Posted on 02/14/2012 3:58:36 PM PST by Gamecock
The Story: After the Obama administration's announced that health insurance coverage would require the inclusion of contraception and abortifacients, several Christian leaders---including Chuck Colson, Richard Land, and Rick Warren---called on evangelicals to stand with Catholics in civil disobedience to this law.
The Background: In a special edition of his weekly video segment, Chuck Colson said:
We have come to the point---I say this very soberly---when if there isn't a dramatic change is circumstances, we as Christians may well be called upon to stand in civil disobedience against the actions of our own government. That would break my heart as a former Marine Captain loving my country, but I love my God more . . . I've made up my mind---sober as that decision would have to be---that I will stand for the Lord regardless of what my state tells me.
On the same day, Saddleback pastor Rick Warren wrote on Twitter:
I'm not a Catholic but I stand in 100% solidarity with my brothers & sisters to practice their belief against govt pressure [...]
I'd go to jail rather than cave in to a govement mandate that violates what God commands us to do. Would you? Acts 5:29
And Richard Land and Barrett Duke wrote in an op-ed:
The Obama administration has declared war on religion and freedom of conscience. This must not stand. Our Baptist forebears died and went to prison to secure these freedoms. It is now our calling to stand in the gap and defend our priceless First Amendment religious freedoms.
Why It Matters: Because opposition to contraceptives is most closely associated with orthodox Catholics, media have portrayed the current controversy as a Roman Catholic issue. But as these evangelical leaders make clear, the direct assault on freedom of conscience should be a grave concern for all believers.
Acts 5:20 records a profession of Peter and the apostles that all evangelicals should heed: "We must obey God rather than men." In almost all cases, Christians are required to obey the laws of the state. But when we are forced to choose between obedience to God or obedience to man, we have no other recourse but to disobey the magistrate and obey King Jesus.
Says who??
Note: Many Reformed folk, as well as other conservative Evangelicals, recognize that oral contraceptives can function as abortifacients and therefore oppose their use.
Say what?
That is awesome - thanks for posting.
Wonderful!
Funny thing about Muhlenberg’s brother. He changed his tune pretty quickly after the British pulled him out of bed in the middle of the night and took him to watch as they burned his church to the ground. Fredrick Muhlenberg, then joined the fight himself.
Maybe its the Catholics who should stand with evangelicals?
Also, the issue of the State interfering in religious institutions can't be ignored.
I have a sinking feeling that we will be fighting this battle long after the RC's have retired from the field. The media and admn have framed this as a "contraception" issue and made it seem that only the RC's would be concerned for a reason.
If they had in the last Presidential election we wouldn't be in this mess.
Fedzilla might consider you a terrorist if...
Thanks for posting. I am related to Peter Muhlenberg.
The Muhlenberg story is a really great story and I hope people will take the time to learn about another one of America’s forgotten founders.
I am more than willing to stand with my Reformed and Evangelical brothers and sisters in Christ should the government ever threaten their religious liberty and rights of conscience.
Any government that would require her people to risk their souls to be good citizens is not worthy of my obedience.
We must all hang together...
Sounds great, but I already know where a majority of Evangelical and Reformed Christians stand. If the Roman Catholics want to come over and support conservatism I say welcome! We will see in 8 months.
Gee, thanks a lot there Rick. And about 36 months ago you were doing what again exactly?
I stand shoulder to shoulder with all my Christians Brothers and Sisters. Nothing shall separate us from the love of Jesus Christ. And we have a Bill of Rights in this country that gives us the ability to stand up and be counted. If the Left hates us, rejoice in heaven, for the World hated Christ Jesus also, and still does today. We as Christians have been joined together through the blood of Jesus Christ, and His Crucifiction and resurrection.
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