Posted on 03/22/2005 5:58:03 AM PST by Dr. Marten
CLEARWATER - Pinellas-Pasco Circuit Judge George Greer left his church last week after the pastor wrote him a letter suggesting "it might be easier for all of us" if he leave.
Greer, whose orders on the Terri Schiavo case have brought him criticism, is a Southern Baptist who attended Calvary Baptist Church in Clearwater.
Though he had other unrelated problems with the church, Greer's attendance faltered after a Baptist publication the church supported criticized his decisions in the Schiavo case. He stopped his donations to the church, but remained a member. He briefly discussed his relationship with the church in a March 6 St. Petersburg Times article.
Four days later, Calvary Pastor William Rice wrote Greer a letter: "I am not asking you to do this, but since you have taken the initiative of withdrawal, and since your connection with Calvary continues to be a point of concern, it would seem the logical and, I would say, biblical course."
Rice's letter became public when he sent a copy to the Clearwater courthouse. Rice also said the church supports keeping Schiavo alive, though he said he was "truly saddened and embarrassed by the level of harassment and vitriolic nature of so many comments that purportedly come from people of faith."
Rice, who has been pastor at the church for five months, added: "But you must know that in all likelihood it is this case which will define your career and this case that you will remember in the waning days of life. I hope you can find a way to side with the angels and become an answer to the prayers of thousands."
Greer responded with a letter severing his relationship with the church.
Same for secular teachers, too?
A christian can only follow the law if it is line with God's law. Once Man's law is in conflict with God's law you are required to deny it's validity and not to follow that conflicting law.
The Shiavo case is just such a case. In order for this judge to justify his decision to order the removal of food and thus kill Mrs. Shiavo he has to hide behind an unjust law.
He knows it is wrong and still will not repent (change his mind) and rule in accordance with God's law. IMHO the church is absolutely correct to ask him to leave until he repents and seeks forgiveness.
Unless he has a true change of heart and seeks forgiveness he is in for a very rude awakening on the Day of the Lord.
Good morning. Got coffee?
"If every church or religious sect did that, we should expect and, indeed, want every judge to be expelled from his denomination, as I expect and want every judge to put the secular law above his church teachings when he puts on his robes and rules from the bench."
In this case, it is doubtful that the secular law was faithfully applied. Rather, it appears to have been subverted to achieve the preferred outcome.
Teachers don't rule from the bench. They should carry out schoold district teaching policy.
I don't know..the other day when she was blinking I thought it looked like she was trying to say this:
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PLEASE, PLEASE Call or FAX the above Florida State Senators and urge them to pass the law Now in the FLORIDA Legislature that would save Terri's life!!!
The man is actively engaged in killing somebody.
I asked a question about Florida Law. Most states require a married person to be legally separated just to date. Most require a married person to get a divorce to actually live with and have children with a third party.
If Florida law permits a man to abandon his wife because she is sick. Live with another woman and have children. Then decide his wife is a burden so he remembers she once said she'd like to starve to death. I'll never let my daughter and son in law move there.
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Yep, this will be right up there with the Christians missing their opportunity with Hitler.
Actually as I sit here this morning and reflect on what I have begun to see in the past 6mo-1yr. I have never...in the 51 yrs. of my life been so afraid for this country,as what I feel today. Its all corrupt.....ALL of it.....we are a filthy, wicked, self-serving nation of whiners, idoloters, and spiritually and physically adulterous....whoremongers. THERE IS NO SEPARATION OF CHURCH AND STATE. Protestants are gone. We are a deceived people...white-washed full of dead mens works. Personally at this point I am going to spend some time on my face, crying, as I cry now, in prayer, for mercy and forgiveness, for myself and my country. What is written below is what we ARE. JUDGEMENT IS UPON US, JUST LOOK AROUND YOU!!!
Peddlers and petty merchants have weaned their way into the church, and into the "Christian" mainstream. Many of these unsaved men own large chains of "Christian" book stores, they own the song rights to the songs of "Christian" artists, they own the rights to entire versions of the Bible, and sell their "Christian" trinkets to "Christian" masses who are working very hard to please the plastic Jesus they have created in their own minds. The believers carefully ignore the precepts of Christ to not love the world. These men and women flock to "Christian" evangelists who entertain them for an hour or so and then they run out and live exactly like people who make no Christian profession. Today, divorce rates are almost as high in the Church as they are in the world. Alcoholism is also high. "Christian" church members justify the use of illegal drugs in their lives and have their 'live-in' relationships. They are slothful at work and cheat and steal from their employers and employees alike. They lie and cheat to get promotions and take their "Christian" brothers to court, all the while saying "Praise the Lord!" bringing dishonor to the church as a whole and Christ in particular. At a time when real Christians are suffering under tremendous burdens in other parts of the world, and increasingly in our own country, these self-deceived minions go about in the flesh completely contrary to the laws of God, fully convinced in their own minds that they are among the "saved".
The sheep (God's Flock), who are not rooted and grounded in the word of God, will in all likelihood be led astray. These are the times which the apostle Paul warned when men would not endure sound doctrine but will gather to themselves teachers to their own liking, having itching ears . This is true today, in the churches (visible organizations, not Christ's true church) today, the move is on to bring all, or as many churches as possible to syncretisize and join the ecumenical movement. Unfortunately, this is being done on some rather dubious theological ground. Many of the leaders of the ecumenical movement have openly acknowledged their agenda to form a single body of faith in which all of "Christendom " can join. Many of these leaders are also quietly seeking out leaders of eastern religions in order to be more tolerant and inclusive. These are extremely important issues for the church to deal with, because any such association of Christianity with religions who deny the full message of Jesus Christ and him crucified without omissions, or un-scriptural additions, is indeed an engraved invitation to disaster. One way this sort of trend has been allowed to continue is because the church today seems far more interested in modern psychological methods of personal problem solving than with depending on the power of God through Jesus Christ.
A cursory look at most church programs should bear witness, whether it is drug dependency classes or overeaters anonymous or even various marriage seminars which are more readily founded in modern psychology than on sound (instead of just peripherally applicable) Biblical doctrine. These activities are moving towards the edges of the real purpose of the church. This does not mean meaningful groups or classes that deal with these issues are not important, they truly are. The dangers here is that these groups too often propose problem solving methodologies that are not rooted in Christ or his revealed word. Far too often these groups turn into self-centered problem solving instead of Christ centered solutions. "See to it that no man takes you captive through philosophy or vain deceits according to the traditions of men and not according to Christ" (Colossians 2:8) This is the subtle danger when the church moves in this direction . While it may be certain most of these programs will pay at least passing lip service to
he gospel, are the teachings themselves firmly rooted in Christ and his gospel?
Another Danger lurking in the Church pews is that of lukewarmness and self-satisfaction. This includes a smugness that secretly despises Christ's' prophetic word. It denies one-fourth of the Bible (those passages which deal with prophecy and the last things) and scoffs at the imminent physical return of Jesus Christ to this Earth to destroy the works of darkness as being not "in vogue" or too "negative" or perhaps too "alarmist". They rely on human reasoning rather than the word of God and the direction of the Holy Spirit. What these professing Christians fail to realize is that the scriptures clearly state;
"In the last days shall come scoffers walking after their own lusts saying where is the promise of his coming, for ever since the fathers fell asleep things have continued as they were since the beginning of creation" (2Pet 3:3-5).
These are last day apostate's weather they perform miracles, speak in tongues or cast out demons. (see Matt 7:21-23). Jesus gave us clear indications as to what things to look for so that we may not be ignorant of the times or the seasons, but may be sober, watchful and vigilant in our faith.
One of the most troubling signs ofspiritual trouble in the church is that of the embrace of homosexuals by many of America's large mainstream 'Christian' denominations. Homosexuality is a vile sin and it is repugnant in the eyes of God, as is all sin. God can and will forgive the homosexual if he repents and seeks forgiveness. Unfortunately, these ministers are not requiring this, many accept these men as homosexuals, rather than as repentant sinners. Some mainline denominations are allowing homosexual marriages to take place with the 'blessing' of the Church! This form of apostasy will certainly win these men the eternal ire of Jesus Christ. I must warn any an all who are in these denominations, if you seek to be en vogue and popular with the latest fad, acceptable and loved by the world and so on, then remain in these "churches". In fact have some fun! Because where you are going, there will be absolutely no fun, no light and no life...forever.
If, on the other hand, you want to please God and obey his voice and be counted amongst his remnant. Then my advice to you is GET OUT OF THAT CHURCH. NOW! Don't even let the dust from that abominable place cleave on to your feet.
I see much that displeases the Living Christ in the mainstream church but I also know that God still loves those individuals who are being fooled by these charlatan ministers in the so called "Church". He will raise up mighty men who are not afraid of the so-called Christian mainstream and they will speak out boldly. Many will be severely persecuted, many will be betrayed, many will be martyred. But God will leave a witness on earth. Just like the Israelites of old, the American Laodicean Church will be without excuse.
American Christians in particular seem to place much more trust in an increasingly corrupt government than in Jesus Christ. I see little difference in the Church. Any man with a fully functioning brain can see that influence peddling, bribes, cover-ups, illegal campaign contributions and various other sex scandals and unexplained "suicides" and deaths are commonplace in today's American political scene. Yet Christian's, like sheep who invite the wolf in the house, do not understand the true nature of the American Establishment. Increasingly, it is in favor more and more power for itself and less interested in preserving those freedoms and rights the Constitution, which the establishment publicly adores and privately ravages. Unfortunately, too many pastors of today are made of the same stuff that far too many pastors of the Third Reich were made of. These are churches of the IRS (the IRS rules these churches follow to the letter, it's God's rules they are more apt to ignore). In fact, I call them 501(c)3 churches for the IRS regulation which governs what a church is allowed to do and is not allowed to do to maintain its 'tax-free' status. These will give account to Jesus Christ. God will surely require the blood of the wicked at the hand of the righteous if he does not warn him of his sin. Therefore I say to you who are in the Body of Christ, put on your spiritual armor and prepare for war.
What are you doing Christians? Are you attempting to make heaven here earth or, are you as the scripture says, looking for that home which is in heaven and not on earth. The only way we can, as a body of believers, be accounted worthy of Christ is through faith that leads to obedience. Obedience means doing what you are told, the will of God. Not talking about what you are told, or hearing what your are told, or cogitating on what you are told, or saying 'amen' to what you are told, but doing it. Jesus said whoever loved the Father would do his will. I know this is not what the Christians today want to hear. They want to hear another faith seminar so they can "pray up" a Cadillac, or they idolize a new job rather than being content with what God has given them. They become jealous and covetous. They lie, cheat, steal and gossip. They want more of the world's goods and love money. They sell their soul for a 10,000-dollar taxable pay raise. They want to hear how God is going to bless their families who are steeped in worldliness and sin. They too often want God to forgive unrepentant sin. God, who is most gracious, often hears these prayers and answers them, to his glory. I know this is very much an age of God Grace, if it weren't we would all be in deep trouble! It is, however, important to not abuse the goodness of God and under no circumstances let the idea that God is so gracious that unrepentant sin will be tolerated. I can tell you it will not. God's grace is meant to lead people TO repentance not to bless sin. So to the church which would abuse Gods graciousness, I simply state that it will not work. Let the Church be obedient to Christ and let Church leaders go back and teach all of the bible including the 25-30% of bible prophecy that the church ignores and some "Christian" churches even despises.
"Despise not prophesyings" (I Thess 5:20)
I know that it is not "politically correct" to speak about the second coming of Christ. In fact, according to the Attorney General of the United States, those individuals who are in churches who are eagerly awaiting the return of Jesus Christ will be placed under the watchful eye of the U.S. Justice Department for possible "anti-government" or "terrorist" activities. This is not some "Okie from Muskogee" making these pronouncements, this is the highest law enforcement official in the most powerful nation, on a National Television broadcast declaring war against those who obey the command of Christ to Love his coming. Your church should have spoken out and protested in the strongest terms, the government using tax dollars scrutinizing, prying and persecuting bible believing Christians. Did it?
Or were they silent?
Maybe your Church is reporting your beliefs to the authorities, like they did in Communist Russia. There, much of the "church" (small "c") was infiltrated by the Soviet KGB. I seriously wonder how many American "churches" have also been infiltrated by the American FBI, to see if anyone actually believes in the return of Jesus Christ, or speaks out about the evils of our society and the corruption of our government and cannot wait until Jesus comes! A church whose pastor would report on a Christian is a tool of the enemy, and has chosen "Caesar" as his master and not God. If you belong to one then perhaps you should seek another Church where the WHOLE COUNSEL OF GOD IS TAUGHT WITHOUT FEAR. One that does not preach some fluffy, feel good, powder puff gospel, but all of it.
I cannot help but believe that many of the ministers are really working for those who wish to bring about the coming world government, with is satanic spiritual underpinnings. I do not say this lightly. A Christian with even the slightest gift of discernment can see that, what is passing itself off a Christianity today has very little to do with the God of the Bible.
lol it's not funny but....
Just curious (I agree with your post - the church is buying the 'great apostasy' in general) -- what do you think of the Rick Warren phenomenon?
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