Thursday, January 29, 2009

Is History Random or Conspiratorial?

There are Only Two Views of History

This text will be replaced

I just read a piece by Gary North titled, "WAS CALVIN A THEONOMIST?". Since I call myself a theonomist, (though not as defined by most Reformed leadership these days), I found this title intriguing as I have always wanted Calvin's help on this. After all, I have been repeatedly 'corrected' by well meaning non-theonomists (antinomians), for a number of years now, and they like to try and correct me by quoting Calvin. Considering the prolific volume of Calvin's works, I've never had the energy or the sense that I had enough time, to research Calvin in any depth to make my own conclusions about Calvin and the theonomist position, (pronomians).

So a special thanks to the Castlemans, both 'He' and 'She' Castleman, my lovely daughter and her tenacious husband, for coming across this article and sharing it with me. It is kind of like a breath of fresh air or drink of cool water in this desert of lawlessness that the "church" has forced us all to endure for far too long now.

Anyway, upon reading this article, although it does not necessarily talk about "conspiracy", it sure made me think about it and the ridiculous idea that any history at all could be possible without it. So, some of what I will comment on here is a direct result of Calvin's theonomic expression, which you could read for yourself. I went back into time and posted it myself right here. The rest of this writing is my own analysis of men conspirators in conjunction with the greatest conspirator; God Himself.

This term conspiracy has gotten a very absurd and bad rap, as it is just a word, and a good one too. It's sole use is simply to define what people are doing when they agree to perform together, and usually means performing something illegal, wrongful, or subversive, and is therefore secretive. After all, how will they perform what they want if they are stopped by those who know what they're up to? What they are doing, is "conspiring". What is so 'kooky' about that? People have done this ever since the fall. God's word makes it clear that conspiracies exist "in" history, but does it make it clear that conspiracies "make" history? I am not going to attempt to take this word apart in detail here, but if you're interested, there is a very good article for that here, by Richard Wall.

So usually, conspiracy denotes something evil, but I think this word is appropriately used when people agree to perform something good as well. In that sense, the Church has historically been a group of people who have been conspiring for centuries to perform the will of God as defined in the word of God. The big difference, and the 'key' difference, between good conspirators and evil conspirators, is that the evil conspiracists, in order to achieve their goals, must keep their plans secret, at least until they have accomplished the majority of what they've set out to do. John 3:19 I say "the majority", because, if their goal was to obtain unlawful power, and they had achieved most of their goal without anyone knowing, by the time their goals were almost completed they probably would have enough of that power by then to be strong enough to resist any attempts to stop them. They are then no longer quite so concerned about any light shining in their dark hiding places, or under their rock.

So as a side note, this should point out the urgency of exposing evil conspiracies as soon as possible. Like a cancer, if they are not stopped quickly, the larger they get and the more difficult and destructive they become. Let this also be of relevance to those of you who seek to love your neighbor. Exposing evil conspiracies is no different than a good radiologist exposing a patient's disease in time to save that patient's life. The unprofessional doctor would note all the symptoms of his patient's disease, and yet take no steps to expose the cause. Likewise, the unloving neighbor will watch the demoralization and destruction of his society and culture, which is full of neighbors, and will not care enough to expose what is at the root of it all. The unloving "Christian" neighbor simply shrugs his shoulders and says, "We KNOW what the root is. It's sin! My neighbors need Jesus!" That's like the bad doctor shrugging his shoulders while watching his dying patient, and then says, "I KNOW what's wrong with you. You're sick! You need a doctor!" Both somehow think they've made some sort of "helpful" diagnosis and have solved the patient's problem. They are self-deceived, because in reality, they have done nothing at all to love their neighbor, or, help their patient. They have delusionally relieved themselves of any responsibility to anyone else in their respective situations.

All right, what in the world does any of this have to do with Calvin and theonomy? Well the main point of that article was to prove that Calvin was indeed, at least in terms of Social Ethics, a theonomist. My attempt here is to say that I've noticed Calvin's arguments also make a very good case for history as conspiracy. Although Calvin makes a case for 3 views of history, I am sticking to what I can understand, and I think we can condense that down to only 2 views. History is either random events, happenstance in occurrence with no rhyme, reason, or order, at least as our finite minds could comprehend, or, it is the unfolding of very carefully conceived plans designed to have eternal consequences, or at least, consequences which extend to the end of time. (However, you Christians know that consequences in time extend beyond the grave, and are therefore, eternal.) Thus, you either believe history to be random, or conspiratorial. Some may try to hold both positions simultaneously, but I hope to show here that these positions effectively cancel each other out and makes that idea untenable. Calvin makes a distinction for a third view; that of Deism, but I have, perhaps erroneously, combined Deism with the conspiratorial view. Deists might not agree that this is their position, so that is where Calvin may have put them in a category all their own.

My first observation, even without the help of Calvin, is to note the contradiction of history being random, with the providence of God. If you are a Christian, and especially if you are a Reformed Christian, it should be obvious to you that a "random" universe and its history, is in direct opposition to God's providence, and thus, His sovereignty.
To say that history is random, should, to the Christian, be a statement based on "superstition", and thus, idolatrousness. "What has caused this? Nothing. Just dumb luck." A random history is either an unlucky history or a lucky history. Nothing is more unregenerate than that. Even if you were a Deist, and wanted to claim that God in His providence simply wound up the universe like a mechanical top and let it go to the whims and mercy of "nature", you could not call the resulting history from that, as being "random", or "luck". Every move of that top is determined by the laws of that nature and thus the infallible mind of that nature's God. Even then we see no room for randomness or luckiness.

I will always remember a loving rebuke from one of my other lovely daughters, Susan, when a few months ago as she was getting ready to drive somewhere, I said, "Don't get in any accidents!" She smiled real big and quickly responded, "There ARE no accidents!" Wow! From the mouth of babes. I said, "Oh yeah! Of course! Thank you! Drive carefully please."

So, if there are no accidents, then what are there? There are conspiracies damn it! Excuse my O.Fr. (Old French). What else could they be? Every effect has a cause from either the mind of man, or from the mind of God. This also points out the fact that there are conspiracies within conspiracies that are within conspiracies ad infinitum. All of the conspiracies of men are within the workings of a larger and more purposeful conspiracy of God; Genesis 50:20. They are also within the conspiratorial workings of other men who are at a better vantage point then are they. These positions that people exist in that give them differing vantage points could better be described as "compartmentalism". God's position and vantage point is the ultimate position for observing how things really are, and so God is the only "person" in existence who has the without-a-question-true, view of history, and therefore, is the only one who is NOT compartmentalized. Everyone else; compartmentalized.

A fair analogy of compartmentalism would be the way an average business would operate. The field man, or "worker" on the job somewhere, has his training and plan, (conspiracy), about how to do his job. He has a limited understanding about how he fits in to the plans and goals, (conspiracies), of his immediate supervisor(s). His understanding is limited by his direct relationship to his supervisor, but not so much so about his supervisor's relationship to upper management or the owner or CEO above that. All are involved in the same conspiracy, but all have a different understanding of it, and all have a limited understanding of it to one degree or another due to their compartmentalization. This is proven over and over again when CEOs conspire to get cheaper labor, and convince the hired labor to train their replacements! How ironic is that? The compartmentalized laborer thinks that if he "does a good job" by training who he is instructed to train the best to his ability, he will be rewarded for his effort. But his lack of understanding has only caused him to participate in a conspiracy to eliminate his own job! And of course, the upper-level compartments kept this little piece of the puzzle "SECRET" from their victim so that he would not confound their conspiracy in any way. So, this worker could probably paraphrase Joseph in Genesis 50:20 and say, "You conspired evil against me, but I was conspiring for good in order to bring about a different result than this, damn it!" Sorry, there goes my O. Fr. again, but I'm sure that guy must be p.o.'d.

This kind of history resulting from conspiracy is not only probable or theoretical, but it is the proven very nature of history. It is the only viable Christian position for anything that has ever happened in the history of the world, is going on now, or will continue to go on until the end of the age.

All men conspire to change the course of history to one degree or another, and are involved in many conspiracies throughout their lives, some knowingly, and some unknowingly. And why wouldn't we? Even unregenerate men bear the image of God. They too will bear His image with respect to shaping history, but they do it without any consideration of what God has in mind for His own conspiracy. And what about the Church, or regenerate men? Are we not supposed to conform to God's image, and everything He is conspiring to accomplish? Aren't we in some sense, coconspirators with God?

And, to make things even more conspiratorial, what about other entities and principalities that influence and conspire the earth's history? There are more "compartments" that contain a position of view and play a part in this grand conspiracy other than just man and God. Yes, the angels, Psalm 91:11, Matthew 4:11, and demons, 1 Peter 5:8, Revelation 12:7, are also compartmentalized participators in shaping history. Depending on the translation, angels are referred to from 294 to 305 times in the Bible. Not sure how many times Satan and demons are referred to, but we know it's a lot. But the important thing to note here is, that these beings are always involved in one conspiracy or another. In Job's case, Satan conspired with God in a wager. Jesus was tempted by Satan in the wilderness during a Satanic conspiracy to thwart the plans of God in something no less than God's own conspiracy of redemption! If Satan would try that with the very Son of God, what else on earth do you think he's been up to over the millennia? 1 John 5:19. He's got a lot of help too.

We see all these Biblical celestial battles of conspiracy taking place all around us all through history, so why would we be surprised to find out that human beings have been participating in the same battles? And, with the help of the angelic coconspirators with God, for those that love God and are called according to His purpose, and likewise, evil men receive their 'help' from demons conspiring with Satan. This is a no-brainer if you ask me. Conspiracy "theory" is no longer an accepted term in my glossary of terms that are unrelated to anything that smells like an oxymoron. No matter what angle you look at it, conspiracy is the force of history…it IS history.

The problem with political or governmental conspiracies, or any conspiracy with an evil agenda, is that they cannot be proven unless somebody involved breaks rank and offers themselves as a witness to the conspiracy. Otherwise, any "proof" will be strictly circumstantial. Often times, especially in our day, this circumstantial evidence can be overwhelming and irrefutable. For instance, Constitutional law allows for circumstantial evidence to be proof, if in fact, it is known that the only way something could possibly have taken place, (effect), is if there could have been only one possible cause. If there is more than one possible cause that could make this effect during those circumstances, then the circumstantial evidence would have doubt cast upon it. A law dictionary I just looked at specifically says, "Effects are known by their causes, but only when the effects can arise sole from the causes to which they are attributed. When several causes may have produced one and the same effect, it is, therefore, unreasonable to attribute it to any particular one of such causes."

This is how the domonization of "Conspiracy Theories" has taken root. First, a misconception of the nature of history itself, and second, a total disregard for the validity of circumstantial evidence. The first should be obvious to at least an honest Christian, and the second only needs a basic understanding of acceptable circumstantial evidence.

If I've convinced you in any way whatsoever, look out! Because now, you're going to see a "demon under every bush" so to speak. Don't worry though, because you will then be immune to propaganda most of the time. After all, isn't that what our Lord wants from us? To seek the truth and to reject lies? Well, that's what we should be doing any way. We are salt and light. We have the truth and we expose the darkness. It's getting much darker these days my friend. What does that tell you about those who are called to illuminate the darkness?







The Greatest Depression in History

Running time: 13:39   Lew Rockwell interviews Gerald Celente
Download MP3





Don't forget about the Alternative News Feeds over in the right column. We really can't believe a word we hear from the mainstream news media.



2 Cor 10:4-6
We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God.



Wednesday, January 28, 2009

URGENT: FEMA is Here

90-Day Scenario Gets More Teeth!

Bill Number HR-645 01/28/2009

Running time: 51:52
Download MP3




"The key here is, they are now openly announcing the camps, and that means,they are getting ready to move with them." This is a "maximum alert" against tyranny. Google HR-645. The "final piece" of the NWO has been put in place. "Lets have
a moment of silence for the Republic". New legislation authorizes FEMA camps in the United States. "The architecture of the 'death camps'. Part 2 is a summation of the facts details of this new legislation. Google "Civilian inmate labor camp program". Google "Infraguard". Google "Threat Integration Centers". If you have stored food and water you'll have a better chance by not giving them just another excuse to "camp" you.


Don't forget about the Alternative News Feeds over in the right column. We really can't believe a word we hear from the mainstream news media.



2 Cor 10:4-6
We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God.



Friday, January 16, 2009

90 Days Gets Over 10,000 Hits

In Less Than a Week
I've never had a Youtube vid go 'viral' before in less than a week. Not even a Ron Paul vid. I guess there is a great anticipation 'out there' that something is definitely amiss. And now, if something does not happen within 90 days, I'll probably have to go into hiding.

If you haven't seen the 4-part vid yet, it's here. If you prefer, all 4 parts are on the audio clip below.


Steve Quayle Interview 01/08/2009

Running time: 36:08
Download MP3





Don't forget about the Alternative News Feeds over in the right column. We really can't believe a word we hear from the mainstream news media.



2 Cor 10:4-6
We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God.



Thursday, January 15, 2009

Authority: Who Rules?

By What Authority Does a Government Enact Laws?

Biblical Government Part 1

Running time: 55:03   Rev. Paul Michael Raymond, . . .The Scottish Covenanters
Download MP3


Biblical Government Part 2    (At Least Listen to This One!)

Running time: 47:23    Rev. Paul Michael Raymond, . . .The Crown Rights of Jesus Christ
Download MP3


Calvin and Civil Law

Running time: 39:43   Rev. Paul Michael Raymond, Special vs Natural Revelation, Christian Liberty
Download MP3



By Rev. Paul Michael Raymond
The Covenant News ~ January 15, 2009

Government, Law and Public Policy deal fundamentally with questions of authority. By what authority does a government enact laws, or a President govern? By what legislative standard of authority does a community, state or nation formulate, enact and enforce law? These are essential questions of importance, since they determine what type of culture we will live in; whether we will be free or slaves, prosperous and blessed, or impoverished and destroyed. If the standard of authority is derived from the mind of man, who has often shown himself to be wrong, bias, self consumed, tyrannical and wicked (ironically proving the Biblical Doctrine of man’s depravity), then that authority will be oppressive at best and despotically destructive at its worst. Noah Webster’s 1828 dictionary defines authority as “Legal power or right to command or act.” Therefore let’s consider two questions of authority.

The first question concerning authority is “Where does legitimate authority come from” and the second is “How and to whom is it distributed?” In other words, who has the right to command, and by what standard should that commander use in his command? The answer to these questions are both historical and theological since all law and public policy is the externalization of a society’s religion and an expression of the god (or gods) it serves.

Contrary to the historical revisionists, America was founded upon Biblical Principles. Like it or not, this is the historical fact. While there was, to be sure, some Enlightenment and Deistic influence during the Independence era, and early structuring of this nation, Biblical Christianity, especially Puritanism, was the foundation stone of America. The Great historian, George Bancroft, who incidentally was not a Christian, declared that it was the European Reformation hero John Calvin who was the Great Grandfather of the American nation.

As with every war and conflict, the war for independence also had its motto. The notable cry for American independence was “ No King but Jesus.” It was the Presbyterian clergy, dubbed by the British, “The Black Regiment” (called such for their black Geneva gowns that they wore in the pulpit),(Pastor Adam? ) who spearheaded the war for American independence. Their cause was for the advancement of the Crown Rights of King Jesus against the tyranny of men, particularly the tyranny of King George III. All authority, law and public policy was rightly viewed and regulated by the light of Scripture, which undeniably placed all authority and power in the Sovereignty of Christ. This is why America has lasted as long as she has. It is because the principles of authority, law and public policy were originally rooted in Scripture.

There is a principle to be understood here: All governing, magisterial power conferred upon an individual is given by Christ so as to be used according to His mandated Law of Scripture. Contrarily, any and all rebellion by a civil authority to that Law was to be viewed as rebellion against God, and was not to be obeyed by the people. Even Thomas Jefferson, suggesting that the Great Seal of America should have as its inscription, “Rebellion against tyrants is obedience to God” understood the importance of a God honoring body politic.

However, this Christocentric idea is rapidly changing right before our very eyes and its practice is all but gone. Even among the majority of the Christian population these ideas are alien. In recent decades, and in every governing administration, both Democratic and Republican, the civil powers have misused their authority by claiming for its own various realms of authority that God has rightly distributed to the individual, church or the family. As our American government unashamedly mandates unjust taxes, (while some taxes are legitimate, most are a violation of the 8th commandment), maintains the structure of an unlawful fiat and fractional reserve banking system, inflates the dollar so as to make it almost worthless, controls education, provides billions of bailout dollars for corrupt or ill managed companies, sustains an unbiblical prison system (one without restitution mandates) and encroaches upon the Nation’s Constitutional rights of the family and the individual by the formation of a multitude of repressive and illegitimate laws, many pulpits remain silent.

When was the last time you heard a sermon that set the record straight on Biblical authority, law and politics? This is not to suggest that politics, economics or any social system can be heralded as Messianic, but if politics are discussed at all, it is usually party politics and not the principles of Christian politics. When was the last time that you heard a sermon condemning Federally controlled education which violates both Scripture and the U.S. Constitution, especially since it mandates as its curriculum the religion of Secular Humanism? Or when was the last time you heard a sermon condemning FDR’s historic confiscation of gold and silver and his destruction of the American system with his so called New Deal and New Society? When was the last time you were informed as to how that system was the institution of a damnable welfare system that the Scriptures clearly denounce, and how it is happening all over again? Can you remember the last time that you heard a sermon counseling on economic prudence in an age of guilt manipulators and government thieves who are seeking to destroy you and your family, so as to make you fearful and dependent upon government administrative “nannies” who promises you cradle to grave support if only you would give up all your God given liberty? We have heard of the “dumbing down” of public school children. I am afraid that that sickness has also crept into many of our churches.

While there are many pastors of whom I deeply respect and believe are faithful men of Christ, there are still those that remain silent, waiting for their retirement, transfer, rapture or death. I can assure them that if that is their stance they have ignored their calling by not warning their people of this destruction, which is now at the very gates of our nation. If the Christian church and its people do not wake up to what is happening to them in our time, begin to speak out, and act so as to reconstruct our beloved America according those Biblical principles which have made her great, I am afraid we will leave a wake of destruction to our children and the many generations following. May God stir us to courageous action in a time of deep spiritual darkness.

Rev. Paul Michael Raymond

Pastor of http://www.reformedbiblechurch.com/;
The New Geneva Christian Leadership Academy;
The Institute For Theonomic Reformation
Contact: pastor@hisglory.us










Don't forget about the Alternative News Feeds over in the right column. We really can't believe a word we hear from the mainstream news media.



2 Cor 10:4-6
We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God.




Sunday, January 11, 2009

Fighting Oppression

And The Christian Duty Of

I have been following the blog over at "Without God Castles Mean Nothing", and he has been doing a very good job of posting what he is rapidly learning about law. His posts are stirring up a bit of opinionated commenting in the realm of Biblical submission to authorities and how Christians are to relate to "Caeser". My own 17-year-old son, mijahu, has left his own comments over there too, right here. He inspired me to comment over there as well, and this post is just a 'cut and paste' of my comments as follows:

I think everyone is making good points, but my favorite points are coming from mijahu when he says this:

"... I still think people should take proper measures to protect their family from death, ...I think there is some difference between just letting someone kill you and paying taxes, ... isn't going against the government at all. It's a totally neutral thing, really, surviving."

This point overshadows all other points as this is an act of love, despite government oppression, despite submission principles in scriptures. The law of loving your neighbor, (and family), as summed up in all God's Law, trumps any allegiance we may have to the Constitution and/or breakers of the Constitution.

If submitting to evil laws and pressuring others to do the same with theological or political ease endangers the lives of your neighbor/family, you are actually participating in the evil yourself and are just as guilty as if you were the oppressor.

This can apply to tax laws, family laws, traffic laws, or whatever else evil men can lobby onto the law books...if it harms our neighbor/family, and we "comply/submit", we are the guilty ones. WE, have shed innocent blood.

Proverbs 24:10-12 -If you faint in the day of adversity, your strength is small. Rescue those who are being taken away to death; hold back those who are stumbling to the slaughter. If you say, "Behold, we did not know this," does not he who weighs the heart perceive it? Does not he who keeps watch over your soul know it, and will he not repay man according to his work?

Isaiah 58:5 -"Is such the fast that I choose, a day for a person to humble himself? Is it to bow down his head like a reed, and to spread sackcloth and ashes under him? Will you call this a fast, and a day acceptable to the LORD?"


The above passage from Isaiah 58, though COULD be a worthy spiritual exercise, is seen here by the Lord as a self-righteous piety. It's a 'work', but not a 'good' work, because in this case it is false pietism. My analogy would be submitting to gov't no matter what, EVEN at the expense of the wellbeing of my neighbor or my family.

The rest of the above passage says this:

Isaiah 58:6,7 -Is not this the fast that I choose: to loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the straps of the yoke,

(SERMONWRITER parenthetical...oppressive laws, tax or otherwise),

to let the oppressed go free, and to break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry and bring the homeless poor into your house; when you see the naked, to cover him, and not to hide yourself from your own flesh?"


These later verses from this passage also suggest a 'work', but it is a 'good work', because it is not focused on trying to be self righteous, but on helping those who are oppressed in one way or another.

One comment at the Castleman blog stated:

"Did Jesus go around telling everyone to store up canned goods, and to start sharpening their swords for battle?"

...an obvious opinion that we should not do this type of thing.

"Sharpening one's sword for battle", could mean a lot of things. It could mean getting ready to cut the cords tied around your neighbors hands. It could mean getting ready to slaughter the calf to feed your neighbor. It could mean making a display of strength , and a willingness to use it, against an oppressor who might otherwise harm or kill your neighbor should the oppressor be unaware of the presence of your sword and your will. And yes, it could mean, that should an oppressor descend upon the innocent, that God would have YOU be the ordained instrument in His hands to save a life or many lives.

Either way, that "sword", whether it is money, a home, weapons, food, or whatever resources the Lord has blessed you with, is to be used in a Biblical and loving manner, and that means protecting your neighbor and your family from oppression...whether that oppression is in the form of starvation, slavery, false imprisonment, nakedness, homelessness, or an out-of-control and self-ordained tyranical government.

We are not slaves to God just so that we can 'appear' holy and 'appear' to love God, or 'appear' to be Christian. We are His servants to serve others by freeing them from oppression...FIRST by feeding them (material oppression...first because it is the most urgent), and SECOND, by sharing with them the means of eternal life through the Law and the Gospel, (spiritual oppression).

THAT, is true love for God, and true love for your neighbor, and, what it truely means to "act" like a Christian. James 1:27




Don't forget about the Alternative News Feeds over in the right column. We really can't believe a word we hear from the mainstream news media.



2 Cor 10:4-6
We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God.



Friday, January 9, 2009

About 90 Days in Video



Youtube: Part 1 of 4

By the way, this is not "date setting". Neither I nor the participants in this audio clip are making any claims of predicting the future. This is strictly an analysis of current events, conditions, and statements made by people in strategic and powerful positions with incredible influence on world events. "About 90 days" is a frame of time beginning with January of 2009 and ending in March/April of 2009, where incredible things are "likely" to happen, so says the available info from all spheres of the geopolitical spectrum. The prudent thing to do, in light of this, is to consider it a good time to start preparing for the worse. The time for naysaying is over...there is just too much "evidence" suggesting an imminent and direct attack on every resource currently available to you, including your own life. Should things be "just fine" by March/April of 2009, just thank God and continue to prepare. These "evil forces" WILL NOT stop, until every bit of resource and freedom we have is gone, or until these evil forces, are gone. I pray for the latter, but will continue to prepare for the former.



Don't forget about the Alternative News Feeds over in the right column. We really can't believe a word we hear from the mainstream news media.



2 Cor 10:4-6
We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God.



We've Got About 90 Days

At Least, So Say Some People...You've gott'a hear this clip!

What can I say? This interview has me very nervous. True or not, I do think it's time to do all we can to get ready, brace ourselves for the worse, and pray fervently. Kiss you spouse, your kids, your parents, your siblings, and don't let the sun go down on your anger. Furthermore, don't let this evil rise in your life while you're alone. It's time to band together. Get right with God, and get right with your family and neighbors...quick.



Steve Quayle Interview 01/08/2009
Running time: 36:08
Download MP3
Youtube Link

We've Got About 90 Days

At Least, So Say Some People...You've gott'a hear this clip!

What can I say? This interview has me very nervous. True or not, I do think it's time to do all we can to get ready, brace ourselves for the worse, and pray fervently. Kiss you spouse, your kids, your parents, your siblings, and don't let the sun go down on your anger. Furthermore, don't let this evil rise in your life while you're alone. It's time to band together. Get right with God, and get right with your family and neighbors...quick.



Steve Quayle Interview 01/08/2009
Running time: 36:08
Download MP3
Youtube Link

Thursday, January 8, 2009

Tax Exempt 'Church' ?

My Thoughts So Far
Call it a 'Not-For-Profit Organization', a 501(c)(3) status (IRS code), a corporation, or whatever other labels that get put on a church once it registers to comply with the state, is it still the Church after all of that?

I've always had my suspicions but have been putting off any serious judgments and at the same time, hoping that this argument was all based on trivial semantics; you know, financial pragmatism and theological irrelevance as we "give Caesar his due".

However, thanks to the Castleman, who recently posed this question over at The PUB, I have finally stopped putting off any serious thoughts about this. I've reached the conclusion, so far, that compliance with this IRS code is a serious breach of contract between the Church and the head of the Church. How much of a problem this is I am still debating, but so far, it does NOT look good for those of us in the Church who have bought into the tax exempt church status.

For now, I will just post here what was said on The PUB, and me and Castleman both, and hopefully others, would love to hear your opinions about this. Please leave comments, suggestions, arguments pro or con, either here or on The PUB. I for one can't ignore this issue any more. Thanks...


FROM THE PUB:
Castleman:

About the tax exempt status of our church? Is this a biblical thing?

We keep hearing about us living in a country were the church is free to worship. What if we got rid of the tax exempt status? How long would it take until our government try to put a stop to our church?

Sermonwriter:

Well, after reading this article and this article, both by Chuck Baldwin, I'm not so sure that the gov't would try to "stop" us if all we did was give up our tax exempt 501c3 status. However, I do think that the 501c3 status is immoral in and of itself, because it reduces the church to a corporation:

A business firm whose articles of incorporation have been approved by the government.

A legal entity chartered by a US state or the federal government, and separate and distinct from the persons who own it. It is regarded by the courts as an artificial person; it may own property, incur debts, sue or be sued.

Furthermore, section 501(c)(3) organizations are restricted by the government:

"It may not participate in any campaign activity for or against political candidates."

"It may not be an ACTION organization, i.e., it may not attempt to influence legislation."

Haha! The Church has agreed not to take action. Hahaha! What kind of Church doesn't take action? Doesn't work? Doesn't build? Doesn't walk? Doesn't fight? Doesn't DO anything? Isn't faith without works, dead?

If these definitions of a 501(c)(3) church don't bother you as a Christian, then it can only be because you're not seeing the implications.

Everything we do, either as a church, a family, or an individual, is "legislated" to one degree or another. If the church enters into "covenant" with the state, agreeing with the state that it will have nothing to do with legislation, it is literally bound to the state not to be of any influence on the culture, or to the people in that culture. Hey, I think our church families are part of this culture that we are not supposed to influence!

You might say, well, we can influence the culture "as citizens", instead.

But WHY? Where is the line drawn between citizen and church member? Who draws that line? This line is arbitrary, unclear, and can be manipulated anytime the "State" wants to move it around to benefit their own agenda. We already see limitations of actions placed on citizens more and more, let alone the Church. Why take action on the foundation of a "citizen" as defined by the "State", when we can take action from a much more SURE FOUNDATION as the Church? The foundation of the Church is SOLID and cannot be mannipulated by man.

I understand that this is the extreme example, but it really is the literal and logical conclusion of entering into such a covenant with the state. My understanding is that the Church can only enter into covenant with her Lord, Jesus Christ. It's one thing to 'respect the laws and customs of the land', but it's quite another to sign away the Lordship of Jesus Christ over to the state.

Another conclusion that can be drawn or inferred, is that we have asked the "State" for permission to exist as a fictional entity, called a corporation, instead of as the Church. And not only that, we have willfully agreed with the "State" that we will NOT FUNCTION as the Church, but only function as a "nonprofit organization" as created, defined, regulated, and enforced by the "State".

When you look at it like that, we are pretty pathetic...not to mention idolatrous, immoral, compromised, humanistic, and lovers of the world instead of the Lord Jesus Christ, and of course...cowards:

coward cow'ard adj.
WORD HISTORY: A coward is one who “turns tail.” The word comes from Old French couart, coart, “coward,” and is related to Italian codardo, “coward.” Couart is formed from coe, a northern French dialectal variant of cue, “tail” (from Latin c?da), to which the derogatory suffix –ard was added. This suffix appears in bastard, laggard, and sluggard, to name a few. A coward may also be one with his tail between his legs. In heraldry a lion couard, “cowardly lion,” was depicted with his tail between his legs. So a coward may be one with his tail hidden between his legs or one who turns tail and runs like a rabbit, with his tail showing.

Don't get me wrong, I'm not preaching from some high horse here. I can frequently be a coward myself. This is just one thing that I can objectively look at in the above way, and see clearly that the 501(c)(3) status is a cowardly position for the Church to take. Shame on us.

And why is this important? Because until the Church can admit this, we will have no reason to repent and change it. Yes, it's the old denial thing. We have to first admit we are sinners and that we have sinned by agreeing with the government that we will not function as the Church, (as defined by God), and determine to shed the bonds of this grevious sin one way or another without looking back.

So do you want more Scripture applied to this scenario? Me to. I find some interesting Biblical principles that we can apply from 1 Corinthians 6:1-8:

1 If any of you has a dispute with another, dare he take it before the ungodly for judgment instead of before the saints?
2 Do you not know that the saints will judge the world? And if you are to judge the world, are you not competent to judge trivial cases?
3 Do you not know that we will judge angels? How much more the things of this life!
4 Therefore, if you have disputes about such matters, appoint as judges even men of little account in the church!
5 I say this to shame you. Is it possible that there is nobody among you wise enough to judge a dispute between believers?
6 But instead, one brother goes to law against another—and this in front of unbelievers!
7 The very fact that you have lawsuits among you means you have been completely defeated already. Why not rather be wronged? Why not rather be cheated?
8 Instead, you yourselves cheat and do wrong, and you do this to your brothers.

I am looking at this from the perspective of judging. When we try to choose, as Christians, whether we should influence the culture as a citizen (as defined by the State), or as a Christian, (a member of God's Church), we are talking about a position of judgment. If I wish to influence something, I must do it with judgment, or discernment. Do I do this as a citizen, or as a member of the Church? It does make a difference. Can I do both? Should I do both? Can we be both a 501(c)(3) organization AND the Church at the same time?

I'm sure there may be some superficial aspects to this where we could say 'yes', if it furthers the purposes of God, but on the principles of integrity and character, it is more consistent and honest to say 'no'. This leaves no room for compromise. We should not, as a foundation of who we are, try to be two different people. This is better known as being two-faced.

I believe the above passage makes my point very well. Paul makes a clear case that judgments made by Saints and as Saints, are far superior to judgments coming from the world. Of course he is speaking of an "inside" issue amongst believers, but he makes it clear here that the "competence" of the Saints to judge, is superior enough to judge "the world", as well as angels. NOT competent as a citizen, but competent as, a Saint!

You cannot argue, in my opinion, that Paul is speaking about some future time when we will be competent enough as Saints to judge the world, because he specifically says that if we can do that, then we should be compenent enough to "judge trivial cases", (verse 2). He clearly implies that this competence (as saints), is already available to us. Otherwise, why would he make this comparison? If we were not already competent enough to judge the world, then this would be an unfair comparison and burden Paul was placing on the Saints here if they really were NOT that competent yet, and at the same time, expecting them to be exactly this competent in a trival case within the Church.

So, my point is, the Bible says our foundation to judge and to therefore influence the world, and to be salt and light, and to be wise, is all based on our position of being Saints and members of God's Church. Why would we want to be anything less or to be identified as anything less? Do we give up our rightful inheritance by taking inferior positions as defined by men, such as citizen, ficticious corporation, non-profit organization, or as anything else at all as defined by the State? We are NOT any of these things, but we are the Saints of God, as defined by God.

The more I look at this and analyze this, the more convinced I am becoming that for a Church to participate in the 501(c)(3) program, is a very unGodly and therefore undesirable, position for the Church to take. Thanks Castleman for bringing this up. It's causing me to "sermonwrite" and reflect on God's position about this topic like I never have before.


Don't forget about the Alternative News Feeds over in the right column. We really can't believe a word we hear from the mainstream news media.



2 Cor 10:4-6
We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God.

Monday, January 5, 2009

Stuff That's Bad For Your Brain

And the Sinister Plan To Make Sure We Get It!

"Diet, injections, and injunctions will combine, from a very early age, to produce the sort of character and the sort of beliefs that the authorities consider desirable, and any serious criticism of the powers that be will become psychologically impossible. Even if all are miserable, all will believe themselves happy, because the government will tell them that they are so." -Bertrand Russell, The Impact of Science on Society p50, 1953

"Gradually, by selective breeding, the congenital differences between rulers
and ruled will increase until they become almost different species. A revolt
of the plebs would become as unthinkable as an organized insurrection of
sheep against the practice of eating mutton." -Bertrand Russell, "The Impact of Science on Society", 1953, pg 49-50


Why are we seeing now, all of a sudden, the rise of so many brain disorders and learning disabilities in our children? Why is Alzheimers now being seen in younger and younger age groups? Why are children, only 5, getting diabetes and girls only 3, reaching puberty?! Why has cancer increased by 1000%? Has this been the normal course of human health throughout history, or are we witnessing the rise of the largest and deadliest crime and murder spree from the most evil serial killers the world has ever seen?

I just listened to this interview from Dr. Russel Blaylock, (audio posted below), and it is becoming more and more evident to me that behavioral sciences, social sciences and social engineering, universities, foundations, are ALL a well-designed weapon of mass destruction and death as just described, and are funded and directed BY THE BANKS. Every field of science, every field of art, every think tank, research group, law firm, every seminary, and every specialty is in place and, as directed BY THE BANKS. Every world-class army, every corporation, and every government, and ALL of these systems, have a monopoly on "our daily bread", as directed BY THE BANKS.

From this culture of death's inception, they have been systematically introducing into our brains and lives, thought patterns and toxins which make us stupid, and eventually will kill off the majority of us. Do you smirk? Do you quietly chuckle under your breath or do you prefer the boisterous guffah? Don't be too smug until you listen to this Dr. Blaylock interview. Dr. Blaylock is nobody's fool, and I'll bet he knows a thing or two more than you or I about this insideous evil that reveals more and more of its wicked nature every day. This information may save your life or motivate you to make plans for you and your family that you might otherwise never have considered.


Dr. Russell Blaylock Interview 01/05/2009

Running time: 59:56
Download MP3





Don't forget about the Alternative News Feeds over in the right column. We really can't believe a word we hear from the mainstream news media.



2 Cor 10:4-6
We are destroying speculations and every lofty thing raised up against the knowledge of God.