ITS LATE, DONT HATE

 

 

 

IT’S LATE, IT’S LATE

PLEASE BURY THE HATE

By

Joe Ortiz

 

Scoffers deny, the hand of its fate, peril and terror, time running out,

Pleasures denied, Eros is fleeting, money and worries, lovers they pout;

Earth and the mountains, tremble in fear, strong gusty winds, ripping the land,

Hold on tightly, temblor increases, loved ones are fallen, they slip from your hand;

 

Listen to wisdom, ancient it speaks, prophet the warnings, ears closed so tight,

Hearts are deceiving, they seek own reward, denying word power, fancy the flight;

Seek satisfaction, fleeting the time, restless souls churning, sleepless at night,

No peace in the cupboard, friendship in toil, grasping is empty, lost is its might;

 

Love still the power, no origin seen, seeking to comfort, the lonely is found,

Pain comes in caring, reward not expected, missing affection, it lands on the ground;

Faith comes from testing, the pure heart it seeks, reaching for honor, the highest peak,

Viewing contentment, no quick light is shown, stronger the vessel, its mantle is meek;

 

Hate is a power, destruction the life, filled with its anguish, division it roars,

Expecting the blessing, its daily the bread, inner contentment, your joy now soars;

Secret from Alpha, Omega is found, basic is loving, no other is found,

Hate is confusion, twisting the soul, love like the circle, no ending is found;

 

Life clock keeps ticking, the heart drying up, horror its future, no peace can endure,

Strength and its hoping, so little the challenge, focus on love, so soft and so pure;

Hate and its fury, keep draining the soul, bleeding true hearts, denying the whole,

Soon comes the crumble, friendships denied, scattered the pieces, injured the soul;

 

Time is so precious, the signs are many, disasters seek victims, and chief is the hate,

Wrenching the mighty, the haughty they grin, caring no less, no friend is the fate;

In dying the moments, last word it does speak, hearts that are empty, nothing to fill,

Time was a plenty, bonds that could heal, ego’s destruction, the souls it does kill;

 

Friendships forever, a gift to be treasured, love and forgiveness, the greatest of deeds,

Hate is so draining, no true love fulfilled, listen to wisdom, so gently it speeds;

The winds and its fury, the heat and its might, good, bad and evil, destiny’s fate,

Hold on to loved ones, it’s late, it’s late, deny earthly pleasures, and bury the hate!

 

 

 

 

Are We to Evangelize Jewish People?

Following is an article that appeared this morning (July 26, 2009) in the newsletter of Ohr Torah Stone's Center for Jewish-Christian Understanding & Cooperation, written by its Executive Director, David Nekrutman:

Without a shadow of a doubt, Christians are commanded to evangelize, as stated in Matthew 28:19-20. The Great Commission is nonnegotiable. This mission represents the spiritual identity of a Christian.

However, the proselytizing of Jews often becomes an issue in Jewish-Christian relations, especially when this evangelizing takes place in Israel. There are some who come in "support for Israel" ostensibly to set up a soup kitchen, only to lure members of the Jewish faith to Christianity. One can make the argument that there is a difference between witnessing (emulating the life of Jesus) and proselytizing. A discussion of the matter is warranted, for there seems to be a fundamental misunderstanding of the theological significance of Jews.

When people hear the phrase "the chosen people" in reference to the Jews, they should ask: "Chosen for what?" The Jewish nation has a three-fold mission rooted in Scripture; covenant, witness and humanity. When God entered a relationship with Abraham (Genesis 17), the covenant was described as everlasting. This covenant has two physical embodiments; the Promised Land and circumcision. It also requires that we walk humbly in His ways, carrying out the Sinaitic revelation.

We are required to be a kingdom of priests and a holy nation. This relationship offers rewards for observance and punishes for its abandonment. Practically speaking, we are to ensure the continuing existence of the Jewish people as part of our mission of covenant. Our emphasis is on Jewish education, community ties and avoiding intermarriage.

The Jewish people are not concerned only with members of their own faith, but are required to testify about the power of repentance and love as manifested in the redemption of Israel (Isaiah 49:6). It is through the narrative of the Jews that people see God¹s hand in history. This is part and parcel of our witness mission to the world.

The message of the Bible is for all people, as stated in Micah 4:2. The Jewish people have a mission to extend God's love to all. We are called by God to set up society in a way that maximizes the practice of justice and mercy; we are to engage in an unending quest to heal a broken world. A central prayer in Judaism sums it up: to transform the world into the Kingdom of the Almighty, where all flesh will call upon Your name, where all the wicked of the earth will be turned to You.

Doesn't Christian evangelizing of Jews come in direct conflict with the Jews three-fold mission? Christians see Jews as either people of very special salvific significance, or as people included in the one mission to all those who have not accepted Jesus as their Savior. There is a minority within Christianity that believe missionizing the Jews is not part of an authentic Christian witness, since the Jewish people has its own fulfillment in faithfulness to the divine covenant mentioned in Genesis.

When the Church concluded that all one needs to attain salvation is Jesus, without adherence to Torah, it should not be surprising that the Jewish people simply could not go along with that. The Jewish understanding of "salvation" is simply different from that of Christianity.

If Jews and Christians worship the same God, should Christians then try to convince Jews to worship Him in the Christian way? It seems that many within the Church have forgotten the essential Jewishness of their own faith; they tend to place the attempt to evangelize Jews in the same category as missionary efforts among people of other religions or of no religion. To such people, Jews are simply people who cannot be saved unless they come to know Jesus.

As an orthodox Jew who does not believe in the divinity of Jesus, I wish Christians could understand what it means to be obedient members of God's chosen people. This should not detract from the notion that Jesus' life and death is central to the salvation of the Church and their mission to the world. It is my hope that Christians would recognize that their mission of preparing for the coming of the Kingdom of God is shared with the Jewish people, even if Jews do not conceive of this task as the Church does.

Shalom, David Nekrutman, Executive Director

CJCUC
www.cjcuc.com

(Response by Joe Ortiz)

Based on David Nekrutman’s statement, it is obvious (as he speaks for the Jewish family) they do not believe in Christ as savior nor redeemer. And, like so many Jews throughout the world, they most certainly do not appreciate Christian zealots who constantly harangued them to convert to their religion. I don’t blame them for feeling irritated by this practice.

This phenomenon is found mostly among right wing evangelical Christians, who overtly attempt to proselytize Jews into becoming Christians. They (Christian Zionists) are the ones who support the Pre-Tribulation Rapture and sincerely believe in the myth that a new Temple has to be built in Jerusalem in order for the Antichrist to come and establish his one world order, then persecute Christians for three and a half years, culminating in the return of Jesus Christ to establish a 1000 year millennial reign in the state of Israel. These right-wing zealots don’t really care about the welfare of the Jews in the Middle East (or elsewhere) they just want the Temple built so they can usher the return of Christ that much sooner. The biggest proponents of this movement include the most well known and popular self-proclaimed church leaders such as John Hagee, Tim LaHaye, Hal Lindsey, Mike Evans and a slew of other premillennial dispensationalists, way too many to mention.

Many of us Christians have known for centuries the basic tenets of Judaism and recognize Jews do not believe in Jesus Christ as savior. For those Christians who are not aware of this fact (that Jews do not accept Christ as savior), allow me to present a simple reminder.

The apostle Paul spoke at great lengths about this issue in Romans, Chapter 11. Basically Paul said that the branches of Jews have been broken off the great Olive Tree (which consists of the children of God, Christ being the root thereof) in order for the gentiles to be grafted in, and that God definitely has the power to graft them back in again.

But the key issue (which so many Jews and Christians alike ignore) is that the re-grafting back into the fold is conditional! Many theologians claim that Jesus will come from heaven and restore the Jews back to their rightful place, as if by waving a magic wand to instantly remove or forgive all their sins, and consequently becoming an immediately restored nation. But the Scripturere state otherwise.

Immediately following a warning by Paul in Romans 11:22, that those newly grafted gentiles, by virtue of what Jesus Christ accomplished at the cross (Ephesians 2:15) should not become cocky about their new found salvation, he boldly states in the following verse (23): And they also, if they abide not still in unbelief, shall be grafted in: for God is able to graft them in again.This is the key to the Kingdom of God! Faith!

No one is exempt from this great principle of God. Faith has been the substance of all redemption throughout history, and it will continue so, even if God originally had ‘favored’ sons, those He specifically chose to lift up His banner and to follow His decrees and do righteousness and justice (Genesis 18:19).

What Paul is saying, in essence, is most certainly God has the power to turn people away from sin, and grace and mercy are the divine attributes that allows Him to implement them as He wills. But, yet, God Himself cannot go against his own principle and allow anyone to be grafted into His household if they do not believe.

Matthew Henry had this to say about the subject of grafting them back in Romans 11:23:

Because of the power of God (v. 23): God is able to graft them in again. The conversion of souls is a work of almighty power; and when they seem most hardened, and blinded, and obstinate, our comfort is that God is able to work a change, able to graft those in that have been long cast out and withered. When the house is kept by the strong man armed, with all his force, yet God is stronger than he, and is able to dispossess him. The condition of their restoration is faith: If they abide not still in unbelief. So that nothing is to be done but to remove that unbelief that is the great obstacle; and God is able to take that away, though nothing less than an almighty power will do it, the same power that raised up Christ from the dead, Eph. 1:19, 29. Otherwise, can these dry bones live?

While I (and many other Christians) believe that the persecution of Jews throughout history is true, that the Holocaust did occur (albeit the amount of Jews killed during World War Two is being questioned by many) is one the most odious atrocities ever committed against one group of people (annihilating the American Indian and stealing the southwest from Mexico rank 2nd and 3rd), and that Jews genuinely believe they have a right to exist in their own country, we also believe that peace can be obtained between Jews and Palestinians, that Christian Zionists should support efforts for reunification between the two groups (instead of promoting military solutions to the problem). However, the bottom line is that Jewish nation must (eventually) believe and have faith in the Lordship of Jesus Christ, especially in regards to salvation.

Yes! Those dry bones can live, but most certainly not without faith in the one who paid the price for their disobedience, regardless of how religious they may be.

To believe in Christ is not a religion but a relationship that means the fulfillment of the promises God made to His children (they are those who believe in Christ) and who will soon obtain the real Promised Land, which is the New Jerusalem, that comes down from heaven to rest upon the earth, when Jesus Christ returns (one last time) to rule and reign over this world, forever!

Joe Ortiz, journalist, talk show host and blogger, is the author of three books which challenge the Pre-Tribulation Rapture doctrine. His books include The End Times Passover and Why Christians Will Suffer Great Tribulation (Author House) and Saved? What Do You Mean Saved? (GBM Books). To access his web sites and blogs, and more information about his books, please click on Joe Ortiz

CHRISTIAN READER: The Magnetism of Pragmatism

CHRISTIAN READER: The Magnetism of Pragmatism

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Between Two Worlds: Three Questions with John Piper about Filling up the Afflictions of Christ

Between Two Worlds: Three Questions with John Piper about <i>Filling up the Afflictions of Christ</i>

The Acts of the Sinful Nature

by Joe Ortiz

Many people truly believe that some of their daily activities are not harmful to others and, most certainly, are not sinful acts. Actually, they don’t believe their activities are bad because some do not know what constitutes sin.

The word SIN is the Greek word hamartia which means: to miss the mark, to err, be mistaken, to miss or wander from the path of uprightness and honor, to do or go wrong, to wander from the law of God, violate God's law, sin, that which is done wrong, sin, an offence, a violation of the divine law in thought or in act collectively, the complex or aggregate of sins committed either by a single person or by many. The first meaning (to miss the mark) has to do with the fact that God’s unrelenting standards are so high that no human being could ever reach them; this is why Jesus Christ had to pay the price for our sins because there is no way in the world we are capable of reaching that mark.

The acts of a sinful nature are obvious to many people and they are outlined in the book of Galatians, chapter 5 and verses 19 through 26. Many are instantly recognizable; however, many people are not keenly aware of them, or didn’t know that certain activities are just as sinful as stealing, murder, adultery and coveting other persons spouse and or property. Whether you believe in the Bible or not, that it was written by mere mortals with an agenda, the Bible itself makes the claim that it is the INSPIRED word of God and intended to assist mature teachers and leaders with knowledge that will result in a positive manner (2 Timothy 3:16-17). No other book throughout history has been written that actually makes that claim. God chose certain individuals throughout history to write what messages He wanted to convey to His creation.

Let’s examine these seven verses to see and better understand that acting out any of these actions is definitely sinning. I have taken the liberty of checking in the Greek Dictionary to get the precise meaning of the key words, which are in bold and underlined, and their specific and precise meaning, which are inserted in parenthesis.

Galatians 5:19 ~ The acts of the sinful nature are obvious (apparent, manifest, evident, known to be plainly recognized or known): sexual immorality (involved in pornographic material and lust thereafter), impurity (lustful and impure motives) and debauchery (unbridled lust, excess, licentiousness, lasciviousness, wantonness, outrageousness, shamelessness, and insolence)

Galatians 5:20 ~ idolatry (the worship of false gods) and witchcraft (the use or the administering of drugs such as heroin, cocaine, LSD, meth, marijuana); hatred (enmity), discord (contention, strife, wrangling), jealousy (an envious and contentious rivalry, jealousy), fits of rage (passion, angry, heat, anger forthwith boiling up and soon subsiding again, the wine of passion, inflaming wine, which either drives the drinker mad or kills him with its strength), selfish ambition (electioneering, a desire to put one's self forward, a partisan and fractious spirit which does not disdain low arts), dissensions (electioneering or intriguing for office, divisiveness), factions (a body of men following their own tenets, sect or party, dissensions arising from diversity of opinions and aims)

Galatians 5:21 ~ and envy (painful or resentful awareness of an advantage enjoyed by another joined with a desire to possess the same advantage, yet askance, with disapproval or distrust), murder (the crime of unlawfully killing a person especially with malice aforethought), drunkenness (intoxication. It is interesting that the Greek word for this is Methe), orgies (a nocturnal and riotous procession of half drunken and frolicsome fellows who after supper parade through the streets with torches and music in honor of Bacchus or some other deity, and sing and play before houses of male and female friends; hence used generally of feasts and drinking parties that are protracted till late at night and indulge in revelry (Sounds like Spring Break to me), and the like. I warn you, as I did before, that those who live like this will not inherit the kingdom of God.

The opposite of these activities are found in:

Galatians 5:22 But the fruit of the Spirit is love (affection, good will, love, benevolence, brotherly love), joy (gladness), peace (security, safety, prosperity, felicity, (because peace and harmony make and keep things safe and prosperous, the tranquil state of a soul assured of its salvation through Christ, and so fearing nothing from God and content with its earthly lot, of whatsoever sort that is), patience (endurance, constancy, steadfastness, perseverance forbearance, longsuffering, slowness in avenging wrongs), kindness (moral goodness, integrity), goodness (uprightness of heart and life, goodness, kindness, faithfulness (the conviction that God exists and is the creator and ruler of all things, the provider and bestower of eternal salvation through Christ)

Galatians 5:23 ~ Gentleness (gentleness, mildness, meekness) and self-control (the virtue of one who masters his desires and passions, especially his sensual appetites); against such things there is no law.

Galatians 5:24 ~ Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified (to drive down a stake, metaphorically to crucify the flesh, destroy its power utterly, the nature of the figure implying that the destruction is attended with intense pain) the sinful nature with its passions and desires.

Galatians 5:25 ~ since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step (to proceed in a row as the march of a soldier, go in order, metaphorically: to go on prosperously, to turn out well, to walk straight, to direct one's life, to live) with the Spirit.

Galatians 5:26 ~ Let us not become conceited (glorying without reason, conceited, vain glorious, eager for empty glory), provoking (to challenge to a combat or contest with one to provoke, to irritate) and envying (painful or resentful awareness of an advantage enjoyed by another joined with a desire to possess the same advantage, yet askance, with disapproval or distrust) each other.

It is interesting to note that in Galatians 5:20 there are three words (selfish ambition, dissensions and factions) that allude to being involved in partisan politics and/or being actively involved in insurrections against a lawful authority. Some may question the partisan political aspect, however, the constant wrangling, debates, arguments and casting negative aspersions against differing parties, groups and others who do not think like you does border too closely to acts of a sinful nature.

And that’s a shame, because many great friendships can be damaged if we don’t honor what God’s words clearly warns us about and states they are definitely acts of a sinful nature.

In His Peace!

Joe Ortiz, Author

The End Times Passover (Author House)

Why Christians Will Suffer Great Tribulation (Author House)

Saved? What Do You Mean Saved? (GBM Books)

http://sites.google.com/site/theendtimespassover/Home

Are You Worried About Terrorists?

Oh Ye of Little Faith!

By Joe Ortiz

The positional status debate between Christians and nonbelievers has been raging for centuries, with Christians believing that God has ordained the church with the responsibility to not only spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ throughout the world, but to also bring about a moral world through America’s version of Christianity, personified through a government of democracy.

Most right wing evangelicals (primarily an American phenomenon) believe they should be aggressive in their belief that they have been bestowed a special honor by God, that of possessing supreme power ordained by God (manifest destiny) to police the entire world of all wrongs. They join America’s leaders who claim that they will bring liberty and justice for all through their concept of democracy. George W. Bush has presented this mantra to the citizens of the United States, and for the most part has convinced the Christian Church to wholeheartedly support what Mr. Bush calls a “Just War.”

The marketing of a “just War” (primarily by the neocons who control most media) have propagated a campaign of fear, based primarily on 911, with an incessant pounding that the Muslim (Arab) religion seeks to dominate the entire world. We see daily news reports that the entire nation of Islam (not just Al-Qaeda) seeks to destroy what it calls “The Great Satan” The more that George W. Bush beats that specific drum (almost six years after 911), the longer he feels he can control the events of the world, which appears to scholars and Liberal pundits to be solely an imperialistic mission.

The unfortunate aspect to this scenario is how easily the Christian church (primarily right wing evangelicals) has been led by the nose to not only support George W. Bush’s policies, many Christian leaders (such as dispensationalist, premillennialist, Pre-Tribulation Rapture promoters, John Hagee, Tim LaHaye, Hal Lindsey, et al) are in the forefront of this movement.

One of the most important aspects of Christians is their strong belief systems, who proudly proclaim that God is on their side. Most certainly, God does respond to those who believe in Him and through the redeeming act of Jesus Christ’ execution and resurrection, which provides them with eternal salvation. What mystifies this author is that while eternal salvation has now been provided them, there exists a glaring lack of faith that God can protect His chosen children through any ordeal without the use of military force.

Many of today’s evangelicals proclaim that God approves just wars as cited in the Old Testament. True, God allowed various Kings throughout history to go to war, and in some cases even ordered Israel to wipe out certain nations. We can research these instances and probably find deeper explanations as to why God allowed (or ordered) Israel to slaughter millions of its enemies. But, for certain, God has never endorsed wars or murder as is best personified in the New Testament.

Right Wing evangelicals always quote Romans 13 as their proof that not only God approves “Just Wars,” but that they are justifiable in many instances (such as Pearl Harbor), but that Christians have a responsibility to bear arms to defend their country. Romans 13 most assuredly states that everyone must submit themselves to the governing authorities, for there is no authority except that which God has established. The authorities that exist have been established by God. Consequently, he who rebels against the authority is rebelling against what God has instituted, and those who do so will bring judgment on themselves; for rulers hold no terror for those who do right, but for those who do wrong. Do you want to be free from fear of the one in authority? Then do what is right and he will commend you; for he (the leader of a government) is God's servant to do you good. But if you do wrong, be afraid, for he does not bear the sword for nothing. He is God's servant, an agent of wrath to bring punishment on the wrongdoer. Therefore, it is necessary to submit [actually it is calling for a voluntary attitude of giving in, cooperating, assuming responsibility, and carrying a burden] to the authorities, not only because of possible punishment but also because of conscience. This is also why you pay taxes, for the authorities are God's servants, who give their full time to governing. Give everyone what you owe him: If you owe taxes, pay taxes; if revenue, then revenue; if respect, then respect; if honor, then honor.

For those who have done extensive study of this chapter (Romans 13), it pretty much claims that (it is true) if someone breaks the law they deserve punishment. It also asks that we should seek justice, pray for our leaders and show them proper respect. But it doesn’t state that Christians are to bear arms and propagate violence against another person or state. It also does not claim that God has chosen one specific nation to police the entire world! It’s the responsibility of each respective nation to govern through justice. If Al-Qaeda is responsible for 911, it was the US Government’s role to hunt, find and punish those specific perpetrators of 911. Simply because George W. Bush launched a “War on Terror” did not give the US authority (moral or otherwise) to attack a specific country (such as Iraq) as part of its overall scheme to fight terrorism. The mantra of we need to kill terrorist in Iraq to prevent terrorists from coming to America to attack its citizens is a political stretch intended to strike fear in its citizens. Most assuredly, terrorists have snuck into this country and perpetrated various acts of terrorism, but our government has the responsibility to follow and hunt down each specific case of terrorism as local police responds to individual (or group) acts of crime. A police chief in a city in Texas does not go to a city in Michigan to willy nilly attack gang bangers who fit the description of gang bangers in his own city. Each criminal case has to be solved on its own merit. That’s the American way!

But, even more important, where is the faith of the Christian community to not only have God provide us with clues as to the whereabouts of individual perpetrators, but to intervene and protect His people before acts of terror, murder, rape, mayhem and robbery begin?

I’m reminded of a story in the Bible (2 Kings, Chapter 1), concerning the prophet Elijah and Ahaziah, the newly installed King of Israel. Ahaziah was a bad ruler who served Baal, and worshipped him, and provoked to anger the LORD God of Israel, according to all that his father had done.

It appears that after Ahab's death, the nation of Moab rebelled against Israel. It seems that Ahaziah had fallen through the lattice of his upper room in Samaria and injured himself. So he sent messengers, "Go and consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron, to see if I will recover from this injury." This was Ahaziah’s first mistake. He chose to trust another council besides God Himself!

As the story goes, an angel of the LORD said to one of his great prophets, Elijah the Tishbite, "Go up and meet the messengers of the king of Samaria and ask them, 'Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are going off to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron?

Therefore this is what the LORD says: 'You will not leave the bed you are lying on. You will certainly die!' When the messengers returned to the king, he asked them, "Why have you come back?" "A man came to meet us," they replied. "And he said to us, 'Go back to the king who sent you and tell him, "This is what the LORD says: Is it because there is no God in Israel that you are sending men to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron? Therefore you will not leave the bed you are lying on. You will certainly die!" The king asked them, "What kind of man was it who came to meet you and told you this?" They replied, "He was a man with a garment of hair and with a leather belt around his waist." The king said, "That was Elijah the Tishbite."

Then he sent to Elijah a captain with his company of fifty men. The captain went up to Elijah, who was sitting on the top of a hill, and said to him, "Man of God, the king says, 'Come down!' Elijah answered the captain, "If I am a man of God, may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men!" Then fire fell from heaven and consumed the captain and his men. At this the king sent to Elijah another captain with his fifty men. The captain said to him, "Man of God, this is what the king says, 'Come down at once!' ""If I am a man of God," Elijah replied, "may fire come down from heaven and consume you and your fifty men!"

Then the fire of God fell from heaven and consumed him and his fifty men. So the king sent a third captain with his fifty men. This third captain went up and fell on his knees before Elijah. "Man of God," he begged, "Please have respect for my life and the lives of these fifty men, your servants! “See, fire has fallen from heaven and consumed the first two captains and all their men. But now have respect for my life!"

The angel of the LORD said to Elijah, "Go down with him; do not be afraid of him." So Elijah got up and went down with him to the king. He told the king, "This is what the LORD says: Is it because there is no God in Israel for you to consult that you have sent messengers to consult Baal-Zebub, the god of Ekron? Because you have done this, you will never leave the bed you are lying on. You will certainly die!" So he died, according to the word of the LORD that Elijah had spoken. Obviously, Elijah was a man of great faith! Obviously the God of the Old Testament responded to a man of great faith for his protection.

There are numerous accounts throughout the bible that demonstrate that God has the power, He does and can protect his people, those who truly do believe in Him. The Bible is replete with stories where God protected His children, regardless of the circumstances, including Noah in the Ark, Daniel in the lions’ den, Meshach, Shadrach and Abednego in the fiery furnace and countless other examples where God has protected His people. But, today, those Christians who believe the United States of America has the moral authority to police the world sadly have such little faith that God can protect this country and its faithless citizens. Instead, they promote and encourage a strong military force, and beat the drums for this nation to pursue aggressive action and military might against their real or perceived enemies.

Scoffers will say, “Yea, but that was back in Old Testament times.” It would be sheer folly in these troubled times not to have a strong military force to protect its citizens.” Some Christians will say that “many in America do not believe in God and they have the right to build a might military force to protect itself.”

So be it, fellow Christians! Put God to the side, ye men of faith! Trust the gods of worldly kingdoms to protect you and fight the battles of the world!

But, please, please, please, don’t use God’s name to endorse your political and military action. For those who deeply recognize that true Christians need to abide by the precepts of the Kingdom of God, a God who does answer prayer, quit trying to rationalize the use of military strength to protect American citizens from bogeyman Jihadists that supposedly are lurking behind every nook and cranny of the world. Also, quit trying to moralize the world (in the name of God) by pointing fingers at abortionists, gay people, the ACLU and those who attack God and His children. Those issues are God’ battle! His war! He asks us to walk upright in all we do; patiently loving, caring, forgiving and serving the less fortunate, and to consistent prayer for all of our needs! Therefore, pull yourself away from the TV set, newspaper, Internet and radio, in search of news as to how we are winning a war against our enemies; then go to your prayer closet and ask God (like Elijah did) to protect us from (and slay) our enemies.

If you truly claim to be a child of God, then you must be a person of faith. If our leaders (Congressmen, Senators and even our President) believe in God, then why do we accept the propaganda of fear? If we have such great faith, than who better to trust than our God, the God of Elijah, the God of Daniel, Noah, Gideon, David, Shadrach, Meshaq and Abednego, and all the other saints throughout history that have been protected by such a great God?

“If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

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7-14-09

Joe Ortiz lives in Redlands, California. He has the distinction of being the first Mexican American to host an English-language talk show on a commercial radio station, KABC-AM, Los Angeles. He is also the author of two books that challenge right-wing evangelical politicos who support the Left Behind and Pre-Tribulation Rapture mythologies, The End Times Passover and Why Christians Will Suffer Great Tribulation (Author House Publishing). Web site: http://sites.google.com/site/theendtimespassover/Home

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