbishop) -Dr. Steven Lambert
About the only thing Romney hasn't flip-flopped on is Mormonism. That tells me all I need to know! -Dr. Steven Lambert
The vast majority of GOP opposition to Gingrich comes from the party "brass" who are themselves part of the elite establishment in Washington. The establishment in power in any segment of society, political and ecclesiastical included, always oppose reformers and those advocating for change. The vast majority of grass-roots Republicans get what Gingrich is saying, know he's right, and therefore will vote FOR him, not Romney. The national polls are never accurate and cannot be trusted. Don't believe them or the reports of the media claiming Romney will be the nominee. They'll all be proven false. -Dr. Steven Lambert
The likes of Rove and Krauthammer not excluded. They need to get over themselves and repent from their ridiculous vendetta against Gingrich -- for the sake of the party and the nation. They are the main promulgators behind of an anti-Gingrich bias now manifesting at FOX NEWS rising out of the backroom deals and promises made to Romney in the 2008 election that he would be their man and get the GOP support -- financial and otherwise --in the 2012 election if he would "wait his turn" and align with McCain for 2008 election just as they promised the same things to McCain in the 2004 campaign if he would drop out, go along to get along, and align with Bush's reelection campaign. It's all insider-trading, and the same backroom shinanigans that have been going on for years. Once again, the Republican establishment is determined to jam their hand-picked candidate that has promised not to do anything to rock the Republican boat and thereby unseat the sitting Republicans in Congress and the party, allowing them to keep their high-paying jobs, contracts, and deals. The more things change, the more they stay the same. This is all making Roger Aires and FOX NEWS look very bad, and will backfire on them, no doubt. -Dr. Steven Lambert
Newt Gingrich is a political reformer and deliverer. Reformers and deliverers are never welcomed with open arms by the establishment who preside over the "status quo" -- i.e., what needs to be reformed and what people need to be delivered from. The story of Moses illustrates how the powers-that-be treat reformers/deliverers. Gingrich's history has some striking metaphorical parallels to the story of Moses, particularly the part of being exiled from the Republican Party and banished to the backside of the political desert by his GOP collegues who are still angry at him for telling them the truth and being "in their face" when he was speaker insisting that they DO what they promised the American people and the Republican Party members when they were elected. Biblically, the number 40 symbolizes fullness of preparation. Gingrich's life experience of fighting through turmoil, troubles, trials, and testings, particularly since 1997, is what has prepared and qualified him for the highest office of our land at the most pivotal and perilous period in our nation's history (ironically, 2012 marks Gingrich's 40th year in politics). A reformer and deliverer is precisely what our nation needs right now politically. Gingrich is the political Moses chosen by God for this time in our history to bring greatly needed reform in Washington and deliver our nation from the tyranny of the democratic party socialists now in power, whose agenda is the dismantling our republican form of government and establishment of New Age hybrid form of fascist socialism under a single dictatorial autocrat. -Dr. Steven Lambert
Romney and Obama are two peas in a pod! My personal sense is that in terms of personality (we know there virtually indistinguishable politically other than party membership), there's very little difference between Romney and Obama. Race and political strategic ideology are the only thing that distinguishes the two. Both are narcissistic, conceited, condescending, detached, aloof, dictatorial, patronizing, ruthless, and Machiavellian. Romney is a richer and less "slick" version of "Slick Willie!" What is it about this type of personality that Americans love so much and are so attracted to? All three view themselves as worthy of Kingship rather than "presider" as the office of POTUS is supposed to be. To me, replacing the Obamas in the White House with the Romneys means no change except for the name plates -- one monarch for another monarch! Reminds me of my prophecy before the 2008 Election in which I warned that if the American people did what it appeared they were about to do it would be exactly like when God told Samuel to let the people have what they want, which was a king, but warned them what would happen when they got the king they were demanding! How true that word from God was! (read it at: http://www.slm.org/?p=49) -Dr. Steven Lambert
But what disappoints and disheartens me the most is that purporting believers don't have the discernment to discern this about these men. Why do the American people, including purporting Christian Americans, still clamor for a KING??? -Dr. Steven Lambert
"Separation of church and state" appears nowhere in the US Constitution or any US Laws. It was a term Thomas Jefferson used in a personal letter to a friend, and the connotation was not anything like what the godless and atheists have twisted it to mean, which is license to preclude the Church of Jesus Christ from having any influence in politics and government. The Bible says the opposite, and it is the believer's "constitution," Magna Carta, and Legislative Laws, all wrapped up into one! -Dr. Steven Lambert
Of the current GOP field, Newt stands tall above them all, for me as well. He's the best qualified, most experienced, knowledgeable, intelligent, informed, pragmatic, straightforward, tested, and proven candidate. The reality is: there will be no perfect, sinless men on the ballot. Don't be so heavenly minded, you're no earthly good. We're electing a president, not a pope. Let's all come down out of the clouds, and use the common sense the Lord blessed us with. -Dr. Steven Lambert
21% of Democratic Party members have defected from the party since Obama was elected. Obama doesn't have any chance of being re-elected in November! Yee-haw! I mean, thank you, Jesus! -Dr. Steven Lambert
Wednesday, January 25, 2012
Should Christians Be Involved In Politics?
By Joseph Mattera
View #1: The church should not be involved in politics but only concentrate on soul-winning; the rest will take care of itself. This has been promulgated in the Evangelical Church the past 125 years, especially in Pentecostal/Charismatic circles since its inception in the early 1900's.
View #2: The church should demonstrate its spirituality primarily by getting involved through social and political action. With this view, the inner spiritual life and the supernatural are deemphasized. Many mainline liberal denominations represented by the World Council of Churches have taken this position.
View #3: The classical reformed view (my view) is that God has allotted various jurisdictions of society, with the church and Bible at the center of culture and creation as "salt and light." Some collapse these jurisdictions (or governments) to five: self-government, family, business, civic (political), and ecclesiastical (church).
View #1: The church should not be involved in politics but only concentrate on soul-winning; the rest will take care of itself. This has been promulgated in the Evangelical Church the past 125 years, especially in Pentecostal/Charismatic circles since its inception in the early 1900's.
View #2: The church should demonstrate its spirituality primarily by getting involved through social and political action. With this view, the inner spiritual life and the supernatural are deemphasized. Many mainline liberal denominations represented by the World Council of Churches have taken this position.
View #3: The classical reformed view (my view) is that God has allotted various jurisdictions of society, with the church and Bible at the center of culture and creation as "salt and light." Some collapse these jurisdictions (or governments) to five: self-government, family, business, civic (political), and ecclesiastical (church).
GOP RESPONSE TO OBAMA SOTU ADDRESS
Indiana Governor Mitch Daniels delivers the Republican Party's response to President Obama's 2012 State of the Union address, delivered last night, Tuesday, January 25, 2012.
Daniels: Greetings from the home of Super Bowl XLVI.
The status of loyal opposition imposes on those out of power some serious responsibilities: to show respect for the presidency and its occupant, to express agreement where it exists.
Republicans tonight salute our president, for instance, for his aggressive pursuit of the murderers of 9/11 and for bravely backing long overdue changes in public education. I personally would add to that list admiration for the strong family commitment that he and the first lady have displayed to a nation sorely needing such examples.
On these evenings, presidents naturally seek to find the sunny side of our national condition. But when President Obama claims that the state of our union is anything but grave, he must know in his heart that this is not true.
Thursday, December 1, 2011
God and Country -- The Truth Christians Need To Know!
A tsunami of humanism-based revisionism that pervaded America in the previous century through the national education system has had an undeniable impact upon the average American's views of our national heritage. American's have been lied to! The ultimate intent of all the lies proliferated by atheistic humanists is to convince Christians to shut up and sit down! Genuine Born Again believers must "KNOW the Truth" in this regard, and the Truth will set them free, and hopefully make them righteously indignant enough to DEFY the demands of the atheistic humanists, and instead STAND UP and SPEAK OUT about the inextricable place of the God of the Bible in the very foundations, fabric, and functions of America!
Editor's Note: Andrew Wommack's teachings and spiritual understanding mirror those of this ministry so closely that when we read his articles, we are often simultaneously stunned and elated, because it is such a rarity. In this prescient and timely article, Andrew identifies and addresses a number of issues that have been stuck in our craw for a very long time, though time-related limitations, not desire, have thus far precluded authorship on the topic ourselves. The magnitude and extensiveness of the issues, warrant deeper and more expansive exposition, expecially at this present time less than a year away from the 2012 national election—arguably the most critical election in American history, but inarguably the most critical with respect to America's future. Nevertheless, this article makes a great foray into touching upon the salient issues regarding the role of the church, in particular, church leaders, in shaping and influencing American political and societal culture. In it, the author references David Barton, who is a vastly underappreciated national treasure in terms of his unrivaled work in attempting to apprise Americans regarding the centrality of Christian-Judeo foundations to the founding and early development of this nation. While I wish I could recommend the DVD-set the author references in this article on the basis of having viewed it myself, I cannot, again due to that dastardly limitation called "time," I have no compunction whatsoever about urging readers to obtain, watch, and assimilate this video-compendium of the historic record, thereby allowing those stubborn nuisances called "facts" to debunk and correct their personal reservoir of American history and the role Judeo-Christian beliefs/philosophies in it.
God and Country
By Andrew Wommack
America is changing, and not for the better. With the recent passage of the national health-care bill, we are witnessing an unprecedented fundamental change in our government. And unfortunately, it’s changing in spite of the fact that the majority of Americans oppose it.
Many of our leaders are attempting to rewrite American history and reinterpret the motivations and intentions of our Founding Fathers. They believe that America is great because wise people with good morals and values have made good decisions and that God had little or nothing to do with the success of our country. It’s the lie of humanism.
Editor's Note: Andrew Wommack's teachings and spiritual understanding mirror those of this ministry so closely that when we read his articles, we are often simultaneously stunned and elated, because it is such a rarity. In this prescient and timely article, Andrew identifies and addresses a number of issues that have been stuck in our craw for a very long time, though time-related limitations, not desire, have thus far precluded authorship on the topic ourselves. The magnitude and extensiveness of the issues, warrant deeper and more expansive exposition, expecially at this present time less than a year away from the 2012 national election—arguably the most critical election in American history, but inarguably the most critical with respect to America's future. Nevertheless, this article makes a great foray into touching upon the salient issues regarding the role of the church, in particular, church leaders, in shaping and influencing American political and societal culture. In it, the author references David Barton, who is a vastly underappreciated national treasure in terms of his unrivaled work in attempting to apprise Americans regarding the centrality of Christian-Judeo foundations to the founding and early development of this nation. While I wish I could recommend the DVD-set the author references in this article on the basis of having viewed it myself, I cannot, again due to that dastardly limitation called "time," I have no compunction whatsoever about urging readers to obtain, watch, and assimilate this video-compendium of the historic record, thereby allowing those stubborn nuisances called "facts" to debunk and correct their personal reservoir of American history and the role Judeo-Christian beliefs/philosophies in it.
God and Country
By Andrew Wommack
America is changing, and not for the better. With the recent passage of the national health-care bill, we are witnessing an unprecedented fundamental change in our government. And unfortunately, it’s changing in spite of the fact that the majority of Americans oppose it.
Many of our leaders are attempting to rewrite American history and reinterpret the motivations and intentions of our Founding Fathers. They believe that America is great because wise people with good morals and values have made good decisions and that God had little or nothing to do with the success of our country. It’s the lie of humanism.
Thursday, November 10, 2011
Issues with Popular Mormon Evangelist Glenn Beck
With a multi-generational Mormon running for President of the United States, the matter of the Mormonism is a very important matter for the American people to consider. It is for this reason, and this reason alone that we publish this and other articles on this topic. This message is brought to you under the auspices of the First Amendment of the US Constitution.(ed.)
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Issues with Popular Mormon Evangelist Glenn Beck
By Eric Barger
Several weeks ago I began formulating "An Open Letter Concerning Glenn Beck" that appeared in my last email update.
Like many of you, I have appreciated Glenn Beck's research and his stand concerning public policy and politics. Knowing that he was a Mormon, I was genuinely hoping that he was an uninformed, peripheral Mormon who really didn't understand the teachings and doctrines of the LDS Church. We now know that this is not the case.
There are so many facets to explore here, it's hard to know just which ones to address first. Here are just a few of the moving parts to this story.
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Issues with Popular Mormon Evangelist Glenn Beck
By Eric Barger
Several weeks ago I began formulating "An Open Letter Concerning Glenn Beck" that appeared in my last email update.
Like many of you, I have appreciated Glenn Beck's research and his stand concerning public policy and politics. Knowing that he was a Mormon, I was genuinely hoping that he was an uninformed, peripheral Mormon who really didn't understand the teachings and doctrines of the LDS Church. We now know that this is not the case.
There are so many facets to explore here, it's hard to know just which ones to address first. Here are just a few of the moving parts to this story.
Wednesday, November 9, 2011
The Ego-maniacal Prophet -- Joseph Smith -- Founder of Mormonism
With a multi-generational Mormon running for President of the United States, the matter of the Mormonism is a very important matter for the American people to consider. It is for this reason, and this reason alone that we publish this and other articles on this topic. This message is brought to you under the auspices of the First Amendment of the US Constitution.(ed.)
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The Ego-maniacal Prophet -- Joseph Smith
By David Reagan
The Mormon Church is the largest Christian [see Editor's Note below] cult in the world today, claiming a membership in excess of 10 million.
It is a cult for many reasons, the most important being the fact that it proclaims a false Messiah. The Jesus of the Mormons is the brother of Lucifer, one of thousands of gods created by the super-god, Adam, an exalted man. The Mormon's perverted concept of Jesus is just one of many demonic doctrines which the church inherited from its founder, Joseph Smith.
Smith's Origins
Joseph Smith (1805-1844) was born in Vermont and raised in upstate New York near a town called Palmyra. This was the heart of what came to be called "the burned-over district" because of its frequent and fervent Protestant revivals.
Smith claimed that his first revelation from God came at the age of 14 on the Smith family farm. In subsequent encounters, Smith said that God revealed to him that all Christian groups since the death of the apostles had strayed from the true Church of Christ. He claimed that he was given the responsibility to restore the one and only true church.
In later visions Smith claimed that he was led to tablets of gold stored in a nearby hillside. These tablets supposedly contained a history of the ancient inhabitants of North America. His "translations," written in perfect King James English, were published in 1830 as the Book of Mormon. This book was to become the sacred scripture of Mormonism.
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The Ego-maniacal Prophet -- Joseph Smith
By David Reagan
The Mormon Church is the largest Christian [see Editor's Note below] cult in the world today, claiming a membership in excess of 10 million.
It is a cult for many reasons, the most important being the fact that it proclaims a false Messiah. The Jesus of the Mormons is the brother of Lucifer, one of thousands of gods created by the super-god, Adam, an exalted man. The Mormon's perverted concept of Jesus is just one of many demonic doctrines which the church inherited from its founder, Joseph Smith.
Smith's Origins
Joseph Smith (1805-1844) was born in Vermont and raised in upstate New York near a town called Palmyra. This was the heart of what came to be called "the burned-over district" because of its frequent and fervent Protestant revivals.
Smith claimed that his first revelation from God came at the age of 14 on the Smith family farm. In subsequent encounters, Smith said that God revealed to him that all Christian groups since the death of the apostles had strayed from the true Church of Christ. He claimed that he was given the responsibility to restore the one and only true church.
In later visions Smith claimed that he was led to tablets of gold stored in a nearby hillside. These tablets supposedly contained a history of the ancient inhabitants of North America. His "translations," written in perfect King James English, were published in 1830 as the Book of Mormon. This book was to become the sacred scripture of Mormonism.
Thursday, November 3, 2011
The Tangled Web of Mormonism
The characteristics of arguably the world's largest cult.
"Oh what a tangled web we weave when at first we practice to deceive." This old adage would be a perfect epitaph inscribed on the tombstone of Joseph Smith. What started out as a profiteering scheme, by a young man known for his occult activities and tall tales, has now become a multi-billion dollar religious organization known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) whose main headquarters are located in Salt Lake City, Utah. Today, it influences millions of people and is trying desperately to present itself as part of mainline Christianity. But what is it really?
"Oh what a tangled web we weave when at first we practice to deceive." This old adage would be a perfect epitaph inscribed on the tombstone of Joseph Smith. What started out as a profiteering scheme, by a young man known for his occult activities and tall tales, has now become a multi-billion dollar religious organization known as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS) whose main headquarters are located in Salt Lake City, Utah. Today, it influences millions of people and is trying desperately to present itself as part of mainline Christianity. But what is it really?
Mormon Theology
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, known as the Mormon church, is a well organized, highly-controlling, aggressive religious movement that is out to convince the world that they have a corner on "the truth" about God. They use door-to-door missionaries, friendship evangelism, and slick TV advertising to promote their world view, as well as the Book of Mormon as "another testament of Jesus Christ." Some of their distinctive doctrines include the following:- Men have the potential to become gods with their own worlds to rule.
- Joseph Smith, not Jesus, holds the keys to the last dispensation.
- People have existed eternally.
- Adam was given conflicting commandments in the Garden of Eden and was suppose to fall.
- The Holy Ghost is spirit, but God the Father and Jesus both have bodies of flesh.
- Lucifer was the "spirit brother" of Jesus.
- Christ's death brought "universal resurrection" to all, but each man must now earn his place in heaven.
- Couples married in a Mormon temple ceremony are married forever.
- The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is the one true church.
Thursday, October 27, 2011
Are Mormons Really Christians?
With a multi-generational Mormon running for President of the United States, the subject of this post becomes an especially important matter. (ed.)
"A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with a man who says he is a poached egg — or he would be the devil of hell. You must take your choice. Either this was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us." —C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
C.S. Lewis's famous "trilemma" confronts those who affirm the moral teachings of Christianity while distancing themselves from Christ's more difficult declarations about His deity, man's sinfulness, and the narrowness of the path to salvation. Jesus' famous "Golden Rule," is enthusiastically embraced in postmodern society while his other teachings are widely rejected. Accustomed to defining their own reality, postmodernists pick and choose from Jesus' teachings as if He offered them some kind of spiritual smorgasbord. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" is selected as a delicacy, while "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except through me" is rejected as distasteful.
"A man who was merely a man and said the sort of things Jesus said would not be a great moral teacher. He would either be a lunatic — on the level with a man who says he is a poached egg — or he would be the devil of hell. You must take your choice. Either this was, and is, the Son of God, or else a madman or something worse. You can shut Him up for a fool or you can fall at His feet and call Him Lord and God. But let us not come with any patronizing nonsense about His being a great human teacher. He has not left that open to us." —C.S. Lewis, Mere Christianity
C.S. Lewis's famous "trilemma" confronts those who affirm the moral teachings of Christianity while distancing themselves from Christ's more difficult declarations about His deity, man's sinfulness, and the narrowness of the path to salvation. Jesus' famous "Golden Rule," is enthusiastically embraced in postmodern society while his other teachings are widely rejected. Accustomed to defining their own reality, postmodernists pick and choose from Jesus' teachings as if He offered them some kind of spiritual smorgasbord. "Do unto others as you would have them do unto you" is selected as a delicacy, while "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the father except through me" is rejected as distasteful.
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