After the Ruling, part 3

This is part 3 in a series of articles about what to do in the wake of the wicked decision by the Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) to force states to recognize same-sex unions as if they were marriages.  It’s time to stop compromising and get back to doing what is right.  It’s time to stop getting hung up on things that don’t matter and to prepare for what is likely to be a great persecution.

What can a church do in these times?

My advice for churches will be for naught unless the church repents of its wicked support of what Jesus calls adultery (remarriage after divorce under most circumstances).  So my advice is directed toward the few churches which do not practice this or any other perversion, yet are compassionate and forgiving of anyone willing to repent. 

Biblical church discipline must be practiced as described in Matthew 18:15-20, I Corinthians 5, 2 Thessalonians 3:14, Titus 3:10.  Put a certain distance between the church and the rest of the world (2 Corinthians 6:11-18 and 2 John 1:9). 

Make it clear that being a part of Body is not like being a member of social club.  Make the church a safe place for Christians to build one another up, not primarily an evangelistic outreach.  Evangelism should mainly be done on an individual basis.  Jesus sent out his disciples in twos.  Don’t leave it up to the church to do.  Don’t just invite a non-Christian to church hoping that the preacher will say something to grab their attention.  Give them the gospel, the whole gospel, yourself.  You don’t have to do it all at once, but try to give them as much of it as you can as soon as you can.  Don’t hide the fact that this is something urgent, a matter of eternal life and death!

Get out of any arrangement made with the government such as 501(c)(3)  status.  How can you think that the church of Christ should continue such a covenant with such a wicked institution as the federal government which murders unborn babies and subsidizes sodomy?  Get out of Babylon!  I anticipate that the next step down this wrong road we are on will be for the government to require all 501(c)(3)’s to have a non-discrimination policy towards sodomites.  I am further anticipating that the government will make 501(c)(3)  status mandatory for all churches.  If I am right, that means that the church must necessarily go underground.  Any church that does not will become a vassal of the state like in Nazi Germany.  The churches need to make a dramatic paradigm shift. 

To avoid paying income taxes, the church should stop hiring employees.  This will also prevent the government from forcing us to hire sodomites (at least temporarily).  There is nothing in the Bible that says that a church has to have paid employees.  Most churches hire one or a few individuals and give them a large amount of responsibility.  These are often called “lead pastor”, “the preacher” or “senior minister”.  These titles are not mentioned in the Scripture and are therefore completely unnecessary if not harmful.  There is nothing in the Bible that says that one person must do all of the preaching, visiting of the sick, funerals, weddings and all of the counseling. It is probably better to divide these responsibilities up among the congregation even when the church is not under persecution.  If you have to pay somebody for doing work in the church, it should be on a completely voluntary basis, such as is often done when a love offering is collected for a visiting music group.  Under current federal law, an individual can give up to $10,000 per year as a gift to another person tax free.

At some point the government is likely to disallow true Christian churches to meet publicly.  Christians should prepare now by starting to meet secretly in small groups in homes and at random times and places.  We need to get rid of this foolish, legalistic notion that churches must have services in a church building and that it has to be on Sunday.  There is no such commandment in Scripture.  Get rid of all such man made traditions but do not compromise on what is essential according the scriptures.  Upon dissolving their incorporation, churches should turn their property over to members of their congregations so that it is less likely that the government will confiscate it for “hate speech” or whatever else they can dream up to stop us. 

There is nothing in the Bible that says that a wedding cake is necessary for a marriage.  If you really want one, someone in your congregation should make it, rather than buying it from someone who is forced to sell cakes to same-sex couples for their ceremonies.  Apply this same principle to photographers, florists, etc.  Be willing to give up all these things for the sake of Christ.

There is nothing in the Bible that says that people should have to have marriage licenses issued by the state in order for their marriage to be recognized or proper in God’s eyes.  From the time of Adam and Eve to Abraham Lincoln, there was no such thing.  The idea that one must obtain a license from the state in order to do what is a God given right should be offensive to any Christian.  And since the state issues marriage licenses to same-sex couples, then of course such a license means nothing!  Therefore churches should stop this practice and simply require that a verbal covenant be made that satisfies the conditions for marriage which I have listed in part 1 along with all of the other biblical requirements that God has for an acceptable marriage.  If you really think you need a piece of a paper to make your marriage feel real to you, then have your church issue you a certificate of its own making.

Please Detail the Content of the Members of your Organization’s Prayers

CCV is Useless

Citizens for Community Values has been traditionally recognized as a organization which helps to promote family values by informing people of the positions of candidates running for office, supporting good legislation, and helping people overcome sexual addictions.  I was disappointed that they stopped showing the answers to candidate survey questions to the public and instead they just give a list of endorsements.  They are supposed to pro-life, but they endorse candidates who have voted for Title X federal funding of Planned Parenthood.

I showed up at the CCV banquet last week.  I did not have a ticket, but I stood outside the banquet hall soliciting the attendees for their signature for the Ohio Personhood Amendment.  After getting about 15 signatures, someone from CCV asked me to leave.  “We don’t allow anything like that at the banquet,” she said.  The attendees all went down to the banquet to salivate over the likes of Gary Bauer and “Title X” Rick (I don’t know if Santorum actually showed or not) while their eating their $60 dinner, but I am not allowed to get signatures at the entryway because it’s “too political”.  I might have endangered their precious 501(c)(3) status, but their support for the Heartbeat Bill, that inferior compromise which would allow thousands babies to continue to be murdered in Ohio every year, is somehow not such a problem. 

If a brother or sister be naked, and destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them, Depart in peace, be ye warmed and filled; notwithstanding ye give them not those things which are needful to the body; what doth it profit?

James 2:15-16 (KJV)

CCV may still do some good things and I have given them contributions in the past.  But I will never do it again.  As far as I’m concerned they are mainly all bark and no bite.

Republicrat Alternatives, part 4

I am a Ron Paul supporter, but I am looking for other alternative candidates to support because, though he is still running, has no chance of winning the GOP nomination and will not be running for President as an independent or third-party candidate. I agree with most of what the Libertarian Party platform says, except on the issue of abortion. I am uncompromisingly pro-life. So when I read that LP candidate Daniel Imperato is calling for Roe v. Wade to be overturned, I was very eager to read what else he had to say.

Unlike flip-flopping John McCain, Imperato has said that all abortions should be illegal and is calling for a constitutional amendment to ban abortion, saying that this is the only way to protect the unborn. He has moved past pro-aborts Michael Jingozian and Bob Jackson into second place in the running for the LP nomination. I really hope he beats the top LP fundraiser Wayne Allyn Root, who says, “I support gay rights and civil unions,” and “Let's get the federal government out of a woman's right to choose what to do with their own body- this will prevent the death of innocent women at the hands of butchers in back-alleys.” To read more about pro-life Libertarians, click here.

Unlike John McCain, Imperato supports a constitutional amendment to define marriage as between a man and a woman, which is another stark departure from the LP platform. He is against sexual orientation based anti-disciminatory laws. McCain, on the other hand, talks out of both sides of his mouth, saying that he is against same-sex civil unions and then saying that he isn’t (in the same interview), and saying same-sex couples should have power of attorney.

Imperato wants to remind Americans that the Bill of Rights was based upon the inalienable rights that were endowed by our Creator. "The fact is that our nation was built on Judeo Christian principles for the people. There is a tremendous movement in our country to get away from our Judeo Christian heritage and principles that is destroying this country. Our nation is one that was built on freedom, justice, democracy and liberty. Without our heritage and our principles, American does not have its strength," stated Imperato.

He went on to say, "The fact of the matter is that, the Ten Commandments only promotes good and not evil. We should not be wasting taxpayer money to remove these items, or to protest these items. Displaying the Ten Commandments, or printing "In God We Trust" on money, does not cause anyone any harm."

His links page includes not only Christian organizations, such as The Christian Coalition, The American Family Association, Campus Crusade for Christ, and family.org, but also Islamic Society of North America and Your Arms to Israel.

On the one hand, Imperato indicated that the government should stay out of education, employment, environment, energy, gun, and health issues. “We the people need to take over,” he wrote. But he is in favor of a national online educational system (no government involvement?) and taxing drugs approved by the FDA and putting the money back into the healthcare system.

He is in favor of eliminating unlimited tax-deductible contributions under 501(c)(3) except to the Social Security Charitable Fund. This would, he believes, help to save Social Security or we can get rid of it so that people can manage their own funds.

He also indicated that all international aid granted by the United States should eventually be eliminated but would still economically support the transitional government in Somalia for the time being. He would decrease legal immigration, but supports a pathway to citizenship for illegal immigrants and a guest worker program. He said, “I propose joint manufacturing programs, expansion of labor unions and organized labor into Latin America. This will help the people, teach the people, and organize the people, to compete around the world for a Better Americas.”

He said he is hoping for Michael Bloomberg’s endorsement and suggests possibly chosing him as a running mate. (Why?)

He says that he supports the National Election Reform Platform (NERP) which includes uniform ballot access, loosen third party ballot restrictions, universal voter registration, election day holiday, equal media access/debate inclusion, instant runoff voting (IRV), secure voting machines, public campaign financing, direct popular vote election of the president, and DC congressional representation. He says that third parties should set aside some of their ideological differences.
Imperato has called for increased trade, better labor relations, attention to health care concerns and energy efficiency. He is calling for end to bad oil deals and supports the use of alternative fuels to lower our dependence on foreign oil, but does not advocate total energy dependence, because this would make Saudi oil more available to nations like China. Like fellow LP candidate Michael Jingozian, I have seen Imperato’s name on lists of Green Party candidates.

Imperato is a member of the Knights of Malta which allegedly played a role in the founding of the Council on Foreign Relations. (Is there anyone running for President except Ron Paul who isn’t connected with this insidious organization?)

On the war on terror, Imperato says:

“Because of our shifted focus to Iraq, those [terrorist] groups are operating with efficiency and turning the balance of power away from democracy in the region…With the US so engaged in the region now, we need to combine forces with Iran, the Saudis and Afghans to finally go after the terror camps operating in the Pakistani mountains.”

Imperato believes that a possible solution to the problem of terrorism is to call for a cease-fire in Iraq and offer to personally negotiate with Bin Laden. In January of 2006 Imperato said, “I believe that in a democracy under the word of God, our leadership owes the right to Bin Laden to at least hear what his proposal is.”

He believes that the U.S. is entitled to Iraqi oil reserves as compensation for expenses incurred as a result of our military involvement in Iraq.

In conclusion, this guy is weird (and a boring speaker, from what I hear). I don’t like that he is willing to unite with anybody just for the sake of defeating the Repugnants and Democrackpots and he doesn’t seem to be the strict constitutionalist that Ron Paul is. NERP is a bad idea. But given a choice between him, Hillary, Obama, and McCain, I would vote for Imperato in a heartbeat.

Obituary of Common Sense

I work for a public institution. Someone at this institution (it was not me) was brave enough to send the following opinion essay to everyone in our entire department.

Obituary of Common Sense

I am 72 years old. My parents told me about Mr. Common Sense early in my life and told me I would do well to call on him when making decisions. It seems he was always around in my early years but less and less as time passed until today I read his obituary. Obituary - Common Sense

Today we mourn the passing of a beloved old friend, Common Sense, who has been with us for many years. No one knows for sure how old he was since his birth records were long ago lost in bureaucratic red tape.

He will be remembered as having cultivated such valuable lessons as knowing when to come in out of the rain, why the early bird gets the worm, life isn't always fair, and maybe it was my fault. Common Sense lived by simple, sound financial policies (don't spend more than you earn) and reliable parenting strategies (adults, not children are in charge).

His health began to deteriorate rapidly when well intentioned but overbearing regulations were set in place. Reports of a six-year-old boy charged with sexual harassment for kissing a classmate; teens suspended from school for using mouthwash after lunch; and a teacher fired for reprimanding an unruly student, only worsened his condition.

Common Sense lost ground when parents attacked teachers for doing the job they themselves failed to do in disciplining their unruly children. It declined even further when schools were required to get parental consent to administer aspirin, sun lotion or a band aid to a student; but could not inform the parents when a student became pregnant and wanted to have an abortion.

Common Sense lost the will to live as the Ten Commandments became contraband; churches became businesses; and criminals received better treatment than their victims. Common Sense took a beating when you couldn't defend yourself from a burglar in your own home and the burglar can sue you for assault.

Common Sense finally gave up the will to live, after a woman failed to realize that a steaming cup of coffee was hot. She spilled a little in her lap, and was promptly awarded a huge settlement. Common Sense was preceded in death by his parents, Truth and Trust; his wife, Discretion; his daughter, Responsibility; and his son, Reason.

He is survived by three stepbrothers; I Know my Rights, Someone Else is to Blame, and I'm a Victim.

Not many attended his funeral because so few realized he was gone. If you still remember him pass this on. If not, join the majority and do nothing.


Author unknown

Churches Should Consider Unincorporation

Most churches, including my own, are incorporated by the government under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. This allows our church to free from having to pay property taxes, sales tax, and allows donations to be tax deductible. There is a price to pay, however, for this incorporation. My church has a proposed amended constitution which would continue this status. It states:

“No substantial part of the activities of the Church shall be in the attempting to influence legislation, and the Church shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.”

It’s wrong to make a deal with the government that you will keep quiet about politics in exchange for tax breaks. The Church should not be run like a business. The IRS is right in saying that churches who have 501(c)(3) status do not have the right to speak to political issues. It’s the law. When a church that supports a particular political point of view is given tax breaks, this effectively forces taxpayers to support a point of view that they don’t necessarily agree with because they have to pay a greater share of the tax burden.

In an ideal world, no one would have to pay any income tax or property tax. These are tyrannical government intrusions. (In the case of property tax, police and fire department levies are reasonable exceptions.) Sales taxes, head taxes, and tariffs on imports are fairer. But it’s not right to make the system fairer for a church at the expense of the general taxpayer.

It is fair, however, for members of an unincorporated congregation to give money to the ministers, pastors, and other workers in the church without them (the ministers, etc.) having to pay income taxes on it. This is a step of faith, however, because the ministers, etc. are then not guaranteed a salary. They simply get whatever is put into the offering plate. Anyone can legally give up to $10,000 per year per individual without the recipient having to pay any income taxes. Beyond that, the giver would have to pay additional taxes. This giving is NOT tax deductible, but at least the recipient does not have to pay income taxes on it as they would if the church were incorporated.

Any properties controlled by the church are, believe it or not, owned by Jesus Christ under the law. Trustees of the church are responsible for overseeing such property, but no one but Jesus Christ owns it.

Incorporation causes all kinds of other legal entanglements. The 501(c)(3) status allows the government to interfere with the inner workings of the church which should be under Christ alone. You can read about one such case on the website of the Ecclesiastical Law Center. The process of disincorporation is a very difficult legal process. I would encourage all churches to consider this and to contact Dr. Ben Townsend at the ELC for help in doing this. See also this article.

The use of 501(c)(3) status by the government is an attempt by them to silence the Christian Church. It is just another example of a law that can be bent or broken by the powerful at the expense of weak, making this nation more of a lawless nation.