| Editor: David E Marlett Th.D. | |
| February 2, 2001 | Vol. II #8 |
There are people who hate Dr Jack Hyles. Some of these people are rejoicing in the fact that he has suffered a massive heart attack and actually hope, maybe even pray, that he might die. God help us if these people attempt to claim the title "Christian".
Most of the readers that have followed my commentaries for any length of time, know that I do not agree with Dr Hyles on all points of doctrine and methodology. I have publicly taken him to task many times on some key issues. I do however acknowledge that he has done a great work in the First Baptist Church in Hammond, Indiana and I respect him for the way God has used him. All of this has little to do with the subject of this letter. It is merely to point out the fact that I am not a blind-eyed Hylesite that elevates Dr Hyles to a point of infallibility. Dr Hyles is actually not the subject of the article, hatred is, and those who consider hatred of other Christians as acceptable.
Since sending out the notice of Dr Hyles heart attack and the updates that followed, I have been the object of a virus attack. The virus was sent to the address that is only used for this newsletter, so it is obvious that it was in response to something they felt should be ceased. What kind of person sends a malicious virus in response to a prayer request? Would a Christian respond this way to a plea for help???
John made the issue here very clear:
1 John 3:14-17 "We know that we have passed from death unto life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not his brother abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer: and ye know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in him. Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him?"
Anyone who would respond to the health emergency that Dr Hyles faces with joy and/or responds to a prayer request for him negatively, has not "passed from death unto life". I know that such a "judgmental" statement will draw fire from any bleeding heart liberals that get this newsletter, but that is fine. I will go ahead and believe God's Word and let Him speak on the subject.
Some will label this as an "anger piece" due to the virus attack against the newsletter. It is not. I have been on the internet for many years and I am well protected from most types of virus attack. I didn't just fall off of the turnip truck. I know when to open e-mail and when to dump it. The virus didn't hurt me. The attack against a Christian brother in need hurt me, not to the point of anger, but to the point of pain for the degenerated place some have taken the title "Christian".
"..And the disciples were called Christians…" Acts 11:25
"And thinkest thou this, O man, that judgest them which do such things, and doest the same, that thou shalt escape the judgment of God? Or despisest thou the riches of his goodness and forbearance and longsuffering; not knowing that the goodness of God leadeth thee to repentance? But after thy hardness and impenitent heart treasurest up unto thyself wrath against the day of wrath and revelation of the righteous judgment of God; Who will render to every man according to his deeds: To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life: But unto them that are contentious, and do not obey the truth, but obey unrighteousness, indignation and wrath, Tribulation and anguish, upon every soul of man that doeth evil, of the Jew first, and also of the Gentile; But glory, honour, and peace, to every man that worketh good, to the Jew first, and also to the Gentile: For there is no respect of persons with God. For as many as have sinned without law shall also perish without law: and as many as have sinned in the law shall be judged by the law; (For not the hearers of the law are just before God, but the doers of the law shall be justified." Romans 2:3-13
"And now, brethren, I wot that through ignorance ye did it, as did also your rulers. But those things, which God before had shewed by the mouth of all his prophets, that Christ should suffer, he hath so fulfilled. Repent ye therefore, and be converted, that your sins may be blotted out, when the times of refreshing shall come from the presence of the Lord;" Acts 3:17-19
Dr David Marlett, Editor
The only survivor of a shipwreck was washed up on a small, uninhabited island. He prayed feverishly for God to rescue him, and every day he scanned the horizon for help, but none seemed forthcoming.
Exhausted, he eventually managed to build a little hut out of driftwood to protect him from the elements, and to store his few possessions.
But then one day, after scavenging for food, he arrived home to find his little hut in flames, the smoke rolling up to the sky. The worst had happened; everything was lost. He was stunned with grief and anger. "God, how could you do this to me!" he cried.
Early the next day, however, he was awakened by the sound of a ship that was approaching the island. It had come to rescue him.
"How did you know I was here?" asked the weary man of his rescuers. "We saw your smoke signal," they replied. It is easy to get discouraged when things are going bad. But we shouldn't lose heart, because God is at work in our lives, even in the midst of pain and suffering. Remember, next time your little hut is burning to the ground, it just may be a smoke signal that summons the grace of God.
For each of the negative things we have to say to ourselves, God has a positive answer for it:
You say, "It's impossible". God says, All things are possible (Luke 18:27).
You say, "I'm too tired". God says, I will give you rest (Matthew 11:28-30).
You say, "Nobody really loves me". God says, I love you (John 3:16 & John 13:34).
You say, "I can't go on". God says, My grace is sufficient (II Corinthians 12:9 & Psalm 91:15).
You say, "I can't figure things out". God says, I will direct your steps (Proverbs 3:5-6).
You say, "I can't do it". God says, You can do all things through me (Philippians 4:13).
You say, "I'm not able". God says, I am able (II Corinthians 9:8).
You say, "It's not worth it". God says, It will be worth it (Roman 8:28).
You say, "I can't forgive myself". God says: I FORGIVE YOU (I John 1:9 & Romans 8:1).
You say, "I can't manage". God says, I will supply all your needs (Philippians 4:19).
You say, "I'm afraid". God says,: I have not given you a spirit of fear (II Timothy1:7).
You say, "I'm always worried and frustrated". God says, Cast all your cares on ME (I Peter 5:7).
You say, "I don't have enough faith". God says, I've given everyone a measure of faith (Romans 12:3).
You say, "I'm not smart enough". God says, I give you wisdom (I Corinthians 1:30).
You say, "I feel all alone". God says, I will never leave you or forsake you (Hebrews13:5).
"Like it or not, American Jews -- like American Muslims, Buddhists, Hindus, and atheists -- *are* different from their neighbors. This *is* a Christian country -- it was founded by Christians and built on broad Christian principles. Threatening? Far from it: It is in precisely this Christian country that Jews have known the most peaceful, prosperous, and successful existence in their long history. In America, a non-Christian need not answer "Amen" to an explicitly Christian prayer. We are free to remain silent -- a freedom that countless Jews, living in far less tolerant times and places, could only dream of.
"This is a society where members of minority faiths live and worship without fear, secure in the hospitality and liberty that America extends to all religions. ... Religious diversity does not mean that no American should ever have to listen to prayers that are different from his own. On the contrary: It means that no American is entitled to try to suppress the prayers of others. 'Jesus' should not be a forbidden word in this land. Not even at a presidential inauguration."
[ Jeff Jacoby, Boston Globe ]
By Chuck Baldwin
Everyone remembers the story of the Trojan horse, don't they? Legend has it that the Greeks constructed a huge, hollow, wooden horse in order to surreptitiously gain entrance into the city of Troy.
The Greeks pretended to retreat from battle, leaving behind an ambassador to persuade the Trojans that a giant horse was being offered as a token of peace. The Trojans foolishly accepted the bait.
Actually, the massive structure hid Greek warriors who, slipping out under cover of darkness, opened the city's gates to the returned Greek army. What was thought to be a benign offer of friendship turned out to be a devious plot to destroy the city.
President Bush may not be purposely planning to destroy church work in America, but his faith-based federal funding plan will accomplish much the same thing nonetheless. It is a plan fraught with folly, and only the foolish or beguiled will be taken in by it.
First of all, one of the most fundamental principles of our country is the principle of religious liberty. This is the bedrock principle upon which all other freedoms rest. If the principle of religious liberty means anything, it means that the exercise of faith and religious activity must remain independent of government.
In fact, there is no freedom apart from independence. The fundamental document of our country is called The Declaration of Independence. Our forefathers realized that liberty could only be secured by independence.
This Executive Order by President Bush to grant federal tax dollars to faith-based ministries strips them of their independence and brings them under the auspices and authority of the federal government. Goodbye freedom. Hello tyranny.
That Mr. Bush is well meaning is little comfort. Most unconstitutional, liberty-grabbing laws enacted over the past 40 years have been said to be well meaning. Under the rubric of good intentions, private property has been confiscated, guns have been outlawed and individual liberty has become little more than snippets of benevolence granted by an over-reaching, ever-encroaching federal government.
The last remaining God-given freedom not yet totally controlled by the government leviathan is religious liberty. Bush's Executive Order takes care of that. With a stroke of the pen, that which belongs to the Heavenly Father has become the property of Big Brother.
In another place, it is antithetical to Christian philosophy and practice to ever accept handouts from the federal government. Church ministries must always be dependent upon God - not government. However, we are now being asked to sell our birthright for a mess of government pottage. We must defiantly decline!
Besides, what has government welfare done for anyone? Federal handouts have driven fathers out of the home and created government-dependent slaves. The surest way to destroy any family or church is to make it dependent upon the federal government. That is exactly what this Executive Order does!
You can bet your last dollar that the federal government will require the faith-based ministries accepting federal funds to hire the people it says to hire and to preach what it says to preach. Like the old maxim says, "He who pays the piper picks the tunes."
This attempt to bring the practice of faith under the authority and control of government is certainly nothing knew. What is new (at least for the United States) is the manner in which conservative politicians and Christian pastors are willingly embracing this Trojan horse. The Greeks would be proud. You and I should be alarmed!
[http://www.chuckbaldwinlive.com ]
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