Call to Prayer For America

___Before and after the election both pastors and “christian media” used 2 Chronicles 7 to motivate people to pray. The covenant applies to drought, locusts and pestilence and is specific to Israel at the dedication of the temple completed under King Soloman. The problem with applying covenants between God and Israel to the United States of America or to the Church is that we are in the dispensation of grace, not law. We do not obligate God to act by completing a checklist of deeds. The phrase “I will hear from Heaven, will forgive their sin, and will heal their land” is for Israel under law rather than America under grace.

___The problem with replacement theology is that it negates the free gift of salvation and places one under law. If God saves us, then our salvation is secure. If we earn even a portion of our salvation, then we can lose it. If God is obligated by our deeds, then we have doubts when He fails to keep the promise that we have made for Him.

___We live in the age of the church of Laodicea which is characterized by the “lukewarm” church. It is rare that christians, so called, do in-depth Bible studies. They hear a verse taken out of context and repeat it without checking the context. Another scripture is “one day is as a thousand years, and a thousand years as one day.” The simple-minded say “God's timing is different than man's.” The statement is true, but the context is Jesus Christ's second coming. I use this as one of my 3 ways that the Bible reveals a “young Earth.” Please see my in-depth study of Genesis' six + one days of Creation, 2 Peter 3:8 and Luke 3 (Mary's geneology back to Adam, August 2009).

Dispensations

Dispensations (Eph 3, Col 1):

1) Innocence (Eden)

2) Conscience (fall to flood)

3) Human Government (Noah)

4) Promise (Abraham)

6) Law (Moses)

7) Grace (Jesus)

8) Millennial Kingdom (Jesus)

Boys and Girls are Born Innocent?

___There is an old joke about a pastor counseling a happy couple as they look forward to parenthood that children are born with Adam's sin nature. The husband was dismissive of the notion. Years later the pastor asked what the husband thought now that the kids were teenagers. The husband replied that not only did he believe in total depravity of the teens, he also believed in demon possession!

___I was surprised to hear in a sermon Sunday morning that “boys and girls are born innocent.” I asked the speaker afterwards when exactly did “there is none righteous” (Ps14; Rom3) kick in? He said innocent in the worldly sense, not righteous before a holy God.

___Having been an imperfect parent to three imperfect children, I can testify that one of the first words spoken is “No!” I believe this to be the natural state of children. I do not believe that my children were any worse or any better that other children.

___Since Katie died after only 23 months of life, I have thought about the “age of accountability” many times. The white throne judgement is that those who have rejected Jesus as Savior and Lord are thrown into the lake of fire. Katie enjoyed spiritual things and appears charismatic (arms lifted in praise) on her memorial program. Tim LaHaye, Left Behind author, agrees with an age of accountability since no children were “left behind” after the “rapture.” There is no specific age since the age when a child becomes aware of God will vary. A child becomes “lost” (Rev20:15) when they are aware but they reject Jesus.

Heaven, Paradise and the Lake of Fire

___The Holy Bible talks about 3 heavens (the atmosphere, outer space and where God "dwells"). The Qu'ran talks about Paradise (as does the Bible). Most "believers" agree that there is an afterlife in heaven. To get "in" you have to have been "good" during your life. Christians believe that only in Jesus Christ do they have righteousness, and that it is a free gift earned by Jesus on the cross.

___Many, even so-called christians, believe that a loving God will not condemn anyone to "Hell." But God is Holy and cannot coexist in the presence of sin. The believer, clothed in the righteousness of Jesus Christ is righteous to God. Any who trust in their own righteousness will spend eternity in the lake of fire (Rev 20).

___The Islamists will not be rewarded with Paradise for martyrdom in jihad. They will spend eternity in the lake of fire for rejecting Jesus. Jesus is the only way to fellowship with God.

Shariah Law Has Its Good Points

___Women are not allowed to vote. Barack Obama has been elected President of the United States twice by women. He had no experience in an executive role and very little experience in governing or foreign policy. His experience was with community organizing and with Project Vote. The results for the country have been disastrous.

___Women are not allowed to drive. Women, in general, are loving and generous. Because of this they do not handle 4-way Stops well. It is like the NC law (according to my Dad): When two trains approach an intersection, both shall stop, and neither shall proceed until the other has passed. At a 4-way Stop, the first to arrive at the stop must proceed. If another goes first, then they are guilty of “failure to yield the right of way.”

Muslim Extremists Justify Their Terrorist Actions

___Suppose I, as a “bible extremist” decide that all Muslims are “infidels” and should be killed. I use Exodus 21 and Matthew 5 as my biblical “instructions.” Jesus said “eye for eye, tooth for tooth.” If Muslims kill innocent people, then they should be killed?

___The Islamists are doing the same – although Mohammed never contradicted with “but I say unto you” as Jesus did! Mohammed was violent. Jesus was not.

___You say that I am quoting out of context. Do not Christians – even pastors – quote 2 Chronicles 7:14 without verse 13? They blindly endorse heretical replacement theology by taking a promise to Israel as a promise to the United States.

___A text without a context is a pretext!

Who is This Jewish Kid From Nazareth?

___Jesus was born in Bethlehem, but grew up in Nazareth. His stepfather was a carpenter and his mother was a homemaker. Both were direct descendants of King David. Jesus lived for 30 years working with his father and family before he started his ministry. His Earthly ministry lasted only three years before he was killed.

___When he was alive, Jesus did miraculous signs to prove that he is God. He did not use his power to prevent his abuse and death. Instead he took all of the sin of the world - past, present and future – upon himself in order that sinful men and women could have fellowship with a Holy God. He was raised from the dead; spent 40 days appearing to and preparing his followers; and vanished to Heaven. His Holy Spirit saves, teaches, sanctifies and strengthens men and women who trust in Jesus as Savior.

___The Jews were looking for a conquering king. They will see Jesus as King, but it will be too late for those who have rejected him. Jesus will reign on the throne of David in Jerusalem for 1,000 years while Satan is bound, and then Satan, his followers and those who have rejected Jesus will be thrown into the lake of fire forever.