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Lawlessness
1 John 3: 4 Everyone who
sins breaks the law; in fact, sin is lawlessness .
Jeremiah 6:16 This is
what the LORD says: "Stand at the crossroads and look; ask for the
ancient paths , ask where the good way is, and walk in it, and you
will find rest for your souls. But you said, `We will not walk in
it.'
Obedience to lawful authority is the foundation
of manly character.
Gen. Robert
E. Lee
General Robert E. Lee deeply
believed what he said. He lived his life exemplifying the above, truly
a man above reproach with great integrity. Yet, he chose to fight and
to be accused of treason. He conducted himself admirably both
during and after the war, without bitterness and yielded his will to
God’s. Was he violating his own rule as he fought against his country?
No.
He carefully considered the
options and could have chosen to be the commander of the Northern
forces. The reason he didn’t is in the statement above. In
his mind, and arguably still true, the federal
government had usurped lawful authority from the states. The federal
government was acting illegally, yet they had enough force to ultimately
win. God’s hand could have been against the South as well due to
slavery and God’s judgment was upon our people. Repercussions from this
era continue today.
We cannot ignore the dissolution of our nation. We
have for too long, still claiming greatness without acknowledging the
daily sacrifice greatness requires, as we lose our previous state.
Jeremiah 8: 6 I
have listened attentively, but they do not say what is right . No
one repents of his wickedness, saying, "What have I done?" Each
pursues his own course like a horse charging into battle. 7
Even the stork in the sky knows her appointed seasons, and the
dove, the swift and the thrush observe the time of their
migration. But my people do not know the requirements of the
LORD. 8 "`How can you say, "We are wise, for we have the law of
the LORD," when actually the lying pen of the scribes has handled
it falsely?
Deuteronomy 28: 20
The LORD will send on you curses, confusion and rebuke in everything
you put your hand to, until you are destroyed and come to sudden
ruin because of the evil you have done in forsaking him.
Self-centered, self-absorbed
arrogance is now a 'right'. Instead
of humility and lifting others ahead of ourselves, instead of teaching
reading, writing and arithmetic with the back drop of good citizenship,
our schools have taught self-confidence and self-esteem without required
individual effort or earning this state. Integrity and humility have
become ridiculous ideas, misinterpreted as weakness.
Our biggest problem isn’t
oil. It isn’t immigration. It isn’t the devaluation of the dollar. It
is sin. This is otherwise known as lawlessness. Although as Christians
we have been freed from the ultimate penalty of sin (provided we really
are Christians in God’s definition), we still pay a penalty for
embracing sin. We are paying for it in many ways.
Because of sin, we see oil
prices skyrocket. What a foolish concept! Don't we know that
the free enterprise, capitalistic system and 'our way of life' is what made us great?
Wrong. Reliance in God was, is, and will be our only avenue to
greatness. Currently, however, having lost God's light, we have lost our way,
therefore we stumble.
Why? Greed is a large part of it.
Greed may be legal but it is against God's directions.
Oil futures
markets push the dollars higher as speculators make money from
nothing more than a gamble, on the backs of the payers at the pump. The
government greedily adds a hefty tax on every gallon. Oil companies
make record profits. The CEO of Exxon (Lee
R. Raymond) made
$69.7 million last year and now retires with a ridiculous
compensation package.
Exxon is giving Lee Raymond one of the most generous
retirement packages in history, nearly $400 million, including
pension, stock options and other perks, such as a $1 million consulting
deal, two years of home security, personal security, a car and driver,
and use of a corporate jet for professional purposes.
http://thinkprogress.org/2006/04/14/exxon-ceo-190k-day/
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Matt Lauer of the Today Show on NBC
interviewed Rex Tillerson, Chairman and CEO of Exxon/Mobile,
May 3, 2006
...ML: Will Exxon/Mobile be willing to
lower profits this summer to help out in this time of need
and crisis as it has been described?
RT: Well, as you pointed out, we work
for the shareholder and the investors who own our stock are
over 2 million individual Americans and a lot of pension
plans, a lot of teacher retirement plans, and our job is to
go out there and make the most money, for those people, so
that their pensions are secure, so they see the benefits of
our work.
ML: Which is, that’s a “no”.
RT: Well, we’re in the business to
make money.
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Merchants have no
country. The mere spot they stand on does not constitute so strong
an attachment as that from which they draw their gains.
Thomas Jefferson
Merchants aren't the enemy.
We all are. We allow pride and greed to be acceptable and even
encouraged attributes for our citizens, and yes, our athletes. We
encourage purchasing oil stock so we can profit from the latest greed. Is this
lawlessness? Arguably it is lawlessness. It is not illegal
as such yet it is an affront upon God's values and is anti-Christian
behavior.
With increasing profits by the
large oil companies, instead of relieving the gas pump pain by
decreasing the high pump taxes, many in the federal government think it
would be a good time to add additional taxes on those profits. As if
adding taxes on the oil companies would help the people. Lawlessness?
Pretty much.
When we look at illegal
immigration, we see the results of years of accepting illegal activity
and now we reap increasing difficulty of having tolerated these law
breaking acts. Every one of the illegal immigrants have broken laws
written by our legislators who we trusted to write the right statutes
for our nation’s good. These have not been enforced.
A primary
responsibility of the Federal Government is protection of the borders.
By breaking these laws, the illegal immigrants have invaded the United
States and dare now protest that they deserve to remain here. Some wave
Mexican flags and dare us to get upset.
We have paid dearly for
illegal immigration including the September 11 terrorists and illegal
Mexicans. We have lost tax dollars and health care dollars, helping
cripple our hospitals and government. The Federation for American
Immigration Reform (F.A.I.R.)
reports that
the illegal aliens cost us at least $70 billion.
http://www.fairus.org/site/PageServer?pagename=iic_immigrationissuecentersf134
Employers illegally have
hired these illegal workers at low wages. Many pay in cash to avoid the tax
question. You see, it isn’t them, it is us. It is the homeowner who
pulls up at a gas station to get some workers for a Saturday. It is
anyone who has willfully chosen to accept hiring these individuals to
save themselves some money (although transiently). We become law breakers as
well. Thinking we can save money and beat the system ultimately costs
us dearly in taxes, crime, property values and jobs.
Isaiah 5: 21 Woe to those who are wise in their
own eyes and clever in their own sight.
Yes, the above scripture
applies to each of us as well. Yet in humility, as an example, look at Ex-Majority Whip,
Rep. Tom Delay of Texas. He is not a unique case. Delay
and others have constructed laws to do this or that but in the end the
game is to find legal loopholes. Our representatives themselves
specialize in this behavior trying to bind others so they have an
advantage. Sometimes, they get too close to illegality in
their pursuit of a loophole, whether or not this is the case with Delay.
Is this ‘lawful’? It is clearly done by
the legislature yet, why do we the people choose to accept this wrong
behavior, writing laws with self-serving loopholes? It exemplifies
self-seeking lawlessness. No
integrity or honor. We owe no thanks to the legislature for allowing us
legal loopholes in the tax system.
Is this what we need?
Our governmental
representatives have heaped onerous burdens on the people. We not only
have laws that are hundreds of pages long that our legislators do not
read for themselves but worse, they allow (unconstitutional) federal agencies to self-servingly interpret regulations we are required to
follow.
Our government has usurped
the power from the people such that it not only enslaves us under the
tax regulations but also has given itself the ability to levy fines
against any of us.
A nation of well informed men who have been
taught to know and prize the rights which God has given them cannot
be enslaved. It is in the region of ignorance that tyranny
begins.
Benjamin Franklin
Under this horrible system
today, we all have
become law breakers. Tom Delay. Gov. Arnold Schwartzenegger recently
had a motorcycle accident and it was discovered he had no motorcycle
license. Vice President Cheney accidentally shot his friend and somehow
didn’t have enough permits to be legally hunting.
Police are riding in
expensive cars on the fines of the minor traffic violators. In the
early days of automobiles, there was one standard to be met while
driving. Safe driving or reckless driving. This
appropriately encompasses law enforcement to maintain safety to the
public. Today we are burdened with many laws and statutes, perhaps written
under good intentions yet still removing our freedoms. Cameras at
traffic lights and automatic fines.
Remember, it is us who pay
their wages through taxes and should be especially angered when the
revolving door on child molesters and rapists get off without justice
yet we pay ridiculous fines. These criminals, because of our
broken justice system, rape and kill again. Countless victims,
including young girls, have been sexually abused and killed after the
individual who did this was released (and should have never been
released or should have received the death penalty). These
criminals should never get a second chance. This reminds us that
the government is reaching beyond it's legitimate scope even though it
cannot take care of it's appropriate role and this costs us greatly in
loss of freedoms as well as taxes and fines.
This is wrong. We find
those who are bold enough to commit true crimes against others are out
on the streets, protected by our corrupt legal system and never paying for their
crimes and given more opportunities to build up a huge rap sheet. We
sit back and allow the government to penalize us yet at the same time
allow child molesters to attack other precious children. Lawlessness in
the worst.
2Thessalonians
2: 7 For the secret power of lawlessness is already at work; but
the one who now holds it back will continue to do so till he is taken
out of the way. 8 And then the lawless one will be revealed, whom the
Lord Jesus will overthrow with the breath of his mouth and destroy by
the splendor of his coming. 9 The coming of the lawless one will be in
accordance with the work of Satan displayed in all kinds of counterfeit
miracles, signs and wonders, 10 and in every sort of evil that
deceives those who are perishing. They perish because they refused to
love the truth and so be saved. 11 For this reason God sends them a
powerful delusion so that they will believe the lie 12 and so that all
will be condemned who have not believed the truth but have delighted in
wickedness.
2Peter 3: 17 Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this,
be on your guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of
lawless men and fall from your secure position.
Our judges take an oath to
the Constitution but they ignore the plain text and violate their
promise. They are the ones
above all who are charged with justice, yet there is none.
Isaiah 59:12 For our offenses are many in your sight, and our
sins testify against us. Our offenses are ever with us, and we
acknowledge our iniquities: 13 rebellion and treachery against the
LORD, turning our backs on our God, fomenting oppression and revolt,
uttering lies our hearts have conceived. 14 So justice is driven
back, and righteousness stands at a distance; truth has stumbled in
the streets, honesty cannot enter.
Our government now takes people’s property
through a misuse of eminent domain to give it to friends of the
government who promise more tax revenue.
The moment the idea
is admitted into society that property is not as sacred as the laws
of God...anarchy and tyranny commence. Property must be secured or
liberty cannot exist.
John Adams
Recent use of eminent domain
is clearly unconstitutional, the highest law in the land (but still
subservient to God’s law or “natural law” as the founders clearly
stated). The government has no fundamental right to confiscate property
(the "pursuit of Happiness" in the Declaration) .
Our government needs to diet
in power and taxes. We, the people, must be the dieticians. Instead of
protecting us from tyranny and outside threats, they force us to flush
our toilets twice. They will not allow Christianity in our schools.
Where are the patriots
today? When is enough, enough?
After the Civil War, General Robert E. Lee was made
President of Washington College in Lexington, Va. A student inquired to
get the rules of conduct for the college. Lee replied that they did not
have any written rules as such. He indicated to the faculty “Make no
heedless rules. We must never make a rule we cannot enforce…We have but
one rule here, and it is that every student must be a gentleman”.
Yes. Abolish frivolous and bureaucratic rules.
Unfortunately we have fed the monster such that the government has
become more capable of punishing ridiculous regulations meant to keep us
in line. If we choose appropriate behavior, we need no rules.
Galatians 5: 22 But the
fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness,
faithfulness, 23 gentleness and self-control.
Against
such things there is no law.
Matthew 24:12 Because
lawlessness is increased, most people's love will grow cold. (NASB)
Matthew 23:28 So you,
too, outwardly appear righteous to men, but inwardly you are full of
hypocrisy and lawlessness. (NASB)
Jeremiah 8: 6 I
have listened attentively, but they do not say what is right . No
one repents of his wickedness, saying, "What have I done?" Each
pursues his own course like a horse charging into battle. 7
Even the stork in the sky knows her appointed seasons, and the
dove, the swift and the thrush observe the time of their
migration. But my people do not know the requirements of the
LORD. 8 "`How can you say, "We are wise, for we have the law of
the LORD," when actually the lying pen of the scribes has handled
it falsely?
Deuteronomy 28: 20
The LORD will send on you curses, confusion and rebuke in everything
you put your hand to, until you are destroyed and come to sudden
ruin because of the evil you have done in forsaking him.
2Peter 3: 17
Therefore, dear friends, since you already know this, be on your
guard so that you may not be carried away by the error of lawless
men and fall from your secure position.
We find lawlessness by our president. The
Constitution clearly requires a declaration of war by the legislature,
not an unconstitutional 'war on terror' as we see today. Is there
no appreciation of the lives of those who are being sent? Our
failed experiment in 'nation building' is on their backs.
Surely we care. Let us explore this.
First, what is the purpose of war? From a defensive standpoint, to
protect ourselves from an enemy's destruction of lives, property, and
nation. If we are to be protecting lives, are we?
That is a difficult question. This is exactly
why our founders required a declaration of war by the House of
Representatives, not handing that power to a Commander-in-Chief,
President. Instead, the legislative branch funded this 'conflict'
for the president, circumventing their own constitutional obligation
and allowing themselves a loophole from the danger of being blamed
for a bad outcome. In the view of the founders, requiring a large number of
leaders to make the incredibly
important decision to go to war is seen as a way to minimize mistakes
and the resultant savings of lives.
America is a friend of
liberty everywhere but a defender only of our own.
John Quincy Adams
Just why are our young soldiers dying? It had
better be to preserve life, our property and nation. We had Saddam
in check. He was like a chained dog. A lot of bark without
bite.
Was it for weapons of mass destruction? If
so, then we now have loosened them from one megalomaniac to multiple
unfriendlies in Syria. Not a very good plan.
Maybe we needed to nation build and bring
'democracy' to the Middle East. Well, Iran's and Palestinian's
recent elections brought terrorist leaders into power, more militant and
hateful to us. By the way, our nation is not a democracy, but a
constitutional republic based on Christianity and the rule of law
(not based on court opinions). Only with
Christianity will a people be able to self-govern.
There are two
ways for a country to maintain order and to protect the citizens.
One is overwhelming strength upon the people limiting their freedom. The
other, as our nation began, is self-government using Christianity as the
moral director of our national conscience.
Only a virtuous people are
capable of freedom. As nations become corrupt and vicious, they have
more need of masters.
Benjamin Franklin
(1787)
Should we nation build in Iraq? See if this
is worth the 18 year old soldier's life who lives next door. This is from the new
constitution our soldier's lives has allowed to be produced in Iraq.
| LAW OF ADMINISTRATION FOR THE STATE OF IRAQ FOR THE
TRANSITIONAL PERIOD
8 March 2004
CHAPTER ONE – FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES
Article 7.
A) Islam is the official religion of the State and is
to be considered a source of legislation. No law that
contradicts the universally agreed tenets of Islam, the
principles of democracy, or the rights cited in Chapter Two
of this Law may be enacted during the transitional period.
This Law respects the Islamic identity of the majority of
the Iraqi people and guarantees the full religious rights of
all individuals to freedom of religious belief and practice.
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No American soldier should risk their life to
help establish a government subservient to Islam. This is outrageous. Yet, in an unconstitutional war, this is possible.
This is lawlessness. Congress did not declare war as is
constitutionally required. Our president illegally
(unconstitutionally) put our troops in such a terrible position.
Lawlessness is also the reason so many Iraqis
have died recently, often the law abiding ones Saddam would not have
troubled, caught between coalition troops, lawless Iraqis and
insurgent terrorists. Our limited presence has destabilized
the control necessary to maintain order in a non-Christian society
with a heavy handed government. This was of concern in
these pages at the beginning of the war. It has developed.
We
also take good soldiers who have good intentions, expose them to
horrible circumstances and find that some will break under
unnecessary pressure only to ruin their own lives as well as others.
Unfortunately, our soldiers lack leadership, again centered upon
Christianity, as we had in the Revolutionary War.
These are our best, self-sacrificing Americans
who are trying their best to do a wonderful job, yet have orders from the leader who has
demonstrated
poor judgment. They are placed in near-impossible circumstances to
fulfill an impossible job (terror is a tactical concept, not an enemy). We then expect them to be put on trial
for 'crimes' committed in the atrocity ridden war, even in the hands of
other nations! Sure torture
and wanton killing should be condemned. Yet our leaders are
conducting an illegal war, against a concept, in the wrong place, for
the wrong outcome, on the backs of our finest. Lawlessness.
On August 3, 1776, General
Washington issued the orders:
Parole Uxbridge. Countersign Virginia.
That the Troops may have an opportunity of attending
public worship, as well as take some rest after the
great fatigue they have come through; The General in
future excuses them from fatigue duty on Sundays (except
at the Ship Yards, or special occasions until further
orders.
The General is sorry to be informed that the foolish,
and wicked practice, of profane cursing and swearing (a
Vice heretofore little known in an American Army) is
growing into fashion; he hopes the officers will, by
example, as well as influence, endeavour to check it,
and that both they, and the men will reflect, that we
can have little hopes of the blessing of Heaven on our
Arms, if we insult it by our impiety, and folly; added
to this, it is a vice so mean and low, without any
temptation, that every man of sense, and character,
detests and despises it.
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Unless we have a force who ascribe to values as
Washington outlined above, should Christians be calling for us
to go to war and to 'nation build' for democracy? No.
Christians lose our witness in this world when we ascribe
Christian values to a society who has lost such values.
Lawlessness in the troops, as rare as it is, must be rarer, yet
having been produced from our society today, some soldiers lack
the fear of God, yet they represent us.
Are the Iraqi people better off than before the
war, especially the law abiding ones? Judge for yourself. As
of May 31, 2006, the minimum Iraqi body count is 38,059 and the maximum
estimated count is 42,434. http://www.iraqbodycount.net/ Whatever the number, many
'casualties' of individuals who otherwise would be alive today are not.
Of course, we also have 'casualties'. Thanks
to modern medicine and improved armor, a limited number of 2,465 deaths of
American soldiers have occurred in Iraq. Even more telling, we
have an official count of 17,648 wounded, perhaps more undercounted, in Iraq
as of May 31, 2006.
http://www.antiwar.com/casualties/index.php#count
The above have been only a limited sample of evidences that we are now
swimming in a
milieu of lawlessness. This is in addition to obvious crime all
around us. We must repent, turn back to God and again anchor our
law in simple Biblical principles. Only then can we safely
dispense of onerous regulations and frivolous laws that weigh us down.
Only then will we return to self-government, more freedoms and hope that
God will spare us judgment.
The scriptures predicted lawlessness growing in the
end times. Will we delay the end or suffer the consequences?
Copyright © 2006, Dio, Inc.
mailto:diojqa@dutyisours.com
Dio, Inc.
P.O. Box 1811
Pelham, AL 35124
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