New Geneva Ambassador School Blog

Pharmacological Slave Drugs Unnecessary

2011-12-17T17:31:00.000-08:00

“There will be, in the next generation or so, a pharmacological method of making people love their servitude, and producing dictatorship without tears, so to speak, producing a kind of painless concentration camp for entire societies, so that people will in fact have their liberties taken away from them, but will rather enjoy it, because they will be distracted from any desire to rebel by propaganda or brainwashing, or brainwashing enhanced by pharmacological methods. And this seems to be the final revolution.” Aldous Huxley, author of Brave New World

The Egyptian salve mindset is still with us as it was with Israel in the wilderness. It is in the church as well as in the realm of secular man. After the exodus Israel ‘s dependence upon Egypt’s welfare became a stark reality. In order to assure Egyptian welfare Israel desired a trade off. They wanted to trade the liberty that they had procured by the Sovereign intervention of God for the fish, leeks and onions they had in Egypt.

In return for Egyptian welfare they sought to relinquish their freedom to a wickedly perverse and horribly tyrannical regime. The bitterness of slavery and the oppression of the evil taskmasters was eclipsed by the need to be taken care of. Even after tasting freedom, they could not bear the responsibility that came with it. Israel’s slavery was psychological. Her slavery was carnally induced and was perpetuated by a lack of faith. As they thought in their minds, so they desired for their lives. But Israel’s slavery was also a willful rebellion against the God of Scripture Who had given them their freedom so as to serve Him and be Covenantaly accountable to Him for all their needs. They had been promised God’s care, yet, they did not believe Him.

"For unto us was the gospel preached, as well as unto them: but the word preached did not profit them [i.e. Israel in the wilderness], not being mixed with faith in them that heard it." Heb 4:2

It is really no surprise that secular America has bought into the Egyptian slavery mindset. Huxley is wrong. It will not be necessary for a “pharmacological” method of making people love their slavery. The slave mindset is natural to sinful man. Natural man is already in bondage to sin and rebellion to God and therefore desires human bondage. This is to be expected. This is natural to carnal man. It is not natural to the church and yet, this is the reality of the situation in most American churches. The church has fallen into the same mindset as Israel while in the wilderness; psychological slavery.

Pharmacological methods will not be necessary to induce people to love slavery. The only thing needed is a strategy. Drugs will not be necessary. Slavery will be brought about by the strategy of seemingly giving something for nothing. It is the welfare promise of Marxist socialism. In reality the welfare system does not give anything away for free. Noting is free. Someone must pays. There is no free lunch. There must be a trade off. Like Israel of old, America and her churches have given away both their freedom and their honor. They are once again slaves to Egypt. They have traded their liberty to a cup of blood red pottage. They have traded their honor for a piece of moldy bread.

The dynamic of slavery is systemic. It is comprehensive. Slavery is not compartmentalized to one or two areas of the mind. Once the mind is infected with slave mentality it humbles itself and gives everything over to anyone who promises the best security and most care. Entirely dependent upon the slave mind to achieve their goals, political tyrants play upon the slavish psychology. In order to be master of every area of the culture the tyrant must convince the salve mind that his plan is substantially better than any other considered. Since the slave mind is already poised to give away every area of life over to the tyrant, the job of the tyrant is easy. As long as the tyrant can convince the salve mind that he can provide everything needful for life liberty and the pursuit of happiness, his promises are believed. A slave mindset is the best friend of the wicked tyrant.

Slavery is closely related to fear. Those who are afraid seek safety from others. Carnal man seeks refuge in man. Usually this refuge is found in political man, economic man, ecological, scientific or intellectual man. Carnal man looks to the state and its institutions; they do not look to God. In fact, refuge is never sought in God unless that individual has been called of God. Then, and only then, can that individual shun the false security and care offered by tyrannical man. The spiritual man is not a slavish man. His mind is free from the psychological slavery that infects his carnal counterpart. The spiritual man is dominion man. He is liberated man. His is responsible man. He is a man of action in advancing the Kingdom of God. The spiritual man is a danger to the tyrant and the only remedy to the enslaved man.

Until tyranny and slavery have reached their desired levels of domination, as water must reach its mark, they will not cease to progress.

This is where the church must take her stand. I do not talk here of the carnal church, or the slavish church, or the church who willfully remains under the statist program of fear and welfare-ism. That is not the church of the Lord Christ and thus, she can never be a victorious liberating church. Nor can she preach the gospel with power since she has traded her freedom for the fish, leeks and onions of the Egyptian taskmasters.

The True Church must begin to refine her understanding of Biblical strategies and logistics of dominion. From the pulpit and the podium She needs to be equipped with real solutions for everyday problems. She needs to actively pursue that which is required of her. She must build for the future by teaching and applying Biblical doctrines and principles to her local community in order to restructure the local community according to Scriptures mandates.

New Geneva is such a place where these issues are discussed and where action takes place. For more information contact the College at registrar@newgeneva.us or log onto our site at: www.newgeneva.us. Become part of the solution.

Occupy America and Friendly Fascism: Life in the Corporate Police State

2011-10-31T08:37:00.000-07:00

The following article, by legal scholar John Whitehead, was sent to me via email. Its contents is important, and thus needs to be read and considered carefully and prayerfully. If the people of the United States, especially those in the Churches, do not wake to this situation, we will loose whatever liberty is left, bringing upon us the wrath of man and his diabolical inventions of tyranny.

"Law is no longer what it was intended to be - a set of rules equally binding everyone to ensure that outcome inequalities are at least legitimate - and instead has become the opposite: a tool used by the politically and financially powerful to entrench their own power and control the society. That's how and why the law now destroys equality and protects the powerful.
What we see with the protests demonstrates exactly how that works. The police force—the instrument of law enforcement—is being used to protect powerful criminals who have suffered no consequences for their crimes. It is simultaneously used to coerce and punish the powerless: those who are protesting and who have done nothing wrong, yet are subjected to an array of punishment ranging from arrest to pepper spray and other forms of abuse.
That's what the two-tiered justice system is: elites are immunized for egregious crimes while ordinary Americans are subjected to merciless punishment for trivial transgressions."—Glenn Greenwald, author of With Liberty and Justice for Some: How the Law Is Used to Destroy Equality and Protect the Powerful

While the Occupy protests are an encouraging sign that Americans are not completely oblivious to the creeping despotism that is overtaking the nation, time alone will tell whether the Occupy Wall Street movement and its companion protests throughout the country amount to anything more than an expression of discontent on the part of the 99% with the so-called 1%. What has been made clear, however, by the naked aggression of the corporate-state against these protesters is that the 1% is protected by its own security force—the police—funded ironically enough by the very 99% against whom they are waging war with pepper spray, rubber bullets, tear gas and other instruments of compliance.

For example, in a September 2011 incident, the New York police responded to Occupy Wall Street protestors by throwing people to the ground and using pepper spray on nonviolent protesters trapped behind a barricade. One protestor, Kelly Brannon, described the scene, "They put up orange nets and tried to kettle us and we started running and they started tackling random people and handcuffing them. They were herding us like cattle." Another protestor was arrested because he had been chanting "let them go" as people were handcuffed. According to news reports, journalist Luke Rudowski was rammed in the stomach with a club and thrown to the ground, despite repeatedly making it clear that he was with the media, while two Fox News reporters were hit with pepper spray and at least one police club. The NYPD have since become savvier. Rather than using brute force to discourage the protests, they have resorted to freezing out the protesters by confiscating their electric generators and the fuel that runs them.

Police in Oakland used tear gas canisters, rubber bullets, sound cannons and flash bang grenades to disperse the Occupy Oakland protest. An Iraq War veteran, 24-year-old Scott Olsen, who was taking part in the protest, was struck in the head with a police projectile. His skull was fractured and he was listed in critical condition due to his brain swelling. When protestors came to his aid, they were driven back by a flash bang grenade.

Police in Atlanta rounded up more than 50 protesters who had been camped out in a city park as part of Occupy Atlanta, while police in Philadelphia arrested 15 individuals engaged in a sit-in in protest of police brutality as part of Occupy Philadelphia. San Diego Police arrested 44 protesters at Occupy San Diego, confiscating all personal belongings and all supplies and food that had been donated.

These police tactics bring to mind something journalist Daniel Kurtzman asked years ago. "When the government...begins to stamp out the freedom of dissent that is the hallmark of a democratic society," he wrote, "can there be any turning back?" Indeed, these attempts by police to stifle the various Occupy protests serve only to reinforce what Bertram Gross warned against in his 1980 book, Friendly Fascism: The New Face of Power in America:

Faceless oligarchs sit at command posts of a corporate-government complex that has been slowly evolving over many decades. In efforts to enlarge their own powers and privileges, they are willing to have others suffer the intended or unintended consequences of their institutional or personal greed. For Americans, these consequences include chronic inflation, recurring recession, open and hidden unemployment, the poisoning of air, water, soil and bodies, and, more important, the subversion of our constitution. More broadly, consequences include widespread intervention in international politics through economic manipulation, covert action, or military invasion. On a world scale, all of this is producing a heating up of the cold war and enlarged stock piles of nuclear and non-nuclear death machines.

Although the message of the Occupy protests is somewhat muddled at times, they do underscore the fact that the state of the nation has not improved in the 30 years since Gross penned those words. In fact, it has grown worse, from economic concerns to threats to our civil liberties, an increasing military presence in our daily lives, and the rise of a police state enhanced by a surveillance complex that invades virtually every aspect of our lives.

Gross, a presidential adviser who had a role in the expansion of government during the New Deal era, warned that the rise of friendly fascism would be a subtle progression. As Gross noted, "Anyone looking for black shirts, mass parties, or men on horseback will miss the telltale clues of creeping fascism... In America, it would be super modern and multi-ethnic—as American as Madison Avenue, executive luncheons, credit cards, and apple pie. It will be fascism with a smile. As a warning against its cosmetic façade, subtle manipulation, and velvet gloves, I call it friendly fascism. What scares me most is its subtle appeal."

Indeed, added Gross, "the subversion of constitutional democracy is more likely to occur not through violent and sudden usurpation but rather through the gradual and silent encroachments that would accustom the American people to the destruction of their freedoms." The elite will use "triplespeak" to keep the public in line, feeding the people myth and jargon to divert them from the truth. The apathy and naivety, or possibly the cynicism and hopelessness, of the American citizen would contribute to his own oppression.

At a time when most Americans are feeling the pain of an economy continuing to plummet, the Occupy movement's motto has a universal appeal:

We are the 99 percent. We are getting kicked out of our homes. We are forced to choose between groceries and rent. We are denied quality medical care. We are suffering from environmental pollution. We are working long hours for little pay and no rights, if we're working at all. We are getting nothing while the other 1 percent is getting everything. We are the 99 percent.

However, what the Occupy movement's "We are the 99%" motto fails to recognize is that the problems we face have to do with much more than economic inequality between the haves and the have nots. Similarly, the Tea Party, which started off with similar zeal, failed to recognize that the problem was not merely Big Government but, rather, the merger of Big Government with Big Business. Inflation, unemployment, job insecurity, career anxieties and conditional benefactions are all, as Gross points out, forms of terror deliberately perpetrated upon a populace in order to control them. Thus, until we can gain some consensus about the true culprits behind our problems, any movement to change the status quo is destined to fail or be co-opted by political forces.

Lest we forget, most police states have come about through the democratic process, and their leaders come into power citing platitudes of religion, morality and order, asking the citizenry to put blind faith in the government. As Gross reminds us, "Big Business—Big Government partnerships, backed up by other elements, were the central facts behind the power structures of old fascism in the days of Mussolini, Hitler, and the Japanese empire builders." Our present crisis is no exception. In fact, William L. Shirer, author of the monumental The Rise and Fall of the Third Reich, once predicted that America may be the first country in which fascism comes to power through democratic elections.

"As I look at America today," Gross remarked in 1980, "I am not afraid to say that I am afraid." More than 30 years later, I fear that we have even more reason to be afraid.

The Rutherford Institute

Biblical Tithing: The Key To Establishing a Christian Nation

2011-09-25T16:33:00.000-07:00

My dear friend and co-laborer, Daniel Ritchie, in his recent Face Book post quoted John Owen on the importance of the tithe.

“If all who reside in a godly nation must attend the preaching of the word (2 Chronicles 15:13), then all who reside in a Christian commonwealth must be liable to pay the tithe in order to financially support those who preach the word… Since the hearers of the word are to share with those who teach them (Galatians 6:6), then no man can be exempt from paying the tithe as all men are commanded to hear the word. Wherever, or in what nation soever, there hath been a removal of the maintenance provided in the providence of God for the necessary supportment of the public dispensers of the word, the issue hath been a fatal and irrecoverable disadvantage to the gospel and interest of Christ in those nations." Daniel Ritchie

"[T]o take away the public maintenance provided in the good providence of God for the public dispensers of the gospel, upon pretences of present inconvience or promise of future provision, is a contempt of the care and faithfulness of God towards his church, and, in plain terms, downright robbery.” John Owen

I post this as a result of a recent interaction I had with someone who claimed that the Biblical Tithe was no longer a New Testament obligation. That notion seemed to be spawned from dispensational thinking yet, when questioned, the individual claimed he was not a dispensationalist, instead, as he put it, “he was far from it”.

If a person wishes to rob God of His “Tax” that is their business. They will have to bear the burden of their own iniquity. To make a doctrinal assertion, is another matter altogether.

The repudiation of the command to tithe is exactly the kind of warped thinking that has placed the church into bondage as a servant to the state, since without the necessary monetary means to function she can no longer accomplish the work that God has called her to. If the church is not funded by the tithe to carry on her duties in missions of mercy, the state will surely rush to the vacuum created by her poverty and subvert the church’s calling.

The apostle Paul chided the Corinthians for this very same think. In 1 Corinthians 9 we read that they were hedging on their promise to give their “poor tithe” in a timely manner. Not only was she to give her tithe to the poor, which was to be collected every other year, but she was to give it at once since the time of the tithe was due.

While the churches of Macedonia remained faithful in the giving of the poor tithe the Corinthian did not. In fact, the Macedonian churches had to make up the difference for the Corinthian’s sloth.
(1 Corinthians 9)

It was through the Biblical tithe that the church was enabled to fulfill her commission without which she could not. Paul clearly spells out the use of the poor tithe in verse 12 and 13.

2Co 9:12-3 For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God; Whiles by the experiment of this ministration they glorify God for your professed subjection unto the gospel of Christ, and for your liberal distribution unto them, and unto all men…

2 Corinthians 9 speaks distinctly about the continuance of the poor tithe during the New Testament age. The poor tithe was only one of three commanded tithes that God had given to Israel in order to maintain their strength and independence form the state.

Of the three tithes, the Levitical tithe, the rejoicing tithe and the poor tithe, today’s church usually only practices the tithe taken each Lord’s Day being the Levitical tithe. This is only one of the reasons why the state has been able to claim dominion over the poor bringing upon the nations a welfare system without any Biblical accountability.

To say that the tithe is no longer in force and no longer required by Scripture in the New Testament is a clear misunderstanding of the Word of God and the use of the tithe.

Paul is hopeful of the Corinthians when he say gives them the benefit of the doubt for their sloth in tithing.

2Co 9:5 Therefore I thought it necessary to exhort the brethren, that they [The Macedonian Churches] would go before unto you, and make up beforehand your bounty [the tithe you promised by did not actually give] , whereof ye had notice before, that the same might be ready, as a matter of bounty, and not as of covetousness.

He had hoped that their lack of tithing in a timely manner was because they had not the necessary funds to give a substantial gift, otherwise he might have deemed their sloth an act of covetousness.

If Paul is commanding the church to practice the poor tithe in the New Testament, then it is safe to say that the Levitical tithe as well as the rejoicing tithe are also both still in effect.

The tithe is God’s tax. It is calculated as 10% of a person’s total income by virtue of the word’s etymology.

The poor tithe may be viewed today as the Deacon’s fund. It is to be a voluntary offering according to the abundance of what God has blessed an individual with for the care of those who are less fortunate or in need of relief during a family or individual crisis.

The rejoicing tithe is to be taken every other year opposite of the poor tithe. This might be seen as the fellowship fund for the saints during festivals and holy days.

The Levitical tithe is for the support of the faithful pastors and their families who labor selflessly in behalf of God for the people of God.
These tithe commands are in effect today and are ignored only at the peril of Christendom and Christ’s Kingdom advancement.
Resource: John Owen, Two questions concerning the power of the supreme magistrate about religion and the worship of God, with one about tithes, proposed and resolved (Oxford, 1659) in The works of John Owen, ed. W. H. Goold (16 vols, Edinburgh, 1967), xiii, 515-16.

Tyranny, Independence, or Liberty Under God

2011-07-16T17:35:00.000-07:00

And it came to pass, when Samuel was old, that he made his sons judges over Israel. 2 Now the name of his firstborn was Joel; and the name of his second, Abiah: they were judges in Beersheba. And his sons walked not in his ways, but turned aside after lucre, and took bribes, and perverted judgment. 1Samuel 8:1-3

In this passage of Scripture, we see that the writing was already on the wall, and the future of Israel was in the balance. Rather than walking in the ways of God, Samuel’s sons were worldly and profane, and wickedness punctuated their leadership. They had the outward show of religion and perhaps even the outward testimony of their father, but their own testimony was void of legitimacy. They were covetous men who were perverse and lacked judgment.

The magisterial rule of Samuel’s sons was a direct violation of the commandment David the King articulated in 2 Samuel 23,

“He that ruleth over men must be just, ruling in the fear of God.”

It seems likely that by the spirit of God, David was reflecting on the sons of Samuel, as well as the wickedness of Saul, when he penned these words. Nevertheless, Samuel, to his discredit, made his reprobate sons judges. Perhaps he hoped they would receive the office with sobriety and sense. But he failed to realize that a leopard is unable to change his spots even when thrust into a situation which requires Godly sobriety and holy obedience to the Law of God.

Herein is the first transgression. It was prototypical of what was to follow.

Like Eli’s sons, Samuel’s sons were reprobate men. Nothing could change that.

We might view Eli’s Sons as representing the apostasy of the priests, while Samuel’s sons as representing the apostasy of the civil rulers.

Both of these apostate groups were setting the stage for a great judgment upon Israel. It is a fact of Scripture that the judgment of God must come upon every nation that refuses to follow His Lawful precepts, especially when it concerns leadership, statesmanship, and government. If God judged His own people Israel, how much more will He judge other nations that rebel against His Holy Law?

Perhaps Samuel’s offense cannot be laid upon Samuel alone. Surely he misjudged his sons. Perhaps he was too tenderhearted as a father, and thus his eyes were blinded and his heart hopeful that his seed would be great in the earth God-ward. Although he was wrong, Samuel needn’t bear the guilt alone. The people were equally to blame, and perhaps more so.

On the one hand, the elders acknowledged that Samuel’s sons were apostate, and could not rule as judges representing God in matters of government. But on the other hand, they asked for an equally sinful solution. They asked for a king patterned after the nations around them.

They asked for a governor patterned after the pagan nations around them.

1Sa 8:4-5 ¶ Then all the elders of Israel gathered themselves together, and came to Samuel unto Ramah, 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.

This request defied logic as well as knowledge . It was a complete rejection of God and His Laws, and God would not suffer His chosen covenantally-bound people to reject Him without some retribution.

Notice the elders wanted to be JUDGED like the other nations were judged.

This desire led to all sorts of problems. Since the other nations were structured tyrannically, (and mostly still are), with totalitarian depots acting like God, legislating and judging according to personal whims and lusts, Israel was asking to become slaves of wicked men. They were asking to return to the vomit of Egyptian slavery.

It was common knowledge that the nations outside of the Covenant were despotic. Nevertheless, the people desired to be like the other nations. Make no mistake about it. This request was not a request out of ignorance, but rather of defiance. What was transpiring was a complete repudiation of the covenant oath that Israel had made with God in the wilderness. It was a blatant violation of a promise sworn before God and to God.

In verse 7, God confirms this fact:

“And 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.”

Israel would have God’s covenant of redemption to call their own, but they refused to have His Covenant of political precept and expression. They would rather be patterned after the nations and ideologies of the heathen. They wanted God’s salvation but not His Lordship. They wanted a Savior but not a King.

This is impossible. Divine salvation is predicated upon God’s sovereign rule. There is no redemption without Lordship. There is no redemption without submission to Christ’s Crown and His Covenant.

Israel thought that salvation was a ticket to escape lawful obedience to the precepts of God. Today, this idea prevails in many churches, both Arminian and Reformed alike. Statements such as ”We are under Grace and not under law” is typical of those wanting God’s redemption but not His Lordship. Salvation is not an escape from obedience, but rather it emphasizes obedience, as well as sacrificial devotion and service.

This idea of salvation without obedience was born out of pagan rebellion. The pagan idea of salvation was one of safety and prosperity, not obedience to an ethical standard of holiness. Pagan redemption had little to do with an obedient lifestyle since salvation was based upon ritual and ceremony, relegated to the individual alone. (A “me and my Savior” relationship without any infringement upon personal needs, desires, and actions)

Israel wanted the impossible: salvation while remaining rebellious and unlawful. They wanted liberation FROM God and not liberation TO God. They wanted heaven without fulfilling their covenant oath of obedience.

RJ Rushdoony puts it this way:

”There can only be divine salvation where there is a sovereign and omnipotent God.”

Israel had rejected God as Lord. God was now going to reject them. But why was God so interested in Israel upholding His political Covenant Structure? In his book ‘Covenant and Polity in Biblical Israel’, Daniel Elazar observes:

"Covenant can be studied in three dimensions: 1. As a form of political conceptualization and mode of politic expression; 2. as a source of political ideology; and 3. as a factor shaping culture, institutions and behavior.”

What Israel was embarking upon was a complete rejection of God’s Political expression, which included:

1. Divine Law, justice, and equity

2. God’s political ideology of righteousness, which has at root ethical purity

3. God’s commanded political structure, which was to shape the culture, its institutions, and regulate the behavior of the people

Israel rejected all of this. Their desire was to overthrow these principles and to come under the rulership of an earthly king with a system of government diametrically opposed to the divine civil and legal order of Jehovah.
Israel had broken their solemn oath and would face the ramifications of their rebellion.

What Israel had actually rejected was God’s declaration of His holiness, His covenant oath to them, and their oath to Him. God’s covenant agreement was an informed agreement – a pact or contract – with Israel, based upon their voluntary consent. God, a higher Authority, established this agreement, which made it a covenant with certain stipulations of Divine Law attached to it. These stipulations were sanctions of two kinds: curses blessings for obedience and curses for disobedience . It was also generational in scope. If obeyed, the blessings would continue throughout their generations, but if disobeyed, the nation would be destroyed with little trace left, if any.

Elazar defines covenant in this manner:

“A covenant is a morally informed agreement or pact, based upon voluntary consent, established by mutual oaths or promises, involving or witnessed by some transcendent higher authority, between peoples or parties having independent status, equal in contribution with the purposes of the pact, that provides for joint action or obligation to achieve defined ends (limited or comprehensive) under conditions of mutual respect, which protect the individual integrities of all the parties to it.”

A covenant is a seal, or symbol of guarantee, between two parties sworn before a Divine Authority. Elazar notes that during the 16^th and 17^th centuries, the Swiss, Dutch, Scots and the English puritans conceived civil society in covenantal terms and actually wrote out national covenants to which all must subscribe. (Scotland’s Solemn League and Covenant is one of the most famous of these documents.)

The American system is no stranger to covenantal oath taking. The original American colonies were also structured along covenantal lines. In fact, covenantal thinking and national covenanting was commonplace when structuring political policy, and it continued throughout the period of the American War for Independence against the tyranny of King George III.

American Independence, according to some colonial thinkers, was to be liberation from tyranny so as to be servants of the living God in covenant. It was not to be independent from GOD, but from tyranny, dependent upon the Living God

William Penn noted that ”Men must choose to be governed by God or condemn themselves to be governed by tyrants.”

Penn’s statement was clearly made in the context of the charter of Pennsylvania:

"Whereas the glory of Almighty God, and ye good of mankind, is the reason and end of government, and therefore government itself is a venerable ordinance of God; forasmuch as it is principally desired and intended by the proprietary and governor, and the freedom of the province of Pennsylvania, and territories thereunto belonging, to make and establish such laws as shall best preserve true Christian and civil liberty, in opposition to any unchristian, licentious and unjust practices whereby God may have His due, Caesar his due, and the people their due, and insolvency and licentiousness on the other, so that the best and firmest foundation may be laid for the present and future happiness both of the governor and people of this province and territories aforesaid and their posterity.”

This statement must be classified as both theonomic and theocratic, thereby forbidding any sanctioning of anti-biblical laws and behavior, including any attempt of tyranny or immoral practices among the citizenry. Note also the generational focus of Penn’s statement. This was a covenantal statement.

Divine covenants are important, because they shape the worldview and perspectives of the parties involved, and because they sustain those Divine ends whereby they cannot be altered without Divine sanctions.

Elazar confirms this:

"As a source of political ideology, covenant shapes the world views...of whole societies, defining their civil character and political relationships, and serving as a touchstone for testing the legitimacy and often even the efficiency of their political institutions and those who must make them work.”

Covenanting is a security measure, especially when it comes to political ideology, structure, and expression. As a result of the sinful rejection of God and His Laws, Israel’s culture would now be structured according to the apostate system of government under a king who was like the pagan kings of totalitarian rule.

Covenants are expressions of relationships. By violating their covenant with God, Israel severed the relationship between themselves and God, their Savior [not old English spelling, unless you want all your words to be consistent to old English spelling], Lord and Protector. [same paragraph] Once they rejected God, they were on their own, under the frowning providence and active judgment of the Almighty.

Elazar again notes that God’s original covenant with Israel actually established the Hebrew people and founded them as a body politic, while at the same time created a religious framework that gave that policy its reason, norm, and constitution. It also gave them particular guidelines, or Laws, for the development of a political order based upon justice and equity, all of which were based upon a covenantal relationship.

God’s covenant made Israel’s moral commitment to one another and to God. It was a binding Law. All these covenantal blessings Israel rejected. Even after they had been warned time and time again, they continued to reject the counsel of God.

Observe the warning:

De 29:10 ¶ Ye stand this day all of you before the LORD your God; your captains of your tribes, your elders, and your officers, with all the men of Israel,

11 Your little ones, your wives, and thy stranger that is in thy camp, from the hewer of thy wood unto the drawer of thy water:

12 That thou shouldest enter into covenant with the LORD thy God, and into his oath, which the LORD thy God maketh with thee this day: {enter: Heb. pass}

13 That he may establish thee to day for a people unto himself, and that he may be unto thee a God, as he hath said unto thee, and as he hath sworn unto thy fathers, to Abraham, to Isaac, and to Jacob.

14 Neither with you only do I make this covenant and this oath;

15 But with him that standeth here with us this day before the LORD our God, and also with him that is not here with us this day:

16 (For ye know how we have dwelt in the land of Egypt; and how we came through the nations which ye passed by;

17 And ye have seen their abominations, and their idols, wood and stone, silver and gold, which were among them:)

18 Lest there should be among you man, or woman, or family, or tribe, whose heart turneth away this day from the LORD our God, to go and serve the gods of these nations; lest there should be among you a root that beareth gall and wormwood;

This was a specific warning for Israel, and for us, not to be yoked to a nation that holds to a political policy that is not structured after the WORD of GOD.

The result: tyrannical rule under a totalitarian statist government, which God through direct intervention brings to pass, according to His declared sanction of retribution for rebellion. Israel was seeking a political platform that would free them from the covenantal obligations of God’s Law. They wanted desperately to decide for themselves right and wrong according to arbitrary human standards and thus sought independence apart from God’s LAW and from God’s BLESSINGS.

What they said in effect was “We the people of Israel will decide how we will be governed.” And they did this by seeking a legislator-king outside of the parameters God gave. They traded God for Saul, which was a terrible mistake. Israel’s rebellious cunning would quickly backfire, and they would become slaves once again, like in the days of Egypt.

Notice what Samuel declares will happen if such a rejection is precipitated:

1Sa 8:11 And he said, This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots.

12 And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots.

13 And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers.

14 And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your oliveyards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants.

15 And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants.

16 And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work.

17 He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.

18 And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.

Even with this warning, the people were seared in their conscience, and they desired to live as slaves under the yoke of a tyrant statist system. As long as they could be like every other nation, as long as they could compete in the global area, and as long as they could do it the way they saw fit, they would be satisfied. Or so it seemed.

The parallels are astounding.

Like Israel, America desires a president or a political party structured after the nations of the world to save them. When pagan rulers are placed into power, they have their ethical standards, their epistemological starting point, their economic ideologies, and their entire worldviews structured according to humanistic ideas. They refuse to follow God’s ethical standards of a community, state, or nation.

As Author Buddy Hanson rightly and boldly states:

”Any other view of civil government other than [God’s] view, will result in the citizens [including lawmakers who are elected from the citizenry] becoming a law unto themselves.”

During the Reformation, the idea of national covenanting was rejuvenated. It was the Reformation that sparked the Puritans, Covenanters, and early American colonists, to consider returning to the God of their fathers, so as to construct a body politic obedient to the law Structure of God and His infallible Word. As a result, Biblical covenanting re-emerged as a central theme in political theology, political philosophy, and political polity.

Men like Theodore Beza and the German Born Calvinist Johannes Althusius were among the finest of juridical scholars. Althusius systematized Calvinistic teachings and stated the following:

“…a republic is formed by a covenant between the rulers and the people before God, that the foundation of this covenant is the Law of God…that the Decalogue is the best expression of this higher law, that the church and state are separate in form, but joined in function, that families, churches, and states alike, must protect the rights and liberties of the people, and that violations of these rights and liberties, or of the divine and natural rights that inform and empower them, are instances of tyranny that must trigger organized constitutional resistance.”

The Reformation was calling men to both an outer and an inner reformation, where men would be conformed outwardly as well as inwardly to the Word of God. This reformation concerned every area and institution of life, especially in the realm of government, since tyranny would be violently oppressive to the preaching of the Gospel and the health of the Christian cause.

Beza insisted that tyrants were rulers who violated the terms of the political covenant. ] John Witte in his book “The Reformation of Rights” notes,

“For Beza, tyrants were rulers who violated the terms of the political covenant – particularly its foundational requirements, that all must honor the rights of God to be worshipped, and the rights of God’s people to discharge their duties of the faith, in conformity with God’s Law.”

It was Beza, more than Calvin, who advanced the doctrine of interposition whereby the lesser magistrates could resist and overthrow the tyrant, if necessary. According to Beza, if the ruler exceeded his authority in violation of the political covenant, the people through their representatives had both the right and the duty to resist him as a tyrant. During the late 1700s, the American Puritan colonists resorted to this doctrine of interposition (or the doctrine of the lesser magistrates), sparking the American War of Independence.

During the years of the Reformation, John Calvin admonished the people of Geneva in a stern warning,

“And ye, O peoples to whom God gave the liberty to choose your own magistrates, see to it that ye do not forfeit this favor by electing to the positions of highest honor, rascals and enemies of God.”

This warning could have easily been given to the 21^st century Evangelical Christian community. Sadly, however, warning has mostly fallen upon deaf ears. Today, we see very little real outcry from any quarter of Christendom today, and almost no outrage, concerning the apostasy of our civil majesty.

WHY? Why is the community of the church so complacent? Because the visible church has lost the vision of what it means to be at LIBERTY UNDER GOD.

Not only has the church lost the vision, she has become like Israel desiring a king (or a political party) to rule over them like the other nations have. Rather than rebuking and abstaining from the workers of iniquity, many Christians run to them for safety and the hope of prosperity. But America’s hope is neither in any king nor in any political party. Moreover, it is not in politics per se.

Christendom boasts of so many individuals and churches verbally stating that they want to reform the nation and bring it back to the morality of Scripture – but they only say, and don’t do. Many words are spoken, but little real action is implemented. If and when action is implemented, it is with the hope that Christ will emerge and rapture the church from the evils of the world. This two-kingdom heresy has stifled the church even when she is doing the work of the dominion mandate.

There are far too many professing Christians still eating at Jezebel’s statist table, wiping their mouth and saying that they have done no evil. Too may saints have bought into the lie that the government is here to help and to provide for cradle to grave assurances. American Christians have yoked themselves with the beast of Statism.

Like Israel, they desire Saul.

Without even knowing it (or wanting to know it,) the community of Christendom has forged an unholy alliance with God’s enemies, thinking that appeasing the oppressor will insure their survival, not realizing that appeasement of the beast only stirs its wrath. Too many American Christians seem to think that if they act according to the liking of the beast, believing its lies, getting involved in their programs, and refraining from antagonizing it, the beast will spare them. It will not. In the end, it will destroy them all the same.

Consider the story of the Turtle and the Scorpion.

The scorpion stands upon the bank of the stream desiring to cross to the other side. He spies a turtle and seeks to gain access upon the turtle’s back so as to cross. The turtle naturally refuses, saying that the scorpion will sting him, and he will die. The scorpion assures him that he will not sting him, because if he does, they both will drown.

For a moment the turtle ponders the logic, then agrees. Halfway across, the scorpion stings the turtle.

The turtle exclaims “But you said you wouldn’t kill me. Now we will both drown. Why did you do that?”

The scorpion explains: “I can’t help it - it is my nature.”

It is the nature of man, especially when given any kind of political power, to enslave, impoverish, humiliate, and eventually kill the very people it has sworn to protect. In doing so, it kills itself along with the people of its charge.

So what is American Christendom’s problem? To answer this, Buddy Hanson gives a wonderful illustration:

“It is said that it’s hard to read the label from the inside of the jar, but that is exactly where we are in the early years of the 21^st century. The cultural jar into which we have allowed ourselves to be placed, and confined, is a result of a century and a half of preferring the world’s ways to God’s. This has so influenced the way we look at life, that when we decide to ‘do something’ about our culture, we act according to non-Christian tactics – and don’t even realize that we are doing so.”

In other words, reestablishing the position of godless rulers and acting according to the dictates of the culture avails no change to the culture. Rather, it exacerbates the problem, bringing the wrath of God down upon us more ferociously.

He continues:

”What is not understood is that by acting naturally, we are guaranteeing that the non Christian agenda will continue to influence the culture.”

The answer to our political, economic, militaristic, and cultural problems is not whether the Republicans or the Democrats gain control over the several branches of Government. Our problems will only be remedied when God’s people stop making excuses for their acquiescence to wickedness and tyranny, devoting themselves to an expressly Christian world and life view that seeks to advance the crown rights of Christ and not the kingdom of man.

The Honorable Howard Phillips coined the statement:

”Liberals are going over the cliff at 100 mph and conservatives are going over the cliff at 50 mph. Both are going to crash.”

As long as our approach is godless, we will continue to loose ground. As long as we continue to think like the world, the world will snare and enslave us. As long as we continue to forge alliances with the wicked of the world, we will loose God’s support, and His holy justice will fall upon us as individuals, our families, and possibly our nation as well.

Perhaps patriotism is defined best by Abigail Adams when she clearly stated:

”A patriot without religion in my estimation is as great a paradox as an honest man without the fear of God. Is it possible that he whom has not moral obligations bind, can have any real Good Will Toward men? Can he be a patriot who, by an openly vicious conduct, is undermining the very bonds of Society? The Scriptures tell us “Righteousness Exalteth a nation”.

Rev. Stephan Perks of the Kuyper institute warns:

”The Created order of God’s Sovereignty is vested totally in Christ. Nowhere else in the created order is such total sovereignty exercised. All other persons and spheres of authority are restricted. This means that all reductionist theories of mankind and human society are idolatrous. Totalitarianism, which reduces man to one function of human society namely the State, for which it claims total sovereignty, is idolatrous.

Patriarchalism, in which the whole of human society is subsumed under the family and all other spheres of subordinated to it, is idolatrous. Ecclesio-centrism, in which the whole of life of man and society is subordinated to the church, is equally idolatrous, as is libertarianism, in which the whole of human life is subordinated to the individual.

Christianity teaches, rather than any of these, including Ecclesio-centricism, that Christ is the center of creation, that only He is sovereign over the whole creation, and that all institutions and spheres, legitimate in their own right and independent of each other’s devolved authority structures, must subordinate themselves in all things to Him and to His Word.

Solomon’s profound truth rings true: “There is nothing new under the Sun.”

Christians must once again decide between Christ or Caesar, between God and Baal, between the table of the Lord or the table of idols, and between being bond servants under God’s Law or being salves of sin, the lusts of the flesh, serving corrupters and the promoters of wickedness.

We stand at a crossroads. Will Christians continue to be led like sheep to the slaughter, or will we be men of faith and resolve, relying upon GOD ALONE for our every blessing?

The future of our heritage depends upon our answer. While we may not avoid the destruction of our culture, we still may avoid the comprehensive totality of God’s wrath upon ourselves. May God have mercy upon our godless nation.

False Prophets Must Be Held Accountable

2011-05-26T17:43:00.000-07:00

"Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power.For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet.1Co 15:24-25

THE VICTORY, THEN THE END

The Apostle Paul's statement is clear concerning the end of the world. It will come only after Christ has put all enemies under His feet. This is the Postmillennial view of Christian victory.It happens in time and history. It is not apocalyptic but rather hopefully victorious when Righteousness envelops the entire Global community.

Predictions concerning the end of the world have come and gone. Most of them have gone unnoticed. Today, however, with the vast amount of communication technology at our fingertips, a prediction like May 21st goes world-wide. In its wake; fear, destruction, uncertainty, and for a 14 year old Russian teen, death.

Consider this report from RT, an Autonomous Nonprofit Organization Internet News Source:

"A 14-year-old girl from the Republic of Mari El in Central Russia has committed suicide, allegedly because she was afraid of the upcoming doomsday, predicted by the American radio preacher Harold Camping.

Nastya Zachinova believed the news that the world would end on May 21, her family told the tabloid LifeNews. The once lively teenager became angsty and withdrawn. On the Saturday in which the rapture had been predicted to start, she committed suicide after returning home from school.Her personal diary shows she was terrified of the perils of the apocalypse, which she believed humanity was about to endure.

Harold Camping and his supporters launched a world-wide campaign to inform humanity about the upcoming rapture, the date of which he predicted based on a series of convoluted calculations taken from the bible. A few ads promoting his message were put on billboards in Russia as well."

HELD TO ACCOUNT

Camping makes a complete fool of himself,again.It was not enough to predict the end in September 1994, or on Christmas Day in 1994, or predicting dates in 1995 privately to his cult followers, or to maintain that the end of the church age happened in 1988 and no one else can now be converted, he had to predict another figment of his imagination, validated by bad exegesis, and a desire to be the 21st century Noah - his ark being "Family Stations Inc.".

This time, however, the man must be held accountable.

Camping's doctrine has gone from sober, to questionable to utterly outrageous and heretical. He has poorly stewarded the money donated to his radio ministry and traded sober Christian truths for horror stories about the coming wrath without any honest hermeneutic justification whatsoever. God's judgment will come upon the world, to be sure - but not the way Camping envisions it.

WHY?

Why would God allow such wrong to blemish the Christian Church? I believe it is to expose the false Christians and distinguish the true. Camping has been addicted to finding out when the end of the world would come for decades. He began with his presupposition that there had to be a date that he could discover. He believed that he was the chosen one. With that initial premise, he conveniently made the Bible say whatever he wanted through mathematical gyrations and interpretive acrobatics. But why?

Why focus upon the end of the world? What sick mind wants to see so much fear and destruction? What saint sets his heart upon hopelessness? If no one is being saved any more since 1988, as Camping believes, why bother getting the word out that the end is near? That behavior is inconsistent with his doctrine.

Why not focus upon advancing the Crown Rights of King Jesus and reconstructing the societal order? Why not build true churches with he millions that were spent on falsely promoting doomsday? The questions of "Why" can go on and on. The real question is "Why did so many believe him?"

IGNORANCE and PRIDE

Ignorance can be very destructive, and pride can be deadly. Many who followed Camping, and are still following him in his delusion, are not deep thinkers, nor are they good exegetes. Many of them love to make themselves out to be something special. To think one knows when the end of the world will come, down to the hour; now that's special. It's all pride, and it must be condemned.

THE GOAL

The purpose of each child of God is to 'build the old waste places'. We must preach the gospel and use God's Law to reconstruct the culture, and the societal order God-ward. There is no time to fuss with doomsday cults and false prophets. That is probably why God told Moses to stone them.

Time is of the essence. Not because the end is near, but because our time on earth is but for a moment. We must make the most from it. Soli Deo Gloria!

The Evil Conquest of the Government Schools

2011-05-05T19:13:00.001-07:00

In his most excellent work, “Is Public Education Necessary”, Samuel Blumenfeld wrote,

“Educational tyranny is the natural and inevitable result of a government school system controlled by monopoly-minded bureaucrats and edu-crats . The people of this country must soon decide what is more important to them: parents' rights or compulsory schooling; educational freedom or educational tyranny.”

In the early 80’s it was still unlawful to educate your own children at home. Children were being dragged off to detention facilities and parents were thrown into jail. Even though some of the greatest Americans, including most of America’s founding fathers, were home educated, this was now unlawful. Government education was mandated, and the children were given over to the state for their upbringing. In essence the state had kidnapped the children under their magisterial protection. In doing so, they violated their God given duty and headed down a path of perdition.

A carful historical study of the development of American Public Education quickly shows that its goal was never to educate children to become productive citizens of the American capitalistic republic, but rather to brainwash them into statist socialists.

The idea that education should come under the regulation of the state, rather than the parent or the clergy, was originally a Prussian model proposed by Harvard University socialist James G. Carter during the early 1800s.

Blumenfeld recounts,

“Thus, as early as 1825, educational statism, modeled on the Prussian design, was already a well-developed idea in the heads of the Harvard-Unitarian elite[s].”

In order to promote public education Carter, and his supporters, led a movement to discredit the private academies in favor of government funded schools by arguing that the poor were being disenfranchised.

Blumenfeld comments,

“[This]…point was to become a favorite argument [by Carter] against the private academy: that it deprived the poor of equal educational opportunity. It never occurred to the "friends of education" to advocate state scholarships or tuition grants for poor youths so that they could attend the private academy in their town. Instead, they promoted the idea of free public schools for all-including all of those who could afford private schooling. The reason for this is obvious. Only in free public schools could the characters and minds of all be manipulated by the controlling few. The end result was to be a social utopia that would bring unparalleled happiness to the human race. “

The two forces perpetuating this movement were the Owenits (b. 1771 – Robert Owen, an Englishman known as the father of modern socialism),and the Unitarians.

Again Blumenfeld explains,

“Although both Owenites and Unitarians agreed that the government should take full control of education, the Owenite plan was far more radical in total concept than anything the Unitarians advocated. The Owenites wanted children to be separated from their parents as early as possible-age two was suggested-and placed in district boarding schools away from the influences of the prevailing system. Each school would house a different age group and be furnished with "instructors in every branch of knowledge, intellectual and operative, with all the apparata, land, and conveniences necessary for the best development of all knowledge.”

The ideology behind their educational plan was articulated in the following manner.

“[T]he grand lever, which is to raise up the mighty mass of this community is education …The schools hold, in embryo, the future communities of this land . The schools are the pillars of the republic. To these, let the strong arm of government be stretched out .Over these, let the wisdom of our legislatures watch.” "Improvement of Common Schools," Article X, North American Review, January 1827, pp . 156-57 .

Today, Home Education is still frowned upon, although in most states it is no longer illegal. There are still some major restriction and regulations in certain jurisdictions, but at least home education is possible without fear of imprisonment.

Yet, the private citizen – whether they like it or not and whether they support Public Statist education or not – must pay for the Messianic schooling through taxation. These taxes are sometime quite burdensome and there is no way of opting out without certain infringing government caveats.

Even with funding through excessive taxation the schools are in deep trouble academically and morally. It seems as if the more money that is thrown at the system the less productive it becomes. Government education is in a grave-yard spiral – and the government knows it.

As early as 1980 a mass exodus was upon the horizon.

“The unprecedented decline in academic quality has precipitated a veritable exodus of children from the government schools. More and more parents are choosing private, church and home schools .The phenomenal rise of homeschooling in recent years not only indicates a disenchantment with government schools but with formal schooling in general. The demand for greater educational freedom by parents is causing alarm within the educational establishment which has, for the last one hundred years, depended on the compulsory school attendance laws to supply it with a captive clientele no matter how poor the quality of their education .”

During the 1800s, wherever academies were established, Cater noticed that the common school declined because the most intelligent people in town were no longer interested in it.

For Carter there was a solution to the problem: "Abolish the academy…”

There is no guarantee that home education and private academies will continue to remain free. If more and more children are removed from statist control the system will begin to crack. This has already begun. If, as a result of this breakdown, the government becomes desperate, we may see either greater regulations and restrictions or a totalitarian crack-down upon all private and home education.

Strategy:

1. Read Sam’s book cover to cover. Buy it and share it with many. Know it inside and out. Digest it and then proclaim its historical and ideological tenants. Everyone must be aware of what is happening to our nation through the statist plan for total control through the Trojan horse of the Public Education system.

2. Every church should have a school. Encourage your pastor to start one if he hasn’t already. Religious education is still honored in the United States under the first amendment. Use the freedom.The Old Testament Levites were the principle educators of the people. This pattern must be re-established. The church can also act as an umbrella protection for those who want to home educate their children. The church’s power and influence should never be underestimated. She must protect her people. She must educate Christ-ward by promoting Christo-centric education.

3. Private Christian Schools should be established in the various states that are supportive of the private academies. Schools that are grandfathered in are more likely to remain strong against any assault by the state. The more Christian academies in operation the less likely they will be over-run.

4. Encourage your pastor to read Sam Blumenfeld’s “Is Public Education Necessary” and then preach against the Statist Messianic education system. This is especially important if there are many in his congregation who have their children in public schools or if there are many public school teachers in his congregation. This will be a life changing challenge so encourage and pray for him. The action he takes will show just who’s side he is on. Hope for the best, but expect disappointment.

5. Publish various quotes in your local newspaper about how the public school system is Marxist. Show how it is actually destroying the culture and bringing the nation into judgment. Use social media to share some potent quotes for others to use. Lead the pack. Shake the people out of their slumber.

6. Give a copy of Blumenfeld’s book to your state delegate and state senator. Make him promise to read it. Then call him weeks later to see if he read it. Do not let him rest till you are satisfied that he has read the book. Have others call him also. Be respectful but be persistent. The squeaky wheel always gets greased.

7. Give copies of the book to the local school board. Prepare for blowback. Be courageous. Go forward in the fear of the Lord and for the Crown Rights of King Jesus.

It has recently been my pleasure to spend an entire weekend with Sam discussing these issues and the future of the Christina Education movement. His sincerity and expertise is refreshing. Mr. Samuel Blumenfeld has just signed on with New Geneva as the Director Of Primary Education. You can read Dr. Blumenfeld’s articles at The New American Online

The Passion of the Christian Saint

2011-04-21T17:39:00.000-07:00

“The former treatise have I made, O Theophilus, of all that Jesus began both to do and teach, Until the day in which he was taken up, after that he through the Holy Ghost had given commandments unto the apostles whom he had chosen: To whom also he shewed himself alive after his passion by many infallible proofs, being seen of them forty days, and speaking of the things pertaining to the kingdom of God…” Acts 1:1-3

The Passion of the Christ

In Acts chapter 1 Luke identifies the suffering of our Lord as “His Passion”.
The Word passion has several significations. In the Biblical sense, as it is used here, “passion” means to be “sore vexed”, to suffer intensively or to experience great pain and/or sorrow.

The modern use of the word, “passion” was adopted during the 16th century and is defined as having strong emotions as in a sense of great enthusiasm. The term today evokes sentiments of love and even sensual attraction. To be passionate about someone or something is to be “highly motivated toward that person or thing.” To be passionate about someone or something is to have that person or thing always dominating the mind and the actions.This idea is conveyed in Christ’s declaration: ”Where your treasure is – there will your heart be also”

Our Lord’s “Passion” must be considered as both a Biblical passion and a modern passion. In the sense that He suffered, we should use the Biblical term “Passion”.But in the sense that He was “Passionate”, i.e. to do the Will of His Father, we should use the modern version of the term.

In the most literal sense the Scriptures do not use the term “passion” or “passionate” in the modern fashion. In the Scriptures the Greek word is only used for “suffering”.

The Common Use of the Word Passion

The Word or phrase that best describes the modern use of the term “Passion”, or “Passionate Emotion” is found in Psalm 119.32.

“I have chosen the way of truth: thy judgments have I laid before me. I have stuck unto thy testimonies: O LORD, put me not to shame. I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart.” Ps 119:30-32

David uses the word “Enlarge” in regard to his heart

"I will run the way of thy commandments, when thou shalt enlarge my heart." Ps 119:32.

The Hebrew word used for “enlarge” literally means “to make room” or “to open wide”.

David is asking God to actively move in his life so that he will be more passionate in his obedience and service.

Charles Spurgeon observes,

"Yes, when the heart is the master, the feet soon run when the heart is free and energetic. Let the affections be aroused and eagerly set on divine things, and our actions will be full of force, swiftness, and delight. God must work in us first, and then we shall will and do according to his good pleasure. He must change the heart, unite the heart, encourage the heart, strengthen the heart, and enlarge the heart, and then the course of the life will be gracious, sincere, happy, and earnest; so that from our lowest up to our highest state in grace we must attribute all to the free favour of our God. We must run; for grace is not an overwhelming force which compels unwilling minds to move contrary to their will: our running is the spontaneous leaping forward of a mind which has been set free by the hand of God, and delights to show its freedom by its bounding speed."

The Hebrew word used for “Heart”, however is actually referring to the understanding, and may include the entire fabric of man’s being. And so, David is asking God to open wide his understanding, in order for him to run in the way of God’s commandments.

It is the Understanding that Assist in Obedience.

The Hebrews were to be an understanding people in word and deed. This was their strength.

Moses declares in De 4:6 concerning God’s Law:

“Keep therefore and do them; for this is your wisdom and your understanding in the sight of the nations, which shall hear all these statutes, and say, Surely this great nation is a wise and understanding people.”

Upon his call to be King, Solomon asked for understanding before anything else, knowing that understanding was the key to prosperity, and success God-ward.

"Give therefore thy servant an understanding heart to judge thy people, that I may discern between good and bad:" 1Ki 3:9

David is asking God to enlarge his understanding.

CONSIDER Psalm 119 VERSE 32:

"I will run the way of thy commandments..."

David’s uppermost desire was to RUN (not merely keep or obey) But “to run” in the way of God’s Law. He uses the declarative “I WILL”. This is the voice of determination. He knew of his natural inability and lackadaisicalness, so he begs - he prays – he pleads – he declares, “I WILL”. In his “heart-felt” determination he asks God to enlarge his heart so that he might RUN in the way of His Law

Calvin comments:

“The meaning of the prophet is, that when God shall inspire him with love for his law, he will be vigorous and ready, nay, even steady, so as not to faint in the middle of his course. His words contain an implied admission of the supineness and inability of men to make any advancement in well-doing until God enlarge their hearts.”

The enlarging of the heart may also be identified as “Heartiness”.

To be “hearty” is to be robust, strong, bold, and healthy.An individual that is “hearty” is usually one who is full of life, rigor, passion, and conviction. A “hearty laugh” usually evokes a smile from others. It may even cause others to laugh as well. Heartiness is contagious.

The hearty passion for the Kingdom’s advancement is also contagious.

P.B. Powers considers this aspect of life and asks observes:

a. What Heartiness is
b. What Heartiness does?
c. Where does Heartiness come from.

1. What is Heartiness:

a. This may be defined as a passionate cheerfulness in doing God’s will according to His Written Commandment.

b. It is an intense desire to serve God in every way and at every season.
Heartiness is robust faith. It is constant faith and diligent service.

c. It is the life of True and Honest Christianity and it is exercised in every sphere of life.

d. True Heartiness is very difficult to quench – It is a strong man, and a strong tower.

e. Heartiness is living energy, derived from the transforming power of Atoning Grace and Sanctifying Love.

2. What Heartiness does?

a. Heartiness is being always ready to do whatsoever God commands. It prepares the saint to act whenever the opportunity arises. It is the saint’s motivating power.

b. The hearty saint stands ready and observant to opportunities for ministry and service.

c. Heartiness has a positive effect upon others God-ward. It is an encouraging trait that causes a man to be productive in his Kingdom work and brings others along with him.

d. Heartiness encompasses many and it expands throughout the family circle to the church, and then into the community.

e.Heartiness stands strong in the face of oppression.

f.It stands tall in times of great darkness.

g. It holds fast to Christian testimonies in faith amidst mockers.

h. It studies so as to be prepared for every good work and to be ready to answer every man for the hope of the Gospel.

i. A hearty saint is able to comfort those that are weak.

j. Heartiness enables a man to go to his extremes for others in the cause of Christ, and for the Kingdom’s Glory. Heartiness knows no bounds.

k. It believes that whatsoever is impossible with man is possible with God.

l.Heartiness is always giving to others in the Name of Christ.

m. A hearty saint is not weak – rather he is strong because he is mature.

n. A hearty saint is able to “Take Heart” when the wicked rise up in authority.

He Is not discouraged by these set backs (or any set back for that matter)
He knows that God is seated upon the Throne of His Majesty working all things for His Glory

o. Heartiness leads in the battle of worldviews, and is strong to meet the foe on the battlefield of ideologies.

Finally: Where does this heartiness come from?

Heartiness comes from God. When the Spirit of God comes in contact with the human heart upon conversion, there is a transforming event that is life changing.

That Sanctifying Spirit (The same Spirit that Enlarged Christ’s heart in the days of His flesh enabling Him to face His sufferings courageously) is the same Spirit that is given to each and every saint.

Objection: “Yes – this is true. But even though the Spirit is given, the fruit to some is 30, or 60 fold - not always 100”.

Answer: The fruit spoken of is the fruit resulting from the preaching of the gospel. It has nothing to do with the diligence and devotion of the individual.

While resulting fruit may vary from one to another – the work done by all saints is to be performed heartily in a focused and continuous fashion.

There is nothing in Scripture that excuses the saints from a hearty profession and a hearty life in the service of Christ the King.

David asked God to enlarge his heart. His reason was simple. He desired to run in the way of God’s commandments. He desired to live passionately according to the Law of God and declare it among many nations. By the Grace of “Passion”, he would run to do this.

This was his life’s hope. This was his life’s dream, and fulfillment.This is the testimony of God’s True saints. This should be ours as well.

The Wise & Mysterious Providence of God

2011-04-16T12:52:00.001-07:00

Pr 10:22 ¶ The blessing of the LORD, it maketh rich, and he addeth no sorrow with it.

God’s Providence is usually defined as the “Will of God” exercised in time and history. As God, He does whatsoever He pleases. God’s providential orchestration of all things is one of His many blessings to His Elect. It is a comforting reality to know that nothing can frustrate the Sovereign Will of God. As the apostle clearly declares, “All things work together for good to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

Things do not simply work together for good as a result of God smoothing things over after they have occurred in an effort to fix human error. All things work together as a result of God’s fore-ordination of all things. No event just happens. It happens as a result of God’s consistent intervention in history. Both good and bad things are brought to pass according to a perfect plan and sovereign power. Whosoever happens on earth is a direct result of God’s Will being executed. Only those things that God has fore-ordained comes to pass, and they come to pass precisely according to His plan; nothing can thwart it.

Solomon states this clearly.

Ec 8:3 Be not hasty to go out of his sight: stand not in an evil thing; for He doeth whatsoever pleaseth him.

Ezekiel's Vision of God's Providence & Glory

But why is the Providence of God so comforting to “The Called”? What makes God’s control of every human event so comforting to the people of God? It cannot be because His will is all powerful. While this is true, that fact alone is not a comfort. Power alone does not comfort. Just because the Lord is all powerful does not indicate that His Will is good.

When Christ abandoned Himself to God’s Will, He was not abandoning Himself to the Power of God per se, but rather the Wisdom, Goodness, Mercy, and Love of God. The saint’s everlasting comfort comes by knowing that the Sovereign Will of God is perfectly wise, good, loving and mercifully kind. This is what led the Lord to bow to the Will of God during His passion, and this is the saint’s confidence when difficult providences occur. Christ knew that all earthly events are executed in wisdom, goodness, love and mercy – even those events which are hard to understand and difficult to handle.

The power of God is the engine that guarantees the execution of His Will – but it is the power of God that does this in a wise, good, loving and merciful fashion.

Arthur Pink put it this way:

"Contentment [comfort] is possible only as we cultivate and maintain that attitude of accepting everything which enters our lives as coming from the Hand of Him who is too wise to err, and too loving to cause one of His children a needless tear."

The Stabilty of the Christian Family

2011-04-08T15:44:00.000-07:00

Christianity must be holistic in that it seeks to intervene into all spheres of the culture. We cannot think in a compartmentalized fashion when it comes to the advancement of Christ's Kingdom, as if it restricted to the church alone.
Since all spheres of life are to come under the authority of the Sovereign Lord, there is no sphere that is less important than another. That being said, we still must prioritize when we seek to advance His cause. That means we must have our families in order first. If we fail to bring our families under the rule of the Gospel, whatever cause we undertake for Christ will fail.

Ministry beings at home, then moves outward into the church, and then the community. I too have witnessed men, and women - even elders and deacons - rush to save the world while their families are languishing. In my 24 years of ministry I have witnessed such gross disconnect that it boggles the mind. The reason why our political and economic situation is in a tailspin is due to the apostasy of the church, which is a direct result of the lackadaisical attitude of family discipleship.

Christians must remedy the sins of the culture by first remedying the sins of the home. Christian fathers are called to sacrifice all for the family. Their first priority must be their wives, and then their children. Male Biblical leadership, initiated by the father, is absolutely essential. Husbands must minister to their wives by providing loving support in her responsibilities as governess of the home. He must be actively involved in the affairs of the household. In this way he can maintain control without which there can be real Biblical oversight. His support must be firm and resolute along Biblical lines and according to Biblical principles. Family communication, especially communication between husband and wife, is essential, as is family discipleship. All this must be instigated by the head of the home and executed seamlessly by both parents for complete Biblical continuity.

It is no wonder why Paul counsels Timothy as to the importance of Ecclesiastic leadership beginning at home.

“[A Bishop is] One that ruleth well his own house, having his children in subjection with all gravity; (For if a man know not how to rule his own house, how shall he take care of the church of God?) “ 1 Timothy 3:4-5

C. S. Lewis rightly observed, “Because the family is so central to building up a godly society, it has always been under attack by unbelievers and is in particularly great danger today. At the root of outright hatred of family bonds lies sinful man's craving to be independent of God and his fellow men so he may do as he pleases and not be burdened or restrained by any responsibilities or obligations. Such individual anarchy and selfishness among ever growing numbers of people eventually leads to the breakdown of society at large.”

If Christendom is ever to see an advancement of Christ’s Kingdom on earth it must
re-examine its familial structure. If the Kingdom is ever to advance it will advance upon the shoulders of solidly structured Christian homes within the oversight of self-less, conscientious fathers and mothers who are willing to give all for the Glory of Christ. The hope of a Biblical postmillennial victory depends upon the stability of the Christian family.

The Madness of a Tyrant

2011-03-31T16:59:00.001-07:00

THE ASSESSMENT

"I cannot for the life of me see how an American president can launch a serious military action without a full and formal national address in which he explains to the American people why he is doing what he is doing, why it is right, and why it is very much in the national interest. He referred to his aims in parts of speeches and appearances when he was in South America, but now he's home. More is needed, more is warranted, and more is deserved. He has to sit at that big desk and explain his thinking, put forward the facts as he sees them, and try to garner public support. He has to make a case for his own actions. It's what presidents do! And this is particularly important now, because there are reasons to fear the current involvement will either escalate and produce a lengthy conflict or collapse and produce humiliation. Without a formal and extended statement, the air of weirdness, uncertainty and confusion that surrounds this endeavor will only deepen. ... America has been though a difficult 10 years, and the burden of proof on the need for U.S. action would be with those who supported intervention. Chief among them, of course, is the president, who made the decision as commander in chief. He needs to sit down and tell the American people how this thing can possibly turn out well. He needs to tell them why it isn't mad."

IS THE U.S. PRESIDENT INSANE? [1]

This comment by columnist Peggy Noonan is very telling. She asks a critical question. “Is the president of these United States insane?” The answer to this inquiry is both “yes” and “no” depending upon the definition used for insanity and madness. Clinically, Obama is not insane. He is, however, bent upon a wicked anti-American and anti-Christian agenda, to be sure, but he is not technically insane. His agenda is calculated and devious, which makes him ingeniously devilish. What Obama desires, and is feverously working toward, is to reconstruct America’s foundation by destroying America’s Christian foundation. This includes the destruction of America’s currency by evil inflationary tactics, which is a blatant violation of the 8^th Commandment. These sinister policies infect every aspect of American life and are not compartmentalized to the economic sphere alone.

On the other hand, if one is to analyze Obama’s actions by the Standard of The Scriptures, the man is absolutely out of his mind with madness.

Solomon warns us that “the heart of the sons of men is full of evil, and madness is in their heart while they live, and after that they go to the dead,” Ecclesiastes 9:3b.

THE BIBLICAL DEFINITION OF CRAZY

According to God’s Word the problem of evil is rooted in the hearts of the “sons of men.” Without the transforming Grace of God at work in their hearts, mankind will think and act according to a reprobate mindset. What president Obama is doing is simply acting consistently with his theological presupposition, which is anti-God and anti-Biblical. Without question Obama’s position characterizes him Biblically as an evil man. This is God’s assessment and therefore it must be our assessment as well.

The evidence of an evil heart will be manifested in men’s personal actions and in their political agendas. This should be noted during any and all election campaigns. Solomon calls them the “sons of men,” making a clear distinction from the “sons of God.” These “sons of men” are depicted as earthly, sensual and carnal, and therefore are not to be trusted no matter what they promise.

While Obama may not be clinically insane, Biblically speaking he is a madman and is being used by God as a judgment against both America and the world for their repudiation of God and His Laws.

LESSONS FROM THE SCRIPTURES

Whenever a nation rejects God, judgment is inevitable. Israel’s rejection of Samuel as Judge, desiring a king like the other nations instead, was a clear rejection of God and His Laws.

1 Sa 8:7, “And 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.”

At this point God explains to Samuel the inevitable results of having a carnal man rule them.

1 Sa 8:10-17, “And Samuel told all the words of the LORD unto the people that asked of him a king. And he said, ‘This will be the manner of the king that shall reign over you: He will take your sons, and appoint them for himself, for his chariots, and to be his horsemen; and some shall run before his chariots. And he will appoint him captains over thousands, and captains over fifties; and will set them to ear [plow] his ground, and to reap his harvest, and to make his instruments of war, and instruments of his chariots. And he will take your daughters to be confectionaries, and to be cooks, and to be bakers. And he will take your fields, and your vineyards, and your olive yards, even the best of them, and give them to his servants. And he will take the tenth of your seed, and of your vineyards, and give to his officers, and to his servants. And he will take your menservants, and your maidservants, and your goodliest young men, and your asses, and put them to his work. He will take the tenth of your sheep: and ye shall be his servants.’”

While these pronouncements are horrible, the response of the people and the counter- response of God are even more terrifying.

The People’s Response:

1 Sa 8:19-20, “Nevertheless the people refused to obey the voice of Samuel; and they said, ‘Nay; but we will have a king over us; That we also may be like all the nations; and that our king may judge us, and go out before us, and fight our battles.’”

This response testifies of the people’s desire to live a life of irresponsibility. They thought that if they could be cared for by becoming salves of a “nanny state” they could legally shirk any personal responsibility to care for themselves.

The Lord’s Counter-Response:

1 Sa 8:18, “And ye shall cry out in that day because of your king which ye shall have chosen you; and the LORD will not hear you in that day.”

Responsibility under God is liberty. Israel saw God’s requirements of responsibly as tyranny and an unfair restriction upon them. They were wrong. God’s counter-response shows that irresponsibility coupled with the rejection of God, in favor of human lordship, results in despotism, plunder and slavery.
The problem was not with Saul, but with the lusts of the masses for a human, caretaker king.

According to these passages of Scripture, Obama is not the root of the problem. The problem is with the people of the nation. The real culprits of political and moral abominations are the people who have allowed such a madman to fill the seat of power by their vote of support. Whenever the people lust after unrighteousness in rejection of God’s call to responsibility, God feeds them with their lust. God’s judgment is upon the masses of the world for their rejection of the God of Scripture.

NO QUICK FIX

There is no immediate “silver bullet” reparation to this dilemma. The process of reparation will be slow and painful, and it will take diligence. More importantly, reparations must come from the bottom up. Government cannot fix any problem. It can easily initiate problems, even exacerbate problems, but it cannot fix them. Its purpose and role are limited; and until the masses understand this there can be no reparations—only plunder, slavery and sorrow.

CHRISTIAN INVOLVEMENT

The answer is simple although the implementation of it is difficult. Real Christians must get involved in the political system. By “real” I mean those men that are convicted as to the absolute authority of God’s Law as it deals with every area of life, especially the political and legal aspects of it. Men of whimsical religious persuasions are unacceptable. Washington is full of religious men. What we need are men of Biblical conviction and Christ-centered tenacity. What we need is a leadership model in conformity with God’s Word, honoring the Crown Rights of King Jesus. What the world needs are men of Biblical Theonomic Conviction who are willing and courageous enough to call for a Biblical Reconstruction of the entire culture.

THE STRATEGY

1. Pastors must preach the entire counsel of God, showing that it is the task of each and every Christian to be involved politically for the Glory of Christ. This is Christ’s world, and the wicked are not entitled to any of it, since their agenda is to destroy it.

2. There needs to be a restoration of the Biblical Eschatology of Postmillennialism in repudiation of the idea of the Kingdom’s defeat. Christians who believe that they will all lose in the end, only to be bailed out by the Second Coming, have already claimed defeat. Having misunderstood entirely the comprehensive victory of Christ’s atonement, ascension, coronation and Pentecost, today’s modern evangelical has acquiesced to the notion of earthly failure. This is not Biblical orthodoxy and cannot be proven by any honest hermeneutical study of Scripture.

3. Proper education is essential. Christian children must be removed from government indoctrination camps—otherwise all will be lost. The enemies of the kingdom will be amidst the members of the Christian community—in the families and in the churches.

4. Affordable Christian schools, colleges and leadership training facilities must be established.

5. Efforts must be made to expose any candidate who holds to anti-Christian doctrines which would endanger the well-being of the community, state or nation. Even if the candidate is running for the office of ‘Dog Catcher,‘ if he does not conform to Biblical standards of a public official he must be exposed and a man of virtue must run against him.

6. Research committees must be formed to investigate potential candidates and expose them if they seem to be a potential threat to the Biblical integrity of a community, state or nation.

7. Virtuous citizens should run for local and state offices before attempting the run for a federal seat, and candidate committees should be formed to help such Christian patriots.

Following these tactics will set the stage and lay the foundation for real Biblical change whereby one day our children’s children may see the knowledge of the Lord cover the earth as the waters cover the sea. But if these things are ignored, our heirs, under extreme slavery and apostasy, will hang their harps upon the willow, unable to sing the songs of Zion.

[1] In 2010 President Sarkozy called Barak Obama "a madman," "a lunatic."

Biblical Reconstruction and Reform: The Answer for our World

2011-03-24T18:11:00.001-07:00

THE UNRAVELING

The stability of the national and global community is rapidly unraveling. America is now involved in three military campaigns abroad (Iraq, Afghanistan, and Libya), a violent conflict on the U.S. southern border, unrest concerning Union bullying, Muslim pressure to adopt Islamic social justice, imminent economic collapse, willful destruction of our food supply through genetic engineering , urban gang and drug related violence, the breakdown of the family through divorce and the promotion of the homosexual agenda, human genocide via legalized abortion murders, and a President that hasn’t a clue as how, or which way, to lead the nation. We also see Japan experiencing one of the most horrific disasters of her history on par with the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki of WWII. The Middle East is also experiencing a political and social meltdown, and the future of affordable energy for the entire world is in peril. These are just a few of the problems we face as a nation and as a race.

We are witnessing a total breakdown of the societal order of the City of Man. Like Rome in 410 A.D. the City of Man is being sacked by bands of brutal and godless barbarians. But the barbarians of our age have adopted a particular set of warfare tactics. These barbarians wage what via actual, political, philosophical and ideological means. Unlike the Roman breakdown, we are experiencing a worldwide crisis which will affect every single human being on the face of the planet. This has never happened on this scale before.

NO HEAVENLY BAILOUT

Unlike the thieving bailout policies of the Fabian socialists, Marxists, and American liberals, there will not be any bailout from Heaven. On the contrary, these difficult events are orchestrated by God for the chastisements of the world and her wicked rebellion against His Holy authority. God has removed His blessings from a rebellious world and the nations have been plunged into chaos as a result.

The prophet Amos explains that every event which comes to pass is orchestrated according to the will of God in a Holy response to the actions of man[1]. For every obedience and rebellion, there is a perfectly suited and just response. This principle is true for both individuals and nations alike.

DON’T EXPECT THE RAPTURE

These events are not the signs of the end. The rapture is not at hand; neither will these events reveal the anti-Christ. Rather these events only testify to the extent of the world’s anti Christian hatred and arrogant neglect toward the True and Living God. God is now calling all flesh to attention by these crises. Whenever a people (or a nation) refuse to acknowledge the comprehensive and universal Crown Rights of Christ’s Legitimate Lordship, God brings destruction – and destruction comes in many forms. God’s judgment is a justified recompense for the rebellion of mankind, and it is God Who determines the manner of chastisement.

There is however another important point to be made. These events are also meant to identify to the professing Christian church, and the professing Christian nation, the United States, their gross irresponsibility to call its civil leaders back into conformity to the Word of God. Blame cannot be placed at the foot of Congress, the White House or the Judiciary without adding culpability to the church and the citizenry for abandoning the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and His revealed Law-Word.

A RETURN TO GOD’S LAW

It must be evident by now that humanistic policies of men and the godless laws of nations cannot repair the breaches of our global breakdown. Nothing of man’s inventions, politics or policies can help the world now. They have all been exposed as failure. The only alternative is the law of God, understood and applied faithfully and equitably.

WHERE TO START

1. In order to be equipped with the Law-Word of God one must first know and understand it. Therefore study God’s word with a view to understand how it ought to be applied to modern difficulties.

2. Read and study select books which address the logistics and tactics that the Christian must take to redeem the culture. The Blue Print Series is one I recommend. Follow our New Geneva Christian Leadership Facebook Page to learn more – subscribe to our blogs and twitter posts.

3. Study historical books which detail how God’s people dealt with cultural difficulties and how they reformed the culture and overcame the incredible odds against them. Read D’Aubigne’s History of the Reformation in the time of Calvin, Schaffs Historical account of the Reformation particularly the section on Geneva, Pierre Viret’s[2] work and De Regne Christos by Martin Bucer. These will assist you in gaining insight on how to address these problems by use of God’s Law.

4. Once you are prepared you can begin teaching others and declaring to the rulers of the world what God requires of them. Whether they will hear or whether they will forbear, it matters little, God will use us in either case for His Glory.

[1] Amos 3:6 Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil (lit. calamity) in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?

[2] More on Pierre Viret soon to come.

Economic Security and Family Order

2011-03-15T18:47:00.000-07:00

The world’s most valuable asset in a time of economic crisis is not gold, silver, guns, ammunition, medical supplies, food or even water. Some may think the most valuable asset for a family’s economic security is farm land. While all these things are essential, and should be highly valued and available in a time of crisis, they are not the most important aspect of the Family’s well being.

The Christian Family is God’s vehicle for Cultural Dominion. It is the sanctuary and safety zone for each member. It is the child’s first church, school, government and economic vehicle. It is the most important institution on the face of the earth. Although the church remains crucial to the wellbeing of the culture, the family is central. Without the family, the church cannot exist. Both institutions, the church and the family, are to work in harmony, supporting one another without usurping each other’s authority role.

Today’s Christian Family is in peril. It is out of order. It is out of order to the point that it no longer resembles the Christian family of Scripture. It is so far out of order that at times it doesn’t even resemble the traditional family of the 1600 and 1700s. The reason for this is clear; it is simple; and it rests upon the shoulders of Christian husbands and fathers.

A majority of today’s Christian men have rebelled against God’s pattern for Godly manhood by following the path of the humanist, resulting in the Family’s malady.

Today’s men, Christian and non-Christian alike, are more concerned with sensual gratification than with Family Order. They are concerned with money, business ventures, the quest of financial ease, and the hope of early retirement.

This abdication of family responsibility results in women filling the void. As R.J. Rushdoony states, “The matriarchal society is thus the decadent or broken society.”

The most important asset for the economic security of the Christian Family is Godly Order. If a family is out of order it cannot survive, even in the best of times. In a crisis, it is doomed. Christian men must repent and recapture what has been lost by their greed, and carnal quest for worldly goods.

Establishing a Godly Family-Order begins with establishing a Godly marriage. The principles of a Godly marriage, and a Godly Family-Order were set forth by Matthew Sorin in 1840. These are all reminiscent of Ephesians Chapter 5 and various principles from other Pauline Epistles.

The duties Arising out of the Marriage Relation:
1. Mutual affection.
2. Mutual Confidence
3. Mutual Attention
4. Mutual Assistance
5. Mutual Respect
6. Mutually promoting each other’s Spiritual welfare.

Notice how the husband and wife are to work together in mutual agreement and assistance for the control and ordering of the family. Without this marital order the family will be out of order. This is why Paul is careful to counsel Timothy that if any would rule the church he first must rule well his own house. Family order is essential to both the family and the church.
Here are some principles to be considered:

1. Christian men must kill off any pride that may interfere with family focus. That means doing without some of the things your neighbors may have so you can give time to your family.

2. Christian men must be able to take advice and absorb corrective criticism from both their wives and their brethren. They must be constantly searching the Scriptures for ways to direct their family in the things of God.

3. They must re-direct themselves God-ward so they may re-direct their family God-ward. Discipleship takes time. One must first discipline the self before one can discipline others. This takes time and patience. It also takes men away from the “fun” things that they may want to do. That is where the problem lies. Prioritize your family first and focus upon them.

4. Christian men must be frugal in order to teach frugality. This is an economic necessity. Today’s undisciplined man is actually an unruly child. Whatever his heart lusts after he sets out to buy. A Family man must teach his family to count the costs lest he inadvertently teaches squander rather than stewardship.

5. Family order requires the husband/father to know what is happening in the family at all times. He must have his finger on the “pulse” of each member of the family, especially his wife. The Godly man knows the state of his flocks and herds. He must be engaged his family’s life.

6. Establishing an orderly family means having a goal as a family. That goal must be Christo-centric. It must glorify God. Each member of the family must be in pursuit of some goal for the Glory of God. If no family goal God-ward is established, the family cannot be called a Christian family no matter how many prayers are said, hymns sung, or money dropped into the offering plate.

Economic security depends upon Family Order; in a time of ease, and especially in a time of crisis.

Patience and Preparation

2011-03-07T07:13:00.001-08:00

“Now Obadiah feared the LORD greatly: For it was so, when Jezebel cut off the prophets of the LORD, that Obadiah took an hundred prophets, and hid them by fifty in a cave, and fed them with bread and water”
(1 Kings 18:3-4).

During times of wicked oppression, God’s people need to be very careful lest they become discouraged and slothful. By nature, mankind is impatient. The majority of postmodern Christians are impatient. They desire overnight success and overnight victory. Some Christians are more patient than others and will concede to remain patient as long as victory comes in their lifetime. While victory is certain, as the Lord has promised, it is not promised according to our time table. Victory comes by degrees and it comes by way of consistency and hard work. Our Lord comments on the Kingdom and how patience is essential for its maturation.

"And he said, So is the Kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the ground; And should sleep, and rise night and day, and the seed should spring and grow up, he knoweth not how. For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. But when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come." (Mt 4:26-29)

Commenting on Mark 4:26-29, R.J. Rushdoony states,

“The Kingdom of God, as it develops in history, has a necessary growth and development. No more that we can plant grain and then expect the harvest at once, can we expect quick or immediate results in the growth of God’s Kingdom. If we plant grain, we must cultivate it, often water it, then to the field, and, only after much labor, reap a harvest. To expect otherwise is stupidity and foolishness, whether in farming or in the work of the Kingdom. In fact, our Lord describes quick growth as false (cf Matt 13:5-6, 20-21).…Within the church, this demand for immediate and spectacular results is commonplace.”

Godly patience is essential for the totality of Christ’s victory to be realized.

Note what Obadiah was doing during the tyrannical rule of the wicked.

First, he was hiding those that feared the Lord. They had to go underground. As Solomon states, “… when the wicked rise, a man is hidden” (Pr 28:12b). These God-fearing men had to be hidden, and similarly the witness of the God- Man Jesus Christ was removed from society’s view.

Second, Obadiah fed them with bread and water. These are symbolic of the Word of God. These men were being prepared for another day. This lesson is of extreme importance. The men were not simply waiting for the rapture or for some divine intervention. They were preparing for providence. They had gone underground (and thus out of sight) to work without being overtly oppressed. But they were working. They were planning and scheming. God tells Elijah that He had reserved seven thousand who had not bowed the knee to the image of Baal or kissed him. These were some of those men. They were faithful men, ready and willing to act when the time was right. And while they waited they prepared.

While our nation’s moral, economic, political and legal integrity is unraveling, Christians need to be preparing for the time when God calls them to expound God’s Word in answering the real problems facing our culture. We Christians must be ready when God providentially orchestrates our entrance into the forefront of history. We need to be building Christian models for society. We need to be positioning ourselves to help those in our church and in our community. We need to be ready for whatever God has in store for our nation, and that takes work. It takes study and it takes commitment.

Until we are ready, well prepared, and poised to plan for the many generations of the future, with concrete solutions, God will not open a door of opportunity for us. Our generation will languish and another generation will take our place, willing and ready to perform God’s will – consistently and patiently.

Log onto the New Geneva Leadership Academy’s Web site and surf through the courses available. These courses are structured precisely for the purpose of preparing Christian men and women for the task that is upon us. Deo Vindice!

Real Wealth and the Dollar’s Demise

2011-03-03T17:34:00.000-08:00

The modern view of wealth has little awareness of what wealth has meant in different areas of the world and during various historical eras. Today, money is directly equated with wealth. In ancient times, and among other peoples of the world, land holdings, many children, grandchildren, and livestock have all been indicators of wealth. Knowledge, skill and societal influence were indicators of wealth, and still should be.

According to the Hebrew lexicon, the word ‘wealth’ is sometimes translated as, “strength”, “power”, “substance”, “fullness”, “rest” and “prosperity”. And thus, one can be wealthy without having an abundance of money.

By now it should seem quite evident that the American dollar is in a tailspin and is losing value by the minute. This dire prophesy was once home only to those fringe “gloom and doom” economists, but now, even the Wall Street Journal has sounded the trumpet of fiscal doom.

In a recent March 2nd article, “Why the Dollar's Reign Is Near an End” Barry Eichengreen argues that “although the dollar has served as the world's main reserve currency for decades, it will soon have to share that role.

Read it here: Why the Dollar's Reign Is Near an End

So what should the Christian community do?
What does it mean for Christ’s church and Christ’s people?
How are we to respond?

As I have argued before, one should already be making the necessary preparations for this economic downturn. Food prices are sure to skyrocket as will other basics needed for daily life. These things should be purchased before the prices soar. (see Ambassador School Blog post Feb 23, 2011). If at all possible, store extra food, clothing and medical supplies. These should be used for your neighbor as an opportunity to sharing the Truth of God’s Law Word. You should also encourage your pastor to begin a food bank at your church for the local community. He should instruct the congregation to prepare individually so no one family will be a burden to the others. (These Providences can be great opportunities for the Church to exercise true leadership.)

In light of these situations facing our nation and the global community, one should also carefully consider what wealth is, and why it is given.

Moses tells us why wealth is given. (Remember wealth Is not only money – in fact, it is often much more comprehensive than just dollars, gold and silver.)

“But thou shalt remember the LORD thy God: for it is he that giveth thee power to get wealth, that he may establish his covenant which he sware unto thy fathers, as it is this day.” Deuteronomy 8:18

Wealth of every kind is given for one reason; to use it for the advancement of the Kingdom.

First, Christians need to take a careful assessment of their overall wealth and then, use it to advance His Glorious Kingdom in whatever way possible. The demise of the dollar can be Christianity’s gateway to leadership and Godly Dominion. Let’s not waste a great opportunity- it is God’s gift to us and to our neighbor.

Sovereignty and Dominion

2011-02-28T15:18:00.001-08:00

The two key issues facing both the world and the church are Sovereignty and Dominion: who rules and who has legitimate ownership of all things. Every aspect of life must come to terms with these questions. None can claim neutrality when faced with this challenge. Either man is the supreme lawgiver, judge and king, or God is. Either man owns all things, thus giving him ownership legitimacy over the created order, or God owns all things. Both cannot be true. Neither can these questions be ignored.

As a result of the Fall, man has deluded himself into thinking that he is like God. (cf. Gen 3:5) Today’s man has gone further into the abyss of self delusion by believing that he is God, and thus has total sovereign claim over the earth. For man to believe that he is God, or god-like, is to say that he is sovereign and his sovereignty entitles him to legitimate ownership of all things. While man generally desires lordship over nature, the beasts of the field, and other men, he ultimately desires lordship over God.

Ps 2:2-3, The kings of the earth set themselves, and the rulers take counsel together, against the LORD, and against his anointed, saying, Let us break their bands asunder, and cast away their cords from us.

Man, by nature, does not desire Biblical Dominion. He desires humanistic domination. Biblical dominion would bring man under God and under His law. Humanistic domination legitimizes man’s revolt against God and allows man to be his own lawgiver.

In order to clarify the difference between Biblical Dominion and humanistic domination, R.J. Rushdoony states,

“God’s Law-Word gives man the way to dominion, and dominion is not domination. Domination is the exercise of lawless power over others. Dominion is the exercise of godly power in our God-given sphere. The rejection of God’s sovereignty leads to domination; that affirmation of God’s sovereignty and His law is the foundation of dominion. It is also the means to power under God… A humanistic power can only be truly overthrown by God’s power, and men cannot escape dominion and tyranny apart from a return to the Triune God and their total calling and dominion mandate under Him.”

So when unconverted men are catapulted into positions of civil power, they will seek to rule apart from God’s Law; whenever that happens, domination results. Depending upon the degree of the rebellion, so too with be the degree of tyranny and humanistic domination. One must remember that any rejection of God’s law opens the portals to further rejection, which moves a nation from ‘soft tyranny’ to abject dictatorship-domination.

Theologian and author Marin Selbrede rightly affirms,

“A consistent full-orbed Christianity that takes the Crown rights of the King seriously poses a threat to the self-proclaimed sovereign power state, and this threat is clearly understood by the state. It has accumulated power and has no intention of voluntarily relinquishing; it would take a power greater than itself to pry its fingers off of its claims to ultimacy.”

That reckoning power is the power of Christ, His Law, and His Gospel. It is this comprehensive claim which must be advanced in the world by His Elect Body, the Church, pressing forward the legitimacy of His Dominion Sovereignty.

Goal: Remove the unlawful claim of statist sovereignty by establishing the Lawful Sovereignty of Christ over every are of life.

Strategy: Establish Christian-based institutions to replace the statist institutions.

Logistics:

a. Establish Christian Schools (or at least encourage others) for every level of education and which do not answer to the state. (These can be established under the U.S. religious exemption clause.)
b. Establish Ecclesiastic courts to adjudicate disputes. Branch out into the community once the news gets out of the justice and equity meted out at these proceedings.
c. Establish a local Christian banking system using honest money. (Not an easy thing but it can be done.)
d. Establish a food and clothing bank. Open it to the public. Use it as a tool to share the Word of God. Keep a list of those that use the service. Have the elders contact them. Make pastoral visits. Bring Christ to them. Build relationships.
e. Establish Christ-centered homes for unwed mothers, battered women, and the homeless. (Use the homes of church members on a volunteer basis to get started.)
f. Establish Christian training centers for the un-skilled. Teach them new skills that can be used for future employment or advancement.
g. Establish a Christian unemployment center to help people find work. Obtain a list of all the employers in the area and meet with them. Introduce the project to them. Keep in touch with them on a regular basis. Take a genuine interest in their business. Keep the channels open.
h. Establish a Christian training center to assist families to get out of debt, and to become faithful Biblical stewards of their finances.
i. Establish tutorial services for school-aged children. Offer these at a nominal fee or for free to get started.
j. Establish Home Education support centers. Encourage home schooling. Help moms find curriculum and have a team of moms standing by to assist.
k. Establish Christian Home Schooling co-ops. Wean the parents from the government schools.

The goal is to replace the state’s domination institutions with Christo-centric dominion-based institutions.

For more information on how you can proceed with some of these idea contact us on Face Book, or write: pastor@hisglory.us

Economic Chaos, Fear and Uncertainty: An Opportunity for Christian Reconstruction

2011-02-23T13:04:00.000-08:00

THE WARNING: 

"Paper money has had the effect, in your state, that it will ever have, to ruin commerce, oppress the honest, and open the door to every species of fraud and injustice." —GEORGE WASHINGTON, in letter to J. Bowen, Rhode Island, Jan. 9, 1787

THE SITUATION:

On February 22^nd, President’s Day, World Net Daily released an email stating the following:

“After almost a century of inflation, today's dollar has less than 2 cents of the purchasing power that it had in 1913 when the Federal Reserve Board was founded.
The dollar in 1913 was backed by gold, as the Founders, including Washington, specified, in keeping with the Good Book's standard for money.

But that effectively changed in 1933 when President Franklin D. Roosevelt made ownership of gold bullion illegal in the U.S., and in 1971 when President Richard Nixon severed the last anchor of dollar convertibility into gold for foreign banks.

No longer constrained from printing all the easy money they wanted after 1971, the politicians started putting “In God We Trust” on paper dollars at about the same time they removed our currency's golden handcuffs that prohibited inflating the dollar. Now the world is rapidly losing faith in our anchorless “faith-based,” debased currency, and with good reason.

In the past two years our politicians have conjured $4 Trillion out of thin air. Fed Chair Ben Bernanke's Quantitative Easing 2 (QE2) is adding another $600 Billion—double the total number of physical paper dollars now circulating in the United States. The Congressional Budget Office days ago projected that 2011 will enlarge the deficit by another $1.48 Trillion.

And every one of these new paper fiat dollars steals value from the dollars you earn and save. Food cost inflation is already skyrocketing overseas, causing the riots that toppled a government in Tunisia and setting in motion falling dominos in Egypt and the Persian Gulf oil sheikdoms. Food prices will soon soar here, too.

Our politicians printing trillions of dollars is a major factor in global inflation and instability. Because economic strength and military might were the two legs on which America once stood tall, the fast-approaching crash of the dollar will end our prosperity at home and create a power vacuum that fanatics can fill in other countries such as nuclear-armed Pakistan.”

HISTORICAL OBSERVATION

Since 1980 I have been interested in both the American and global financial markets. Initially it was only out of pure curiosity since I hadn’t any money to invest, being just two years out of college and looking to establish a career. At that time the country was in a recession, there was a high level of unemployment, the dollar was devalued, the inflation rate was rising, and gold was being sold above $850 per ounce. There was also much talk about a two-tier currency, which we now have today—another sign of rapid inflation. Forty years later we are not any better off. The fact is, we are much worse off.

America’s paper money is worthless in itself. It is backed only by the government’s promise to honor it, that is, until it can no longer keep that promise. It is also only beneficial as a medium of exchange as long as citizens are willing to take it as valued currency. Once the people decide that the paper is worthless, the dollar becomes extinct—almost overnight.

Since the U.S. is no longer on a bi-metallic standard of gold and silver, the paper dollar’s days are numbered—and those numbers are dwindling.

THE BANCOR POSSIBILITY

Taking into account the current inflation rate, today’s gold price of $1300+ is equivalent to the 1980 price of gold of approximately $400 per ounce. If gold follows the same pattern as it did in the 1980s, today’s gold should double at its peak to $3000 to $5000 per ounce. When that happens, (and I do not say if, but at this present rate I believe I must say when), the value of the dollar will have, for all intents and purposes, collapsed. We may then see the introduction of a North American currency, the Bancor (or whatever name they finally decide to call it. It makes no difference since it is all the same scam).

The Bancor currency, like the Euro, may be the government’s silver bullet to quell the panic that will erupt when the dollar finally fails. But here is the rub: the Bancor is not the people’s silver bullet—rather it is the government’s. This North American currency will most likely be valued higher than the devalued dollar, making it necessary to purchase Bancor notes with more dollars than a one to one ratio. At the end of the day, not only is the paper American currency devalued by inflation, but it is then further devalued by the unbalanced ratio causing a downward spiraling effect for many families into poverty.

The economic collapse of the American economic system might be the most dramatic and single most important event in the modern history of this nation.

ANALYSIS

When this all transpires, it will not be the end of the world. It will be the end of an era, but not the world. Jesus is not coming back with His bankbook to bail us out. These events are providentially orchestrated for both our chastisement and our learning. They are also brought about for our opportunity. This is an opportunity to lead with concrete Biblical solutions for our decrepit economic and political system. It is the time when the Sons of God will be manifested.

STRATEGY

First: God’s people must be prepared for whatever might come to pass. Families must prepare for what may happen. They must be educated and knowledgeable as to how to insulate themselves in these troubled times.

Second: Churches must realize that they will be called to minister to the community when tough times arise. They too need to be prepared for the role of leadership and mercy to the community lest they create another vacuum for the government to take control.

Thirdly: Our civil magistrates must be made aware of the situation. They must be called to fiscal responsibility, which is based upon Biblical Ethics. God’s people must lead the way.

TRAINING & LOGISTICS

Last year I prepared six economic reports in order to train God’s people in tactics and logistics. The information is comprehensive and useful. It will walk you through a process so you can plan for any economic downturn. I did not, however, give the reports freely. I required a fee. That in itself was part of the training. You must offer your knowledge and skill for payment. Others will do likewise. This is the first step in entrepreneurship and financial stability.

I am offering these reports again. If you are interested, you can email me at pastor@hisglory.us and I will tell you how to obtain these six reports of 10 pages each, filled with practical advice, links and Biblical principles that will change the way you think about money and stewardship.
The six reports will be given to all interested parties for a donation of $14.95, the price of three cappuccinos. The proceeds will go to our Non- Profit Organization, The Institute for Theonomic Reformation, in support of The New Geneva Christian Leadership Academy.

CONCLUSION

The economic system of the United States, in confederacy with the global market place, cannot sustain itself in rebellion against Biblical principles forever. There must be a breaking point. There must be a time when God says, “Enough!” (cf. Proverbs 1:24-32)

And yet, God has promised that He will not do anything unless He first declares it to His people. We have been warned. Let’s think seriously about what we must do.

“Surely the Lord GOD will do nothing, but he revealeth his secret unto his servants the prophets.” Amos 3:7

Unrest, Rebellion and The Law of God

2011-02-21T09:16:00.000-08:00

The Intelligence Organization of STRATFOR recently posted this statement in regard to the unrest in Libya:

"There has now been some spark of unrest in places as far afield as Cote d’Ivoire and Iran. For the most part, these protests are limited in size and scope, and not all of them are connected. But are some? Are there protests unified by common themes? Are there common forces at work behind the scenes in some cases?"

Today FOX New reported that "witnesses say protesters and security forces are battling for control of central Tripoli, with snipers opening fire on crowds and Qaddafi supporters speeding through in cars, shooting and running over protesters."

Even in our own U.S. we see the beginnings of civil unrest over Labor Union benefits and pensions. The WEEK Reported:

"A clash between Democratic protesters and Republican lawmakers in Wisconsin, over the proposed gutting of collective-bargaining rights for public-employee unions, has sparked a national debate. The protests in Madison are already being replicated in cities across the Rust Belt, with national leaders throwing their weight behind each of the causes."

We also see similar disputes now in Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Iowa and New Hampshire.

While the issues abroad seem to be distinct from the issues here, STRATFOR is correct in that they all share in one common denominator, a common theme - frustration. The people are frustrated. They are frustrated over the particular situation that they face and have become angered to the point of aggressive action.

Abroad, the people seem to be frustrated over government oppression, as in the case of Egypt, Iran, Bahrain, and Libya. In the case at home, people are actually fearful that they will be deprived of their retirement pensions and union benefits, all of which will be unsustainable at this present rate of inflation and government debt. Whether they like it or not there will eventually be no money for any entitlement program, union or otherwise.

Theologically, however, we can be assured that there is ONE common force behind these providential happenings - God Holy will and orchestration of all things.

Amos tells us, "Shall a trumpet be blown in the city, and the people not be afraid? shall there be evil [lit. calamity] in a city, and the LORD hath not done it?"

Daniel tells us that God "changeth the times and the seasons: he removeth kings, and setteth up kings:"

To look beyond the physical occurrences of the world to the metaphysical, is to see it from God's vantage point. This is wisdom.This is true intel.

God is shaking the nations. The difference in our day is that He is shaking them collectively. This is something we have not seen in our generation, or in past generations. We face a global restructuring which if not restructured God-ward will mean years of tribulation for all of us.

But let me hasten to say that this does not in any way signal the 'end of the world' as some might think, no matter what the Aztecs predicted. They were never privy to God's Revelation. God has clearly stated that the end will only come when Christ, through His Body, the True Church, subdues all His enemies on earth, in time and history.

1Co 15:24-25 "Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet."

The end of the world will only be signaled by the total Advancement of Christ's Righteousness according to God's Law. The end will come only after every knee bows to the Supremacy of the Christ and when all kings either Kiss the Son or are destroyed by Him. Scripture concludes that the knowledge of the Lord will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea just before the end of time. We are no where near that yet.

These global developments should rather be a signal to the saints to prepare themselves - i.e. arming themselves with the Law-Word of God - in order to give Biblical answers to the many problems facing the world. At this historic juncture Christendom is ill-prepared for the very task that she is called to accomplish. Generally speaking Christians have not led the culture but rather have been led by the culture. They have rejected the Law of God and the application of it to the real world, and thus have reaped the whirl-wind of global unrest, violence, anger, frustration and uncertainty. This must change. Christendom must provide Biblical answer to real problems.

So what are the Saints to do?

Firstly: Understand that the only way for Peace is through Covenant obedience to the Word of God. This means that the moral and judicial Law of God must be implemented to our modern world properly, and not as some would claim "tyrannically" (as if the implementation of God's Holy, Just and Equitable Law is tyrannical).

I remember at a conference that I attended in 2001 one of the speakers was from a U.N. watch-dog group. After his speech he paused and said very soberly, and entirely unscripted, "Aside from everything I have said, I believe that the only way for world peace is through Jesus Christ." He had it right.

Secondly: Christians need to look beyond what is happening and ask "Why" is it happening?

Third: Christians then need to seek similar situations in Scripture and use them as case-studies to see if any light is shed for solutions through these Scriptural case-studies and examples.

Finally: Any solution to any problem that is not explicitly Biblical can never solve the problem. At best, it may alleviate it for a season but it can never solve it long term. Most times, when solutions are presented apart from Scriptural sanction, the result is further oppression and unrest a la the French Revolution. The situation simply goes from the frying pan headlong into the fire of God's Judgment and the end is worse than the begining.

The implementation of the standard of the

Justice, Equity and Righteousness of God's Law is the only hope for our unsettled world.

Politics, Tyrants and the Christian Statesman

2011-02-17T10:59:00.000-08:00

In his superb analysis of democracy, Hans-Hermann Hoppe, Professor Emeritus of Economics at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas and Distinguished Fellow at the Mises Institute observes that "prime ministers and presidents are selected for their proven efficiency as morally uninhibited demagogues. Thus, democracy virtually assures that only bad and dangerous men will ever rise to the top of government." Those who thirst for political office appear to be eager to break the moral code that most of us are willing to follow. It seems that the greater the power of the political office that a candidate is seeking, the more likely it is that that individual has no sense of right and wrong.

This is especially true in our day where either good or God- fearing men refuse to jump headlong into the cesspool of politics, fearing they too will be corrupted, or they adopt a dualistic approach and claim that government is outside of God’s interest, exonerating them of any cultural and political responsibility.

What is missed behind such an anomaly is the overall reason for America’s political demise. In other words, why is this happening?

Rev. Joseph Morecraft sets forth the reason clearly.

“When God begins to judge a nation for its revolt against Him, He removes effective leaders and replaces them with irresponsible and reckless ones who have no appreciation of the past and no commitment to the future under God…[However] when God begins to lift that judgment and begins to receive and rebuild a nation in the midst of repentance, He restores Christian leadership at all levels of church and state in answer to the earnest prayers of His faithful people.”

This nation has been plunged into the abyss of immorality and tyranny as a result of the church’s and the nation’s failure to be culturally relevant God-ward.

Morecraft comments:

“When men with Godly abilities refuse to take upon themselves the yoke of political authority for the benefit of their friends family and fellow patriots, then ungodly, misdirected, reckless, unproductive, and oppressive leaders will rush to the fountains of power.”

Men of God need to confederate together to take back what has been given them by Divine appointment, i.e. their nation for God’s Glory. While this is the appointed task for every true saint it is not easily attained. It is not, however, impossible. It will take commitment, consistency, hard work and patience. Many are not willing to give that much for the Crown rights of Christ. But then again, they may only be 'Christians' in name only.

Consider the situation.

There are two problems facing the nation. The first is the overall political structure, and that the power behind it is stacked against any Godly men rising to a position of influence. Yet this first situation has no intrinsic power of itself, rather it is given its standing and power by the second. The second problem, that which empowers the first, centers on the citizenry. Some of the people who vote for these power hungry mongrels are wickedly immoral themselves. Others are hopelessly covetous seeking government entitlements regardless of whom the government steals from through taxation and plunder. Still others are simply ignorant of the Biblical Law-Standard of right and wrong and thus are easily deceived.

The immediate answer to these problems is not running for political office, but rather setting the stage in order to run for political office. This must be done through a re-education program of the citizenry in the Biblical Law-Principles of government and freedom. If the general population is made aware of the benefits of a good and Godly government only then will they elect good and Godly officials to the seat of power. The acceptance of God’s Law is contingent upon God’s intervening grace to be sure. But when God’s people obey the precepts of the Commission Mandate; God is sure to bless their efforts.

GOAL: Educate the Populace – Educate the Politicians

STRATEGY: Carefully study God’s Word, formulating written arguments against political, economic and cultural corruption providing concrete solutions to each issue ready for publication and assimilation.

LOGISTICS: 1. Build a Team of Committed Saints.

2. Identify their talents.

3. A. Some will great researchers. Give them the charge of researching the current issues of the day, choosing those that need to be addressed locally, state-wide or nationally.
B. Others will be able to research God’s Word and the various Christian documents of history to bolster the argument and provide solutions.
C. Others will be able to put it all down in clearly written form. You will need people who can write clearly and have proper grammar. Use someone who has grammatical skills to edit before any publishing.

4. Monitor the politicians when in session or in local meetings. Go to the meetings. Be sure the local Newspaper accurately records what really happened as many papers are bias. Many localities use committees appointed by the magistrates for zoning, building et al. These need to be monitored as well.

5. Get to know the politicians. Make yourself visible. Those in your team that are good communicators and have a good public report ought to be ‘out and about’ the people and the politicians. Let them know someone is concerned. But moreover let them know someone is watching. Subtle intimidation can be very effective.

6. Don’t be afraid to expose corruption. While most politicians are unethical, in our godless age being unethical is not a crime. It is, however, a sign of potential corruption. If corruption can be substantiated do not be afraid to involve the local FBI. They are God’s ministers for good. Force them to adhere to their calling by prosecuting the evil.

7. Keep governing officials honest by requesting sensitive financial documents using the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). If they know someone is checking on their activities, they may fear exposure enough to act blamelessly.

Deo Vindice!

Biblical Eschatology : Accuracy is Essential

2011-02-10T16:02:00.000-08:00

"Eschatology is inseparable from purpose, purpose in history. The goal of the enemy is the Kingdom of Man. The goal of Christ's people must be the Kingdom of God, ruled by God's law-word. Eschatology is not only about ends, but also means to the given goal. This is why Theonomy, God's law and its rule, is inseparable from God's Kingdom." ~ R.J. Rushdoony ‘Journal of Christian Reconstruction’, Vol. XV, 1998 p. 11

Eschatology coupled with the application of God's Law is the lynch-pin for Christian victory. Without a postmillennial view of history, which ensures a comprehensive victory by the Sovereign Christ, the church will languish in fear, doubt and despondency.

The Apostle makes a critical end-time prediction of how it is going to pan out. In speaking of the end of time, he states,

1Co 15:24-25 "Then cometh the end, when he shall have delivered up the kingdom to God, even the Father; when he shall have put down all rule and all authority and power. For he must reign, till he hath put all enemies under his feet."

Note: The end will come ONLY after Christ has put down ALL RULE and ALL AUTHORITY and ALL POWER.

He can do this since at His resurrection, all Power was given to Him in heaven AND IN THE EARTH!

The Kingdom of His Dominion had arrived as a result of His resurrection, and at Pentecost the result of that victory came with visible power as the Holy Spirit was poured out.

Jesus had told the apostles that He would not eat or drink with them until He did so a-new in the Kingdom. After His resurrection He does just that; He eats and drinks with them, signifying the fact that His Conquering Kingdom had come and He was seated as King in Heaven reigning over the earth.

Before His resurrection He had told His people that the Kingdom was at hand. At His resurrection it had come. Fifty days later it was evident to all flesh.

This event was foretold by both David and Daniel:

Psalm 72:8 "He shall have dominion also from sea to sea, and from the river unto the ends of the earth."

Daniel 7:14 "And there was given Him dominion, and glory, and a kingdom, that all people, nations, and languages, should serve him: his dominion is an everlasting dominion, which shall not pass away, and his kingdom that which shall not be destroyed."

The New Testament writer to the Hebrews reiterates Christ's position of absolute Sovereignty and the totality of His victory.

Hebrews 2:8 "Thou hast put all things in subjection under his feet. For in that he put all in subjection under him, he left nothing that is not put under him..."

Then he explains why we do not see the kingdom's manifestation during the dark days of history.

"...But now we see not yet all things put under him."

The work of Christ's victory will not always be evident on earth. Nor are we promised that in every age there will be a positive progression of Christ's Kingdom, especially in light of the Church's apostasy. What we can expect during ecclesiastic rebellion is God's chastisement and great darkness. Christ is hidden in those times. (cf Prov 28:12)Nevertheless the Kingdom is advancing. The evidence of that advancement will only be manifested when the church returns to the Law's application for every area of life.

Here is what we are promised in every time, be it light or dark.

Heb 2:9 "But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour; that he by the grace of God should taste death for every man."

We are promised that by faith we see the Heavenly reality of eminent victory beyond the senses. By faith we know that victory on earth is at hand. It may not be in our lifetime. But it will come during human life-time. Christ does not need to come again to establish His Kingdom and reign, He already has.

The problem with the modern, postmodern and secularized-Christian church is that they are unwilling to look beyond themselves to the heritage of many future generations beyond their own.

Postmillennial Eschatology is a labor of faith knowing that what Christ has accomplished is real, and what He has promised will come to pass until He subdues all kingdoms. It is at that time that the knowledge of His Universal and Comprehensive Lordship will cover the earth as the waters cover the sea as Isaiah predicted thousands of years ago.

Christo Kurios

Sins of Blasphemy

2011-02-06T18:58:00.000-08:00

The sin against the fist commandment, Thou shalt have no other god's before the true God, banishes the Name of Jehovah by means of taking to one's self other gods and their idolatrous names.

The sin against the second commandment obscures and disfigures His Name by making graven images.

The sin against the third commandment, Thou shalt not take the Name of the Lord in vain, abuses the Holy Name of God.

All abuses of God's Name is a repudiation of His authority, and that repudiation must be met with Holy retribution.

Blasphemy is a terrible sin. But it is also a crime. It is a crime against the Majesty of God and an offense against His Crown Rights. Although American society refuses to view it as a crime it is exactly that nevertheless, and it warrants criminal sanctions according to the Scriptures.

Blasphemy, of any kind, against the Throne of Heaven, is forbidden. Whether it is a blasphemous cursing or a blasphemous action it is both a sin, and a crime.

Blasphemy is a rebellious act. It is an open declaration of war against God. It challenges and incites God to action.

Whenever a society tolerates such acts of lawlessness against the True God, God is forced to bring His wrath upon a culture, especially the civil magistrates who failed to uphold and protect God's honor.

All acts of Blasphemy are viewed as revolution against God's legitimate authority.

Historically, all acts of blasphemy were dealt with by the church as well as the civil magistrate, even to the extent of blasphemy against God's Holy Day. Consider the Connecticut Law of 1656 concerning the Lord's Day.

Connecticut Law, 1656

“Whosoever shall profane the Lord’s day, or any part of it, either by sinful servile work, or by unlawful sport, recreation, or otherwise, whether willfully or in a careless neglect, shall be duly punished by fine, imprisonment, or corporally, according to the nature, and measure of the sin, and offence.

But if the court upon examination, by clear and satisfying evidence finds that the sin was proudly, presumptuously, an with a high hand committed against the known command and authority of the blessed God, such a person therein despising and reproaching the Lord, shall be put to death that all others may fear and shun such provoking rebellious courses.”

While many may think this law too harsh, it shows the severity of Blasphemy and Sabbath breaking. The observance of God's Laws kept the social order, suppressed immorality, kept the family intact, the economy healthy, and God's Blessings were upon the nation. We stand upon the blessings of God as a result of the fidelity of those Americans that have gone before us.

Today however, while mainline Christianity tolerates society's open blasphemy against Her Lord, the Muslim, humanists, and outright pagans remain devoted and intolerant against any blasphemy against their gods, who is in fact, not God.

GOAL: Get the Christian church, its pastors and leaders, and the local civil rulers to re-consider their devotion to the Honor of God by no longer tolerating open rebellion and blasphemy against His holy and legitimate authority. .

STRATEGY: Educate the community. Pressure them to pressure the local authorities. Educate the Magistrate. Challenge them by showing how other religions are jealous of their gods - why are not we as passionate? Stir the people. Warn the magistrate. Explain to them that God's blessing will be upon them for their obedience. Also mention that the curse of God rests upon them for rebellion. Do it tactfully - but do it sternly.

Christo Kurios

2011-02-04T14:58:00.000-08:00

"America is an oligarchy of lawyers and the businessmen who hire them.
   
In no other nation do five lawyers determine what is lawful and what is not. This supreme authority of five people is both a symbol and the legal foundation of the political system that rules 310 million Americans. Yet we are so used to it that we give it no thought. We assume that this is normative: 'the way things are  supposed to be.'

Yet it is neither normative nor Constitutional. It is merely traditional." Dr. Gary North

Interested in Politics, Government and Constitutional issues; Its structure, history and the philosophy behind it?

Check out New Geneva's Constitutional Law and Philosophy courses at: 

http://www.newgeneva.us/School_Of_Philosophy.htm/Philosophy_Courses.htm

http://www.newgeneva.us/School_Of_Government.htm/Government_Course_Listings.htm

The Puritan George Gillespie Declares to the Civil Magistrate his Duty

2011-02-03T19:45:00.000-08:00

"I know some divines hold that the Judaical laws of Moses, so far as concerneth the punishments of sins against the moral law, idolatry, blasphemy Sabbath-breaking, adultery, theft, etc., ought to be a rule to the Christian magistrate; and for my part, I wish more respect were had to it, and that it were more consulted with...

...It is one thing to govern the commonwealth, and to make political and civil laws; another thing to interpret the Word of God, and out of it to show the magistrate his duty, to wit, how he ought to govern the commonwealth, and in what manner he ought to use the sword. The former is proper and peculiar to the magistrate (neither doth the ministry intermeddle or entangle itself into such businesses0, but the latter is contained within the office of the ministers...

...For to that end also is the Holy Scripture profitable, to show which is the best manner of governing a commonwealth, and that the magistrate, as being God's minister, may be this guiding star be so directed, as that he may execute the parts of his office according to the will of God, and may perfectly be instructed in every good work..."

Gillespie believed the civil magistrate bound to the Law of God in civil and penal matters. His duty was to show obedience to the judicial laws of Moses.

GOAL: Our magistrates must do likewise!

STRATEGY: The Christian community is mandated to show them the way.

TACTIC: Educate the community. Educate the Magistrate. Stir the people. Blog, email, Face Book, Editorials, newspapers , community meetings, study groups and door to door community activism.

PREMISE: "A shift of perspective can transform a people from being passive and confused to motivated and creative."

Christo Kurios