Issues
“If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all.” Isaiah 7:9
“Every kingdom divided against itself will be ruined, and every city or household divided against itself will not stand.” Matthew 12: 25
Wisdom from Abraham Lincoln – On September 11, 1858 Abraham Lincoln delivered a speech at Edwardsville, Illinois where he addressed the needs to rely on God for the issues facing America:
“Our reliance is in the love of liberty which God has planted in us. Our defense is in the spirit which prized liberty as the heritage of all men, in all lands everywhere. Destroy this spirit and you have planted the seeds of despotism at your own doors. Familiarize yourselves with the chains of bondage and you prepare your own limbs to wear them. Accustomed to trample on the rights of others, you have lost the genius of your own independence and become the fit subjects of the first cunning tyrant who rises among you.”
Pushed Behind Closed Doors
American Christians are increasing being told to keep quiet and go away
by Dr. Tom Askew
Ilene Vick is a member of Cookeville, TN Assembly of God. In 2009, she self-published a book of 101 tips on how to witness for Jesus Christ in the course of daily life without any special training. Seeking a central location in which to discuss her book with friends from other churches, she applied to use the meeting room at the local public library…but was denied access because library policy prohibits use of the community room for “partisan or religious” purposes.
Undaunted, Ilene Vick requested the room twice more, hoping for a change or exception to the library’s policy. Now she’s taking them to court for denying her first and fourteenth amendment rights to free speech and equal protection under the law.
It would be easy for many to say, “Well, she can discuss her book somewhere else,” or “Surely some church will lend her a room for this,” but that’s not her point. The title of Vick’s book is Personality-Based Evangelism, reflecting her passion to live and witness for Christ in the marketplace of exchange and ideas in a free America. She would reason that if Christians are constantly pushed behind closed doors, their chances of impacting the lost world around them are diminished.
The Alliance Defense Fund believes as Ilene Vick does – and is defending her in court. Since 1994, the Alliance Defense Fund has successfully supported cases such as:
- Rosenberger vs. Rector, in which the University of Virginia was required to give equal access to a Christian group for publication funding that was available to all other groups on campus.
- American Library Association vs. Reno, which upheld the practice of labeling materials to protect children in libraries.
- Good News Club vs. Milford Central Schools, which decided that public schools do not violate the U.S. Constitution by allowing Bible Clubs to meet after school hours.
Today, the Alliance Defense Fund is engaged in the defense of cases in which Christians are facing hostility and viewpoint discrimination in regard to free assembly and free speech because of their Biblical views on sanctity of life and the nature of marriage. These cases include:
- A graduate student in counseling who is being forced to retract her beliefs about homosexuality or be dropped from the counseling program;
- A nurse who will be dismissed if she refuses to participate in elective abortion procedures;
- A Christian camp which refused to host the civil union ceremony of a same-sex couple in its worship pavilion.
Each of these cases comes with far-reaching consequences. The graduate student is being told that what she believes is not even an option for a graduate from a state university, and that she must undergo what the university dubs a “remediation plan.” The nurse is being told that she must violate a commandment of God or lose a job in which she is competent and useful. Organizers of the Christian camp are being told to deny its Biblical foundation at the will of an adversary which wants to redefine its mission.
In a nation which prides itself on freedom for all, these are frightening prospects. That such a large percentage of the population can look on these travesties of justice with indifference or approval reveals disturbing attitudes which range from seriously disregarding God to outright hostility toward Him.
In one sense, this should not be a surprise to you. Jesus promised His followers, “Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me. Rejoice and be glad, because great is your reward in heaven…” (Matthew 5:11-12a)
Even though this and other passages promise eternal benefits to those who suffer for Christ here on earth, remember also Paul’s example in Acts 25. When falsely accused, he appealed to Caesar, buying more time to witness for Christ and reminding you that even human governments can be used by God for your protection.
Therefore, pray today:
- for Ilene Vick as she witnesses in court;
- that judges at all levels will rule with just wisdom;
- for Alliance Defense Fund as they represent those whose freedom is being denied.
Dr. Tom Askew has been an educator in both public and private schools for 36 years, in Hong Kong, Germany, Georgia, and Arizona. He is currently the director of The Christian Teaching Academy, a staff and school development resource for the Christian schools of Tucson, Arizona.
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Thank You Ilene Vick, for your commitment for sharing the Gospel. We pray for you to stay strong in the face of the storms ahead.
I lost me job due to my faith at one of the largest life insurance companies in the USA 11 years ago. Perhaps I should have pursued it -but at the time I was not able to handle it emotionally. So I commend Ilene for not shrinking, for being strong, and assure her we will be praying and watching the news. God Bless her and God Bless America.
Yes, all Christians need to be very concerned as it becomes more and more evident that Government, educational and other areas are on the march to stiffle speech and to remove any type of Christian displays.
WE MUST PRAY. WE MUST SEEK GOD’S HELP. WE MUST TURN AGAIN TO GOD.
HE has not turned away from America: America has turned away from HIM.
I firmly believe the persecution of Christians will increase in the near future and will continue until Jesus Christ returns to this earth.
All of our freedoms will be increasingly diminished rapidly. Not only that, we will be persecuted for exercising, or trying to, basic freedoms, especially freedom of speech.
How PC we will become as we are led to slaughter!!!!
It has come to the point that the government in my opinion is denying us our right of freedom of religion, speech and any other rights we are suppose to have. So I think this is unfair justice for we who are Christians.
Those who are denying us our rights will have to answer to a higher power when the end comes.
I believe that our rights as believers to practice our faith is being curtailed to a large degrees as laws and rulings from courts restrict our freedom to speak out for our faith in the workplace and the marketplace. This curtailment of our freedom will continue to increase. Believers need to remain strong and continue to speak out and be bold, always relying on the Holy Spirit to give wisdom and grace. We need to be “wise as serpents and harmless as doves”as our Lord instructed and to never compromise or lose heart. We are on the side of right needd be need to continue to be strong inour witness.
Our country is based on the words “IN GOD WE TRUST”. However, God has started to be relegated to take a back seat in our schools, government and all we hold dear in the guise of being tolerant/not offending others. Divide our country from God and we will not stand. This is America. GOD should be worshiped and praised in this country. Anyone offended, should go back to their own country. People seek what we have and most reasons they come to America. If we allow them to change our God fearing and Constitutional Rights, it will ultimately destroy us if we don’t stop it now. May God direct us back to our Founding Father’s commitment to this country and keeping God in the center of all decisions.
As I read the Word, I see the rapture drawing in on us. It is my belief that we are in the end times and that there is not much time left for us to get the word out to the lost. I think that it will continue to worsen for all the true Christians round the world. now is the time when we need to keep as close to God and his Son Jesus Christ our Savior, who died on the cross for our sins. I have excepted Jesus’ gift with a very happy heart and have never regretted it and never looked back. I believe we are going to need each other and most of all JESUS to make it through this time.there is straight in numbers and we do have the numbers to make it through if we’ll all pull together.
I have two comments:
1) That President Obama is not a publicly confessing Christian is of concern in that our Constitution requires that our President and Leaders be of Christian Faith. The only way for the populace to see that they are followers of Christ is for them to be public. I pray that all leaders on Capital Hill and throughout our Nation and all of our judges realize Who God is and that they need Him and His Guidance to adequately lead the United States.
2) I believe that Christians are going to be oppressed as never since the new Church befan in Israel after Peter and the remaining Apostles planted it. This is promised in Scripture — that and that we will be hated for our beliefs and witness. I pray for the strength to perservere.
“Dear Lord, some how fill Ms. Vick with wisdom, grace and strength in the cause of sharing her Christian faith. May her example chalenge me to be more like who she is. May the eyes of those who walk in darkness come to the light of your glorious grace. Amen!!!”
I believe that our faith and trust in God will stand. I refuse to give in to those who have such little faith. Our country gives us freedom of religion and our forefathers were wise to include this belief. I do not expect someone to believe as I do yet what in the name of God happen to respect for these values? We have everything to gain and nothing to loose.
What happen after 9-11? Public prayer groups and churches filled asking God for strength to carry on. How soon we forget. We need to keep that time in our history fresh, it was a wake up call. Like with Pearl Harbor. My heart goes out to those lost on that horrible day. Stand firm and stay strong. Our Lord is a loving God. To quote a sign I found in front of a church, “God loves you, get over it.” I am not a fanatic, God has seen me through and that of my family and people I have spoken to. Speak of God in hospitals and Doctors office you will hear of faith and the Grace of God. Laws that govern our country were handed down on two tablets of stone.