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LIBERTY HOT TOPICS
Jesus Plus Nothing
A Religious Group's Ties To The Political Establishment Show Why A Motto Is Easier Said Than Done.
Jonathan Jackson, RLL (THE TITLE ABOVE IS FROM A LIBERTY MAGAZINE ARTICLE LINKED BELOW)
It is dangerous and non-biblical for Christians to desire political clout. The Church's role on this earth is not political but spiritual. The function of the Church is to seek and save the lost, by presenting a dead, buried and risen Savior who is coming AGAIN. When the Church begins to immerse itself in the legislative game of scratching backs, what may seem like a moral stance transforms itself into radical mandate that does more harm than good. This is clearly seen in Daniel 3:29: Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were delivered from the fiery furnace. King Nebuchadnezzar decides to write a decree, because of God's power to save those who are committed to him. In his decree he says in Daniel 3:29, "Therefore I make a decree, That every people, nation, and language, which speak any thing amiss against the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abed-nego, shall be cut in pieces, and their houses shall be made a dunghill: because there is no other God that can deliver after this sort."
The stance of these three young men was not one that came about from a mandate or political coercion, but rather from a personal desire to serve God out of love, and not fear. But Nebuchadnezzar took this predicament a step further and in essence produced an atmosphere that is not God breathed. His intentions may have been on the right track, but the method was egregious. This is just one example of why it is important for Christians to render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's and to God the things that are God's.
READ ABOUT A GROUP IN UGANDA WHO DESIRE TO WRITE LEGISLATION TO KILL HOMOSEXUALS.
The Hidden Danger of Conspiracy Theories
William Mcall, Pastor in Canoga Park, California
Is fluoride in the water a Communist plot? Was World War I a conspiracy of the Illuminati (or the Jews)? Is there a secret government plan to supplant the U.S. dollar with an “Amero,” a currency that includes Canada and Mexico? Was the attack on 9/11 a conspiracy by high officials in the U.S. government (or Jews)? Regardless of your personal bias or political persuasion, there is probably a conspiracy theory that appeals to you.
Conspiracies are a part of human nature. They exist at every level of human interaction. We could probably say that where two or three are gathered together, there is a conspiracy theory. We could also paraphrase a law of physics and hypothesize that for every conspiracy, there is an equal and opposite conspiracy.
A problem with conspiracy theories is that they oversimplify world events in order to find a scapegoat. In any reasonably open society, with freedom of the press and access to historical documents, it is not hard to find out the truth, or at least enough of the facts to clear up any false theory. In the world of conspiracy theories, conjecture takes the place of diligence and fear takes the place of reason. Often a particular clique of evil people is given virtual omnipotence, as if when major events, such as world wars, take place, everything happens according to plan. Does the devil himself have so much power?...READ MORE
Work Free Sunday Movement
Raymond Johnson, Head Elder of Madison Mission SDA
Choose whom you will serve. Joshua 24:15 "And if it seem evil unto you to serve the Lord, choose you this day whom ye will serve; whether the gods which your fathers served that were on the other side of the flood, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land ye dwell: but as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord."
Prophecy is being fulfilled. The Work-Free Sunday Movement with participation and support from religious leaders of Catholicism and some Protestants in England are attempting to gain momentum in the establishment of Sunday as a government recognized day of rest. NARLA (North American Religious Liberty Association) article below describing this movement's efforts.
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The Work-Free Sunday Movement Getting Organized in Europe
Article from NARLA (North American Religious Liberty Association)
A "Work-Free Sunday" and the need of legislation to enforce the concept was the topic of a conference held this week in Brussels, Belgium. Last year the European Parliament rejected such an attempt. This conference comes as a response. It is but the beginning of a more strategic movement to revitalize the discussion for a work-free Sunday. Daniela Weichhold attended the conference and reports that László Andor, the new Commissioner for Employment and Social Affairs, saw the conference as " a new chapter." As Weichhold points out the EU Commission can still launch the legislative procedure even if it fails. There is now a serious attempt to convince the hearts and minds of Europeans that Sunday legislation is necessary for the health of all citizens.
The conference was organized by a number of trade unions, political parties, Roman Catholic Bishops, and Protestant Churches including the Baptist, Methodist, Church of England, and Evangelical Lutherans. The supporting website www.workfreesunday.eu argues "More than any other day of the week a free Sunday serves the aim of reconciling work and family life: As childcare facilities, schools and universities are usually closed on Sundays, parents and children can spend time with each other. Sunday is, moreover, the weekly rest day for children and adolescents according to EU law. .... If the father has the weekly rest day on Monday, the mother on Wednesday and the children on Sunday, a situation is created that is contrary to the aim of fostering a reconciliation of work and family life." Karel Nowak, Public Affairs and Religious Liberty Director at the Euro-Africa-Division of Seventh-day Adventists and Secretary General of the International Association for the Defence of Religious Liberty, was also present at the Conference. He raised the question how this new proposed legislation would protect minorities who keep another day than Sunday. As Weichhold noted he didn't get an answer. "While we strongly support the right to rest," states John Graz the director of the public affairs and religious liberty department at the General Conference, "we believe the individual should be permitted to choose which days to rest on - not the state in cooperation with churches. We view this movement as a grave danger to religious liberty." "Seventh-day Adventists have long encouraged members to keep a weekly rest day - as enjoined by the Ten Commandments - the Sabbath (which is Saturday or sábado in Spanish) and practiced by the early Christian Church," states Barry Bussey who represents the Adventist Church to the US Government. "Throughout history we have seen these attempts to use state regulation to enforce a particular interpretation of the Sabbath Commandment. That is not the state's role - ultimately it will cause hardship for minority faiths that do not accept the majority's regulation of a Sabbath." "We will continue to monitor the situation," says James Standish, who heads up the UN Relations for the Adventist Church. "This is a disturbing movement. Now is the time for us as a people to share with others the importance of maintaining religious freedom for all citizens." |
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Religion Banned in Public Schools
Jonathan Jackson, RLL
In recent years, there has been a wave of criticism and censorship surrounding the debate of what is appropriate freedom of speech in public schools. Liberty Magazine has an interesting article entitled "The Shaming of Religion" that discusses how far the campaign against religion in schools has come. In fact, it is now at the discretion of faculty to determine whether or not there is an undertone of religion in music, class presentations, etc. This article even describes in detail how cases have been decided to promote religious censorship, and limit freedom of speech.
Click here to read the full article.
Germany - Sunday a day of Rest.
Jonathan Jackson, RLL
According to a BBC News Article (http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/3792015.stm), and Spiegel Online(http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,664754,00.html), Sunday has been coined a day of rest in Germany. Restrictions that have been in place since at least June of 2004 are now being enforced. Shoppers, and businesses are mandated to rest. With support from conservatives and obviously from religious groups such as the Catholic church and many protestant leaders as well, the Courts in Germany had more than enough reason to bump up restrictions.
With Prophecy being fulfilled right in front of our eyes it is important to get the message out, that Jesus is coming! It is clear from God's Word that the only instituted day of rest is the seventh day of the week. After God created the earth in six days, he extended the week to seven, and set this day aside for holy communion with Adam and Eve. The Bible indicates that God (Genesis 2) rested--stopped creating because everything was good, blessed--a day of special blessings, and sanctified--set aside as holy, the seventh day of the week. In other words, God promised to show up on this day for his creation in a special way, so that there could be a 24 hour period devoted to nothing but rest, blessing and communion with him. This day is holy because God said so. This thing about Sunday being a day of rest is nothing but a ploy of the devil since the resurrection of Christ. Since Satan was defeated at the cross, he tried to come up with a way to minimize the impact and/or divert attention to ensnare those who may have or had good intentions. There is NO change in Scripture that transfers the sanctity of the seventh day to the First. Yes, Jesus arose on the First day of the Week, and praise God we now have victory and a free gift because of his sacrifice. But the Sabbath day that God created for man, the seventh day is still holy.
When a mandate like Germany's is enforced, we clearly see the noise of the Catholic church spreading. However, let's be mindful of this fact, that at the end of it all, when Jesus comes again, there will only be one group of people standing, Revelation 14:12 "Here is the patience of the saints, here are they that KEEP THE COMMANDMENTS OF GOD AND THE FAITH OF JESUS."
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE SABBATH CHECK OUT
An Interesting Perspective on Justice Sonia Sotomayor
Jonathan Jackson, RLL
In the November/December edition of Liberty Magazine, there is an article that investigates the legal judicial history of confirmed Justice Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court.
Faith, Freedom, and Justice Sonia Sotomayor
This article attempts to introduce epic decisions and opines given by Justice Sotomayor on previous cases involving religious tenets. Fairly attributing Justice Sotomayor’s concise yet profound dedication to the Constitution, and human rights/religious freedom, this article resonates with plausible scholarship and distinction.
However, what is a bit disturbing is the conclusion, which seems to minimize the outstanding fact that there are now six Catholic Supreme Court Justices of nine. While it is true that the Senate Confirmations could not reasonably question matters of personal faith, it would be a disservice to the religious community to not at least consider if faith has or may be an impediment or an abet to decisions made on the bench.
With prophecy clearly outlining that Papal Rome and the United States have pivotal parts to play in the final scenes leading up to the Advent of our Lord Jesus Christ, it is clear that this (six sitting Catholic justices) is significant. Although, it may be that in the past Justice Sotomayor’s decisions were based on interpretations of the Law as a trial and appellate judge, this does not in any way limit a future coercion. The Supreme Court has the authority unlike the lower courts to interpret what the Law means.
Religion impacts ideology, because of its innate ability to merge all portions of the human being, spiritual, mental and physical. To justify what this means in the case of Justice Sotomayor is not a human responsibility, but being informed is.
More information on Papal Rome, United States and Prophecy
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Can it really be true? America in Bible prophecy - absolutely! When you think about it, it makes sense that the most powerful and influential nation on earth will play a vital role in the final stunning events of the world's closing history. But even more surprises await you as the Bible reveals how the leading nation of the world came to exist and why! Please read Revelation 13:11-18 before beginning this guide, because these eight verses give a prophetic picture of America in the days ahead. |
