Marriage? “The Elite Judges Know Best!”

As you may know by now, four judges in California have decided that homosexual marriages are legal in that state and, therefore, will be exported to every other state. As you will note below, the 4-3 decision means ONE judge made the difference and overturned the will of the people as expressed in a 2000 referendum. 

Here are some excerpts from analyses of this decision:

“In an act of outrageous judicial arrogance, four justices in black robes overturned the will of four-and-a-half million people in California yesterday (last week) and redefined marriage.  More to the point, since it was a 4-3 split, one justice overturned the people's will. 

“For those in any state who wish to be in a same-sex marriage, they can come to California, get their nuptials, and then head home claiming their marriage is legal.” 

“In 2000, 61% of California voters overwhelmingly agreed that marriage was between a man and a woman, affirming that they didn't want to undertake a radical experiment with something as basic and important to the well-being of children as family structure.”

“The judges think they know better.”

“In other words, we, the intellectually and culturally elite justices know better than not only the will of the people, but all the accumulated moral tradition of the past.” 

(See more at Family Protection Lobby, www.fplmd.org - Dark Day for Marriage )

The Family Research Council astutely understands what this will mean for those pastors and churches who will have the courage to stand up for Biblical Truth:

Word for the Watchmen

“If marriage between homosexuals is confirmed as a constitutional right, how long will pastors be able to confront this deviation with immunity? Not long. What will we do? We are bound to speak the truth by the Spirit of Truth (John 16:13) and we must obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29). The future of truth in this nation rests with us. We are the leaders of the institution described by God as the ‘pillar and buttress of truth,’ (1 Timothy 3:15, ESV). No nation can survive which turns from truth.” 

(See more at Family Research Council, www.frc.org - Watchmen Report: May 22, 2008)

Finally, here are some observations about the “logical” consequences of this precedent, including the legalization of polygamy (For example, see the current situation of the extreme Mormon cult in Texas):

“In order to appease an intransigent minority group, the California Supreme Court has, in the manner of Roe v. Wade, resorted to inventing a new legal principle to justify their predetermined goal.”

“In creating a mechanism for justifying gay marriage, the justices have set in motion an infernal machine with consequences far beyond their limited imaginations.” 

“Cliff Thier has already pointed out that these unintended consequences may include the invalidation of no-fault divorce and the legitimization of polygamy.” 

“Having got rid of the old Judeo-Christian taboos, and considering the logical ramifications of the recent CSC decision, we are forced to conclude that ‘marriage’ in California is now or about to be accessible to any cohabiting group of any number of people of the same or both sexes, regardless of sexual orientation or activity.” 

(See entire article from American Thinker - Some Logical Corollaries of California's Gay Marriage Decision)

So, in the midst of the GROSS DARKNESS which is settling in around us, what can you and I (and our pastors and churches) do? 

"If Christians around the world were to suddenly renounce their personal agendas, their life goals and their aspirations, and begin responding in radical obedience to everything God showed them, the world would be turned upside down." (Dr. Henry Blackaby)

If we really believe Blackaby’s premise, WE CAN TURN THE WORLD “UPSIDE DOWN”.

How? Just as the Israelites did in Eqypt:

Then the children of Israel groaned because of the bondage, and they cried out; and their cry came up to God because of the bondage. So God heard their groaning, and God remembered His covenant with Abraham, with Isaac, and with Jacob. (Ex 2:23b-24)

If we acknowledge our sinfulness and GROAN and CRY OUT to the LORD, asking Him to INTERVENE, He will “hear” and “acknowledge” us and ACT (Dan 9:19). HOWHe will act we cannot know. But, He Will Act! Of this we can be sure. 

(Note: emphases mine throughout)

Harry Valentine, CHPA Founder/Publisher

Relevant Articles:

CA Supreme Court Imposes Same-sex 'Marriage', Overturning Prop. 22

High Court Unlikely to Settle 'Gay Marriage' Issue, Experts Say

California and Marriage: Tarnished Days in the Golden State

New York to Recognize Out-of-State Homosexual Marriages

California's Self-Defeating Same-Sex Marriage Decision

California Court's Judicial Activism Threatens the Institution of Marriage

Bills That Undermine Marriage Signed Into Law

How to Pray:

1. REPENT! Whether Christian or pagan, we have all sinned (Dan 9:all);

2. Ask the LORD to give you a GROANING SPIRIT and then CRY OUT for deliverance from this oncoming Darkness (Is 60:2). Without His Intervention, we are lost!

Obama, Our Enemies Don’t Want to Talk! 

“One of the greatest weaknesses… is the striking inability of the political leadership and body politic to define and reach a consensus on who the Islamist enemy is and what the enemy wants. There is a striking lack of intellectual curiosity, or perhaps fear because of concerns about political correctness, that have blocked a serious discussion…what their real targets and objectives are and how that group fits into the broader Islamist project of converting the world to an Islamic state ruled by _sharia_ law.” (see Knowing the Enemy by Douglas Farah)

President Bush in his recent speech before the Israeli parliament said:

“Some seem to believe that we should negotiate with the terrorists and radicals, as if some ingenious argument will persuade them they have been wrong all along…” 

“Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei said Sunday Iran will continue its nuclear program despite Western efforts adding, ‘No threat can hinder the Iranian nation from its path.’”

“Rejection by any nation’s population to embrace Islam gives rise to Ahmadinejad’s duty to seek its destruction.”
 
Read the entire article: Ahmadinejad is Iran's Jim Jones by James Zumwalt, which informs of Ahmadinejad’s core beliefs.

HAMAS:

“Before any further discussion on whether to engage Hamas, the U.S. should examine what Hamas has to say about its own aspirations, which are clearly stated in its own charter.”

According to their charter, the mission of Hamas is the destruction of Israel, to include all Jews; world domination where Islam is the measure of justice and liberty (Sharia law); and violent Jihad as the primary means to achieve their goals.

“The next time foreign policy experts, the State Department, or media pundits advocate talks with Hamas, I hope they ask themselves which of the tenets is on the table. If we are not prepared to believe wild anti-Semitic delusions, sacrifice Israel, devote all Western media to the Islamist message, glorify violence or look forward to a world in which Islam is the measure of justice and liberty, what is there to discuss?”

Read the entire article: To Talk or Not to Talk by Peggy Shapiro, which exposes the mission of Hamas).

HEZBOLLAH:

“We are not fighting so that you will offer us something. We are fighting to eliminate you.” 

 “What would a President Obama do?” Victor Davis Hanson comments:

“[W]e certainly know that Obama is willing to meet any and all our enemies without preconditions. During a televised debate he was asked directly whether he would agree ‘to meet separately, without precondition . . . with the leaders of Iran, Syria, Venezuela, Cuba, and North Korea,’ Obama replied: ‘I would.’” 

“The problem here would not be in theory talking with an Iran or Syria…but in a priori signaling to tyrants such an eagerness to elevate their grievances to head-of-state diplomacy. Under what conditions, how long, and to what degree Obama would be willing to exercise non-diplomatic options (ed. note: military) when talks proved futile…”

“If a President Obama were to enter into multiple negotiations with Iran…, at what point would he be willing not merely to cease talking, but to accept that his negotiations had done more harm than good and thus required a radical change of course — and would it be in time?”

Read entire article here: Appeasement and Its Discontents

Make every effort to avail yourself of these articles, as well as the relevant articles listed as below. And PRAY that our “leaders” would have eyes to see, and that the plans of the enemy would end in futility.   

Harry Valentine, CHPA Founder/Publisher

How to Pray:

1. LORD, grant that our leaders would turn from their wicked ways; that they would humble themselves and seek YOU! (Ezek 3:19; 33:11; Joel 2:12f; 2 Chron 7:14);  
2. OPEN their eyes, that they might see and understand ( 2 Kings 6:20; Is 11:2; 42:18);  
3. Cause our leaders to be JUST men, RULING in the FEAR of GOD (2 Sam 23:3, 2 Chron 19:9; Neh 5:9);  

Relevant Articles:

Obama's Unique Appeasement Style by Caroline Glick (Highly Recommended!)

Author confirms: Terrorists 'rejoice' at Obama victory by Aaron Klein

Force: The Only Language Hezbollah Understands by Elias Bejjani

Obama: Silence in the face of evil by Peggy Shapiro

Ninny Pity Party by Mark Steyn

Have We Lost Our Way?  

“For the LORD knows the way of the righteous, But the way of the ungodly shall perish.” Ps 1:6 

“So you shall say to them, ‘This is a nation that does not obey the voice of the LORD their God nor receive correction. Truth has perished and has been cut off from their mouth.’” Jer 7:28 (emphases mine) 

On last Wednesday I spoke with one of the fathers of the conservative/Christian movement. We were bemoaning the loss of a Special Election in a usually solid Republican House district in Louisiana. I commented to my esteemed friend, “We seem to have lost our way!” From things he has said and written in the past, I believe he agreed, albeit wistfully. 

During a follow-up to my observation, I noted that we need a “spiritual” component to “our way”. I am convinced the 1980 – 2000 revival in conservative/Christian political fortunes was driven by interests /concerns /issues which are “spiritual” and Biblical in nature; and each one had an ardent advocacy group which worked feverishly for its cause. Let’s look at the ones which have been straws which have stirred the conservative/Christian pot in the past:

1.      Abortion /Homosexual Marriage – These two topics (and other “values” issues) rallied zealous troops from almost every religious entity; without their energy and devotion, conservative/Christian candidates could not have won enough races to achieve a majority in Congress or in the states! (By the way, Larry Kudlow of CNBC just called Barack Obama “a baby killer”. He’s right – Hillary is, too.)

2.      Communism /National Defense /Patriotism – During the Cold War, conservatives/Christians led the way in standing up to the communist threats and eventually defeating them; without President Reagan’s efforts, the USSR could still be around today; despite the leftists’ best endeavors, national defense and patriotic attitudes amongst the general population ruled during that era.

It is impossible to read Old Testament stories without seeing the importance God places on defending one’s land, city or state from attack. This is the primary God-given role of magistrates and those in positions of governmental authority (see Judges 2:16; 5:2; I Sam 13:19; 17:26f; 1 Kg 11:21; Neh 4:21; Ester 4:13-17; Ps 137:1; Is 21:6).

3.      Taxes and the Economy – Except for the Clinton years, the country prospered during this period, primarily due to lower taxes and somewhat less regulation of the economy, thereby releasing capitalism to be more effective; there have been (and still are) strong and effective advocacy groups for these policies; it appears the Lord wants us to be free to use the talents, energy and opportunities He gives us, so we can prosper, take care of our families and contribute to our neighborhoods and cultures (see, for example, 1 Sam 8:11f; 2 Chron 10:4; Neh 5:4; Ezek 45:0; 46:18; Micah 2:1-2; Mt 17:25-26; Lk 3:12-13).

So, how have we “lost our way”? As a Church and a Nation, we no longer seem determined to pursue these crucial “spiritual” matters as before. Take abortion, for example.  In the 1980’s this issue was front and center publicly and in the Church. This is no longer true. Since the “shedding of innocent blood” is so significant to the Lord (1 Kg 2:31; Jer 7:6), how can we expect Him to bless our land if we ignore the bloodshed (see Num 35:33)?

With regard to National Defense and Patriotism, the threat of anti-Christian Islamic jihad is ominously at hand, yet our government refuses to even identify it as “Islamic” or “jihad”, and the Church seems disinterested (see 1 Cor 10:14; 1 Jn 5:21).

Remember, this is supremely a “spiritual” or Judeo-Christian matter, since our enemies’ purpose is to overthrow the Judeo-Christian basis of our culture and install Sharia laws in its place. (Hello, Brethren, do you believe this?) (see Deut 28:14f)

We are looking away from this matter of National Defense and Patriotism, which will not invoke God’s blessings (see Deut 28:7).

Also, regarding the Economy, I believe a thorough reading of Scripture shows how strongly the Lord disapproves of tyrannical governments which issue oppressive decrees and steal our wealth (see Ezek 45:8-9; 46:18). Taxation and just governments ARE “spiritual” and Biblical matters and, again, we cannot expect to prosper regionally or nationally if we violate God’s Principles (see Deut 28:19-20).

In summary, until the conservative/Christian movement regains its moorings and walks in God’s Ways, and pursues His principles, our nation and our movement cannot expect to prosper as before. The Church MUST return to its First Love – Jesus Christ and His Word and principles for living – or we will continue to follow false prophets and foolish ways and receive His curses rather than blessings (see Deut 28:15f). 

We have “lost our way” because:

1.      The Church itself has lost its way and no longer injects itself (with Biblical Wisdom) into the public discourse; it is no longer SALT (Eph 1:18-19). [“His intent was that through the Church the manifold WISDOM of God should be made known…” Eph 3:10, emphasis mine] 

2.      The West no longer seeks TRUTH, which can only be found through Jesus (Jn 14:6); in place of Truth, we pursue multiculturalism, diversity, “tolerance” and relativism;

3.      We lack TRUE political leaders, prophets and watchmen; instead we run after false prophets, false messiahs and wicked principles and philosophies (Micah 3; Col 2:8).

The Answer:

The Church! Preaching the Gospel and Teaching the Truth. Then we will begin to “find our way back”. Meanwhile, the nation and the conservative/Christian movement can expect a very unpleasant “wilderness” experience. (see Josh 5:6 – “For the children of Israel walked forty years in the wilderness, till all the people…were consumed, because they did not obey the voice of the LORD…”)

How to Pray:

FOR THE CHURCH, YOUR CHURCH, AND OUR PREACHERS AND LEADERS: TO KNOW AND PROCLAIM THE TRUTH UNASHAMEDLY (Acts 4:29-30)!

Harry Valentine, CHPA Founder/Publisher

Relevant Articles:

Amerabia 

Investigative Project Releases Gov't Memos Curtailing Speech in War on Terror

Myrick Aces, D.C. Flunks 'Jihadism 101'

It's Islamic Jihad, Not Extremism, Uncle Sam

Words that Work and Words that Don't: A Guide for Counterterrorism Communication

Rep. Hoekstra tries, fails to kill Orwellian speech codes restricting use of word "jihad"

  Are You a “Shifter”? Does the Historic Gospel Message Need to be Repackaged?

Are you a “SHIFTER”? Do you follow Oprah Winfrey in her swooning free-fall into “planetary consciousness”? Do you “feel” the Christian message and belief system must be “repackaged” in order to be “relevant”, especially to the youth?

If you have answered “Yes” to any of the above, then you may be a candidate for the pantheistic and neo-pagan “Emerging Church” being promoted by authors like Tony Campolo, Jim Wallis and Brian McLaren – all of them extreme political liberals. 

And since this group has redefined Jesus as a social activist, you may be on your way to HELL, which incidentally is a subject this “church” believes needs to be rethought and, probably eliminated from discussion. 

To do justice to the dangers posed to the authentic and historical Church by this movement, I am bringing you excerpts from an extensive analysis of this so-called “New Spirituality Movement”:

“Now a similar assault on historic orthodox Christianity is underway that’s gaining momentum. Some Christians believe a paradigm shift is taking place in the Church and as a consequence ‘everything must change.’…Professor Peter Jones of Westminster Seminary warned listeners that the Christian theistic West has been turning back to pagan, pantheistic monism. Many in contemporary western culture now hold to a pantheistic belief in the unity of nature and God, of body and spirit — all is One…The movement is largely eclectic with inspiration drawn from all the major world religions, which include Buddhism, Hinduism, Taoism, Shamanism, Wicca, the metaphysical New Thought movement, and Neo-Paganism, to name a few. The goal of NSM is a shift in ‘planetary consciousness.’ Their focus is not only on the West but also on the entire planet!…We are in the middle of the biggest social transformation in history, THE SHIFT.’” 

“In order to move the West away from theism, the shifters must first reinvent biblical Christianity. Enter Oprah Winfrey. It would seem Oprah has been planning The Shift for many years… She was convinced that Jesus didn’t come to teach us about His divinity, as the Bible teaches, but to teach us about OUR divinity! (Oprah’s code word is ‘Christ consciousness.’)…‘Try telling someone in the Metaphysical movement...about the wages of sin…and they will look at you as though you are an anachronism — a throwback to a less-enlightened age. The ideas of an enslaving sinful nature, of being alienated from God, and of God’s wrath are, to them, extremely offensive.’” 

‘‘We alone have the power within us to solve our problems, relieve our anxieties and pain, heal our illnesses, improve our golf game or get a promotion.” 

“But this article is not about Oprah’s spiritual poison, it’s about spiritual deception that’s spreading like cancer in Christendom.” 

“There is a growing movement afoot in the postmodern Church that does not abide in God’s Word; hence they do not know the truth. The movement calls itself ‘Emergent’ or ‘Emerging Church’ (ECM) and it’s emerging away from orthodox Christianity, spreading its spiritual cancer throughout the globe. ECM change agents have made inroads into evangelicalism, big time. What they preach is a counterfeit social gospel… the shifters must first repackage the Church.” 

“[I]t’s all about re-shaping the true Gospel of Jesus Christ into a false gospel and re-imaging Jesus Christ into the New Age Cosmic Christ!” 

“Shifters, like pod people, are in our midst. Some of your friends and acquaintances could be shifters, only you don’t know it yet. Shifters have wormed their way into church leadership (pastors deacons, elders), worship services, Bible studies, Sunday school, seminaries, Christian schools, youth groups, camps. They lecture, write for Christian news sources and they’re all over the Internet.” 

“One hot button issue is abortion. Because they’re mostly liberals, many Emergents are pro-aborts…Here’s the rundown on some of what ECM believes…:  

“The minimum wage should be significantly increased.

“The U.S. should sign the Kyoto Protocol as a step toward solving the phantom crisis of global warming.

“The U.S. should pull out of Iraq and Afghanistan and address the real problem of terrorism by creating a Palestinian state and addressing the root cause — poverty.

“We should make condoms available throughout the Third World to fight AIDS.” 

“[T]he ultimate goal of Jesus (and God) is the kingdom of God, brought to earth. Just how is the kingdom brought to earth? Through our good works.” 

 “Many shifters, like Campolo and Wright, are hard-core leftists who are doing everything in their power to lead the Church down a new path, away from Sola Scriptura, into what Pastor Ken Silva calls the ‘emerging cult of the new liberal theology’ and a ‘spiritual cancer.’…ECM leaders urge believers to embrace unbiblical contemplative prayer and other occult practices.” 

“At the end God get’s his way thru coercion and violence and intimidation and uh domination just like every other kingdom does. The Cross isn’t the center then, the Cross is almost a distraction and false advertising for God.”

“Absolutists want to reinsert categories of right and wrong, whereas postmodernists balk at doctrinal assertions. They gave as an example Brian McLaren’s position on homosexuality in a Time Magazine interview. Following is the excerpt from Time: ‘Frankly, many of us don’t know what we should think about homosexuality. We’ve heard all sides but no position has yet won our confidence’” 

In closing, may I endorse this evangelical author’s concluding remarks:

“I want to stress that celebrities like Oprah Winfrey and ‘Progressive Christian’ leaders are pressing a large number of believers into apostasy, even into rank heresy. This is a serious threat to the Church! The threat shouldn’t be taken lightly nor tolerated. So ECM and ‘New Spirituality’ must be thoroughly understood and debunked. What’s more, committed Christians must expose shifters for what they are — occultists!”

(Read the entire article here: Emergent church spreading spiritual cancer)

How to Pray:

1. It is eternally important that we cry out to the LORD to CURSE and DESTROY this movement! (Jer 13:8-14; Gal 1:9);

2. As in the past, God has raised up brave spokesmen (e.g., Athanasius) to enunciate and trumpet the TRUTH about Jesus and the right and only sound doctrines of HIS universal Church. May He do it again! (Acts 17:22f);

3. How the true Church needs REVIVAL! We all need to REPENT for losing our First Love and chasing after other “gods”; if we do repent, then prayerfully, God may REVIVE us again! (2 Chron 7:13-14; Rev 2:4-7).  

ROB BELL AND NEW AGE GURU MARIANNE WILLIAMSON