Pastor Louie Giglio Disinvited from Inauguration

“We were not aware of Pastor Giglio’s past comments at the time of his selection, and they don’t reflect our desire to celebrate the strength and diversity of our country at this inaugural. Pastor Giglio was asked to deliver the benediction in large part because of his leadership in combating human trafficking around the world. As we now work to select someone to deliver the benediction, we will ensure their beliefs reflect this administration’s vision of inclusion and acceptance for all Americans.” --Addie Whisenant of the Presidential Inaugural Committee

Pastor Louie Giglio

Pastor Louie Giglio of Atlanta's Passion City Church was initially invited to deliver the benediction at President Barack Hussein Obama's second inauguration because of his efforts to fight human trafficking.  When the Inaugural Committee discovered he preached that homosexuality is a sin according to the Bible some 15-20 years ago, he was disinvited to the event.  The Committee will be searching for some "Christian" pastor that is more in line with their humanist (worldly) agenda.

The State has just declared that Christianity, as directed by the Word of God, is no longer acceptable in the United States of America.  Christianity must conform to the directive of the State to be accepted.

Below is part of a commentary by Dr. Albert Mohler on the issue.  Pay particular attention to how Pastor Giglio deals with the issue and what he says.  (Note: AAE does not disparage Joe McCarthy and his hunt for Communists.  We probably need to reinvigorate the hunt and quick.)

We need to follow those who are true defenders of the faith and the Word of God.  We cannot afford to follow those who compromise the Word.  Why should you follow them if they just pick and choose which verses of the Bible are correct and which are not?  Heck, any of us can do that!  We need pastor-teachers who preach the Truth and stand firm in what they have said.  Compromising with the world is not an option.

One example of a poor defense of the faith would be Piers Morgan's interview with Rick Warren.  I recommend you listen to this podcast from the Christian Worldview where the host, David Wheaton, analyzes Rick Warren's responses to Morgan's questions.

(Emphasis in the article is mine)

--Against All Enemies

The Giglio Imbroglio — The Public Inauguration of a New Moral McCarthyism

Posted by Dr. Albert Mohler | Friday, January 11, 2013 | 12:09 pm CT
Link to full article

A new chapter in America’s moral revolution came today as Atlanta pastor Louie Giglio withdrew from giving the benediction at President Obama’s second inaugural ceremony. In a statement released to the White House and the Presidential Inaugural Committee, Giglio said that he withdrew because of the furor that emerged yesterday after a liberal watchdog group revealed that almost twenty years ago he had preached a sermon in which he had stated that homosexuality is a sin and that the “only way out of a homosexual lifestyle … is through the healing power of Jesus.”

In other words, a Christian pastor has been effectively disinvited from delivering an inaugural prayer because he believes and teaches Christian truth.

The fact that Giglio was actually disinvited was made clear in a statement from Addie Whisenant of the Presidential Inaugural Committee:

“We were not aware of Pastor Giglio’s past comments at the time of his selection, and they don’t reflect our desire to celebrate the strength and diversity of our country at this inaugural. Pastor Giglio was asked to deliver the benediction in large part because of his leadership in combating human trafficking around the world. As we now work to select someone to deliver the benediction, we will ensure their beliefs reflect this administration’s vision of inclusion and acceptance for all Americans.”

That statement is, in effect, an embarrassed apology for having invited Louie Giglio in the first place. Whisenant’s statement apologizes for the Presidential Inaugural Committee’s failure to make certain that their selection had never, at any time, for any reason, believed that homosexuality is less than a perfectly acceptable lifestyle. The committee then promised to repent and learn from their failure, committing to select a replacement who would “reflect this administration’s vision of inclusion and acceptance.”

The imbroglio over Louie Giglio is the clearest evidence of the new Moral McCarthyism of our sexually “tolerant” age. During the infamous McCarthy hearings, witnesses would be asked, “Are you now or have you ever been a member of the Communist Party?”

In the version now to be employed by the Presidential Inaugural Committee, the question will be: “Are you now or have you ever been one who believes that homosexuality (or bisexuality, or transsexualism, etc.) is anything less than morally acceptable and worthy of celebration?”

Louie Giglio, pastor of Atlanta’s Passion City Church, is also founder of the Passion movement that brings tens of thousands of Christian young people together to hear Giglio, along with speakers such as John Piper. They urge a rising generation of young Christians to make a passionate commitment to Christ. In recent years, the movement has also sought to raise awareness and activism among young Christians on the issue of sex trafficking. It was that activism that caught the attention of both President Obama and the Presidential Inaugural Committee.

Note carefully that both the White House and the committee were ready to celebrate Giglio’s activism on sex trafficking, but all that was swept away by the Moral McCarthyism on the question of homosexuality.

Two other dimensions of this story also demand attention. First, we should note that Louie Giglio has not been known lately for taking any stand on the issue of homosexuality. To the contrary, Giglio’s own statement withdrawing from the invitation made this clear:

“Due to a message of mine that has surfaced from 15-20 years ago, it is likely that my participation, and the prayer I would offer, will be dwarfed by those seeking to make their agenda the focal point of the inauguration. Clearly, speaking on this issue has not been in the range of my priorities in the past fifteen years. Instead, my aim has been to call people to ultimate significance as we make much of Jesus Christ.”

A fair-minded reading of that statement indicates that Pastor Giglio has strategically avoided any confrontation with the issue of homosexuality for at least fifteen years. The issue “has not been in the range of my priorities,” he said. Given the Bible’s insistance that sexual morality is inseparable from our “ultimate significance as we make much of Jesus Christ,” this must have been a difficult strategy. It is also a strategy that is very attractive to those who want to avoid being castigated as intolerant or homophobic. As this controversy makes abundantly clear, it is a failed strategy. Louie Giglio was cast out of the circle of the acceptable simply because a liberal watchdog group found one sermon he preached almost twenty years ago. If a preacher has ever taken a stand on biblical conviction, he risks being exposed decades after the fact. Anyone who teaches at any time, to any degree, that homosexual behavior is a sin is now to be cast out.

Second, we should note that Pastor Giglio’s sermon was, as we would expect and hope, filled with grace and the promise of the Gospel. Giglio did not just state that homosexuals are sinners — he made clear that every single human being is a sinner, in need of the redemption that is found only in Jesus Christ. “We’ve got to say to the homosexuals, the same thing that I say to you and that you would say to me … It’s not easy to change, but it’s possible to change,” he preached. He pointed his congregation, gay and straight, to “the healing power of Jesus.” He called his entire congregation to repent and come to Christ by faith.

That is the quintessential Christian Gospel. That is undiluted biblical truth. Those words are the consensus of the Church for over 2,000 years, and the firm belief held by the vast majority of Christians around the world today.

The Presidential Inaugural Committee and the White House have now declared historic, biblical Christianity to be out of bounds, casting it off the inaugural program as an embarrassment. By its newly articulated standard, any preacher who holds to the faith of the church for the last 2,000 years is persona non grata. By this standard, no Roman Catholic prelate or priest can participate in the ceremony. No Evangelical who holds to biblical orthodoxy is welcome. The vast majority of Christians around the world have been disinvited. Mormons, and the rabbis of Orthodox Judaism are out. Any Muslim imam who could walk freely in Cairo would be denied a place on the inaugural program. Billy Graham, who participated in at least ten presidential inaugurations is welcome no more. Rick Warren, who incited a similar controversy when he prayed at President Obama’s first inauguration, is way out of bounds. In the span of just four years, the rules are fully changed....

Read the full article...

Connect to AAE
   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AgainstAllEnemies (Click "Like")
   Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/@AAEnemies ("Follow")
   YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/AAEnemies ("Subscribe")
Disclaimer: These opinions are solely my own, and do not reflect the opinions or official positions of any United States Government agency, organization or department.

Troops in Africa: Is this why we have a military?

In March, the United States plans to send elements of the Second Brigade, First Infantry Division, to Africa (under AFRICOM) to conduct over a hundred different missions in 34 nations, such as humanitarian assistance, disaster relief, and training indigenous forces.  (source: Washington Times) The Second Brigade is a heavy brigade equipped with tanks, infantry fighting vehicles, and self-propelled artillery, mind you, not a light infantry brigade or Special Forces unit.  As a result of the deployment, their training on these systems in a wartime scenario will most likely suffer.

We are also a bankrupt nation, yet spending millions deploying portions of our military to areas that are not critical to our national security.  Sounds to me like we may have found a portion of the national budget we can cut if our military has nothing better to do than hand out humanitarian assistance and wait for natural disasters in some far off land.

Our tax dollars need to instead be spent on our military defense, not on ambiguous blanket missions of doing everything except the defense of our nation.  We need to get ourselves out of this recession/depression first before we should even consider doing a mission like that of the 2nd Brigade in Africa.  The national debt is the biggest threat to our national security, not some non-existent disaster in Africa.

We must ask ourselves: Are the Armed Forces of the United States serving as the military force of the United Nations/World Government, or are they protecting America and its citizens?

As an organization, the US military is slowly being forced to reject its original foundation of the Christian faith and in its place accept humanism, as evidenced by the removal of the "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" policy allowing for open homosexual behavior in the ranks.  Even the mere presence of religion in military organizations is under attack from organizations such as the Military Religious Freedom Foundation who espouse a perverted interpretation of the First Amendment.

A key component of humanism is relativism, where there is no absolute truth.  This has in part led to the development of a manual in Afghanistan that blames our own troops' insensitivity to the Islamic culture for causing the green on blue violence in that nation, rather than blaming the true source--Islamic jihad.

Furthermore, our military is confused as to who the enemy is.  They are attacked by a jihadi at Fort Hood and it is called "workplace violence."  Russian military forces are invited in our borders to participate in "counter-terrorism" exercises.  We are aiding and abetting the rise of the Muslim Brotherhood in the Middle East, an organization that intends to re-establish a hostile Caliphate and destroy America.  One of our Ambassadors is slain in North Africa while the military is forbidden from coming to his aid.  We kill al Qaeda operatives in Yemen (for Saudi Arabia?), while supporting them and their allies in Syria and Libya.

Military leadership has been involved in suppressing the First Amendment rights of United States citizens when it comes to speech against Islam, and have publicly humiliated a fellow officer for teaching the threat that Islam presents.  Then they "pivot to the Pacific," however China is not considered a threat but Iran in the Middle East remains so.  Then some in our government talk about unilaterally reducing our nuclear arsenal to below 300 weapons while Russia is modernizing and exercising their nuclear triad.

Who is the enemy???

We need to get our military back on track and fast.  They are all over the world "chasing Indians," disasters, and handing out humanitarian assistance.  They need to be focused on the one thing they need to get right--defending our nation against existential threats.  They need to be preparing for war, and they need a clear vision as to who are the enemies of America.  With the imminent reduction in the military budget, this becomes all the more critical.

--Against All Enemies

Army plans to shift troops to U.S. Africa Command

Aims for quick crisis response

By Kristina Wong - The Washington Times, Sunday, December 23, 2012

U.S. Africa Command, the military’s newest regional force, will have more troops available early next year as the Pentagon winds down from two ground wars over the past decade, Gen. Raymond T. Odierno, Army chief of staff, told The Washington Times.

As part of Gen. Odierno’s Regionally Aligned Forces concept, about 1,200 soldiers will deploy to Africa as early as March in an effort to place troops strategically around the globe to respond quickly to sudden challenges in hot spots such as Libya and to develop ties with the people and officials in host countries.

“It’s about us moving towards a scalable, tailorable capability that helps them to shape the environment they’re working in, doing a variety of tasks from building partner capability to engagement, to multilateral training to bilateral training to actual deployment of forces, if necessary,” Gen. Odierno said in an interview.

Amid budget cuts and with President Obama’s new military strategy downplaying the chances of another major land war, the Army has sought to maintain its relevance among admirals and generals in the Pacific, the Middle East and North Africa — likely places for the next flash point. When terrorists attacked the U.S. Consulate in Benghazi, Libya, on Sept. 11, no U.S. troops were close enough to help.

[...]

Ready, responsive

Beginning in March, small teams of soldiers from the 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division, based in Fort Riley, Kan., will conduct at least 108 missions in at least 34 countries in Africa through mid-2014.

The missions could include humanitarian assistance and disaster relief, training host-nation forces in marksmanship, first aid and other skills, and conducting military exercises. To prepare for these missions, soldiers are studying the regions and cultures of countries where they will deploy, and learning Arabic, Swahili, French and Portuguese.

Continue Reading (article continues)... 

Connect to AAE
   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AgainstAllEnemies (Click "Like")
   Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/@AAEnemies ("Follow")
   YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/AAEnemies ("Subscribe")
Disclaimer: These opinions are solely my own, and do not reflect the opinions or official positions of any United States Government agency, organization or department.

Why I Love CNN

Here are just a few examples of why I love the Communist News Network, or perhaps it now needs to be called the Carnal News Network:

(1) Kathy Griffin wishing Anderson Cooper a Happy New Year by kissing his crotch on live television.

(2) CNN reports how "gay" penguins in the Toronto Zoo had to be separated to mate with female penguins.

(3) During their recount of the "top stories" of 2012, they continued to perpetuate the lie that the attack in Benghazi which killed our ambassador was the result of a video and not a deliberate terrorist attack.

(4) They report on the cuisine in Cairo, Egypt, despite the fact that there is a revolution going on, an enemy of the United States, the Muslim Brotherhood, has risen to power there, and the persecution of Coptic Christians is increasing.

(5) During a morning broadcast, with children watching, Anderson Cooper talks about the "sexts" and naked pictures he has been receiving from Kathy Griffin.

(6) Finally, for continuing to employ Piers Morgan, a liar and agenda-pusher from the United Kingdom.

Perhaps I, in fact, do not love CNN, because every time I watch it I want to vomit.

It's been a good run, CNN...almost 33 years now.  But it's time to shut your doors and shutter the windows.  Your content is no longer relevant to the people of the United States, and is frankly quite vulgar at times.  What can you expect when you are founded by a man with a world view like Ted Turner?

--Against All Enemies

Connect to AAE
   Blog: http://aaenemies.blogspot.com
   Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AgainstAllEnemies (Click "Like")
   Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/@AAEnemies ("Follow")
   YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/AAEnemies ("Subscribe")
Disclaimer: These opinions are solely my own, and do not reflect the opinions or official positions of any United States Government agency, organization or department.

The Presbyterian Church (USA): What Progressive Christianity Looks Like

"They will cleverly teach destructive heresies and even deny the Master who bought them....They delight in deception even as they eat with you in your fellowship meals.  They commit adultery with their eyes, and their desire for sin is never satisfied.  They lure unstable people into sin, and they are well trained in greed....They have wandered off the right road and followed the footsteps of Balaam son of Beor..."   2 Peter 2:1, 13-15

Introduction.  It appears that the Presbyterian Church (USA) is positioning itself to become the Progressive Church of America by adopting the entire progressive agenda, hook, line and sinker.  This includes the homosexual agenda, the environmentalist agenda, the Open Society agenda (George Soros), and the acknowledgment that other religions are legitimate pathways to God.  Frankly, PC(USA) appears to be more like the Church of Oprah Winfrey rather than a Church based on the Word of God.

What follows are several of the topics that the 220th General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church, USA, addressed this summer.  As a Christian having grown up in the Presbyterian Church, I find the topics and the PC(USA) responses to them alarming.

(1) Boycott of Israeli products from the Occupied Palestinian Territories.  "After three failed attempts to bring divestment back to the table, commissioners to the 220th General Assembly voted with a 71% majority to boycott “all Israeli products coming from the occupied Palestinian Territories....” One of the motions considered by the Assembly was the use of the word "apartheid" to describe the condition of Palestinians at the hands of Israelis....  The Assembly agreed and voted with a 72% majority to reject the motion."  (link)

"He [Bonhoeffer] had become convinced that a church that was not willing to stand up for the Jews in its midst was not the real church of Jesus Christ."  Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy (Eric Metaxas and Timothy J. Keller) (Bonhoeffer was a Christian pastor during the time of Nazi Germany.)

"I will make you a great nation.  I will bless those who bless you and curse those who treat you with contempt.  All the families on earth will be blessed through you." Genesis 12:2-3

(2) "New Arab democracies doing in a few years what it took the U.S. over 200 to do."  They willingly listened to Rami Khouri, director of the Issam Fares Institute for Public Policy and International Affairs at the American University in Beirut, spout hogwash like:

• The United States and Israel need to understand and appreciate the change taking place this year across the Arab world because “you have for the first time nations with popular legitimacy.”  
• He pointed to the birth of the United States, followed almost 100 years later by the Civil War, later still by women’s rights, and now by issues of immigration, gender issues and sexual orientation. “You’re still debating these issues,” Khouri said. “They [the new Arab democracies] are debating these issues in one year.” (link)

We should be skeptical of the quality of the freedoms that result from these new Arab democracies, since they are influenced by the Islamic ideology that requires the implementation of shariah law, and because many of their leaders, like the President of Egypt, are members of the Muslim Brotherhood.  The freedoms of fellow Christians in those nations will most certainly be in jeopardy, as will the lives of the Jewish people in neighboring Israel.

"...you may kill the idol worshippers when you encounter them, punish them, and resist every move they make." --Sura 9:5 of the Quran

"You shall fight them, for GOD will punish them at your hands, humiliate them, grant you victory over them..." --Sura 9:14 of the Quran

"As for those who reject our revelations, and are too arrogant to uphold them, they have incurred Hell, wherein they abide forever.  Who is more evil than those who invent lies about GOD, or reject His revelations?  These will get their share, in accordance with the scripture, then, when our messengers come to terminate their lives..." --Sura 7:36-37 of the Quran

"God is our objective; the Quran is our constitution, the Prophet is our leader; Jihad is our way; and death for the sake of God is the highest of our aspirations."--Motto of the Muslim Brotherhood

(3) Rejected the return to the 'fidelity and chastity' language to the ordination standards.  In 2010 PC(USA) removed the language that required pastors to be either chaste or in a faithful marriage between a man and woman.  As a result, homosexuals are now permitted to hold leadership positions in the church. (link)

"Do not practice homosexuality, having sex with another man as with a woman.  It is a detestable sin."  --Leviticus 18:22

"Don't you realize that those who do wrong will not inherit the Kingdom of God?  Don't fool yourselves.  Those who indulge in sexual sin, or who worship idols, or commit adultery, or are male prostitutes, or practice homosexuality, or are thieves, or greedy people, or drunkards, or are abusive, or cheat people--none of these will inherit the Kingdom of God....  You say, "I am allowed to do anything"--but not everything is good for you....  But you can't say that our bodies were made for sexual immorality.  They were made for the Lord..."  --1 Corinthians 6:9-10, 12-13

(4) Redefining marriage.  The Assembly rejected the idea of affirming that the definition of marriage is "a civil contract between a woman and a man" and instead called for a two-year study in the matter.  (link)  Two proposals during the General Assembly:

• Change the definition of marriage from between a woman and a man to between two people...The proposal to change the definition of marriage passed 28-24, with commissioners on both sides expressing fear about being unfaithful to God’s call.  (Against All Enemies note: Are you more concerned about obeying God or pleasing Man?)
• Call for a “season of serious study and discernment” about the meaning of Christian marriage. (link)

"But because there is so much sexual immorality, each man should have his own wife, and each woman should have her own husband."  -- 1 Corinthians 7:2

"As the Scriptures say, "A man leaves his father and mother and is joined to his wife, and the two are united into one."  This is a great mystery, but it is an illustration of the way Christ and the church are one."  --Ephesians 5:31-32

(5) Approving multiple actions in regard to immigrants.  PC(USA) may have adopted the ideology of multiculturalism and an Open Society where there are no national borders, and may also be asking its members to ignore current immigration laws.  Frankly, how illegal immigrants are dealt with on a personal level needs to be left up to each parishioner's conscience and not dictated from on high.

• Affirming the scriptural call to provide hospitality to and justice for immigrants, regardless of status
• Continuing to advocate on behalf of comprehensive immigration reform
• Actively advocating for legislation such as the DREAM Act (Development, Relief and Education for Alien Minors) that offers hope for young immigrants by providing a pathway to citizenship
• Directing the PC(USA)’s Office of Public Witness to make immigration reform one of the top policy issues in its work
• Urging the U.S. government to end policies such as Secure Communities, a program of the Department of Homeland Security, because of concern that the program has led to racial profiling, lack of due process and violations of human rights related to the arrest and detention of immigrants
• Encouraging presbyteries to create cross-cultural ministry teams and immigration issues task forces
• Calling on congregations to build relationships with immigrants and refugees and to learn about the gifts they have to offer
• Incorporating stories from churches engaged in ministry with immigrants into times of worship and sharing at next year’s Big Tent event and at the 221st General Assembly (2014) (link to article)

(6) Steering away from the one true path; worship of the planet.  The following "to do" list was recommended by a speaker at a "Voices of Sophia" breakfast.  The points sound very much like New Age philosophies that are fundamentally at odds with the Christian faith.

• the need to create holistic, sacred space
• giving attention to inclusive, expansive language for God
• speaking truth to power about warmongering, sable-rattling, and more
• recognizing the earth as an endangered species
• building coalitions with other faith communities (link to article)

Why are we building coalitions with other faith communities when the Church should be spreading the Good News to them?  This sounds like the legitimization of other faiths as pathways to God.

"I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."  --John 14:6

(7) Embraced the ideology of environmentalism (socialism).  Remember F.A. Hayek said in "The Road to Serfdom" that "...this is linked directly to the environmentalist agenda to only produce that which we need...using the threat to the environment as the rationale for controlling production..." (p. 84).  PC(USA) fails to understand that by supporting socialist goals such as those established by environmentalists, the end state will be tyranny and a limitation on religious freedoms to ensure the power of the state is unchallenged.  What follows demonstrates some of the discussion about the matter during the General Assembly.

Economic growth “has taken on a God-like identity,” Kovacs said, “and fossil fuels have become the economic temple of global commerce. This is perilous to the well-being of humanity, especially the impoverished.”

The World Christian Student Federation (WCSF), composed of Christian student groups from around the world, has been active in a program of the World Council of Churches called AGAPE, which is promoting “an alternative global development policy that integrates concerns for poverty, wealth and ecology.” Regional gatherings around the world over the last four years culminated last month in a Global Economic Forum on Poverty, Wealth and Ecology. 

“We are addicted to economic models that are the antithesis of God’s justice, which is not a political system or a social gospel but THE gospel―the good news for the hungry is a piece of bread.” (link)

Another speaker, Rev. J. Herbert Nelson, espoused more global socialist policies:

Nelson listed other examples of violence, including the “economic violence in our nation, where two classes are emerging—one rich and the other poor.” Free trade agreements, because they are not about “fair trade,” have contributed to violence and poverty in developing nations. Nations such as Iran and the United States are in a “race to see who can take out the other.” (link)

(8) Retained PC(USA) Property Clause.  This ruling prevents a local congregation from owning their own property, keeping it in the hands of the PC(USA) denomination as a whole.  This is most likely a move to prevent congregations from seceding from PC(USA). (link)

(9) Ruled on social(ist) issues. (link)

• Calling for an end to Poverty Zone Development and a resolution on Workers’ Rights and Income Equality
• Supporting the work of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)
• A set of principles and actions called World of Hurt, Word of Life: “Renewing God’s Communion in the Work of Economic Reconstruction”
• A Resolution on Racism, Incarceration and Restoration
• Commending the 2011-2012 Horizons Bible Study and the Accra Confession
• Plans to update the Safe Child Policy in the PC(USA)
• Supporting justice for survivors of sexual abuse
• A Statement on housing and the mortgage crisis
• Appointing two seasons of prayer to seek the will of God in this year’s election
• A Statement of concern about prolonged solitary confinement
• Advocating for trade reform and accountability

Conclusion.

"I believe that the church's main power comes through the influence of chiefly their congregations.  If the Word is not taught properly, then it sets itself up for failure when assailed by challenges to the beliefs of the faith."  Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy (Eric Metaxas and Timothy J. Keller)

"We reject the false doctrine, as though the Church in human arrogance could place the Word and work of the Lord in the service of any arbitrarily chosen desires, purposes, and plans." Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy (Eric Metaxas and Timothy J. Keller)

I have not been to seminary and am therefore not a pastor, but I do possess the capacity to read.  In 1536, William Tyndale sacrificed his life to ensure that the people of Britain had access to an English translation of the Bible.  He did so to prevent the Church of England from possessing the sole ability to interpret the Bible and relate it to the people based on what the Church of England wanted the people to believe.

Some 400 years later we are fortunate to still be able to read the Bible in English, but are being told by churches like PC(USA) that our interpretations are wrong.  Instead, we are being fed interpretations that fit an earthly agenda.  The Presbyterian Church, USA, is clearly becoming of the world, as opposed to being in it.  The leadership of PC(USA) fits the Bible to the world, as opposed to making the world fit to the Bible.

What business does the Church have meddling in all these topics covered during this year's General Assembly?  Should they not be more concerned about ministering to their flocks instead of establishing a social platform?  The behavior of PC(USA) appears more like that of a progressive, secular political party rather than that of a church concerned first and foremost with following Christ.

Bottom line is this: PC(USA) needs to get back to basics--the Word of God--or witness more of the faithful walking away.

(From 2010 to 2011, the total membership of PC(USA) declined by 63,804 members.--article link)

Disclaimer: These opinions are solely my own, and do not reflect the opinions or official positions of any United States Government agency, organization or department.

Is This The End for “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell?”

Is This The End for “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell?”

An Effeminate US Military Will Not Win Wars
A Commentary by J. D. Longstreet
*****************
The answer to the question in the title of this piece is, of course, yes, Obama will end the military’s “Don’t ask, Don’t tell” policy. Honestly, now – was there ever any question about how this would play out? Of course not!The entire US Military will change the moment the word comes down from on high. In fact, it has already begun. Many, many, veterans are shamed and disgusted by the decision to throw the doors of the US Military open wide to allow homosexuals to serve openly in the Armed Forces of the United States.

I must tell you that I can no longer recommend a career in the US Military for any hetrosexual young man or woman. In fact, I will strongly recommend to my grandkids to look elsewhere to serve their country, not in the military.

I am of the opinion there should be a policy of zero tolerance for homosexuality in the US Military. So, you know -- I don’t even agree with the current “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy. “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” is a part of the Policy of Incrementalism the government uses to get Americans to accept something we really detest. They feed it to us as you would a child – one bite at a time. Slowly.

The US military has had the “Don ‘t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy for homosexuals in the military in place since 1993. Under the terms of that policy homosexuals could serve in the US military as long as they kept quiet about their sexual orientation and didn’t go public with it, admit it, or openly take part in homosexual activity. If either occurred, homosexuals were shown the door and bade farewell from the US Military.

Look, in my opinion, having a known homosexual in a military unit disrupts that unit’s cohesiveness. If it happens to be a combat unit, lives are at stake.

The real problem is this: Too few people in Washington have served in the military, and I include Senators, Congresspersons, Presidents, and even their staff members, to know what the heck they are doing with their social experiments on the military. Try to tell them they are getting Americans needlessly killed and they will stare blankly at you as if they have no idea what you are talking about, and the sad thing is – they DON’T!

Try as you might, you will never be able to convince me that an effeminate US Military can win a battle, let alone a war, against an army of testosterone-charged males rushing at them with the intention of killing every living thing before them. The opposition forces are going to win.

So whyIS this coming up now? The answer is simple. A socialist won the last presidential election and became the President of the US. Add to that the increase in numbers in the Congress of ultra-liberal (Socialist/Neo-Comm) democrats cinching their control over the two branches of the government -- and with a Supreme Court that is almost as liberal as it is conservative… and you have to ask???

They intend to strike while the iron is hot. There is no reason to believe they will fail in striking down any and all laws that might keep homosexuals out of the US military. “Don’t ask, don’t tell” is doomed. Bet on it!

A couple of years back I asked why not have a compromise? Why not allow those Soldiers, Sailors, Marines, Airmen, and Coast Guardsmen, whose religious faith bars them from association with known homosexuals, to apply for, and receive, an honorable discharge from the U.S. Military Services? At least show some respect for a soldier’s faith.

Of COURSE, it won’t happen. Because that is a part of the plan… to force the American people, even against their religious belief, to accept a way of life their faith teaches is an “abomination.” We have come to expect this heavy-handed approach to religion, especially Christianity, from the left in America.

And then -- there is the recruitment problem, sure to come, as a result of this “social engineering” experiment by the left. Reenlistments are going to drop off and new recruits will be few and far between. All this while we are fighting two “hot” wars. That means… what else? The military draft will return. But then, that, too, is what the socialists want. So…get used to it.

A liberal/progressive/socialist/Marxist take over of the US government has been successful. They now hold the reins of power. America is now a socialist nation -- whether you want to admit it or not.

We “old fogies”, who believe in freedom, liberty, the US Constitution, and the Bill of Rights, had a pretty good run, but we are no longer wanted and the Socialist Eurocrats and Neo-Comms (New Communists) have taken over and have begun to roll back the freedom(s) we worked so hard to preserve since the country’s founding. Their destruction of the hated US Military is just one of their goals. And that is why the issue has resurfaced at this particular time. They have the numbers to do it this time.

It is depressing to watch a nation commit suicide. To watch the world’s only superpower do so is gut-wrenching. But like it or not, we are witnessing the destruction of a way of life, envied the world over, as the Socialist, the Euro-crats, the Marxists, and Neo-Comms tear down the last best hope of mankind on this planet.

J. D. Longstreet

State Of The Nation

by Findalis of Monkey in the Middle

Book of Obama:  Chapter 10

 


e placed The Holy Suit and Tie once again upon His body, and ascended once again to the Dome.  There the assembled chapter of the Congress, the Holy Justices of the land, the members of the anointed Cabinet and guests from near and far sat awaiting His words.  Unlike the year before, He wasn't popular.  Every plan, every idea He had, was rejected by the people.

"We do not want your Cap and Trade, Health Care, or other Moonbat ideas.  Your bowing down to dictators, despots and tyrants around the world does not put us at ease You have apologized to everyone for all the supposed evils that we were suspected of doing.  You are getting ready to destroy our laws, by declaring the Holy Document invalid.  We have heard enough lies from you, your dogs Emanuel, Axelrod, Pelosi and Reid.  We've heard them all and we've learned a couple of things."

The Anointed One just smiled and then addressed the Nation:

short year ago I took office, but that is just a breeze in time.  Look back upon our Founding Fathers, our struggles during the Civil War, the Depression.  We did not flounder or despair.  Nor did we despair through out the struggles of the Civil Rights Movement.  And I will not despair now.

For I inherited a bad economy that was shaken to its core.  I opposed all of the bailouts done, for I saw the harm they will do.  My stimulus plan has created jobs in teaching, rescue, construction and other sectors.

We need Health Care now!  I demand Congress to pass.  Cap and Trade too.  Forget about the Holy Document.  There is too much to do.

I am a man of the people, representative of the Middle Class, My values are the same as yours.  I love this country so much I would never bad name it.  But we did wrong with the Muslim world, and other places too.  I said to them I am sorry, there is nothing you can do.

I said I would create jobs, and that I will do.  For every man and woman.  New industries, new factories, Red, White, Blue, and Green.  We must compete with China, Korea, and Germany too.  This we must excel in if we are going to continually survive.

I will eliminate the nukes of the world, starting with our own.  For did not the Great Reagan of old try to achieve this very goal.

People through out the land write to Me with their problems.  A businessman in Denver*, or in Philadelphia, a teacher in the city, the cop on the beat, a child who wants to know why Mommy and Daddy lost their jobs, another who just lost his home.  I read all their letters, I know all their problems, and I will solve them all.

I could go on all night, but that will do no good at all.  I promised you Hope and Change, and did not lie to you on that, for I am not President #43.

And after The Anointed One had finished His speech, His  followers were full of glee.  For they just knew that once again He had saved the day.

But from right across the river, from the city of Richmond in the land of Virginia, came a new prophet from the right.  Bob The Wise McDonnell.

The Prophet spoke of those with a job, how 1 in 10 lost theirs.
He spoke of the despair the nation felt, of how the economy  was gone.
He spoke of the need for smaller government, how The Anointed One did spend.
He said that the time for spending cuts and freezes were last year, not when your polling number has shown you have failed.

The Prophet McDonnell told the people that it isn't too late.
That the time has come to sit and wait,
So The Anointed One could not shove His agenda down our throats.

He told the assembled people and media the truth.
And our solutions aren't 1,000-page bills that no one has fully read,
After being crafted behind closed doors with special interests.
In fact, many of our proposals are available online at solutions.gop.gov, and we welcome your ideas on Facebook and Twitter.

He told them this and more.

 And through it all, the world went on, the nation will endure.

The GOP got Teddy's seat, they can get more they will.
For the people have seen the truth, heard the lies and broken promises.
Unlike those on the left, the right will not just yell.
They are the ones, in Midterm years, come out in droves to vote.

Reid, Frank and Boxer, plus many more are running scared tonight.
For the GOP has the will, the drive and the clout,
To drive the Moonbats back into the dark.

We just have to wait for November to do it!


*  The President mentioned many people in his speech, but none by name, nor did he recognize any of them in the balcony (he only recognized his wife).  Could it be they are all named:  Ellie Light?

Should God Apologize To Sodom And Gomorrah?

Should God Apologize To Sodom And Gomorrah?

A Commentary by J. D. Longstreet

***************

"This year, I will work with Congress and our military to finally repeal the law that denies gay Americans the right to serve the country they love because of who they are. It's the right thing to do." … B. H. Obama President of the United States in his State of the Union Address January 27th, 2010.

There is an old expression that says: "If God does not destroy America the He owes an apology to Sodom and Gomorrah!" It seems more applicable today than ever before.

Look, having a known homosexual in a military unit disrupts that unit’s cohesiveness. If it happens to be a combat unit, lives are at stake.

Homosexuality is even splitting apart mainline religious denominations in America and around the world… and you REALLY think it will not disrupt the US Military? Get REAL, PLEASE!

As a subscriber to the Christian faith, I believe homosexuality is an sinful lust forbidden by God. In the scriptures we are told that God, himself, said to His people Israel, "Thou shalt not lie with mankind, as with womankind: it is abomination" (Leviticus 18:22). "If a man also lie with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death; their blood shall be upon them" (Leviticus 20:13). In these passages homosexuality is condemned as a sexual perversion. It is considered a “Prime Sin.” As a Christian I cannot change how God views homosexuality and I cannot turn my back on it and say that well, times have changed, and God must change too. THAT is blasphemy.

Now, before some of you point out the obvious, that this scripture is from the OLD Testament; I give you Saint Paul’s view of Homosexuality from the NEW Testament. (Paul is the Apostle credited with bringing the Christian faith to the Gentiles of the world.) Paul wrote a letter to the people of the Christian church in Corinth. In that letter Paul said the following: “ Or do you not know that the unrighteous will not inherit the kingdom of God? Do not be deceived; neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor homosexuals, 10- nor thieves, nor the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, nor swindlers, will inherit the kingdom of God.”

It could not be any clearer. Homosexuality is condemned in the scriptures just as murder, adultery, premarital sex, kidnapping, lying, and idolatry are condemned.

Back to the incompatibility of Homosexuality with the military: “Homosexuality is simply incompatible with the principles of military services, which include a focus on the mission, service, discipline, bodily integrity, and control over one's impulses. Homosexuality does not appropriately reflect these principles.” This sentiment was reflected in an article signed by Gen. Carl E. Mundy, Jr., a former commandant of the Marine Corps; Adm. Leighton W. Smith, a former commander of U.S. Naval Forces Europe; Gen. Charles A. Horner, who commanded U.S. aerial forces during the 1990-91 Gulf War; and Adm. Jerome L. Johnson, a former vice chief of Naval Operations. They wrote, succinctly, "Homosexuality is incompatible with military service". Read the article HERE.

In 2008, the Republican Party Platform said the following: "To protect our servicemen and women and ensure that America's Armed Forces remain the best in the world, we affirm the timeliness of those values, the benefits of traditional military culture, and the incompatibility of homosexuality with military service." Read the article HERE.

Many retired military officers, including several who were top commanders, have urged President Barack Obama and Congress to maintain the law that bars gays from serving openly in the armed forces. They claim openly serving homosexuals would undermine recruiting and retention, impact leadership at all levels, have adverse effects on the willingness of parents who lend their sons and daughters to military service, and eventually break the All-Volunteer Force. They, too, believe that repeal of the current law, “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell,” could jeopardize morale and “unit cohesion.” Read the article HERE.

Back in June of 2006, I wrote the following: “As a veteran, when I served, a homosexual was not allowed in the service, period. If they did manage to get in, as soon as they were found out, they were gone. And it was quick.

I remember, in July of 1959, at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, as we stood in formation on Tank Hill, we recruits were instructed to immediately turn in any in our ranks we suspected might be homosexual. We were led to believe that if we knew, and did not turn them in, we were in danger of being kicked out of the service as well.

I liked that. It gave me a certain confidence in my fellow soldiers… that they were who they said they were.

In my time in the US Army there was no such thing as privacy. You did everything as a unit. You slept in the same room, you showered together, you ate together, and you even relived yourself in full view of all the other soldiers who happened to be in the latrine at the same time. There were no “stalls” with toilets in them. There was a line of toilets, in a row, and it was quit possible for two soldiers to have a conversation, while relieving themselves, sitting on those toilets. Did I mention there was no privacy? I did, didn’t I?

It was important that a soldier knew his fellow soldier was the same gender as himself.”
My opinion has not changed.

There is no effort here to “gay-bash.” I am merely expressing my opinion as a Veteran of the US Military and as one who subscribes to the Christian faith.

For the record, I do not care a whit what other country’s militaries do. They can have all homosexual regiments for all I care. But, I DO care what the US military does.

Public support of the US military is vital to their morale and their effectiveness as a fighting force. Allowing homosexuals to serve openly in the US military will rob them of the support they now enjoy from the American public. It will destroy the All Volunteer Force we have so painstakingly built up. That means the return of the draft.

I do not support the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy. I support the old policy of not allowing homosexuals to serve in any branch of the US Military -- at all.

J. D. Longstreet

Moderate or Slippery Sliding Southern Baptists?

Christianity is all about sharing the Good News of salvation through Jesus our Savior and about sharing God’s love for all. Most Christians are a loving people who are slow to judge and quick to forgive. These very qualities often make hard decisions even more difficult.

Today the growing voices of secular humanism are telling Christians that homosexuality is just another lifestyle choice. In many Christian denominations today, homosexual unions have achieved parity with heterosexual marriage.

Should over two thousand years of Christian teaching and tradition be abandoned because of pressure from the secular left? Has the Bible been reduced to nothing more than a quaint historical recipe book filled with arduous instructions and impossible to find ingredients? Are the Ten Commandments really nothing more than ten little suggestions?

We have written several articles about the gradual takeover of many Christian denominations by the far left. This began decades ago within the mainline Christian denominations. Inroads are now being made by the Christian left with Evangelicals and even within more “conservative” churches.

If we have eyes to see it is apparent that we are living in times where it is no longer easy to be a Christian. The strength of our faith will be determined by God’s grace and our individual abilities to withstand the derision and false charges that will be heaped upon us as Christians. Those who are swayed by the world, by money, by power, and by the so-called “authority” of the leftist media, will fall.

Broadway Baptist Church of Fort Worth, Texas is debating whether their church directory should include gay couples, or gay people individually but not as couples, or whether to omit all individual and family photos.

Here’s an excerpt from the Dallas Morning News article “Fort Worth's Broadway Baptist wrestling with listing gay members in directory

“ . . . Members were to vote Sunday after morning worship. But in a clear indication that they are divided over how accepting to be of homosexuality, they met for an hour and then postponed any decision until deacons make a recommendation on Feb. 24.

"We will continue to discuss this issue together as a church family," Kathy Madeja, chair of the deacons, said in a prepared statement. "We do not want to rush to make a decision, but rather to continue to listen to each other and for God's leading for our church." . . .

Homosexuality continues to be a vexing issue in American Christianity, with the Episcopal Church, United Methodist Church, Presbyterian Church (U.S.A.), and other denominations facing internal conflicts over how accepting to be, particularly in regard to gay clergy.

The conservative Southern Baptist Convention recently began a program to reach out to gay people. But the program seeks to get them to change from what the SBC considers to be a sinful lifestyle.

Still, some Baptist churches welcome gay people as they are. One is Myers Park Baptist of Charlotte, N.C., which left the SBC years ago but continued to be affiliated with the Baptist State Convention of North Carolina.

When the state convention decided that its churches must refuse to "affirm, approve, endorse, promote, support or bless homosexual behavior," Myers Park turned itself in as not following such a policy. Last month, amid much publicity, state convention "messengers" voted to expel the church. . .”

Here’s a link to the Broadway Baptist (E-mail) Staff Directory. Include Broadway Baptist in your prayers and share your thoughts. You never know, God could be answering their prayers through your own impulse to respond. They will make a final decision on February 24th, 2008.

Note: Traditionally Christianity has always viewed the ACT of homosexuality as immoral. Notice that the emphasis is on the word “ACT” not the proclivity. Traditionally, Christianity does not condemn homosexuals for being homosexual but does condemn homosexual acts. Therefore, even in very conservative Christian denominations it is possible to be a homosexual in good standing if one does not engage in homosexual acts. In other words, if a homosexual chooses to remain celibate, he or she would be a traditional Christian in good standing.

The following articles will provide more details concerning the attempts by the Christian Left to takeover Christianity. These articles and many related member articles can be found in the sidebar at Christians Against Leftist Heresy.


Why America Must Define Religion
Obama’s Marxist Liberation Theology Church
Keeping Racism Alive by Eradicating White Privilege
United Nations Entrenched Within Most Christian Denominations
National Council of Churches Supports the U.N.
The Battle for American Unity
Is Your Church a Secret Sanctuary? Pledging Your Moral Stand for Immigrants Rights

Join the Christians Against Leftist Heresy blogroll sponsored by Faultline USA




Click to join CALH








Trackposted to Rosemary's Thoughts, Right Truth, Adam's Blog, The World According to Carl, Shadowscope, The Pink Flamingo, Leaning Straight Up, Adeline and Hazel, and The Yankee Sailor, thanks to Linkfest Haven Deluxe.

Post-Christian Churches: The Episcopal Church USA

Cross-posted from whatmatters2us, a member of the Christians Against Leftist Heresy blogroll.

Note: This is part of a continuing series of articles concerning the epidemic leftist takeover of many venerable old Christian denominations.

Post-Christian Churches: The Episcopal Church USA

Meeting in New Orleans, the House of Bishops of the Episcopal Church USA (ECUSA) is attempting to come to an agreement on the issue that threatens to lead to schism within the Worldwide Anglican Communion. The issue is named homosexuality, but in fact it goes much deeper than that. The fundamental issue is a division of opinion over the authority of the Holy Bible. On one side are so-called liberal theologians, who do not believe that the Holy Bible is the inspired, inerrant Word of God. Rather, they believe that they can reinterpret it in each culture and in each age, accepting what seems good to them, and rejecting the rest. On the other side are so-called conservative theologians. They are the successors to the unbroken line of Christian theologians who believe that the historic, orthodox Christian understanding of Holy Scripture is correct. Without reservation, they have received the Holy Bible is the inspired, inerrant Word of God, and believe that it is the sole norm and standard for judging all dogma, doctrine, and teachings of the Christian Church. The liberal theologians stand on ever shifting sands. The conservative theologians stand on the solid rock of God’s unchanging Word.

The ECUSA ceased being a Christian Church long ago. The 2003 consecration of V. Eugene Robinson as a bishop of the ECUSA in New England was only one of the more recent evidences that, as a national body, the ECUSA has moved far away from its historic Christian roots, and now is practicing another kind of religion. A man can call himself righteous, but that does not make him so. (See Jesus’ parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector, Luke 18:9-14) Likewise, a church can call itself Christian, but that does not make it so. Martin Luther, the great reformer, taught that the Christian Church is the congregation of saints (believers and disciples of Jesus Christ in every age), in which the Gospel is rightly taught and the sacraments are rightly administered. Luther continued expounding on the doctrine of the Church by warning that, in this life, many hypocrites and evil men are mingled with real Christians in the Church. Within those congregations that are affiliated with the ECUSA, no doubt there are many real Christians, but we can be equally certain that there are many hypocrites and evil men and women. The direction taken by the ECUSA in recent decades demonstrates that those hypocrites and evil men and women have seized the levers of power and are in control of the ECUSA. So it should be obvious to Christians everywhere that the ECUSA, as a church body, is no longer a Christian Church.

At the time of his consecration as bishop in 2003, V. Eugene Robinson stated that he was convinced that God was doing a new thing in the church. Robinson was, as have been so many in the past, deluded in his beliefs. God does not change. God is the same yesterday, today, and tomorrow. Likewise, God’s Word does not change. As Jesus Christ said, “and the Scripture cannot be broken” (John10:35). The Apostles, acting, speaking, and writing with the authority granted especially to them by Jesus also make clear the unchanging nature of God and of His Word. Saint Paul wrote in 2 Timothy 3:16-17, “All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness; so that the man of God may be adequate, equipped for every good work.” God does not change his mind, but men, like Robinson, are blown about by every little breeze, every new idea, and eagerly abandon the true faith for their own carnal pleasures.

The Law of God, contained in Holy Scripture, serves three purposes:

It serves as a curb on bad behavior, preventing anarchy and giving to humankind the blessings of a peaceful and orderly society.

It serves as a mirror, showing us our utter failure to live up to the standards set by God, and convicts us of our sins, driving us to despair. It is at this point that the Gospel comes to us, announcing God’s mercy and forgiveness to those who trust in Jesus Christ.

It serves as a guide, showing those who are believers in Christ how they should live their lives. Holy Scripture states, “But we know that the Law is good, if one uses it lawfully, realizing the fact that law is not made for a righteous person, but for those who are lawless and rebellious, for the ungodly and sinners, for the unholy and profane, for those who kill their fathers or mothers, for murderers and immoral men and homosexuals and kidnappers and liars and perjurers, and whatever else is contrary to sound teaching, according to the glorious gospel of the blessed God, with which I have been entrusted.” (1Timothy 8-11)

The ECUSA, the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA), the United Church of Christ (UCC), and a host of other formerly Christian Church bodies have committed the same sin that caused the Fall of Adam and Eve – they are trying to put themselves in the place of God, rejecting whatever in His Word they find inconvenient or unpopular, and replacing it with cleverly devised myths and stories. They reinterpret the Word of God, twisting the plain meaning of Scripture, to suit their own desires to be a law unto themselves. Rather than submitting to God’s law and rejoicing in the forgiveness that comes to all who put their faith in Jesus, repenting of their sins, and trusting in God’s abundant mercy, they manufacture new doctrines and try to create a new gospel. This is not a new phenomenon: Saint Paul contended with evil men such as these in the Galatian churches of the First Century – “I am astonished that you are so quickly deserting the one who called you by the grace of Christ and are turning to a different gospel – which is really no gospel at all. Evidently some people are throwing you into confusion and are trying to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we or an angel from heaven should preach a gospel other than the one we preached to you, let him be eternally condemned!” (Galatians 1:6-8).

The words that Jesus spoke to the Pharisees and Scribes are also applicable to those who twist Scripture to suit their own purposes today:

“You hypocrites, rightly did Isaiah prophesy of you: ‘THIS PEOPLE HONORS ME WITH THEIR LIPS, BUT THEIR HEART IS FAR AWAY FROM ME. BUT IN VAIN DO THEY WORSHIP ME, TEACHING AS DOCTRINES THE PRECEPTS OF MEN.’” (Matthew 15:7-9)

No, V. Eugene Robinson, and no, ECUSA, ELCA, UCC, and all of the other formerly Christian Church bodies, God is not doing a new thing and approving of homosexuality. Rather, humankind is doing a very old thing – attempting to storm the throne of God, and push Him aside so that they can become like God. The same spirit of rebellion that has plagued humankind ever since The Fall is at work in these formerly Christian Church bodies today. Rather than showing their love for homosexuals, including V. Eugene Robinson, by calling them to repentance and urging them to refrain from homosexual acts, so that they might be forgiven and join with all believers in the joy of Christ Jesus, the leaders of the ECUSA and other formerly Christian Church bodies are encouraging homosexuals to remain in their sin, and thus condemning them to eternal damnation. The acceptance of practicing homosexuals into the Office of the Public Ministry, the blessing of same-sex unions, and similar acts endorsing a homosexual lifestyle are not acts of love, but acts of profound hatred. If the ECUSA was a Christian Church, and if it truly loved sinners, it would not encourage them to remain in their sin, but would call them to repentance, so that they might receive God’s forgiveness.

Homosexuality is not a worse sin than adultery, or stealing, or any other sin; sin is sin, and all sin puts the sinner under God’s wrath. Only by confessing our sins to God, repenting of our sins, and trusting in the holy, innocent suffering and death of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as the acceptable atonement for our sins, can we receive eternal salvation. Repenting involves more than just saying, “I’m sorry.” True repentance involves a turning away from the sins that have separated us from God. True repentance involves a sense of revulsion when we remember our sins, and an earnest effort to live a life in accordance with God’s will. The murderer who continues to murder, the adulterer who continues to commit adultery, and the homosexual who continues to engage in homosexual acts have not yet been driven to despair by the Law, and have not yet truly repented.

The ECUSA and other formerly Christian Church bodies that cannot bring themselves to condemn homosexuality, in accordance with the plain language of Scripture, are the enablers of millions who are perishing in their sin, and being lost forever. The adoption of church policies and practices that conform to the world rather than to Holy Scripture places the ECUSA, the ELCA, the UCC, and many other church bodies outside the pale of Christianity. This is not to say that all of the members of these church bodies are non-Christian. No indeed! The joyous paradox is that, even when evil men and women are in charge, the Word of God can still be at work in the hearts of those who hear it. However, those in the pews of the churches that are no longer Christian are continuing to support those churches at their peril. For they may become guilty of the same sins if they, with full knowledge and understanding of the sinful policies and practices of their churches, continue to enable and encourage the evil men and women who have led their church bodies astray. They would do well to separate themselves from these formerly Christian Churches, lest they “…may even be found fighting against God,” as Gamaliel warned the Jewish Council in Acts 5:34-39.

The ECUSA is jealous of the wealth that it has accumulated over the centuries since it first arrived on the shores of America. So it will not allow those congregations and priests who continue to stand-up for Holy Scripture to separate quietly. No, if any congregation wants to separate itself from the sin and error of the ECUSA, it must abandon its buildings with all of their furnishings – the ECUSA will not cede those valuable properties to the local congregations. However, Bible believing Episcopalians would do well to leave those material possessions behind, recalling the words of Jesus, “What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and the holy angels” (Luke 9:25-26).

It is time for all who remain faithful Christians, for the faithful remnant of the people of God, to come out from the churches that have abandoned the Word of God and substituted for it a counterfeit gospel. Find new church homes, where the Word of God is preached in truth, and where the Gospel is taught rightly and the Sacraments are administered rightly. The Church is the body of Christ on earth. It cannot be joined with the body of a harlot. Recall the words of faithful Joshua, “...But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” (Joshua 24:15) Now decide whom you will serve.

Read more about the Christians Against Leftist Heresy blogroll