Archive for the ‘Politics’ Category

Uncommon Ground: Pope Francis, Muslim Imam Pushing One-World Religion?

Posted: February 21, 2019 by David Fiorazo in apostasy, David's Blog, Islam, Politics, Progressive Christianity
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Pope Francis recently signed a pact with Muslims in a possible push toward a one-world religion and declared that diversity of religions is God’s will. But wait. Doesn’t the Bible warn Christians about unifying with those who worship other gods and have contradictory beliefs?

God sent His Son to save sinners, but Allah had no son. Isn’t this a problem with anyone else? There are many glaring, stark contrasts between the founders of Christianity (Jesus) and Islam (Muhammad) as well as the doctrines themselves. Jesus taught love and forgiveness, and He also instructed His disciples to “pray for those who persecute you. (Matthew 5:44).”

But the prophet Muhammad was a violent warrior who promoted conquest, had multiple wives, and killed Jews and Christians – referring to them as infidels and sworn enemies. Look it up.

Jesus was a sinless, spiritual leader who laid down His life to save mankind, said “Father, forgive them” to those that crucified Him’ Jesus never killed anyone. Muhammad too, was a spiritual leader, who became a political leader, a liar, and a violent military leader. Christ ruled by peace while Muhammad ruled largely by the sword.

Nevertheless, a historic interfaith covenant was signed in the Middle East last week, and isn’t it interesting the U.S. mainstream media was practically silent about it? Sheikh Ahmed al-Tayeb, considered to be the most important imam in Sunni Islam, arrived at the signing ceremony with Roman Catholic Church leader Pope Francis “hand-in-hand in a symbol of interfaith brotherhood.”

The pope and the grand imam of al-Azhar signed what was referred to as “a historic declaration of fraternity, calling for peace between nations, religions and races, in front of a global audience of religious leaders from Christianity, Islam, Judaism and other faiths.” Many gods and spirits exist, but if one religion is true, all the rest have to be false. Does the Bible have anything to say about this?

“…do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world; …and every spirit that does not confess Jesus is not from God. This is the spirit of the Antichrist;” (1 John 4:1-3)

Though there are some similarities, Islam is quite incompatible with the Bible as well as America, a society that values Judeo-Christian principles and religious freedom. Islam will accept no other religions, no competing economic or political views, and no legal system except Sharia Law which would outlaw Christianity.

And by the way, did you know Muslims elected to Congress demand to be sworn in on the Quran, not the Bible? So who or what are they swearing allegiance to? Many passages in Islamic holy books command and justify violence in the name of Allah. Let’s look at what the Quran has to say about other religions.

“The punishment of those who wage war against Allah and His messenger and strive to make mischief in the land is only this, that they should be murdered or crucified or their hands and their feet should be cut off on opposite sides or they should be imprisoned; (Quran 5:33)

“(Remember) when your Lord inspired the angels… “I will cast terror into the hearts of those who disbelieve (defy Allah). Therefore strike off their heads and strike off every fingertip of them” (Quran 8:12)

The Quran contains at least 109 verses that speak of war with nonbelievers, usually meaning non-Muslims, as well as 164 verses declaring jihad, holy war. Religion of peace – really?

Islam is a social, political and economic system (Sharia Law) that uses a false deity (Allah) to advance its agenda of control. The meaning of Islam is “submission,” and people must bow to Allah.

The God of the Bible, Jesus Christ said, “All authority has been given to me (Matthew 28:18).” Islam, however, teaches Jesus was only a prophet. They say He was not God and teach that Jesus did not sacrifice Himself for our sins and die on the cross, nor did He rise from the dead. But these are core essentials of the Christian faith!

Muhammed claimed to be the last and greatest of all of God’s prophets, he had fifteen wives, and sanctioned the beating of wives (Sura 4:34). Muhammed was well known for spreading his new religion by force. Five years after his death, Muhammad’s followers captured Jerusalem and by 732 A.D. they went into Spain. Their aggression continued for hundreds of years until finally, resistance rose up via the Crusades which began in 1095.

Back to Pope Francis: another thing he did was to declare the Sharia-governed United Arab Emirates the ‘homeland of tolerance.’ Just look at history and news reports and you’ll see this could not be further from the truth.

So, the Pope shook hands, kissed, and signed with El-Tayeb, an open advocate of Sharia law. In fact, in a June 2016 television interview he stated,

“The penalty for an open apostate, departing from the community [Islam], is well stipulated in sharia. An apostate must be pressed upon to repent within a variable period of time or be killed.”

Clearly, Islam and Christianity are mutually exclusive. Both claim to be the only true way to God, but both cannot be right.

Former Muslim, Elijah Abraham, is an expert on Islam and as an evangelist, he travels worldwide to train pastors on apologetics and how to witness to Muslims. He states:

Islam is advancing in the West with an evil agenda to convert Westerners and especially Americans to Islam and dominate the world. If that happens, the biggest loser will be the church of Jesus Christ in the West because of its loss of its religious liberty and freedom of speech.

Nowhere in the Bible does God encourage joining with other religions. While there have been many attempts in recent years to find common ground between the two religions, the fact is that stark differences remain.

It is misguided to focus on a few common teachings without considering the differences in major doctrines that are diametrically opposed to one another. This is not to say we shouldn’t evangelize people of other faiths, but when it comes to “uniting,” Christians are often the first to compromise, and it’s often biblical doctrine that suffers. All through the New Testament, we read about salvation by faith in Christ alone; that we are saved by the grace of God through trusting in the sacrifice of Jesus (Eph. 2:8-9).

We know that powerful, world elites are pushing uniformity and a one world religion, but it’s still stunning to see top world leaders from Catholicism and Islam make such a dramatic display. This is clearly a sign we’re drawing closer to the end.

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Anti-Semitism, Feminism of Democrat Party Stars

Posted: September 12, 2018 by David Fiorazo in Abortion, Church, David's Blog, Education, LGBT agenda, Media Bias, planned parenthood, Politics, social justice
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You can’t get much more radical or anti-Christian and yes, she actually said that. Palestinian-American activist and controversial co-chair of the national Women’s March protest against President Donald Trump, Linda Sarsour recently suggested people stop humanizing the Jews. She made the remarks at the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) convention in Houston while speaking on Islamophobia and other political issues.

I’m not sure what’s more concerning, the fact she made these hateful, anti-Semitic remarks or that the media and most Americans don’t think it matters.

If you’re a Christian, conservative, Independent or Republican, consider this a wake-up call to reevaluate your support for the politics and worldview of radicals like Linda Sarsour. Democrats should be renouncing her but sadly, their silence should be taken as their approval. Sarsour has aligned herself with people such as Louis Farrakhan and the far Left so you may want to rethink your loyalty.

According to reports, Linda Sarsour refused to allow women who oppose abortion and same-sex marriage to take part in the Women’s March in Washington D.C. earlier this year, and Sarsour has argued that there was no room in the feminist movement for supporters of Israel. She has also been an outspoken advocate in the Black Lives Matter movement, and promotes numerous anti-Israel policies.

It is deeply alarming the media practically whitewashes her background and political activism. I understand because some are on her side.

Linda Sarsour was arrested last week for disrupting Judge Brett Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court confirmation hearing. So it’s not at all surprising Sarsour was endorsed by new Democrat Party hero, Socialist Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez who also calls Israel the occupiers of Palestine.

Ocasio-Cortez tweeted:

Our future is a shared responsibility. This woman putting it all on the line for healthcare, women & LGBT+ rights is @lsarsour. The far right constantly maligns her w/ false attacks + threats of violence. Yet here she is, as always, fighting for everything our flag represents.

Now hold on a minute! So the American Flag represents socialism, abortion, taxpayer-funded transgender surgeries, Gay Pride parades, silencing Christians, social justice, advancing Islam in America, and dehumanizing the Jews? Let me check our Founding documents and get back to you.

You might have some credibility if you argue America is no longer a Christian nation in practice, but any sincere citizen who is of average intelligence or education would agree that the United States was established upon the freedoms, morality, and principles found within the Judeo-Christian worldview.

And as for Israel, the Lord God promised to make Israel into a great, influential nation whether we like it or not. The Bible is pretty clear: God said:

And I will bless those who bless you,
And the one who curses you I will curse.
And in you all the families of the earth will be blessed.” (Genesis 12:3)

Genesis 12:7 states,

The Lord appeared to Abram and said, “To your descendants I will give this land.” So he built an altar there to the Lord who had appeared to him.

And in Genesis 17, verse 7:

I will establish My covenant between Me and you and your descendants after you throughout their generations for an everlasting covenant, to be God to you and to your descendants after you. 8 I will give to you and to your descendants after you, the land of your sojournings, all the land of Canaan, for an everlasting possession; and I will be their God.”

There are other Scriptures detailing the boundary lines. To this day, the dispute with God’s chosen people is not only over the land, but Muslim nations think Israel does not have a right to exist.

The Jewish Torah promises the children of Israel a modest and reasonable allotment of land. This portion of land is, get this, about 1/19th the size of California and yet, Israel is currently surrounded by 22 hostile Arab nations 640 times the size of Israel, and 60 times her population!

Isn’t it unreasonable to believe the media and people like Linda Sarsour who claim Israel is responsible for all the problems in the Middle East? Since 1948, the Jews have sought peaceful coexistence with neighboring countries – dictatorships dedicated to its destruction.

But sure enough, when Israel is often attacked, the media reports on when they retaliate, practically omitting or ignoring the barrage of rockets coming across the border. Just ask the IDF (Israel Defense Force).

Throughout the centuries, nations have raged and have come against this nation the size of New Jersey, but understand that God promised to bless those who bless Israel. And He will eventually judge and destroy nations that come against Israel.

So when people in America such as Sarsour and Ocasio-Cortez encourage Muslim Americans and others to dehumanize the Jews, it should send a chill down our collective spines.

Canada Forces Christians into the Closet

Posted: July 13, 2018 by David Fiorazo in Christianity, David's Blog, Government Corruption, LGBT agenda, liberalism, Politics, religious freedom, tolerance
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Between its progressive history, Canada’s Supreme Court, and far left leader, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, our northern neighbors are gradually forcing Christians into the closet. But before you say ‘that could never happen in America’ or, ‘as long as it doesn’t affect me,’ let’s look at three disturbing news stories. 

Just across the U.S./Canadian border, a Christian bus driver was arrested and charged with a hate crime for evangelizing. Bill Whatcott gave out gospel pamphlets at a Pride parade saying homosexuality can lead to diseases, (which it can) and Jesus can save gay people if they repent of their sins (which He can).

Toronto Police said in a statement that Whatcott “distributed anti-gay material which promoted hatred toward the gay community.” The 51-year-old Christian man was charged with “willful promotion of hatred against an identifiable group, namely the gay community.”

Apparently, they’ve reinterpreted John 3:16 to suggest God so loved the world – except for the LGBTQ – that He sent His Son, Jesus Christ to give His life as a ransom for the sins of whoever believes – unless you’re LGBTQ. This must be the New Liberal Translation.

But the Bible is true and every word can be trusted. So if you and I love our neighbors, whether they live down the street or across the Canadian border, the love of Christ compels us to tell them the good news that they can be forgiven and saved. It’s not up to us to convict or force them to receive the truth. We’re the messengers.

Bill Whatcott was not only fired from his job, but faces two years in prison as well. And Justin Trudeau became the world’s first national leader to march in a gay pride parade two years ago in Toronto. It was a proud first for his Liberal Party – a Party that also introduced a bill that would punish perceived “discrimination” of transgender individuals – with up to two years in prison.

And if you missed it earlier this year, Ontario Province now allows people born there to remove “male” or “female” from their birth certificates and opt for a “nonbinary” or unknown gender designation.

Next, according to Canadian elites and the LGBTQ mob, “diversity” now means all views and beliefs are welcome – except the Christian worldview.

Canada’s Supreme Court recently ruled 7-2 against a Christian college, Trinity Western University’s (TWU) Law School, essentially forcing them to choose between biblical standards or accreditation, basically suggesting Christianity and academia are incompatible.

Since 1962, Trinity Western in British Columbia, has required its students and faculty to agree to live by a moral code. The audacity! Thousands of Christian schools across North America have similar requirements. TWU refers to theirs as a “Community Covenant.”

Trinity requires students and faculty to pursue a holy life ‘characterized by humility, self-sacrifice, mercy and justice, and mutual submission for the good of others.’ It requires members to abstain from using vulgar language, lying or cheating, stealing, pornography, and further adds:

“according to the Bible, sexual intimacy is reserved for marriage between one man and one woman, and within that marriage bond it is God’s intention that it be enjoyed as a means for marital intimacy and procreation.”

Some liberals in North America now think these Christian values are harmful to society. Remember: Truth is hate to those who hate the truth.

But don’t be too quick to bash Canadians. Americans have gradually allowed discrimination against Christians in our own education system. So it would be foolish and naive to think religious intolerance won’t increase in the U.S.

And finally, a judge in Canada has officially declared two men and a woman parents of one child, on the child’s birth certificate. The unmarried threesome are in a relationship together known as polyamory meaning “many loves.”

The judge’s reasoning? Times change. He explains:

“Society is continuously changing and family structures are changing along with it; …This must be recognized as a reality and not as a detriment to the best interests of the child.”

Psalm 119:160 states:

The sum of Your word is truth,
And every one of Your righteous ordinances is everlasting.

God doesn’t change, and fixed moral absolutes exist by which we govern ourselves and our culture. But to those wanting no accountability, relativism rules, man is god, and anything goes.

Ken Ham of Answers in Genesis calls it social Darwinism. He explained:

You see, if naturalistic evolution is your starting point, there is no ultimate authority; The result is …a society clearly in rebellion against God. God created the institutions of marriage and family with one man and one woman (Genesis 1:27, 2:24), so he gets to define them.

Truth is eternal (PS. 117:2), and free speech should be protected, but this debate over what is in the best interest of children will continue; a debate that will soon find itself in the courts of America.

Politics, Polls, and Professing Christians

Posted: March 22, 2016 by David Fiorazo in Christianity in America, David's Blog, Politics
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biblical votingMost people agree this is one of the most unpredictable and unusual election cycles in American history. For those who want substance over sensationalism, it is one of the most frustrating. For Christian conservatives, this could be the most disappointing. At least it’s entertaining.

Americans are angry, I get it; but let’s not misplace our anger and out of desperation, elect another pagan king.

Some people think Donald Trump is a conservative. I find this to be inconceivable because if he’s conservative, then by that definition I certainly am not.

Marco Rubio deserves some credit for doing the responsible thing and dropping out of the Republican race last night. He’s incredibly intelligent, a principled man and excellent speaker. At CPAC earlier this month, Rubio explained the current dilemma:

“If you had told me a year ago that the front-runner at this stage in the Republican campaign would be a supporter of Planned Parenthood, who says he doesn’t stand with Israel, has a long record of supporting government-sponsored healthcare, I would say ‘on what planet would that be the Republican front-runner? But it’s happened. And I think we have to ask ourselves why we allowed that to happen.”

We’ve learned a few more things in this process: many polls are misleading at best or wrong at worst, the media often puts their ratings over content that would actually inform people, and there appears to be a ‘Uge’ difference between evangelicals and Trumpvangelicals.

First, it is important to understand how polls are administered including: who created the poll, how the questions are worded, where the polls are taken and when, are there more than ‘yes’ or ‘no’ questions, and how large is the poll sample. I’ve noticed quite a discrepancy this year between poll results leading up to a caucus or primary from actual votes cast. This can appear that certain pollsters and media outlets are trying to sway voters.

Tracking the amount of news coverage for each candidate, sources including mediaQuant and the Media Research Center have reported that Donald Trump has been awarded $2 Billion in free media coverage. Might this factor into Trump’s popularity just a bit?

Also, exit polling is typically designed by the liberal news media to help them report as votes are coming in. ABC, CBS, NBC, FOX, CNN, and the AP make up the National Election Pool. Edison Research in New Jersey sends out interviewers to various polling places on election day to a random sample of voters.

The most disturbing thing about exit polls is the media forms opinions and attempts to explain the religious views of voters who only answered one or two questions about religion! You read that right: many of these voter surveys include a single question about faith.

The most common questions on religion have to do with how often a person goes to church, would they describe themselves as a born again or evangelical Christian, and are they Protestant, Catholic, Mormon, Other Christian, Jewish, Muslim, or no religion.

The reason so much attention is given to “evangelical voters” is because years ago, when Americans were generally more of a God-fearing, moral people and our faith was the most important thing in our lives, candidates would fight to win these voters. Today however, there is much confusion about spirituality and there seems to be no consensus about definitions and what it really means to be a Christian.

Another problem with the question about church attendance is people tend to give the socially acceptable answer and exaggerate their religious interest. As I’ve pointed out for years, too many professing Christians are not committed to the cause of Christ and live out their faith in public. Nominal believers abound, and one of the only ways to determine where a voter stands is to ask how important a person’s religion is to them or how active they are in defending or sharing that faith.

A conclusion made by Princeton University sociologist, Robert Wuthnow, is that “pollsters have created an inaccurate, shallow and misleading portrait of American religion,” and he would rather see a combination of faith questions. Agreed!

One national poll had Trump with 42 percent support among “evangelicals.” In second place was Ted Cruz -known more for his biblical faith and conservative values – at just 25 percent. Something doesn’t add up. Moreover, on average, 64 percent of evangelicals in southern states voted for someone other than Donald Trump.

In exit polls two weeks ago, Cruz overwhelmingly won voters who said it matters “that a candidate shares your religious beliefs,” and when it came to “values voters,” Cruz averaged 41 percent while Trump averaged a mere 13 percent. When discussing candidate qualities however, Trump averaged nearly 80 percent of voters who said their main concern is “telling like it is.”

What can we make of this so far? According to Biola University’s Darren Patrick Guerra, “serious evangelicals” aren’t going for Trump, and the more dedicated a person is about their Christian faith, the more they seemed to support Cruz or Carson.

Obviously, there are some who disagree with this conclusion. At Liberty University, Jerry Falwell, Jr. stated:

“God called King David a man after God’s own heart even though he was an adulterer and a murderer. You have to choose the leader that would make the best king or president and not necessarily someone who would be a good pastor… [someone to] bring us back to economic vitality…”

Red State’s Erick Erickson writes that Falwell is “flat out mocking God” and it is “shameful” that Falwell Jr. would compare David’s adultery to Trump’s, who bragged about his sin. Sadly, Trump admits he has never sought forgiveness from God when in fact, David was severely punished by God causing David to cry out to Him:

Against You, You only, I have sinned and done what is evil in Your sight, So that You are justified when You speak and blameless when You judge… Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me. (Psalm 51:4,10)

The church has changed, culture and morality have changed, and America sure has changed. Many social conservatives are upset with Christians who too easily compromise. Politics have caused much division, even within the Church, and the current president has made the divide much worse in our nation as a whole.

In an interview with World Magazine, author and nationally syndicated radio talk show host, Steve Deace explained how he has been grieved to watch how professing Christians have been “willing to define down what they believe in order to support a person.”

If we’re not going to advance Christian ideology by sharing the gospel of Jesus Christ, impacting our county and electing God-fearing candidates, then let’s call it a night. Moses was instructed to “select out of all the people able men who fear God, men of truth, those who hate dishonest gain…” (Exodus 18:21)

I continue to pray for God to have mercy on us and delay His judgment, but America may soon get what America deserves if we aren’t already. The tragic truth is we have neglected our responsibility to lead and influence every aspect of this nation as many before us have rightly done.

“Now more than ever before, the people are responsible for the character of their Congress. If that body be ignorant, reckless and corrupt, it is because the people tolerate ignorance, recklessness and corruption. If it be intelligent, brave and pure, it is because the people demand these high qualities to represent them in the national legislature … If the next centennial does not find us a great nation…it will be because those who represent the enterprise, the culture, and the morality of the nation do not aid in controlling the political forces.” James Garfield, 1877

Are we the people controlling the political forces? Does this country resemble a godly and moral nation anymore? And yet, over seventy percent of U.S. citizens still claim to be “Christian.”

People keep using that word; I do not think it means what they think it means.

 

Exit Poll Religion Questions ‘Confuse and Mislead’ Critics Say

Is Donald Trump a Modern Day Cyrus?

Trump Given $2 Billion in Free Media Coverage

Conservatism in the Age of Trump

Do Evangelicals Really Support Donald Trump – Really?

Posted: March 22, 2016 by David Fiorazo in David's Blog, Politics
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Attend church graphicDon’t believe the headlines. Real Christian conservatives are not falling for the hype, but the cult of celebrity is causing formerly level-headed Americans to become fans and followers of Donald Trump. It is imperative we define exactly what it means to be a true follower of Jesus and look at what it means to have a biblical Christian worldview.

I’ve heard the argument ‘we are not electing a pastor’ to lead America but as Christians, should we not vote for the person who best reflects biblical teachings in his actions and words?

You’d think we would have learned our lesson.

President Obama continues to claim he is a Christian. His actions and policies seem to prove otherwise. When Franklin Graham was asked why he and others did not take the president’s word for it, he responded:

“You have to look at what a person does with his life. Anybody can say they’re a Christian.”

Graham and other respected Christian leaders agree that when the president proclaims faith in Jesus and his actions don’t match his words, it is not authentic Christian faith.

The Obama White House has proven to be the most biblically hostile administration in the history of the United States and yet, millions of professing Christians voted for him. I don’t know their hearts so they may or may not be actual Christians. On the flip side, millions of true Christians refused to vote for Mitt Romney because he is a Mormon. What a conundrum.

If we say we are Christian, do our lives – this includes who we vote for – reflect the teachings of Jesus and the Word of God? Do we have the right to judge someone’s profession of faith and, if we are called to judge, what are the criteria?

According to Jesus, living an authentic Christian life is difficult, but the fruit we produce does matter:

“Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the way is broad that leads to destruction, and there are many who enter through it. For the gate is small and the way is narrow that leads to life, and there are few who find it…  A good tree cannot produce bad fruit, nor can a bad tree produce good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. So then, you will know them by their fruits.” Matthew 7:13-20

A “biblical Christian worldview” can be defined as believing absolute moral truth exists as well as God, the Creator of all things; the Bible is inspired by God and accurate in all of its principles and prophecies; mankind was created in God’s image and Satan is a real being or force, not merely symbolic; Hell is a real destination; a person cannot earn their way into Heaven by trying to be good or do good works; Jesus Christ lived a sinless life on earth and sacrificed Himself to save us – died and was raised to life again; God is the all-knowing, all-powerful ruler of the universe today; and Jesus Christ will return to judge the living and the dead and take His followers to Heaven for eternity.

Angry citizens desperate for change are flocking to Trump simply because he is channeling their frustration with government, with the system, the economy, with establishment Republicans, with Obama, and on and on. Are these good enough reasons to vote him into the highest office in the land?

I wonder what our founders and early American patriots would think about the current presidential campaign cycle.

In 1789, Noah Webster stated:

“In selecting men for office, let principle be your guide. Regard not the particular sect or denomination of the candidate – look to his character.”

Many Americans however, appear to be following a personality rather than being concerned about principle, faith, integrity, and character.

A few decades later, the Reverend Charles Finney declared:

“The time has come that Christians must vote for honest men, and take consistent ground in politics or the Lord will curse them… Christians have been exceedingly guilty in this matter. But the time has come when they must act differently… God will bless or curse this nation, according to the course Christians take.”

The liberal media is proclaiming so-called evangelicals are flocking to the caustic, narcissistic businessman, entertainer, and professing Republican who said he likes the Obamacare mandate. He was listed on the Reform Party primary ballot in 1999, joined the Democrats in 2001, was registered an independent in 2011 before settling with Romney’s GOP in 2012.

Trump has publicly held 7 different positions on Planned Parenthood in the past 6 months.

According to exit polling, (basically, what people claim), 72% of Republicans in South Carolina’s primary “identified” as evangelical or born again Christians. Are you buying their definitions and labels? Leading up to the vote, this faulty assumption made it appear to pundits that Ted Cruz should have done very well and when Trump won, the media considered it Cruz’s failure.

Trump won 33% of professing evangelicals while Cruz had 27%. Does this make sense when you compare their records, their lives, and their faith side by side? In 2012, nearly half of South Carolina voted for Obama so the state may not be as conservative or “evangelical” as we have been told.

Author, missionary, and preacher, Paul Washer once declared:

We are Christians because we find our identity, life, and purpose in Christ. We are evangelical because we believe the gospel and esteem it as the great central truth of God’s revelation to men… This Christianity is not a cultural thing. It is not something that should be just a small part of your life; it is not something that you do on Sunday… Christianity is not about you being just like the world all the time and then coming to church on Sunday. If that is your Christianity… you are not Christian.

What do we really know about the candidate’s religious beliefs? Here’s a quick look:

John Kasich is Anglican, a mix of Catholicism and Protestant Reformation theology, also associated with the Episcopal Church. He attends St. Augustine’s Anglican Church in Ohio and recently stated, “I have a mission, and I have a role on this earth. But I am trying to prepare myself for the world that’s yet to come.” He also said Christians should abide by the Supreme Court’s decision legalizing same-sex marriage.

Donald Trump is a proud Presbyterian, but doesn’t think he needs to ask God for forgiveness. He loves attending church on Christmas and Easter “and whenever I can,” and says his views are evolving on gay marriage, but favors traditional marriage. Trump stated: “I believe in God. I am Christian. I think the Bible is certainly, it is THE book. It is the thing.”

Ted Cruz is a committed Southern Baptist and son of an evangelical Christian pastor. Cruz told CBN News: “At the end of the day, faith is not organized religion; it’s not just going to a church. It is a personal relationship with Jesus Christ as your Lord and Savior.” A Constitutional expert, he believes Christians must awaken and vote or the country could be lost.

After seeing the disappointing results in a supposedly conservative state last week, radio host and blogger, Matt Walsh posted some harsh comments about Trump,

“a man who praised Planned Parenthood, fishes for applause lines by cussing out his competitors and mocking disabled people, and who can’t name a book in the Bible… brags about sleeping with married women, blatantly lies and then lies again about lying, and who has encapsulated literally the exact opposite of anything that could remotely be considered a “Christian value,”

…If Trump wins the nomination, conservatism in this country is officially dead, and the country itself will be close behind it. According to exit polls, Trump fans don’t necessarily think he’s electable and they don’t believe he shares their values, but “they want change.” Dear God, we are really doing 2008 all over again; people voting for ambiguous, non-specific change in spite of the avalanche of red flags… Get on your knees and pray for this country… I feel we are on the cusp of something terrible. Pray we avoid it.

Donald Trump owns casinos with strip clubs and adult entertainment, claims to be “a very good person,” and yet has no understanding of the gospel. Nothing to confess? Christianity begins with humbly repenting of our sins against God, openly asking His forgiveness, and trusting in Jesus Christ.

How can there be so much confusion over what is biblical; about religion, theology, morality, and spirituality?

We cannot blame atheists, the media, Hollywood, or godless government. In the introduction to my latest book, The Cost of Our Silence, I put the responsibility on us, the church in America, for the moral decline. We have failed to be effective witnesses for our Lord Jesus Christ. Too many professing believers do not represent authentic, Bible-based Christianity. We have been sold on appearing spiritual, pursuing comfort, and living for self. I speak from experience because I used to have one foot in the church and another in the world.

It is impossible to be a part-time Christian.

The word Christian means “of or relating to Jesus Christ” and “a diminutive Christ.” This implies a person who thinks, acts, talks, serves, and speaks like Jesus. Effectiveness for the kingdom of God starts with our own individual commitment to live for His glory rather than our own. It is not complicated: Know the Lord and make Him known to others.

Be assured God is not surprised by America’s direction and sharp Left turn, but we know He can use anyone for His purposes. As the prophet Daniel said,

“Let the name of God be blessed forever and ever,
For wisdom and power belong to Him.
“It is He who changes the times and seasons;
He removes kings and establishes kings;
He gives wisdom to wise men
And knowledge to men of understanding. (Daniel 2:20-21)

It’s time for every responsible citizen – particularly those who trust Christ for salvation – to look past personality, talking points, and campaign promises to the candidate’s faith and record. Who best resembles a biblical worldview and is qualified to lead the United States of America? Truth matters and so does voting, so let’s ensure you and I are consistent in living our faith.

If we reach the end of the Republican primaries and Trump is the nominee, we can cross that bridge and decide where to go from there.

President John Quincy Adams once said,

“The hope of a Christian is inseparable from his faith. Whoever believes in the Divine inspiration of the Holy Scriptures must hope that the religion of Jesus shall prevail throughout the earth.”

God’s will is not necessarily for us to win earthly battles, but for us to be faithful and obey His Word. His timing is perfect and He will orchestrate the rest because – no matter who is president, Jesus Christ is King and Lord.

 

Related:

What is a Biblical Worldview?

Why Truth Matters: Your Worldview Affects Everything

What are Some Christian Worldview Essentials?

Freedom Or Socialism? The Choice Is Still Ours

Posted: May 4, 2013 by David Fiorazo in Big Government, David's Blog, Eradicate - Blotting Out God In America, Government Corruption, Media Bias, Politics, President Obama
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United Socialist States Of America Flag

Thanks in part to the mainstream media, more Americans seem to be open to big government today than ever before, but do they really understand where it could lead? Apparently, we haven’t learned from the historic, epic failures of socialism throughout the world. Have the promoters of these policies ever been asked by the media to provide examples of one successful program they have presided over?

Are American citizens aware of what will happen if we allow government to have even more control of our lives? The election of Barack Obama is the most glaring step toward socialism in United States history. But are there really more socialists among us today or are we being duped by an extremely progressive media?

Maybe a little of both.

The following is an excerpt from the chapter ‘It Could Never Happen In America’ taken from the book, ERADICATE: BLOTTING OUT GOD IN AMERICA.

Shortly after President Obama was inaugurated in 2009, Newsweek ran a cover story for its February 16 issue declaring: “We Are All Socialists Now: The Perils and Promise of the New Era of Big Government.” The economic crisis was caused by too much govern­ment regulation, borrowing and spending, yet Newsweek claimed, “In the absence of a robust private sector, the government will fill in the gap.” The publication inferred that with the election of Barack Obama, America was becoming more like a European socialist country. I recently learned the writer of that article was Evan Thomas.

Thomas teaches journalism at Princeton University. He is also the grandson of Marxist Norman Thomas who joined the Socialist Party in America in 1918 and ran for president six times on the Socialist Party ticket! Norman Thomas once said:  

“The American people will never knowingly adopt socialism, but under the name of liberalism they will adopt every fragment of the socialist program until one day America will be a socialist nation without ever knowing how it happened.”

And you wonder why kids going into journalism end up with hostile views of Christians and friendly views toward liberalism? In addition, on June 5, 2009, while being interviewed by Mr. “Thrill up my leg” on Hardball with Chris Matthews, Evan Thomas stated:

“I mean, in a way, Obama’s standing above the country, above – above the world, he’s sort of god.”

Prior to Newsweek, Thomas also worked at Time Magazine. You can see his continued influence at Time as the 2011 Person of the Year cover story was – “The (Occupy) Protestor” with the socialist clenched fist representing the movement. ( Naturally, in 2008, Barack Obama was declared Time’s Person of the Year.)

Many conservative Americans stopped considering Time a legitimate magazine years ago. These and many other publications have sanitized socialism. The lengthy, eight-page cover story praised the European revolutions, focused on Occupy Wall Street, and dedicated just two descriptive sentences to the Tea Party calling it a “radical populist movement.”

Time’s cover story on Obama after just six months in office read, “Obama’s start has been the most impressive of any president since FDR.” Remember their cover story on Bush in the first 100 days of his presidency? There wasn’t one. In 2003, however, Newsweek did do a cover story called: “Bush & God – Why His ‘God Talk’ Worries Friends & Foes.” The nine-page article dissected Bush’s upbringing and ”questionable” Christian influences.

In October 2011, New York magazine published the results of a poll it had conducted with 100 committed OWS protesters in Manhattan, half of whom were in their twenties. Forty-five percent of respondents said capitalism “can’t be saved” and is “inherently immoral.”

In a different 2011 survey of OWS protesters by The Wall Street Journal, 65% said government has a moral responsibility to guarantee all citizens access to affordable health care, a college education, and a secure retirement – regardless of the cost. (Where do you suppose they get these ideas?)

It is imperative you and I recognize the enemy has been working through people willing to forge his devious plan in America. We must alert others to the wickedness because the time to sound the alarm is almost past. Thomas Jefferson’s words should inspire us today:

“Educate and inform the whole mass of the people. Enable them to see that it is their interest to preserve peace and order, and they will preserve them. And it requires no very high degree of education to convince them of this. They are the only sure reliance for the preservation of our liberty.”

What an honor and privilege that God has chosen you and me to be alive during this trying and exciting time in America. We are not here to be spectators! We were born during this generation to be a voice and an influence on others in order to draw people to Jesus Christ, and to counteract what is happening in America.

Do not allow today’s news or the agenda of the Left to cause you to lose your focus or your effectiveness for the Lord. This is all temporary. He is eternal. We are here for such a time as this and God has chosen us. Don’t give up and don’t get tired of doing what is good because we will reap a harvest in due time (Galatians 6:9-10).

Rally, stir up and strengthen fellow Christians. Regardless of the condition of culture and what is happening in America, we are responsible for using our time wisely while we’re here. Enemy forces want to blot out God and our freedoms, but He has entrusted this generation with His commission and to infiltrate society for Christ.

“Freedom is never more than one generation away from extinc­tion. We didn’t pass it to our children in the bloodstream. It must be fought for, protected and handed on for them to do the same.” – Ronald Reagan

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Loyal To The Left, Jim Wallis Also Supports Gay Marriage

Posted: April 9, 2013 by David Fiorazo in Big Government, Church, David's Blog, False Teachings, Government Corruption, Politics, President Obama
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Rethinking Values in the Post-Crisis World: Jim Wallis

In June of 2010, Reverend Jim Wallis was asked if he believed abor­tion and homosexuality were sins. Christian radio station General Manager, Mike Le May, got the answer loud and clear: Wallis shouted at him, called him a “right-wing Kool-Aid drinking Glen Beck follower” and hung up the phone. I documented the divisive controversy that led to this exchange in my book, ERADICATE.

On Monday, Wallis – being faithful to the Democratic Party platform – openly admitted to supporting same-sex marriage. Not surprisingly, a spokesperson for Wallis’ Sojourners magazine could not say whether or not Wallis believes homosexuality is a sin.

Appointed by President Obama to his White House faith council, some say Wallis is a progressive evangelical because his primary support is from leftists.

In 2011, it was revealed by investigative journalists that Wallis’ Sojourners magazine received hundreds of thousands of dollars from radical socialist George Soros. Why would an anti-American financier like George Soros give large grants to Sojourn­ers?

Jim Wallis first denied the Soros connection saying, “No, we don’t receive money from George Soros… Our money comes from Christians who support us and who read Sojourners.”

Soros is a corrupt billionaire from Hungary aiming to destroy America’s Christian ideals and freedoms that made us a great nation. His hatred for America fuels the financing (over $52 million) of left-wing media outlets and groups including those promoting abor­tion, atheism, homosexual activism, socialism, and government expansion. It’s no wonder Jim Wallis tried to hide the truth.

George Soros is working to destroy America’s system of capitalism and this connection between Wallis and Soros should not be ignored.

On their website, Sojourners quotes people like Gandhi, the Dalai Lama, new age leader Marianne Williamson and empha­sizes social justice, environmental activism, diversity, and immigra­tion.

Wallis seems to look at the Bible in light of the world around him rather than looking at the world in light of God’s Word. From his White House platform, he attacks Republicans while calling himself a “nonpartisan evangelical minister,” and is very popular among liberals who routinely vilify Christians for their involvement in political issues.

According to Wallis:

“As more Christians become influenced by liberation theology, finding themselves increasingly rejecting the values of institu­tions of capitalism, they will also be drawn to the Marxist analy­sis and praxis that is so central to the social justice movement.”

Early in his career, Wallis founded an anti-capitalist magazine called the Post-American which identified wealth redistribution and government-managed economies as the keys to achieving social justice. He changed the name to Sojourners in the early 1970s. During his college years at Michigan State, Wallis joined the Students for a Democratic Society (SDS), a radical organization that aspired to overthrow America’s institutions. Wallis remains opposed to the free market system in America.

Over the years, Jim Wallis has been pro-Vietcong and actually celebrated America’s defeat in Vietnam, stating:

“I don’t know how else to express the quiet emotion that rushed through me when the news reports showed that the United States had finally been defeated in Vietnam”

In 1979, the journal Mission Tracks pub­lished an interview with Wallis, in which he expressed his hope that “more Christians will come to view the world through Marxist eyes.”

Wal­lis was listed as one of three “Religion and Socialism Commission co-chairs” in a 1982 Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) newsletter. He promotes equally distributed wealth, but this type of socialism has never been able to create the abundance needed to lift the poor out of poverty. Most importantly, his social justice politics cast aside the Great Commission of Christ – to make disciples of all nations – and can be confusing to people.

In 2005, Wallis was hired by Senate Democrats to help turn religious voters into Democrats in part by sprinkling references to God and faith into their speeches to dupe people into thinking they found religion.

The next year, in a 2006 radio broadcast, an interviewer asked: “Are you then calling for the redistribution of wealth in society?” Wallis replied, “Absolutely, without any hesitation. That’s what the gospel is all about.” Whose gospel?

According to 1 Corinthians 15:1-4, the true Gospel is about faith in Jesus Christ for eter­nal salvation:

Now I make known to you, brethren, the gospel which I preached to you, which also you received, …For I delivered to you as of first importance what I also received, that Christ died for our sins according to the Scriptures, and that He was buried, and that He was raised on the third day according to the Scriptures…

Author, editor-in-chief of World Magazine, and Provost of The King’s College, Marvin Olasky has debated Jim Wallis. Olasky writes:

“Biblically, justice – tied to righteousness – is what promotes faith in God, not faith in government… Learn about the biggest institutional hindrance to economic advancement for the poor: the government’s monopoly control of taxpayer funds committed to education and welfare.”

In a 2008 interview with Christianity Today, Wallis promised to “work very hard to make abortion reduction a central Democratic Party plank” for the first time. It’s been seven years since Wallis made that promise and over 1.2 mil­lion babies continue to be aborted every year. He claims “poverty and global inequality” are today’s fundamental moral issues.

The glaring hypocrisy of religious liberal and social activist Jim Wallis has again been exposed, and we should pray for those confused or deceived by this very “different gospel” the Christian Left promotes.

Wallis supporters

Rules for Radicals – Saul Alinsky

Posted: March 18, 2013 by David Fiorazo in Big Government, David's Blog, Government Corruption, Politics, President Obama
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* RULE 1: “Power is not only what you have, but what the enemy thinks you have.” Power is derived from 2 main sources – money and people. “Have-Nots” must build power from flesh and blood. (These are two things of which there is a plentiful supply. Government and corporations always have a difficult time appealing to people, and usually do so almost exclusively with economic arguments.)

* RULE 2: “Never go outside the expertise of your people.” It results in confusion, fear and retreat. Feeling secure adds to the backbone of anyone. (Organizations under attack wonder why radicals don’t address the “real” issues. This is why. They avoid things with which they have no knowledge.)

* RULE 3: “Whenever possible, go outside the expertise of the enemy.” Look for ways to increase insecurity, anxiety and uncertainty. (This happens all the time. Watch how many organizations under attack are blind-sided by seemingly irrelevant arguments that they are then forced to address.)

* RULE 4: “Make the enemy live up to its own book of rules.” If the rule is that every letter gets a reply, send 30,000 letters. You can kill them with this because no one can possibly obey all of their own rules. (This is a serious rule. The besieged entity’s very credibility and reputation is at stake, because if activists catch it lying or not living up to its commitments, they can continue to chip away at the damage.)

* RULE 5: “Ridicule is man’s most potent weapon.” There is no defense. It’s irrational. It’s infuriating. It also works as a key pressure point to force the enemy into concessions. (Pretty crude, rude and mean, huh? They want to create anger and fear.)

* RULE 6: “A good tactic is one your people enjoy.” They’ll keep doing it without urging and come back to do more. They’re doing their thing, and will even suggest better ones. (Radical activists, in this sense, are no different that any other human being. We all avoid “un-fun” activities, and but we revel at and enjoy the ones that work and bring results.)

* RULE 7: “A tactic that drags on too long becomes a drag.” Don’t become old news. (Even radical activists get bored. So to keep them excited and involved, organizers are constantly coming up with new tactics.)

* RULE 8: “Keep the pressure on. Never let up.” Keep trying new things to keep the opposition off balance. As the opposition masters one approach, hit them from the flank with something new. (Attack, attack, attack from all sides, never giving the reeling organization a chance to rest, regroup, recover and re-strategize.)

* RULE 9: “The threat is usually more terrifying than the thing itself.” Imagination and ego can dream up many more consequences than any activist. (Perception is reality. Large organizations always prepare a worst-case scenario, something that may be furthest from the activists’ minds. The upshot is that the organization will expend enormous time and energy, creating in its own collective mind the direst of conclusions. The possibilities can easily poison the mind and result in demoralization.)

* RULE 10: “If you push a negative hard enough, it will push through and become a positive.” Violence from the other side can win the public to your side because the public sympathizes with the underdog. (Unions used this tactic. Peaceful [albeit loud] demonstrations during the heyday of unions in the early to mid-20th Century incurred management’s wrath, often in the form of violence that eventually brought public sympathy to their side.)

* RULE 11: “The price of a successful attack is a constructive alternative.” Never let the enemy score points because you’re caught without a solution to the problem. (Old saw: If you’re not part of the solution, you’re part of the problem. Activist organizations have an agenda, and their strategy is to hold a place at the table, to be given a forum to wield their power. So, they have to have a compromise solution.)

* RULE 12: Pick the target, freeze it, personalize it, and polarize it.” Cut off the support network and isolate the target from sympathy. Go after people and not institutions; people hurt faster than institutions. (This is cruel, but very effective. Direct, personalized criticism and ridicule works.)

Know your political enemy; this is how radicals operate and attempt to gain power. We witness this more frequently in America.

The failed protests in Wisconsin to recall Governor Scott Walker were heated and at times intimidating. There was plenty of foul language, and both communist and socialist groups had a presence there. Something else had to be behind this behavior. While navigating around the NEA website during that time, I was shocked to find on their recommended reading list, right there in plain sight, Rules for Radicals by Saul Alinsky, “The American Organizer.” The 1971 book articulated a socialist strategy for gaining political power to redistribute wealth. Talk about bullying, Chicago politics, and thuggery.

Why would the NEA want teachers to learn about fascist, radical, socialist-inspired methods of protesting? America found out why in 2011 when public employee unions and socialist groups took the Wisconsin state capital hostage. On the NEA website, it called Alinsky “an inspiration to anyone contemplating action in their community.” It also recommended his 1946 book Reveille for Radicals, about the principles and tactics of “community organizing.”

The Alinsky method is to: agitate, aggravate, educate, organize, ridicule, pressure, and polarize. What does this have to do with teaching children and improving education? For now, let’s state some specific examples of his tactics and techniques – otherwise known as “rules” for activists and protesters. According to its own website, the NEA talked about making people more effective activists and encouraging them “not to worry too much about getting his or her hands dirty. It’s all a part of the job, he [Alinsky] seems to say.”

Since the NEA recommended his books and wants teachers to be effective protestors, let’s take a gander at the content. This is very eye-opening to most of us in Wisconsin who witnessed the vociferous union demonstrations that caused chaos, state division, and property damage, all over the collective bargaining issue. As an activist trainer, Saul Alinsky counseled organizers and activists to cause confusion, fear, and retreat. The Wisconsin teachers who participated were just following instructions.

Why discuss this? The NEA encourages its employees to emulate Saul Alinsky. They aim to achieve their goals at any cost. Author’s note: The recommended reading page on Saul Alinsky and his books has recently been scrubbed from the National Education Association’s website.

[Excerpt from ERADICATE: BLOTTING OUT GOD IN AMERICA – For much more please go to http://www.blottingoutgod.com]

Gun Control, Hollywood, And Violent Ignorance

Posted: March 12, 2013 by David Fiorazo in David's Blog, Government Corruption, Gun Control, Hollywood, Politics
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The push for gun control in America sure won’t be slowing down anytime soon, but the legislative efforts and proposals to curb gun use ignore the nonstop violence promoted by the entertainment industry.

A majority of American adults, 80%, agree with the statement that “violent games and films contribute to violence in society.” That’s according to a brand new Vanity Fair/60 Minutes nationwide poll. Of those respondents, 45% believe those media contribute a lot to societal violence, while 35% believe it contributes “some.”

Massive evidence is available and countless studies prove the effects of simulated violence on all consumers, but especially on children. Why is Hollywood pardoned for the carnage its product constantly produces? It’s difficult to confront Hollywood decision makers and hold them accountable when they’re helping get you reelected.

In a 2013 study, the Culture and Media Institute found that in the Top 5 movies – in just one weekend – the tally included 65 scenes depicting violence, 185 people killed, shot, stabbed, beaten, burned, blown up, etc.  Hollywood supporters talk about gun control, but are unwilling to address the issue with the entertainment industry.

Meanwhile, Hollywood continues producing the most violent, sadistic movies, television programs, and morbid video games that glorify graphic violence and mayhem. Our culture has been desensitized similar to the blood-thirsty crowds in the Roman Coliseum thousands of years ago being entertained by human slaughter. One difference is we’re exposed to more violence and death than they could have imagined.

But if this was part of the problem, people would address it honestly – wouldn’t they?

Just a few days ago, California Senator, Diane Feinstein, made another plea to ban assault weapons in one of her greatest hits as far as quotes go. Feinstein stated:

“We have federal regulations and state laws that prohibit hunting ducks with more than three rounds. And yet it’s legal to hunt humans with 15-round, 30-round, even 150-round magazines. Limiting magazine capacity is critical, because it is when a criminal, a drug dealer, a deranged individual has to pause to change magazines and reload that, the police or brave bystanders have the opportunity to take that individual down.”

The heart of the problem today doesn’t lie with the instruments and tools of violence. We can’t outlaw hammers, shovels, knives, and rope, for example. To ban them would not stop evil because evil always finds another method. The Bible teaches that the heart of man is deceitful and desperately wicked, (Jer. 17:9) and America has all but abandoned God.

It’s no wonder we continue to fill Planned Parenthood dumpsters; too many Americans value choice (self) more than they value life.

George Washington, among others, emphasized religion and morality as primary foundations for a free, successful society. This is what the American way relies upon and the more God is removed, the less morality we will have. Our Founding Fathers believed it unpatriotic to remove God from the public square.

In the 1960’s, the Left increased their efforts targeting American classrooms, courtrooms, newsrooms; Hollywood, government and even our churches to promote moral relativism and minimize our Judeo-Christian way of life. In that decade, they truly advanced their agenda to eradicate God from the United States, and we’re living with the results today.

Be reminded our rights don’t come from man, but from the God of creation. If government had given us our rights, government could take them away. Chairman Mao Zedong and his regime of godless communists executed more people than anyone in world history. His view was basically that right and wrong is determined by who has all the guns.

When moral and religious standards decrease, chaos and crime increase. Passing gun legislation is just a politicized answer to a spiritual issue. We are naïve to think we can eliminate evil when few truly understand the cause. We need common sense, especially in politics.

Illinois Democrat, Jan Schakowsky, recently said that they were on a roll now with gun control and “we’re gonna push as hard as we can and as far as we can.” In other words, the assault weapons ban is really the tip of the iceberg for liberals. Schakowsky isn’t shy about admitting to liberal agendas the media refuses to report on. For example, in 2009 she told a crowd that the goal of Obamacare would be to “put the private insurance industry out of business.”

And who can forget – in an admission caught on tape – during a discussion on drilling that liberal Democrat Maxine Waters admitted they’d be about “socializing” and “taking-over” the oil companies. They want power and control.

In other government power grabs, we now know the Obama administration could legally use deadly force against Americans inside the U.S., authorizing itself to shoot anyone thought to be a threat. Drones are something right out of a Hollywood movie – but this time it’s not a movie.

We can continue having gun debates and policy arguments, but this doesn’t address a few core issues: Man has an evil, sinful nature and without God there’s little hope for this country; We place too high a priority on entertainment; Hollywood keeps promoting unlimited violence and in one way or another, America keeps paying for it.

not guns, control

Click to read David’s article, ‘The Audacity of Drones’

President Obama’s Faith & Fruit: Actions Speak Louder Than Words

Posted: February 26, 2013 by David Fiorazo in David's Blog, Eradicate - Blotting Out God In America, Politics, President Obama
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[An excerpt from ERADICATE; BLOTTING OUT GOD IN AMERICA by David Fiorazo]

For you were formerly darkness, but now you are Light in the Lord; walk as children of Light; …Do not participate in the unfruitful deeds of darkness, but instead even expose them. Ephesians 5:8, 11

“In selecting men for office, let principle be your guide. Regard not the particular sect or denomination of the candidate – look to his character.” – Noah Webster, 1789

When asked about President Obama’s faith during an interview in February 2012, Franklin Graham gave an opinion and was ganged up on. He answered honestly, but evidently it was not the correct answer. All Graham said was that when the president proclaims faith in Jesus and his actions don’t match his words, it is not authentic Christian faith. Most of us know the powers that be at MSNBC wanted to set Mr. Graham up so they could attack what he stands for – biblical Christianity. I get it, that’s part of the game in the elite media. We need to be prepared when those who are hostile to Christianity frame the debate.

The question should not be ”is someone a Christian or not” because we can’t know a person’s heart. The question in this case should be ”What kind of Christian is President Obama?”

Every one of us is under the same scrutiny because we worship a holy God. If we say we are a Christian, do our lives reflect the teachings of Jesus Christ and the Word of God? In the chapter about truth, we established the fact that a person’s faith and worldview affects every decision he or she makes. It is ludicrous to ignore the religious background of the President of the United States, the most powerful public office in our country. The problem is most Americans ignored Barack Obama’s history before he was elected president.

When Solomon took over the throne of his father, King David, he knew what a great responsibility it was to lead all the people. God told Solomon to ask Him for whatever he wanted (2 Chron. 1:10). Solomon could have had anything, but he asked for wisdom and knowledge so he could rule over the people wisely. He didn’t ask for power, social justice or wealth redistribution, and not universal healthcare, not more funding for abortion, not environmental investments, not amnesty for illegal immigrants, and not gay rights – he wanted wisdom to govern diligently.

If we listen to what President Obama says regarding Christianity and then observe what he does, it can be confusing; things don’t add up. The Bible is not ambiguous. However, I agree with what a blogger on a Christian site wrote: “It’s not my place to judge Obama’s faith. I can see the fruit he bears, and I don’t like what I see. I need to pray for him more.”

FRANKLIN GRAHAM & FOUR CONFUSED LIBERALS

They asked Graham on MSNBC’s Morning Joe, “Do you believe President Obama is a Christian?” The first thing Franklin Graham said was “I think you have to ask President Obama.” The host fired back “So you don’t take him at his word when he says he’s a Christian?” Graham calmly responded that since Obama has said he’s a Christian “I just have to assume that he is. But the question is ‘what is a Christian?’” This is typically the best part of any Franklin Graham interview as he shares the gospel message.

After hearing the entire gospel presentation which followed Graham’s responses, one of the co-hosts still came back with, “So by your definition, he’s not a Christian?” And it went back and forth for another round when another host said, “I just don’t get it, Reverend, I mean I don’t want to harp on this but….” The interview was almost as entertaining as it was infuriating. The next subject was Obama’s upbringing, and Graham was asked if he thought Obama was a Muslim. Here is his patient, well-informed response:

“Under Islamic law, under Shariah law, Islam sees him as a son of Islam, because his father was a Muslim, his grandfather was a Muslim, his great-grandfather was a Muslim. So under Islamic law, the Muslim world sees President Obama as a Muslim, as a son of Islam. That’s just the way it works.

“Now those Christian minorities throughout the entire Arab world are under attack. A Newsweek magazine cover story last week was about the massacre of Christians in the Islamic world. From Europe all the way through the Middle East to Africa into East Asia, Muslims are killing Christians. The president can come out and make a statement demanding that if these countries do not protect their minorities, no more foreign aid from the United States…. The society in these Islamic countries is not protecting the Christians anymore.

“These Christians are having their churches burned….Women are being raped. They’re being murdered. Because under Shariah law Muslims can take a Christian’s property, take a Christian’s life, can take his daughter. And this is what is happening. The governments are not able to protect the minorities in the society. And they’re unwilling to protect them.

“If a government is not going to protect the minorities, we should not give them one dollar of U.S. aid … And he’s got the power of the White House,” Graham complained. “He could be speaking to these countries right now, demanding that they protect the Christians in those countries. He’s been quiet about it.

“We [Samaritan’s Purse] have an aid station in Southern Sudan. The Sudanese dropped bombs on it right before Christmas. We have a Bible school. Just two weeks ago the Sudanese air force dropped eight bombs on that Bible school. Why doesn’t the president come out and try to bring peace to the Sudan?”

Amazingly, none of the panelists interrupted or disagreed! However, they did go right back to their agenda. One of the panelists accused Graham of a double standard for saying earlier that he considered Rick Santorum a Christian because he and Santorum share many of the same values. Franklin Graham responded, “You have to look at what a person does with his life. Anybody can say they’re a Christian.”

The woman on the panel kept giving Graham condescending glances and another co-host smugly implied Graham was being judgmental by assessing other people’s faith. The funny thing is – that’s why they had him on the show! Graham responded to the criticism with, “You guys go through the newspapers every day. You’re checking off articles that are written. I look at a person’s political interests, but more importantly I look at their spiritual interests. I’m not judging them. But you have to go by what a person says and how they live their life.”

So then, you will know them by their fruits. (Matthew 7:20)

In 2008, American citizens, Christians included, refused to judge Barack Obama by his own words, his stance on abortion, gay marriage, and by his questionable Chicago history and radical activism. I don’t dislike the man, but I’d much rather have someone else in the White House. I do pray for his heart to be softened and for him to be humbled, but I also pray for him to be saved if he isn’t already…

*Much more can be found in chapter 5 – President Obama’s Faith & Fruit: Actions Speak Louder Than Words, including an earlier excerpt from this chapter here:

 

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