Isaiah 58 Ministries September 26, 2013
Pastor: Leah Svensson
Government run religion? In America? You bet! And it's happening right under your nose!
And here is my political soap box...
As I was walking dogs today, I really felt the Lord speak to me about situations where people truly cannot afford food or shelter, etc. What are we to do? Well, our government is bloated with program after program that tells people
"you must love your neighbor and we are going to make you do that." Which sounds good, in theory, but you cannot legislate morality or love or kindness with taxes.
It is a moral question whether or not to help your neighbor with medical bills or food. It's a belief system that changes with the whim of every administration-
it's a religion: "an interest, a belief, or an activity that is very important to a person or group."
The government's job is to ENCOURAGE religion, but not to force it through taxation, especially at the levels we have today.
John Witherspoon:
- [T]o promote true religion is the best and most effectual way of making a virtuous and regular people. Love to God and love to man is the substance of religion; when these prevail, civil laws will have little to do. . . . The magistrate (or ruling party of any society) ought to encourage piety . . . [and] make it an object of public esteem.
Witherspoon, Works, (1815) vol VII, pp. 118-119, "Jurisprudence," Lecture XIV.
James Madison is known as the "Father of the Constitution." In one of his most famous works, he laid down a principle which should be followed by every Congressman: don't vote for any bill that is inconsistent with or does not promote the principles of Christianity. Madison said every legislator should vote against any bill if
the policy of the bill is adverse to the diffusion of the light of Christianity. The first wish of those who enjoy this precious gift, ought to be that it may be imparted to the whole race of mankind.
Memorial and Remonstrance, 1785
We need to PROMOTE GOOD behavior, PROMOTE GIVING...but when it comes to taxes-
the government steps over it's bounds and
becomes a religion- a religion that enforces its dogma on all of it's citizenry in a form unnatural to humanity. To be human is to be able to make choices, but you cannot tax morality. It just cannot and should not be done.
Punish wickedness,
put those in jail who defy the Constitution. But
do not turn morality into heavy taxation upon a people
unable to bear the weight of a god unknown to their consciousnesses.
For a government run religion is what you have when you take the moral ideas of helping the sick and poor and start taxing people to accomplish your goals.
This is why Christianity in government works best.
For it costs the people nothing to hear a sermon preached by the president.
It costs the people nothing to have days of prayer and fasting.
It costs the people nothing to hear admonitions to be good and friendly and give to the poor and needy. Christianity accomplishes more than what government run morality/religion does and
costs the people nothing but what they want to and choose to give to who they feel led to give to. An entire society made up of Christians living out their principles
will have no one living in poverty or illiterate. This is why our forefathers and founders promoted Christianity above all other religions, and could not even tolerate the mere thought of an atheist society.
 |
| "NOT" Prohibited the free exercise of religion. You can not stop someone from praciting their religion in anything, especially government. |
John Hancock:
- Sensible of the importance of Christian piety and virtue to the order and happiness of a state, I cannot but earnestly commend to you every measure for their support and encouragement. . . . [N]ot only the freedom but the very existence of the republics . . . depend much upon the public institutions of religion.
Independent Chronicle (Boston), November 2, 1780, last page.
See also Abram English Brown, John Hancock, His Book (Boston: Lee & Shepherd, 1898), p. 269.
Questions:
1.If you needed $$$ to pay for your electric bill, and you went to your neighbor to ask for $$$, would you go in and take it from him if he told you no?
2. If you asked for $200 only to find out the bill was only $150, would you say "yay, dinner and a movie on mr. neighbor, or would you give the extra $50 back with big thank you?
Today, this is what government does for programs that are for the poor and needy, or just about any group someone in power wants to bribe with votes. I love parks, I like libraries, but people shouldn't be made to pay for these perks.
If I wanted to build a park, and I wanted to raise money, should I:
A. go door to door and ask for it,
B.have a fund raiser or
C. come up with my own money... or
D. should I go into my neighbor's homes when they tell me they do not want to support my cause and just take it?
They say that 80% of Americans believe in God, most of whom call themselves Christians. Christ's ministry is for the poor, the weak, the meek, the lowly, the sick, the hurting.
Proverbs 21:13 13 If a man shuts his ears to the cry of the poor, he too will cry out and not be answered.
Isaiah 61:1
1 The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me, because the LORD has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners...
he has filled the hungry with good things,
and the rich he has sent away empty. Luke 1:53
To be a Christian is to be the good Samaritan who picks up the dying man off the side of the road who had just been robbed and beaten and takes him to a doctor and pays for his treatment until he is better.
Real Christianity takes care of the poor and meek and weak around us- the Gospel of Jesus Christ is good news... for the poor!!
"Liberals" actually have the right idea but go around it wrong. Many say "you are rich, you owe more..." Well, that is what Paul said, who wrote 2/3's of the New Testament- that is what Jesus said also-
but you cannot go into people's wallets and homes and take it. You also need to know by whose authority your moral judgments come from. I know where mine come from, the Bible, the infallible Word of God. In this way, it's not just my mere opinion I push on people- but God's.
Michelle recently helped a middle aged black woman and her son who asked for some money. This was her privilege to do so but what if Michelle said "no," and that woman went ahead and reached into Michelle's wallet and took money? What if Michelle wanted to help that lady more but didn't want to shoulder the whole burden so she reached into your pocket and took $20 out without even asking you?
Rich Young Ruler Parable:
Jesus told the rich young ruler the only thing he lacked was he should "go sell all you have and give to the poor and follow me and you will have treasures in Heaven."
(Matt. 19:21; Mark 10:21; Luke 18:22). He went away very sad for he was "very rich."
Almost Impossible for Rich to Enter Heaven, but With God All Things are Possible!
Jesus said it's very hard, almost impossible for the rich to enter into the kingdom of God- that it's easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle than for a rich man to enter Heaven--- but with God all things are possible.During Biblical times a camel would need to take off all his loads to get through the gate or "needle"
Today's Political System:
1. Sees a need and fills it- by taking (aka stealing) from people
2. Demands the "rich" pay more
3. Wants equality in wealth- aka spreading the wealth
4. Makes the poor and needy a big part of each election and government as a whole
Wow! Did you know America's Gov and Christianity Have a Lot in Common? Christianity:
1. Sees a need and fills it... by encouraging people to give, not making them
*But whoever has the world's goods, and beholds his brother in need and closes his heart against him, how does the love of God abide in him? (NAS, 1 John 3:17)
2. Encourages, does not demand, the rich pay more
*My favorite scripture talking about Christian giving is 1 Timothy 6:17
17 As for the rich in this present age, charge them not to be haughty, nor to set their hopes on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly provides us with everything to enjoy. 18 They are to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, 19 thus storing up treasure for themselves as a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is truly life.
Matthew 25:37-40 *37"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? 38When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? 39When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
3. Wants equality in wealth... but not to the point where one becomes poor to help someone else prosper
*“Our desire is not that others might be relieved while you are hard pressed, but that there may be equality. At the present time your plenty will supply what they need, so that in turn their plenty will supply what you need. Then there will be equality” (2 Cor. 8:13-14).
4. Makes widows, fatherless, poor, and needy the central part of their religion.
*Luke 14:12-14
12Then Jesus said to his host, "When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. 13But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind,14and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."
James 1:27 Pure and undefiled religion in the sight of our God and Father is this: to visit orphans and widows in their distress, and to keep oneself unstained by the world.
America Was Founded on Christian Principles- and Poverty was almost 0% and literacy almost 100%
When God blesses you, you are to always be ready to give!! Christians care about everyone, and want to see everyone healthy and filled with love.
Instead of No Religion in Government, We Now Have a Religion That IS the Government!!
What does God do?
-Provides
-Protects
-Tells us what is right and wrong and how we should treat one another
Now, the government does all of this and we do not need God. The government will provide you daycare, the government will take your children until they are 18 and raise them for you. It will tell your children not only how to read and write but how to interact with other children, how to eat, how to exercise, how to pick a career, how to pick a college, how to raise children--ha... I laugh at that last one because at the high school I attended it made kids carry around a baby doll that cried and had to be fed all the time. Now, government will make sure you have insurance from cradle to grave...
This sure sounds like religion to me. Only thing is, unlike Christianity, you DON'T HAVE A CHOICE. Every time another politician wants to get another vote, he puts another tax on the ballot.
WE NEED JESUS!!!
ALEXIS DE TOCQUEVILLE, FRENCH HISTORIAN: "The Americans combine the notions of Christianity and of liberty so intimately in their minds, that it is impossible to make them conceive the one without the other . . . In the United States, if a political character attacks a sect [denomination], this may not prevent even the partisans of that very sect, from supporting him; but if he attacks all the sects together [Christianity], every one abandons him and he remains alone."
NOAH WEBSTER, 1828: "In my view, the Christian religion is the most important and one of the first things in which all children, under a free government, ought to be instructed . . . No truth is more evident to my mind than that the Christian religion must be the basis of any government intended to secure the rights and privileges of a free people."
Promoting Christianity is the only way our government got to the place where we could separate from England.
The Bible (including the Old Testament) Must be the Standard for Civil Government
The example of New England is
striking. The Statute Books of the Government were annotated with Biblical references to show that the laws of the State conformed to the Laws of God:
[25]
NEW HAVEN COLONY LAW, 1644: "The judicial laws of God as they were delivered by Moses . . . [are to] be a rule to all the courts in this jurisdiction."[26]
Those who established governments in the New World were
NORTH CAROLINA CHARTER, 1662 (QUAKER): "Excited with a laudable and pious zeal for the propagation of the Christian faith . . . in the parts of America not yet cultivated or planted, and only inhabited by . . . people, who have no knowledge of Almighty God."[27]
RHODE ISLAND CHARTER, 1663: [Granted by King Charles II] "That they pursuing with peace and loyal mindes, their sober, serious and religious intentions . . . in the holy Christian faith . . . a most flourishing civil state may stand, and best be maintained grounded upon gospel principles."[28]
The Biblical vision for society is not understood
in our day because people in our day are utterly unfamiliar with this passionate desire to establish all human action - including civil governments - on "gospel principles." Today there is a notion - as pervasive as it is heretical - that the "gospel" has nothing to do with Godly, law-abiding behavior.
[29]
NEW JERSEY SEAL, 1665: "Righteousness exalteth a nation." - Prov. 14:34
PENNSYLVANIA GOVERNMENT, 1682: " . . . Make and establish such laws as shall best preserve true Christian and civil liberty, in all opposition to all unchristian . . . practices."[30]
PENNSYLVANIA'S FIRST LEGISLATIVE ACT, 1682: "Whereas the glory of Almighty God and the good of Mankind, is the reason and end of government, and therefore, government in itself is a venerable Ordinance of God, therefore, it is the purpose of civil government to establish such laws as shall best preserve true Christian and Civil Liberty, in opposition to all Unchristian, Licentious, and unjust practices, (Whereby God may have his due, and Caesar his due, and the people their due), from tyranny and oppression . . . ."[31]
Abraham Baldwin:
- When the minds of the people in general are viciously disposed and unprincipled, and their conduct disorderly, a free government will be attended with greater confusions and evils more horrid than the wild, uncultivated state of nature. It can only be happy when the public principle and opinions are properly directed and their manners regulated. This is an influence beyond the reach of laws and punishments and can be claimed only by religion and education. It should therefore be among the first objects of those who wish well to the national prosperity to encourage and support the principles of religion and morality.
Chas. C. Jones, Biographical Sketches of the Delegates from Georgia to the Continental Congress,
(Boston & NY: Houghton, Miflin and Co., 1891) pp. 6-7
Now, Jesus' mission was to come to this earth and overcome the power of Satan, take his keys, and lead the poor, meek, weak, abused, broken, fatherless, and widows in a triumphant procession of prosperity and health and VICTORY!!! Our faith in Christ OVERCOMES POVERTY, OVERCOMES SICKNESS, OVERCOMES OPPRESSION, AND PUTS AN END TO TYRANNY!!
"If Congress can
employ money indefinitely to the general welfare, and are the sole and supreme
judges of the general welfare, they may take the care of religion into their
own hands; they may appoint teachers in every State, county and parish and pay
them out of their public treasury; they may take into their own hands the
education of children, establishing in like manner schools throughout the
Union; they may assume the provision of the poor; they may undertake the
regulation of all roads other than post-roads; in short, every thing, from the
highest object of state legislation down to the most minute object of police,
would be thrown under the power of Congress. ... Were the power of Congress to
be established in the latitude contended for, it would subvert the very
foundations, and transmute the very nature of the limited Government
established by the people of America." --James Madison
GOVERNMENT cannot be one's God. "You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart all your soul and all your mind"- THIS is the first commandment- all the commandments are summed up in this and "you shall love your neighbor as yourself..." Matthew 22:27
As Christians, we are to give- and know God will take care of us.
We are to GIVE IN SECRET- the gov does not allow us to do this one thing that allows for us to BE BLESSED!!! We cannot have $$$ taken from us and given to the poor and be blessed by God- someone knows, it is NOT done in secret- it is FORCED upon us!!
Jesus, Paul, Peter, James, Isaiah, Jeremiah- all the prophets and apostles- ALL encouraged giving- but even the tithe, was NOT enforced.
The idea of Christianity in government is promoting principles such as Jesus said here:
And [Jesus] looked up and saw the rich putting their gifts into the treasury. And He saw a certain poor widow putting in two small copper coins. And He said, "Truly I say to you, this poor widow put in more than all of them; for they all out of their surplus put into the offering; but she out of her poverty put in all that she had to live on." (NAS, Luke 21:1-4)
Be careful not to do your 'acts of righteousness' before men, to be seen by them. If you do, you will have no reward from your Father in heaven. "So when you give to the needy, do not announce it with trumpets, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and on the streets, to be honored by men. I tell you the truth, they have received their reward in full. (NIV, Matthew 6:1-2)
The Gospel is for the poor, the meek, who shall be rich in faith!!!
Hearken, my beloved brethren, Hath not God chosen the poor of this world rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom which he hath promised to them that love him?
But ye have despised the poor. Do not rich men oppress you, and draw you before the judgment seats? James 2:5-6
But what about people who do not give?
Go to now, ye rich men, weep and howl for your miseries that shall come upon you. James 5:1
There are riches in this world but they only go so far. As Christians we are to live a life that exemplifies all that is Christ- in kindness and philanthropy. God will punish those who don't give and Christians can feel free to make people feel awful for being greedy and not caring or sharing -ever heard of Scrooge in a Christmas Carol?
My mother has always encouraged my sister and I to help out those God puts in our lives. The following is something I posted on fb as a small example of giving...we'd do more if we weren't TAXED so much!!
So, Michelle Svensson had an interesting story to tell today and as it went on it just got crazier. She tells me she looked down to see she was on E and the gas light had come right as she pulls out of University downtown. So she pulls into McDonald's to get uj a sandwich and herself an ice cream cone and heads next door to fill up. She wants to "look confident" because, after all, it is Mc Millian St. A 44 yr old black lady with a 5 yr old boy come up to her and the lady begins tell Michelle all she wants is to buy a big bag of potatoes and a chicken for her and her son to eat that night and could Michelle possibly help out with that. Well, all Michelle had was a $20, so she gives it to the lady, who begins to scream...yes, scream, and jump into Michelle's arms. Michelle said she looked like she had just won a car on the Price Is Right. The lady then goes on to say that she got pregnant at 39 yrs old and didn't know she was pregnant until she was 5 months along and a bunch of other personal information. I'm guessing people give her a hard time. She then asks Michelle which way she is going but Michelle was headed in the opposite direction. The lady asks Michelle if she could possibly take her and her son home anyway because she had a big bag of groceries and had a hard time walking. Well, Snoop dog was in the back seat and Michelle said "Sure, as long as you aren't afraid of dogs." "Oh, no, we love dogs, get in there next to the dog, "she tells her son and off they go. When Michelle drops them off, she says "nice to meet you Ryan!" to the young man... he politely replies "nice to meet you too, bye Snoopy-do!" (he picked up on our nick name for Snoopy:) So, thought I'd shared that story cause Michelle wouldn't cause she's too humble but I thought it might cheer your heart today! Bye Snoopy-do... so cute!!!
Revelation 3:18 I counsel you to buy from me gold refined by fire, so that you may be rich, and white garments so that you may clothe yourself and the shame of your nakedness may not be seen, and salve to anoint your eyes, so that you may see.
But
do not turn morality into heavy taxation upon a people
unable to bear the weight of a god unknown to their consciousnesses.
