Must Christians be law-abiding?

New Orleans, San Francisco, and other places

are known for their openness regarding homosexuality. Beverly Hills, New

York, and other places are known as "media towns" where all sorts of

entertainment is based on immorality and sexual excess. Nevada, and many

other states have authorized and endorsed gambling within their borders.

Nevada even licenses prostitutes, and makes sin look as if it was a

legitimate business practice.

As a Christian I KNOW God is a righteous judge, and whatever He does is

fair, best, and right 100% of the time. (even if I don't understand why He

makes certain decisions) I do believe I have some understanding as to WHY

God has not destroyed many of the cities where sin is so prevalent and so

public, see if you agree with me regarding this:

One reason is, there are thousands of believers living in the cities

mentioned above. While there is certainly more unsaved people than saved

people populating these places, there are many believers interceding on the

behalf of the lost who reside in these places. As stated in Genesis chapter

18, these "righteous" citizens are "holding back" God's judgment upon the

wicked.

Things have gotten worse since the time of Sodom and Gomorrah, as now entire

nations have turned to sin and away from righteousness. No matter your

political persuasion, you have to admit things have changed for the worst in

America and other "once-great" nations around the world.

God has been driven out, but sin has been openly advocated by those holding

positions in government and law enforcement. There is something wrong when

swat-team type police tactics are used in high schools, to search for drugs

etc. Can you imagine how a young teen feels being forced to the floor at

gunpoint, in their local school?

The legal system uses unconstitutional concepts like RICO statues, "hate

crime" laws, and brutal force against people who try to protect the unborn

by a non-violent and peaceful assembly to express their views. Waco, Ruby

Ridge, and other such examples are too horrid to even attempt to justify. We

don't need to use the equivalent to an army, to arrest and deal with common

criminals.

It is a shame when the people we attempt to liberate, often have a higher

standard of righteousness than we do. While some of the leaders of these

countries may be totally corrupt and wicked, many of these nations don't

have problems like open sexual immorality, drunkenness, and abortion on

demand, UNTIL we liberate them!

I have said all of this, to get to THE TURNING POINT:

Things will continue to get worse, because those who can change things

won't. It seems the church and society in general is satisfied to let this

world continue on a path toward destruction, because doing nothing is the

easiest thing to do. Most people fail to see the end result of such a

policy, or we would not sit by and allow our nation to decay from within.

Before long, all of our options will expire:

Revelation 13:7 And it was given unto him to make war with the saints, and

to overcome them: and power was given him over all kindreds, and tongues,

and nations.

This verse speaks of the anti-Christ and his ability to rule the world and

OVERCOME the saints of God, at a future date. I believe as the saints of God

see this day approaching, they will STOP asking God to withhold His judgment

from this wicked world we live in. When this happens, as in the days of Lot,

God will step in and deal with Satan and his children as promised in the

scriptures. While we all want as many souls saved as possible, there comes a

"point of no return" where prolonging the life of the wicked will simply

insure more wicked generations to come. In such a situation, it is much more

merciful for God to remove the evil before it spreads and replicates.

While we may wonder why God has waited as long as He has concerning His

judgment, think HOW CERTAIN it will be once the saints of God are overtaken

and their prayers cease to protect those who choose to ignore God and His

offer of salvation?

2 Thessalonians 2:7 For the mystery of iniquity doth already work: only he

who now letteth will let, until he be taken out of the way.

This verse is proof God is allowing this wickedness to exist, for the time

being. It also clearly states there is a limit, to how long God will

tolerate the evil forces that now thrive here on earth. One the prayers of

the saints cease and the Holy Spirit departs this planet, the end will come

quickly for all who remain to face the wrath of God.

The TURNING POINT could occur sometime today, for all we know. With each

passing day, there is one less day before all of this will come to pass. God

has the ability to talk to His people, and one day He will tell us to stop

praying for those who continue to reject Him. As with Lot and his family,

brought upon the cities mentioned in the bible. God will always provide a

way out, but we need to be willing to take it when the window of opportunity

He provides for us is open. Lets pray while we can, as the time is coming

when our prayers asking God to WAIT will cease.

Brother Charles

December 2003

-=-=-=-=-

December 17, 2003

The New York Times reports: "Iraq's foreign minister, Hoshyar Zebari, accused the United Nations Security Council today of having failed to help rescue his country from Saddam Hussein, and he chided member states for bickering over his beleaguered country's future.

'The United Nations as an organization failed to help rescue the Iraqi people from a murderous tyranny that lasted over 35 years, and today we are unearthing thousands of victims in horrifying testament to that failure.'

-=-=-=-=-

Posted by Kelvin on December 16, 2003, 12:59 pm

… lawsuits have definitely become somewhat ridiculous. I'm still in shock from the tobacco lawsuits a couple of years ago. People smoked the cigarettes that were clearly labeled that they can cause cancer, not that that was hidden knowledge anyway (this is referring to those affected after this became public knowledge) then they managed to be rewarded for the damage they knowingly did to themselves. It's kind of like us blaming God for a sin we committed when He had just clearly told us not to do it and to avoid even going near the situation

Dec. 18, 2003. 06:30 AM

'Shocking deprivation' of rights, judge says

DALE ANNE FREED - STAFF REPORTER

A pregnant 19-year-old woman had to sleep on a thin mattress on the floor of a Milton jail cell for more than a month as she waited for a bail review � "a shocking deprivation of human rights," a judge says.

CHRISTMAS CD BANNED FOR MENTIONING JESUS

December 22, 2003

WorldNetDaily.com reports: "In a move that many might consider ironic at the least, a charity Christmas CD has been banned from distribution because it mentions the baby Jesus.

The decision by the Royal Hospital for Sick Children in Edinburgh, Scotland, was instituted because of fears it could offend people who belong to a faith other than Christianity.

By Compass Direct, wire reports | posted 12/16/2003

Copyright © 2003 Christianity Today. - January 2004, Vol. 48, No. 1, Page 30

Muslims who become Christians often face arrest, torture, and threats.

Islamic law demands that unrepentant apostates be executed.

In an extensive opinion survey, The Day America Told the Truth, James Patterson and Peter Kim reported some startling findings:

. . watchdogs reported that the Communist government is beating and starving some Hmong Christians, and imprisoning others. . . a coalition of Christian and human-rights monitors is asking the United States government to confront Vietnam.

In February 2001, members of another ethnic minority, the Montagnards, peacefully protested for religious freedom and against the seizure of their lands by ethnic Vietnamese settlers. The government responded harshly, falsely claiming that the demonstrators were seeking independence.

"The government also interrogates pastors, and imprisons many of them. Many who are put in prison come out with handicaps."

Buddhist groups not under the control of the government are also targets of persecution.

According to Freedom House, Mua Bua Senh, a Hmong Christian leader, died on August 7, 2001, after an assault by police in Vietnam's northwestern Lai Chau province for refusing to sign a government pledge renouncing his faith. Last year in Dak Lak province, in the Central Highlands, only 2 of 412 house churches remained open.

According to Freedom House, Che La commune officials beat Vang Seo Giao, a Hmong Christian leader, to death on July 1, then dumped his body in a nearby river.

- posted 12/31/2003

Jul. 23, 2004. 07:18 AM

Last night, in a 24 to 14 vote, council made it illegal to put anything but a City of Toronto parking ticket on a windshield, shutting private firms out of the lucrative parking ticket business. But the city's largest parking firm has no intention of complying.

Citizenship Bible distribution disallowed by court | The Canadian Bible Society is disappointed and strongly questioning the rationale behind a recent decision by Senior Citizenship Judge Michel Simard, removing the Society's ability to present bibles on request to new Canadians (Press release).

In Iran, Ambassador of Canada recalled after Kazemi trial ends � 18 July 2004:

Top diplomat and foreign media were not allowed to attend the trial, lawyers reject proceedings and walk out in protest.

Canadian Ambassador to Iran, Philip Mackinnon, left, and British Diplomat Hannah Carter leave Tehran's criminal court on Sunday.

-=-=-=-= \o/

Israeli Prime Minister sees "the spread of the wildest anti-Semitism" in France � July2004

Sudan peace talks collapse � July 2004

Two rebel groups charge government with not keeping its end of the bargain

UN demands Israel tear down wall � July 2004

General Assembly votes 150 in favour, six opposed and 10 abstentions to dismantle West Bank barrier

Israel has refused to comply to the world court ruling and the U.N. resolution. Neither of them are legally binding, but both have symbolic significance.

Canada's position is clearly spelled out on the website of the Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade: "Canada does not recognize permanent Israeli control over the territories occupied in 1967 (the Golan Heights, the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip) and opposes all unilateral actions intended to predetermine the outcome of negotiations, including the establishment of settlements in the territories and unilateral moves to annex East Jerusalem and the Golan Heights. Canada considers such actions to be contrary to international law and unproductive for the peace process."

• Copyright © CBC 2004

None of these positions of U.S. European Union and Canada express any reverence to God Almighty. None of these recognise the inheritance of Israel decreed by the Almighty Yhwh.

None of these blesses God and Israel.

None of these recognise peace as from the God of Israel and our creation.

None of these abide by the Holy Scriptures � the Word of God.

-=-=-=-= \o/ It is mercies of God we sinners need.

US citizens, in the name of the First Amendment, -- you know, your very freedom has become your curse.

The very First Amendment that you use to promote 'freedom of speech' has become your very curse. That's what the gays are now using. The First Amendment. We (the gays, in this case) have the right to speak what we want, and you (the church) cannot disagree with us.

-=-=-=-= \o/

Acts 17:11

These were more noble than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness of mind, and searched the scriptures daily, whether those things were so.

"He who covers his sins will not prosper, but he who confesses and forsakes them will find mercy." Proverbs 28:13.

I believe our window of opportunity to respond to God's call is brief.

We all should pray that our nation repents and turns back to the Lord.

But our most intense prayers should be for our own hearts: "Lord, let

me tremble not at the disasters, but at your Word. I want to hear your

voice in all of this. Cause me to turn wholly to you." - by David Wilkerson

D.Lim: The spiritual person and the people of God judge/s the secular world/people.

D.Lim: Judging is good if you are with God. The Father and the Spirit do not have log/s in their eye/s. They are righteous and just.

Fear God.

Do you believe your Church should be subject to prosecution by the IRS because your pastor says that life begins at conception?

Do you believe your Church should lose it's tax-exempt status because the pastor says that marriage is between one man and one woman?

Do you believe your Church should shut its doors because someone thinks your pastor is "too conservative"?

What I just described is no nightmare or sci-fi novel... it's happening RIGHT NOW!

• Phil Sheldon, 9-8-04

\o/ \o/ \o/

Courts don't have authority to adjudicate ecclesiastical matters, says New York State Supreme Court Justice. - Aug 2004

State Supreme Court Justice Ira Gammerman on August 6 dismissed a suit brought by lay activists that said the church's charter, or constitution, had been improperly adopted in a violation of state corporate law.

"The First Amendment to the United States Constitution precludes courts from intervening in ecclesiastical matters, such as church governance, to resolve disputes involving religious organizations," Gammerman ruled.

\o/ \o/ \o/