God , Parents and the State - To Whom do the Children Belong?

As parents, we have a duty to know the Truth, then act in obedience for the benefit of the children God has placed into our care.

God's Gift of Children - Property????????

It must be remembered this quote of Benjamin Rush, Founding Father and Signer of the Declaration of Independence, "We should teach our pupils that they do not belong to themselves, but are public property."....................­....................If you think the idea that children are property of the State is new, think again. It's been in America for awhile.

Evolution VS God - Do You Understand Your Own Beliefs?

Do you understand what is happening in American Culture regarding the Beliefs of professing Christians? Do you realize where the attack lies. Can you articulate your beliefs to those who may fundamentally disagree with them. Read this article and watch the video from Ken Ham and Answers  in Genesis.
http://www.answersingenesis.org/get-answers/features/evolution-vs-god?utm_source=aigsocial08072013winning&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=facebooktwittergooglelinkedin

Tolerating Truth in America - The Bible, Jesus & Judging Others in a Plural Society

In this day when it's almost impossible to make a definitive statement about any topic without upsetting a significant demographic, tolerance is the operative word. Any and all statements which tend to draw conclusions not arrived at by cultural consensus is deemed to be worthy of nothing more than being discarded to the trash heap of distasteful dialogue, hate speech and verbal abortion.

Ken Ham - Answers in Genesis

 Into this societal fray steps Ken Ham, Founder of the apologetics ministry, Answers In Genesis. His article about the Bible and Judging others is a fitting tribute to the veracity of the Word of God for our lives as well as a balanced view of the Bible and it's apparent contradictions.

Increasingly, professing Christians that are dedicated to the notion that the Written Word of God is the standard for man to live by are becoming a target for intolerant attitudes and words. Politically speaking, some have even made the lists of those considered by Government as "Terrorists." American Culture is headed forward with the idea that such parameters are, indeed, not needed or wanted by a society whose truth is determined by the individual, as long as it agrees with a predetermined cultural consensus by the powers that be. As a part of this pre-arranged societal standard, the Bible and its clear statements about life are not to be a candidate for inclusion. It has been rejected. And increasingly, so are those who believe it.

Thanksgiving for The Old Paths - The Ancient Ways for Man

The Old Paths

by Martin & Deidre Bobgan

Today most Christians wonder how to help troubled people without some form of counseling, from psychological to some form of biblical adaptation. Too many see the luscious-looking grass on the other side of the fence as being good for food, pleasant to the eyes, and desirable to make them wise.  Jesus is the good shepherd who leads His sheep to good pastures. He has given new life and sustains it through the Holy Spirit working in that new life. He has given His sheep wisdom from above through His Word, which is living, life-giving, and powerful. He is the one who searches the hearts of mankind. He is trustworthy to complete that which He has begun and to fulfill what He has promised.  God has marked the path for us to walk in His Word Believers need to return to the old paths rather than sniff and nibble the grass on the other side of the fence. They need to stay close to the good shepherd and they need to be wary of those who through erudite speech would entice them to another pasture. They also need to watch out for those who would plant hybrid seeds that look even better than the real thing but starve the soul. Thus saith the LORD, Stand ye in the ways, and see, and ask for the old paths, where is the good way, and walk therein, and ye shall find rest for your souls. But they said, We will not walk therein (Jeremiah 6:16). We pray that when we hear the Lord call us to the old paths we will not respond as the Israelites did, but turn again to the Lord and trust Him rather than the enticing wisdom of men.  (PsychoHeresy Awareness Letter, January-February 2012, Vol. 20, No. 1)

Christian Worldview - Are Christians to Suffer A Political Holocaust?

 

Note: This article was written during President Bush's Second Term

In this article from World Net Daily, Rabbi Daniel Lapin gives a stern warning to American Christians that there are concerted attempts to diminish or actually exterminate the influence and impact Christians have in the world today, especially in the political realm. He provides proof of this campaign by citing the many examples of books currently being published containing overt anti Christian rhetoric and bias.

So, presuming such a plan has been implemented, how is such a large campaign carried out to successful fruition? With hundreds of millions of Christians in the world and tens of millions in the United States and with an Evangelical Christian as President in George W. Bush, how does one eliminate such a large population group? Is it possible that a worldwide holocaust is about to begin? I admit that such a thought seems out of the realm of possibility in such a civilized era such as ours, but do we dare eliminate this possibility, seeing that we are only 60 years removed from the human blight of Adolf Hitler?

Even now, the world is being warned of the potential repercussions of Europe's rejection of Christianity by Pope Leo XVI. And America is faced with the same consolidation of Europe into one bloc of nations, The North American Union. Are we to face the same annihilation through amalgamation of law and culture Europe has experienced? Are we about to see the distinctives of America become merged with those of Canada and Mexico? If so, what are the implications for the Christian?

 

Do the policies of Hitler return under the same type of human rights concerns? Are Christians going to be eliminated because of their negative impact on the world around them? Does the morally high ground of Christians and their God become the sacrificial altar upon which their literal blood is sacrificed. Do we see the policies of Cain make a widespread return? Is this to be the reaction of Cain to the righteousness preached by the Prophet Abel? Or do we turn a deaf ear to such ridiculous notions?

Or maybe the concerted effort to eliminate Christian ideas is to subvert their Christian distinctives. Is it possible that the best way to eliminate your enemy is to convince them to join you? Are Christians even aware of such modus operandi? Is it even a consideration that Christian enemies are subtly luring Christians into beliefs and practices that Jesus Christ never condones. Are we being sold a bill of spiritual goods which the Word of God specifically condemns?

If so, what are the results of such a diabolical subversion? Could it be that the plan is to turn Christians into the same as everyone else around them. They look the same. They believe the same. They act the same. They unknowingly serve the same agendas. Their values are slowly morphed into the will of others they know not. Their ignorance is used against them. And in the name of serving God, abominations against their God are engaged in.

Does this sound rather far fetched? I can understand why if that is the case. But the realities of Jewish elimination under the righteousness of the Third Reich in the not so distant past should serve to tell us that human depravity ever lurks beneath the thin veneer of civilized man. In fact, it could be said at this time that civilization has developed cracks and gaping holes which are in danger of becoming the norm, something the Jews know about intimately.

He that has ears to hear...........

Christian Worldview - School Children, Doctors & Behavior

Ken Ham - Answers in Genesis

I came across this piece of info while perusing the blog of Ken Ham. I thought it might be interesting to ponder.

But only if you don't know what "ODD" and "IED" is. The potential ramifications of such labeling and justification of destructive behavior are apparently ignored in view of sparing the child the unsavory aspect of having the child acknowledge and properly deal with his own actions. Or having someone else deal with them, say the Criminal Justice System.

Christian World View - Bill Nye & Ken Ham

Bill Nye The Science Guy

Bill Nye, The Science Guy has recently caused an uproar over his video assertion that it is inappropriate to teach children that Creation as recorded in the Bible in the book of Genesis is factually correct. Proponents of the Theory of Evolution, of which Bill Nye is one, insist that the facts of the modern scientific record do not support the literal account of Genesis.

A portion of this video was recorded in front of the Creation Museum built in Kentucky by Ken Ham, founder of Answers in Genesis, an apologetics ministry. It has currently received over 3 million hits.

Creation Museum - Pertersburg, Kentucky

Founder of Answers in Genesis

Ken Ham and his staff were quick to respond to this details of this video and its implications. Access to the full multi-media response can be found at his blog, Around the World with Ken Ham. Another blog post can be found at Truth Buyer of Christian World View.

The Conservative & Liberal Media Bias About Planned Parenthood & Komen

If you've ever heard the rants and raves of liberals and conservatives regarding the bias of each other, then you received a rare treat this past week when the bigoted proclivities of each was on full display. And it wasn't a pretty sight, especially where the truth was concerned.

Fortunately, someone displayed the patience necessary to actually read the official statements of the Susan G. Komen Foundation regarding their decisions about funding future grants to further their specific aim of helping in the fight against breast cancer and breast cancer detection.

That someone can be found HERE!

Curfews & The Role of American Parents

The issue of curfews for children occasionally resurfaces in various locations in the United States. This time the State is California. As reported on One News Now, The San Luis Obispo County Board of Supervisors will review a proposed daytime curfew for children under the age of 18.

These laws, when proposed, usually create a firestorm of negative response from parents and parental organizations, especially among those homeschooling their children. The reason is rather obvious from a parental viewpoint. A daytime curfew would "restrict the constitutional rights of minors and instead encourage officers to selectively detain the youngsters."

Surprisingly, Finn Larsen of Christian Educators Association International says that parents are partly to blame for the problem. ""It is unfortunate that many parents, for whatever reason, are not providing good oversight and care for their children," he laments. "So what this does is it allows the state, if you will -- the police, the government -- to have a little bit more exercise of authority in a problem that, again, is growing.""

For those who may possess a little more curiosity than the normal resident, it may be interesting to know how the State views its citizens. Does it strike you as hypocritical that any State of the Union would attempt to impose itself within the family sphere in order to alleviate a problem, especially when that problem stems from a lack of parental oversight?

The answer is very simple. It is also written into law. The fact is that the State claims ownership of its citizens through the legal doctrine known as Parens Patriae, the State is the Parent of the Nation. So, when the property of the State, in this case the parents, aren't performing their civic duty, the State has the right, nay, the duty, to step in and correct the problem. The state is simply taking care of what is legally theirs. And, ultimately, the State's property will not and cannot determine what the State will do.

If you think that this is un-American and Unconstitutional, save your breath. This concept is as old as civilization and was present in the American Revolution. Benjamin Rush, a Signer of the Declaration of Independence and Founding Father extraordinaire, had this to say about children. "We must teach our pupils that they do not belong to themselves, but are public property."

Do you remember hearing that in history class? I didn't think so! Think about it.

Is Homosexuality The Same As A Little White Lie?

With The American Family Radio Network steadily becoming the preferred choice of Christians when it comes to talk radio, it can be interesting to listen to the details of their dialogue with others. I heard a short discussion today between a host and caller wherein the caller chided the host for categorizing sin, since, according to Romans 6, all sin leads to death. Therefore, in the eyes of God, homosexuality is no worse than theft. The host meekly agreed with the caller, leading the audience to believe that the caller was right.

While technically true, it must be remembered that God does distinguish between certain actions and ascribes a certain level of severity of some over others. Homosexual sin , as well as heterosexual sin (adultery and fornication), is called an "abomination." Many other actions, though forbidden by God, are not labeled as severely. These same sins, referred to as abominations, carry a more severe penalty than the less offensive ones.

God also differentiates between people while, at the same time, not being a respecter of persons. The book of James tells us that "teachers" will receive a greater level of judgment than others. Jesus Himself tells us that "to whom much is given, much is required."

It must be remembered that all Scripture is taken from a context. It comes from its immediate context as well as the broader context of the whole Bible. So while a point can seemingly be made by a single verse, that point must also fit within the evidence provided by the remainder of Scripture. Failure to do so can lead to doctrinal error which is dangerous,even for Christian talk show hosts.

Christians & Political Hypocrisy

Over the last several years, I've found a serious problem among Christians when it comes to the subject of Politics. While it seems that many are serious about political issues, most aren't very serious about discussing the biblical merits of being politically involved. In other words, does the Bible mandate or even allow political involvement for Believers?

That problem in discussing this issue? Hypocrisy!

The hypocrisy lies in one simple fact that I'm seeing more and more in this day and age. No one wants to contemplate anything that might cause them to change their present lifestyle. They simply want to maintain the status quo. And if that status quo happens to be the current popular thought about Christians and politics, so be it.

The end result? For me, alot of short and / or shallow conversations.

Who is "Our" King, Judge & Lawmaker?

In this commentary by Prison Fellowship President Mark Earley, He uses a rather telling pronoun when referring to lawmakers who have recently tried to make it mandatory for 6th grade girls to receive the vaccine for the human papillomavirus. The choice of pronoun, in this case, represents an identification and personalization which might tend to make some of us uncomfortable. It is also something which fails to have Biblical or apostolic support.

Earley uses the pronoun "our" to refer to lawmakers in different states, in this case, Virginia and Texas. The remainder of the commentary allows us to see that this pronoun is also applied to the various political activities associated and governed by these same lawmakers. Earley also laments one of the results of this type of legislation, regardless of the process used to implement these directives. He says it usurps parental authority.

I don't want to be misunderstood when I say this, so read carefully. Since when are lawmakers "our" lawmakers as Christians? Since when do we identify anyone other than YHWH as our Lawmaker? The historic position of God's People in relation to Secular authority has always been one of Separation in the midst of honor and submission. The Old Testament plainly tells us that " YHWH is our judge, YHWH is our lawgiver, YHWH is our King; he will save us." In the New Testament, the Apostle Paul tells us that, "our politics is in Heaven, from whence we look for the Lord." This is after Peter speaks for himself and the apostles who had been beaten for preaching the Gospel of Jesus Christ when he says, "we ought to obey God rather than men."

Are we to presume that the past servants of the Most High God have been mistaken in the proper placements of their allegiance? Were they ignorant of the current state of affairs when it came to Whom they were to render service to? Did they, to any degree, identify with Caesar and the Roman Empire? Did they give the least hint that they were serving the interests of the Roman Empire? Did they refer to the Roman lawmakers as "our lawmakers?" Obviously, they didn't.There has always been a distinct dichotomy between the people of God and Secular rulers of every stripe.

In no way does this negate the fact of earthly citizenship. We are all men and must, by our birth, be citizens of some earthly Nation or State. However, this earthly citizenship and its political obligations and responsibilities are always viewed through our primary spiritual allegiance. This primacy dictates our relationship to the Secular. In other words, we are primarily a Secular, or unholy citizen, or we are primarily a Heavenly, or holy citizen.

If you are a Secular citizen, then you primarily identify with Secular officials with such descriptive terms as "our and mine." If you are a Heavenly citizen, then you primarily refer to Secular officials with terms such as "their and your."

Which brings us back to the charge, by Earley, of usurping parental authority by making this vaccine mandatory. Case law is very consistent within the body of American Jurisprudence showing that, Government activities are strictly controlled by Governemnt law and policy. This is a Constitutional and legally consistent practice from the beginning of the United States. Coupled with the Founding idea espoused by Benjamin Rush that the student is public property, it should not be an extremely difficult propsition to understand that the children in public schools do not belong to the parents. In fact the "parents" are not the primary parent of the children in their care. The "parents" are simply the guardians, exercising delegated authority from the State.

This little known Legal Doctrine is Parens Patraei. It means that the State is the Parent of the Nation and, therefore becomes the primary parent of all who have been entrusted to their care. The State, then becomes responsible to provide the needed care and provision neccessary for their children. This is where most parents find themselves today, taking care of the State's children while thinking of those same children as belonging to them, not the State.

Sound preposterous? Tell that to the many parents who are experiencing this legal reality around the country and possess not a clue to what is taking place. They are fighting, but they are legally destined to lose because they are proceeding in ignorance. Presumed by the Courts to know the Law, they lack sufficient knowledge and understanding to protect their interests, in this case, what they presumed to be their children.

So, how do parents entrust their children to the care of the State? That's an easy one. By sending them to a State institution, an institution where the State's interests are primary. This is after all, the State's institution. Shouldn't the State have the primary right to conduct the affairs of their own creation? In spite of what anyone outside the Schools think, the Courts have consisitently agreed with that proposition.

If you don't personally agree with that proposition, the remedy is simple. Don't send your child to an Institution governed by State Law, "your law."

American Persecution of Christians??????????

All across America, atrocities are being perpetrated on the most innocent of all people groups in the known World. Maybe the saddest aspect of this inhumane treatment is that it is the official policy of the American Government. Yes, American Lawmakers are the official perpetrators of........dare we say it?............Persecution!!!!!!!!!!! That's right!

And what's mnore diabolical is the fact that this persecution is taking place against Christians. That's right, Christian America is officially against her own righteous people.

Here are the details: Christians send their children to government schools and the following happens:

1. The children are exposed to explicit sexual content as a part of the curriculum without the parents being previously notified.
2. The children aren't allowed to pray on their own.
3. The children aren't allowed to form their own Christian clubs.
4. The children's Christian club isn't allowed to use school property the same as all other clubs .

This is just the beginning of a list that could go on and on for awhile. But the obvious does not need to be stated. Christians are in trouble and suffering needlessly. What are we to do about it!!??????

Well let's see. How can this be alleviated?

It might start with helping parents to understand that, pursuant to American tradition and law, their children really don't belong to them. Their children are the property of the State.

If that sounds rather bizarre, settle down. It's simply a matter of law.

Every Parent has the fundamental right to raise their children as they see fit. That fact is not in dispute by anyone. However, once a parent send their child to a government school, the parent abandon's their right to ultimately direct the upbringing of their children. The government is then in the position formerly held by the parent. The government has become the parent. The parent has become only the guardian, following the dictates of the government. This legal doctrine is known as Parens Patraei and it's found mostly in State Court decisions.

The fact is that there is absolutely no persecution of children or parents in this nation. It is simply a matter of parents and others being ignorant of the law and their freedoms in this country under that same law.

John Edwards on Jesus and Children

In this article from BREIBART.COM, John Edwards waxes religious when he states his belief that children should be allowed to pray at school. He thinks that "allowing time for children to pray for themselves, to themselves, I think is not only OK, I think it's a good thing." But of course, he's not for teacher led prayer. That would be approaching the point of coercion and we can't have government employees taking the lead in such a personal and private action.

I am not going to pick on John Edwards for his statements and forced religious jargon. Many Democrats have taken up the religious mantle in their political quests of late and the Republicans have consistently done so for decades. So this is nothing new.

What hasn't changed in all the talk about education, political and otherwise, is the stark reality of the law in the United States. Oh sure, we have all kinds of rhetoric being thrown around the many legal battles over the rights of parents in the raising of their children, but the fundamental truth is glossed over with heated words dealing with other, more trite legal subjects.

Ever so often, the truth trickles out of a court case and its written opinion which sheds a ray of light on the darkness of the legal landscape. Such is the case in Massachusetts, as reported by WorldNetDaily, initiated by the parents of two families after their children were exposed to graphic presentations without prior notice according to law. U.S. District Judge Mark L. Wolf dismissed all Federal aspects of this case while also dismissing all state aspects but leaving the option to have the facts ruled upon at the state level. The opinion, though, tells all who will listen, what their present freedoms are regarding education as well as their options should they choose to forego exercising that fundamental freedom guaranteed by the First Amendment to the united States Constitution.

First, the fundamental freedom.

Judge Wolf states that "Parents do have a fundamental right to raise their children." This statement is significant in light of this decision being decried as " every parent's nightmare," by Mass Resistance, a parents rights advocacy group. Here we have a case brought by parents being dismissed, yet the parents are informed what their rights are! Wow!!!! Is anyone listening or reading? Anyone with the slightest legal knowledge knows that a fundamental right is the highest form of right. Pursuant to the Constitution, it cannot be taken away, but will be protected by government officials and, yes, even Judges. Could it be that the parents in this case don't really know the type of right they are attempting to exercise?

Second, the next aspect of this fundamental freedom.

Immediately following the above statement, Judge Wolf says, "They are not required to abandon that responsibility to the state." This statement is doubly significant in that it gets to the heart of the reason that this decision is "every parent's nightmare." When it comes to parents raising their children, parents are not required to send their child to a state regulated institution, nor are they or their children required to participate in activity regulated by the State! If and when a parent does, they must submit to the rules and laws of the state governing their own institutions. It's that simple!

If a parent chooses to raise their children themselves, the State cannot interfere, outside of criminal activity, because the State has no jurisdiction over such private exercises of a fundamental right. Neither can a judge officially recommend a possible course of action for the parents to take in exercising such right.

In light of this last fact, Judge Wolf continues his opinion by telling all what the options are for the two families, as well as all other families, who have abandoned their children to the State by placing them in Public Schools. They can choose to send them to Private Schools or Homeschool them, both of which are regulated by the State.

For most, this fundamental issue will be lost amidst the uproar over the Radical Gay Rights agenda being forced upon students and parents. Sadly , so will a generation of children, simply because their parents didn't know any better. So much for Christian Attoneys!

Politics and Religion: A Dual Necessity?

This article by Lisa Miller of MSNBC-Newsweek deals with the religious ignorance of Americans as viewed and experienced during the tenure of Boston University Professor Steve Prothro. He laments this educational vacuum and encourages students to change this sad state of affairs. His reason for promoting religious literacy may surprise you.

"His motivation is more than pedagogical. In a world where nearly every political conflict has a religious underpinning, Prothero writes that Americans are selling themselves short by remaining ignorant about basic religious history and texts, by not knowing the difference between a Sunni and a Shiite or the name of Mormonism's holy book. "Given a political environment where religion is increasingly important, it's increasingly important to know something about religion," he says. "The payoff is a more involved [political] conversation.""

A novel idea, indeed! Most people would not connect a proper understanding of and involvement in Secular politics with Religion.

Does this mean that the religion referred to is, by nature, Secular?

If so, is this Secular Religion the same as Civil Religion?

If so, how might this Secular, Civil Religion differ with a redemptive relationship of faith in Jesus Christ, as revealed in the Bible?