I get to see many different articles, blogs, and writings each week, and over time, some just stand out to me. Just like various cuts of gemstones create different shapes with facets that reflect light, certain parts or articles catch my eye. Whether it is the topic or how it is written or something newly discovered, I felt these were meant to be shared.
”Limited Government” by Stephen McDowell. McDowell reviews the biblical history and evidence which support a limited government. Every American should read this, and since it is an excerpt from an upcoming book, if it interests you, you can get more.
Of particular interest is the following:
Government performs a negative, rather than positive, role in society; that is, it punishes men when they violate God’s standard of moral behavior (as summarized in the Ten Commandments[i]). This negative role helps limit its power and authority. It protects citizens as they pursue the acquisition of property and knowledge, and maintenance of health and life. It is not to provide property, education, health, or welfare. Acting in a positive way increases its power and in turn diminishes our liberties.
If you disagree with the last two sentences above, make sure you see Linda Harvey’s blog mentioned in the fourth spot below. Suddenly it should be clear how correct McDowell is to show and teach us a biblical understanding of government.
“Amazon Bans Books Counseling Change from Homosexuality” by Josh Shepherd. Is this a suppression of truth and free speech? Read this one and you’ll realize how the LGBTQ agenda is affecting the lives of average business owners and those they’re trying to serve.
Harvest House Publishers sent a letter to Amazon showing how they disregarded their own policy by removing the sale of two Harvest House books which had been on Amazon for more than FIFTEEN YEARS! They also removed several other Christian books from other publishers.
Anne Paulk, one of the censored authors, shares:
My book titled Restoring Sexual Identity is designed to help women who struggle with unwanted same-sex attraction and want to leave homosexuality. When I wrote it several years ago, I took exceptional care for the tone to be understanding and compassionate.
Considering the higher suicide rates for homosexuals and especially transgenders (along with spiritual consequences per the Bible), Amazon should flip that famous logo grin for supporting sin. By refusing to sell books like these, they make it harder for those wishing to escape by walking a narrow, clearly defined path.
Amazon’s move is an unfortunate bungle in the jungle.
“The Loss of Innocence” by Hannah Harrison. Harrison combines personal experience with facts parents and concerned Christians need to know. I was shocked to learn the average age of first time porn exposure is now 9 to 11, and that the average age of human trafficking begins at 15.
It is sad in today’s world that paragraphs like this have to be written:
I recently read Good Pictures, Bad Pictures, addressing pornography for three to five-year-olds. They recommend teaching kids what their “private parts” are by defining what is covered by a bathing suit. In teaching the importance of private parts, they realize it’s wrong when they see such things.
The pattern of the world (Romans 12:2) is putting immense pressure on parents to be more diligent than ever before as they train up their children rightly (Proverbs 22:6). This next one shares some of this pressure too.
”Surprise ‘Coming Out’ Middle School Assembly Angers Parents” by Linda Harvey. Harvey tells of an abuse of government power in education when sixth-graders at Van Buren Middle school had no choice but to hear Disney voice actor Maulik Pancholy share how he believed he was gay in the sixth grade and encouraged them to embrace any of their homosexual feelings.
One mother of the children pointed out if they were looking for diversity, they could’ve chosen many other speakers that day instead. She continues with very important insights:
“As is well known, anyone who disagrees with this [LGBTQ] agenda is instantly labeled with hateful rhetoric and name-calling such as ‘homophobic’, ‘bigot’, or ‘hate group/hate speech’, certainly not what any child wants to be called. Nor does any child want to be singled out as hateful, when they're anything but that. (It's not hateful or bigoted just because you believe differently.)
“I would certainly call that intimidating! So, as the school hides behind the ‘anti-bullying’ facade to deceptively promote the LGBT agenda behind parents’ backs, it would appear by definition they are the big bullies here.”
Do parents realize when we share biblical points of view about sexuality, then our kids will think WE are the bigots, haters, etc? But isn’t this their long-term plan?
Harvey shares after the mother’s letter, “Parents feel the betrayal keenly. And they should, because it goes beyond sexual corruption. It’s a violation of parental rights and it’s unconstitutional.”
From Coal to Diamonds
Even with all the crazy in the world, God is not trembling in fear. He wants us in awe of Him, looking to His strength and guidance. Deuteronomy 31:6 (ESV) reminds us, “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.”
The pressures we face in this world can, with the help of God’s love and faithfulness, change us so we better serve His Kingdom to fulfill what the Lord’s prayer asks in “Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.”
So the final gem I want to share today deals with voting which affects every single one of the previously shared gems.
“Voting Biblically with Your Whole Heart” by David Barton. Barton counters a common argument by leading us to Hebrews 11 and the consequences of what would happen even if great pillars of our faith ran for office. Then it is a quick trip to Exodus where they dwell in the land of leadership for a short while as we learn about the four qualities we can use to determine who to vote for from Exodus 18:23:
“Moreover, look for able men from all the people, men who fear God, who are trustworthy and hate a bribe...”
Ironically faith was NOT one of the qualities, yet fear of God was, but even it was the second quality. Barton’s thoughts are relevant to all Christians who have the right to vote – whether they use that vote or not. From the very first quality to the last, Barton builds on the importance and how they interweave to give the best possible leader – even if he or she isn’t even a professed Christian.
If Christian Americans followed his advice from the Bible, then our nation would be shaped into something which pleases God more. I know a few of our readers have been praying for that to happen.
Let Your Light Shine
We are blessed to live in a country where we can not only pray but also vote. Failing to vote, we become like the fearful and unwise steward who buried his one talent (Matthew 25:25).
In a country born of the desire for a limited government which didn’t interfere with our religious beliefs and personal liberties, God help the Christian who won’t take his or her one right to vote to participate, plan, protest, and protect ourselves and others from the evil lurking in the world.
Even with all these liberties, none of our hearts will find peace unless we find peace with God through a restored relationship in repentance of our sins as Jesus' death and resurrection fulfill the requirements of God's law to punish all sin. God's desire is for none to suffer eternity away from Him. God's love is big enough to encompass the world, one person at a time making a decision for His provision through Jesus (1 Timothy 2:5). What's your decision?
