Three Michigan pastors launched a Federal lawsuit challenging recent ‘hate crime’ legislation as unconstitutional.   If any references denouncing homosexuality or condemning it as ‘deadly’ behavior  fall under this so-called crime definition, then reading certain portions of the Bible would make criminals out of preachers and Sunday school teachers.  These courageous pastors have decided to take the lead in fighting this foolishness in the courts.  One well known pastor is Bridgeport preacher, Renee Oullette.  We applaud and support men and women, churches and institutions that are striving to keep this nation a Bible nation!  Below are related artlicles.

The American citizenry is being battered from multiple attacks and from multiple directions. It is overwhelming. The rapid fire onslaught of domestic and foreign crises seems to be pressing our national capacities and resolve. Our country’s lungs are burning from exertions and it’s muscles are aching from last efforts. Our existence is in the balance. Citizens are frozen with inability and fear. Some are blind with apathy and indulgence. The gates are being overrun by the barbarians of globalism and self interest. The national gatekeepers of every branch of government have and continue to fail us. Is there a hope of renewal and national survival?
 
The answer is an astounding “YES!”. Bible advocates, though much maligned are and will continue to be the reason for such optimism. While most Americans ‘twitter’ away their thoughts on who is ‘dancing with the stars’, or ‘facebook’ their picks for Sunday’s ‘NFL’ match ups, a real chasm of destruction widens. This week alone, congress will vote to control Americans, cradle to grave, with “healthcare reform.” Afghanistan “flare ups” threaten to critically “break” our military. The dollar is dying, the deficit is raging, and the banks continue to go unaccountable for any of it. The Supreme Court takes on the gun rights issue yet again. The Federal government is consolidating power, loosening immigration policy, and supporting homosexual rights.  These domestic issues pale in comparison to the increasing threat of nuclear proliferation and foreign conflicts.
 
World War Three is having it’s opening salvos as we pen these words as North and South Korea, China and Taiwan, India and Pakistan all “test” fire missiles on a daily basis. Of course, the rhetoric and scope of calamity between Israel and Iran is truly apocalyptic. Certain media figures cast blame and expose error, but where is the fix? What are the answers? Can anything be done? Does Obama hold our salvation is his hands?
 
The Scriptures reveal the source of our hope. “When the enemy shall come in like a flood, the Spirit of   the LORD shall lift up a standard against him.” -Isaiah 59:19. It is now His battle and in His hands. Our rest is in the calm assurance that God is right, fights for the right and therefore that the right prevails . . . always! It then behooves us to be right and do right. The analogy is this, we put up our resistance, we stand up for the right. When the gates are overrun, and the enemies are on top of us . . . listen for the trumpet of the cavalry.  Yes, God uses human instruments, but sometimes He Himself does a divine coup d’ tat for His own people, His own will, and in accordance with His own Word. Let us stand, let us fight, but above all, let us be right!  Claim Isaiah 59:19, and be willing to be His standard.

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In the Declaration of Independence, Thomas Jefferson wrote, “Prudence,
indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed
for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn,
that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than
to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed.
But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the
same Object, evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, is
their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide
new Guards for their future security. Such has been the patient sufferance
of these Colonies.”

I would argue that we, like our patriot forebears, have also endured
“patient sufferance.” For at least a half-century, we have patiently endured
the erosion and abridgment of our freedoms and liberties.  We have watched
the federal government become an overbearing and meddlesome Nanny State that
pokes its nose and sticks its fingers in virtually everything we do. We
cannot drive a car, buy a gun, or even flush a toilet without Big Brother’s
permission. We are taxed, regulated, and snooped-on from the time we are
born to the day we die. And then after we are dead, we are taxed again.

In the same way that Jefferson and Company patiently suffered up until that
shot was fired that was heard around the world, we who love freedom today
are likewise patiently suffering “a long train of abuses and usurpations.”
In fact, I would even dare say that these States United have become a
boiling caldron of justifiable frustration and even anger.

Accordingly, it is incumbent upon us to very seriously and thoughtfully
examine those principles that we absolutely will never cede or surrender. We
have already surrendered much of the freedom that was bequeathed to us by
our forefathers. We are now to the point that we must define those
principles that form our “line in the sand” and that we will not surrender
under any circumstance. Either that, or we must admit to ourselves that
there is nothing–no principle, no freedom, no matter how sacred–that we
will not surrender to Big Government.

Here, then, are those principles that, to me, must never be surrendered. To
surrender these liberties to Big Government would mean to commit idolatry.
It would be sacrilege. It would reduce us to slavery. It would destroy our
humanity. To surrender these freedoms would mean “absolute Despotism” and
would provide moral justification to the proposition that such tyranny be
“thrown off.”

*The Right to Keep and Bear Arms

Men without guns are not free men; they are slaves. Men without guns are not
citizens; they are subjects. Men without guns have lost the right of
self-defense. They have lost the power to defend their families and protect
their properties. Men without guns are reduced to the animal kingdom,
becoming prey to the Machiavellians among them who would kill them for sport
or for their own personal pursuits. As King Jesus plainly ordered, “He that
hath no sword, let him sell his garment, and buy one.” (Luke 22:36) This we
will do–at all costs.

*The Right to Own Private Property

Like the right of self-defense, the private ownership of property is a
God-given right that is rooted in the Sacred Text. As God told Moses, “Thou
shalt not remove thy neighbour’s landmark, which they of old time have set
in thine inheritance, which thou shalt inherit in the land that the LORD thy
God giveth thee to possess it.” (Deut. 19:14)

In fact, the history of Western Civilization is replete with the examples of
free men who were determined (even at the cost of their very lives) to
defend the right to own property. Without private property rights, men are
reduced to serfs and servants. Like chattel, they feed themselves by
another’s leave. This we will not do.

*The Right to Train and Educate Our Children

Education has never been the responsibility of the State. From time
immemorial, education has been the right and responsibility of the family.
This, too, has its foundation in the Sacred Volume. “And, ye fathers,
provoke not your children to wrath: but bring them up in the nurture and
admonition of the Lord.” (Eph. 6:4)

Therefore, the absolute right of homeshooling or private/parochial/Christian
schooling must never be surrendered. Homeschooling, especially, is
fundamental to freedom. It is not a coincidence that throughout history,
most totalitarian governments forbade parents homeschooling their children.
Any government–federal, State, or local–that forbids, or even restricts,
the right of parents to homeschool their children has taken upon itself the
uniform of a tyrant.

*The Freedom of Speech and Worship

Speech and worship are matters of the heart and conscience (Luke 6:45;
John 4:24). Only tyrants seek authority over matters of the heart. But, of
course, that is what tyrants do: they seek to control men’s thoughts and
beliefs.

Hence, the alternative media is essential to liberty: the Internet, short
wave radio, as well as independent magazines and periodicals. It is almost
superfluous to say that there is no such thing as a free and independent
press among the mainstream news media today. In fact, the major media more
resembles a propaganda machine than it does a free press.

The same can be said for most of the mainstream churches in America today.
They more resemble havens for politically correct, Big-Government ideology
than they do bastions of Bible truth. Therefore, home-churches and
non-establishment churches are increasingly requisite to a free people.

*The Right to Determine One’s Own Healthcare

The marriage of Big Government and Big Medicine has created a healthcare
monster. Already, the dispensing of medical treatment is micromanaged by Big
Brother in a way that has resulted in skyrocketing costs and inferior care
(and in some cases, even death). President Obama’s universal health care
initiatives that are sure to come (in one form or another) will only
exacerbate an already untenable situation.

Free men and women absolutely have the right to refuse vaccinations for
themselves and their children. Forced vaccinations (of any kind) are an
assault against the very foundation of freedom. Free men have the right to
choose their own physicians, their own hospitals, their own insurance
programs, etc. They also have the right to refuse any and all of the above.

God is Creator. He is also Healer (Exodus 15:26). Therefore, how men choose
to seek God’s healing is a private matter between them and God. Alternative
medicine is a right. Already, our military personnel are used as human
guinea pigs to test a variety of drugs and chemicals. Public schools also
require forced vaccinations. And now the push is on to force the general
population to take the Swine Flu vaccine. At the current pace, it won’t be
long until all alternative medicines and treatments will be illegal and the
federal government will be America’s doctor. This is not acceptable.

*The Right to Life

2000 years of Western Civilization have perpetually reconfirmed that life is
a gift of God. Both Biblical and American history repeatedly honor God as
the Source and Sustainer of man’s existence. Therefore, evils such as
abortion, infanticide, and euthanasia must be vehemently resisted. It is bad
enough that any government (especially one such as ours) would legalize
abortion, but the concept of FORCED abortion, infanticide, or euthanasia
could only be regarded as a despotic attack on life and liberty of the
gravest proportion. In fact, under Natural Law, such an attack would remove
said government from the protection of Heaven and would place it in a state
of war.

*The Right to Live as a Free and Independent People

God separated the Nations (Genesis 11). Therefore, it is absolutely
necessary that we Americans maintain our independence and national
sovereignty. We simply cannot (and will not) allow ourselves to become part
of any hemispheric or global union.

There they are: seven freedom-principles that are not negotiable. As
Jefferson said, we are “disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable.” But
cross these lines and free men must do what free men must do: “throw off
such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security.”

*If you appreciate this column and want to help me distribute these
editorial opinions to an ever-growing audience, donations may now be made by
credit card, check, or Money Order. Use this link:

http://www.chuckbaldwinlive.com/donate.php

(c) Chuck Baldwin

“Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD;” -Psalm 33:12
“I will bless them that bless thee, and curse him that curseth thee:” -Genesis 12:3

An MIT or Harvard degree in Macroeconomics does not necessarily make one a good advisor of financial policy or a qualified predictor of national growth and decline. In fact, most recently, “enlightened” economists have gotten it wrong time and time again! A recent New York Times article entitled How did Economists get it so Wrong? (September 2, 2009) exhausts the same old rhetoric as to our economic woes and seeks to explain the downfall of a formerly revered profession. Nobel recognized economist, Paul Krugman reviews the recent woes and opines the calamitous counsel of such sage advisors as Olivier Blanchard (IMF Chief), Robert Lucas (Former President of the American Economists Association), and Ben Bernanke (Chairman of the Federal Reserve), as well-meaning, but at the whim of sinister forces of greed. Such damage control on the part of yet another economist on behalf of said species is all part of the voodoo rhetoric meant to soothe the masses into believing the nation’s economy is in good hands.

After another elitist lecture on the history of economic theory, Krugman falls back into a defense of Keynesian economics which basically states that the government is justified, yea, must be involved in even more regulation and manipulation (a.k.a. soft socialism). The salvation of American markets is ‘more of the same?’

What both right and left alike have in common today is that they believe with religious fervor their philosophies as to the flow of money can ‘manage’ inflation and depression. “Trust the markets” is countered by “remember 1929!” Neither side looks to the creator of money and manager of wealth – Jehovah God, as an economic factor of any consequence. Neither would allow the Bible or it’s principles into the discussion. Yet, both sides practice their own “voodoo” doctrines with far less substantiated proofs, citing only “consumer confidence” and “market trends” and “successful European models”. Are we mesmerized by such shamanism?

Adam Smith’s treatise “Wealth of Nations” in 1776 claimed there is an “unseen hand” in free market economies that equates to a miraculous ‘X factor’, a veritable missing link, making ‘capitalism’ the better ideology. The Apostle Paul would have responded to that notion something like this, “The economic ‘unseen hand’ you ignorantly worship, declare I unto you.” [See Acts 17:23 for allusion].

God almighty controls oil deposits and gold discoveries, crop successes and weather catastrophes, winners in war and losers in politics. He is the one rock of economic sureness that Americans have counted on. Does not our national anthem plead in prayer, “may God thy gold refine”? We must continue to trust and obey the not so secret hand that feeds us. Righteousness and morality, generosity and hard work, responsibility and friendship toward Israel are as keen of economic indicators as are interest rates and trade tariffs. Forming NAFTA or EU like trading blocks will just bring larger cycles of flash and then bang! Let’s quit listening so intently to the Economist and start looking to the Book of Books for our personal and national policies. The Creator of wealth and nations has much to say about it. (See Dr. Levesque’s “The Design and Destiny of Nations” online at www.biblenation.org)

Every soldier and public servant covenants by solemn oath to defend the Constitution of the United States from all enemies, “foreign and domestic.”  We sing, “land of the free and the home of the brave”, thousands of times a day across this country.  We pledge allegiance, “to the republic”, in countless venues, and a myriad of times in our life.  Are such commitments poppycock?  Is our rhetoric without understanding or truth?  I have personally preached a score of sermons related to the commitment of good citizenship and the uniqueness of our heritage, charging good Christians to be good Americans.  I have weighed the times and the seasons, the costs and the ramifications.  It is time to stand up and be counted for right, and align clearly against wrong in our National life.

Wrong War

The examples in Scripture are there for our wisdom.  Consider Judges chapter twelve.

Jephthah and the Gileadites had no difficulty of conscience in fighting against the Ammonites and Amorites when invaded.  The decision to war against such enemies was clear cut, and to fight a defensive war, dependent upon Almighty God was just, even right.  But when confronted by their own countrymen, the Ephraimites, a plea and dialogue was put forth by Jepthah as to his rightness, but to no avail.  Ultimately, the men of Gilead responded to the threats of Ephraim in order to keep themselves from enslavement by their own kin.  A battle ensued.  The tragic deaths of war bloodied the Jordan river.  Jephthah emerges victorious.  We do not want to rally against our own country men, but their incessant threats of enslavement are becoming real chains and rapidly.

Brother Against Brother

With the death of national sovereignty will no doubt come an attack upon personal liberties.  Bible preachers will become “hate mongers”, Christian educators will be labeled “child abusers”, and Christians will be pushed into a deepening silence.  What will we do about it?  What can we do?  I return to the Biblical account for help.

Ephraim, by pride and jealousy, initiated a war of enslavement and conquest.  It was the wrong war to fight.  They should have joined Jephthah against Ammon, but missed out for unknown reasons.  Why did Gilead seem like more of a threat to Ephraim than the Ammonites?  And so it is in America today.  Liberals count Bible advocates as a greater threat than Taliban terrorists, and conservatives do nothing to stop the bashing because their eye is upon the waxing and waning of their ever precious stock reports.  Christians are fighting moral corruption but will not be joined by Democrats or Republicans.  Instead, both parties struggle to free themselves of the “fundamentalist” Christians in their ranks like a leper seeks to be free of his spots.  Do we have a principled or historical leg to stand on?  Who are the real keepers of the Constitution?

A Dark Decision

The men of Gilead were forced to fight, and some day so might we.  Let us refrain from foolish bravado or untaunted saber rattling.  However, let us pledge the flag and the republic with truth.  Let us sing about our land bravely.  Quote the Constitution, herald the Declaration.  Repent of wrong.  Commit to right.  Humbly pray and seek God’s face and miraculous reform, but . . .prepare for the dark decision that faces every Bible believer.  What will you do when your child’s education is no longer your choice, or Biblical truth is considered criminal, or faithful churches are litigated against for “treason” when all thy really do is declare the Scriptures, and hold to the founding fathers own sentiments? The fight is being brought to us.  May God help us and the dark decisions we face as he aided Jephthah and the men of Gilead.

Today at least nine nations have a nuclear weapon in their arsenals.  Only one, however, has used this weapon in warfare:  the United States of America.

The debate remains as to whether bombing the two Japanese cities of Nagasaki and Hiroshima was moral or right.  The fact that it hastened the end of the war, and probably saved both American and Japanese lives seems clear, but it also clearly opened a Pandora’s box of potential conflict and political conundrum.  Should nations have nuclear weapons?  Is it ever right to use them, and when?  Are there rules to such issues, and who should decide them?  National and International protocols have been debated and issued.  The International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has been established by the United Nations as a permanent governing, inspection, reporting, and enforcement arm, but is it effective enough?   The better question may be is it effective at all? There is another voice of authoritative counsel in this issue that should be considered.  The Bible speaks to the twenty-first century issue of wielding the nuclear sword. “…and with good advice, make war.” (Proverbs 20:18)

Striving for National Might

Military prowess or martial greatness should not be the primary concern of nations, though it is an important factor.  Ancient King David was an able warrior with mighty men of war, who both defended and conquered territory effectively. However, his primary designs were moral and spiritual.  When he succeeded at spiritual endeavors, national might was increased.  When he failed at moral duty, his country’s war fighting decisions were abysmal.  “Some trust in chariots, and some in horses: but we will remember the name of the LORD our God.”(Psalms 20:7)  Scripture teaches that how a nation wields the name and Spirit of God is a far better indicator of national might than nuclear power and cataclysmic weaponry.  Striving for national might is not a sin, unless the God of the Bible is left out of the equation. (I Samuel 17:45, Hebrews 4:12)

God’s Aid in Warfare

As previously mentioned, King David had a certain proficiency in battle.  He declared that it was a by-product of knowing God. “Blessed be the LORD my strength, which teacheth my hands to war, and my fingers to fight.”(Psalms 144:1)  The Lord Himself revealed important intelligence and maneuvers to David’s army with staggering results.  These same results were inflicted upon David’s people when he did not comply with the decrees given him.  Throughout the Bible, wars are both ordered and initiated by God.  He aids in the actual warfare through the use of both conventional and supernatural means.  The fact that one nation has a nuclear weapon while another does not, or that some nations keep weaponry out of another’s hand, is part of this divine aid. (Zechariah 4:6)

Balance of Power is a Divine Issue

It is evident in history as well as in Scripture that the Almighty has allowed certain ‘less than desirable’ empires to rise to power, in some cases even clearly facilitating the rise.  This is done in order to bring humility and justice to other nations, to direct the choices of certain national leaders, and further the working of His own plan for the ages.  Individual lives affected are certainly not without His consideration; rather they are the core of His design and reason.  The Mesopotamians, Persians, and Romans of old became great in order to fulfill not just their will but God’s own.  (They all eventually paid for their follies, and were not greater than their national sins as well.)  That America is a nuclear superpower, standing alone in her national capabilities, is according to the measure of her adherence to the Bible and allegiance to its truths.  We may just as easily fall from our height if we wield the nuclear sword with pride and untamed passion.  But the fact that we wield it with restraint, have only used it with reserve, and continue to desire a sheathed presence only is a testament to national greatness and Heaven’s ordered goodness. “This is nothing else save the sword of Gideon the son of Joash, a man of Israel:  for into his hand hath God delivered Midian, and all the host.” (Judges 7:14)  If the balance of power changes, the fault will be our own.  God can use other nations to execute power. (Psalms 149:6-9, Romans 13:1-7)

God-fearing nations whose foundations are in Bible truths are, in fact, the best countries to have the power of nuclear weapons.  The United States can and should have them as a deterrent, and if necessary as a useful weapon in warfare.  We should recognize this penchant for technological nuclear superiority and the ability to deliver its power to our enemies efficiently as a moral force to be used for good, not selfish gain or personal vendetta.  We may also strive to govern its use elsewhere, endeavoring to keep such a sword out of the hands of rogues and despots.  Nuclear power, like the power of gravity, is not something we are masters of, only manipulators of.  Like a sword in the hand of a soldier, we must wield the nuclear one with ability, restraint, and responsibility lest we hurt our-selves, but when called upon to execute force do so with the assurance of being right.  “Blessed is the nation whose God is the LORD; and the people whom he hath chosen for his own inheritance.” (Psalms 33:12-22)

The Meaning of Public

What does the word ‘public’ in public education really mean?  If it means free access for children of American citizens, that’s great.  If it means free daytime childcare for illegal aliens then let’s redefine the word.  Or better yet, let’s get back to the original definition all together.

‘Public’ does not mean government interference into parental affairs.  It does not mean endless funding for poor production through federal, state and local taxes.  It does not mean tax funded unions can virtually dictate what is taught or not taught.  Lastly, it does not mean ’secular’ or without relation to faith and religion.

An Acceptable Term

There is nothing wrong with the term ‘public’ education if that education is funded locally, determined locally, reflects local values, and is free to pursue local will.  Federal and state mandates have gone wild, removing all local distinctions and thereby creating a Washington D.C. inspired, institutionally secular, anti-religious machine.  Students success is based upon establishing a utopian social standard rather that academic achievement.  ‘Public’ should not be equated to a government mandated or administrated superstructure.

A Better Model

‘Public’ can mean parental.  Parent initiated, parent inspired, parent involved education.   King Solomon wisely charged, “My son, hear the instruction of thy father, and forsake not the law of thy mother:  For they shall be an ornament of grace unto thy head, and chains about thy neck.”  -Proverbs 1:8-9.  This ‘parental’ distinction is one that makes ‘private’ education perform better and produce a better product.

‘Public’ can mean performance.  Funding should based on performance, and so should opportunity.  Schools that perform well should be funded well.  This would motivate others to copy or compete for more funding based upon successful models and hard work rather than be funded by artificial mandates.  Students that perform well should get additional schooling.  Who say’s we should have 20 years of available daycare for every student, especially poorly performing students?  Eight years of acceptable performance can open the door to two more then two more.  Of course, special needs children are always the exception. “Study to shew thyself approved unto God, a workman that needeth not to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.”  -II Timothy 2:15.

‘Public’ should include ‘choice’.  Local peculiarities should be allowed to be included in public offerings.  Farming classes, particular ethnic histories, even Bible surveys should be reflected in that localities ‘public’ education.  Most communities (80%)  would choose to allow academic instruction regarding the Bible.  ‘Public’ education could then be defined by wisdom and knowledge rather that by pride or Washington D.C.’s so called false measurements of equality in the classroom standards.

(see Gallup Poll video at bottom of article)

Soon U.S. legislators will again consider the inclusion of “gender, gender identity, and sexual orientation” into current hate crime legislation.  This legislation while inconsequential to many Americans has the potential to affect large societal change.  According to a recent Gallup Poll the majority of Americans including self-identified Bible supporters are in favor of expanding current hate crimes legislation to now include “gender, sexual orientation, and gender identity.”  The inclusion of these terms creates new social groups in America on par with those identified by race, ethnicity, or sex.  Should voluntary lifestyle choices be placed on the same status as identifiers in which the individual has no choice?

Behavior a mark of character not genetics

The founders of this nation went to great lengths to protect the God given rights of “created individuals.”  The declaration of independence states, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”  The founder’s intent was to insure that all men regardless of what physical characteristics they were created with would have opportunity to enjoy these rights.  A man should not be limited by his genetics, but be afforded opportunity to prosper based on his own actions.  The equality of the races and sexes has been a great hallmark of this country that was initiated at its founding.

However, while protecting the rights of the created man the founders also left that man free to live with the consequence of his behavior.  His behavior would determine his success and standing in society.  The ingenious hard-worker would thrive and the sluggard would starve.  Behavior is not the result of genetics but of willful choices made by an individual.  Did the founders intend to protect behavior or the created man?

Crime judged on action not motivation

The legal system specifies consequences for certain behaviors by an individual.  For instance if an individual commits the behavior of murder he is tried by his peers and sentenced according to his actions.  The law, particularly in the case of murder, does distinguish between behaviors committed in passion or pre-meditated, but if justice is truly blind should she concern herself with motive once it has been determined a crime has been committed?  Some might argue that a noble motive might warrant a lesser punishment, but if an action was warranted then it should not be seen as a crime, therefore not punished.  Why then is harming an individual because of there sexual orientation any different than any other reason people harm each other.  Crime is crime and should be punished for the action without prejudice of motive.

Equality ends where behavior begins

The founder’s belief that all men are created equal is a Biblical principle.  “….God is no respecter of persons: but in every nation he that feareth him, and worketh righteousness, is accepted with him.” Acts 10:34b-35 This explains that God judges the behaviors of a person not their genetic make-up.  At the heart of hate crime legislation is the attempt to force what many believe as unacceptable behaviors into the category of created equality.  It removes from society the ability to determine what is moral or immoral.  This issue begs the continual question of upon what foundation should a society build itself.  It is the Bible supporter that understands that a society built upon the principles of the Bible affords the most opportunity and protection to all, believer or non-believer.  Freedom is lost when government prevents society to pass it own moral judgment. 

By Dr. Douglas F. Levesque, Founder of The Levesque Institute

While Bible advocates are admonished in Scripture to be good citizens, and pray for their civil authorities, there are equally as many pervasive admonitions given to those same authorities.  In the United States of America such authority has always had this Biblical connotation of ‘public servant’.  When our leaders fail they are subject to public scrutiny.  When they purposely depart from proven, established and principled processes of governance they must also be subject to the critical eye from those they serve and represent.

Should we allow our executive to single handedly change our capital system of economics to the current Euro-centric, Hyper-feudalistic model?  Is our President allowed to ‘own it all’?

Imagine this headline “Executive Branch uses Murder to Cover-Up Private Property Seizure.”  Such a news story would be scandalous indeed; hearings would be started, impeachment would be called for, the courts would be convened, and confidence in government would falter.  Such a news story may not be so far-fetched if the Constitution and free markets are killed in order to gain control over the wealth and assets of the citizenry.

Today, our Bible based economic heritage is being pulled up from underneath us.  If only the Scripture had insight to offer us in this matter.

Evil Intentions

Modern day administrations are not the only ones with questionable motives.  Ancient Israeli King Ahab (874-853 B.C.) felt he needed a particular parcel of land for a certain use, and in a certain proximity to his seat of government.  The offer to swap parcels or purchase for cash was made to the owner, Naboth.  He refused the kingly authority based upon several reasons. First, the land was a family inheritance.  It was his economic heritage, and was not for sale.  Second, the parcel was a working vineyard, and no doubt a profitable one.  The practicality of its use was immeasurable to Naboth.  And lastly, it was personally owned, and therefore within the will of the owner to keep or dispose with at his leisure.  Ahab was bothered by the refusal.  His queen and powerful aide, Jezebel, determined to acquire the property with an evil plan. 

The present day lust for power, and evil inspired designs to steal our economic heritage may also be resisted.  However, the consequences for Naboth were dire.

Abuse of Power

Naboth was singled out for ‘recognition’, put in the spotlight, then falsely accused.  A false trial and illegitimate execution led to the death of the “capitalist”.  His property was then seized and given to the king.  Ahab had plausible deniability before his constituency, but not before Almighty God.  I Kings chapter 21, tells of the Lord’s response through Elijah the prophet, “Thou has sold thyself to work evil in the sight of the LORD.”, and, “thou hast provoked me to anger and made Israel to sin.” (verse 20 & 22).

“Thou shalt not covet, steal and kill” remain as pillars of the law and part of ‘the Ten Commandments’.  These are personal codes as well as national ones.  They apply to citizens and kings, business owners and presidents.  Though power is often abused, it is never without notice by our just lawgiver and divine purveyor of justice.

Opportunity to Do Right

King Ahab could not reverse the damage, but he did, “rent his clothes, and put sackcloth upon his flesh, and fasted, and lay in sackcloth, and went softly.”  God saw his repentance and spared his life, but did not spare his progeny.  II Kings chapters 9 and 10 tell of the ironic way in which Ahab’s son was killed and buried on the very parcel of land that was stolen. His son in law, plus 70 of his offspring were killed by a vengeful king Jehu who remembered the whole bloody theft from Naboth.

There is still an opportunity for our leadership to do the right thing.  Return to a just free market and unpunished property ownership.  If they do, perhaps mercy will be the order of the day; if not, justice will surely follow them into future generations.  Let us pray that the unique economic attributes God has allowed us to prosper under may continue.

Who would have thought that the United States, Israel’s greatest national ally would become aligned with her enemies?

The rapid deterioration of relations between the two friends is the result of several parameters: 

First, is the United States governments’ wholesale acceptance of a two state solution to the Palestinian quandary.  In 2007, the Annapolis Plan set forth by the Bush administration, and supported by the global “quartet” of Russia, the European Union, and the United Nations, made into policy what previous generations would have thought impossible – A Palestinian State with East Jerusalem as its capitol.

With such a preponderance of pressure, Israel’s Prime Minister Ehud Olmert and Foreign Minister Tipni Livni, were sucked into the vortex of giving away land for peace.

In fact, in 2008 Olmert and Livni offered the Palestinian Leader Mahmoud Abbas the entire West Bank, along with the already surrendered Gaza Strip. 

The Israeli’s then sweetened the deal by also including East Jerusalem, a “tunnel” or land bridge connecting the two pieces of land, plus swaths of the Negev desert to compensate for Israeli settelements.  This would have created an independent Palestine side by side with an independent Israel, but was refused by Palestinian leaders.

Of course, the continuation of invading rocket fire into Israel led to the military incursion of early 2009 and the seeming death of the Annapolis Plan.  The U.S. also paid a dear price for such heavy handed peace mongering. 

Natural disasters, financial collapse, political dissatisfaction and military weakening will always be the results of such a poor friendship with Israel.  While Americans chose to shift to the political left, Israelis chose the hard right factions to lead them.

Secondly, the new Obama administration, with Hillary Clinton as Secretary of State, has gone even farther in joining the rest of the world in pressuring Israel with the Annapolis plan.  New Israeli Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman has declared that the Plan “has no validity”, igniting a firestorm from world opinion and from former FM Livni, who retorted that his statement, “wiped out in 20 seconds” years of efforts to advance the peace process.

A State Department spokesperson added, “We are going to work hard to see what we can do to move the process forward.”  The New York Times call Lieberman “blunt and belligerent”; CNN touts that the Israeli’s position will “spurn the peace process.”  With such harsh rhetoric being offered up, it seems as though Israel is being isolated from America more and more each passing day.

Lastly, with our administration sitting down to talk “warmly” with the Iranians and the Pentagon reversing its doctrine and dealing with the leading state sponsor of terrorism, we send a clear message to our former ally in the Middle East, “It behooves us to let you stand alone.”  Our real consolation is in knowing that Israel is the “apple” of God’s eye, and will never truly stand alone. (Psalm 17)