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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. 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. 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/
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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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.
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.
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? |
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