AFA of PA ACTION ALERT
November 29, 2007
WARNING: “The Golden Compass”
On December 7th “The Golden Compass” will be opening in theatres across the country. It has a ‘Narnia’ feel to it with its talking animals, witches, etc. and that’s for a reason -- the book series this movie is based upon “His Dark Materials” was written as a result of the hatred the author, Phillip Pullman, has for C.S. Lewis’s series.
"I loathe the 'Narnia' books," Pullman has said in press interviews. "I hate them with a deep and bitter passion, with their view of childhood as a golden age from which sexuality and adulthood are a falling away." He has called the series "one of the most ugly and poisonous things" he's ever read.
Pullman, a leading promoter of atheism, told the Washington Post that a key goal of his writing was to "undermine the basis" of Christian belief. Pullman is also an Honorary Associate of the National Secular Society that campaigns against any involvement by religious people in public life.
Unfortunately, Reuters predicts that Pullman's anti-religious children's fantasy stories will become a multi-million dollar Hollywood "super series" along the lines of Lord of the Rings.
Parents need to be wary of “The Golden Compass.” The movie and book series are being promoted by Scholastic, Inc. through its book order form, curriculum based on the series and its “Golden Compass Student Sweepstakes.” Among the sweepstakes prizes are box sets of “His Dark Materials.” Parents need to ask their children’s school whether they will be using the curriculum, promoting or discussing the movie or book series in any way. Parents have the right to ask that their child be removed from the classroom and given an alternative assignment.
Here are several articles you may consider reading:
“An Atheist’s Narnia Knockoff”
“Will Your Kid Discover His Personal ‘Daemon’?
“Does the Golden Compass Point to a New Atheism?”
Thursday, November 29, 2007
When Thinking about Our President
John Glenn said this which should make you think a little:
There were 39 combat related killings in Iraq in January. In the fair city of Detroit there were 35 murders in the month of January. That's just one American city, about as deadly as the entire war-torn country of Iraq.
When some claim that President Bush shouldn't have started this war, state the following:
But Wait. . . . There’s more!
It took less time to take Iraq than it took Janet Reno to take the Branch Davidian compound. That was a 51-day operation.
We've been looking for evidence for chemical weapons in Iraq for less time than it took Hillary Clinton to find the Rose Law Firm billing records.
It took less time for the 3rd Infantry Division and the Marines to destroy the Medina Republican Guard than it took Ted Kennedy to call the police after his Oldsmobile sank at Chappaquiddick.
It took less time to take Iraq than it took to count the votes in Florida!!! Our Commander-In-Chief is doing a GREAT JOB! The Military morale is high! The biased media hopes we are too ignorant to realize the facts
But Wait. . . . There's more!
John Glenn on the senate floor
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2004 11:13
Some people still don't understand why military personnel do what they do for a living. This exchange between Senators John Glenn and Senator Howard Metzenbaum is worth reading. Not only is it a pretty impressive impromptu speech, but it's also a good example of one man's explanation of why men and women in the armed services do what they do for a living.
This is a typical, though sad, example of what some who have never served think of the military.
Senator Metzenbaum to Senator Glenn: "How can you run for Senate when you've never held a real job?"
Senator Glenn: "I served 23 years in the United States Marine Corps. I served through two wars. I flew 149 missions. My plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire on 12 different occasions. I was in the space program. It wasn't my checkbook, Howard; it was my life on the line. It was not a nine-to-five job, where I took time off to take the daily cash receipts to the bank. I ask you to go with me ... as I went the other day... to a veteran's hospital and look those men - with their mangled bodies - in the eye, and tell them they didn't hold a job! You go with me to the Space Program at NASA and go, as I have gone, to the widows and Orphans of Ed White, Gus Grissom and Roger Chaffee... and you look those kids in the eye and tell them that their DADS didn't hold a job.
You go with me on Memorial Day and you stand in Arlington National Cemetery, where I have more friends buried than I'd like to remember, and you watch those waving flags.
You stand there, and you think about this nation, and you tell me that those people didn't have a job? I'll tell you, Howard Metzenbaum; you should be on your knees every day of your life thanking God that there were some men - some men - who held real jobs. And they required a dedication to a purpose - and a love of country and a dedication to duty - that was more important than life itself. And their self-sacrifice is what made this country possible.
I have held a job, Howard! What about you?"
For those who don't remember - During W.W.II, Howard Metzenbaum was an attorney representing the Communist Party in the USA.
He was a Senator!
If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you are reading it in English thank a Veteran.
http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/g/glenn-metzenbaum.htp
There were 39 combat related killings in Iraq in January. In the fair city of Detroit there were 35 murders in the month of January. That's just one American city, about as deadly as the entire war-torn country of Iraq.
When some claim that President Bush shouldn't have started this war, state the following:
A. FDR led us into World War II. Germany never attacked us ; Japan did. From 1941-1945, 450,000 lives were lost. . . . An average of 112,500 per year.
B. Truman finished that war and started one in Korea. North Korea never attacked us . From 1950-1953, 55,000 lives were lost. . . . An average of 18,334 per year.
C. John F. Kennedy started the Vietnam conflict in 1962. Vietnam never attacked us.
D. Johnson turned Vietnam into a quagmire. From 1965-1975, 58,000 lives were lost. . . . An average of 5,800 per year.
E. Clinton went to war in Bosnia without UN or French consent. Bosnia never attacked us. He was offered Osama bin Laden's head on a platter three times by Sudan and did nothing. Osama has attacked us on multiple occasions.
F. In the years since terrorists attacked us , President Bush has liberated two countries, crushed the Taliban, crippled Al-Qaida, put nuclear inspectors in Libya, Iran, and, North Korea without firing a shot, and captured a terrorist who slaughtered 300,000 of his own people.
The Democrats are complaining about how long the war is taking.But Wait. . . . There’s more!
It took less time to take Iraq than it took Janet Reno to take the Branch Davidian compound. That was a 51-day operation.
We've been looking for evidence for chemical weapons in Iraq for less time than it took Hillary Clinton to find the Rose Law Firm billing records.
It took less time for the 3rd Infantry Division and the Marines to destroy the Medina Republican Guard than it took Ted Kennedy to call the police after his Oldsmobile sank at Chappaquiddick.
It took less time to take Iraq than it took to count the votes in Florida!!! Our Commander-In-Chief is doing a GREAT JOB! The Military morale is high! The biased media hopes we are too ignorant to realize the facts
But Wait. . . . There's more!
John Glenn on the senate floor
Date: Mon, 26 Jan 2004 11:13
Some people still don't understand why military personnel do what they do for a living. This exchange between Senators John Glenn and Senator Howard Metzenbaum is worth reading. Not only is it a pretty impressive impromptu speech, but it's also a good example of one man's explanation of why men and women in the armed services do what they do for a living.
This is a typical, though sad, example of what some who have never served think of the military.
Senator Metzenbaum to Senator Glenn: "How can you run for Senate when you've never held a real job?"
Senator Glenn: "I served 23 years in the United States Marine Corps. I served through two wars. I flew 149 missions. My plane was hit by anti-aircraft fire on 12 different occasions. I was in the space program. It wasn't my checkbook, Howard; it was my life on the line. It was not a nine-to-five job, where I took time off to take the daily cash receipts to the bank. I ask you to go with me ... as I went the other day... to a veteran's hospital and look those men - with their mangled bodies - in the eye, and tell them they didn't hold a job! You go with me to the Space Program at NASA and go, as I have gone, to the widows and Orphans of Ed White, Gus Grissom and Roger Chaffee... and you look those kids in the eye and tell them that their DADS didn't hold a job.
You go with me on Memorial Day and you stand in Arlington National Cemetery, where I have more friends buried than I'd like to remember, and you watch those waving flags.
You stand there, and you think about this nation, and you tell me that those people didn't have a job? I'll tell you, Howard Metzenbaum; you should be on your knees every day of your life thanking God that there were some men - some men - who held real jobs. And they required a dedication to a purpose - and a love of country and a dedication to duty - that was more important than life itself. And their self-sacrifice is what made this country possible.
I have held a job, Howard! What about you?"
For those who don't remember - During W.W.II, Howard Metzenbaum was an attorney representing the Communist Party in the USA.
He was a Senator!
If you can read this, thank a teacher. If you are reading it in English thank a Veteran.
http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/g/glenn-metzenbaum.htp
Wednesday, November 28, 2007
Movie Warning!!!
This movie should be avoided by Christians, and especially from your children. This movie is to entice kids to buy the books that are completely against God. Do not support this movie with your funds and let those around you know as well that this is a dangerous movie.
It is being shown as something like Narnia, but it is far from it and the creator purposely did it this way to go against C.S. Lewis. This movie is completely athiestic in it's outlook and the books are even worse, as they are completely against God and anything He represents.
Here is what some others are saying:
http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/compass.asp
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,305487,00.html
https://www.family.org/entertainment/A000001212.cfm
http://www.crosswalk.com/11560163/
I am sure that there are more sites if you do a general search.
Monday, November 26, 2007
ELDERTON COUNTRY MARKET GRINCH
As a Grandmother, one of the highlights of my year is the gathering of my family around the Thanksgiving table. However, the joy of our Thanksgiving was tainted by what happened to my daughter as she was shopping for last minute groceries at Elderton Country Market. On Wednesday, November 21, 2007, as my daughter was doing the last of the Thanksgiving shopping, she was approached by an assistant manager. The manager was holding old grapes, a half eaten apple, and half a banana; all wrapped in cellophane. In front of other shoppers, the manager harshly told my daughter that she had found these items and accused my three year old granddaughter of eating them and leaving them throughout the store on multiple occasions.
It is important to note that my daughter was shopping alone, without my granddaughter. My daughter calmly questioned the accusing manager why she had singled out her three year old. The manager informed her that someone supposedly had seen her daughter with these items although the manager herself had not. When my daughter asked for the proof the manager was using to accuse her three year old, the owner of Elderton Country Market was summoned. He, not having been a witness to any of these events, sternly and surely reinforced what the assistant manager had accused.
Once again, my daughter stated that it was not her three year old that ate these items. My granddaughter has never eaten grapes nor bananas in this store. She had picked out an apple in the past and eaten part of it, but my daughter has always paid up to $2.00 per apple upon checking out. Two dollars for a single apple is a lot, but my daughter has always paid for any apples my granddaughter picked up to eat. At this point, the owner cruelly and unsympathetically told her that she and her three year old daughter were no longer welcome in the store.
My husband and I have been shopping at Elderton Country Market for many years, prior to the new owner, and have appreciated the special attention given not only to adult shoppers, but their children as well. Following the events of November 21, I spoke to several other members of the community and have sadly learned that my daughter’s case is not unique. The singling out and persecution of families at Elderton Country Market is apparently a common occurrence. John Grabowski has taken a time honored small community market, and turned it into a cold, heartless money machine. Elderton Country Market is no longer the place where everyone is treated like family but instead where everyone is seen as a dollar sign.
Sally Kaufman
Elderton Native.
It is important to note that my daughter was shopping alone, without my granddaughter. My daughter calmly questioned the accusing manager why she had singled out her three year old. The manager informed her that someone supposedly had seen her daughter with these items although the manager herself had not. When my daughter asked for the proof the manager was using to accuse her three year old, the owner of Elderton Country Market was summoned. He, not having been a witness to any of these events, sternly and surely reinforced what the assistant manager had accused.
Once again, my daughter stated that it was not her three year old that ate these items. My granddaughter has never eaten grapes nor bananas in this store. She had picked out an apple in the past and eaten part of it, but my daughter has always paid up to $2.00 per apple upon checking out. Two dollars for a single apple is a lot, but my daughter has always paid for any apples my granddaughter picked up to eat. At this point, the owner cruelly and unsympathetically told her that she and her three year old daughter were no longer welcome in the store.
My husband and I have been shopping at Elderton Country Market for many years, prior to the new owner, and have appreciated the special attention given not only to adult shoppers, but their children as well. Following the events of November 21, I spoke to several other members of the community and have sadly learned that my daughter’s case is not unique. The singling out and persecution of families at Elderton Country Market is apparently a common occurrence. John Grabowski has taken a time honored small community market, and turned it into a cold, heartless money machine. Elderton Country Market is no longer the place where everyone is treated like family but instead where everyone is seen as a dollar sign.
Sally Kaufman
Elderton Native.
Saturday, November 24, 2007
I'm Too Afraid!
Acts 4:18-22, “18So they called them and commanded them not to speak at all nor teach in the name of Jesus. 19But Peter and John answered and said to them, “Whether it is right in the sight of God to listen to you more than to God, you judge. 20For we cannot but speak the things which we have seen and heard.” 21So when they had further threatened them, they let them go, finding no way of punishing them, because of the people, since they all glorified God for what had been done. 22For the man was over forty years old on whom this miracle of healing had been performed.”
Have you ever thought about what it meant for these apostles to answer their interrogation this way in Acts? They were telling that regardless of their laws, Rome’s laws or their threats they were going to preach Christ. They had to tell, or preach, about what they had seen and heard. Do you feel that way? Do you feel so compelled about your faith that you have to tell it regardless of the consequences? If not, why not?
The apostles and followers gave up their careers, their land, their families and their money for the sake of Christ. Yet we are afraid to talk about it in our daily lives because the government tells us we cannot. God tells us to tell everyone, and the government says we cannot. Who should you listen to? Who do you owe everything to?
Are we afraid to be fired, arrested, and made fun of because we are real Christ followers? I am sure glad the early Christians were not. This is one thing to be thankful for during this season.
With Christmas coming and why we celebrate this season, Jesus Christ, are you going to become politically correct so you do not offend anyone? Read Acts 3 and 4 again and see if your thoughts about this change. We are Christ followers in all areas of our lives. We are not supposed to wait till someone opens the door for us to talk. We are to go and preach and to tell everyone. The great commission does not tell us to wait.
If Christ is permeating everything in your life, then how can you not tell others about Him? Remember if you love the world, then you do not love God. He said it I did not.
John 15:18-19, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”
Have you ever thought about what it meant for these apostles to answer their interrogation this way in Acts? They were telling that regardless of their laws, Rome’s laws or their threats they were going to preach Christ. They had to tell, or preach, about what they had seen and heard. Do you feel that way? Do you feel so compelled about your faith that you have to tell it regardless of the consequences? If not, why not?
The apostles and followers gave up their careers, their land, their families and their money for the sake of Christ. Yet we are afraid to talk about it in our daily lives because the government tells us we cannot. God tells us to tell everyone, and the government says we cannot. Who should you listen to? Who do you owe everything to?
Are we afraid to be fired, arrested, and made fun of because we are real Christ followers? I am sure glad the early Christians were not. This is one thing to be thankful for during this season.
With Christmas coming and why we celebrate this season, Jesus Christ, are you going to become politically correct so you do not offend anyone? Read Acts 3 and 4 again and see if your thoughts about this change. We are Christ followers in all areas of our lives. We are not supposed to wait till someone opens the door for us to talk. We are to go and preach and to tell everyone. The great commission does not tell us to wait.
If Christ is permeating everything in your life, then how can you not tell others about Him? Remember if you love the world, then you do not love God. He said it I did not.
John 15:18-19, “If the world hates you, you know that it hated Me before it hated you. 19If you were of the world, the world would love its own. Yet because you are not of the world, but I chose you out of the world, therefore the world hates you.”
Friday, November 23, 2007
Small Community Atmosphere -- Not!
I typically do not write on such issues, but this one hit home, as it deals with children and I cannot stand it when people treat children with disregard.
Have you ever gone to the store with your children and they end up eating a couple of grapes or part of an apple? I have not met a parent yet where this is not the case. Stores typically do not mind because they know it will keep the children quiet and it keeps Mom’s in the stores much longer to shop more.
Of course with this there are times when the little rascals put the grapes, apples or other items in the aisles or places to never be found. They do the same thing in their homes, so why would we expect anything any different in stores, though most parents try their hardest to keep it from happening.
A young mother found that in some stores they do not want children to be there, because she was kicked out because her three year old daughter “supposedly” left an apple and some grapes in parts of the store. This is a small community store, Elderton Country Market, where food is not as cheap to buy as it would be at Wal-Mart. This mother shopped here to support her small town community instead of going into town to shop at the larger grocery stores.
Instead of just seeing children as children they asked her not to come back to the store after accusing her child of doing something she did not even do that day, and not in the recent past either. According to this mother, they not only asked her to leave they did it in front of her daughter and with at least six customers watching and listening. Can you imagine your three year old watching as you are berated in front of customers over no more then $2.00 of fruit? Why not just ask for $2.00? Or just ask nicely if you could just watch to make sure it did not happen again?
Sure, her daughter like mine have most likely left stuff in the aisles, and as much as possible we try to clean it as we go, but some things you just miss. The funny thing is the store lost at least $400 a month just from groceries from this mother, and I am guessing her extended family will not shop there anymore either, costing them even more money. Losing $400 a month over $2 of fruit just does not seem worth it, at least to me, but maybe I am wrong.
Who kicks out a family because a three year old girl acts like a three year old girl? What happened to small town community atmosphere? Wal-Mart has proven to be more family friendly then this small town store, as they never say anything to children eating a couple of grapes or an apple. They know parents will buy more, shop longer and return because they treat their children with patience and care. Elderton Country Market could learn a lesson from the larger stores.
Have you ever gone to the store with your children and they end up eating a couple of grapes or part of an apple? I have not met a parent yet where this is not the case. Stores typically do not mind because they know it will keep the children quiet and it keeps Mom’s in the stores much longer to shop more.
Of course with this there are times when the little rascals put the grapes, apples or other items in the aisles or places to never be found. They do the same thing in their homes, so why would we expect anything any different in stores, though most parents try their hardest to keep it from happening.
A young mother found that in some stores they do not want children to be there, because she was kicked out because her three year old daughter “supposedly” left an apple and some grapes in parts of the store. This is a small community store, Elderton Country Market, where food is not as cheap to buy as it would be at Wal-Mart. This mother shopped here to support her small town community instead of going into town to shop at the larger grocery stores.
Instead of just seeing children as children they asked her not to come back to the store after accusing her child of doing something she did not even do that day, and not in the recent past either. According to this mother, they not only asked her to leave they did it in front of her daughter and with at least six customers watching and listening. Can you imagine your three year old watching as you are berated in front of customers over no more then $2.00 of fruit? Why not just ask for $2.00? Or just ask nicely if you could just watch to make sure it did not happen again?
Sure, her daughter like mine have most likely left stuff in the aisles, and as much as possible we try to clean it as we go, but some things you just miss. The funny thing is the store lost at least $400 a month just from groceries from this mother, and I am guessing her extended family will not shop there anymore either, costing them even more money. Losing $400 a month over $2 of fruit just does not seem worth it, at least to me, but maybe I am wrong.
Who kicks out a family because a three year old girl acts like a three year old girl? What happened to small town community atmosphere? Wal-Mart has proven to be more family friendly then this small town store, as they never say anything to children eating a couple of grapes or an apple. They know parents will buy more, shop longer and return because they treat their children with patience and care. Elderton Country Market could learn a lesson from the larger stores.
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
A Great Thanksgiving Article
Dinesh D'Souza wrote a great piece on Thanksgiving and I believe well worth the time to read it.
http://news.aol.com/newsbloggers/2007/11/21/thank-god-for-america/
http://news.aol.com/newsbloggers/2007/11/21/thank-god-for-america/
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Imposing Your Will
Proverbs 29:2, “When the righteous are in authority, the people rejoice; But when a wicked man rules, the people groan.”
Can Christians legislate morality? For that matter can anyone legislate morality? In our country today they seem to think that we cannot impose our morals on anyone because that would be intolerant. The funny thing is that by telling us we cannot impose our morals they are in turn imposing theirs upon us. The question today is not whether or not we can legislate morality, but whose morality will be legislated.
Christians today have been somewhat brainwashed into thinking we have to just go with the flow. We have backed down and hid behind the doors as not to offend anyone. We have changed our services so that non-believers will feel more comfortable. In reality we have been allowing the world to impose their morals upon us for the last fifty years at least. Just a few examples would be prayer being taken out of school, teaching of creation being taken out of school, and making it easier and easier to live any immoral life you want without problem. The majority of Christians have stood back and let it happen. Some sit around and complain about issues and happenings today, but when asked to step up and be part of the change they are too afraid of what people will think.
Christians should welcome the ability to be part of legislating morality. We use to be. Why do you think slavery was finally abolished? Why do you think there are schools in the first place? Or why there are the freedoms you have today? Because Christians were involved in the process and legislated our laws. You can fight all you want about a few of them being Deists, but even they believed in a creator and legislating the Ten Commandments. They were not trying to take God out of everything with the false dictum of church-state separation. They loved God being involved. They did not want a national church.
You can’t help but legislate your morality. We vote on who we think best represents our values and utilizes those to best run our country. We all see through tainted lenses, be it Christian, Muslim, Jew, Hindu, Buddhist, or Atheist. You vote and recommend laws based on your religious lens (and Atheism is just as much a religion as any of the other beliefs).
Look at what is happening in America today because Christians have fell for the bunk of separation of church and state. You cannot even talk about your faith in government facilities without the other person asking you first. That goes completely against what the Bible tells us. It tells us to tell everyone and to live it out in all that you do, say and think. How can you not talk about your Savior at work? It must be stifling.
Abortion has now killed 45 million babies. Teen pregnancy is up, teen suicide is up, cohabitation now is alright, friends with benefits is the new thing, being experimental is the way to be, and you are just a prude if you keep your virginity past 15 years old. Divorce has skyrocketed, drug abuse and pornography is rampant, and we worship the idols on television and in the sports arena more then we worship God.
This has all happened in the last fifty years because we have taken God out of our public lives. We have asked Him to leave and He has. We are being turned over to our sins and we don’t want to see it. Why? Because we do not think it is right to impose our morality on others, and all the long they are imposing it on us and we are drinking it up like there was no tomorrow.
When do we say enough is enough? When it becomes illegal to witness? Wait, it already is in certain places. Numerous people have been fired for sharing or living out their faith in America. Why is that if morality is not legislated? Keep drinking.
A major election year is coming up and Christians need to start voting according to the Word of God. The people they vote to legislate and protect us need to have the qualifications laid out in the Bible, because otherwise there will be trouble. Will they make mistakes? Yes, but they typically will not make the mistake of legalizing drugs, or killing babies before they have a chance to live.
I just pray that we understand it is not whether or not we legislate morality, because it happens whether you think so or not. The question is whose morality are we going to legislate.
Proverbs 14:34, “Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people.”
Proverbs 11:11, “By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted, But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
Can Christians legislate morality? For that matter can anyone legislate morality? In our country today they seem to think that we cannot impose our morals on anyone because that would be intolerant. The funny thing is that by telling us we cannot impose our morals they are in turn imposing theirs upon us. The question today is not whether or not we can legislate morality, but whose morality will be legislated.
Christians today have been somewhat brainwashed into thinking we have to just go with the flow. We have backed down and hid behind the doors as not to offend anyone. We have changed our services so that non-believers will feel more comfortable. In reality we have been allowing the world to impose their morals upon us for the last fifty years at least. Just a few examples would be prayer being taken out of school, teaching of creation being taken out of school, and making it easier and easier to live any immoral life you want without problem. The majority of Christians have stood back and let it happen. Some sit around and complain about issues and happenings today, but when asked to step up and be part of the change they are too afraid of what people will think.
Christians should welcome the ability to be part of legislating morality. We use to be. Why do you think slavery was finally abolished? Why do you think there are schools in the first place? Or why there are the freedoms you have today? Because Christians were involved in the process and legislated our laws. You can fight all you want about a few of them being Deists, but even they believed in a creator and legislating the Ten Commandments. They were not trying to take God out of everything with the false dictum of church-state separation. They loved God being involved. They did not want a national church.
You can’t help but legislate your morality. We vote on who we think best represents our values and utilizes those to best run our country. We all see through tainted lenses, be it Christian, Muslim, Jew, Hindu, Buddhist, or Atheist. You vote and recommend laws based on your religious lens (and Atheism is just as much a religion as any of the other beliefs).
Look at what is happening in America today because Christians have fell for the bunk of separation of church and state. You cannot even talk about your faith in government facilities without the other person asking you first. That goes completely against what the Bible tells us. It tells us to tell everyone and to live it out in all that you do, say and think. How can you not talk about your Savior at work? It must be stifling.
Abortion has now killed 45 million babies. Teen pregnancy is up, teen suicide is up, cohabitation now is alright, friends with benefits is the new thing, being experimental is the way to be, and you are just a prude if you keep your virginity past 15 years old. Divorce has skyrocketed, drug abuse and pornography is rampant, and we worship the idols on television and in the sports arena more then we worship God.
This has all happened in the last fifty years because we have taken God out of our public lives. We have asked Him to leave and He has. We are being turned over to our sins and we don’t want to see it. Why? Because we do not think it is right to impose our morality on others, and all the long they are imposing it on us and we are drinking it up like there was no tomorrow.
When do we say enough is enough? When it becomes illegal to witness? Wait, it already is in certain places. Numerous people have been fired for sharing or living out their faith in America. Why is that if morality is not legislated? Keep drinking.
A major election year is coming up and Christians need to start voting according to the Word of God. The people they vote to legislate and protect us need to have the qualifications laid out in the Bible, because otherwise there will be trouble. Will they make mistakes? Yes, but they typically will not make the mistake of legalizing drugs, or killing babies before they have a chance to live.
I just pray that we understand it is not whether or not we legislate morality, because it happens whether you think so or not. The question is whose morality are we going to legislate.
Proverbs 14:34, “Righteousness exalts a nation, But sin is a reproach to any people.”
Proverbs 11:11, “By the blessing of the upright the city is exalted, But it is overthrown by the mouth of the wicked.
Friday, November 16, 2007
What Ever Happened to Teaching Discernment?
Proverbs 2:10-12, “When wisdom enters your heart, And knowledge is pleasant to your soul, Discretion will preserve you; Understanding will keep you, To deliver you from the way of evil, From the man who speaks perverse things,”
Today there seems to be this mindset that college students cannot discern good from evil themselves, and we have to directly tell them what they need to do and what not to do because they cannot think for themselves. Maybe this is true, but I doubt it.
This happens in the classroom where professors keep teaching their ideologies instead of their subject. English teachers talking about politics and political teachers teaching about religion, though both would tell you they were some how teaching their subject. Instead of teaching facts and the subjects they are paid by tuition fees and tax dollars they indoctrinate our kids with their beliefs, and teach them to believe any differently is basically anti-intellectual, incompetent and idiotic.
Does this shock me? Absolutely not!! What does shock me is it is seen in many clubs and organizations that should not be doing it, including within the Christian circles. There are groups that have difficulty with their members participating or going to another group on campus, even if it is within the same affiliation or mindset. This boggles my mind for several reasons, not to mention that it begets a cult mindset on the students themselves, especially if the group is religiously affiliated.
This first seems to be saying that your group is the best and that there is no reason to go to others, making yourself the end all. Why not teach truth and let the college students discern and start to decide? Unless we are not teaching them how to do that and only teaching what we want them to believe. As Christians we are called to teach the truth of Scripture and then they are to decide. That is what free will is about. If we are teaching truth then when a college student goes to another organization and they are not teaching truth then they will be able to discern and see that what they are seeing is not correct and choose not to go back.
Using guilt or manipulation to make a college student commit to your organization or group is coercion and cultish. I have never told a college student they should not go to another group on campus, and will not. I will though teach them the absolute truths taught in the inerrant Word of God, and then leave them to decide. I will give my opinion about issues if asked, but at the same time I will not tell them to think the way I do. I have told students to go and check different groups out. But I do tell them to always take every thought captive as they are being taught, and to utilize the Scripture to base truth from opinion or just plain lie, and if the group is teaching error either confront it or leave the group, but I let them decide. I will not make them feel guilty if they return to the group. I just continue teaching truth.
I do not want them to have the “Mind of Alan,” besides being scary, is not absolute truth. I want them to have the “Mind of Christ,” the absolute truth and they way of salvation. If I am moving them towards the mind of Christ through Scripture then I am doing what God instructs us to do as campus leaders. The students are at the age of accountability and have to work through God’s truths and they also have to be able to learn to discern truth from error, as there are wolves out there in sheep’s clothing.
Yes, we are to protect the youth, young adult, and adult from error that is prevalent out there, but we do not do it through guilt or manipulation, again that is a cult mindset. “You should not go there because you do not want to get confused, and we are just trying to protect you. We are your family and there is no reason to go to those other groups. How do you think that makes us feel? We just care about you and want the best for you, and we do not want you to get confused from what those other groups may teach.” This is pure manipulation to coerce the person to become obedient to the group and not God.
It is interesting though that on the outside these groups will not seem this way, as they will participate with other like minded groups, or non like minded groups to have the appearance of tolerance, but once you start to attend the mind manipulation begins. These groups are dangerous and destructive to the person, the body of Christ and themselves. I have counseled too many people that have gone through this, and have seen the results of what happens to people when they get tied up with groups like this.
John 8:31-32, “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Teach the truth and when a student goes to see another group they should be able to discern what is going on if we have done our jobs as teachers. The only reason to use manipulation is because you are teaching error and you do not want students or anyone else to find out.
Plant the seed and let the Holy Spirit move in the student’s lives. John 15:26, “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.” Thank God for the Holy Spirit, as it takes so much responsibility from me, because I am not perfect. I try to teach absolute truth from the inerrant Word of God to the best of my ability; through a lot of prayer, study, and allowing the Spirit to teach me, and not by someone telling what I should believe or think. They are only guides because they have proved themselves through teaching truth as well based on Scripture. Like Paul, live with the ability to tell people to watch you and they will be walking in the truth of Christ. Walk in Christ, live in Christ, teach Christ, and protect Christianity, but do not use manipulation! If you are striving to reflect and live in the truth of Christ, then you have done all you can and then the college student has to choose.
College students, here is my advice, take it or leave it: Read the Word, study the Word, pray over the Word, find mentors who portray the Word, and then as you go to other groups base them on the Absolute Truth. If they are not lining up with it then do not attend, or attend and try to witness boldly. If you are saved and living for Christ and in the Word then the Holy Spirit will convict, protect and teach you.
2 Timothy 2:15-17, “Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. And their message will spread like cancer.”
Today there seems to be this mindset that college students cannot discern good from evil themselves, and we have to directly tell them what they need to do and what not to do because they cannot think for themselves. Maybe this is true, but I doubt it.
This happens in the classroom where professors keep teaching their ideologies instead of their subject. English teachers talking about politics and political teachers teaching about religion, though both would tell you they were some how teaching their subject. Instead of teaching facts and the subjects they are paid by tuition fees and tax dollars they indoctrinate our kids with their beliefs, and teach them to believe any differently is basically anti-intellectual, incompetent and idiotic.
Does this shock me? Absolutely not!! What does shock me is it is seen in many clubs and organizations that should not be doing it, including within the Christian circles. There are groups that have difficulty with their members participating or going to another group on campus, even if it is within the same affiliation or mindset. This boggles my mind for several reasons, not to mention that it begets a cult mindset on the students themselves, especially if the group is religiously affiliated.
This first seems to be saying that your group is the best and that there is no reason to go to others, making yourself the end all. Why not teach truth and let the college students discern and start to decide? Unless we are not teaching them how to do that and only teaching what we want them to believe. As Christians we are called to teach the truth of Scripture and then they are to decide. That is what free will is about. If we are teaching truth then when a college student goes to another organization and they are not teaching truth then they will be able to discern and see that what they are seeing is not correct and choose not to go back.
Using guilt or manipulation to make a college student commit to your organization or group is coercion and cultish. I have never told a college student they should not go to another group on campus, and will not. I will though teach them the absolute truths taught in the inerrant Word of God, and then leave them to decide. I will give my opinion about issues if asked, but at the same time I will not tell them to think the way I do. I have told students to go and check different groups out. But I do tell them to always take every thought captive as they are being taught, and to utilize the Scripture to base truth from opinion or just plain lie, and if the group is teaching error either confront it or leave the group, but I let them decide. I will not make them feel guilty if they return to the group. I just continue teaching truth.
I do not want them to have the “Mind of Alan,” besides being scary, is not absolute truth. I want them to have the “Mind of Christ,” the absolute truth and they way of salvation. If I am moving them towards the mind of Christ through Scripture then I am doing what God instructs us to do as campus leaders. The students are at the age of accountability and have to work through God’s truths and they also have to be able to learn to discern truth from error, as there are wolves out there in sheep’s clothing.
Yes, we are to protect the youth, young adult, and adult from error that is prevalent out there, but we do not do it through guilt or manipulation, again that is a cult mindset. “You should not go there because you do not want to get confused, and we are just trying to protect you. We are your family and there is no reason to go to those other groups. How do you think that makes us feel? We just care about you and want the best for you, and we do not want you to get confused from what those other groups may teach.” This is pure manipulation to coerce the person to become obedient to the group and not God.
It is interesting though that on the outside these groups will not seem this way, as they will participate with other like minded groups, or non like minded groups to have the appearance of tolerance, but once you start to attend the mind manipulation begins. These groups are dangerous and destructive to the person, the body of Christ and themselves. I have counseled too many people that have gone through this, and have seen the results of what happens to people when they get tied up with groups like this.
John 8:31-32, “Then Jesus said to those Jews who believed Him, “If you abide in My word, you are My disciples indeed. And you shall know the truth, and the truth shall make you free.” Teach the truth and when a student goes to see another group they should be able to discern what is going on if we have done our jobs as teachers. The only reason to use manipulation is because you are teaching error and you do not want students or anyone else to find out.
Plant the seed and let the Holy Spirit move in the student’s lives. John 15:26, “But when the Helper comes, whom I shall send to you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, He will testify of Me.” Thank God for the Holy Spirit, as it takes so much responsibility from me, because I am not perfect. I try to teach absolute truth from the inerrant Word of God to the best of my ability; through a lot of prayer, study, and allowing the Spirit to teach me, and not by someone telling what I should believe or think. They are only guides because they have proved themselves through teaching truth as well based on Scripture. Like Paul, live with the ability to tell people to watch you and they will be walking in the truth of Christ. Walk in Christ, live in Christ, teach Christ, and protect Christianity, but do not use manipulation! If you are striving to reflect and live in the truth of Christ, then you have done all you can and then the college student has to choose.
College students, here is my advice, take it or leave it: Read the Word, study the Word, pray over the Word, find mentors who portray the Word, and then as you go to other groups base them on the Absolute Truth. If they are not lining up with it then do not attend, or attend and try to witness boldly. If you are saved and living for Christ and in the Word then the Holy Spirit will convict, protect and teach you.
2 Timothy 2:15-17, “Remind them of these things, charging them before the Lord not to strive about words to no profit, to the ruin of the hearers. Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth. But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness. And their message will spread like cancer.”
Bullwhip Guy -- A Satire
Here is a great satire done on a popular speaker out there. I am sure most of you that look at my blog will get it, and if you do not know who it is what is being said is still quite good in its presentation and worth thinking about anyway.
Tuesday, November 13, 2007
AIRPORT DRAMA TAKE TWO!
Ecclesiastes 3:7, “time to tear, And a time to sew; A time to keep silence, And a time to speak;”
What I did not mention in my last blog is the reaction to the young woman he was talking to about his divorce. This young woman wanted nothing to do with him. She was sitting sideways, her eyes were partially sneering and she was not making any eye contact with him. Everything about her body language said, “I want nothing to do with this conversation.” The funny part is that this guy told her she was a great listener, but she was doing anything but that.
As God does a lot in our lives He gives us a time to just listen to people. I had the fortunate opportunity to sit next to her on the plane. The first statement I made was that I could tell she did not want to be part of the conversation. Right away she loosened up, and then I asked if he even heard her say that she was the child of a late divorce and thought it hurt the kids no matter the age and did not want to really talk about it. She then started to tell me her life and some of the things that happened, all because she knew I had listened.
By the time I finished our conversation I knew her job, where she grew up, where she graduated high school, what she was doing and why she was in Charlotte, NC. She knew nothing about me at all and that was alright. People love for someone to just hear them and listen to what they have to say. I was able to ask her about her faith, because she knew I was really listening and not just trying to “save” her. Turned out that her friend was a very strong Christian and she said she was more of a mediocre Christian. We were able to talk about why and since I knew exactly where she lived at we talked about some of the churches she visited and I suggested a church that I was just told about a few days earlier by my cousin. All this because she felt special because I listened.
Another reason to listen to everyone because we do not know when the information we heard from someone else will be useful in another situation. Had I not truly listened to my cousin about the church they were attending, I would not have been able to suggest a church where I was comfortable for her to go.
As believers we need to listen to others. We need to be patient in our speech, and really listen, as it tends to give us great opportunity to reach people for Christ. To open our mouths without listening to what the other person was telling us verbally and bodily will tend to do more damage then good. Remember we will be held account for what we say here as believers. We represent Christ.
Matthew 12:36-37, “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
What I did not mention in my last blog is the reaction to the young woman he was talking to about his divorce. This young woman wanted nothing to do with him. She was sitting sideways, her eyes were partially sneering and she was not making any eye contact with him. Everything about her body language said, “I want nothing to do with this conversation.” The funny part is that this guy told her she was a great listener, but she was doing anything but that.
As God does a lot in our lives He gives us a time to just listen to people. I had the fortunate opportunity to sit next to her on the plane. The first statement I made was that I could tell she did not want to be part of the conversation. Right away she loosened up, and then I asked if he even heard her say that she was the child of a late divorce and thought it hurt the kids no matter the age and did not want to really talk about it. She then started to tell me her life and some of the things that happened, all because she knew I had listened.
By the time I finished our conversation I knew her job, where she grew up, where she graduated high school, what she was doing and why she was in Charlotte, NC. She knew nothing about me at all and that was alright. People love for someone to just hear them and listen to what they have to say. I was able to ask her about her faith, because she knew I was really listening and not just trying to “save” her. Turned out that her friend was a very strong Christian and she said she was more of a mediocre Christian. We were able to talk about why and since I knew exactly where she lived at we talked about some of the churches she visited and I suggested a church that I was just told about a few days earlier by my cousin. All this because she felt special because I listened.
Another reason to listen to everyone because we do not know when the information we heard from someone else will be useful in another situation. Had I not truly listened to my cousin about the church they were attending, I would not have been able to suggest a church where I was comfortable for her to go.
As believers we need to listen to others. We need to be patient in our speech, and really listen, as it tends to give us great opportunity to reach people for Christ. To open our mouths without listening to what the other person was telling us verbally and bodily will tend to do more damage then good. Remember we will be held account for what we say here as believers. We represent Christ.
Matthew 12:36-37, “But I say to you that for every idle word men may speak, they will give account of it in the day of judgment. For by your words you will be justified, and by your words you will be condemned.”
Monday, November 12, 2007
Airport Rationality
Malachi 2:16, “For the Lord God of Israel says that He hates divorce. . . .”
I was sitting in the airport coming home from a great conference in Charlotte, NC, which will be in some follow up blogs. While I was sitting there a man came and sat directly behind me and engaged in conversation with a young lady across from him. Unfortunately, I was able to hear his conversation, even though I tried to not listen. The man in his 50’s started talking about how he and his wife have been separated for a year and a half now and he was anxious to be done with the divorce. Without being asked he went on to tell her why. Now this is where it took all I had not to turn around and just smack the guy in the back of the head and tell him that he is an “Idiot.”
He tells the girl that he was throwing away 23 years of marriage because his wife did not want to move out of the house they currently lived in, because he wanted to move. Are you serious? All that came to my mind is, “What? You cannot be serious.” Of course then he moved into the same old adages of growing apart and different interests and that their lives were just not good together. “I do not feel in love anymore.” What a crock of crap!!!
Talk about a mid-life crisis. This guy found it necessary to rationalize, even after a year and a half, to a complete stranger why he was leaving his wife. Think there is guilt involved? Think he knows what he is doing is wrong? Why not work at growing back together as they had to when they were dating? It is not as if they met and then clicked at everything right away. Why not look at it as dating all over again and have some fun with it? Put some effort into wooing your spouse as we did when we were courting or dating. No, he wanted to run from responsibility and focus on himself, no matter the two children that would be affected for the rest of their lives. Age does not make a difference. It hurts the children no matter what age they are, whether it be 5 years old or 30 years old.
What I did not mention in this story is his faith, because in today’s society it does not seem to matter. Today there is just as much divorce in the church as there is in the secular world. Just as many dumb excuses are used by Christians as are used by secularists.
God hates divorce, because it is a covenant you made before Him. It is not a contract that can be broken if someone does not want to be in business anymore. You made the promise to God not to your spouse, so unless there are the issues Christ gives for divorce then there is no legitimate reason for it. Certainly not because she did not want to move into another house! When you break that covenant you made with God you are affecting every area of your life and those involved with you, and if you are a believer then you are affecting the church as a whole as we are all members of the body. Divorce makes the church sick and wounded, just as much as it wounds those close to you.
Matthew 5:31-32, “Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.”
I was sitting in the airport coming home from a great conference in Charlotte, NC, which will be in some follow up blogs. While I was sitting there a man came and sat directly behind me and engaged in conversation with a young lady across from him. Unfortunately, I was able to hear his conversation, even though I tried to not listen. The man in his 50’s started talking about how he and his wife have been separated for a year and a half now and he was anxious to be done with the divorce. Without being asked he went on to tell her why. Now this is where it took all I had not to turn around and just smack the guy in the back of the head and tell him that he is an “Idiot.”
He tells the girl that he was throwing away 23 years of marriage because his wife did not want to move out of the house they currently lived in, because he wanted to move. Are you serious? All that came to my mind is, “What? You cannot be serious.” Of course then he moved into the same old adages of growing apart and different interests and that their lives were just not good together. “I do not feel in love anymore.” What a crock of crap!!!
Talk about a mid-life crisis. This guy found it necessary to rationalize, even after a year and a half, to a complete stranger why he was leaving his wife. Think there is guilt involved? Think he knows what he is doing is wrong? Why not work at growing back together as they had to when they were dating? It is not as if they met and then clicked at everything right away. Why not look at it as dating all over again and have some fun with it? Put some effort into wooing your spouse as we did when we were courting or dating. No, he wanted to run from responsibility and focus on himself, no matter the two children that would be affected for the rest of their lives. Age does not make a difference. It hurts the children no matter what age they are, whether it be 5 years old or 30 years old.
What I did not mention in this story is his faith, because in today’s society it does not seem to matter. Today there is just as much divorce in the church as there is in the secular world. Just as many dumb excuses are used by Christians as are used by secularists.
God hates divorce, because it is a covenant you made before Him. It is not a contract that can be broken if someone does not want to be in business anymore. You made the promise to God not to your spouse, so unless there are the issues Christ gives for divorce then there is no legitimate reason for it. Certainly not because she did not want to move into another house! When you break that covenant you made with God you are affecting every area of your life and those involved with you, and if you are a believer then you are affecting the church as a whole as we are all members of the body. Divorce makes the church sick and wounded, just as much as it wounds those close to you.
Matthew 5:31-32, “Furthermore it has been said, ‘Whoever divorces his wife, let him give her a certificate of divorce.’ But I say to you that whoever divorces his wife for any reason except sexual immorality causes her to commit adultery; and whoever marries a woman who is divorced commits adultery.”
Tuesday, November 06, 2007
Monday, November 05, 2007
You Decide. . .Is There Demons Out There?
Here is a picture from an anniversary picture that if you look at the right shoulder of the gentleman you will see what looks like a dog, but he claims it is a demon as there were no dogs there. This also helped bring him to the Lord. I find it very interesting to say the least. I of course believe we are not alone out there, and that there are demons, and this could be one of those instances where one shows itself. You decide. Here is the video link if you want to watch the story at a Fox News Station.
Saturday, November 03, 2007
Wanna Bet?
Ever buy a lottery ticket and rationalize that if God would just let you win that you would give 10% or more immediately to the church or God’s work? Ever rationalize that playing the lotto in the variety of forms was alright because the money was going to help education and prescriptions for the elderly? Seeing how 95% of Americans have gambled in their life times, I am guessing that many Christians have used these exact excuses for playing the lotto. I know I did when I was just a new Christian. Who does not want to get rich the quick way?
There is no command in the Bible that says we cannot gamble, but there are a lot of principles that give us a clear indication of what our response should be to it. 1 Timothy 6:10 tells us, "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." And Hebrews 13:5 declares, "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."
When you gamble you are moving down a road that fulfills the first verse, of loving the money and moving towards evil, as I believe gambling leads to evil, and the second because it is trying to place your fate in your own hands through luck.
Where the Bible does not explicitly say we cannot gamble, it certainly implies it. Just as the Bible never uses the word Trinity to describe God, it certainly implies it in a variety of places. It is implied because of the verses that talk about money, but the fact that gambling breaks quite a few of the 10 commandments, and I will touch on a few.
The first one is we are breaking the first commandment, and by far probably the most important one. When we are placing our hands in luck and luck and God are mutually exclusive from one another, as luck would entail that something happens apart from the will of God. Believing in luck is belief in something other than God and therefore breaking the first commandment.
Secondly we are not being good stewards with what God, not luck, has given us. Prov. 12:11, “"he who works his land will have abundant food, but he who chases fantasies lacks judgment." Playing the lottery is just that a fantasy of getting what you did not work for and taking what others typically could not afford to lose, which takes us to our third reason for not gambling.
We are not loving our neighbors when we are gambling. Some one always loses. There is no win-win situation in gambling. Many people lose in gambling so one person can win. It is a self-centered game and nothing about it is loving. Gambling is designed to take advantage of people, and mainly those who are not typically able to afford to do so.
Covetousness raises its sleazy little head when we are gambling because it is taking what other have, as that is exactly the object. To take what others have and give nothing in return. Where Philippians 4:11-12 tells us, “Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.” We are not to long after what others have, as we are to be content with what God has given us.
But someone may say people do win, as it helps the kids with education and with prescription drugs. Is this really true? I do not remember personally anyone telling me they were playing for that reason. The reason people play is for the greed of riches, which is why the government uses it to get your money. There has been a couple of jack-pots over 300 million dollars, and there is not that many people in the U.S. They could just take that amount and give 1 million to each person in the U.S. and then they each could donate to the schools and the elder generation would be able to afford their pills, not to mention everyone else. Do we really want to go down the slippery slope of rationalizing evil or bad because it helps education and the elderly. That is why we now have abortion and are now talking about euthanasia.
Do a study on any major city that has gambling legalized and see what you get. What you get is higher crime rate, alcoholism, prostitution, bankruptcy, spousal abuse, and higher suicide rates. Today there are more teenagers addicted to gambling then ever before. More then a million teenagers are addicted today, and with that have come twice the amount of suicide attempts. Sounds like a great way to make the education system better to me, and I am sure many elderly would love to win because of everyone else’s misery. Jesus would be proud.
If we took the money that was gambled and used it for the work of God there would be little need today for the welfare system, as there would be plenty of money.
Though gambling is not stated specifically in the Bible we can discern from the Bible that there is nothing good that comes from it. And as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:12, “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.”
There is no command in the Bible that says we cannot gamble, but there are a lot of principles that give us a clear indication of what our response should be to it. 1 Timothy 6:10 tells us, "For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs." And Hebrews 13:5 declares, "Keep your lives free from the love of money and be content with what you have, because God has said, "Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you."
When you gamble you are moving down a road that fulfills the first verse, of loving the money and moving towards evil, as I believe gambling leads to evil, and the second because it is trying to place your fate in your own hands through luck.
Where the Bible does not explicitly say we cannot gamble, it certainly implies it. Just as the Bible never uses the word Trinity to describe God, it certainly implies it in a variety of places. It is implied because of the verses that talk about money, but the fact that gambling breaks quite a few of the 10 commandments, and I will touch on a few.
The first one is we are breaking the first commandment, and by far probably the most important one. When we are placing our hands in luck and luck and God are mutually exclusive from one another, as luck would entail that something happens apart from the will of God. Believing in luck is belief in something other than God and therefore breaking the first commandment.
Secondly we are not being good stewards with what God, not luck, has given us. Prov. 12:11, “"he who works his land will have abundant food, but he who chases fantasies lacks judgment." Playing the lottery is just that a fantasy of getting what you did not work for and taking what others typically could not afford to lose, which takes us to our third reason for not gambling.
We are not loving our neighbors when we are gambling. Some one always loses. There is no win-win situation in gambling. Many people lose in gambling so one person can win. It is a self-centered game and nothing about it is loving. Gambling is designed to take advantage of people, and mainly those who are not typically able to afford to do so.
Covetousness raises its sleazy little head when we are gambling because it is taking what other have, as that is exactly the object. To take what others have and give nothing in return. Where Philippians 4:11-12 tells us, “Not that I speak in regard to need, for I have learned in whatever state I am, to be content: 12I know how to be abased, and I know how to abound. Everywhere and in all things I have learned both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need.” We are not to long after what others have, as we are to be content with what God has given us.
But someone may say people do win, as it helps the kids with education and with prescription drugs. Is this really true? I do not remember personally anyone telling me they were playing for that reason. The reason people play is for the greed of riches, which is why the government uses it to get your money. There has been a couple of jack-pots over 300 million dollars, and there is not that many people in the U.S. They could just take that amount and give 1 million to each person in the U.S. and then they each could donate to the schools and the elder generation would be able to afford their pills, not to mention everyone else. Do we really want to go down the slippery slope of rationalizing evil or bad because it helps education and the elderly. That is why we now have abortion and are now talking about euthanasia.
Do a study on any major city that has gambling legalized and see what you get. What you get is higher crime rate, alcoholism, prostitution, bankruptcy, spousal abuse, and higher suicide rates. Today there are more teenagers addicted to gambling then ever before. More then a million teenagers are addicted today, and with that have come twice the amount of suicide attempts. Sounds like a great way to make the education system better to me, and I am sure many elderly would love to win because of everyone else’s misery. Jesus would be proud.
If we took the money that was gambled and used it for the work of God there would be little need today for the welfare system, as there would be plenty of money.
Though gambling is not stated specifically in the Bible we can discern from the Bible that there is nothing good that comes from it. And as Paul says in 1 Corinthians 6:12, “All things are lawful for me, but all things are not helpful. All things are lawful for me, but I will not be brought under the power of any.”
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