[The Agenda – Grinding America Down – Video; http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=xQf_QfitmKE
Do you think America is in trouble?
There is a war going on within our country right now that has nothing to do with the terrorist threat or foreign invasion. It is a war between right and wrong/truth and lies/godliness and ungodliness
We have gone from:
• Kids having fistfights at the bike rack to drive by shootings in the neighborhood
• School searches for chewing gum to searches for weapons
• Mayberry to Brokeback Mountain
• John Adams: “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
Sweden (2005)
A Swedish appeals court has overturned the “hate crimes” conviction of a Pentecostal pastor who preached a sermon on homosexuality.
“It’s one thing to arrest someone; it’s quite another to arrest someone’s conscience,” said ADF Senior Counsel Glen Lavy. “This pastor had no desire whatsoever to incite hatred against those who participate in homosexual behavior. He was merely stating his views on the morality of such behavior. That should not be a crime.”
The pastor, Ake Green, received a one-month jail sentence last year under a Swedish “hate crimes” law that forbids criticism of those who participate in homosexual behavior. But Friday the Goeta Appeals Court found no fault with Green.
“Nothing indicates the pastor used his position as a preacher as a cover for attacking homosexuals,” the court said in its opinion, concluding that Ake’s speech resulted from “the Bible’s categorical condemnation of homosexual relations as a sin.”
That kind of thing could never happen in America! Or can it?
Wichita, KS (2009)
City of Wichita officials have agreed to a consent order from a federal court that concludes that police violated the constitutional rights of a pastor when they arrested him as he prepared to peacefully express his Christian beliefs on a public sidewalk. Pastor Mark Holick is represented by attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund.
“Christians shouldn’t be penalized for expressing their beliefs,” said ADF Senior Legal Counsel Joel Oster. “We are pleased city of Wichita officials will now ensure that Pastor Holick is free to exercise his First Amendment rights in public without fear of arrest.”
Holick was arrested June 24, 2007, while attempting to peacefully express his faith on a public sidewalk with other members of his church outside of an event celebrating homosexual behavior. Holick, who notified police of the group’s plans a week before the event, was confronted by eight to 10 officers, who informed him that he would be arrested if he did not leave the public sidewalk. They charged him with trespassing and arrested him after he refused to move to a private parking lot across the street. The charges were later dismissed.
“The actions of the police were based solely on the perceived content of our Christian speech and beliefs,” said Holick. “They arrested me before I even had a chance to speak.”
San Juan Capistrano, CA – 2011
Chuck and Stephanie Fromm were fined $300 and ordered to stop holding a regular Bible study at their home. The meeting violates a city ordinance as a “church” and not as a private gathering, they were told. They also face additional charges of $500 per meeting for any further “religious gatherings” in their home, according to the Pacific Justice Institute, which is representing the couple in a legal fight to get the city’s decision overturned.
San Diego, CA 2009
In San Diego, county officials have reneged on their demand that a preacher and his wife discontinue weekly Bible studies in their home until they obtain a Major Use Permit, a process that costs tens of thousands of dollars.
According to news reports out of San Diego, Pastor David Jones and his wife Mary were interrogated by a county official and then threatened with increasing fines if they continued holding their Tuesday night Bible studies. The studies regularly drew about 15 people.
What will we do about it?
I. It has ALWAYS been the Job of God’s People to Contend with Ungodly Culture
Examples:
• Noah
• Moses with Pharaoh
• Jonah and Nineveh
• Elijah and Ahab
• Nathan and David
• Isaiah – Counselor to 4 Kings
• Daniel and Nebuchadnezzar
• John the Immerser and Herod
• Yeshua
A Charge – Ezekiel 33.2-9
America‘s Foundation
John Adams Letter to Hezekiah Niles, 1818
But what do we mean by the American Revolution? Do we mean the American War? The Revolution was effected before the War commenced. The Revolution was in the minds and hearts of the people, a change in their religious sentiments of their duties and obligations.
While the king, and all in authority under him, were believed to govern in justice and mercy according to the laws and constitution derived to them from the God of nature, and transmitted to them by their ancestors, they thought themselves bound to pray for the king and queen and all the royal family, and all in authority under them, as ministers ordained of God for their good. But when they saw those powers renouncing all the principles of authority, and bent upon the destruction of all the securities of their lives, liberties, and properties, they thought it their duty to pray for the Continental Congress and all the thirteen state congresses, etc.
In this same letter, he went on to name seven men most responsible for Independence, two of the seven were Pastors. Most of the others – men like Sam Adams, John Hancock and John Adams – were members of their churches.
It was the pulpits in America that cried out “Liberty from Tyranny”.
That time has returned.
We have UNALIENABLE Rights based on Scripture
• No President/Congress/Supreme Court/Dictator gives us these rights – only God
• What about “honoring Caesar”?
o In US – elected officials are not our rulers they are our representatives – WE THE PEOPLE are Caesar
The Bible and the Constitution:
• Three Branches of Government – Isaiah 33.22
• President as Citizen – Deuteronomy 17.15
• Not Above the Law, i.e., Treason (A-2; S-4) – Deuteronomy 17.18-19
• Representative form of Government (A-4; S-4) – Exodus 18.21
II. Practical Actions:
#1 – Prepare – Educate Ourselves to Current Events
32Of Issachar, men who had understanding of the times, to know what Israel ought to do, 200 chiefs, and all their kinsmen under their command. 1 Chronicles 12.32
[Connecticut’s Education Laws – Know Bible – Know Laws of Land
Learn the Constitution – no Department of Education; EPA; etc.
#2 – Practice Your Faith Every Day
Talk about Yeshua – Deuteronomy 6
It won’t be easy/comfortable
#3 – Participate in the Process
Vote
Pressure our REPRESENTATIVES in OKC and DC
• John Adams: “Our Constitution was made only for a moral and religious people. It is wholly inadequate to the government of any other.”
• We get wrapped up in talking about Heaven and that this world is unimportant
• We are stewards of God’s gifts – Yeshua/FREEDOM/Unalienable Rights/Freedom
• 85% of all mission work originates in US – what happens if/when we can’t openly practice our faith?
• “My kingdom is not of this world” does not mean it is not IN this world – its origin was before this world; it continues in this world; and will eternally exist in the world to come. We need to support its principles NOW as well as in heaven.
#4 – PRAY Diligently
14if my people who are called by my name humble themselves, and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and heal their land. 2 Chronicles 7.14
Note the conditions
Note the promises
Pray for the help of God
Pray for a Great Awakening
Good News – I read the last chapter – Yeshua wins – we do, too.
2 Samuel 23:3 He that rules over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.
Proverbs 14:34 Righteousness exalts a nation: but sin is a reproach to any people.
Proverbs 29:2 When the righteous increase, the people rejoice,
but when the wicked rule, the people groan.
Psalm 33:12 Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord: and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.
