Know who your King Is

Conformed to the world

I became a believer when I was about fourteen. Oh, yes, I believed in God long before that, but had never felt remorse and asked for forgiveness, both of which are a requirement for salvation. If you asked me “Are you a Christian?” I would say “Yes!” However, I was a believer, but not a Christian. I had never felt bad about my sin to the extent that I wanted to change. I was so conformed to the world that if I was a Christian, I was a “secret Christian”.

Romans (ESV) 12:2 “Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.”

My life was still in accord with the world! Is that okay? God made the world didn't he? It must be good. Yes, God made the world, but man made bad decisions. The fall of Adam made the world much different than it had been in the heavenly-type garden. Satan became the ruler of this world:

John (ESV) 12:31 “Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out.”

Yes, Satan is the TEMPORARY ruler of this world. Be a follower of him and you'll have the same destiny. He will be cast out (defeated) when the world is judged. If you're judged to be worldly (by Jesus) you'll join your king in hell.

If you're not a Christian I bet you had no idea who your ruler is! I bet that you try not to think about death and eternity and by doing so, you can live in your pleasure without guilt. You can't be sorry for your sins unless you look at your life and feel guilty about what you do! What would you say if I told you that you're brainwashed?

2 Corinthians (ESV) 4:4 “In their case the god of this world has blinded the minds of the unbelievers, to keep them from seeing the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.”

Christ the Messiah is not a religious story! Jesus existed in the flesh and secular history tells His story. He was a real man, but was he God? You admit that you admire the love and respect which Jesus taught? He also taught peace and ethics. All good stuff, huh? Jesus also says that He is God! So this righteous man is a liar? If you believe that your thinking has been blinded by the God of this world, Satan. He wants you to believe anything BUT that Jesus is eternal, he was born of a virgin, he taught the world, he performed miracles, he died voluntarily on the cross so you could live, he was resurrected and he still lives today! Satan might allow you to believe that Jesus was a “good man” or “great teacher”, but he certainly doesn't want you to believe he was all the things mentioned!

One other thing. Jesus will judge you! He will defeat Satan and cast him out forever. You've heard much about the loving Jesus, but have heard little about his vengeance. I'm sure that if you're a unsaved sinner right now or a “secret Christian” that you're a lover of pleasure.

Proverbs (ESV) 21:17 “Whoever loves pleasure will be a poor man; he who loves wine and oil will not be rich.”

Our poverty and lack of riches is not what we are in this world. It's where you'll be in the next. If you don't get that beautiful heavenly room where all your needs are met, you'll most surely be poor. You'll spend eternity in total darkness, punishment and hate.

When I was in my early 20s, I thought more seriously about my life and prayed about it. I really felt bad about my sins because I was in effect following the devil. How could I be a Christian, but live like the devil? I dishonored Jesus. My thinking process was messed up. It needed a fine-tuning: “but be transformed by the renewal of your mind”. I changed! I was transformed. I put away all distractions and thought about my life, my sinful life. I felt sorrow and CRIED! Real men don't cry., they say. You do if you're miserable with your life. You will if you realize who your ruler really is.

After your mind is renewed what do you do about it? “that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect.” You test your behavior and thoughts. Your standard of comparison is God's Word. You want to follow your newly discovered King, Jesus. Through the guidance of the Spirit you will seek to be Christlike, to do what is good, what is acceptable to God and you'll seek Christian perfection. Will you be perfect? No, your not Jesus so you'll fail. However, if you follow Jesus in earnest he will shield his face from your failures and forget them, so to speak.

Now what do you do with this information. You can go on following your “soon to be damned king”, or you could repent and get a new holy King, or you can renew your mind and please the King! The choice is yours. Eternal life is a result of right thinking and wise decisions!

War Within You

A Raging War

Each of us are at war unless we've already surrendered to the enemy! Surrender is the easiest option. Satan has terms of surrender which any defeated enemy will accept:

• Feel free to love your god. He's you.
• You can have many other gods for I don't care.
• You can do your will without judgment from me.
• I will deliver you from guilt in your sinning.
• Pleasure will come your way and you may engage.
• Your money is yours. I won't request a dime of it.
• If you want what's not yours it can be yours for the having.
• Authority is for fools. Obey only what you choose.
• Love is of the flesh. Enjoy it.
• Be happy in your possessions. Nothing is more important than that you're happy.
• Your neighbor is your enemy. Destroy him before he destroys you.
• Jesus is my brother. I only want you to love me as others do Him.
• Don't be confused by right or wrong. It's all relative.
• You have a contentious wife. Trade her for another.
• You must allow your kids to choose god for themselves. I will train them.
• Spend your time in pursuit of fun. I don't want deep thoughts to bore you.
• I don't want you to be alone in my utopia. Take along some friends.
• Be like the world because God created it all. It must be good!
• I don't require prayer. You are mine unconditionally.
• If it feels good do it!
• Many entertainers are my followers. Pay tribute to them.
• Sex is just a mechanical function. Keep your machine running and drive it around.
• You're okay, I'm Okay. We must recognize the good in ourselves.
• Esteem yourself. You deserve it!
• Think positively and it's yours. You don't have to worry about anyone's will.
• You can violate God's law at your whim. You're saved anyway.
• Don't even try to be Christlike. He's my enemy.
• What you feel is more important than what God says. Go with your gut.
• Reading the Bible will only confuse you. Get your views from my resources.
• If you'll take my tonics it will remove your worries and stupid inhibitions.
• You truly can get closer to God by opening your mind in meditation. Yoga will aid you in this.
• The ministers of God are only after the money. They love me too.
• You're fooling yourself if you think you can really avoid sin. Don't even try!
• Believe in me and God will never bother you again. He only loves those who are his.

Romans (ESV) 7:21 ”So I find it to be a law that when I want to do right, evil lies close at hand. 22For I delight in the law of God, in my inner being, 23but I see in my members another law waging war against the law of my mind and making me captive to the law of sin that dwells in my members. 24Wretched man that I am! Who will deliver me from this body of death? 25Thanks be to God through Jesus Christ our Lord! So then, I myself serve the law of God with my mind, but with my flesh I serve the law of sin.”

There are many laws. God created many scientific laws: Newton's First and Second Law, The Laws of Thermodynamics, and even “Einstein's Theory of Relativity” which has become law by public acclaim. The verses above name two other laws: 1) The “Law of God” and 2) “Another Law”. The “Law of God” is in your inner being. “Another Law” is in your flesh. God is the author of the former, Satan of the latter. War is being waged all the time. The Apostle Paul had war waging in him. We do too!

We all want to do right because the Spirit calls. However, we have that inborn sin within us which beacons our way and sets us up for failure. A corollary to the "Other Law " is “Satan will always be there to tempt you.” Satan delights in you following “Another Law” because it undermines Jesus. Satan knows that he's a loser. He knows the Bible too, but he wants to irritate God as long as he can and “steal His thunder” so to speak as he revels in your rebellion. Yes, we have a war waging within us, even Christians. If you apostatize you've surrendered. You have met the enemy and you are his!

As Christians we must persevere until the end. Paul likened it to a race. We don't give up before we cross the finish line. As one who perseveres in this war, there are requirements: believe in and follow your King! He will provide a full set of armor to protect you in battle. You must put on the armor and use it.

Ephesians (ESV) 6:11”Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil.”

If you will remember the “Terms of Surrender” above you may recognize them to be “schemes of the devil”. If you allow God he will be your protector in this war for your soul. God provides that set of armor to shield you from the arrows of temptation. Putting on that full armor only requires a commitment to your King, a humble attitude and love of the King and his people, and all the people are loved by the King!

If you're presently part of the devil's army. Mutiny now! Why go with a tyrant we know will lose the “War for Souls”. He will be cast into the bottomless pit by the King. Go with a winner! Go with the King!

The present conspiracy

Conspiracy

If we look at Judges 9:26-41 we find that there is a conspiracy.

Judges (NIV) 9:26 “Now Gaal son of Ebed moved with his clan into Shechem, and its citizens put their confidence in him. 27 After they had gone out into the fields and gathered the grapes and trodden them, they held a festival in the temple of their god. While they were eating and drinking, they cursed Abimelek. 28 Then Gaal son of Ebed said, “Who is Abimelek (Abimelech), and why should we Shechemites be subject to him? Isn’t he Jerub-Baal’s (Gideon's) son, and isn’t Zebul his deputy? Serve the family of Hamor, Shechem’s father! Why should we serve Abimelek?”

Abimelech isn't just a name; it's a title. The Philistine kings were called “Abimelech” similar to Egyptian kings who were called “Pharaoh”. Abimelech technically means “son of a king”. Actually Gideon, his father, wasn't a king, but was a powerful judge and warrior.

In effect Gaal was saying “Why should we serve the king?” Abimelech was the son of Gideon and became leader on the death of his father. When he became ruler he killed seventy of his brothers on one stone at Ophrah. Gaal conspired against his ruler! “Why should we serve him”?

“Conspire” means to secretly plan together to do wrong. A “conspiracy” is the group carrying out the devious act. Gaal was a conspirator! He rallied the Shechemites against their leader then sought to take over by force. When control exchanges hands it's called a “revolution”. Force is not always needed for change (revolution), but revolution often requires the use of force. With the Shechemites force was used. In our own revolution our patriots were conspirators (traitors to the crown) who created change by force. Our founders used humane rules of war, unlike the Shechemites and Robespierre in the French Revolution, who used bloody violence.

Our founding fathers didn't start the revolution with the intent of war. Ambassadors to the Crown tried unsuccessfully for years to obtain fair treatment for the colonies. Basically, they wanted to be represented in the British Parliament because they paid taxes to the Crown. Hardly an unfair request. Our founding fathers conspired against the British Parliament, not King George III. Parliament was the enemy. However, when force was used King George saw it an affront to his authority and George became the enemy. War broke out. Change occurred through revolution. The winner writes history and the conspirators developed the best form of government the world has ever seen ...a Republic based on the rights of the people.

Our government means that all people have an equal chance. It does not guarantee equal outcome! The outcome depends on the individual. In America any group of people can achieve the “American Dream”. That dream is achieved through capitalism, the economy of freedom, the economy recommended by God. Capitalism's success is dependent on the initiative and drive of our citizens. The Bible speaks often on the desirability and honor of work. Parables are seen which assign the payment system to the overseer. It's just as fair to give the worker late in the game as much as the worker who arrives early. Biblical capitalism is no Pontzi scheme. All have a chance at equal outcome!

Back during the “Cold War' a Polish ship got within a few miles of the California coast. Twenty Polish (Socialist) sailors jumped ship and within ten years three of them were already millionaires. This was the “American Dream” achieved! Whereas socialism stifled them, capitalism allowed them to achieve as much as their goals led them to achieve. That's success. There was nothing illegal nor unethical about their success. They should be heroes, not a scorned people!

Socialism scorns wealth, but needs capitalism for their parasitic programs. Government never creates wealth. Private enterprise creates prosperity. Socialism stifles prosperity and takes successful nations into default. You're brainwashed with the romance of utopian socialism and need only to look around you at the failed economies of your European brothers and what unbridled socialism did to millions in Germany, Russia, China, Cuba, and North Korea. Freedom was stolen and the economies of all became utter failures. Millions have been persecuted and even murdered for opposing socialism.

As I said earlier all conspiracies aren't bloody. Socialism in the USSR (Russia) was overturned by a brave leader facing the armies' approaching tanks. The army retreated and freedom came. Now Putin is in the process of restoring the dictatorial empire by the gradual process of “creeping socialism”. Freedoms have eroded drastically since he and his current puppet president have taken control. They have suppressed the people and the people have cheered their own loss of freedom!

Now to my point: The riots in New York and Boston are an orchestrated conspiracy to defeat capitalism and to make America a Socialist state. Moveon.org and its founder, George Soros, proudly admit their hate for capitalism and have used foolish youngsters as their pawns in this revolution. Those young people are trading their freedom for an empty promise. Socialism promises prosperity, but Keynesian economics has always failed. Supply-side economics is what drives America's success! By the time those youngsters realize their error, it'll be too late. Trickery is being used and Soros' overall plan thus far is in secret. Class warfare is his weapon. Hate is his killer.

The proper way to rectify capitalism's wrongs is not by mob rule, but through the court system and punishment for abuse. The kids don't seem to hate the riches of movie stars, rock musicians and sports figures whose salaries dwarf those of entrepreneurs on Wall Street. They attack only the riches of Wall Street because our economic business center is the symbol of success … a symbol of capitalism. Wall Street is us … the American people! I am part of that. If you have a 401k you're part of that. If you have worked for and had a home you are part of that. If you eat well and have clothing you are part of that. Socialism is an attack on our lifestyle ...it's an attack on you personally!

Pray to God that our eyes are opened. If you read Jeremiah you'll find that he warned the people. I'm not Jeremiah, but consider yourself warned.

On Name-calling

Raca: And you didn't even know what it meant!
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“Raca” is an Aramaic word. Jesus is believed to have spoken publicly in Aramaic as well as Hebrew and Greek. It's likely that to reach the most, Jesus spoke the international language, Aramaic, instead of the Jewish only language, Hebrew. Aramaic was the legal language of Mesopotamia and had been introduced by the Persian empire basically so that people doing business could understand each other.
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The Aramaic language is the language of the Arameans who lived in the southeastern part of Mesopotamia in the city of Ur, the early home of Abraham. Arameans were later known as Chaldeans and still are an identifiable people today. The city was in what's now Iraq. Aramaic became the language of Syria, parts of Turkey, Lebanon and Galilee.
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Matthew (KJV) 5:22 “But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire.”
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Jesus is speaking. He just finished the beatitudes (Matthew 5:3-11). The word “beatitude” means “blissful” in the Latin and is used as a “shout of joy”. The beatitudes tell how we should treat others. Then we jump into something less joyful … what we should not do! We shouldn't hold a grudge in anger.
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Yes, we can be angry. That's a human trait given to us by God. The verse says “without a cause”. We need to look at “causes”. Somebody may cut you off while passing you in the car. That is “cause”, but is it “just cause”? No it's not! A just cause would be that someone struck you and like behaviors. We need a pretty good reason to be angry, so put the petty stuff aside. Most of us rationalize our anger by making a petty misunderstanding a “just cause”.

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Then Jesus said “whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca...” If we're smart enough we figure that since we don't have a brother by that name, that there is an ultimate meaning. “Raca” means “you good-for-nothing moron!” or “worthless”. By calling our brother “worthless” we need wise council. We are to love our neighbor as ourselves (so said Jesus) and by calling another “worthless” we may be passing judgment on ourselves. Without God we're all worthless.
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I weigh about 210 pounds, I hate to admit. If I'm 85% water that leaves 31 pounds of mostly carbon compounds mixed with some minerals. That sounds like fertilizer to me. With little nitrogen in our matter, we don't even make good fertilizer! That amount of fertiizer is worth about $6.00! We have worth only because we have a soul. God wants our soul, our being. It belongs to him because he gave it to us at our creation in the womb. “Raca” is much like saying “You fool!” It's as if Jesus was saying it once in the common tongue which we (in those days) can all understand then saying it again in Hebrew or Greek (the new trade language replacing Aramaic). Jesus said it twice “Don't call others a 'fool' “ If you do you're sinful and you're in danger! Jesus then goes on to explain that you've lost communion with Him:
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Matthew (KJV) 5:23”Therefore if thou bring thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath ought against thee; 24Leave there thy gift before the altar, and go thy way; first be reconciled to thy brother, and then come and offer thy gift”.
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Before God will commune with you apologies are in order! You must find the person whom you have denigrated and make it right. That's called “restitution”. We often ignore that and by doing so we're out of communion with God. It's not worth it, I assure you. Make it right and you'll not only be back in communion with God, but you'll be refreshed in the Spirit!
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I was on horrible terms with a younger woman at work. We were at odds every time we crossed paths. I jeered her because she was my enemy. I don't know why, I just didn't like her. One day I was led by the Word (those same verses) to make it right with her. I apologized for my behavior, she accepted and I felt relief! Not only was I back in communion with God, but this woman became my staunchest ally and close friend!
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I felt so good I looked up others with whom I was in discord. Each apology was accepted and a new friendship began in all cases (but one). I know I wasn't wrong in some cases for sure, but I humbled myself and apologized anyway. Obviously they had perceived that I had wronged them in some manner and maybe I had. It didn't hurt to give the benefit of the doubt, but just because we're right doesn't make it okay to have spite! The “spite” part is what God dislikes.
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I mentioned that one fellow refused my apology. That's okay. That's on his back, not mine. I did what the Lord would have me to do. I forgave him and he didn't forgive me back. Forgiveness isn't guaranteed, but a renewed communion with God and a friendship is worth the risk!
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“Raca” is a new word (for us in this age) and one which we should never use! Fool! A word we all know and one which will damn us. Whatever language, whatever noun or adjective which projects hate, God wants us to shelve it. He's serious about it and so should we be.

Christian Giving

Benevolence

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Often the world has a perception that Christians are callous. They falsely believe that we don't care about the poor and destitute. Why? We often speak up against “entitlement” programs and we vote for frugal candidates for office. We must ensure that we are not as we are accused!
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I grew up poor. Dad actually had a fairly decent job for the times. He was an hourly worker in the automotive industry long before their benefits were some of the best. Why, then, were we poor? Was it because Dad and Mom wasted their pay? Emphatically no! We were poor because Dad and Mom had Christian charity … “benevolence”. This trait is generosity toward others.

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We were a family of seven children. We lived in a home on the edge of town which Dad paid a constant $50 per month since our landlord was also charitable. He never raised the rent one time in the twelve years that we lived there! Looking back, I wondered where my closet was. I didn't have one and didn't need one for there were no clothes to put in a closet. We had the clothing on our backs and another set in the dirty clothes bin. We ate fairly well, but most of it was from the garden and the pig pen. Our “treat” was one “soda pop” when we did our monthly shopping trip to the country store for luxuries like flour, meal and “light bread” which had a shelf life of about two hours at that time!
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We had two beds in our upstairs bedroom with two boys per bed. There was no air conditioning nor heat. We zipped from the bed which had about five quilts, down the stairs to either stand in front of the fireplace or over the coal/wood-fired furnace register. If you ventured more than a foot from the heater you about froze. Ceilings were ten-feet and there was no insulation. Snow would blow through the cracks onto my pillow. However, we had it really good!
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My cousins had nothing! Many on my maternal side were poverty-stricken. They had menial jobs “down home” in the hills of Kentucky and many bare-footed kids. Why was Dad poor? He took in entire families to live in our already overcrowded home. They ate our food and wore our clothes until Dad could find them work and a home of their own to rent. Some lived with us several years at a time and when they were secure, Dad would take in another family. Often they would have a stranger traveling with them and living with us, all seeking work. Dad never refused. After the brothers and sisters were all settled, he then started with cousins. He helped all. (Those he helped remembered because they came in droves to view this great man at his funeral!). Dad is rich now... he is getting his reward in heaven!
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Dad had two rules for our house guests: no “cussing and no drinking (alcohol). He also expected them to participate in the evening Bible study. Dad expelled some from our home who would utter one oath or have alcohol on their breath. Like me in his footsteps … I hate the use of alcohol!
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Note two things: no one ever reimbursed Dad for his generosity and Dad never asked and secondly all those whom he sheltered were seeking “work”. All were there to find a job, not to mooch. As soon as they were on their feet, they were gone! That is how it should be. Dad provided help with his own money, voluntarily and with Christian love. He didn't go out and try to force others to finance his own charity, but accepted the obligation himself! (Yes, Christians have an obligation to help).
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1 Corinthians (KJV) 13:13 “And now abideth faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.”
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Charity is included as the greatest of three Christian attributes. Charity in this context has two meanings and they go hand in hand: helping the needy and forbearance (tolerance and restraint). The former is helping people and the latter is from the “forgiving others their sins just like you want yours forgiven”. Giving without love is not really charitable. Dad loved and demonstrated that love by giving. He accepted those into our home who were sinners and helped them. He had forbearance! That sounds Christlike does it not? Dad endeavored to live a life which mimicked his Savior.
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This concept of giving is demonstrated by the following verse:
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1 Corinthians (KJV) 13:3 “And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profiteth me nothing.”
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Yes, we have an obligation to give, but we must do it with a generous heart. The true church didn't force their followers to give, but encouraged it out of love. Conversely, the government obligates us out of coercion, and as a general rule, through others money. Those in government who are the most charitable are often the most stingy with their own money! It would seem that some of us who are taxed to support those who abuse the system don't get the joy of helping those who truly have need because the government redistributes our money and its programs actually discourage others to remain dependent. Unwed mothers, for instance, can get more government assistance than poor women in good marriages.
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Who are the most needy? How about the widows and orphans and a few others?
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Deuteronomy (KJV) 10:18 ”He doth execute the judgment of the fatherless and widow, and loveth the stranger, in giving him food and raiment.”
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Dad helped the “stranger”. They weren't in the immediate family and he had absolutely no obligation as a family member. He just did it! Even widows were to be taken care of by their family if a family existed! Help was to be generous, but there were stipulations. (The best example of helping the widow is in the book of Ruth). Naomi was a widow. The landlord, Boaz, her husband's relative, allowed Ruth, her “daughter”, to glean the barley fields without harm. The workers were told to intentionally leave barley so as to feed her family. They didn't harvest the crop for Ruth, but didn't strip the crop bare. Ruth still had to do the work. Yes, today, we should require work where those can in return for charity!
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Thanks to Ruth, our Messiah's ancestor, we'd never had a Savior! Yes, charity ultimately benefited mankind!
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You see, we're called to be generous and we must be! That's how America used to do things ...out of Christian charity ...out of the generosity of our hearts. Charity should be for the truly needy! We are actually stealing from the needy when we give to the mooch. Ideally, charity should be done by the church. In practice we Christians do need to provide an umbrella tax to help those who are without or are infirm. We aren't against all taxes, but charity must be done responsibly. If the church does its part there will be millions fewer on the welfare roles. Pray and consider your charity. Are you doing enough? You are fortunate to have! Do you feel good about your lifestyle in contrast to others?

Democracy: What is it?

Democracy

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Many of us are praising the “Arab Spring” because it's believed that the yoke of totalitarianism is being thrown off in favor of “democracy”. We see democracy in a favorable light because we think that's our form of government. What is a democracy? It is from the Greek and means “rule by the people” and the word is synonymous with “majority rule”. There are two kinds of a democracy: a direct democracy and a representative one.
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The United States is a republic. We have a non-monarchical form of government, indeed a president. We don't cast our vote directly for president and we don't have majority rule. The “electoral college” are our elected delegates who vote for president in December following the popular vote. That method of electing a president is to protect against majority rule and to fulfill our role as a republic. It separates us from anarchy and monarchy!
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Furthermore, in a democracy a number of people vote directly on laws of the land. In a republic, we elect representatives who in turn vote for issues for the populace. We depend on them to compare the law with what's good for the constituents and vote accordingly. Our founders were wise because a direct democracy would be impractical given today's astounding population. Our representatives are or should be confined by the Constitution.
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Plato is the father of the “Republic” notion and wrote of it in Plato's Republic. His idea on “state” organization was developed after the Polyponesian Wars and where government abuses were the norm. Plato's argument was against the notions of pure democracy and monarchy. Although “Republic” originally meant “state” it later came to mean “state without a king”, hence we're a Republic. Some of our founding fathers propagated the notion that George Washington should be king, but he and others rejected that notion.
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From our “U.S. Constitution” “The United States shall guarantee to every State in this Union a republican form of government, and shall protect each of them against invasion, and on application of the legislature, or of the executive (when the legislature cannot be convened), against domestic violence.”
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The document then goes on to describe the federal republican form of government and its system of representation protected by “checks and balances”: bicameral legislature, a president, and the court system. Neither branch is responsible for performing the work of the other branches, but are accountable for the process of legislation, approval and judgment. They each take an oath to uphold the Constitution of the United States. The “Declaration of Independence” can be viewed as a stated goal and the Constitution it's implementation. Hence, we now have the second form of democracy, a representative democracy, and constitutionally we're a republic.
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If one examines 19^th century politics, Republicans were federally oriented and were in favor of a strong “republic”. Democrats of the 19^th century were oriented toward participation of the common people and were more “democracy” oriented. Today, the roles have actually reversed! Republicans believe in strong states rights and support all the people whereas the Democrat relies on a strong federal system and are composed of large and powerful special interest groups. Freedom is paramount to Republicans and control to the Democrats. Capitalism is important to Republicans and socialism to the Democrat Party. (Note that I do not use “Democratic Party”, but “Democrats” because they are now far removed from 'democratic” principles).
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Now what's this all got to do with the Bible? I want the casual “political observer” to understand the system ...to better educate so that each one of us can vote God's will. What is God's will? Was it a monarchy? Was it a democracy? Was it a republic? Was it socialism? Let's take a look.
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God intent is for his people NOT to be ruled by a king:
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1 Samuel (KJV) 8:5”And said unto him, Behold, thou art old, and thy sons walk not in thy ways: now make us a king to judge us like all the nations. 6But the thing displeased Samuel, when they said, Give us a king to judge us. And Samuel prayed unto the LORD. 7And the LORD said unto Samuel, Hearken unto the voice of the people in all that they say unto thee: for they have not rejected thee, but they have rejected me, that I should not reign over them.”
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The people (direct demand – democracy) spoke their majoritive piece. They demanded a king as the pagans had and in doing so, they rejected God! Who was their king before? God was king. Righteous judges ruled the people using God's laws. This is a theocracy. A benevolent theocracy is what God intended with God as king. The Muslims say they have this kind of system under Sharia Law. However, the key word is “benevolent” … a leader who represents what God truly commands. In reality Islam is a terrible Monarchical Theocracy in each of the separate Arab states. The “Arab Spring” is a revolution and is presently in anarchy! God never intended that each do as he wants. I guarantee that the “Arab Spring” will result in socialist, dictatorial, terroristic Islamic extremists. It's happened before and it will again. (See the history of Iran).
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Anarchy is a result of unbridled democracy, a weak republic or a corrupt monarchy. Whereas American Independence was fought with rules of civility, French Independence was a bloody coup d'état. Revolution thereafter has been with brutality and without laws of civil engagement. The emergence of corrupt leadership is the norm. Here are two examples of where leaders feared the people:
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1 Samuel (KJV) 15:24 “And Saul said unto Samuel, I have sinned: for I have transgressed the commandment of the LORD, and thy words: because I feared the people, and obeyed their voice.”
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John (KJV) 19:6 “When the chief priests therefore and officers saw him, they cried out, saying, Crucify him, crucify him. Pilate saith unto them, Take ye him, and crucify him: for I find no fault in him. 7The Jews answered him, We have a law, and by our law he ought to die, because he made himself the Son of God. 8When Pilate therefore heard that saying, he was the more afraid; “
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In both cases the leaders were fearing what they perceived as the majority … mob rule. Intimidation is not God's way! What we are seeing in New York in the last weeks is intimidation and mob influence. Likewise also, in Wisconsin earlier in the year. The appropriate way to seek change is through the ballot box or contacting your representative and presenting your case in a civil manner. Petitions are a great way of communication. Although leaders have used pickets on numerous occasions to further their cause, the goal may be achieved, but there are always residual effects or collateral damage.
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Socialism is sometimes atheistic and most of the time proponents of humanism and New Age type religion. Christians have no business espousing a type of ideology that blurs morality, has secular humanism as their God (if any God at all), and erodes freedom. The freedom to worship the true God is normally the freedom which erodes so gradually that we are acclimated and gradually accept it. (E.g., Western Europe and creeping socialism). We have seen that socialism and non-religiosity are proportional!
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Our form of government is firmly established. It has many flaws. Our founding fathers were flawed. However, if the intent of the original constitution was followed, with few exceptions, Americans would be a more prosperous happier people. Those who seek to destroy our system are proponents of systems which have always failed and always will. One reason America has succeeded has been because we were a Godly nation. Now we're not. We can pray and vote as God would have us. He doesn't want us to rebel. He tells us to recognize the authority of our government. It's hard, but we should. We'll have a new king someday and it may be soon!

P.S. You may question if I have read books I have quoted. Many times "Yes".  I have read Plato's Republic, for instance.

On Abortion

Abortion and the Election
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Many may see the title of today's “thought” and are so brainwashed and narrow-minded that they dare not read it. The Holy Spirit may put them under pressure to “change”. Heaven forbid that Christians obey the admonishment of God's Word!

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It's nearing election time now. This is the time when Christians set aside what Jesus taught them, ignore His values and ultimately rebel against their creator. They vote for candidates who are at odds with their own beliefs! Now is the time to restore the values of Jesus in your entire life … not just pick and choose where and when you listen to him.
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Jesus was apolitical. He didn't come to change the world politically. However, he could have, but that wasn't his mission. His birth, life, death and resurrection was to “save” the world ...everybody! Also, Jesus left with us His expectations so that we could be examples to sinners and to fulfill our own mission to be “fishers of men”. Even today Jesus would not be a Democrat or Republican and certainly not a Libertarian nor Socialist.
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While we must depend on Jesus for “change” because politicians seek power, that doesn't mean Jesus doesn't want us to influence our society. God for sure influenced the lives of Sodom and Gomorrah! How conducive was Sodom and Gomorrah to righteousness? Not at all! God's law was unwelcome in those hedonistic cites. Pleasure was their God. We should have learned a lesson there, in the fall of Rome, and in socialist Germany, Russia and China. Contemporary Americans are as gullible as were the citizens of those times.
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I have discussed the platforms of the Democrat Party before. Their platform supports the sins of homosexuality and abortion. The Republican Party supports traditional marriage and the right to be born ...the basic constitutional right to live.
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I'm going to draw a strong, but truthful analogy without exaggeration. In 1920s and 1930s Germany the dollar had become more valuable as fuel for heat than what it would buy. It's value was around 5,000,000 Deutschmarks to one dollar! Along came a leader who promised “change”. He certainly did. Adolph Hitler changed the world forever! Hitler had a viable economic program, people put aside their principles and der Fuehrer won 93% of the vote. How many votes were from Christians. It would appear that most Christians voted for the tyrant.
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Hitler promised a chicken in every pot and he delivered ...unless you were a Jew, that is! The economy of Germany revived and they became a world power. After their defeat in WWII Germany became a second rate tributary state with no rights and an economy rebuilt on the shoulders of capitalism through the Marshall Plan. Christians were accused of and found to be accomplices in the death of Jews. Why? Because they did nothing to stop the wheel of National Socialism. They were as guilty of the death of the “parasitic sub-human” Jews as were the guards at the death camps!
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Today many Christians vote for economic reasons foremost. Polls show that among the majority of Americans the economy is the number one issue. While Democrats have caused the economic turmoil that we're in today, many still see Obama as our economic savior. You may argue the cause of the depression, but if you look for the “root cause” it goes back to entitlement programs and easy money for homes, both Democrat initiatives championed by democrats and monitored by Democrats. Overly zealous entitlement programs create malaise and actually rob the truly needy. Millions of people have lost their incentive and motivation because they depend on the mother sow, the government, to put the feed in their trough! The point is that Christians vote their pocket book and are deceived in even that!
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God made a deal with Abraham and repeated it many times:
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Genesis 17:1 “When Abram was ninety-nine years old, the LORD appeared to him and said, 'I am God Almighty; walk before me faithfully and be blameless. 2 Then I will make my covenant between me and you and will greatly increase your numbers.' 3 Abram fell face-down, and God said to him, 4 'As for me, this is my covenant with you: You will be the father of many nations. 5 No longer will you be called Abram; your name will be Abraham, for I have made you a father of many nations. 6 I will make you very fruitful; I will make nations of you, and kings will come from you. 7 I will establish my covenant as an everlasting covenant between me and you and your descendants after you for the generations to come, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. 8 The whole land of Canaan, where you now reside as a foreigner, I will give as an everlasting possession to you and your descendants after you; and I will be their God.”
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A covenant is a sacred solemn agreement between God and his righteous subjects. This agreement is everlasting (it still applies to us) and says that if my people are “faithful and blameless” (righteous) “I will make you very fruitful”. That's the deal! You put God first and God will make your prosperous! For a Christian nation prosperity is a result of righteousness. We can't expect America to prosper if we allow homosexual unions, hedonism and the resultant abortion of unborn children as a result of it.
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If you're a so-called Christian and don't believe that an unborn baby is a precious life, you know better in your hardened heart! I can quote hundreds of verses which prove that each of these little ones are a life and have souls. The time for “freedom to choose” is when you make the decision to have sex or not! (Rape is such an insignificant number 0.1% that the argument is moot. Life as a result of rape is just as precious as anyone's life and many who are products of rape will testify to that).
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The election for governor is the first Tuesday in November. There is a clear choice. Current governor Steve Beshear is in favor of abortion:
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Bowling Green Daily News, October 5, 2011: “Beshear supports woman's right to choose and abortion”
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According to Beshear “When a woman considers the difficult decision of whether or not to have an abortion, this decision should be between her, her physician and her God.”
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The quoted statement sounds so democratic and libertarian! Who could possibly disagree? How about the baby's voice in the matter? The husband's? The grandparents? Christians who cry at the destruction of life? Democracy is an erratic experiment often at odds with God's will. It's not perfect! The will of the majority should never be justification for wrong! I've been told that abortion is a woman's issue of no concern to me because I'm a man. How silly! Was the plight of the Jews of no concern to me because I'm not Hebrew! Is the plight of mistreated animals of no concern to me because I'm not a dog? Right is the business of all!
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Republicans have their problems too, but we are often forced into making less than ideal choices. Republicans stand up for life, God's intent for marriage and actually for the working man (in contrast to only the union man)! If you vote for right social issues the economy will improve. God promised Abraham and it applies to us today! Come on Christians ...have some moral fortitude. Don't be an accomplice to the killing of baby's unborn!